All Suburban & Commuter Rail articles – Page 14
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NewsMetra awards battery locomotive contract
USA: Chicago commuter operator Metra has awarded Progress Rail a contract to convert up to six of its oldest diesel locomotives to zero-emission battery power for testing on the Rock Island Line. The base order covers the conversion of three EMD F40PH-3 locomotives over 3½ years, ...
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NewsPhoenix-inspired maglev line opens to serve ancient town
CHINA: A maglev line has opened to provide a scenic connection to the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative Listed Fenghuang Ancient Town, which attracts 30 000 visitors a day. The maglev runs for 9·1 km between the old town and Fenghuang station on the Zhangjiajie – Jishou ...
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NewsDual-voltage suburban line opened in Chongqing
CHINA: The Jiangtiao suburban line in Chongqing has opened, linking Tiaodeng with Shengquansi. An unusual feature of the line is dual voltage electrification, with the northern section from Tiaodeng to Shilinsi and the Zhongliangshan tunnel electrified at 1·5 kV DC and the rest of the route ...
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In depthBrazil: making more use of urban railways
Better utilisation of under-used main line railways is seen as key to developing cost-effective urban and suburban rail networks that can relieve road congestion in Brazil’s fast-growing cities. Benjámin Zelki investigates.
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NewsMexico – Toluca operating concession awarded
MEXICO: National Infrastructure Fund Fonadin has been awarded a concession to operate and maintain the 57·7 km Tren Interurbano railway between Mexico City and Toluca, which is still under construction.
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In depthCanada: Generational change will transform travel
A multi-billion dollar investment programme will change the way people use public transport in Canada’s most populated area, with GO Expansion bringing frequent all-day electric train services to routes across the Toronto region.
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NewsPresident Marcos commits to rail investment
PHILIPPINES: President Ferdinand Marcos Jr underlined his commitment to continuing and expanding the previous administration’s investment in rail during his first state of the nation address. ‘The infrastructure programme of the Duterte administration must not only continue but, wherever possible, be expanded’, he said. ‘We must ...
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NewsQueensland unveils Brisbane rail expansion strategy
AUSTRALIA: A pipeline of investment valued at more than A$20bn will support the long-term expansion of the southeast Queensland rail network under proposals published by the state government on August 2.
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NewsMetrolink unveils refurbished coach
USA: Los Angeles commuter rail operator Metrolink has returned to service the first of 50 coaches which are undergoing mid-life refurbishment, and has been allocated funding for a capacity enhancement programme. The contract for the refurbishment work was awarded to a Talgo-Systra joint venture in June ...
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NewsCape Town commuter services restored
SOUTH AFRICA: Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa has reinstated suburban services on the Cape Town – Mutual – Langa; Cape Town – Pinelands – Langa; and Cape Town – Ysterplaat – Lavistown – Bellville routes after a long hiatus caused by the pandemic and vandalism. ...
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NewsPowers sought for Dublin’s DART+ electrification project
IRELAND: A formal application is being lodged for powers to upgrade and electrify Iarnród Éireann’s suburban routes from Dublin Connolly/Spencer Dock to Maynooth and M3 Parkway. The DART+ West enhancement project is to be funded by the National Transport Authority under Project Ireland 2040. According to ...
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NewsUTA to offer rail apprenticeships
USA: Utah Transit Authority has appointed specialist training company Xpan to develop apprenticeships in light rail vehicle maintenance, maintenance of way and commuter rail vehicle maintenance. The three-year apprenticeships will offer a mix of e-learning, interactive simulations, instructor-led training, labs and on-the-job training. UTA is developing ...
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NewsTracklaying completed on Sotetsu – Tokyu Link
JAPAN: The completion of tracklaying on the link line connecting the Sotetsu and Tokyu railways was marked with a ceremony at Shin-Yokohama on July 8.
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In depthAfrica: SNCC restores passenger services in DR Congo
Passenger services have been reinstated on the 1 067 mm gauge line from Lubumbashi to Kananga following the arrival of modern rolling stock from China. Murray Hughes reports.
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Metro Report InternationalBarking Riverside extension opens
UK: The 4·5 km Barking Riverside extension of the London Overground network opened on July 18. London Overground concessionaire Arriva Rail London is now operating four trains per hour as an extension of its Gospel Oak – Barking route, offering a 7 min journey time between ...
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NewsElectric railway opened to serve Cairo’s new cities
EGYPT: President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi has inaugurated the first phase of the 103 km Capital Train ‘light rail transit’ electric suburban railway which is being built to connect Cairo with 10th Ramadan City and the New Administrative Capital. The ceremony was held on July 3, ...
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NewsSan Diego operations and maintenance taken in-house
USA: San Diego’s North County Transit District has completed the insourcing of operation and maintenance of its Coaster and Sprinter regional passenger services. This was previously undertaken by Alstom, as successor to Bombardier Transportation, and sees almost 100 staff transfer to the agency. ‘This transition will ...
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Metro Report InternationalGreen bonds raise funds for Virginia commuter rail improvements
USA: Commuter operator Virginia Railway Express closed a public bond sale on June 28 which will enable it to make a $119·2m contribution towards the state’s purchase of a CSX line in the Interstate 95 corridor as part of the $4bn Transforming Rail in Virginia programme. ...
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NewsDB to operate Delhi – Meerut RRTS commuter railway
INDIA: National Capital Region Transport Corp has awarded Deutsche Bahn International Operations a 12-year contract to operate and maintain the future 82 km Delhi – Ghaziabad – Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System. The Delhi area commuter rail project promoter said it had taken a ‘path-breaking step’ ...
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NewsSouth Shore Line double tracking project gets underway
USA: Indiana Governor Eric J Holcomb has officially launched work to provide a double-track alignment along the whole 41 route-km section of the South Shore Line between Michigan City and Gary. This involves 29 km of double tracking, including a new 3 km segregated alignment to ...