Infrastructure news
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In depthJapan: Delays and demographic dilemmas hinder Hokkaido Shinkansen ambition
Geological difficulties have delayed the completion of the Hokkaido Shinkansen extension to Sapporo beyond 2030, while JR Hokkaido is considering the deployment of 160 to 200 km/h EMUs on its 1 067 mm network, as well as bus replacements for loss-making rural routes. Mike Bent investigates.
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Rail Business UKUK rail accident investigation body issues warning over reliance on remote condition monitoring technology
UK: The Rail Accident Investigation Branch has issued urgent advice asking Network Rail to consider the risk of remote monitoring sensors on earthworks being overwhelmed during extreme weather.
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NewsGovernment says Korail and Supreme Railways are to merge next year
SOUTH KOREA: The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure & Transport has confirmed its intent to merge national operator Korail with rival Supreme Railways, but trade unions representing SR staff have criticised what they see as stifling of competition and innovation.
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NewsContract to fit out and operate Melbourne’s Suburban Loop awarded
AUSTRALIA: Project promoter Suburban Rail Loop Authority has awarded a A$6·7bn Linewide contract package to supply rolling stock, fit out and then operate the Suburban Rail Loop East in Melbourne.
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NewsEMUs and freight locos shipped as Malaysia’s East Coast link nears completion
MALAYSIA: CRRC Dalian has dispatched the first two of 11 electric multiple-units and two of 12 electric freight locomotives it is supplying for Malaysia’s 665 km East Coast Rail Link.
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NewsRoma Line C extended to Colosseo under archaeological top-down approach
ITALY: A 3 km extension of Roma metro Line C was formally inaugurated on December 16, along with two new stations at Porta Metroni and Colosseo/Fori Imperiali.
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NewsFirst section of Canadian high speed rail route selected
CANADA: The first phase of the Alto high speed rail project will be built between Ottawa and Montréal, transport minister Steven MacKinnon has announced.
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Rail Business UKTamper engine carbon clean trial demonstrates benefits
UK: Infrastructure contractor Balfour Beatty has completed an ‘engine carbon clean’ trial using a Plasser & Theurer compact tamper, and is now aiming to roll out the technology across its entire tamper fleet to reduce carbon emissions and improve engine performance.
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NewsRevizto targets rail sector with infrastructure collaboration software platform
INTERNATIONAL: The Revizto collaboration platform used in the architecture, engineering and construction industries has been expanded for use on complex long-distance linear projects such as railways.
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NewsSiemens Mobility completes ETCS Level 2 deployment programme in Belgium
BELGIUM: The consortium of Siemens Mobility and Equans has completed its project to equip 2 274 km of tracks with ETCS Level 2, Siemens Mobility announced on December 15.
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NewsEurope’s ‘number one rail country’ celebrates Koralmbahn opening
AUSTRIA: The 130 km Koralmbahn railway formally opened for traffic on December 12, marking a major milestone in the country’s efforts to forge a direct rail link between Wien and the southwest of the country. Toma Bačić reports from the celebrations.
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NewsŠkoda to supply BEMUs to Latvia
LATVIA: National transport authority Autotransporta Direkcija has awarded Škoda Group a €89·4m contract to supply nine battery-electric multiple-units.
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In depthJapan: Autonomous Operation offers flexibility with fewer staff
Trials on the RTRI test track near Tokyo have verified the performance of onboard detection and decision-making systems that could form the basis for autonomous train operations.
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In depthComment: Demography is destiny
The demographic challenges facing many countries around the world mean that rail’s ability to cost-effectively deliver benefits in low-density regions such as rural Japan or much of France is in the spotlight, our Executive Editor Nick Kingsley warns.
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NewsMerMec to supply diagnostic trains to Egypt
EGYPT: MerMec Group has been awarded a contract to supply diagnostic trains for use on the 2 000 km rail network being developed with a design speed of 250 km/h.
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Rail Business UKConsolidated guidance issued for cranes operating near railways
UK: The Construction Plant-hire Association has released consolidated guidance to provide clear and consistent requirements for all types of crane operating near live railway environments.
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Rail Business UKVirtual worksite marker boards approved for national use
UK: Following successful trials, geofencing technology company Tended has been granted a national deviation to the Rail Industry Rule Book to enable the use of its virtual worksite marker boards for all on-track-plant-only possessions.
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In depthFreight: Rolling laboratory supports innovation
Portugal’s Rail CoLab association is developing its Freight Laboratory Train to act as a platform for both monitoring systems and the testing of new concepts, as Andre Pires explains.
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In depthEurope: Franco-Italian Mont Cenis base tunnel project forges ahead
A key element in the east-west Mediterranean Corridor, the Mont Cenis base tunnel will be a cornerstone of the TEN-T network, as well as offering an improved link between the French and Italian capitals. Reinhard Christeller reports from the construction site.
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Rail Business UKFirst AVA low-maintenance stainless steel footbridge installed
UK: The first series-produced AVA modular footbridge has been installed at Greater Anglia’s Stowmarket station.