Infrastructure news – Page 25
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NewsCottbus – Görlitz route modernisation agreed
GERMANY: Upgrading and electrification of the Cottbus – Görlitz line has been approved by the government. It is one of 10 projects aimed at helping economic regeneration in regions where coal mines are due to close. The 93·7 km Cottbus – Weißwasser – Horka – Görlitz ...
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NewsPreferred route for Polish high speed line selected
POLAND: The government plenipotentiary for the CPK multimodal transport project has approved the preferred route for a 150 km high speed line from the future hub airport north to Płock and Włocławek. This would form part of the Northern Central Trunk Line, which was originally proposed ...
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Rail Business UKDouble rail’s modal share in a decade, urges Labour transport review
UK: The Rail & Urban Transport Review led by former Siemens UK CEO Jürgen Maier has published a report into at how rail infrastructure could be delivered ‘better, faster and more cost effectively’.
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NewsIndian Railways to fast-track Kavach ATP installation
INDIA: Following a series of serious train collisions in recent months, Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw has instructed Indian Railway officials to accelerate the implementation of the Kavach automatic train protection system. According to an IR report, the work is to be undertaken in a ‘structured ...
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NewsSouth Korea to support Tajik railway project
TAJIKISTAN: South Korea’s International Co-operation Agency is planning to assist Tajikistan’s Ministry of Transport with a US$4m feasibility study for a railway to the border with Afghanistan. The proposed line would run 51 km from Balkh (formerly Kolkhozabad) in the Jaloliddin Balkhi district to Panji Poyon ...
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Rail Business UKBuckinghamshire HS2 viaducts make progress
UK: The EKFB joint venture of Eiffage, Kier, Ferrovial Construction and BAM Nuttall has made significant progress in the construction of two major viaducts on the section of High Speed 2 it is building in Buckinghamshire.
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NewsEuregiobahn electrification funded
GERMANY: Funding has been confirmed for the 15 kV 16·7 Hz electrification of the 47 km Euregiobahn network of local passenger routes in the Aachen area. The federal government has agreed to cover 90% of the €43m cost, with the Land and infrastructure owner Euregio Verkehrsschienennetz ...
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NewsCaltrain Downtown Rail Extension contract awarded
USA: The Transbay Joint Powers Authority has selected the AECOM-led Portal Connectors team to provide programme management and construction management services for the long-planned extension of Caltrain commuter rail services into central San Francisco. Downtown Rail Extension Branded as The Portal, the Downtown Rail Extension project ...
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NewsIndian cabinet approves construction of eight railway lines
INDIA: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved eight new line projects which are intended to improve connectivity, minimise logistics costs, reduce oil imports and lower CO2 emissions. The projects approved on August 9 include 64 stations providing enhanced connectivity for about 400 000 people. ...
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NewsSubic – Batangas railway study to be commissioned
PHILIPPINES: The Department of Transportation is to call tenders at the end of this year for a feasibility study into a proposed 250 km freight railway between Subic Bay, Clark, Manila and Batangas. Philippine National Railways Chairman Michael Macapagal told local media in July that the ...
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NewsVR to divest infrastructure assets to facilitate Finnish rail competition
FINLAND: ‘Our strategy focuses on profitability, growth and creating a values-based VR culture’, VR Group CEO Elisa Markula said when she the presented the national operator’s H1 2024 results on August 16 and set out plans to divest some assets to facilitate competition. With the opening ...
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NewsFederal budget increases equity in DB InfraGO
GERMANY: The federal government has agreed to changes in the national budget for 2025 that will replace a provision for grants worth €4∙5bn by equity increases in Deutsche Bahn’s infrastructure business, DB InfraGO. In the same statement on August 16, the government announced that DB would ...
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NewsN700S high speed trains with inspection capability to replace Dr Yellow
JAPAN: Central Japan Railway is to augment its fleet of N700S Shinkansen trainsets with a further 17 units, some of which will be fitted with infrastructure inspection equipment.
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NewsFunding deal secures future of Nice – Digne line
FRANCE: A fleet of eight diesel-battery bi-mode trains, renovated stations, better reliability and easier ticketing have been promised under a modernisation programme agreed for the 1 000 mm gauge Nice – Digne line operated by Chemins de Fer de Provence.
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In depthInfrastructure: Understanding the performance of under sleeper pads
Under sleeper pads have been used for ballast protection and improved track geometry over more than 20 years, but a new contact pressure measurement technique has revealed significant differences in their ballast protection properties.
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NewsMore Northeast Corridor upgrading works launched
USA: Amtrak is undertaking $260m of track improvements and other infrastructure works on the Northeast Corridor this summer. ‘In addition to our ongoing catenary inspection and repair programme, we are renewing our tracks, signals and other railroad infrastructure across the Northeast Corridor and the Harrisburg Line, ...
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In depthUK: Delivering a high-capacity rail artery across northern England
A major upgrading programme is in progress to enhance resilience, raise capacity and cut journey times on Network Rail’s busy east-west route through the Pennines between Manchester and Leeds. Murray Hughes investigates.
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In depthMaintenance: Electric drives offer energy-efficient tamping
Real operating data recorded over a long period have demonstrated the energy-saving potential of Plasser & Theurer’s electric drive technology, as well as reducing exhaust emissions.
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In depthEurope: Better planning can keep trains running
Long-term thinking and better planning could help alleviate disruption when infrastructure work is in progress. With a European Regulation on railway capacity due shortly, Forum Train Europe offers a blueprint for the future.
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NewsSolar panels added to railway noise barrier
LITHUANIA: A lineside noise barrier incorporating solar panels to generate electricity has been installed at Juodšiliai to the south of Vilnius. The 22·2 kW solar power plant installed by infrastructure manager LTG Infra and SoliTek is expected to generate up to 14 MWh of per year, ...