News – Page 102
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NewsGauteng resignalling project completed
SOUTH AFRICA: Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa has completed the resignalling of its suburban rail network in Gauteng province, serving Johannesburg and Pretoria. Underway since 2011, the two-stage project is the largest signalling project carried out on the network, according to main contractor Siemens Mobility. ...
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Metro Report InternationalBank backs Malaysian metro contractors and entrepreneurs
MALAYSIA: MBSB Bank is to offer a specially-designed financing programme to support contractors and suppliers involved in projects for Mass Rapid Transit Corp, including construction of the Rapid Transit System Link between Johor Bahru and Singapore. The financing programme is intended to increase the competitiveness of ...
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NewsErmewa to use Nexxiot technology for wagon telematics
EUROPE: Leasing company Ermewa is to integrate Nexxiot’s sensor and data technology into its existing wagon telematics to provide real-time information and detailed metrics covering vehicle location, utilisation, mileage, shocks and other events affecting maintenance, quality and safety. Nexxiot’s technology includes an interoperable ecosystem of ATEX-certified ...
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NewsNarrow gauge locos refurbished
BULGARIA: Express Service has completed the refurbishment of two Class 77 diesel locomotives used by national operator BDZ on the 760 mm gauge Septemvri – Dobrinishte line. The 4m leva contract was awarded in May 2020. The Maybach diesel engines have been replaced with Stage V ...
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NewsEurotunnel lorry shuttle service rebranded
EUROPE: Channel Tunnel concessionaire Getlink has announced what it calls a ‘major rebranding initiative’ for its Eurotunnel Le Shuttle Freight lorry shuttle service, which will now be known as LeShuttle Freight. This is part of a ‘full brand evolution across both the freight and car passenger ...
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NewsBulgarian ETCS support scheme approved
BULGARIA: The European Commission has approved under EU state aid rules a €32m Bulgarian scheme to encourage freight and passenger modal shift from road to rail. To be funded through the Recovery & Resilience Facility, the scheme aims to remove technical barriers to rail interoperability and ...
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NewsNational Express to become Mobico Group
INTERNATIONAL: National Express plc is to change the name of its corporate parent company to Mobico Group plc from early June. The board believes that the Mobico name better reflects its international nature and the range of public transport services it operates. The company said National ...
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NewsDanish IC5 Coradia Stream mock-up unveiled
DENMARK: National passenger operator DSB has unveiled a full-size mock-up of the IC5 Coradia Stream multiple-units which Alstom is to supply to replace IC3, IC4, IR4 and Øresund trainsets on inter-city and regional services. The IC5 design combines ‘innovation, sustainability and great passenger comfort in the ...
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News‘We need more capacity’ urges DB’s Nikutta as she takes on Rail Freight Forward leadership
EUROPE: DB Board Member for Freight and DB Cargo CEO Sigrid Nikutta has succeeded Rail Cargo Group Chief Executive Clemens Först as Chair of the Rail Freight Forward alliance.
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NewsOuigo España launches Madrid – Alacant service
SPAIN: SNCF’s low-cost subsidiary Ouigo España launched two pairs of daily trains between Madrid Chamartín and Alacant on April 28, following a ceremony at Alacant Terminal the previous day. The trains call only at Albacete Los Llanos on the 486 km route from Madrid Chamartín to ...
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Rail Business UKRail industry responds to longer lorry trailers
UK: The rail freight sector is not expecting to see a significant impact from the government’s decision to allow the operation of longer semi-trailers on Great Britain’s roads, although the RMT trade union has expressed concern. Following 11 years of trials involving 300 operators and 3 ...
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Rail Business UKNo silver bullet promised as TransPennine Express to transfer to Operator of Last Resort
UK: FirstGroup’s National Rail Contract to operate TransPennine Express services will not be renewed when it expires on May 28, Secretary of State for Transport Mark Harper announced on May 11. Operations will instead be transferred to the government’s Operator of Last Resort. Services will run ...
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NewsMetre gauge electro-diesel freight locos enter service
SPAIN: Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya has put into service the first two of five Class 257 metre gauge electro-diesel freight locos ordered from Stadler to replace its Class 254 diesels. The €30·2m contract for the 20 m long, 3 900 mm high, 90 tonne ...
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In depthAustria: A transport network for everyone
Emerging EU legislation on accessibility will put stronger regulatory requirements on public transport operators to ensure their services are open to all. Faced with a mix of modes including a large legacy tramway, Wien operator Wiener Linien is making steady progress towards meeting this challenge. Toma Bačić reports.
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NewsGerman government urged to revise pessimistic rail freight assumptions
GERMANY: The leaders of six private rail freight operators have published an open letter to federal Transport Minister Dr Volker Wissing urging the government to revise pessimistic forecasts for the sector’s future growth.
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Rail Business UKNetwork Rail trials mid-week engineering work to reflect post-pandemic travel demand
UK: With data from inter-city operator LNER suggesting that that Fridays and Sundays are now the most popular days for travel on the East Coast Main Line, infrastructure manager Network Rail is to undertake engineering work mid-week rather than at the weekend as a trial. Track, ...
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NewsHydrogen locos to be tested on coal trains
CANADA: Piloting the use of hydrogen locomotives is included in an agreement for Canadian Pacific Kansas City to haul steelmaking coal from Teck Coal’s four operations in southeastern British Columbia. The agreement announced on May 4 builds on existing services for Teck and runs until the end ...
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In depthAccessibility: Time to ‘mind the gap’, once and for all
The provision of level boarding between platforms and trains improves accessibility for all passengers, while cutting station dwell times and reducing safety risks. Gareth Dennis looks at the challenges and considers the best way to solve them.