Latest news – Page 1283
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NewsLine A extended to Flores
ARGENTINA: Buenos Aires Mayor Mauricio Macri opened the new Puán and Carabobo stations on Line A of the Buenos Aires metro on December 22. Work on the extension started in 2004 and formed part of a wider programme to refurbish and modernise the infrastructure of Line A, the oldest line ...
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NewsEVR split takes effect
ESTONIA: Renationalised railway operator AS Eesti Raudtee has been restructured with effect from January 14, becoming a small holding company with two wholly-owned subsidiaries responsible for infrastructure management and freight train operations. The move brings Estonia into line with EU railway policy which mandates managerial and financial separation between ...
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NewsCo-operate and compete
ASIA: Recognising that the main area of growth in the urban rail sector for the next few years is likely to be the Far East, Veolia Transport and RATP Développement announced on January 21 that they were forming a joint venture company to bid for metro and public transport operating ...
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NewsKnorr-Bremse acquires Techtrain Associates
UK: HVAC specialist Techtrain Associates has been acquired by Knorr-Bremse Rail Systems (UK). Established in February 1997 by Martin Hoare, Doncaster-based Techtrain maintains and refurbishes train heating, ventilation and air-conditioning equipment and provides related training courses. The Railservices training activities of KBRS will now be based at ...
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NewsToronto tram purchase enters final phase
CANADA: Toronto Transit Commission completed negotiations on technical details and commercial arrangements with three potential suppliers of 204 low-floor trams by January 5. Alstom, Bombardier and Siemens were then given seven weeks to submit their final prices to TTC, which will recommend a winner to the nine-member commission. A final ...
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NewsWorld infrastructure market January 2009
Australia: Under a A$1bn five-year contract placed by RailCorp, the Novo consortium of Laing O’Rourke, O’Donnell Griffin and Connell Wagner will undertake work on Sydney’s CityRail network, upgrading the Lidcombe - Granville corridor, commissioning two turn-backs, remodelling junctions and strengthening traction supplies. Canada: Toronto Transit Commission has awarded Aecom ...
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NewsPeople in the News - January 2009
Philippe Gauderon takes over as Director of Infrastructure and Board Member at Swiss Federal Railways with effect from January 1. Formerly Deputy Director of the Passenger business and Head of Passenger Operations, he is being succeeded on an interim basis by Passenger Rolling Stock Manager Manfred Haller. Gauderon replaces ...
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NewsContract placed for next stage of Libyan network
LIBYA: On January 22 China Railway Construction Corp announced it had signed a US$805m contract to build a further 172 km of the planned Libyan rail network. Work on the line from Tripoli to Ras Ejder on the Tunisian border is scheduled to take 54 months. In 2008 CRCC ...
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NewsPrimove catenary-free induction tram
GERMANY: A tram powered by Bombardier's prototype Primove induction system was formally launched at the company's Bautzen plant on January 22. A potential rival to Alstom's APS ground-level power supply, Primove removes the need for catenary. Power is transferred to the vehicle by induction, as used in transformers. The ...
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NewsTranscontainer opens a gateway to the west
SLOVAKIA: A 15-year lease of a container transfer terminal will enable Russia’s intermodal operator to launch direct services between Moscow and the Adriatic ports, boosting its position in the Eurasian landbridge market. Chris Jackson reports from Dobra.
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NewsBangkok urban rail progress
THAILAND: Test running began on Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport rail link on January 18. Siemens has supplied four Siemens Desiro EMUs for the non-stop Airport Express services on the 28 km standard gauge line, and five three-car units which will operate a commuter service calling at eight intermediate stations. Meanwhile, ...
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NewsRail to benefit from Obama stimulus
USA: Following his inauguration on January 20, President Barack Obama is pushing ahead with legislation to fund a national economic stimulus package. The new administration reportedly wants to see the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act passed by both the House and Senate in Congress and be ready for the President’s ...
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NewsCzechs to outsource infrastructure maintenance
CZECH REPUBLIC: State-owned infrastructure manager SZDC has called bids for a 8½ year contract worth an estimated KC35·8bn to maintain the national network between July 2009 and December 2017. The outsourcing programme covers 60% to 70% of SZDC’s total annual expenditure, and following previous analysis it is hoping for ...
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NewsMTR wins Stockholm metro contract
SWEDEN: MTR Corp has been named the winner of a concession to operate the Stockholm metro from November 2. The Hong Kong transport operator saw off five rival bids for the contract, which runs for eight years with a possible six-year extension. 'MTR submitted the best bid from a ...
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NewsGO Transit unveils strategic plan
CANADA: GO Transit recently unveiled its GO 2020 strategic plan, which includes more commuter rail service and the purchase of additional right-of-way. The amount of trackage to be obtained has yet to be determined. The acquisition could begin as early as this year, adding to the right-of-way that GO ...
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NewsFunkey locomotive orders
SOUTH AFRICA: Transnet Rail engineering has ordered two 24 tonne diesel shunting locomotives from DCD Dorbyl for delivery to the Kings Rest and Bay Head yards by November. Lafarge Industries, Richards Bay Minerals and Nampower of Namibia have each ordered 35 tonne Funkey DHK locomotives for delivery this year. ...
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NewsTrams could return to Hamburg
GERMANY: Low-floor trams will enter service in Hamburg in 2014 if a project to build a 15 km route between Altona and Bramfeld goes as planned. Forming the first part of a network that could one day stretch to 50 km, the scheme won approval from the Hamburg Senate on ...
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NewsCompeting with the low-cost airlines
FRANCE: Staff on the iDTGV services which SNCF launched in December 2004 to compete with budget airlines are now using Motorola MC70 enterprise digital assistants to check tickets. Motorola had supplied 300 of the devices by the end of 2008, and they are being used to scan 2D barcodes on ...
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NewsFreight data exchange development
EUROPE: UIC has begun development of a standardised and secure way for the rail freight industry to exchange data. To be deployed from mid-2010, the software is intended to make rail more competitive by improving the reliability of journey times and the provision of shipment information. On December 17 ...
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NewsWhy won‘t passengers use ticket machines?
TICKETING: London commuter operator South West Trains and consumer body Passenger Focus comissioned Outlook Research to discover the reasons why some passengers appear reluctant to use ticket vending machines. Surveys undertaken at 11 stations in southern England found that most passengers queuing at booking offices could have bought their tickets ...