News – Page 602
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Metro Report InternationalUkraine and EIB agree transport loan
UKRAINE: The government and European Investment Bank signed a €200m loan agreement on November 11 to support a nationwide public transport investment programme. The 22-year loan has a five-year grace period. The funds will contribute to the €408m urban transport programme that covers investment in 11 cities. The remainder ...
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NewsFunding approved for Paris EMU order
FRANCE: The board of Ile-de-France transport authority STIF approved on November 15 the provision of €500m to fund the purchase by SNCF of a further 52 Francilien electric multiple-units from Bombardier Transportation. The EMUs are scheduled to be delivered from March 2018 to operate on suburban lines J and L ...
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NewsSTIF approves funding for EMU order
FRANCE: The board of Ile-de-France transport authority STIF approved on November 15 the provision of €500m to fund the purchase by SNCF of a further 52 Francilien electric multiple-units from Bombardier Transportation. The EMUs are scheduled to be delivered from March 2018 to operate on suburban lines J and L ...
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NewsNokia to supply ‘first’ LTE-R network
SOUTH KOREA: Telecoms group Nokia is to supply Korea Rail Network Authority with what it says would be the ‘world’s first’ LTE-R mobile broadband network to support railway operations. The contract announced on November 14 covers the 120 km Wonju – Gangneung route which is under construction ...
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NewsPrototype piggyback wagons on test
CHINA: China Railway Corp is testing prototype piggyback wagons which have been developed by CRRC Qiqihar in partnership with the China Academy of Railway Sciences and other bodies. The manufacturer said that while piggyback operation is now common in North America and Europe, it is not used in China. ...
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NewsHS2 contracts let as government confirms northern routes
UK: The government announced on November 15 that it had awarded contracts worth £900m for enabling work on the first phase of the High Speed 2 project linking London with the West Midlands. In addition, the government also confirmed its preferred route for Phase 2b of the scheme, taking the ...
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Metro Report InternationalComparing suburban rail best practice
INTERNATIONAL: Catalunya regional operator FGC hosted the annual meeting of the International Suburban Rail Benchmarking Group on November 9-11. The event in Barcelona brought together 15 rail operators as part of an international project which aims to identify synergies and drive continuous improvement by providing a confidential environment where experts ...
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Metro Report InternationalComparing suburban rail best practice
INTERNATIONAL: Catalunya regional operator FGC hosted the annual meeting of the International Suburban Rail Benchmarking Group on November 9-11. The event in Barcelona brought together 15 rail operators as part of an international project which aims to identify synergies and drive continuous improvement by providing a confidential environment where experts ...
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NewsOmsk presents first low-floor tram
RUSSIA: The first low-floor tram in Omsk was presented on November 8 to mark the 80th anniversary of trams in the city. The partly low-floor single section tram uses a Belkommunmash AKSM-62103 car body that the Omsk tram operator fitted with overhauled trucks from a UKVZ KTM-5 tram. ...
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NewsIndependent transport regulator to be established
CZECH REPUBLIC: The government has approved an act paving the way for the creation of an independent transport infrastructure access regulator Úřad pro přístup k dopravní infrastruktuře with effect from April 1 2017. ÚPDI is to have 20 to 30 staff, and will be led by a chairman appointed by ...
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NewsArriva takes over London Overground concession
UK: Arriva became the sole operator of London Overground services with the start of the new operating concession on November 13. The £1·5bn contract which Transport for London has awarded to Arriva London Rail Ltd in March runs for 7½ years, with an option for up to two more years. ...
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Metro Report InternationalTfL seeks composite conductor rails
UK: As part of a long-term programme to replace London Underground’s steel conductor rails with more energy efficient composite designs, Transport for London is seeking options for conductor rails which could be used on parts of the deep level tube network where clearances are too tight for currently approved conductor ...
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NewsWorld rail freight news round-up
A pilot China-Pakistan Economic Corridor train co-ordinated by Pakistan’s Frontier Works Organization has run from Havelian freight terminal in northern Pakistan to Port Qasim at Karachi, carrying containers which had arrived from China by road convoy. Polish rail freight company Industrial Division has acquired four Newag E6ACT Dragon locomotives from ...
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NewsFeature articles in the November 2016 issue of Railway Gazette International
Feature articles in the latest issue of Railway Gazette International, the leading business journal for railway operators and suppliers, read in 140 countries. Subscribe to Railway Gazette International today. Comment Ride the digital wave in small steps News Main Line Urban Rail Market Industry ...
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NewsLokotrans timber wagons delivered
RUSSIA: Lokotrans has taken delivery of the first of 250 Type 13-6852 high-capacity timber wagons which are being supplied by United Wagon Co’s TikhvinSpetsMash business in co-operation with its Tikhvin plant. The 25 tonne axleload bogies mean the can carry a payload of 74 tonnes, and they have a capacity ...
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NewsAFE buys Swedish railcars
URUGUAY: National railway AFE has purchased seven Fiat Y1 diesel railcars from Swedish rolling stock leasing and maintenance company NetRail. One is to be used to provide spare parts, while the others are to be deployed to improve services from Montevideo to 25 de Agosto. AFE also plans to reinstate ...
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NewsLongest train washing plant in Berlin enters service
GERMANY: The longest train washing plant on the Berlin S-Bahn has commenced operations in Friedrichsfelde depot. The 160 m long wash road can wash an eight-car trainset in 30 min, around half the time taken by older washing plants. The plant took 12 months to install, with the €5·5m ...
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NewsEuropean Commission investigates claims of anti-competitive rail fares
CZECH REPUBLIC: The European Commission has begun an investigation into whether national operator ČD has breached EU competition rules by charging fares below its costs with the aim of excluding competitors from the passenger market. The Commission said ČD had ‘significantly decreased’ fares on the Praha – ...
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NewsRailway supply industry news round-up
In the six months from April 1 to September 30 Alstom booked €6·2bn of orders leading to a new record-breaking backlog of €33·6bn. Sales were up 8% (7% organically) at €3·6bn and adjusted EBIT grew 20% to €200m, with an adjusted EBIT margin of 5·6%. Net income reached €128m and ...
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NewsUS rail industry responds to Trump victory
USA: Responding to the results of the presidential and congressional elections held on November 8, Association of American Railroads President & CEO Edward R Hamberger said the rail freight sector was ‘eager to work with a new administration and Congress, helping advance policies that will spur economic growth, support quality ...