All articles by Rail Business UK – Page 89
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Rail Business UKSmart Weed System to improve environmental performance
UK: A novel vegetation control train is set to begin operation in May, with two more due to follow by April 2022. The Smart Weed System trains will use cameras to detect weeds in and around the track and apply the most appropriate herbicide, while gathering ...
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Rail Business UKPendolinos rebranded as Avanti West Coast embarks on fleet refurbishment programme
UK: Avanti West Coast reports that Phase 1 of its Pendolino relivery programme has been completed, with 51 of the 56 sets now featuring the Avanti West Coast branding on their leading vehicles. Of the other five, trains 155 and 156 were fully wrapped in the ...
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Rail Business UKSouthern’s first refurbished Electrostar returns to service
UK: Unit 377 430 is the first Electrostar electric multiple-unit to return to service following refurbishment under Govia Thameslink Railway’s fleet modernisation programme. The £55m programme known as Project Aurora covers 214 Bombardier Transportation Class 377 Electrostar trainsets operated on Southern services, and 56 similar Class ...
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Rail Business UKLarge information display to be installed at ‘challenging’ Manchester Piccadilly
UK: A large RGB LED display incorporating wayfinding and other information features is to be installed in a ‘very challenging’ area of Manchester Piccadilly station.
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Rail Business UKWales & Borders rail franchise taken into public ownership
UK: The Welsh Government took Wales & Borders passenger services into public ownership on February 7, insisting that the move which had been announced in October would provide longer-term financial stability to ‘protect services, safeguard jobs and deliver infrastructure improvements in light of the ongoing challenges of coronavirus.’
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Rail Business UKCustom jacks for a confined space
UK: Depot equipment specialist Mechan developed a bespoke set of slimline lifting jacks for use in the confined space between shed wall and track at Davis Wagon Services’ workshop on the Isle of Grain in Kent. Mechan modified its jack design to make the footprint as ...
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Rail Business UKGWR to make extra stops to serve vaccination centre
UK: Great Western Railway is to stop 17 extra London Paddington – Bedwyn trains a day at Newbury Racecourse from February 8, to help people access a coronavirus vaccination centre there. This will be in addition to the current hourly timetabled service between Newbury and Reading. ‘Rail ...
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Rail Business UKPay freeze looms as rail staff declared public sector employees
UK: Industry speculation regarding a pay freeze for railway staff was confirmed when Secretary of State for Transport Grant Shapps spoke to the Transport Select Committee on February 3. ‘There will need to be pay freezes outside of things like healthcare, and I think most people ...
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Rail Business UKFranchise termination negotiations run on past deadline
UK: Negotiations over the termination of passenger franchise contracts are proving difficult, with some payments yet to be agreed and direct awards still being discussed.
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Rail Business UKUS firm to bring its battery track maintenance tools to the UK market
UK: New Jersey-based battery-powered track maintenance tool manufacturer Focused Technology Solutions is in talks with potential strategic partners for the launch of its products in the British market during Q1 2021. Intended as a more cost-efficient, environmentally-friendly and productive replacement for hydraulic tools, the range includes ...
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Rail Business UKNetwork Rail awards drone management contract
UK: Network Rail has awarded specialist company Dronecloud a five-year contract to supply enterprise-level software-as-a-service to manage its fleet of infrastructure monitoring and surveying aerial vehicles. Dronecloud CEO Jan Domaradzki said drone operations had evolved organically in many industries, and as activities become more complex companies ...
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Rail Business UKSmart kiosk brings the online ticketing experience to the station
UK: A ticket vending machine which offers a full range of ticketing products though an interface similar to a website or app has been developed by operator East Midlands Railway, software supplier SilverRail and vending machine maker Cammax. Smart Kiosk uses the ...
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Rail Business UKStourbridge shuttle peoplemovers to be modified
UK: Services on the short branch from Stourbridge Junction to Stourbridge Town will be replaced by buses for two weeks from February 8, with West Midlands Railway and Pre Metro Operations taking advantage of current low ridership to make improvements to the route’s two Parry People ...
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Rail Business UKTransport for Greater Manchester takes over Horwich Parkway station as a step to more local control
UK: Transport for Greater Manchester replaced Northern Trains Ltd as the operator of Horwich Parkway with effect from February 1, in a move which the authority sees as a first step towards the local management of more stations. TfGM is now responsible for ticket sales, customer service, ...
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Rail Business UKNew Chairman at Angel Trains
UK: Mark Russell became Chairman of rolling stock leasing company Angel Trains on February 1, when Tom Smith stepped down after two three-year terms. Russell is Chair of Ministry of Defence procurement and support organisation DE&S, Vice-Chair of UK Government Investments and non-executive director of ...
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Rail Business UKRSSB appoints Sustainability Director to ‘reinvigorate’ rail sector’s approach
UK: Rail safety and standards body RSSB has appointed George Davies as Director of Sustainable Development, leading a new programme designed to ‘reinvigorate’ the rail sector’s efforts to tackle challenges including decarbonisation, air quality and social sustainability. Davies was previously Head of Sustainability at Heathrow Airport. ...
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Rail Business UKDfT revisits Euston plans as pressure mounts over HS2’s Eastern Leg
UK: An agenda for the Transport for London board meeting on February 5, issued in late January, indicates that the Department for Transport intends to proceed with changes to the layout of the High Speed 2 terminus at London Euston and the construction phasing.
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Rail Business UKMass transit network proposed for West Yorkshire
UK: ‘Emerging plans’ for a network of light rail or bus rapid transit services are included in the Connectivity Infrastructure Plan and Mass Transit Vision 2040 published by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority. The documents also set out the role of railway electrification and major projects ...