News – Page 349
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NewsWork starts to rebuild Istanbul – Bulgaria main line
The start of work ceremony was attended by guests including EU Transport Commissioner Violeta Bulc. TURKEY: Work on modernisation of the 233 km line from Halkalı west of Istanbul to the Bulgarian border crossing at Kapıkule began on September 25 with a foundation-laying ceremony in Edirne attended ...
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NewsThalys-Eurostar merger planned under Green Speed initiative
EUROPE: SNCF, SNCB and the Patina Rail investment vehicle announced on September 27 their intention to combine the Eurostar and Thalys high speed rail operations, reporting that outline proposals were being presented to their respective boards. The proposed merger is being taken forward under a project ...
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Metro Report InternationalSystra awarded Grand Paris Express contract
Grand Paris Express FRANCE: Grand Paris Express metro project promoter Société du Grand Paris has awarded Systra a contract to provide technical project management assistance services for construction of the East and West sections of the future automated Line 15. What Systra described as ‘an exceptionally large’ ...
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NewsNewag awarded locomotive contracts
Trako POLAND: PKP Intercity has awarded Newag a contract to supply a further 10 Griffin 160 km/h electric locomotives. The 183·8m złoty order has been placed as an option on a May 2018 contract for an initial 20 locomotives. It was announced at the Trako ...
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Metro Report InternationalBeijing Daxing airport opens with high speed rail and metro links
CHINA: Two rail links to Beijing’s second international airport were opened for revenue services on September 26, the same day that commercial passenger flights began using Beijing Daxing Airport. This followed official inauguration of the airport by President Xi Jinping the previous day. ...
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Metro Report InternationalGround-level electric bus recharging system presented
SPAIN: Alstom has unveiled a pilot installation of its SRS ground-based recharging system for electric buses in front of the University of Malaga’s School of Industrial Engineering. Based on the supplier’s established recharging technology for trams, this is designed to provide a safe ground-level ...
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NewsRailway supply industry news round-up
A memorandum of understanding has been signed for Plasser & Theurer to test its track inspection vehicles and technologies on ÖBB Infra’s tracks, in return for providing the Austrian infrastructure manager with data about the condition of its assets. SilverRail Technologies Inc has exercised an option to ...
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NewsVDB calls for faster digital roll-out strategy
GERMANY: Rail industry association VDB has put forward a seven-point plan to accelerate the introduction of digital train control across the national rail network, suggesting that an industrial scale roll-out of digital interlockings and ETCS could begin as soon as 2022. The proposals follow the signing on ...
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NewsTurkey to develop national rail research institute
The institute is intended to support development of the Turkish main line network. It will be eventually be based at TCDD premises in Ankara. TURKEY: The Ministry for Transport & Infrastructure is to establish an Institute of Rail Transport Technology, which will be operated jointly by infrastructure ...
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NewsAmsterdam – London through train agreement to be signed shortly
EUROPE: The international agreement which would permit the operation of through passenger services between the Netherlands and the UK is expected to be signed in October, State Secretary for Justice & Security Ankie Broekers-Knol told the Dutch parliament’s lower house on September 25. Eurostar told Railway Gazette ...
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News5G remote control train tested
GERMANY: A test train with no driver on board has been remotely controlled using equipment based on 5G technology. The test train ran for the first time on September 17 on a section of the 25 km Erzgebirgische Aussichtsbahn between Annaberg-Buchholz and Schwarzenberg in Sachsen. It consisted ...
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NewsUIC to promote open source projects
INTERNATIONAL: The International Union of Railways has launched OpenRail as a brand to gather and promote open source projects in the rail sector, and to foster proofs of concept and software development. Announcing OpenRail on September 20, UIC said the programme would facilitate the identification of open ...
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NewseTrack rail-lifting clamp designed to improve safety
SPAIN: Elebia has developed eTrack, a 2 000 kg capacity remote-controlled clamp to enhance safety when handling rails. ‘We were approached by a European company that was searching for a solution to the safety and security issues associated with alternative rail handling methods’, explained Elebia founder & ...
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Metro Report InternationalMessina tramway’s future secured
ITALY: The Ministry of Infrastructure & Transport has provided an initial €11·1m for track (€4·4m) and rolling stock (€6·7m) maintenance on the Messina tramway. Works are due to start within weeks and will require partial closures. The funding marks a turnaround from September 2018 when Mayor Cateno ...
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NewsFritzson re-elected as CER looks ahead
CER Chairman Crister Fritzson and Executive Director Libor Lochman EUROPE: SJ AB President & CEO Crister Fritzson has been re-elected as Chairman of the Community of European Railway & Infrastructure Companies, following the CER General Assembly in Gdańsk on September 23. Fritzson, who also chairs the Swedish ...
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NewsCircumvesuviana EMUs ordered
ITALY: Napoli regional transport operator EAV has selected Hitachi Rail to supply and maintain 40 1·5 kV DC electric multiple-units for the 950 mm gauge Circumvesuviana railway. President of the Campania region Vincenzo De Luca said the €314m order announced on September 24 would provide a significant ...
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NewsPartnership to develop North American rail portfolio
NORTH AMERICA: Middle-market investor Connor, Clark & Lunn Infrastructure has announced a partnership with Alpenglow Rail’s short line management team with the aim of developing a portfolio of rail businesses across North America. As part of this, CC&L has acquired VIP Rail from private equity firm and ...
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NewsSurface Transportation Board proposes rule changes
USA: The Surface Transportation Board has begun consultation on proposed rule changes intended to reduce the cost and complexity of its rate review procedures, particularly in small cases, and to provide a streamlined market dominance process. The proposals build on recommendations made by STB’s rate reform task ...
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NewsAlstom to supply ETCS for Paris – Lyon high speed line
FRANCE: SNCF Réseau has awarded a framework contract to Alstom for the development, installation and maintenance of ERTMS equipment on LGV Sud-Est between Paris and Lyon. Valued at €52·5m, the contract announced on September 25 was awarded following a negotiated procedure and a prior call for competition. ...
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NewsHigh speed trains’ electrical equipment to be replaced
TAIWAN: Toshiba Infrastructure Systems & Solutions Corp has been awarded a contract to supply replacement electrical equipment for Taiwan High Speed Rail Corp’s fleet of 30 Series 700T trainsets. TISS will manufacture the equipment at its Fuchu site in Japan for delivery from the first half of ...