All articles by Railway Gazette International – Page 551
-
NewsTesting resumes on LGV Est
FRANCE: Dynamic trials on the second section of LGV Est-Européene between Baudrecourt and Vendenheim resumed on February 29. Testing of track, electrification, signalling and radio systems on the high speed line is being carried out under stricter safety procedures introduced following the fatal accident at Eckwersheim on November 14 2015. ...
-
NewsHigh-capacity cement wagons unveiled
UK: The first of a fleet of 48 wagons built by Feldbinder for Hope Construction Materials was unveiled at the company’s cement works at Hope in Derbyshire on February 26 by Transport Minister Andrew Jones. Half of the wagons are now in service, and the rest are expected to arrive ...
-
NewsMobile ticketing launches in Houston
USA: Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County launched a mobile ticketing app for light rail and buses in Houston on February 29. Developed by GlobeSherpa, part of the RideScout group, the Q-Mobile Ticketing app allows passengers to pay for tickets by debit card, credit card or PayPal. A ticket ...
-
NewsSecond Luxembourg – Bettembourg line approved
LUXEMBOURG: The government approved plans for the construction of a new line between the capital and Bettembourg on February 26, authorising the route and compensation measures for those affected by the project. The €292m scheme involves the construction of a 7 km double-track electrified alignment, which would leave the existing ...
-
NewsBangkok monorail lines approved
THAILAND: The government’s Public-Private Partnership Policy Committee approved in principle the Pink and Yellow monorail lines planned for Bangkok on February 29. The 34·5 km Pink Line, running from Khai Rai to Minburi, is estimated to cost 56·7bn baht to build. The Yellow Line would link Ladprao with Samrong ...
-
NewsDelhi Metro launches experimental freight service
INDIA: Delhi Metro Rail Corp launched an experimental freight service on the Airport Express Line on March 1, making use of the secure luggage van on AEL trains to carry non-perishable and e-commerce goods. DMRC said this is the first time an Indian metro has been used for freight ...
-
NewsFeature articles in the March 2016 issue of Railway Gazette International
Feature articles in the latest issue of Railway Gazette International, the leading business journal for railway operators and suppliers, read in 140 countries. Subscribe to Railway Gazette International today. Comment The price of safety News Main Line Urban Rail Market Industry Innovations Pointers Analysis ...
-
NewsEuropean disaster exercise simulates Underground station collapse
UK: What the London Fire Brigade describes as ‘Europe’s biggest ever disaster training exercise’ began on February 29, with emergency response personnel from London being joined by firefighters from Italy, Hungary and Cyprus in a four-day simulation based on a scenario where a building collapses onto a London Underground station. ...
-
NewsDC Streetcar opens
USA: Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser was on the inaugural journey of the DC Streetcar on February 27 at 10.00. The 3·3 km mixed-traffic route with eight stops links Union Station with Oklahoma Avenue/Benning Road. Services operate every 15 min every day except Sunday. Frequencies are expected to increase ...
-
NewsIncheon suburban extension opens
SOUTH KOREA: A northwest extension of the Suin Line in Incheon opened on February 27. The 7·3 km section links Songdo with Incheon station on metro Line 1. The extension adds five stations, including one at Hagik that is due to open in 2019. The Suin Line was rebuilt ...
-
NewsVertex launches wagon leasing business
USA: Vertex Railcar Corp has launched Vertex Rail Leasing, a wholly-owned subsidiary offering wagons manufactured at its Wilmington plant for lease. ‘With the launch of Vertex Rail Leasing, Vertex is well positioned to address the railcar needs across the full spectrum of customers in the market - those who prefer ...
-
NewsTime to get ahead of the game
With her review of Network Rail's structure and financing expected to be published in March, HS1 CEO Nicola Shaw outlined her thinking to the Railway Study Association in London.
-
NewsIsle of Wight light rail conversion proposed
UK: Next month Isle of Wight Council is due to consider a report into the future of the Ryde – Shanklin railway which has been prepared by former GNER Chief Executive Christopher Garnett following meetings with stakeholders. The 13·7 km Island Line is currently operated as part of the much ...
-
NewsTram extension opens in Linz
AUSTRIA: The first section of Linz’s StadtRegio-Tram project opened on February 25, extending the 900 mm gauge Line 3 southwest from Doblerholz to Trauner Kreuzung. The 2·7 km extension has five stops, including one serving the PlusCity shopping centre in Pasching. A further 1·8 km to Schloss Traun is ...
-
NewsIndian Railways to meet ‘desires of common man’ by 2020
INDIA: Minister of Railways Suresh Prabhu set out a three-pronged strategy of ‘new revenues, new norms and new structures’ when he presented the 2016-17 Indian Railways budget on February 25. Rather than announcing ambitious new projects, Prabhu focused on ongoing programmes, optimising capacity and improving services. He said IR ...
-
NewsWork starts on München tram extension
GERMANY: A groundbreaking ceremony on February 26 marked the start of work on the Steinhausen extension of München’s tram network. Lord Mayor Dieter Reiter, MVG General Manager Herbert König and Managing Director of publishing business Süddeutsche Verlag Stefan Hilscher officially launched the work at the site of the future turning ...
-
NewsExercise tests Schuman — Josaphat tunnel
BELGIUM: An exercise to test safety equipment and emergency planning was held during the early hours of February 26 in the tunnel connecting Schuman and Josaphat stations in Brussels, involving the police and emergency services as well as infrastructure manager Infrabel and train operator SNCB. The exercise simulated the evacuation ...
-
NewsHonolulu breaks ground on first metro station
USA: Construction of the first Honolulu Rail Transit station officially started with a groundbreaking ceremony on February 25. Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transit and contractor Hawaiian Dredging Construction Co were joined by city and state officials at West Loch station. Hawaiian Dredging Construction Co is building West Loch under ...
-
NewsMelbourne Metro Rail preliminary works shortlist
AUSTRALIA: Victoria Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan announced the shortlist for the Early Works package of the Melbourne Metro Rail project on February 24. The bidders shortlisted to undertake preliminary works are: CPB Contractors;a joint venture of John Holland Group and KBR;a joint venture of Lend Lease Engineering ...
-
NewsIndustry success celebrated at Rail Business Awards 2015
UK: The UK rail industry gathered at the London Hilton on Park Lane on February 25 for the 18th annual Rail Business Awards. Hosted by The Apprentice co-star Nick Hewer, the awards recognised the very best of the industry across 18 categories. The Rail Business Awards 2015 were the ...