Europe – Page 260
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NewsDB launches digital research train
GERMANY: Deutsche Bahn has unveiled a four-car laboratory train which will be available to the rail sector across Germany for testing digital technologies. Branded the Advanced TrainLab, the train is a former ICE-TD diesel-electric set able to run at 200 km/h. One of the train’s first duties ...
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Metro Report InternationalRambus and Worldline join up the journey
TICKETING: Smart ticketing offers a ‘real opportunity to join up the journey’, according to Russell McCullagh, Managing Director of Rambus Ticketing. Ticketing in the UK bus and metro sectors has been ‘revolutionised’ by technology in recent years, and the national rail network is now a key sector for development. ...
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Rail Business UKIMechE recommends electrification instead of hydrogen trains
HYDROGEN: Although investment in hydrogen-fuelled trains is a ‘vital’ part of the process to improve air quality, it must not be seen as an easy replacement for electrification, according to The Future for Hydrogen Trains in the UK published by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers on February 7. The report ...
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Rail Business UKUK railway news round-up
The initial report of the Rail Industry Decarbonisation Task Force led by former Angel Trains Chief Executive Malcolm Brown was published on January 31. The report suggests it would be possible to replace diesel for passenger trains, but ‘only diesel offers the power and go anywhere flexibility for freight to ...
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Metro Report InternationalStadler lowest bidder for Milano tram renewal
ITALY: Stadler Rail Valencia has been announced as low bidder for a contract to supply a new generation of 1 445 mm gauge trams to Milano public transport operator ATM. Formal contract award is expected to follow legal scrutiny of the tenders. Bids were opened on February ...
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NewsTesting starts on next Antalya light rail line
TURKEY: Testing on the next light rail line in Antalya began on January 25, after the completion of the route’s first stage four days earlier. The 11 km first phase has been built in 1½ years at a cost of TL700m. It will run from Varsak in the north ...
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NewsSiemens Alstom merger blocked by European Commission
INTERNATIONAL: The European Commission has blocked the proposed merger of Siemens Mobility and Alstom, saying the companies had not offered sufficient remedies to address its concerns about the impact on competition in the signalling and very high speed train markets. ‘Siemens and Alstom are both champions in ...
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NewsHS2 announces London station construction partners
UK: The preferred bidders for the Construction Partner contracts to build High Speed 2’s two London stations were announced by project promoter HS2 Ltd on February 6. A joint venture of Mace and Dragados has been selected to undertake the rebuilding of the London Euston terminus, while the Old ...
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NewsČD to test battery-equipped EMUs
CZECH REPUBLIC: National passenger operator ČD and Škoda Transportation are to retrofit two Class 650 RegioPanter electric multiple-units with battery packs to enable operation on non-electrified tracks. The two units will be tested on regional services around Brno from late 2019. The lithium-titanate batteries and a BMS control unit ...
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NewsDB orders Talgo 230 inter-city trainsets
GERMANY: Deutsche Bahn has selected Talgo to supply a new generation of push-pull trainsets to operate long-distance inter-city and international services, the national operator announced on February 5. Following an international tender, DB Fernverkehr has awarded Talgo a framework contract for up to 100 trainsets, placing a firm order for ...
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Metro Report InternationalExpanding range of onboard sales technology
RETAILING: Electronic point of sale company ECR is expanding from the onboard catering sales sector into ticketing technology, offering machines with a range of communication and ticket reading options, including 4G and wi-fi, 1D and 2D barcodes and chip & PIN payment. The Go2 TicketPoS machine has been certified ...
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Rail Business UKUK rail funding and expenditure data published
UK: The Office of Rail & Road’s annual report showing railway funding and spending between April 1 2017 and March 31 2018 was published on January 30. In 2017-18 the cost of running the railways rose 1·4% year-on-year to £20·6bn. Income was down 1·3% to £19·4bn, largely because passenger numbers ...
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NewsInnoTrans 2020 already 80% booked
INNOTRANS: Approximately 80% of the floor space at InnoTrans 2020 has already been booked, more than 18 months before the event takes place on September 22 to 25 2020. ‘In 2020 InnoTrans will once again be the hub for every aspect of mobility, in the form of ...
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NewsFyra V250 trainset on test in Italy
ITALY: Trenitalia has begun test running with one of the 17 AnsaldoBreda V250 trainsets which it acquired cheaply following their short and troubled life on Fyra services in the Netherlands and Belgium. The first test run left Milano Centrale for Bologna Centrale at 20:30 on February 4. The trainsets are ...
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Metro Report InternationalAll the network’s a stage with ticketing app
NETHERLANDS: Adding the ability to buy theatre and event tickets along with paying for travel is envisaged now that Rotterdam public transport operator RET has deployed an app-based mobile ticketing, payment and validation system developed by ByteToken, Bytemark and Thales Nederland. Thales has rolled out ticket gate hardware and ...
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Metro Report InternationalITSO on Mobile launched
UK: ITSO on mobile has gone live for public use on the West Midlands Metro tram line, bringing the UK’s transport smart card standard to mobile devices using Google Pay for the first time. Android smartphone users can now use Google Pay to buy tickets on the Swift on ...
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NewsSpecialisation drives growth at United Wagon Co
RUSSIA: United Wagon Co produced a total of 19 700 wagons in 2018, a 3% increase on the previous year. A similar volume is expected in 2019, with growth continuing to be driven by an increase in the production of specialised vehicles. Hopper wagon production was up 108% year-on-year to ...
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Rail Business UKGrants to support low-carbon technology demonstrators
UK: The Department for Transport has awarded grants of around £350 000 to each of five projects which aim to develop technology to reduce the rail network’s carbon footprint. The projects were selected under the second round of the DfT’s First of a Kind competition, run by Innovate UK as ...
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Rail Business UKMaritime Transport to operate East Midlands freight interchange
UK: Maritime Transport has signed a 25-year lease to operate the Strategic Rail Freight Interchange which SEGRO is developing at its East Midlands Gateway logistics park in Castle Donington. The 9 ha terminal to be completed this year will be capable of handling 16 trains/day up to 775 m long, ...
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Metro Report InternationalExtra Stuttgart S-Bahn EMUs will support ATO project
GERMANY: The Stuttgart regional government has approved the purchase of 58 four-car Class 430 electric multiple-units and the installation of ETCS Level 2 and automatic train operation on the entire S-Bahn fleet. Trains from the €421·8m order are to be delivered by 2022. The Land of Baden-Württemberg is providing ...