North America
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NewsArcadea Group invests in Railroad Software
NORTH AMERICA: US-based yard management and regulatory compliance software development company Railroad Software has announced a majority recapitalisation with Toronto-based investor Arcadea Group. Founder Jeff Birmingham will retain a significant stake and remain as a director, with Steve Yoder continuing as CEO. ‘The past 10 years ...
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NewsBNSF trials virtual reality training
USA: BNSF is working with Roundtable Learning to integrate virtual, augmented and mixed reality technology into its training programmes for staff undertaking mechanical works. The simulations being tested are designed to show the importance of personal protection equipment and improve risk awareness. ...
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NewsCalifornia high speed train request for proposals approved
USA: The California High-Speed Rail Authority board has approved the release of a request for proposals for the supply and maintenance of high speed trainsets. Alstom Transportation and Siemens Mobility have prequalified for the process. Their proposals are to be submitted this autumn, with the authority ...
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NewsCN to test diesel-battery hybrid main line locomotive
CANADA: CN has purchased a hybrid diesel-battery main line locomotive from Progress Rail, which it intends to use to assess the opportunity for retrofitting a portion of its fleet. The ‘plug-in’ hybrid mainline locomotive, which CN describes as ‘a first of its kind in North America’, ...
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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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NewsSelf-propelled battery wagon deployed on mining railway
USA: Battery and automation technology company Intramotev has announced the successful deployment of its ReVolt self-propelled battery-electric vehicle as part of a standard freight train. ReVolt uses regenerative braking and batteries to reduce a diesel locomotive’s fuel consumption and thus costs and emissions. ...
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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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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 ...
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NewsSiemens Mobility awarded Toronto infrastructure maintenance contract
CANADA: Greater Toronto area transport agency Metrolinx has awarded Siemens Mobility a contract to provide track, signalling and right-of-way maintenance services for its Central Region. The contract starts this summer. It builds on existing contracts covering the provision of similar services for the West Region, and ...
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Metro Report InternationalMore payment options as NJ Transit ticketing contract renewed
USA: New Jersey’s NJ Transit has renewed Conduent Transportation’s contactless fare collection systems contract for a further five years. Under the previous contract Conduent implemented Tap & Ride payment enabling bus and light rail passengers to use contactless credit and debit cards. Under the latest contract ...
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Metro Report InternationalSacramento orders more low-floor LRVs
USA: Sacramento Regional Transit District has ordered a further nine S700 low-floor light rail vehicles from Siemens Mobility, as part of a fleet renewal and capacity enhancement programme.
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NewsMetro-North Railroad to trial automated rolling stock inspection
USA: The automated inspection of commuter rolling stock is to be trialled on New York’s Metro-North Railroad, supported by a $2m grant from the federal Department of Transportation’s Strengthening Mobility & Revolutionizing Transportation programme. The automated inspection portal incorporating a suite of sensors and analytical software ...
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Metro Report InternationalChicago Transit Authority launches first Innovation Studio challenges
USA: Chicago Transit Authority has launched its Innovation Studio project to partner with the private sector to explore new ideas. In the first round, CTA is seeking proposals by April 15 which address: the automatic detection of people or large objects on railway tracks to ...
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Metro Report InternationalSt Louis orders light rail vehicles with onboard energy storage
USA: Bi-State Development Agency has formally awarded Siemens Mobility a contract supply 55 high-floor light rail vehicles with battery onboard energy storage for the MetroLink network serving the greater St Louis region. Siemens was the sole bidder for the order, which the agency approved last year. ...
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Metro Report InternationalMaryland’s Purple Line project pushed back
USA: The opening date for the 26 km Purple Line light rail route between New Carrollton and Bethesda in the Maryland suburbs of Washington DC has been pushed back again. ‘Despite significant achievements in the last year, including reaching project completion of more than 65%, an ...
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In depthTraction Technology: The weak case for hydrogen
Reinhard Christeller examines the state of the art for using hydrogen in rail traction, and finds that the case for widespread adoption is weak, even if emerging ‘white hydrogen’ fuel holds more potential.
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NewsMexican passenger rail reform plans unveiled
MEXICO: A package of 20 proposals for legislative reforms intended to support the restoration and development of passenger services on the existing rail network has been presented to the Chamber of Deputies. The proposals announced in February would give the government the power to grant concessions to ...
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NewsNorfolk Southern rolls out train incident response data sharing
USA: Norfolk Southern has begun using the RapidSOS digital alert platform to provide first responders with access to information on train cargo and hazardous material data. In the event of a emergency, Norfolk Southern will initiate an alert to first responders transmitting critical information, the incident ...
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Metro Report InternationalOntario Line guideway and stations contract awarded
CANADA: Infrastructure Ontario and Metrolinx have selected Trillium Guideway Partners to build the elevated guideway and stations for Toronto’s Ontario Line metro project. TGP comprises: Applicant leads: Acciona Infrastructure Canada and Amico Major Projects; Design: WSP Canada; Construction: Acciona Infrastructure Canada and Amico Major Projects. ...
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NewsCancún – Playa del Carmen section of Tren Maya inaugurated
MEXICO: The latest section of the 1 525 km Tren Maya project was inaugurated on February 29.