Main line rail industry news – Page 782
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NewsAlstom to maintain Israel Railways DMU fleet
ISRAEL: On October 9 national railway ISR awarded Alstom Transport a 1·5bn shekel contract to maintain its fleet of 48 IC3 Flexliner three-car diesel multiple-units for seven years from January 2014, with an option for a further eight years. The Flexliner fleet was originally supplied by ABB Scandia, now part ...
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NewsFollo Line contractors prequalified
NORWAY: Infrastructure manager Jernbanebverket has prequalified 12 consortia of European and Asian companies for the two main tunnelling contracts for the new Follo Line between Oslo and Ski. Designed for 250 km/h, the Follo Line is Norway's largest transport project at present. The double-track route will run for 22 km ...
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NewsFeasibility study for Mumbai - Ahmedabad high speed line agreed
INDIA: A memorandum of understanding agreeing to undertake a joint feasibility study for a Mumbai - Ahmedabad high speed line was signed by the Ministry of Railways and Japan International Cooperation Agency on October 7. Expected to cost Rs630bn, the line would be around 540 km long and suitable for ...
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NewsCSX energy efficiency studies
USA: An MBA student at the Mason School of Business at the College of William & Mary, Virginia, has undertaken a range of energy efficiency studies for US Class I railway CSX in his role with the Environmental Defense Fund's Climate Corps. Hanyan Wu focused on the installation of ...
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NewsDB wins contract as Abellio pulls out
GERMANY: Preferred bidder Abellio has withdrawn its bid for the Mitteldeutsche S-Bahn II contract, which will now be awarded to DB Regio instead. The Länder of Sachsen-Anhalt and Brandenburg had selected Abellio for the €1·1bn contract in March, but DB appealed and bids were re-evaluated. When the contract had not ...
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NewsFirst Crossrail tunnel completed
UK: On October 9 Crossrail Ltd announced the completion of the first running tunnel for the project, a 6·8 km bore between the Royal Oak portal and Farringdon built under Drive X. The tunnel boring machine is now to be dismantled and removed via a recently completed access shaft at ...
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NewsBudapest fare collection contract awarded
HUNGARY: Budapest transport authority BKK has appointed T-Systems Hungary and subcontractor Scheidt & Bachmann to supply a modern fare collection system. Announcing the deal on October 9, Scheidt & Bachmann said it would be one of the biggest fare collection installations for a single operator in central and eastern Europe. ...
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NewsUganda's Northern Line revived
UGANDA: Rift Valley Railways has reopened the Northern Line, which runs for 500 km from the Kampala - Mombasa route at Tororo Junction to Gulu and Pakwach. As well as improving transport links to northern Uganda, the line provides a regional railhead for South Sudan and eastern DR Congo. ...
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NewsPKP Cargo privatisation details announced
POLAND: National freight operator PKP Cargo has announced details of its forthcoming floatation. An initial public offering on the Warszawa Stock Exchange is planned, with book building to end on October 22 and trading to start on October 31. An IPO has been chosen to enable the state to retain ...
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NewsMetrolinx orders Tier 4 MotivePower locomotives
CANADA: Greater Toronto transport authority Metrolinx has signed a US$63m contract for MotivePower to supply 10 diesel-electric locomotives for use on commuter services from 2016. Each locomotive is to be fitted with two engines meeting Tier 4 emissions standards, providing redundancy of major systems and the option to save fuel ...
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NewsCAF to supply Kansas City streetcars
USA: CAF has been selected to supply four trams for the future Downtown Streetcar line in Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Sly James announced on October 4. The 100% low-floor Urbos 3 vehicles will have a capacity of 148 passengers, and to meet Buy America requirements they are to be assembled ...
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NewsBlackpool North tram extension planned
UK: Transport for Lancashire has included the construction of a branch of the Blackpool tramway from the North Pier to Blackpool North station in its list of transport investment priorities. TfL brings together Lancashire County Council, Blackpool Council, Blackburn with Darwen Council and the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership. A contribution of ...
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NewsPesa selected for Torun tram contract
POLAND: Municipal operator MZK Torun has selected Pesa for a contract to supply 12 metre-gauge trams by October 2015. The 92·5m złoty order covers six three-section and six five-section low-floor Swing trams, as well as spare parts, maintenance equipment and depot modifications to provide access to roof-mounted equipment. A ...
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NewsManchester Metrolink’s second city crossing approved
UK: The government has approved a Transport and Works Act Order giving Transport for Greater Manchester legal powers to build a second Metrolink light rail route through the centre of Manchester. Intended to relieve pressure on the heavily-used existing route, the second city crossing would run for 1·6 km from ...
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NewsWien metro and tram extensions open
AUSTRIA: Celebrations on October 5 marked the opening of an extension of Wien metro Line U2 from Aspernstraße to the Seestadt urban development area on the site of the former Aspern airport. This takes Line U2 to almost 17 km with 20 stations. Construction of the 4·2 km elevated extension ...
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NewsKiwiRail places third order for CNR Dalian locomotives
NEW ZEALAND: KiwiRail awarded CNR Dalian a contract to supply a further eight Class DL diesel locomotives last month, taking its total order to 48. 'We have been very pleased with the performance of these locomotives to date and they are proving their worth on our North Island freight routes', ...
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NewsFrom Ruskin to Russia
RUSSIA: Anglia Ruskin University in the UK is to provide management training for senior staff at Russian Railways in co-operation with consultancy Knowledge Associates Cambridge. The agreement signed in August, will see Anglia Ruskin’s Ashcroft International Business School work with RZD’s Corporate University to develop a joint learning plan for ...
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NewsGas fuelled turbine-electric locomotive prototype
RUSSIA: Sinara’s Lyudinovsky plant has produced a prototype natural gas fuelled turbine-electric locomotive, using components of a TEM7A. The twin-section Do’Do’+Do’Do’ designated GT1h-002 is rated at 8·3 MW and has a maximum speed of 100 km/h. One section contains the gas turbine supplied by Kuznecov which drives an electrical generator ...
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NewsSiemens unveils proposal for future London Underground train
UK: Siemens has unveiled a full-sized mock-up of the train which it intends to offer when Transport for London calls tenders for new fleets for London Underground's small-profile tube lines. Part of Siemens' Inspiro family, the articulated design for London would feature wide through gangways, air-conditioning and an option ...
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NewsMark Carne
Mark Carne has been appointed Chief Executive of UK infrastructure manager Network Rail. Formerly Executive Vice-President, Middle East & North Africa, at Royal Dutch Shell, he is due to join the company on January 6 before replacing Sir David Higgins, who is to become Chairman of HS2 Ltd in succession ...