Infrastructure news
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Metro Report InternationalParis Line C investment plan outlined
Photos: Jérémie Anne FRANCE: Paris regional transport authority Ile-de-France-Mobilités has set out revised plans to develop RER Line C, one of the busiest and most operationally challenging in the conurbation. Line C is 176 route-km long and features six branches; it carries up to 540 000 ...
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NewsPrasa restores more suburban rail services
SOUTH AFRICA: Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa has restarted its Metrorail suburban rail services on five sections of the networks in the provinces of Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape. Local rail services across the country had been disrupted by a spate of vandalism and cable ...
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In depthPortugal: South International Corridor nears completion
Trains have started running on the first section of the 80 km Évora – Elvas direct line, which is now expected to open in 2025, shortening the TEN-T corridor serving ports in southern Portugal and paving the way for a revival of international passenger services. André Pires reports.
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NewsRebuilt Ferrocarril Central inaugurated
Photos: Marcelo Benoit URUGUAY: The modernised Ferrocarril Central railway linking Montevideo with Paso de los Toros was formally inaugurated with a ceremony on April 16. The ribbon cutting at Cardal station, 76 km north of the capital, was attended by Uruguayan President Luis Lacalle, Transport Minister ...
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NewsA1 rail link extension in Jerusalem approved
ISRAEL: The National Committee for Design & Construction of Infrastructure has approved proposals for an extension of Israel Railways’ direct A1 line under the centre of Jerusalem.
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Rail Business UKLED signals and barrier lights designed for better visibility
UK: Currently on test in Devon and Cornwall are LED signal heads developed by Unipart Rail which incorporate tinted glass and filters. These can reduce the risk of phantom aspects, where an unlit signal appears to be illuminated due to an external light source such as ...
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NewsLeShuttle terminals readied for EU border check changes
EUROPE: Channel Tunnel operator Getlink has completed a key stage of work at its French road vehicle shuttle train terminal in Coquelles in preparation for implementing the European Union’s Entry/Exit System on October 6 this year.
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NewsUkraine begins construction of standard gauge European rail link
UKRAINE: Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal attended a ceremony on April 11 marking the start of work to provide a standard gauge track on the 22 km broad gauge route from Chop on the borders with Hungary and Slovakia to the city of Uzhhorod. ‘This project will ...
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In depthEurope: IoT tools help to ensure a rapid response
German IoT specialist Optimeas is working with infrastructure manager DB InfraGo to enhance the availability of its electrification inspection and repair vehicles as part of efforts to reduce the impact of power supply failures across the network.
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NewsTwo prequalify for København automation Supporting Systems contract
DENMARK: Two suppliers have prequalified for the contract to provide Supporting Systems for the automation of København’s S-tog suburban rail services. They are Siemens Mobility and Thales company Ground Transportation Systems Denmark. The Supporting Systems contract will cover the supply of a wide range of technical ...
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NewsSecond Bratislava to Austria line to be electrified
SLOVAKIA: Infrastructure manager ŽSR has started work on the long-planned electrification of the short 2·4 km single-track link from Devínska Nová Ves to the Austrian border at Marchegg. The €10·9m EU co-funded project includes 25 kV 50 Hz electrification, new signalling and rehabilitation of tracks and ...
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Rail Business UKNetwork Rail awards 10-year train control system framework contracts
UK: New suppliers and better visibility of future work are included in the Train Control Systems framework contracts awarded by Network Rail for the provision of conventional and ETCS signalling services during Control Periods 7 and 8 in 2024-34. The Train Control Systems framework replaces the ...
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Metro Report InternationalOntario Line electrification contract awarded
CANADA: NGE Group’s TSO subsidiary is to design and supply 1·5 kV overhead electrification for Toronto’s Ontario Line metro project. The contract has been awarded by Hitachi Rail as part of the Connect 6ix consortium, which was awarded the Rolling Stock, Systems, Operations & Maintenance contract ...
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In depthEurope: Getlink adopts AI and digital twins
As Channel Tunnel operator Getlink prepares for its future role in providing more and better services between the UK and France it is making a transition to a data-driven company, seizing the opportunities offered by data management and artificial intelligence.
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Rail Business UKTechnology tackles train surfers and bicycle thieves
UK: The Docklands Light Railway is to be equipped with technology which can detect ‘train surfers’ illegally clinging to the back of its automated trains or between vehicles. The system is being deployed by Telent, which has extensive experience of integrating CCTV, internet-of-things sensors and smart ...
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NewsZillertalbahn hydrogen plan dropped in favour of battery traction
AUSTRIA: Plans to replace diesel traction on the narrow gauge Zillertalbahn with hydrogen have been dropped in favour of battery operation. Decarbonisation is planned as part of the railway’s medium-term investment programme for 2025-30, and could save an estimated 900 000 litres of diesel per year. ...
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Rail Business UKArmitt criticises ‘blurred picture’ for rail development in wake of HS2 axe
UK: ‘It hasn’t been a great six months for rail’, suggested Sir John Armitt, Chair of the National Infrastructure Commission, in his keynote address to the Northern Transport Summit on March 21. Armitt was among a raft of policymakers and transport officials at the event who ...
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NewsAmtrak appoints contractor for $53m Unified Operations Center
tn_us-amtrak–baltimore-penn.jpg USA: Amtrak has selected Wohlsen Construction to build its Unified Operations Center in Wilmington, Delaware. The $53m UOC will provide integrated 24/7 monitoring and management of national operations, as well as dispatching for the mid-Atlantic Division covering the Washington – Philadelphia – Harrisburg corridor. It ...
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NewsManila passenger services suspended to accelerate commuter rail construction
PHILIPPINES: March 27 marked the last operation of passenger services for five years in the Manila metropolitan area in order to accelerate construction of the North-South Commuter Railway. Philippine National Railways suspended its diesel-worked operations on the Governor Pascual – Manila Tutuban and Tutuban – Alabang ...
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NewsAmtrak adopts Delivery Partner model to deliver Baltimore tunnel project
USA: Amtrak has awarded its first Delivery Partner contract, covering the $6bn Frederick Douglass Tunnel programme which it says is its single largest capital project. This covers the rebuilding of 6 km of the Northeast Corridor through central Baltimore, with the central element being two new bores ...