Main line rail industry news – Page 1347
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News
Laser treatment for wheels
SWEDISH regional operator Svenska Tågkompaniet has awarded Duroc Rail a contract to maintain the wheels and wheelsets of its rolling stock fleet, including application of the Duroc treatment process to extend the life of contact surfaces. This uses a high-power laser to heat the wheel tread, followed by application of ...
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Products in Brief
SKF and Sécheron are developing a bogie monitoring system to be launched later this year, with an integrated sensor in the SKF bearing unit capturing speed, temperature and vibration data to ascertain bearing and wheel condition. A Sécheron data acquisition unit will perform analysis and communication with the train control ...
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Swazis turn to expansion
INTRO: Swaziland Railways has launched a network-wide upgrading programme, and with private investors is planning a direct link to Johannesburg. James Hall discussed developments with CEO Gideon MahlalelaAT THE BEGINNING of this year, Swaziland Railways was looking forward to starting the first major rehabilitation of its infrastructure since the country’s ...
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Class 185 pioneers use of ETCS
INTRO: Three pre-production dual-system Class 185 freight locos for German Railway are equipped to operate using ERTMS/ETCS, although delays in the development of Specific Transmission Modules in each country to form the interface with existing signalling mean that conventional train protection systems will be used initiallyTRIALS with a trio of ...
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Freight accord
OCTOBER is due to see the launch of a joint venture company based in Paris to co-ordinate wagonload freight traffic between France and Germany. The move follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding in Hannover on June 23. Participating in the ceremonies were DB Chairman Hartmut Mehdorn and SNCF ...
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TTCI leads research to cut premature wheel scrapping
INTRO: The AAR ruled in 1989 that new wheels must be heat-treated, but the extra wear life anticipated has been compromised by a sharp rise in spall or shelling defects. A research effort will address the problemBYLINE: Daniel H StoneChief MetallurgistTransportation Technology Center IncAROUND A MILLION of the 10 million ...
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Loco pools stoke the open access fire
INTRO: Germany’s railway reforms paved the way for open access operators to enter the freight business, sparking a demand for motive power available on short or long-term lease. Ralf Roman Rossberg looks at the ’rent-a-loco’ business set up by suppliers who have established pools of locomotives, lending encouragement to DB ...
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DB seeks entry to the capital markets
INTRO: Moving German Railway into the private sector is not on the immediate agenda, but Chairman Hartmut Mehdorn is keen for DB to gain access to the capital markets to help fund investment. Mehdorn aims to cut costs by DM8·4bn by 2004 and is overseeing a programme of change that ...
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Steel sleeper success in Australia
Sir - The letter by Mr Clive Budge in RG 5.00 p282 raises concerns about the use of steel sleepers. Having been involved with design, construction and maintenance of track in Australia, and especially in the use of steel sleepers, for the past 20 years, I would like to share ...
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ICE3 pioneers commercial application of eddy-current rail brakes
The dream of frictionless braking has crept closer with the installation of eddy-current rail brakes on German Railway's ICE3, but they will only be used in carefully controlled conditions
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Neubaustrecke late and over budget
IT IS no wonder that German Railway’s Board Chairman Hartmut Mehdorn has set up a special committee to oversee major projects. When contracts were signed for construction of the K
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NewsInnoTrans 2000: Giant event storms to success in Berlin
INNOTRANS: Over 800 exhibitors from nearly 30 countries will be present at the InnoTrans event on September 12-15, filling some 20000m2 of hall space within the Berlin exhibition grounds. Organiser Messe Berlin reports that the number of exhibitors is up 75% from the last InnoTrans event in 1998. Once again, ...
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Westrail bids shortlisted
FOUR CONSORTIA have been shortlisted for the privatisation of Western Australia’s freight and infrastructure business. The four are undertaking due diligence, which will culminate with the submission of final bids in October. Announcing the shortlist on August 9, WA Transport Minister Murray Criddle said that he hoped to announce the ...
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Publications
Stadtbahn in Deutschland: Innovativ - Flexibel - AttraktivWritten by the German Association of Transport Undertakings and sponsored by the Federal Ministry of Transport, Building & Housing, this comprehensive study reviews light rail developments in Germany over the past 30 years. With text in German and English, the 490 pages include ...
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Track recording trolley
ENGINEERING Technology 2000 has developed the Autograph track geometry measuring trolley, a battery-powered self-propelled unit which records at up to 4 km/h. It can be dismantled for transport in the boot of a car. Operated by remote control, the Autograph is equipped with an on-board PC in a weatherproof housing ...
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Industry News
France: Alstom Transport has reported turnover of 874m euros for the first quarter to June 30, down from 1·02bn euros in the first quarter of 1999-2000. Orders were however up from 1·02bn euros to 1·14bn euros.Sema Group has formed a strategic global alliance with SAP to provide software solutions for ...
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Super Soya tilts to the north
PASSENGERS in Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido are reaping the benefits of the country’s latest build of tilting diesel multiple-units. Marketed as Super Soya, the four-car Series 261 sets have cut the journey time between Sapporo and Wakkanai by 54min to 4h 58min.The new trains are the final development in ...
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Diesel ICE debut delayed
passengers on Germany’s non-electrified inter-city routes must wait until next year for the chance to enjoy the comfort of ICE services. The launch of DB’s diesel-powered ICE-TD has now been postponed twice, and the trains will not carry fare-paying passengers on a regular basis until June 2001 on services ...
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Bombardier agrees to buy Adtranz
Bombardier announced on August 4 that it had signed a sale and purchase agreement to acquire Adtranz from its parent DaimlerChrysler. The move had been expected following Bombardier’s unsuccessful bid for Siemens’ rail arm. The deal values the extensive Adtranz empire at just US$725m, reflecting the company’s recent lack of ...
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ETCS test car takes to the rails
GERMAN Railway has developed and built a special vehicle for testing the first applications of the European Rail Traffic Management System/ European Train Control System in Germany. This will initially be on the route from Jüterbog to Halle and Leipzig, where trials are planned this year and next.The 120 km/h ...