News – Page 217
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Rail Business UKFatigue and stress led to Hitachi train cracks, finds ORR
UK: Both fatigue and stress corrosion led to the cracks that resulted in Hitachi-built Class 80x trainsets and Class 385 EMUs being withdrawn from service earlier this year, according to an interim review released by the Office of Rail & Road.
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NewsAutonomous hydrogen trains planned in Sakhalin
RUSSIA: Two multilateral agreements have been signed to explore the potential for autonomous operation of hydrogen-powered trains in Sakhalin oblast.
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NewsPro Trilhos programme kickstarts 10 rail projects worth R$53∙5bn
BRAZL: Designating this month as ‘Railway September’, the government has introduced legislation to simplify the process of authorising the construction of new rail projects.
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In depthFreight: Delivering Europe’s digital coupler
Testing of four prototype digital automatic coupler designs is underway as a deployment programme takes shape aimed at boosting the productivity and competitiveness of rail freight operations across Europe by 2030. However, much remains to be done.
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NewsTransdev picked to run Région Sud TER package
FRANCE: Région Sud has selected Transdev for a 10-year concession to operate regional trains between Marseille, Toulon and Nice, ahead of rival bids from SNCF and Thello.
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Rail Business UKGauge survey automation technology approved
UK: Network Rail has approved the use of automation technology from Maestrano subsidiary Cordel for use in clearance gauging across the network. This is expected to help speed-up the work involved in introducing new trains or undertaking infrastructure works. The Cordel Workbench is an AI-powered automated ...
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NewsADIF AV calls tenders to complete Almería – Murcia high speed corridor
SPAIN: Following approval by the infrastructure ministry at the end of August, ADIF Alta Velocidad is to call tenders for construction of 31 km of high speed line between Lorca and Pulpí, one of the final stretches of the high speed corridor between Almería and Murcia. The budgeted cost is €197∙5m, and the resulting contract would run for 34 months.
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NewsProgress Rail to develop hydrogen fuel cell locomotive
USA: Progress Rail is to lead the development of a demonstrator hydrogen fuel cell locomotive and fuelling infrastructure as part of a co-operation agreement announced by its parent company Caterpillar Inc on September 8. Caterpillar has agreed to work with energy supplier Chevron on the development ...
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NewsElectro-diesel Flirt handed over in Norway
NORWAY: A ceremony to mark the handover of the first of 14 electro-diesel Flirt multiple-units being built by Stadler for use by SJ Nord was hosted by the manufacturer, national rolling stock owner Norske Tog and the future operator on September 1. ...
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NewsSotetsu Series 21000 EMU enters service
JAPAN: Sagami Railway has put into service the first of four Series 21000 EMUs ordered to operate through services to Tokyo’s Meguro station over the Sotetsu-Tokyu Link.
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NewsIndian Ocean – China freight corridor launched
ASIA: A first trial shipment has been completed on a sea, road and rail freight corridor linking Chengdu with the Indian Ocean via Myanmar. This is intended to provide inland China with a route to and from southeast Asia which avoids China’s eastern ports. The trial ...
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NewsBattery electric multiple-unit demonstrated
GERMANY: Alstom has demonstrated its prototype battery-powered Talent 3 electric-multiple unit in Sachsen, with the company’s President for Germany, Austria & Switzerland Müslüm Yakisan emphasising that the company ‘has the clear goal of becoming the international leader in alternative drive technologies for rail travel’. The prototype ...
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NewsWestbahn unveils Kiss 3 double-deck EMUs to celebrate sustainable travel pass
AUSTRIA: Open access operator Westbahn has unveiled the first of 15 third-generation six-car Kiss trainsets. Ordered from Stadler under a €300m full-service contract in October 2019, the double-deck EMUs are due to carry their first fare-paying passengers on September 9. Westbahn announced during a press trip ...
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NewsRER Line A relaying completed
FRANCE: Paris operator RATP has successfully completed the relaying of all trackwork on RER Line A, with the restoration of full services at the beginning of September. Completed in 1977, Line A has seen a 20% increase in ridership over the past decade, and is now ...
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NewsElectro-diesel locomotives arrive in Turkey
TURKEY:·The first two of seven Stadler EuroDual electro-diesel locomotives ordered by Körfez Ulaştırma have been delivered to the port of Derince in Kocaeli, two weeks after leaving the factory in Valencia. Approval testing by an independent company and regulator UHDGM has begun ...
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NewsTrack doubling south of Zürich underway
SWITZERLAND: Work to double-track the 3 km Uznach – Schmerikon section of the Ziegelbrücke – Rapperswil line southeast of Zürich was launched with a groundbreaking ceremony on August 30. The SFr56m project financed by the federal government is scheduled to be completed in December 2023. It ...
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Rail Business UKPassenger occupancy analytics partnership follows successful trial
ANALYTICS: Icomera and Glimpse Analytics are to co-operate to offer ‘robust’ video analytics software for the real-time monitoring of passenger loadings, enabling operators and passengers to make more informed decisions based on train occupancy. The partnership agreement follows successful trials on South Western Railway services from ...
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In depthFreight: STB juggles merger challenges
Over the coming months, the US Surface Transportation Board must rule on two proposed mergers involving Class I railroads, at a time of increasing calls for more competition in the US transport sector. Chris Jackson investigates.
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NewsFirst ILSA ETR1000 high speed train starts trials
SPAIN: Open access operator ILSA announced on September 6 that the first of its 23 ETR1000 high speed trainsets had arrived in Spain from Italy and would commence running trials this week on the 44∙4 km Figueres – Perpignan cross-border route through the Pyrenees. Testing will ...