News – Page 271
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Rail Business UK
East Coast Main Line electrification research agreement
UK: An outline £10m co-investment agreement has been signed by the University of Leeds and the Rail Electrification Alliance which is undertaking the East Coast Main Line power supply upgrade programme. The agreement provides for two years of research into the best and ...
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News
Technical pillar boosts European harmonisation
EUROPE: Harmonised procedures have come into force making the EU Agency for Railways the single certification body for train operators and rolling stock used in international service, as well as for the approval of ERTMS trackside equipment. October 31 was the formal deadline for EU member states ...
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Rail Business UK
Regulator opens study into competition in the signalling market
UK: The Office of Rail & Road has opened a study into whether the market for the supply of signalling systems is fair and competitive. The regulatory body closed a previous study in April to enable it to focus on the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, ...
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News
ADB loan to complete Ferghana Valley modernisation programme
UZBEKISTAN: The Asian Development Bank has approved a US$121m loan to complete the modernisation of the rail network in the Ferghana Valley. The work is intended to stimulate economic growth and improve trade and regional connectivity along Central Asia Regional Economic Co-operation Corridor 2. The loan announced ...
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In depth
Interview: ‘Freight has had a good crisis’
Post-coronavirus financial pressure on governments and mounting public concern about climate change may finally prove the catalysts to unlock substantial private investment in European rail freight. Stephen Layburn and Tim Jackson of transport finance house Centrus describe the outlook to Nick Kingsley.
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News
Sleeping cars modernised
UKRAINE: National railway Ukrzaliznycia has unveiled two 18-berth sleeping cars which have been modernised at the Kakhovka workshops to extend the life of the 28 year old vehicles by a further 14 years. The modernisation costing 11∙5m hryvnia per car included mechanical overhaul, renewal of electrical equipment ...
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News
Research project starts work on FRMCS demonstrator
EUROPE: Work has officially started on an EU-backed project to develop a demonstrator version of the Future Railways Mobile Communication System, as a successor to current GSM-R technology.
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Rail Business UK
RIA and Women In Rail launch pan-industry equality charter
UK: A pan-industry agreement to champion diversity, equality and inclusion across the rail sector has been launched by the Railway Industry Association and Women In Rail.
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News
JR East to trial driverless Shinkansen operation next year
JAPAN: JR East announced on November 10 that it plans to use a 12-car Series E7 high speed trainset to undertake a series of driverless test runs in October and November 2021 as part of its Change 2027 programme.
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News
Valencia suburban signalling contract awarded
SPAIN: Infrastructure manager ADIF has awarded CAF Signalling a €20m contract to modernise supply signalling and telecoms for Valencia suburban Line C1. During the 18-month project CAF will supply safety and communications equipment for the introduction of automatic bidirectional block signalling between Silla and Cullera, and upgrade ...
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Rail Business UK
Leasing company takes on DMU heavy maintenance
UK: Responsibility for heavy maintenance, future maintenance optimisation and the enhancement of West Midlands Trains’ Bombardier Transportation Class 172 diesel multiple-units has been transferred from the operator to Porterbrook. The leasing company said this ‘new, more collaborative’ way of working would build on the quality and performance ...
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News
Kenyatta inaugurates Nairobi commuter DMU service
KENYA: The five diesel multiple-units procured by Kenya Railways Corp to expand its Nairobi commuter operations were formally launched into service on November 10. The first train was flagged off at Nairobi Central Station by President Uhuru Kenyatta, who was joined at the ...
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News
Green loan to finance Danish electric train fleet
DENMARK: National passenger operator DSB has signed a €400m green loan agreement with the Nordic Investment Bank to finance the acquisition of electric trains in 2020-25. The 15-year loan will contribute towards the acquisition of 42 Siemens Mobility Vectron electric locomotives, more than 100 EMUs and new ...
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News
Narrabri – North Star upgrading contract signed
AUSTRALIA: An A$650m contract for the next phase of the Inland Rail corridor has been signed by Australian Rail Track Corp and the Trans4m Rail joint venture.
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News
Railpool launches in Italy with Traxx contract
ITALY: Railpool has launched an Italian business, which CEO Torsten Lehnert said would form the basis for future expansion ‘in all southern Europe’. An initial contract has been signed for Captrain Italia to lease six new Bombardier Transportation Traxx E494 electric locomotives with last mile capability for ...
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News
Suction coupling simplifies train toilet tank emptying
GERMANY: Vogelsang has launched EasyConnect Eco WD, a low-drip suction coupling for emptying train toilet retention tanks. The coupling connects the onboard toilet tank to the suction hose of a disposal system, such as the TUnit from Vogelsang, to simplify and speed up the disposal process. The ...
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News
Public funds to save Italo-NTV
ITALY: From November 10, high speed open access operator Italo-NTV will cut back its services to a bare minimum because a second national lockdown needed to combat Covid-19 has caused demand to collapse.
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News
Mireo Smart to speed EMU deliveries
GERMANY: Siemens Mobility has announced plans to offer a standardised version of its Mireo articulated multiple-unit family, in a bid to reduce costs and shorten delivery times.
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News
Minas Gerais plan includes passenger revival
BRAZIL: Proposals for revitalising the rail network, including revival of both freight and passenger services, are being assessed in the state of Minas Gerais. Forming part of a Strategic Railway Plan for the state, the plans were presented at a hearing of the Extraordinary Commission for ...