News – Page 664
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NewsGreece extends rail privatisation deadlines
GREECE: The Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund has extended the timetable for the submission of bids for 100% stakes in national train operator Trainose and rolling stock maintenance business EESSTY, also known as Rosco. HRADF said three investors interested in Trainose had requested an extension to the March 21 deadline ...
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NewsBi-mode order planned as Hull Trains gets 10-year access agreement
UK: The Office of Rail & Road has approved open access inter-city operator First Hull Trains’ application for track access rights for a further 10 years from 2019. The FirstGroup subsidiary said this would enable it to go ahead with a £68m plan to order five Hitachi electro-diesel multiple-units which ...
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NewsBozankaya delivers its first tram to Kayseri
TURKEY: Kayseri Metropolitan Municipality took delivery of the first of 30 trams from Bozankaya on March 23. It will now undergo a month of testing on the standard gauge network. Kayseri Metropolitan Municipality placed a €42m order in August 2014 for 30 trams that will augment its existing fleet ...
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NewsTest running begins on Changsha metro Line 1
CHINA: Regular test runs on Changsha metro Line 1 started on March 21, following the first through run of a train on the route on January 20. The mostly underground Line 1 is expected to open to passengers at the end of June. The 23·6 km north-south route has ...
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NewsFirst train to Moreton Bay
AUSTRALIA: Queensland Rail has started test running on the 12·6 km Moreton Bay Rail Link, which is expected to open for revenue service later this year. Following energisation of the 25 kV 50 Hz electrification in January, the first test EMU operated over the line on March 16. Diverging from ...
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NewsFurther Xi’an metro plans approved
CHINA: The National Development & Reform Commission has approved plans for the further development of the Xi’an metro. One new line and further phases of two more are among the projects approved, in addition to revised plans for Phase 2 of Line 5 and Phase 2 of ...
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NewsSan Diego MTS approves capital funds
USA: San Diego Metropolitan Transit System approved $108m for its capital improvement programme for the 2017 financial year on March 17. Among the projects included in the funding is the purchase of eight low-floor light rail vehicles, which has been allocated $31m. Construction of new stop to serve San ...
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NewsNingbo metro Line 1 extended
CHINA: March 19 saw the start of trial operation on Phase 2 of Ningbo metro Line 1. The 25·3 km extension runs east from Donghuan Nanlu to Xiapu. Qiuga station is underground, while the other eight are elevated. The 20·9 km first phase of Line 1 opened on May ...
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NewsStacked depots in Singapore
SINGAPORE: Land Transport Authority has awarded GS Engineering & Construction Corp a S$2bn civil works contract for the East Coast Integrated Depot, which LTA says will be the first in the world to integrate three train maintenance depots and one bus depot in a single site. The 36 ha ...
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NewsIsrael Railways expands double-deck fleet
ISRAEL: Israel Railways has exercised an option for an additional 60 Bombardier Transportation Twindexx Vario push-pull coaches, and called tenders for the supply and maintenance of 60 double-deck electric multiple-units. The €106m firm order announced on March 21 has been placed within an October 2010 framework contract with Bombardier. ...
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NewsUniversity Link opens in Seattle
USA: The University Link extension of Seattle’s light rail line opened on March 19, six months ahead of schedule. The 5·1 km underground extension runs north from Westlake to the University of Washington. An intermediate stop at Capitol Hill provides interchange with the First Hill streetcar line. Journey time ...
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NewsNorthwest Extension opens in Phoenix
USA: The first phase of Valley Metro’s Northwest Extension opened on March 19 with a day of free travel across the Phoenix light rail network. The 5·2 km extension runs north along 19th Avenue from Montebello Avenue to Dunlap Avenue, with intermediate stops at Glendale Avenue and Northern Avenue. ...
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NewsParis metro hackathon prizes awarded
FRANCE: Alstom and programming school Ecole 42 have announced the winners of the hackathon that was held in Paris on March 17-18 with the aim of developing apps for connected metros. The prizes were handed out by Alstom CEO Henri Poupart-Lafarge and Ecole 42 Principal Xavier Niel. The aim ...
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NewsGold Coast light rail Stage 2 contractor selected
AUSTRALIA: Concessionaire GoldLinQ has selected CIMIC subsidiary CPB Contractors as preferred bidder to design and build the second phase of Gold Coast light rail. Contract signing is expected in mid-April. Construction is due to begin in April and end in late 2017, with passenger services expected to commence in 2018. ...
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NewsAurizon and Progress Rail announce maintenance agreement
AUSTRALIA: Aurizon has signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding with Progress Rail Services for a long-term maintenance and spare parts supply deal, as part of a programme intended to achieve savings of A$380m in 2015-18. Progress Rail was chosen following a competitive tender. A final agreement is expected to ...
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NewsAll-digital track geometry car delivered
CHINA: Ensco Rail has supplied Shanghai Metro with an all-digital measuring car which can provide track geometry, rail profile, corrugation and axle acceleration data. Ensco Rail said the digital sensors are the result of a significant R&D investment. They are smaller than previous designs, with computerised self-calibration, fewer parts and ...
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NewsRailway supply industry news in brief
Houghton International is to expand into a new operations facility and invest in machinery to handle the workload arising from a two-year contract to overhaul and repair 108 traction alternators for Great Western Railway’s IC125 fleet. Having seen ‘a steady growth in business’, the Houghton plans increase turnover to £20m ...
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NewsStadler selected to supply Rhein-Ruhr S-Bahn EMUs
GERMANY: Rhein-Ruhr transport authority VRR announced on March 17 that it had selected Stadler Pankow to supply 41 electric multiple-units and maintain them for 30 years. Stadler beat three other bidders to be named preferred bidder, and is expected to sign the contract following the customary 10-day standstill period. ...
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NewsHS2 Ltd appoints delivery partner
UK: HS2 Ltd announced on March 18 that it had appointed a team of CH2M, Atkins and Sener as engineering delivery partner for Phase 1 of the high speed line project. The engineering delivery partner will provide engineering and construction management support, and assist with preparations for the procurement ...
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NewsHitachi Rail USA opens assembly plant in Miami
USA: The Hitachi Rail USA subsidiary of Hitachi Rail Italy inaugurated its first US assembly plant on March 16, after six months of construction. The 1·3 ha plant in the Medley district of northwest Miami is to assemble 136 metro cars for Miami-Dade Transit’s Metrorail network. Assembly is due ...