Latest news – Page 2
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NewsCN to test diesel-battery hybrid main line locomotive
CANADA: CN has purchased a hybrid diesel-battery main line locomotive from Progress Rail, which it intends to use to assess the opportunity for retrofitting a portion of its fleet. The ‘plug-in’ hybrid mainline locomotive, which CN describes as ‘a first of its kind in North America’, ...
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Rail Business UKPortuguese and UK railway industry associations to co-operate
EUROPE: Portuguese industry organisation Plataforma Ferroviária Portuguesa and the UK’s Railway Industry Association have signed a memorandum of understanding for co-operation. The agreement signed as part of a visit by 16 British companies covers: exchanging information on research, development and innovation; sharing best practice on ...
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NewsMaintenance vehicle converted to fuel cell power
AUSTRIA: An X534 overhead electrification construction and maintenance railcar has been converted from diesel to fuel cell power. Austrian Federal Railways’ technical service unit TrainTech worked with engineering consultancy m.ZERO to integrate fuel cell power modules from Cummins’ zero-emissions business Accelera into the vehicle as part ...
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NewsSecond Bratislava to Austria line to be electrified
SLOVAKIA: Infrastructure manager ŽSR has started work on the long-planned electrification of the short 2·4 km single-track link from Devínska Nová Ves to the Austrian border at Marchegg. The €10·9m EU co-funded project includes 25 kV 50 Hz electrification, new signalling and rehabilitation of tracks and ...
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Rail Business UKNetwork Rail awards 10-year train control system framework contracts
UK: New suppliers and better visibility of future work are included in the Train Control Systems framework contracts awarded by Network Rail for the provision of conventional and ETCS signalling services during Control Periods 7 and 8 in 2024-34. The Train Control Systems framework replaces the ...
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NewsTMA targets rail freight in Pays de la Loire
FRANCE: Plans have been drawn up to launch an independent rail freight operation based in Pays de la Loire, to be known as Transport Multimodal Alliances. The business has been formed by five logistics and road haulage companies: Ageneau Group, Transports Thébault, TC-Transports, Groupe Combronde and ...
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Rail Business UKUber looks to bring ridesharing platform to the rail market
UK: Eight of the 10 most popular destinations for Uber trips in the UK are railway stations, and the company is keen to use its globally recognised ridesharing platform to encourage the use of modes which are more sustainable than privately owned cars, Mobility Lead Rebecca ...
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In depthEurope: Getlink adopts AI and digital twins
As Channel Tunnel operator Getlink prepares for its future role in providing more and better services between the UK and France it is making a transition to a data-driven company, seizing the opportunities offered by data management and artificial intelligence.
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NewsUAE rail services business launched
UAE: Facilities management company Emrill and rail recruitment and consultancy firm Clemtech have launched Emrill Rail, which aims to simplify working in the UAE by providing cost-effective technical resources and service delivery for all aspects of rolling stock and rail support activities. Dubai-based Emrill Rail will ...
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Rail Business UKTechnology tackles train surfers and bicycle thieves
UK: The Docklands Light Railway is to be equipped with technology which can detect ‘train surfers’ illegally clinging to the back of its automated trains or between vehicles. The system is being deployed by Telent, which has extensive experience of integrating CCTV, internet-of-things sensors and smart ...
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NewsLogistics company orders locos to enter Uruguayan rail market
URUGUAY: Logistics company Grupo RAS has ordered three Wabtec C23EMP diesel locomotives to support its plans to enter the Uruguayan railway market. Wabtec will manufacture the locomotives at its Contagem plant in Brazil for delivery by late 2025. The C23EMP is designed for low axleload operations, ...
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NewsSelf-propelled battery wagon deployed on mining railway
USA: Battery and automation technology company Intramotev has announced the successful deployment of its ReVolt self-propelled battery-electric vehicle as part of a standard freight train. ReVolt uses regenerative braking and batteries to reduce a diesel locomotive’s fuel consumption and thus costs and emissions. ...
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NewsZillertalbahn hydrogen plan dropped in favour of battery traction
AUSTRIA: Plans to replace diesel traction on the narrow gauge Zillertalbahn with hydrogen have been dropped in favour of battery operation. Decarbonisation is planned as part of the railway’s medium-term investment programme for 2025-30, and could save an estimated 900 000 litres of diesel per year. ...
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NewsEuropean Rail Timetable business for sale
INTERNATIONAL: Director and Editor-in-Chief John Potter has decided to sell European Rail Timetable Ltd, publisher of the famous red book which contains almost 600 pages of detailed schedule information for 50 000 trains, as well as maps and useful travel information for Europe and beyond. The ...
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Rail Business UKArmitt criticises ‘blurred picture’ for rail development in wake of HS2 axe
UK: ‘It hasn’t been a great six months for rail’, suggested Sir John Armitt, Chair of the National Infrastructure Commission, in his keynote address to the Northern Transport Summit on March 21. Armitt was among a raft of policymakers and transport officials at the event who ...
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NewsBulgarian operator buys DB coaches
BULGARIA: National passenger operator BDZ-Putnicheski Prevozi has bought 76 second-hand coaches from Germany’s Deutsche Bahn for use on services from Sofia to Varna, Burgas and Ruse. The €15·7m contract signed on March 29 covers 60 second class open saloon coaches, six second class cars for passengers ...
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NewsAmazon to shift goods from road to rail
EUROPE: Amazon has awarded FS Group’s Mercitalia Logistics a contract to transport goods between its fulfilment centres in Germany and Italy. This aims to cut road traffic pollution and congestion on key European routes, while optimising inventory handling and reducing delivery times. There will be ...
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NewsFirst C-Series EMU enters service in Perth
AUSTRALIA: The first Alstom C-Series electric multiple-unit has entered service on the Perth suburban network’s Joondalup and Mandurah lines. More than 10 000 people entered a competition to win around 150 tickets for the inaugural ride on April 7, ahead of start of regular operation the following day.
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NewsFirst Mireo Plus B battery-electric multiple-units enter service
GERMANY: An initial four Siemens Mobility Mireo Plus B battery-electric multiple-units entered passenger service on Netz 8 Ortenau routes in Baden-Württemberg on April 8. ‘We are writing a new chapter in railway history’, said the Land‘s transport minister Winfried Hermann. ’Trains operating in the Ortenau region ...
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NewsAs elections loom, rail advocates press for EU funding boost
EUROPE: Amid pressure on member states’ budgets and ongoing geopolitical instability, the rail sector used the Connecting Europe Days event in Brussels to urge EU policymakers to ensure investment is maintained in the next legislative period.