Infrastructure news – Page 5
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NewsAgreement reached to provide dedicated tracks for Toronto – Kitchener passenger trains
CANADA: The Ontario government has reached an agreement-in-principle to purchase land from freight railway CN to enable it to construct dedicated tracks for GO passenger train services on the route between Toronto and Kitchener.
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NewsConstruction of Rotterdam rail freight yard begins
NETHERLANDS: The Port of Rotterdam Authority, railway infrastructure manager ProRail and contractor Swietelsky Rail Benelux have begun construction of a yard to facilitate the growth of container traffic from the Maasvlakte area of the port.
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In depthInfrastructure: Embracing nature can enhance rail’s soft resilience
The International Union of Railways is urging more railways to adopt Nature-based Solutions as a means to enhance the resilience of infrastructure in an era when both the natural world and man-made assets are under severe pressure from climate change.
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In depthBaltic States: Tight timeline sparks Rail Baltica rethink
Facing increasing pressure on both cost and deliverability grounds, the Rail Baltica project to build a standard gauge spine through the Baltic States is now to be delivered in two phases. Toma Bačić explains.
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In depthInfrastructure: Composite sleepers make a comeback
Norfolk Southern is among the US railroads looking afresh at the latest iteration of the composite sleeper. Greg Janson, President of supplier Triton Ties, explains to Nick Kingsley how a combination of recycled plastic and glass fibre material can offer durability and environmental gains compared to using wooden or concrete sleepers.
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Rail Business UKNetwork Rail launches weather learning programme for rail staff
UK: Network Rail and the Chartered Institution of Railway Operators have launched a weather learning programme, which is to strengthen meteorological knowledge among operational and other staff to enable more confident and informed decision-making during adverse weather conditions.
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NewsEveryone onboard to finance US$800m 'electric centipede' tram-train project
COSTA RICA: An international financing package has been agreed to fully-fund the US$800m launch of two electrified tram-train routes in the San José metropolitan area.
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NewsUruguay sets out five-year rail investment plan
URUGUAY: Transport Minister Lucía Etcheverry has presented rail investment initiatives for next five-year period to parliament’s budget committee.
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NewsERTMS alignment and asset cost challenges temper optimism over FRMCS migration
INTERNATIONAL: The complexity of the task of moving from bold vision to the reality of a truly digitalised and connected rail ecosystem was in evidence at UIC’s Future Railway Mobile Communication System conference. Nick Kingsley reports from Paris.
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NewsLithuania’s first Flirt electric train delivered to LTG Link
LITHUANIA: The first of the Flirt electric multiple-units ordered by national passenger operator LTG Link was delivered to Vilnius on the night of October 12-13, arriving from Stadler’s Polish factory by road because of its wide profile and 1 520 mm gauge.
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NewsMetro-North introduces faster trains to Poughkeepsie as bi-mode Chargers enter service
USA: Faster ’super-express’ services started running on MTA Metro-North Railroad’s 120 km Hudson Line between Poughkeepsie and New York’s Grand Central Terminal on October 6.
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NewsSerbia launches 200 km/h train services on rebuilt Novi Sad – Subotica line
SERBIA: The section of the Beograd – Budapest main line between Novi Sad, Subotica and the Hungarian border near Kelebija has reopened following a major rebuilding and realignment to allow 200 km/h running.
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In depthFinland: Standard gauge rail links are on the agenda
Reflecting pressure from NATO and the EU to improve interoperability, Finland’s Minister of Transport Lulu Ranne has announced studies for standard gauge lines in northern Finland, with the priority being a link to Tornio on the Swedish border. Benjámin Zelki investigates.
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NewsLego Fehmarn Belt Tunnel aims to inspire construction careers
DENMARK: An exhibition at the Legoland theme park in Billund shows how the 18 km immersed tunnel for the Fehmarn Belt fixed link is being constructed.
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Rail Business UKNetwork Rail and Loram launch track machine ETCS working group
UK: Network Rail’s East Coast Operations Business Change team recently met specialists from track machine engineering and operating company Loram in Derby to launch a track machine ETCS working group.
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NewsŠkoda Group sees high demand for newly certified ETCS onboard unit
INTERATIONAL: Škoda Group announced the certification of its ETCS onboard unit at the 16th Trako International Railway Fair in Gdańsk.
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NewsTurkey, Syria and Jordan sign Hedjaz Railway revival memorandum
ASIA: Turkey has agreed to fund reconstruction of 30 km of railway in Syria which was destroyed during the civil war, Turkish Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu announced following a meeting between transport officials from Turkey, Syria and Jordan.
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NewsEthiopian Railways signs modernisation and project revival framework agreement
ETHIOPIA: Ethiopian Railways Corp and Italian company COIPA Italia have signed a framework agreement for strategic co-operation to modernise the country’s railways and support the revival of the Awash – Kombolcha railway project.
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In depthPoland: Mountain link reopening reflects regional resurgence
The reopening earlier this year of a short branch line in the Sudety mountains is the latest indication of significant progress being made to enhance regional passenger services in the Dolnośląskie region of southwest Poland. Mike Bent reports.
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NewsSiemensbahn restoration partnership agreed
GERMANY: Deutsche Bahn has awarded contracts to nine companies for work on the reactivation of the disused Siemensbahn as part of the Berlin S-Bahn network.