Main line rail industry news – Page 447
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NewsBelgrano renewals reach 400 km
ARGENTINA: The Ministry of Transport announced on February 21 that its track renewals programme on the 1 000 mm gauge Belgrano network had completed 400 km of the 535 km to be upgraded under the first phase. Involving the replacement of wooden sleepers with concrete, new rail and reballasting with ...
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NewsGWR leads the pack at 20th Rail Business Awards
UK: Great Western Railway was announced as Rail Business of the Year and ScotRail Alliance Managing Director Alex Hynes was named Industry Leader of the Year at the 20th Rail Business Awards. Hosted by Railway Gazette at London’s Hilton hotel on Park Lane on February 22, the event bought together ...
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NewsRailway supply industry news round-up
On February 12 CEN, CENELEC and the European Union Agency for Railways signed a renewed agreement for co-operation in the provision of technical documents covering safety and interoperability. Jacobs Engineering Group and Atos have announced a non-exclusive collaboration agreement to provide predictive, condition-based maintenance services Strukton Rail has completed the ...
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NewsEuston Master Development Partner selected
UK: High speed line project promoter HS2 Ltd announced on February 22 that Network Rail and the Secretary of State for Transport had selected Lendlease as the Master Development Partner for London Euston station. The MDP is to work with the Greater London Authority and London Borough of Camden to ...
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NewsSofia – Plovdiv route modernisation funding
BULGARIA: The European Commission has allocated €471m from the Operational Programme Transport & Transport Infrastructure for a three-phase project to modernise the 51 km Elin Pelin – Kostenets section of the Sofia – Plovdiv main line. This aim is to enhance the double-track electrified route to permit freight trains to ...
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NewsAmey takes over ‘key’ Carillion rail contracts
UK: Amey Rail Ltd acquired ‘a significant number’ of Network Rail infrastructure contracts previously held by Carillion Construction Ltd on February 22. This follows Carillion’s entry into liquidation on January 15. The contracts include Infrastructure Projects Central Panel work for the East Coast and Midland main lines, Crossrail (Old Oak ...
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NewsModertrans delivers first updated Moderus Beta tram
POLAND: MPK Wrocław has taken delivery of the first of 40 Moderus Beta trams of a new design at its Borek depot. This is the first new-look Moderus Beta tram that Poznań-based supplier Modertrans has produced. The 27% low-floor tram features redesigned front ends, LED lighting and AC traction ...
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NewsFive consortia shortlisted for Cross River Rail
AUSTRALIA: The Queensland state government has shortlisted ‘a strong field of national and multinational companies’ to bid for the two main works packages to build and equip the A$5·4bn Cross River Rail link in Brisbane, Deputy Premier Jackie Trad announced on February 20. The Cross River Rail Delivery Authority invited ...
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NewsUK railway news round-up
In a trading update issued on February 21, FirstGroup said like-for-like passenger revenue growth at its First Rail division was stable at 3·2% in the half year to September 2017, and the division 'continues to deliver a strong contribution notwithstanding ongoing infrastructure challenges'. GWR is negotiating a further two-year direct ...
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NewsModified Yermak locomotive on test
RUSSIA: Trials are underway with a three-section 3ES5K Yermak 25 kV 50 Hz locomotive rated at 9·2 MW which has been modified by TMH’s Novocherkassk Electric Locomotive Works. The locomotive has been fitted with VIP4000D traction converters developed by Elektrovypryamitel and Irkutsk State University of Communications, controlled by software ...
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NewsUK railway research network established
UK: A parliamentary reception on February 20 marked the formal launch of the UK Rail Research & Innovation Network, bringing together railway industry bodies and eight universities. Through a £92m funding package, these partners are to work together to establish four ‘world class’ centres of excellence focused on rolling stock, ...
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NewsAlstom ships first Lusail tram
QATAR: Alstom has shipped the first tram for Lusail from its La Rochelle factory in France. It will travel by ship from the port of Barcelona in Spain to Doha, and is expected to arrive next month. In 2014 Qatar Rail awarded a contract to a consortium ...
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NewsBaku suburban railway planned
AZERBAIJAN: Funding is to be provided for the development of a circular suburban rail service on the Abşeron Peninsula from 2019, President Ilham Aliyev announced on January 29. The 100m manat project will include upgrading the existing railway between Baku and Sumqayıt via Biläcarı, as well as bringing back into ...
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NewsSagami Railway Series 20000 enters service
JAPAN: Sagami Railway put into service on February 11 the first of its Series 20000 EMUs, which have been designed for future through running to Tokyo. Sotetsu Corp has ordered a fleet of six 10-car and nine eight-car Series 20000 EMUs to replace its older Series 7000 units. Built at ...
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NewsEurostar runs Amsterdam preview service to mark start of ticket sales
EUROPE: Cross-Channel high speed train operator Eurostar ran a preview service between London St Pancras and Amsterdam Centraal on February 20, to mark the opening of ticket sales for the regular twice-daily service which is scheduled to begin on April 4. Conveying invited guests and travel industry representatives, the 08.31 ...
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NewsGreater Anglia Aventra EMUs under construction in Derby
UK: Bombardier Transportation’s Derby plant has begun production of the first of 111 Class 720 Aventra electric multiple-units for Greater Anglia, the operator announced on February 20. The £900m order financed by Angel Trains and Commonwealth Bank of Australia, which was finalised in September 2016, covers 89 five-car and 22 ...
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NewsG&W invests in last mile technology business
USA: International rail freight group Genesee & Wyoming Inc has invested in Cargomatic, a technology platform which connects freight shippers and road hauliers with a focus on short-haul markets. Terms were not disclosed. Cargomatic currently operates in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Seattle, Dallas, Houston and New York, but it ...
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NewsTransilien double-deck EMUs ordered
FRANCE: SNCF has placed a firm order for a further nine Bombardier Transportation Regio 2N double-deck electric multiple-units, acting on behalf of greater Paris public transport authority Ile-de-France Mobilités. The order announced on February 19 is worth €96m, including ‘price escalations based on best faith assessment of assumptions’. The ...
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NewsUnited Wagon Co production increases
RUSSIA: United Wagon Co produced a total of 19 100 wagons in 2017, up 20% from the previous year thanks to increasing demand for its modern designs as well as wider growth in the freight market. Production in the current year is expected to be between 19 000 and 20 ...
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NewsAlstom to replace Paris metro Line 11 fleet
FRANCE: RATP has exercised an option for 20 five-car rubber-tyred metro trains from Alstom, the supplier announced on February 19. The €157m order is funded half by RATP and half by regional transport authority Ile-de-France Mobilités. The MP14 sets with open gangways would go into service on Line 11, ...