All Railway Gazette International articles in February 2020 – Page 2
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Metro Report InternationalDetroit People Mover runs counter-clockwise for first time in 11 years
USA: The Detroit People Mover is operating counter-clockwise for the first time since 2008. According to the Detroit Transportation Corp, a major rail replacement on the circular line led to a reverse direction operational testing in December 2019. The testing ‘determined that there is an advantage to ...
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Rail Business UKBicester – Bedford railway reinstatement approved
UK: The Secretary of State for Transport has approved Network Rail’s application for a Transport & Works Act Order granting legal powers for work to begin on the Bicester – Bedford section of the East West Rail project to develop a rail corridor between Oxford and ...
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Rail Business UKVP plc awarded £257m Network Rail portable plant contract
UK: Network Rail has awarded VP plc a contract worth up to £257m for the hire, supply and maintenance of all small plant powered by external means. This includes rail drills, torque wrenches, chainsaws and handheld tamping machines, as well as related consumables such as oil, and ...
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NewsAustralind DMU design revealed
AUSTRALIA: The design of the diesel multiple-units ordered for Transwa’s twice-daily Australind service has been unveiled by Premier of Western Australia Mark McGowan. ‘The sleek new design will make the journey between Perth and Bunbury more comfortable for residents and tourists alike, encouraging more people to ...
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In depthMajor Projects: Software challenge blows Crossrail off course
For a decade, construction of London’s east-west cross-city tunnel seemed set for completion on time in late 2018. But this deadline has slipped as project promoter Crossrail Ltd grapples with the emerging complexity of delivering a new railway centred on digital technology. Alan Hannaford* reflects on the challenges faced.
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NewsConversion of local railway into a busway to be studied
Source: Lokaltog DENMARK: A feasibility study for converting the Østbanen local railway in eastern Sjælland into a busway is to be undertaken following an agreement between Minister of Transport Benny Engelbrecht and the regional council. The jointly-funded DKr3·5m study is to be undertaken in parallel with ...
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Metro Report InternationalPorto to introduce contactless ticketing this year
PORTUGAL: Porto is to begin the rollout of contactless ticketing this year, enabling holders of EMV bank cards to touch a validator and travel without needing to use the local Andante smart card. The TIP group of transport operators is working with Visa CyberSource, financial services company ...
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Metro Report InternationalBogotá Metro changes metro and BRT lines
COLOMBIA: The Mayor of Bogotá Claudia López has announced a new transport plan for the city, including the extension of the future Bogotá Metro’s first line and a change of the proposed Transmilenio bus rapid transit route. The 4·1km metro extension would run from Calle 72 to ...
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Metro Report InternationalMetro de Panamá awards Line 3 contract
PANAMA: Metro de Panamá awarded the HPH joint venture of South Korean companies a US$2·5bn,54-month contract for the construction of Line 3 on February 4. The joint venture of Hyundai Engineering & Construction Co, POSCO and Hyundai Engineering Co beat bids from China Railway Group, a consortium ...
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NewsAlstom signs battery-electric multiple-unit contract
Source: Alstom Design & Styling GERMANY: Alstom has been awarded a €100m contract to supply and maintain the first battery-electric version of its Coradia Continental multiple-unit family. The 11 three-car BEMUs have been ordered by Mittelsachsen transport authority ZVMS, which has taken out a €49m loan from ...
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NewsTalgo to supply coaches for DSB’s Hamburg service
DENMARK: National operator DSB has selected Talgo to supply a fleet of locomotive-hauled coaches to operate international services to and from Hamburg.
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NewsDB unveils refurbished Kiss EMU
GERMANY: The first refurbished Stadler Kiss double-deck EMU for Deutsche Bahn was formally unveiled at Berlin Hbf by the head of DB Personenverkehr Berthold Huber on February 5.
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NewsKansas City signalling equipment manufacturer acquired
USA: Strait Lane Capital Partners has sold signalling equipment manufacturer J&A Industries to signalling and level crossing supplier CDL Electric Co. J&A Industries General Manager Mark Biehl and the existing management team will continue to lead the Kansas City-based business. ‘J&A Industries’ patented mast ladder platform is ...
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Rail Business UKUK railway news round-up
Govia Thameslink Railway is to double the number of apprenticeships it will offer in 2020, with more than 300 apprenticeships across 14 roles ranging from drivers, engineers and operations to business administration and marketing. The operator has been accreditated by the Education Skills Funding Agency as a ...
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NewsRecord capital expenditure for Indian Railways in 2020-21
INDIA: A 17% year-on-year increase in capital expenditure for Indian Railways in 2020-21 was announced when Minister of Finance Nirmala Sitharaman presented the national budget on February 1. The Ministry of Railways said the emphasis would be on continuing capacity enhancement works, and accelerating implementation to make ...
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Metro Report InternationalTMH modernises two Sofia Metro trainsets
Sofia modernised metro TMH BULGARIA: Transmashholding’s Metrowagonmash unveiled two four-car metro trainsets modernised for the metro of Sofia, on February 4. The 81-717.4/714.4 cars used on lines 1 and 2 have been equipped with new anti-skid wheel slide protections, safety standards-compliant interior materials, shockproof glass, smoke and ...
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Metro Report InternationalHelsinki metro fleet expansion and cab modifications agreed
FINLAND: Helsinki transport operator HKL has awarded CAF a €39·9m contract to supply a further five four-car M300 metro trainsets and provide spare parts over their expected 40-year life. The additional M300 sets are scheduled for delivery from CAF’s Zaragoza plant in 2022, providing an increase in ...
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NewsIle-de-France seeks to open RER network to competition by 2030
FRANCE: Ile-de-France is seeking to accelerate the opening up of local rail services to competition, regional President Valérie Pécresse announced on February 5. In line with the provisions of the EU’s Fourth Railway Package, the French regional passenger market is being liberalised with effect from January 1 2023. Under the ...
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Rail Business UKWest Midlands Mayor holds off calling for West Midlands franchise termination
West Midlands Mayor Andy Street tells Rail Business UK’s Tony Miles why he has held back on his threat to ask the Department for Transport to remove the West Midlands Trains franchise from Abellio.
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Rail Business UKFugro’s RILA approved for platform gauging
UK: Fugro has obtained Network Rail approval for its RILA train-borne track measurement system to be used for gauging the clearance between trains and platform edges. The infrastructure manager has made extensive use of RILA for a range of projects since 2013, collecting absolute track position and ...