Latest news – Page 536
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In depthPutting Chile back on the rails
In contrast to the fluctuating political support that has long hampered railway development in Latin America, President Sebastián Piñera has launched a wide-ranging investment programme to boost rail’s market share. Toma Bačić investigates.
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Metro Report InternationalSão Paulo Metro develops a station navigation system for blind passengers
BRAZIL: Metrô de São Paulo has developed an infrared navigation system to help blind passengers navigate stations. The ‘Siga Fácil’ system uses an infrared receptor device that attaches to a user’s mobile phones to receive directions from transmitters installed throughout a station. The directions can then be ...
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Metro Report InternationalSan Francisco Bay transport integration proposal
USA: Californian Assemblyman David Chiu has put forward a bill which would require all 27 transit agencies throughout the San Francisco Bay Area’s nine counties to create a ‘seamlessly integrated public transport system’. The Bay Area Seamless Transit Act filed on February 4 proposes that agencies standardise ...
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NewsRailway supply industry news round-up
United Metallurgical Co’s Vyksa Steel Works produced a record 951 000 wheels in 2019, up 11% on 2018. Dutch infrastructure manager ProRail has awarded Hit Rail a 10-year contract to host and operate the Common Interface which provides interoperable connectivity between railway companies ...
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NewsIle-de-France seeks to open RER network to competition by 2030
FRANCE: Ile-de-France is seeking to accelerate the opening up of local rail services to competition, regional President Valérie Pécresse announced on February 5. In line with the provisions of the EU’s Fourth Railway Package, the French regional passenger market is being liberalised with effect from January 1 2023. Under the ...
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Metro Report InternationalHelsinki metro fleet expansion and cab modifications agreed
FINLAND: Helsinki transport operator HKL has awarded CAF a €39·9m contract to supply a further five four-car M300 metro trainsets and provide spare parts over their expected 40-year life. The additional M300 sets are scheduled for delivery from CAF’s Zaragoza plant in 2022, providing an increase in ...
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Metro Report InternationalTMH modernises two Sofia Metro trainsets
Sofia modernised metro TMH BULGARIA: Transmashholding’s Metrowagonmash unveiled two four-car metro trainsets modernised for the metro of Sofia, on February 4. The 81-717.4/714.4 cars used on lines 1 and 2 have been equipped with new anti-skid wheel slide protections, safety standards-compliant interior materials, shockproof glass, smoke and ...
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NewsRecord capital expenditure for Indian Railways in 2020-21
INDIA: A 17% year-on-year increase in capital expenditure for Indian Railways in 2020-21 was announced when Minister of Finance Nirmala Sitharaman presented the national budget on February 1. The Ministry of Railways said the emphasis would be on continuing capacity enhancement works, and accelerating implementation to make ...
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NewsKansas City signalling equipment manufacturer acquired
USA: Strait Lane Capital Partners has sold signalling equipment manufacturer J&A Industries to signalling and level crossing supplier CDL Electric Co. J&A Industries General Manager Mark Biehl and the existing management team will continue to lead the Kansas City-based business. ‘J&A Industries’ patented mast ladder platform is ...
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NewsDB unveils refurbished Kiss EMU
GERMANY: The first refurbished Stadler Kiss double-deck EMU for Deutsche Bahn was formally unveiled at Berlin Hbf by the head of DB Personenverkehr Berthold Huber on February 5.
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NewsTalgo to supply coaches for DSB’s Hamburg service
DENMARK: National operator DSB has selected Talgo to supply a fleet of locomotive-hauled coaches to operate international services to and from Hamburg.
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NewsAlstom signs battery-electric multiple-unit contract
Source: Alstom Design & Styling GERMANY: Alstom has been awarded a €100m contract to supply and maintain the first battery-electric version of its Coradia Continental multiple-unit family. The 11 three-car BEMUs have been ordered by Mittelsachsen transport authority ZVMS, which has taken out a €49m loan from ...
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Metro Report InternationalMetro de Panamá awards Line 3 contract
PANAMA: Metro de Panamá awarded the HPH joint venture of South Korean companies a US$2·5bn,54-month contract for the construction of Line 3 on February 4. The joint venture of Hyundai Engineering & Construction Co, POSCO and Hyundai Engineering Co beat bids from China Railway Group, a consortium ...
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Metro Report InternationalBogotá Metro changes metro and BRT lines
COLOMBIA: The Mayor of Bogotá Claudia López has announced a new transport plan for the city, including the extension of the future Bogotá Metro’s first line and a change of the proposed Transmilenio bus rapid transit route. The 4·1km metro extension would run from Calle 72 to ...
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Metro Report InternationalPorto to introduce contactless ticketing this year
PORTUGAL: Porto is to begin the rollout of contactless ticketing this year, enabling holders of EMV bank cards to touch a validator and travel without needing to use the local Andante smart card. The TIP group of transport operators is working with Visa CyberSource, financial services company ...
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NewsConversion of local railway into a busway to be studied
Source: Lokaltog DENMARK: A feasibility study for converting the Østbanen local railway in eastern Sjælland into a busway is to be undertaken following an agreement between Minister of Transport Benny Engelbrecht and the regional council. The jointly-funded DKr3·5m study is to be undertaken in parallel with ...
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In depthMajor Projects: Software challenge blows Crossrail off course
For a decade, construction of London’s east-west cross-city tunnel seemed set for completion on time in late 2018. But this deadline has slipped as project promoter Crossrail Ltd grapples with the emerging complexity of delivering a new railway centred on digital technology. Alan Hannaford* reflects on the challenges faced.
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NewsAustralind DMU design revealed
AUSTRALIA: The design of the diesel multiple-units ordered for Transwa’s twice-daily Australind service has been unveiled by Premier of Western Australia Mark McGowan. ‘The sleek new design will make the journey between Perth and Bunbury more comfortable for residents and tourists alike, encouraging more people to ...
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Metro Report InternationalDetroit People Mover runs counter-clockwise for first time in 11 years
USA: The Detroit People Mover is operating counter-clockwise for the first time since 2008. According to the Detroit Transportation Corp, a major rail replacement on the circular line led to a reverse direction operational testing in December 2019. The testing ‘determined that there is an advantage to ...
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NewsCanadian Pacific aims to outpace its peers in 2020
CANADA: Canadian Pacific Railway has announced record revenue of C$7·79bn for 2019, a 7% year-on-year increase. Diluted earnings per share increased 29% to a record C$17·52. The operating ratio was 59·9, an improvement from 61·3 the previous year. ‘Global economic uncertainty caused by geopolitical and macroeconomic challenges ...