All articles by Railway Gazette International – Page 853
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NewsWater tram brings a splash of colour
FRANCE: The first tram for the future Line 3 was unveiled in Montpellier on June 28. The 'colourful and original' styling of the 43 m long Alstom Citadis is based on a maritime and water theme designed by Christian Lacroix, complementing the swallow and air theme used on Line 1 ...
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NewsCitywest PPP adds third Luas extension
IRELAND: Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport Leo Varadkar opened the western branch of Dublin’s Luas Red Line to Citywest and Saggart on July 2. Following the Red Line eastern link to Docklands and the Green Line southern extension to Sandyford, it is the third city’s third light rail extension ...
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NewsEuropean Union and Armenia join OTIF
INTERNATIONAL: On July 1 the European Union and Armenia acceded to the COTIF convention, which sets out a legal framework for international rail transport. Both automatically joined OTIF, the intergovernmental organisation which manages the convention. The European Commission said accession as the first supranational body will provide legal security for ...
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NewsIndustry News in Brief
Croatian rolling stock manufacturer Koncar is to assist Ukrainian bus manufacturer LAZ with starting production of metre and 1520 mm gauge low-floor trams at its plant in L’viv. Koncar will supply the traction equipment. Groupe Eurotunnel and STAR Capital Partners have formed a 49:51 joint venture to ...
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NewsKapsch CarrierCom France opens headquarters
FRANCE: A 'globally important' development centre for GSM-R forms part of Kapsch CarrierCom France's €7m headquarters in Montigny, officially opened by Kapsch CarrierCom Chief Executive Kari Kapsch and Vice-President, GSM-R, Michel Clement on June 21. France is one of the most important markets for Kapsch CarrierCom, which has 165 employees ...
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NewsPKP awards station rebuilding contracts
POLAND: Major contracts have been awarded for the rebuilding of Lódz Fabryczna and Warszawa Zachodnia stations. PKP PLK has selected Torpol to rebuild Lódz Fabryczna at a cost of 1·45bn zloty. The contract covers demolition of the existing station and construction of four new platforms below ground level, approached by ...
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NewsATACS launch on September 25
JAPAN: East Japan Railway confirmed on June 30 that it intends to put its Advanced Train Administration & Communications System into full revenue operation on the Senseki Line near Sendai with effect from September 25. Following extensive development and test running using communications-based train control on the pilot section of ...
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NewsWabtec acquires GE Transportation aftermarket business
USA: Wabtec Corp announced its acquisition of a North American passenger rolling stock aftermarket parts business from GE Transportation on June 30. The business which is being taken over supplies mainline and metro traction and control system parts, with annual sales of $15m. It will become part of Wabtec ...
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NewsFrauenfeld-Wil-Bahn orders Stadler trains
SWITZERLAND: Frauenfeld-Wil-Bahn has awarded Stadler Rail a SFr31m contract to supply five electric multiple-units for its 18 km metre-gauge line in Thurgau, the manufacturer announced on June 30. Scheduled to enter service in mid-2013, the three-car trainsets will be custom designed for FW, which is electrified at 1·2 kV DC ...
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NewsRZD proposes fast trains to serve 2018 World Cup
RUSSIA: Proposals to develop a network of high speed or accelerated train services ready for the 2018 FIFA World Cup are included in the Modernising Existing Rail Infrastructure strategy produced by Russian Railways’ Institute of Transport Economics & Development. The strategy offers ‘a practical tool’ for transporting ...
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NewsBeijing - Shanghai high speed line opens
CHINA: The world's longest high speed line was inaugurated with simultaneous departures from Beijing and Shanghai at 15.00 on June 30, as part of events marking the 90th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party. Construction of the Beijing - Shanghai Passenger-Dedicated Line officially began on April 18 2008, and the ...
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NewsTatravagonka spreads Habii(ll)nss in Russia
RUSSIA: The first of a planned fleet of wagons combining modern European design with Russian technical specifications is undergoing trials at the VNIKTI rolling stock research and development institute in Kolomna. The Type 11-9861 sliding-wall wagon has been built by Tatravagonka in Slovakia under an agreement signed with Russian Railways ...
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NewsV/Line returns after North East Rail Revitalisation
AUSTRALIA: Daily V/Line inter-city passenger services from Melbourne returned to Albury on June 26, the day after ceremonies were held to mark the completion of the North East Rail Revitalisation Project. The project to increase passenger and freight capacity on the route between Melbourne and the border with New South ...
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NewsAngers tram opens
FRANCE: Mayor of Angers Jean-Claude Antonini formally opened the city's light rail line on June 25, presiding over ceremonies in the Place du Ralliement before passengers boarded the first cars shortly after 13.00. Festivities continued throughout the day and into the night along the 12 km Line A from ...
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NewsCN boosts Alberta operations
CANADA: Canadian National has confirmed that work will start shortly on its planned 243 ha intermodal facility at Conrich, Alberta, northeast of Calgary. First announced in 2010, the C$200m Logistics Park will have more than 185 000 m² of warehousing capacity, the capability to handle heavy containers and space ...
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NewsVeolia takes over from troubled DSBFirst
SWEDEN: Veolia Transport is to take over local services in southern Sweden which are currently operated by DSBFirst Sverige, Gunnar Wulff, Chief Executive of regional transport authority Öresundståg announced on June 28. This follows an agreement between DSB and Öresundståg which aims to ensure continued operations and also to stabilise ...
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NewsGo-ahead for link between Saudi rail networks
SAUDI ARABIA: On June 24 Minister of Finance and Chairman of the Public Investment Fund Dr Ibrahim Al-Assaf announced that government approval had been granted for construction of a link between Saudi Railway Co's recently-completed North-South freight line and Saudi Railways Organization's Dammam - Riyadh line. Leaving SAR's North-South railway ...
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NewsSiemens awarded €90m Gauteng resignalling contract
SOUTH AFRICA: Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa has selected Siemens to supply signalling equipment and an operations control centre for Gauteng province. Siemens said the €90m deal announced on June 27 is the 'largest contract for signalling equipment ever awarded in South Africa.' The contract covers the replacement ...
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NewsSumitomo Metals buys US wheelset manufacturer
USA: A $340m agreement to acquire US wheelset manufacturer Standard Steel was announced by Sumitomo Metals on June 27. The Japanese firm is aiming to become 'a truly global railway manufacturer' through expansion in North America and subsequently Europe, Asia and elsewhere. When the transaction is completed later this year, ...
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NewsKiwiRail orders more Chinese locomotives
NEW ZEALAND: KiwiRail signed an order for a further 20 DL diesel locomotives from CNR Dalian on June 2. Scheduled for delivery in the second half of 2012, they will be identical to the 20 ordered in 2009 and delivered in two stages over the last year. During the last ...