All articles by Railway Gazette International – Page 796
-
NewsSmall, light and efficient transformer
TRANSFORMER: ABB has developed a traction transformer that uses power electronics to reduce size and weight while increasing energy efficiency. The Power Electronic Traction Transformer is based on multi-level converter topology that uses IGBT power semiconductors and medium-frequency transformers to replace the conventional transformer and inverter combination. The medium-frequency transformer ...
-
NewsPhoenix West light rail extension route approved
USA: The Maricopa Association of Governments approved the route for the proposed Phoenix West light rail extension on July 25. Environmental assessment and preliminary design work can now begin, with opening envisaged by 2023. The 18 km route starts at the existing Metro light rail line in central Phoenix, running ...
-
NewsCapita Symonds to develop passenger counts database
UK: The Department for Transport has awarded Capita Symonds a £1·9m contract to develop and manage a Rail Passenger Counts Database. This will collate and report data from train operators, providing an insight into usage and identifying trends to enable expenditure to be targeted more effectively. Counts will initially ...
-
NewsEurorunner reaches the finish line
EUROPE: Siemens announced the sale of its final Eurorunner ER20 diesel locomotive on July 26. The design has now been replaced in the manufacturer's range by the Vectron DE, which incorporates customer feedback from the Eurorunner, has improved braking and fuel consumption and meets the latest standards for crashworthiness ...
-
NewsVladivostok airport rail link opens
RUSSIA: Airport shuttle operator Aeroexpress launched a passenger service between Vladivostok and the city's international airport at Knevichi on July 20. The project has involved the construction of a 4 km link to a new station at the airport, as well as upgrading existing track, electrification equipment and stations. ...
-
NewsRail reform tackles Spanish debt crisis
SPAIN: The government is embarking on a programme of reform in order to ensure the future sustainability of the railway system, improve service quality and make the best use of the network, according to Development Minister Ana Pastor. She was speaking on July 24 during a parliamentary debate on ...
-
News
Krzysztof Dyl
Krzysztof Dyl has been appointed Chairman of Polish rail regulator UTK. He has held the post in an interim capacity since his predecessor Krzysztof Jaroszynski was dismissed in January.
-
NewsAgility Trains signs Intercity Express Programme contract
UK: Signing of the Intercity Express Programme contract to supply and maintain the next generation of 200 km/h inter-city trains was announced by the Department for Transport and Agility Trains on July 25. The overall package is valued at £4·5bn. Financial close has been reached for IEP Phase 1, which ...
-
NewsPiura railway feasibility study
PERU: A feasibility study for a new railway to carry freight and passenger traffic between Piura and Lambayeque is due to be completed by the end of this year, according to José Antonio Sebastián, Managing Director of the International business at Spanish metre-gauge operator FEVE. On July 19 at the ...
-
NewsEuroporte to operate Port of Bordeaux rail network
FRANCE: The Port of Bordeaux authority has awarded the Socorail business of Eurotunnel's Europorte subsidiary an eight-year contract to operate and maintain the 20 km of rail infrastructure at its Bassens and Le Verdon sites. Europorte has previously won similar contracts at the ports of Dunkerque, Nantes Saint-Nazaire, Le Havre, ...
-
NewsSalzburger Lokalbahn goes low-floor
AUSTRIA: Salzburger Lokalbahn has unveiled the first of its ET40 two-car electric multiple-units to be rebuilt with the insertion of a low-floor centre car. The low-floor section is 350 mm above rail level, making the articulated vehicles more accessible to passengers with reduce mobility. There will be two wheelchair spaces, ...
-
NewsPPP model to fund Kalimantan coal network
INDONESIA: A declaration to pursue construction of a number of new lines in Kalimantan under a public-private partnership model was signed at a joint meeting of ministers held on July 17. The declaration was signed by representatives of a number of private companies and public authorities, including ...
-
NewsCancún tram-train feasibility study commissioned
MEXICO: Spanish metre-gauge operator FEVE is to undertake feasibility studies for a new tram-train network serving Caribbean resorts between Cancún and Tulum. FEVE is to study a route linking Cancún with Cozumel, Solidaridad, Benito Juárez, Isla Mujeres and Tulum, serving an area containing some of the most important tourist destinations ...
-
NewsRail Industry Training & Recruitment in Brief
South African freight railway Transnet is to invest R7·7bn on training by 2019, including R4·7bn for bursaries. UK commuter operator First Capital Connect has launched an apprenticeship scheme targeting 18 to 23 year-olds living along its routes. The scheme offers up to five recruits training towards a series of non-vocational ...
-
NewsGenesee & Wyoming agrees to buy RailAmerica
USA: Genesee & Wyoming Inc announced on July 23 that it had agreed to acquire RailAmerica and ‘combine the two largest short line and regional rail operators in North America’. The deal is still subject to approval by the Surface Transportation Board, which GWI hopes to receive between the ...
-
NewsCross-border line to reach Vientiane
LAOS: Within a budget of 495m baht, the cross-border railway between Nong Khai in Thailand and Tha Na Laeng in Laos is to be extended to the capital Vientiane, where a station and railway offices would be built. The 7·8 km extension should be completed ‘within two ...
-
NewsVital bridge protected
BANGLADESH: A Railweight in-motion weighing system has been installed to protect the Bangabandhu bridge over the River Jamuna in Bangladesh. Weight limits were imposed on freight trains crossing the 4·8 km road and rail bridge after cracks appeared, but manual inspection of the 17 trains/day proved time consuming ...
-
NewsNews in Brief - July 2012
EIB is lending €776m to Albali Señalización, the special-purpose vehicle formed to design, install and maintain signalling and telecommunications equipment on the Albacete – Alacant high speed line under a 20-year PPP contract. Albali is owned by investment funds CDC Infrastructure and Fond-ICOinfraestructuras, ADIF and suppliers Alstom, CAF, EMTE and ...
-
NewsLisboa airport metro extension opens
PORTUGAL: A 3·3 km extension of the Lisboa metro's Red Line from Oriente to the international airport opened on July 17. The extension adds new stations at Moscavide, Encarnação and Aeroporto. Predicted ridership is 400 000 passengers/year, with the route serving the Moscavide and Olivais residential areas as well ...
-
News
Carsten Reinhardt
Carsten Reinhardt has joined the Corporate Board of Management at Voith and has also been named President & CEO of Voith Turbo.