Advocacy group TransitMatters has produced a report which looks at international best practice on railway electrification and argues that Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority could electrify its Boston commuter rail network for between $800m and $1∙5bn with completion in 2027-35, reducing emissions and allowing MBTA to run faster, more reliable EMUs rather than hauled stock. ‘Electrifying our rail network would be a win for everyone’, said the group’s Executive Director Jarred Johnson. ‘Teamed with better service, electrification will get people out of cars and open up opportunities for housing.’ The group says battery and hydrogen fuel cell power are ‘immature’ technologies ‘with many hurdles to overcome before they can be deployed in Boston’s wintry conditions’.
Teleste is to supply public address and passenger information systems, TFT and LED displays, CCTV and a pantograph monitoring system for the trainsets which Stadler is building for the Tyne & Wear Metro.
Karelia has become the ninth Russian region to adopt the Troika smart card, which was first launched in Moscow in 2013. Troika will also be introduced on urban buses in Komsomolsk-na-Amure next year.
Birmingham infrastructure risk management consultancy Equib is advising the Auckland Link Alliance in New Zealand, and assisting Toronto’s Metrolinx with strengthening its risk management processes.
Infrastructure consulting firm TY Lin International has appointed Robert Gorski as Sector Manager and Associate Vice-President Rail & Transit. He will lead strategic business development efforts and operations for the Rail & Transit sector in the central area of the USA, which includes Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin, and will be Project Manager for Chicago’s Red Line Extension where TYLI is providing a National Environmental Policy Act study and Preliminary Engineering services.
On October 12 the Dallas Area Rapid Transit board elected Michele Wong Krauseas Chair for a two-year term. She was appointed to the board in 2014 to represent the City of Dallas, and recently served as Vice-Chair. She is also on the American Public Transportation Association’s executive committee. Gary Slagel was elected as Vice-Chair, and Rodney Schlosser as Secretary and Robert Dye as Assistant Secretary.