Passenger rail news – Page 261
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News
Strategic thinking can reduce the mass of commuter EMUs
Rolling stock manufacturers are studying the potential for reducing the weight of rolling stock, with a view to cutting energy consumption and life-cycle costs. Experience from Japan suggests that taking a strategic view offers long-term benefits
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NewsDouble-deck multiple-units arrive on Zürich's S-Bahn network
Due to enter service on S-Bahn routes in Zürich this summer are the first of 35 double-deck commuter EMUs ordered from Siemens in 2003, which offer a high rate of acceleration for rapid journeys between the closely-spaced stops and level boarding from the station platforms
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News
Three replacement franchises start
UK: Low-key celebrations were held in London on April 3 to mark the start of three replacement train operating franchises. FirstGroup has retained the First Great Western branding for its expanded ’Greater Western’ franchise which combines the FGW Link suburban services and the Wessex Trains regional services formerly run by ...
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NewsFaster ticket transactions increase satisfaction
WATCHING passengers trying to buy tickets is a key part of research being carried out by Amberlight, a consultancy specialising in human-computer interaction which has been hired to improve the user interface of self-service ticket machines operated by South Eastern Trains. The British train operator appointed Amberlight last October to ...
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News
Beijing - Tianjin elevated design anticipates 350 km/h
The Beijing - Tianjin high speed line will be the first in China built for 300 km/h, and the alignment will ultimately permit 350 km/h operation.
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Meeting the high-altitude challenge
The first of 361 passenger cars Bombardier Sifang Power is building for the new line to Lhasa was dispatched to Tibet for trials in February. Designed to operate at altitudes up to 5000m, they have special equipment to cope with ultra-violet radiation, low oxygen levels and reduced atmospheric pressure
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News
Transport for London to take over suburban services
UK: The Department for Transport confirmed on February 14 that it had reached agreement to transfer responsibility for four suburban rail services to Transport for London on November 11 2007. TfL London Rail is to start work shortly on 'procuring a concession' to run the Silverlink Metro inner suburban routes: ...
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Seat belts increase injury, says study
'THERE IS no overall net safety benefit associated with the fitting of two-point passenger restraints to trains. Two-point passenger restraints should therefore not be fitted to rail vehicles', concludes research by Britain's Rail Safety & Standards Board. The study found that injuries would be worsened if passengers in a collision ...
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News
Canadian wi-fi goes ahead
VIA RAIL has announced it will provide wi-fi on all trains operating in the Québec - Windsor corridor by November 2006. Parsons is funding the US$2·3m five-year project under a revenue-sharing arrangement with no risk for VIA, and the company will install equipment on 150 coaches, 22 stations and ...
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News
Crashworthy cab cars
SOUTHERN California Regional Rail Authority is planning to replace its 42 Metrolink push-pull driving trailers with new cars, following a number of collisions with road vehicles on level crossings, one of which killed 11 people in January 2005. Part of an order for 80 to 100 cars likely to be ...
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NewsLate deliveries justify compensation
DANISH State Railways ordered a fleet of 83 IC4 diesel multiple-units from AnsaldoBreda in December 2000 at a cost of DKr5bn. Intended to work inter-city services between København and cities in Jutland, the four-car 200 km/h articulated trainsets are notable for their absence from Danish tracks. Although two trains are ...
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NewsNarrow-gauge tycoons revive Poland's regional lines
Originally established by railway enthusiasts, SKPL has grown into a significant commercial operator of regional services on narrow gauge networks closed by Poland's state railway
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NewsBangkok Airport Express to change city travel
The 28 km standard gauge link to the new Bangkok airport lies at the heart of plans to revitalise the Thai capital’s urban rail services. Andrew Grantham reports
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News
Europe's fastest trains start trials
Destined to link Madrid with Barcelona at up to 350 km/h, two eight-car Velaro E trainsets are on test in Spain
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News
Chipped shop
PASSENGERS travelling with London commuter operator Thameslink have begun using self-service Chip &PIN ticket vending machines supplied by Shere. The software is initially being piloted at seven stations, and roll-out at a further three is 'imminent'. All Thameslink stations will offer self-service Chip & PINmachines by the end of 2005. ...
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News
Stadler wins Dutch GTW order
ARRIVA has ordered a fleet of 43 low-floor diesel railcars from Stadler Bussnang to operate a 255 route-km network of secondary lines in the northeastern Netherlands provinces of Friesland and Groningen. The cars are being bought under the terms of a 15-year operating concession which starts in December 2005. Herrenveen-based ...
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One coach refurbishment contract
UK: Bombardier has been awarded a £17m contract by Porterbrook Leasing to overhaul and refurbish 110 MkIII coaches used by National Express Group's Greater Anglia train operating company One. Superseded by Pendolino tilting trains on Virgin West Coast services, the MkIIIs were leased by One last year to replace older ...
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NewsEconomic growth boosts Ireland's railways
IRELAND: National economic growth has required a rapid increase in capacity and service quality at Iarnród Éireann. Chief Operating Officer Dick Fearn told Andrew Grantham how this is being provided, and why he is happy with a vertically-integrated railway.
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News
GNER wins second franchise term
MAY 1 marks the start of a new 10-year contract to operate the UK's Inter-City East Coast franchise. The deal was signed on March 18 by Sea Containers' subsidiary Great North Eastern Railway, which has run the route from London to Leeds, York, Newcastle and Edinburgh since 1996. The ...
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News
Changing the perception of inter-city
THE FLEET of 120 inter-city diesel multiple-unit vehicles ordered in January represents a new departure for Iarnród Éireann, which currently uses loco-hauled vehicles on long-distance services. Funded by the government's National Development Plan, the €262m contract for the trains was signed with Japanese trading group Mitsui at a ceremony in ...