Main line rail industry news – Page 474
-
NewsWien and Barcelona sign metro co-operation agreement
AUSTRIA: Barcelona transport operator TMB is to assist Wiener Linien in the development of the Wien U-Bahn network, including the modernisation of line U2 and construction of the driverless line U5.The agreement signed on September 29 is valid for three years with the possibility of being extended.TMB said Wiener Linien ...
-
NewsHigh power density connection for rolling stock applications
CONNECTOR: The Han 34 HPR EasyCon connector from Harting is designed for high-current transmission with a high power density for use on rail vehicles. The housings and retaining frames can accommodate four 650 A contacts in a single interface, more than doubling the current-carrying capacity compared to the next HPR ...
-
NewsPraha tramway expansion plans approved
CZECH REPUBLIC: Praha city council has approved ambitious plans to expand the capital’s tram network with up to 30 new lines or extensions. The aim is to reduce dependency on cars and fossil fuel buses. The programme approved on September 5 is to be implemented in three stages. The first ...
-
NewsDB Netz reopens main line through Rastatt
GERMANY: Following a hiatus of around seven weeks, trains began running through the town of Rastatt on the Rhein Valley main line between Karlsruhe and Basel at 01.00 on October 2.The busy freight and passenger artery had been blocked since August 12, when a tunnel beneath the alignment collapsed. The ...
-
NewsLithuanian Railways fined €28m for closing line to obstruct competition
LITHUANIA: The European Commission had fined national railway Lietuvos Geležinkeliai €27·9m for hindering competition in the rail freight market by dismantling a cross-border line connecting Lithuania and Latvia. ‘LG used its control over the national rail infrastructure to penalise competitors’, said Margrethe Vestager, Commissioner in charge of competition policy, ...
-
NewsPiyush Goyal
INDIA: Piyush Goyal has been named Minister of Railways and Minister of Coal, replacing Suresh Prabhu who relinquished the rail portfolio after a recent series of accidents and becomes Minister of Commerce & Industry.
-
NewsRio Tinto operates first fully-autonomous test train
AUSTRALIA: Rio Tinto has successfully operated its first fully-autonomous freight train on its iron ore network in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, the company announced on October 2. The 100 km pilot run from Wombat Junction to Paraburdoo was completed without a driver on board. Throughout the trip, the ...
-
NewsŽOS Vrútky stake bought by freight operator
SLOVAKIA: Budamar Logistics acquired a 33% stake in rolling stock manufacturer ŽOS Vrútky on September 20, with the aim of securing a stable partner for the maintenance and repair of its wagon fleet. The remaining 67 % is still held by former politician Víťazoslav Móric. Most of ŽOS Vrútky’s business ...
-
NewsWorld rail freight news round-up
Rail Cargo Group plans to operate a trial Germany – Iran freight service this autumn, with a view to launching a weekly service in 2018. DB Cargo Czechia ran its first train on the SŽDC network using its own certification on September 10. The train carrying oilseed rape from Băile ...
-
NewsTrenitalia orders wheelchair lifts
ITALY: Rolling stock components supplier Nabtesco Oclap has awarded the Caroil System subsidiary of Mobility Networks Group a contract to supply approximately 300 automatic and manual wheelchair lifts for use by national train operator Trenitalia. Caroil has also announced that it is seeking synergies through ‘aligning its core manufacturing processes’ ...
-
NewsRhätische Bahn commissions Trapeze communications system
SWITZERLAND: Trapeze has supplied Rhätische Bahn with a PA-R-I-Ty communication system to provide IP-based voice and data radio links across the metre gauge operator’s network. RhB’s services are managed from 13 workstations at a control centre in Landquart and three workstations at a remote facility in Klosters. PA-R-I-Ty provides 10 ...
-
NewsMott MacDonald supports Thameslink TMS implementation
UK: Infrastructure manager Network Rail has appointed Mott MacDonald to support the implementation of Hitachi’s Tranista traffic management system on the Thameslink route through London. The consultancy is to advise Network Rail on the necessary changes to operational roles, processes and decision making. It will also look at the integration ...
-
NewsMarrakech trolleybus route inaugurated
MOROCCO: Revenue services on the first trolleybus route in Marrakech began on September 29, two days after an official opening ceremony. The 11 km route between Massira and Gueliz forms the first phase of a larger network that is planned to be commissioned by the end of 2019. Buses ...
-
NewsEdinburgh welcomes electric buses
UK: Edinburgh bus operator Lothian Buses will put its first electric buses into service on October 1. The six buses will operate on the Service 1 route, which runs through Edinburgh’s central air quality management area. Lothian Buses ordered six Street Air buses from Wrightbus for £2·7m. These are ...
-
NewsChanges to EU rail passenger rights regulation proposed
EUROPE: A proposal to revise Regulation 1371/2007 on rail passengers’ rights was published by the European Commission on September 28. This must now be examined and adopted by the European Parliament and Council before entering into force. The Commission said its aim was to update the rules to better protect ...
-
NewsRailway supply industry news round-up
Door and compartment mechanism specialist Rollon will use the Expo Ferroviaria trade show in Milano on October 3-5 to launch its DEF43Z synchronised telescopic rail. Intended for use on external vehicle doors, the telescopic rail features induction hardened raceways and has a load capacity of up to 378 kg. SilverRail ...
-
NewsStuttgart to order more light rail and rack railway vehicles
GERMANY: The board of Stuttgart transport operator Stuttgarter Strassenbahnen has agreed to exercise an option for 20 more S-DT8.12 light rail vehicles, valued at around €80m. SSB placed an initial order for 20 LRVs from Stadler Pankow in early 2010, the first of which entered service in late 2013. ...
-
NewsElectric buses ordered for Stalowa Wola
POLAND: Solaris Bus & Coach is to supply 10 Urbino 8,9 LE electric buses to Stalowa Wola. The city has placed the order alongside a contract for nine diesel buses. Due to be delivered in early 2018, the buses will each be powered by four batteries feeding a 160 ...
-
NewsHarsco wins orders in Saudi Arabia and South Africa
HARSCO: The Harsco Rail track maintenance division of Harsco announced two orders with a total value of US$25m on September 27. The first contract covers the supply of rail grinding machines for use on Saudi Arabia’s Haramain High Speed Rail line between Makkah and Medinah, and includes initial operator training ...
-
News1 500 EMU cars for Buenos Aires
ARGENTINA: The federal government announced on September 26 the start of tendering for what it describes as the largest rolling stock order ever to be placed for the Buenos Aires commuter network, covering the supply of 1 500 EMU cars or 169 trainsets plus maintenance over 10 years in five ...