All Railway Gazette International articles in April 2021 – Page 2
-
Metro Report InternationalTaichung MRT Green Line opens
TAIWAN: Taichung Mass Rapid Transit Corp’s first metro line opened for revenue services on April 25, having been delayed from last year. The NT$59·3bn Green Line runs 16·7 km from the high speed rail station in Wurih southwest of the city to Beitun station on Taiwan ...
-
In depthFrance: Regions take on revival of rural routes
Following recent changes in legislation, France’s regional governments have the option of taking control of rural railways within their jurisdiction. Will this reverse the long decline of minor routes and branch lines? Christian Scasso investigates.
-
NewsSpain to evaluate national gauge conversion programme
SPAIN: The government has reopened the long-running debate over which gauge should be adopted for the principal sections of the main line rail network, with the Ministry of Development and infrastructure manager ADIF establishing a panel of multi-disciplinary specialists to assess the strategy for the core ...
-
NewsRFI lets €1bn contract to realign Sicilian coastal railway
ITALY: RFI has signed contracts covering the planning, design and construction of a new alignment between Taormina and Giampilieri in Sicily, which is the first stage of a project to eliminate the last remaining single track bottleneck on the Messina – Catania main line.
-
Metro Report InternationalSofia inaugurates Line 3 extension
BULGARIA: A 3·8 km western extension of Sofia metro Line 3 from Krasno Selo and Gorna Banya opened on April 24.
-
Metro Report InternationalAtlanta metro car braking systems ordered
USA: Knorr-Bremse’s local subsidiary has been awarded a contract ‘in the lower double-digit million euro range’ to supply braking systems for the metro cars which Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority has ordered from Stadler. The $600m rolling stock contract awarded to Stadler in early 2019 includes ...
-
Rail Business UKOptions to address Manchester rail congestion are ‘undeliverable’, says Burnham
UK: The process to create an interim timetable to improve the performance of train services through Manchester from May 2022 has run into difficulties, the Transport for the North board heard at its latest meeting. In January the Department for Transport and the rail industry produced ...
-
NewsAccess charge reductions fairer than direct support, says ERFA
Duisburg (Photo: DB). EUROPE: The European Rail Freight Association has reiterated its belief that reducing track access charges would be the best way of supporting the rail freight sector through the pandemic in a transparent and non-discriminatory manner, rather than providing direct support for individual operators. ...
-
Rail Business UKNAO publishes guide to England’s railway finances
UK: The National Audit Office has published a financial overview of the railway system in England, setting out how much it costs and how it is paid for. NAO said its aim was to ‘enhance clarity’ at a moment of ‘significant industry change’; the report also ...
-
NewsLong Island Rail Road to test battery train
USA: MTA Long Island Rail Road and Alstom are to test the use of battery power with a view to enabling enable trains to run though from New York to the network’s diesel-worked branches. ‘People have been talking about extending electrification to various segments of the ...
-
NewsKeikyu banks on rotating seats
JAPAN: Yokohama-based Keihin Express Electric Railway Co has unveiled the two additional Series 1000 EMUs that are expected to enter service from May 6.
-
Rail Business UKDirect Rail Services becomes part of Nuclear Transport Solutions
UK: The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority has brought together its transport subsidiaries including Direct Rail Services into a single Nuclear Transport Solutions division. NDA said NTS would be a centre of excellence for nuclear logistics, supporting its work to clean up UK civil nuclear sites and using ...
-
NewsKCS agrees to evaluate CN’s unsolicited offer
NORTH AMERICA: Kansas City Southern has agreed to hold discussions with Canadian National over its unsolicited acquisition proposal, the railway announced on April 24.
-
Metro Report InternationalTwist trams delivered to Tramwaje Śląskie
POLAND: PESA Bydgoszcz has completed the delivery of 35 Twist low-floor trams ordered by Tramwaje Śląskie. The 221m złoty EU co-financed contract placed in June 2018 covered 27 Type 2017N trams which are 25 m long and designed specifically for Tramwaje Śląskie, ...
-
-
NewsWarszawa – Gdynia line upgraded for 200 km/h
POLAND: A consortium of Alstom, Thales and Nokia has completed the deployment of ERTMS to support 200 km/h operation on the Warszawa – Gdynia section of railway route E65. ‘This jointly-delivered project is a game-changing achievement in the history of high speed railway implementation in Poland’, ...
-
NewsRoad-vehicle collision avoidance technology
USA: Lillee Systems has developed technology to reduce the risk of collisions between road and rail vehicles, particular during maintenance works. Using an AI-based obstacle detection system based on technology developed for autonomous buses, SafeRail provides proximity and movement authority limit alerts, together with event logging. ...
-
In depthTraining & Skills: Supporting recovery and the EU Green Deal
Reflecting on the importance of research and innovation in shaping a more sustainable rail sector, outgoing ERRAC Chair Alberto Parrondo considers the strategic priorities which need to be addressed by the new Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking.
-
In depthRail Baltica concept trains inspired by sun, sea and sand
EUROPE: Rail Baltica project promoter RB Rail has produced conceptual images to help inform the public about the type of trains which could link Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania with Poland and western Europe using the future standard gauge line. The concepts are intended to inform the ...
-
NewsJR Central sets out ¥722bn spending plan to stimulate post-Covid recovery
JAPAN: JR Central has unveiled its investment priorities for the 2021-22 financial year, which began on April 1, as it seeks to recalibrate its business for the post-Covid recovery period, when restoring lost ridership will be a key priority.