Infrastructure news – Page 69
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NewsDetecting earthquakes with ADIF’s optic fibre network
SPAIN: ADIF has signed an agreement for the Instituto Geográfico Nacional to use its optic fibre network to gather and analyse data about earthquakes, which are relatively common in the Iberian Peninsula. To date, ADIF’s 16 000 km dark optic fibre network has not been made ...
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Rail Business UKAlstom awarded Cambridge area resignalling contract
UK: Network Rail has awarded Alstom a £130m contract covering design, delivery and commissioning works for the £194m Cambridge area resignalling project. Alstom said the contract announced on February 22 is the largest to be awarded under the Major Signalling Framework Agreement during the current five-year ...
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In depthAzerbaijan: Developing a transit hub
After years of declining freight traffic, Azerbaijan’s national railway ADY is seeking to revive its fortunes by focusing on its potential as a hub for transit freight between Asia and Europe. It is also increasing investment in passenger services around Baku. Toma Bačić explains.
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NewsInternational rail links in Montenegro‘s national infrastructure plan
MONTENEGRO: Plans for international rail links and other long term improvements to the rail network are included a national infrastructure strategy for 2021-23 which has been adopted by the government. The proposed international links would run from Nikšić towards Bileća in Bosnia & Herzegovina and from ...
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NewsFRA compares global high speed rail noise mitigation standards
USA: Ricardo has completed a study for the Federal Railroad Administration which aims to improve the accuracy of comparisons of global high speed rail noise reduction standards and their costs. The report, High Speed Rail: Cost of Compliance for Noise Mitigation Procedures, has now been published ...
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Rail Business UKSiemens Mobility awarded Northumberland Line signalling contract
UK: Network Rail has awarded Siemens Mobility a contract to supply signalling and control equipment for the Northumberland Line project to reintroduce passenger services on the freight line between Newcastle and Ashington from 2024. The contract scope includes signalling, telecoms and control equipment, power supply upgrades, ...
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NewsInfranord locos to be equipped with Hitachi ETCS
SWEDEN: Hitachi Rail is to fit ETCS and STM-ATC2 equipment on two Class Tb diesel locomotives operated by state-owned railway construction and maintenance company Infranord. STM-ATC2 enables vehicles equipped with ETCS to operate on lines which have not yet been equipped with ETCS lineside technology. ‘These ...
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Metro Report InternationalBrandenburg trials elastomer infills to create cycle-safe tramways
GERMANY: Tram operator Verkehrsbetriebe Brandenburg an der Havel is testing bicycle-safe tram line cover profiles to improve pedestrian and cyclist safety in the city’s old town.
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NewsCalifornia reverts to double-track high speed line through Central Valley
USA: In a marked reversal of policy since late 2020, the California High Speed Rail Authority’s 2022 Draft Business Plan says it will now complete the initial section of the planned San Francisco – Los Angeles high speed line through the Central Valley as a double-track electrified railway.
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In depthResearch: Towards a low-carbon slab track
The inclusion of recycled plastic and other materials in precast and continuous in-situ concrete track slabs would help to reduce the environmental impact of track construction and could also deliver improved dynamic performance.
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In depthInterview: Turning Budapest into a European rail hub
A 20-year strategy for expanding Budapest’s regional and long-distance rail connections envisages the construction of new and upgraded cross-city links to alleviate the bottlenecks caused by the River Danube and the capital’s three termini, explains Budapest Development Agency CEO Dávid Vitézy.
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NewsProgress in talks on reopening strategic rail link
INTERNATIONAL: Armenia and Azerbaijan have made progress in talks aimed at reopening the long-closed rail link between the two countries, raising hopes of restoration of a rail corridor that once offered a through route between the Baltic coast and the Gulf. On January 28, Mher Grigoryan, ...
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Rail Business UKNetwork Rail tests earth movement meters in Scotland
UK: Network Rail’s Scotland route is testing surface-mounted earth movement meters at 26 sites. The tilt meters are designed to detect movement in slopes, embankments and earthworks of more than 5°, and sound an alert via the GSM-R telecoms network to inform control staff of the ...
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NewsGermany to invest €13·6bn in rail infrastructure
GERMANY: Deutsche Bahn, the federal government and regional governments are together expected to invest a record €13·6bn on railway infrastructure projects in 2022, a €900m increase on the figure for 2021. Infrastructure manager DB Netze expects to renew or upgrade 1 800 km of track, 2 ...
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NewsWesel – Bocholt line electrified
GERMANY: Electric operation of Rhein-IJssel-Express service RE19 on the 20·3 km Bocholter Bahn in Nordrhein-Westfalen began on February 1, following a seven month programme to modernise and electrify the branch from Wesel to Bocholt. The trains are operated by VIAS Rail, with Bocholt services now running ...
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NewsJadeWeserPort electrification contract awarded
GERMANY: Container Terminal Wilhelmshaven JadeWeserPort-Marketing has awarded Rail Power Systems a €7m contract to design and install 15 kV 16·7 Hz electrification on the 4 km connection from the DB Netz network into the terminal, and in a 16-track marshalling yard at the site. Work is ...
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NewsDB Netz Chair to open IAF track technology show
GERMANY: The VDEI association of German railway engineers has announced that Frank Sennhenn, Chairman of the management board of infrastructure manager DB Netz, will officially open the 28th IAF international exhibition of track technology in Münster on May 31 and give the keynote speech. ‘We welcome ...
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NewsTesting starts in Madrid’s third cross-city tunnel
SPAIN: Trial running began through the third cross-city tunnel between Madrid Chamartín and Madrid Atocha over the weekend of February 5-6. Rolling stock chosen for the trials consisted of a pair of S112 Talgo trainsets refitted for national operator RENFE’s low-cost Avlo services.
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NewsGovernment approves Vilnius – Klaipėda electrification
LITHUANIA: The government has approved the Ministry of Transport & Communications’ plans for 25 kV 50 Hz electrification of the 309 km Kaišiadorys – Klaipėda – Draugystės route, which will complete electrification of the 376 km corridor between Vilnius and the port city. The cost is ...
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NewsWork starts on Perth’s Ellenbrook interchange
AUSTRALIA: Work has started on the terminus of Perth’s northeastern suburban line, with a groundbreaking ceremony for the rail-bus interchange at Ellenbrook attended by Western Australia’s Premier Mark McGowan and Transport Minister Rita Saffioti. Being built as part of the state’s Metronet ...