All Railway Gazette International articles in February 2018 – Page 7
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NewsUK railway research network established
UK: A parliamentary reception on February 20 marked the formal launch of the UK Rail Research & Innovation Network, bringing together railway industry bodies and eight universities. Through a £92m funding package, these partners are to work together to establish four ‘world class’ centres of excellence focused on rolling stock, ...
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NewsModified Yermak locomotive on test
RUSSIA: Trials are underway with a three-section 3ES5K Yermak 25 kV 50 Hz locomotive rated at 9·2 MW which has been modified by TMH’s Novocherkassk Electric Locomotive Works. The locomotive has been fitted with VIP4000D traction converters developed by Elektrovypryamitel and Irkutsk State University of Communications, controlled by software ...
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NewsUK railway news round-up
In a trading update issued on February 21, FirstGroup said like-for-like passenger revenue growth at its First Rail division was stable at 3·2% in the half year to September 2017, and the division 'continues to deliver a strong contribution notwithstanding ongoing infrastructure challenges'. GWR is negotiating a further two-year direct ...
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NewsFive consortia shortlisted for Cross River Rail
AUSTRALIA: The Queensland state government has shortlisted ‘a strong field of national and multinational companies’ to bid for the two main works packages to build and equip the A$5·4bn Cross River Rail link in Brisbane, Deputy Premier Jackie Trad announced on February 20. The Cross River Rail Delivery Authority invited ...
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Metro Report InternationalMumbai metro Line 3 electrification contracts awarded
INDIA: Mumbai Metro Rail Corp signed contracts on February 21 for the power supply works and electrification of metro Line 3. Larsen & Toubro won the power supply contract. A consortium of Alstom Transport India and Alstom Transport is to electrify the line with a 25 kV AC rigid ...
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Metro Report InternationalDriverless shuttles on test in mixed traffic in Paris
FRANCE: A six-week trial of driverless shuttles running in mixed traffic started at the CEA Paris-Saclay research campus on February 13, and will run until March 30. Two EasyMile electric shuttles are working a 2·6 km loop with seven stops every 15 min between 10.00 and 16.00. Each shuttle ...
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NewsModertrans delivers first updated Moderus Beta tram
POLAND: MPK Wrocław has taken delivery of the first of 40 Moderus Beta trams of a new design at its Borek depot. This is the first new-look Moderus Beta tram that Poznań-based supplier Modertrans has produced. The 27% low-floor tram features redesigned front ends, LED lighting and AC traction ...
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NewsAmey takes over ‘key’ Carillion rail contracts
UK: Amey Rail Ltd acquired ‘a significant number’ of Network Rail infrastructure contracts previously held by Carillion Construction Ltd on February 22. This follows Carillion’s entry into liquidation on January 15. The contracts include Infrastructure Projects Central Panel work for the East Coast and Midland main lines, Crossrail (Old Oak ...
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NewsSofia – Plovdiv route modernisation funding
BULGARIA: The European Commission has allocated €471m from the Operational Programme Transport & Transport Infrastructure for a three-phase project to modernise the 51 km Elin Pelin – Kostenets section of the Sofia – Plovdiv main line. This aim is to enhance the double-track electrified route to permit freight trains to ...
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Metro Report InternationalTokyo metro CBTC test train equipped
JAPAN: Mitsubishi Electric announced on February 22 that it had installed wayside and onboard radio equipment for a trial of CBTC signalling on part of the Tokyo metro. Mitsubishi will work with operator Tokyo Metro to test the equipment on a three-station branch of the Marunouchi Line between Nakano-sakaue ...
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Metro Report InternationalGovernment revises Grand Paris Express construction timetable
FRANCE: Prime Minister Edouard Philippe and Transport Minister Elisabeth Borne have confirmed changes to the planned construction timetable for the Grand Paris Express automated metro. Announcing details of the revised construction schedule on February 22, the government reaffirmed that the 200 km project would go ahead in its entirety, but ...
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NewsEuston Master Development Partner selected
UK: High speed line project promoter HS2 Ltd announced on February 22 that Network Rail and the Secretary of State for Transport had selected Lendlease as the Master Development Partner for London Euston station. The MDP is to work with the Greater London Authority and London Borough of Camden to ...
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NewsRailway supply industry news round-up
On February 12 CEN, CENELEC and the European Union Agency for Railways signed a renewed agreement for co-operation in the provision of technical documents covering safety and interoperability. Jacobs Engineering Group and Atos have announced a non-exclusive collaboration agreement to provide predictive, condition-based maintenance services Strukton Rail has completed the ...
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NewsGWR leads the pack at 20th Rail Business Awards
UK: Great Western Railway was announced as Rail Business of the Year and ScotRail Alliance Managing Director Alex Hynes was named Industry Leader of the Year at the 20th Rail Business Awards. Hosted by Railway Gazette at London’s Hilton hotel on Park Lane on February 22, the event bought together ...
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NewsBelgrano renewals reach 400 km
ARGENTINA: The Ministry of Transport announced on February 21 that its track renewals programme on the 1 000 mm gauge Belgrano network had completed 400 km of the 535 km to be upgraded under the first phase. Involving the replacement of wooden sleepers with concrete, new rail and reballasting with ...
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NewsHydrogen is a technically feasible alternative to electrification, Toronto study finds
CANADA: It be would technically and economically feasible to operate the Toronto area’s future Regional Express Rail passenger services using hydrogen fuel cells instead of conventional overhead electrification, a study has concluded. The lifetime costs would be similar, but the use of hydrogen would be a ‘world first’ on such ...
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NewsSagaRail targets low-cost weekend market
SWEDEN: Private open access company SagaRail ran its first service on February 23. The company is initially offering one return service between Stockholm and Linköping on Fridays and Sundays, running via Nyköping and Norrköping with a journey time of around 2 h. SagaRail is the ‘traffic organiser’, and has awarded ...
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NewsAbellio pulls out of Wales & Borders bidding
UK: Abellio Rail Cymru withdrew from bidding for the next Wales & Borders franchise on February 22, leaving KeolisAmey and MTR Corp (Cymru) Ltd as the two remaining bidders. NS subsidiary Abellio had been bidding for the Wales & Borders Operator & Development Partner contract in consortium with Carillion. Franchising ...
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NewsGE and Ukrainian Railways sign US$1bn locomotive agreement
UKRAINE: A US$1bn framework agreement to support the modernisation of the rail network in 2018-34 was signed by Ukrainian Railways and GE Transportation on February 23. The largest agreement which GE has signed in Ukraine includes the supply of 30 TE33A Evolution Series diesel freight locomotives from Erie in the ...
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NewsZillertalbahn plans switch to hydrogen power
AUSTRIA: Plans to convert the 760 mm gauge Zillertalbahn which links Jenbach with Mayrhofen from diesel to hydrogen fuel were announced by operator ZVB in February. The cost is estimated at €80m, with revenue hydrogen operations envisaged for 2022. Around 30% of the hydroelectric power generated in Tirol comes from ...