All Railway Gazette International articles in June 2018 – Page 4
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Metro Report InternationalChild-friendly journey planner launched
GERMANY: A door-to-door journey planning app tailored to the needs of children has been launched by Berlin-Brandenburg transport authority VBB and developer HaCon. VBB Jump is based on HaCon’s Kids App for Android, which was developed with input from children and parents, interviews at schools and extensive usability tests. It ...
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NewsSwiss long-distance concession split confirmed
SWITZERLAND: The Federal Office for Transport announced on June 12 its final decision to split the concession to operate long-distance passenger services from the December 2019 timetable change. Most routes and the whole of the inter-city network will be run by incumbent SBB, but BLS will operate Interregio services on ...
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NewsNizhny Novgorod World Cup metro extension inaugurated
RUSSIA: An extension of the Nizhny Novgorod metro serving the newly built stadium was inaugurated on June 12, a few days before the start of the FIFA World Cup. Revenue services began the following day. The 2·2 km northern extension of the Sormovsko-Meshcherskaya Line runs from Moskovskaya to Strelka. ...
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Metro Report InternationalBYD to build monorail line in Salvador
BRAZIL: BYD has signed an agreement to build a monorail line in Salvador. The R$2·5bn project is to be built in two phases, with work due to begin in the fourth quarter of 2018. The 20 km coastal route will include a section that crosses the sea en route ...
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NewsFlixTrain brings forward extra services after ‘overwhelming response’
GERMANY: Open access operator FlixTrain has brought forward the introduction of additional services following higher than anticipated passenger demand. It is also introducing seat reservations and launching pop-up shops at main stations. A second daily Stuttgart – Frankfurt – Hannover – Berlin return service will now be introduced on June ...
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NewsSiemens reveals Velaro Novo 360 km/h train concept
GERMANY: Siemens unveiled its Velaro Novo concept for the next generation of high speed train on June 13, saying the first sets could be in service in 2023. The 8 MW Velaro Novo is designed for operating speeds of between 250 and 360 km/h, and would set ‘new ...
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Metro Report InternationalElectric buses ordered for Christchurch
NEW ZEALAND: Christchurch bus operator Red Bus has ordered three Enviro200EV battery buses from a joint venture of Alexander Dennis and battery supplier BYD. The 12 m long buses will have a capacity of 60 passengers and will be air-conditioned. Due to be delivered in March, the vehicles ...
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Rail Business UKInquiry into May timetable disruption launched
UK: On June 13 the Office of Rail & Road formally launched its independent inquiry into the 'recent and widespread' disruption which followed the introduction of the new timetable on May 20. The inquiry was announced by the Secretary of State for Transport on June 4, and is being held ...
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Rail Business UKUK railway news round-up
The first Hitachi Nova 1 trainset for TransPennine Express arrived at the Port of Southampton from Japan on June 11. FirstGroup has appointed Louise Cheeseman as Managing Director of Hull Trains, where she was formerly Service Delivery Director. This follows the departure of Will Dunnett in March. The Welsh government ...
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NewsNorth Korean railway line opens
NORTH KOREA: The Koam – Tapchon railway viaduct has opened, crossing Sokjon Bay on the east coast to connect a fishing port development on the Songjon peninsula to the national rail network. The opening ceremony was held on May 30, five days after national leader Kim Jong Un had inspected ...
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NewsBrno university tram extension planned
CZECH REPUBLIC: Brno city council decided on June 12 to start tendering for a tram extension to serve the university campus in Bohunice. The 900 m branch would run northeast from Osová to Nemocnice Bohunice, with an intermediate stop at Nová Jihlavská. This would be in a 650 m ...
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Metro Report InternationalElectric buses on Chicago’s Route 66
USA: Chicago Transit Board awarded Proterra a $32m contract on June 13 for the supply of 20 electric buses. Due to arrive in 2018-20, the buses will be used on routes 66 and 124. The order follows CTA’s testing of two electric buses since 2014. The contract includes ...
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NewsAfrican supply chain partnership
AFRICA: Unipart Rail and Gear Rail signed a partnership agreement at the Africa Rail event in Johannesburg on June 13. Unipart said the two companies would benefit from bringing together Gear Rail’s reach in Africa and Unipart Rail’s expertise in modernising supply chains, with the aim of reducing costs and ...
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NewsStrukton to show track defect recognition technology at InnoTrans 2018
STRUKTON: Strukton Rail is to use InnoTrans 2018 to unveil automatic video recognition technology which can identify potential tracks defects before they occur. This is being developed by combining Strukton’s video monitoring and specialist track expertise with Siemens' Railigent data analytics technology. ‘The Railigent application suite enables Strukton Rail ...
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NewsHelsinki orders more Transtech trams
FINLAND: Helsinki transport operator HKL has ordered a further 10 ForCity Smart Artic trams from Škoda Transportation subsidiary Transtech. The contract announced on June 14 is worth €30m. HKL ordered 40 trams from Transtech under a framework contract in 2010 that includes options for 90 more. In December 2016 ...
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NewsSNCF reform legislation adopted
FRANCE: The consolidated version of the government’s railway reform legislation was formally adopted by the Sénat in a 245:83 vote on June 14, having been approved by the Assemblée Nationale 452:80 on the previous day. The text had been agreed by a joint committee of MPs and senators on ...
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NewsDanish fleet renewal goes ahead
DENMARK: State passenger operator DSB has been authorised to start the procurement of a new electric train fleet, the Ministry of Transport announced on June 12. The government has reached agreement with a majority of parliamentary parties to press ahead with the fleet renewal strategy unveiled in February. ...
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Metro Report InternationalVery light rail vehicle prototype contract awarded
UK: A prototype vehicle for testing at the Very Light Rail National Innovation Centre in Dudley is to be designed by Transport Design International and produced in partnership with automotive company RDM. The R&D proof of concept project is being managed by researchers from the University of ...
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NewsRailway supply industry news round-up
South African company DCD Rolling Stock has been acquired by the TMH Africa joint venture of Russia's Transmashholding (70%) and empowerment partner Mjisa Investments (30%) for a reported R500m. TMH intends to use the business as a local manufacturing partner for global suppliers, and to enter the wider African rail ...
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NewsCoupler condition monitoring agreement
VOITH: Voith Turbo and Siemens have agreed to develop condition monitoring technology for Voith’s Scharfenberg couplers, with the aim of reducing inspection and maintenance costs while increasing availability. Voith will lead development, with Siemens integrating the application into its Railigent suite and MindSphere internet of things operating system. The companies ...