News – Page 284
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Rail Business UKHigh Speed 2 main works construction officially begins
UK: High Speed 2 project promoter HS2 Ltd marked the symbolic start of the main works for the 225 km Phase 1 of the project on September 4, noting that its contractors were moving from enabling, design and preparatory works to full construction. The announcement followed the ...
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NewsCeneri Base Tunnel inaugurated
SWITZERLAND: The 15·4 km Ceneri Base Tunnel between Bellinzona and Lugano was formally inaugurated on September 4, with President of the Swiss Confederation Simonetta Sommaruga cutting a ribbon before the inaugural freight train ran south. This was followed by special passenger trains carrying guests in each direction. ...
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NewsBLS CEO steps down after Federal Audit Office finds flaws in accounting processes
SWITZERLAND: The country’s second largest railway has an overly complex accounting process which needs improvement, according to an investigation of flawed reporting for public funding by BLS which was published by the Federal Audit Office on September 3. Following the publication of the report, BLS announced that ...
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NewsRegioJet takes on MÁV-Start by offering intra-Hungarian fares
RegioJet’s Hungarian service links Budapest with Wien twice daily. HUNGARY: RegioJet has begun selling tickets for journeys within Hungary on its Praha – Wien – Budapest services, becoming the first private operator to challenge incumbent MÁV-Start on domestic journeys. On August 26 the open access operator began ...
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NewsX-ray train inspection systems ordered for US border crossings
USA: The Department of Homeland Security’s Customs & Border Protection agency has awarded Smiths Detection a framework contract for the supply of X-ray scanners for use at railway checkpoints on the borders with Canada and Mexico. The side-view high-energy X-ray inspection scanners will be used to screen ...
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NewsTamworth Intermodal Rail Line funding announced
AUSTRALIA: The government of New South Wales has announced A$28m of funding for the Tamworth Intermodal Rail Line to reinstate a section of non-operational railway between West Tamworth and Barraba. This will provide a rail route to a planned intermodal facility at Westdale near Tamworth. Construction is ...
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NewsRail receives €4·7bn in French recovery spending package
Photo: Christophe Masse FRANCE: The government announced on September 3 its intention to provide a financial support package for the rail sector worth €4·7bn as part of a post-pandemic recovery plan. Transport Secretary Jean-Baptiste Djebbari said that the funding package, which forms part of a wider national ...
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NewsWabtec opens additive manufacturing centre in Bengaluru
INDIA: Wabtec Corp has collaborated with 3D printing equipment supplier HP and supply chain specialist Redington to open an additive manufacturing centre at its Bengaluru site The Wabtec India Additive Manufacturing Centre is focused on accelerating the design and production of components for prototyping and short to ...
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NewsAmtrak works with Reckitt Benckiser to increase cleaning
USA: Amtrak is to work with cleaning, health and household products manufacturer Reckitt Benckiser to strengthen its disinfection protocols for trains, stations and lounges. RB is to supply disinfection equipment for use across high-touch and high-traffic areas, including products which Amtrak said were proven to be effective ...
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NewsFreight RAILCAR bill aims to support US wagon industry
USA: The Railway Supply Institute which represents more than 200 companies has welcomed the bipartisan introduction to the House of Representatives of the Freight Rail Assistance & Investment to Launch Coronavirus-era Activity & Recovery Act, which would offer a time-limited 50% tax credit for purchasing new wagons ...
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NewsIncreasing capacity west of Spandau
GERMANY: The Länder of Berlin and Brandenburg have signed an agreement with Deutsche Bahn to finance studies for a project to increase capacity on the 23 km Spandau – Nauen section of the Berlin – Hamburg corridor, including a proposed extension of the Berlin S-Bahn to Finkenkrug. ...
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NewsKnorr-Bremse brings rail HVAC activities under Merak brand
MERAK: Knorr-Bremse has unified its worldwide rolling stock heating, ventilation and air-conditioning activities under the overall brand name Merak. This covers Merak’s global headquarters at Getafe in Spain, Merak North America, the Merak-Jinxin joint venture in China, the rail HVAC activities of Sigma in Australia, Kiepe Electric ...
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NewsCovid-19 aid package unfair, say independent operators
GERMANY: Financial aid earmarked for national operator Deutsche Bahn in the form of a €5bn equity increase as compensation for the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic constitutes unfair state aid under European Union law, according to Netzwerk Europäischer Eisenbahnen, an association of around 60 independent rail freight ...
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NewsUzbekistan completes Ferghana Valley electrification project
UZBEKISTAN: Electrification of the 331 km railway ring in the Ferghana Valley was officially completed on August 30, when electric services were inaugurated on the 101 km Namangan – Andijon section. The ring runs from Pap through Namangan, Andijon, Marg‘ilon, and Qo‘qon back ...
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NewsDigital coupler ‘opens door to automation’
GERMANY: Deutsche Bahn has launched a programme to test digital automatic couplings in live freight traffic. Speaking during a demonstration of prototype couplers at the DB Systemtechnik Minden research facility on August 31, Sabina Jeschke, DB’s Board Member for Digitalisation & Technology, said that the technology ‘opens ...
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NewsThree prequalify for large Swiss train contract
SWITZERLAND: Three manufacturers have prequalified for a contract to supply a total of 194 electric-multiple units in a procurement process which is being run by Swiss Federal Railways and its local operating joint ventures Thurbo in Thurgau and RegionAlps in Valais. The shortlisted bidders announced on September ...
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NewsVoters reject Liechtenstein S-Bahn proposal
LIECHTENSTEIN: Plans for a cross-border S-Bahn service linking Austria and Switzerland through the principality were rejected by 62·3% of voters in a referendum held on August 30. A letter of intent to go ahead with the long-planned project had been signed by Liechtenstein’s Deputy Prime Minister and ...
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NewsJR East extends repair work on concrete structures
The Shinkansen network makes extensive use of long elevated structures to minimise land take in urban areas. JAPAN: East Japan Railway announced on August 26 that it intends to carry out remedial work on several elevated concrete structures across its 1 067 mm gauge conventional network, complementing ...
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Rail Business UKGWR Emergency Measures Agreement extended
UK: On September 1 the Department for Transport exercised its option to extend the Emergency Measures Agreement covering FirstGroup’s Great Western franchise until at least June 26 2021. FirstGroup Chief Executive Matthew Gregory said this ‘provides important clarity and continuity for our customers, employees and wider stakeholders’. ...