Latest news – Page 1327
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NewsMaking the right choices
MOBILITY: Investment in public transport provides the opportunity to tackle the global economic downturn, addressing environmental concerns and building a sustainable urban framework for the longer term.
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NewsPremier announces QR privatisation plan
AUSTRALIA: Queensland Rail's freight businesses are among the assets included in a A$15bn privatisation plan announced by state Premier Anna Bligh on June 2. QR's coal business will be sold, and the government is to examine the potential to sell the bulk and regional freight, retail and intermodal businesses. Regional ...
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NewsBombardier opens Zürich Powerlab
SWITZERLAND: Bombardier Transportation formally opened a 1 200 m2 development and test laboratory at its Zurich-Oerlikon site in June 4. MITRAC Powerlab Zürich is the company's core competence centre for high power traction propulsion technology, with two test benches for transformers, traction and auxiliary converters, motors and related electronics. ...
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NewsHyder Consulting wins Express Rail Link contract
CHINA: MTR has awarded Hyder Consulting a contract covering the detailed design of lineside electrical and mechanical services for the HK$39·5bn Express Rail Link in Hong Kong. Starting at an underground terminus in West Kowloon, the link will run underground for 26 km to the boundary with mainland China ...
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NewsCeramic insulating insert
NETHERLANDS: Movares and Corus are testing a ceramic insulation insert for rail joints which promises the electrical insulating properties of plastic components with the lifespan of the adjoining rails. If the tests are successful, a commercial launch is expected within a year. There are around 5000 insulated joints on ...
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NewsPrima II prototype rolled out by Alstom
FRANCE: The prototype Prima II locomotive was unveiled in a ceremony at Alstom Transport's Belfort plant on June 3. The locomotive will shortly be sent for testing at the Wildenrath circuit in Germany, and once certification is obtained commissioning is planned for 2011. The development of Prima II has ...
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NewsWroclaw suburban vision
POLAND: Dolnoslaskie voivodship has presented plans to develop an intensive suburban network in Wroclaw. Implementation should start this year, although the date has still not been set, and tenders for new rolling stock are expected shortly. The proposed 701 km Dolnoslaskie Kolej Dojazdowa network will encompass 43 local authorities with ...
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NewsMRS launches CBTC operation
BRAZIL: The pilot section of MRS Logística's broad-gauge network equipped with SIACO communications-based train control was officially released for full commercial operation on June 1, two months later than planned following a period of intensive field testing. The 35 km section of the busy Pombal - Guaíba branch, together ...
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NewsWireless alliance targets Indian rail market
INDIA: Zylog Systems has formed a strategic alliance with Nomad Digital to develop wireless telecoms products for the Indian rail market. Nomad hopes to expand into Asia based on its experience of installing WiMax technology in the UK and supplying wireless internet services for railways and transit operators in ...
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NewsAn international transfer
EUROPE: We reported briefly in April that SNCF intended to increase its stake in contract operator Keolis from 45·5% to 57% by transferring its Effia subsidiary into the business. On the face of it, the restructuring appears not to be of major significance - Effia specialises in car park operation ...
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NewsBuilding on foundations of foam
USA: Utah Transit Authority is using Geofoam foundations at four bridges on the West Valley City light rail project in Salt Lake City. The lightweight fill and ground stabiliser was developed by Utah-based ACH Foam Technologies. ‘Using Geofoam instead of other types of fill, such as soil, could save ...
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NewsLight rail returns to the agenda in England
UK: Light rail is returning to the agenda in England, following a period when national policy has favoured bus-based projects. Contracts are expected to be signed this month for a major revitalisation of Britain’s only traditional tramway, agreement has been reached to revive Manchester’s ‘Big Bang’, and new vehicles are ...
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NewsPesa signs its tram 'contract of the century'
POLAND: Preferred bidder Pesa Bydgoszcz signed the contract to supply the city of Warszawa with 186 type 120N low-floor trams on May 29. The 1·5bn zloty contract was signed at Tramwaje Warszawskie's Zoliborz depot after the public procurement office approved the tendering process which had selected Pesa as the winner. ...
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NewsA rolling programme optimises wiring
UK: Two financially-viable main line schemes plus strategic infills offering the best value for money would initiate the rolling programme of electrification set out in a draft strategy published for consultation by Network Rail on May 15. For its core strategy, the infrastructure manager proposes electrification of around ...
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NewsFreight crisis is biting hard
EUROPE: Just how seriously the economic downturn is hurting Europe’s rail freight emerges from a Declaration issued at a joint CER-UIC High-Level Freight Meeting in Wien on April 24. That the 20 or so chief executives attending the event felt the need to send out a formal cry for help ...
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NewsIndustry News in Brief
The ED Holding subsidiary of Slovak financial group J&T has purchased a 96% stake in Czech electrification equipment supplier Elektrizace Zeleznic for KC810m. EZ Praha recorded a pre-tax profit of KC200m on turnover of KC2·5bn in 2008. The remaining 4% is owned by Alexandr Fedorocko. UCS Civils has launched ...
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NewsProducts & Technology in Brief
Dutch infrastructure manager ProRail is developing an adjustable version of its ANAbel level crossing audible warning system for use in urban areas. Regulations require a warning 15 dB above surrounding noise, but the sound levels required to achieve this during the day bring complaints from local inhabitants at night. The ...
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NewsGE signs $500m Kazakh locomotive service deal
KAZAKHSTAN: GE Transportation announced the signing of two significant agreements in Kazakhstan on May 29. The first is a 15-year contract with the JSC Lokomotiv subsidiary of state railway KTZ which covers the servicing and overhaul of 404 2TE10 locomotives which GE Transportation has modernised. GE Transportation will work ...
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NewsSustainable urban transport funded
FRANCE: On April 30 Jean-Louis Borloo, the minister responsible for transport, announced 50 projects selected to receive a share of the €800m allocated under the Grenelle de l’Environnement initiative to finance sustainable urban transport projects between 2009 and 2011. The list includes metro extensions in Marseille and Lyon, and tram ...