All articles by Railway Gazette International – Page 1182
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News
Merseytram picks shortlist of five
ON SEPTEMBER 1 Merseyside Passenger Transport Executive is due to issue detailed information to the five candidates it has shortlisted for a contract to build and operate Line 1 of the proposed Merseytram network, a 19 km light rail route running from the centre of Liverpool to Kirkby (MR 03 ...
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Speed record foreshadows opening of UK's first high speed line
On July 30 a Eurostar trainset streaked through Kent on Section 1 of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link to set a UK rail speed record of 334·7 km/h. Murray Hughes rode the record-breaker
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Finance
Argentina:The Tecnicagua consultancy developing plans to re-open the route from Mendoza to Los Andes in Chile has signed a letter of intent to appoint state-owned development bank BICE as its financial agent. Should Tecnicagua win a call for tenders which is expected before the end of 2003, an international bond ...
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Sofia metro extension shortlist
BULGARIA: Final tenders are due this month to build a 2·3 km extension of the Sofia metro from Serdika to Interpred (RG 6.03 p347). A first round in May attracted 12 bids, of which five were shortlisted in July. According to Sofia Mayor Stefan Sofianski, construction will start by ...
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Genova light metro extended
AUGUST 7 saw the start of revenue services on a further section of Genova’s automated light metro, between Principe and San Giorgio, following an official inauguration on July 25. The line is being built and operated for the city by AnsaldoBreda.The initial 3·5 km between Brin and Dinegro was opened ...
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EMU upgrade
KRASNOYARSK Electric Railcar Repair Facility has completed the overhaul of an ER9P-311 electric multiple-unit, intended to improve passenger comfort on Russian Railways’ Krasnoyarsk - Abakan route. The AC EMU has been fitted with automatic doors, modern fire safety systems and upgraded heating. Three first-class carriages have been added to the ...
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Skoda Electric restructuring
ON JULY 1 Skoda Electric sro completed a merger with Skoda Trakcní Motory sro, and took over traction component casing production from Skoda Dopravní Technika sro.Skoda Holding, owned by Appian Group, began combining its electric traction systems manufacturing activities into a single entity at the start of the year, establishing ...
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Czech stations
CZECH Railways has begun a KC950m modernisation of Chocen station on the Decín - Praha - Breclav route, for completion in 2005. A consortium of Skanska CZ and SSZ Praha will upgrade track and overhead electrification for 160 km/h operation, build three island platforms and install a subway with lifts.A ...
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Czech stake
THE EUROPEAN Bank for Reconstruction & Development has acquired a 33% stake in Praha-Zilcín-based rolling stock builder Siemens Kolejov
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Virtual crowds
THEMOVEMENTS of hundreds of passengers at metro stations can be realistically modelled using Legion 1.3 software, which has been developed using research into crowd dynamics and the impact of spatial configurations on pedestrian movement. Legion’s consultants have been using previous versions of the software since 1999 to produce detailed, objective ...
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West Rail sets new standards in LINESIDE noise control
INTRO: Detailed design of trains, track and structures on Hong Kong’s West Rail line has achieved an unprecedented reduction in lineside noise and vibration. Development and implementation of a multi-plenum system has been key to the control of under-car noise, notably from the wheel/rail interfaceBYLINE: Alan Crockett and John Carlisle ...
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Zambia concession signed
A FORMAL agreement for the operation of passenger services on the Zambian Railways network was signed by Finance & National Planning Minister Ng’andu Magande and representatives of New Limpopo Bridge Projects Investments (Pty Ltd) on August 9. The deal follows signing of the terms for the freight concession in February ...
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Septa completes its Frankford Swing
METRO services on Philadelphia’s Market - Frankford line began using Septa’s new Frankford Transportation Center on August 4, following completion of a nine-day blockade to realign the elevated approaches. Due to be completed in 2005 at a cost of $187m, the bus/rail/light rail interchange forms part of a $650m reconstruction ...
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Co-operate or compete?
TAIWANESE Premier Yu Shyi-kun said last month that the government is to make available NT$100bn to Taiwan Railway Administration for upgrading its 1067mm gauge network. While TRA has not been seriously starved of funds (RG 3.01 p192), it is facing growing competition, not just from roads, but also from the ...
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Two-material rail combats rolling contact fatigue
INTRO: Reducing or preventing rolling contact fatigue has become a major issue for track engineers faced with the conflicting demands of heavier traffic, increased safety regulation and shorter possessions. Two-material rail could be the answer for critical locations such as switches and crossingsBYLINE: Martin Hiensch** As Project Manager, InfraStar, Martin ...
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NewsTurning coal and containers into profit
Since moving into the private sector in 1996, Freightliner has reshaped its intermodal business and expanded into coal and other bulk cargo. Murray Hughes talked to Chief Executive Alan Galley
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Softly, softly under the city
Track in the long tunnels forming the approach to St Pancras of Section 2 of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link is being designed to minimise environmental noise and vibration as high speed trains pass below London
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West Coast Route Modernisation still faces tough choices
Richard Hope outlines the huge effort required since January 2002 to rescue critical elements of a project whose estimated cost has multiplied six-fold since delivery of 225 km/h operation with tilting trains was promised back in 1998
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Millennium bugs strike Sydney
MICHAEL COSTA, Minister for Transport Services in New South Wales, released on August 14 a letter to EDI Rail, supplier of Sydney’s Millennium EMUs, informing the company that the state government would suspend payments for the double-deck suburban trains until technical problems with on-board computer systems had been resolved. Telling ...
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BRKS start-up
SLOVAKIA’s first regional rail operator expects to open its second route on September 1, with the restoration of passenger services between Zohor and Rohozník. County-owned Bratislask