All Railway Gazette International articles in December 2012 – Page 4
-
NewsHelping to spread the load
AXLELOAD: Avery Weigh-Tronix has launched I-Line2, a browser-based software package for accessing, reporting and presenting data from its in-motion train weighing systems. Information is presented using a configurable dashboard. The software can be used to control multiple weighing systems, and combined with RFID and other vehicle identification systems. Reports can ...
-
NewsIndustry News in Brief
The first annual meeting of the ISO/TC269 committee for rail industry standardisation was held in Berlin on October 30-31. TC269 is chaired by Yuji Nishie from Japan’s Railway Technical Research Institute. The meeting agreed the scope of future work, which will focus on standardisation of rail-specific products and services including ...
-
NewsNews in Brief - December 2012
Under the Ifzone research project, Spanish infrastructure manager ADIF is testing measures to reduce the impact of neutral sections on train operations at the traction substation located at La Roda de Andalucía on the Córdoba – Málaga high speed line. These include energising neutral sections as a train approaches, as ...
-
NewsCross-border service trial
INTERNATIONAL: Russian Railways’ Federal Passenger Company subsidiary is to operate a trial international passenger service from Petrozavodsk in the Republic of Karelia to Joensuu in Finland on December 28-29. The overnight service will operate via Sortavala and cross the border at Värtsilä. It is expected to comprise six coaches ...
-
NewsChinese metro car maintenance joint venture established
CHINA: Bombardier Transportation announced on December 7 that it is establishing a whole-life vehicle maintenance joint venture targeting the Chinese urban rail market. Bombardier and Shanghai Shentong Metro Group Ltd have launched Shentong Bombardier (Shanghai) Rail Transit Vehicle Maintenance Company Ltd to offer ‘specialist rolling stock maintenance, intermediate repairs, overhauls, ...
-
News
SRT Governor selected
Thailand's government has approved the appointment of Prapat Chongsanguan as Governor of the state railway. The former chief of Bangkok’s MRTA, who succeeded Acting Governor Viroj Treamphongpun on November 12, has announced plans to boost staff morale, improve the condition of the railways and reduce debt within two and a ...
-
NewsTrenitalia orders 70 EMUs from Alstom
ITALY: Alstom announced on December 5 that it had been awarded a €440m contract to supply 70 Coradia Meridian EMUs to Trenitalia. Deliveries were expected to start ‘slightly over one year’ after contract signature, with the new trains to be deployed in several regions as well as on the rail ...
-
NewsRussian Railways to offer piggyback services next year
RUSSIA: Russian Railways expects to obtain certification early next year for the operation of piggyback trains in Russia, the CIS and the European Union, RZD Senior Vice-President Valentin Gapanovich told the 1520 Strategic Partnership forum in Astana. The first deployment is expected to be between Helsinki, St Petersburg and Moscow ...
-
NewsQueen Beatrix inaugurates the Hanze Line
NETHERLANDS: The 50 km Hanze Line between Lelystad and Zwolle was officially opened on December 6 with a ceremony attended by Queen Beatrix and Transport Minister Melanie Schultz van Haegen. After a presentation at Lelystad, the Queen rode the inaugural train to Zwolle, accompanied by several ministers and other ...
-
News
Antonio Aguilar Mediavilla
Antonio Aguilar Mediavilla has been appointed President of metre-gauge operator FEVE by Spanish Transport Minister Ana Pastor; he replaces Marcelino Oreja Arburúa.
-
NewsAlstom wins PRASA's 20-year fleet renewal programme
SOUTH AFRICA: The Gibela Rail Transport Consortium of Alstom and its local partner Actom has been selected as preferred bidder for a 20-year programme to design, manufacture and supply commuter EMUs for Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa. PRASA Chief Executive Lucky Montana and Transport Minister Dikobe Ben Martins announced ...
-
NewsInterCity West Coast interim contract agreed
UK: The Department for Transport announced on December 6 that it had agreed terms with Virgin Trains for the continued operation of InterCity West Coast services following the end of the current franchise on December 9. DfT has been seeking to ensure the continuity of service following the collapse of ...
-
NewsTiming relay designed for rolling stock
RELAY: LTZE Transportation has launched a timing relay specially designed for rolling stock applications. It offers simple configuration options via a serial interface, built-in diagnostic functions and a 24 to 110 V DC power supply range. The devices have a slim and compact housing for DIN rail mounting, and in ...
-
NewsDB Schenker Polska places largest Vectron order
POLAND: Siemens announced on December 5 that it had received an order to supply 23 Vectron electric locomotives to freight operator DB Schenker Rail Polska SA. According to the manufacturer, ‘this is the largest order that Siemens has received so far’ for its modular Vectron family. ‘This is already the ...
-
NewsGE agrees engine joint venture
KAZAKHSTAN: On December 4 GE Transportation announced that it had signed an agreement with Transmashdiesel and the JSC Remlokomotive subsidiary of national railway KTZ to create a joint venture to produce diesel engines at a new plant in Astana. Subject to government and regulatory approval, the partners plan to invest ...
-
NewsKatzenberg cut-off inaugurated
GERMANY: Federal Transport Minister Peter Ramsauer joined the celebrations at Efringen-Kirchen on December 4 to mark the formal opening of a 17·6 km cut-off at the southern end of Deutsche Bahn’s Rhein Valley line in Baden-Württemberg. He was accompanied by DB Chairman Rüdiger Grube, Baden-Württemberg’s Transport Minister Winfried Hermann and ...
-
NewsRescuers trained by year end
NETHERLANDS: National operator NS is on course to complete evacuation training of all 6000 drivers and conductors by the end of 2012. NS was mandated to introduce updated tunnel safety training in the wake of a fire on the line running beneath Amsterdam Schiphol airport in July 2009. NS ...
-
NewsCP seeks DM&E exit
USA: Canadian Pacific announced on December 4 that it was inviting expressions of interest from prospective partners as it explored ‘strategic options’ for the future of 1 056 km of the former Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad. Running west from Tracy, Minnesota, to Rapid City, South Dakota, and including branches ...
-
NewsEKZ inaugurates Astana locomotive plant
KAZAKHSTAN: The EKZ joint venture of national railway KTZ, Alstom Transport and Transmashholding held an inauguration ceremony for its locomotive production plant in Astana attended by the country’s President Nursultan Nazarbaev on December 4. As part of a technology transfer agreement with the French supplier, EKZ will ...