All articles by Chris Jackson
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Metro Report InternationalLuxembourg: Luxtram eyes an expanding network
As Luxembourg City’s first modern light rail line nears completion, work is getting underway on two branches to form a second route. Two more routes are being planned, along with an interurban link to the country’s second city.
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In depthSafety: Railways must report, learn and improve
The EU Agency for Railways is continuing its campaign to develop a risk-based safety culture across Europe’s rail networks, as Executive Director Josef Doppelbauer explains to Chris Jackson.
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In depthUSA: Safety under the spotlight
With rail safety legislation making its way through the US Congress following a recent spate of derailments, the major railroads, regulators and politicians are divided over the best way to drive change. Chris Jackson investigates.
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NewsSystra seeks strategic investor to fund expansion
FRANCE: Paris-based transport engineering consultancy Systra has announced its intention to bring in a strategic investor to fund further expansion of its activities over the next five years.
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Urban In DepthComment: Bright light in Barcelona
The UITP summit in Barcelona emphasised the importance of public transport in supporting cities, the economy and the planet, while addressing the challenges of climate change and post-covid travel patterns. Chris Jackson reflects on the conference as a platform for collaboration to secure the future of public transport.
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In depthTrain Control: En route to digital signalling
Final testing and commissioning of ETCS Level 2 is underway on the Northern City Line to London’s Moorgate terminus, which is due to go live later this year as a ‘pathfinder’ project for the East Coast Digital Programme. Chris Jackson reports.
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In depthUK: Quality crumbles as rail reform programme inches forward
While preparations continue for the establishment of Great British Railways as a ‘guiding mind’ for the national rail network, cost cutting across both operations and infrastructure is starting to impact on the quality of service and rail’s ability to contribute to meeting ambitious decarbonisation targets.
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In depthEuropean Policy: Making the case for cross-border rail
As part of the vision for a Single European Railway Area, a coalition of member states and European institutions is pushing to revitalise and expand cross-border passenger services as a key element in driving modal shift to rail and decarbonising the EU transport sector. Chris Jackson investigates.
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In depthComment: Greek train crash highlights a tragic system failure
A horrific head-on collision at Evangelismos on the Athens – Thessaloniki main line raises many questions about investment in railway safety and the human factors implications facing front-line employees.
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In depthComment: Money alone is not enough
The Indian government is pouring money into rail investment in record quantities, but cash alone will not be enough to ensure that policymakers’ ambitious aims for railway development are achieved.
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In depthComment: Productivity not exploitation
Poor working conditions risk impacting on railways’ ability to recruit the people they need to be competitive for the future, argues Railway Gazette’s Senior Editor Chris Jackson.
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In depthAustralia: Reshaping Brisbane’s rail connections
With construction of the Cross River Rail link well underway, Queensland’s state government has unveiled a comprehensive strategy for development of Brisbane’s regional rail network to accommodate projected population growth. Chris Jackson explores the proposals.
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In depthIsrael: ISR expansion ramps up again
Israel Railways has embarked on an ambitious strategy to double the size of its network, as it seeks to cope with a projected quadrupling of demand by 2030. CEO Michael Maixner explains his priorities to Chris Jackson.
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In depthNorway: Follobanen is ready to open
As well as increasing capacity on the main rail corridor running southeast from Oslo, the Follobanen which opens next month is spurring sustainable development in the surrounding suburbs, as Bane Nor Project Director Per-David Borenstein explains to Chris Jackson.
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NewsTEN-T revision must go further, says CER
EUROPE: A clear strategy and implementation timescale are essential for delivery of an expanded TEN-T rail network over the next two decades, according to Dominique Riquet, Co-Rapporteur on the TEN-T revision proposals for the European Parliament’s Transport & Tourism Committee.
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Metro Report InternationalOn track to an integrated future
The Autumn 2022 issue of Metro Report International magazine is now available to read under the Digital Magazines tab.
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In depthInfrastructure: A change of track
Advances in turnout design, greater use of digital technologies and a strong focus on performance are helping to improve the capacity and reliability of Sweden’s rail network. Chris Jackson reports from Örebro.
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In depthComment: A force for good
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has sadly reiterated the role that railways have played in armed conflict for more than 150 years. Nevertheless, the industry has rallied round to support both the Ukrainian railway sector and the people affected by the war, reflecting rail’s overwhelming influence as a force for good in modern society.
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In depthComment: The COP26 cop-out
Despite unambiguous evidence that global emissions from transport are heading in the wrong direction, there was a notable lack of emphasis on the role sustainable mobility including rail could play in mitigating climate change at the recent COP26 summit in Glasgow.
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In depthDenmark: Getting the passengers back
With a substantial investment strategy in place and negotiations for a new operating contract underway, Denmark’s state passenger operator is positioning itself to drive modal shift in a post-Covid recovery, DSB Chief Executive Flemming Jensen tells Chris Jackson.