Latest news – Page 1252
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NewsDutch tram-train trial to end
NETHERLANDS: The Dutch tram-train pilot project between Alphen-aan den Rijn and Gouda is expected to end with the December 2009 timetable change, when the current mix of trams and EMUs will be replaced by a strengthened train service. This follows the signing of an agreement between the province of ...
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NewsWestinghouse Rail Systems becomes Invensys Rail
INVENSYS: Renaming of Westinghouse Rail Systems Ltd to Invensys Rail with effect from September 1 marked the start of an international rebranding which will bring the companies within the Invensys Rail Group under the Invensys Rail banner over the next few months. This reflects ongoing co-operation between UK-based Westinghouse ...
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NewsLGV Est Phase 2 tendering gets underway
FRANCE: Infrastructure manager RFF invited tenders on September 2 for work on the second phase of Ligne à Grande Vitesse Est Européenne, with a view to starting construction in the spring of 2010. This follows the signing of the formal financing agreement for the project on September 1. Participating ...
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NewsCircle Line tunnelling completed
SINGAPORE: Tunnelling works for the Circle Line were completed on August 17, with the break-through of a tunnel boring machine into Farrer Road Station. Tunnelling on the last stretch, known as Stage 4, comprised four drives. Two drives from One-North to Haw Par Villa were completed in February 2008. ...
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NewsAECOM buys LAN Engineering
USA: AECOM Technology Corp has acquired Lim & Nascimento Engineering Corp, saying the deal announced on August 30 would strengthen AECOM's transport activities and increase the geographical reach of California-based LAN. Working mainly with public sector clients, LAN provides engineering design and management services for transport projects including rail ...
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NewsVoith wins Syntus train maintenance contract
NETHERLANDS: Passenger operator Syntus has selected Voith Railservices to maintain its fleet of DM90 and Alstom Coradia Lint diesel multiple-units for three years from mid-December. There were five bidders for the contract, which is currently held by Nedtrain. Voith already has similar agreements with Arriva and Veolia Transport. ...
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NewsCisalpino II in service at last
EUROPE: While Dutch and Danish engineers continue to wrestle with the V250 and IC4 trainsets respectively, another challenging procurement saga appears to be drawing to a close. With a palpable sense of relief, the Cisalpino joint venture operator announced on July 20 that the first of its Class 610 tilting ...
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NewsVeolia and Transdev in talks
FRANCE: European legislation on the procurement of public services is starting to drive further consolidation between the major public transport operators. On July 22 state-owned investment body Caisse des Dépôts confirmed that it had decided to enter into exclusive negotiations with Veolia Environnement with a view to merging their Transdev ...
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NewsPointers September 2009
Plans to develop high speed passenger services in Ukraine have been put back from 2015 to 2020 in the light of the economic climate. In the meantime, UZ is segregating passenger and freight services to permit the wider introduction of 160 km/h running. Russian Railways is developing a business plan ...
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Metro Report InternationalBombardier signs Berlin tram order
GERMANY: On September 1 Bombardier Transportation announced it had signed the contract to supply Berlin transport operator BVG with 99 Flexity Berlin trams. The order was placed within a framework agreement for up to 210 trams which was reached by Bombardier and BVG in 2006. Testing of ...
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NewsMetro Line 3 to Athens Airport reopens
GREECE: On August 31 the section of Attiko metro Line 3 between Ethniki Amyna and Athens airport went back into service, and Nomismatokopeio station was opened to the public for the first time. The new station has an underground car park and provides an interchange with several bus routes serving ...
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NewsWeighed within 0·05%
WEIGHT: A vehicle weighing track installed at Bombardier’s Derby plant by Avery Weigh-Tronix can measure rolling stock weight distribution to within 0·05%, thanks to rail transponders and a controlled environment where wind, rain and rough terrain cannot affect results. The Weighline WI 1310 static rail weighing system was developed to ...
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NewsChicago corridor cut
USA: Plans to re-configure five key rail corridors to improve the flow of traffic through the Chicago area are being scaled back owing to a lack of funding. The Chicago Region Environmental & Transportation Efficiency programme was launched in 2003 as a $1·5bn public-private partnership between the Department of ...
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NewsMonitoring passenger flows in stations
CHINA: China TransInfo Technology Corp has launched its TransPLE Passenger Flow Statistic, Detecting & Analysis System, which uses laser scanners and cameras to analyse pedestrian volume, speed and direction in busy stations. The results can be used to optimise layouts for pedestrian flow, as well as supporting crowd control, ...
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NewsPiggyback wagon
POLAND: The 602S wagon from Tabor Szynowy Opole can carry lorries, trailers or containers. Wagons at the ends of a rake have opening ends to allow the loading and unloading of lorries using a mobile ramp. The ends are then closed to permit the use of standard couplers. The ...
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NewsFirst of 160 double-deck cars for Montréal unveiled
CANADA: The first of 160 double-deck coaches being built for Montréal's commuter network was unveiled at Bombardier's La Pocatière plant on August 21. The ceremony was attended by Julie Boulet, Québec's Minister of Transport; Claude Béchard, Minister and member of the Québec National Assembly for the district; and Joel ...
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NewsDSB becomes Sweden's second largest operator
SWEDEN: Västra Götaland county transport authority Västtrafik has selected the DSBFirst Väst joint venture of Danish state railway DSB (70%) and UK company FirstGroup (30%) to operate Göteborg commuter and regional rail services from December 2010. DSBFirst took over Øresund services between Denmark and Sweden in January, and the ...
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NewsA long way to go
ASIA: Almost since the dawn of railways, far-sighted engineers and politicians have been talking about linking Europe and India by rail. The second half of the 19th century was an era of economic expansion and power politics, as evidenced by the construction of transcontinental railways across the USA, Canada and ...
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NewsSheremetyevo airport trains get closer to central Moscow
RUSSIA: The rail link to Sheremetyevo airport was extended to start from the more central Moscow Belorusskaya station on August 28. Trains run every half-hour from 05.30 to 01.00. The journey takes 35 min with a stop at Savylovaky, which had been the city terminus since the service was ...