All Railway Gazette International articles in March 2019 – Page 2
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NewsUrban Transport Group sets out Brexit priorities
UK: The Urban Transport Group which represents city region transport authorities has set out its priorities for negotiations around the UK’s expected departure from the European Union, which is scheduled for March 29. ‘It is not in our role to take a view on Brexit one way or the other, ...
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NewsWestmecklenburg operating contract awarded
GERMANY: Following an tendering process, the Land of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern announced on March 1 that it had awarded incumbent Ostdeutsche Eisenbahn a contract to continue to operate Teilnetz Westmecklenburg regional passenger services for six years from the December 15 2019 timetable change, when its current contract ends. The package covers routes ...
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NewsAhmedabad Metro opens as work starts on Phase II
INDIA: The first 6·5 km section of the Ahmedabad metro was inaugurated on March 4 with a ceremony at the eastern terminus at Vastral Gam attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Chief Minister of Gujurat Vijay Rupani. The network is being developed by the Gujurat Metro Rail Corp, ...
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NewsSNCF brings forward Ouigo expansion to Toulouse
FRANCE: Originally envisaged for 2020, Ouigo low-cost high speed services between Paris and Toulouse are now to begin running on July 6. The SNCF subsidiary has announced that ticket sales for its first trains will open on March 26. Ouigo will initially operate one train each way per day, calling ...
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Rail Business UKElectrification to reach Market Harborough
UK: The Department for Transport has confirmed that infrastructure manager Network Rail has been instructed to design an extension of the Midland Main Line electrification by around 15 km from Kettering to Market Harborough, which would enable a new connection to a power supply at Braybrooke. In a written answer ...
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NewsAgra metro to serve Taj Mahal and fort
INDIA: The cabinet has approved the two-line Agra Metro project, which as well serving one of the largest cities in Uttar Pradesh will serve tourist destinations including the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort. Completion is planned in five years at an estimated cost of Rs83·8bn. Line 1 ...
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NewsNSW inter-city fleet order increased
AUSTRALIA: The New South Wales government has awarded the RailConnect consortium a A$130m contract to supply a further 42 double-deck electric multiple-unit cars, taking its New Intercity Fleet order to a total of 554 vehicles. The additional vehicles will enable peak services on the South Coast Line to be increased ...
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NewsIÉ to install hybrid train protection
IRELAND: Following a competitive tendering process, Iarnród Éireann has selected the Turas joint venture of CPC Project Services, Deutsche Bahn and Egis as Delivery Partner to assist with the introduction of a new train protection system across its 1 600 mm gauge network over the next seven years. The new ...
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NewsProtectionism dilutes the competitive dynamic
COMMENT: Are incumbent state operators expanding their low-cost high speed offer to try and keep new entrants out of a liberalised inter-city market, and how might this fit with European competition policy, asks Railway Gazette Managing Editor Nick Kingsley.
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NewsRENFE seeks ‘pro-active’ international expansion
SPAIN: RENFE will be adopting an ‘unprecedented and pro-active’ approach to international expansion as its domestic market faces more liberalisation under the EU’s Fourth Railway Package, the Spanish incumbent’s President Isaías Táboas Suárez told the Rail Live trade show in Bilbao on March 6. Suárez highlighted RENFE’s participation in ...
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Metro Report InternationalTram depot doors ready for opening
AUSTRALIA: Max Doors Solutions has installed four sets of Jewers Doors’ Swift-SEW bifolding doors at the maintenance depot on the 12 km Canberra light rail line which is expected to open this year. Sydney-based architect Architectus selected Jewers to supply the doors, which were manufactured in the UK. They ...
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Metro Report InternationalAutonomous electric bus ready to be trialled in Singapore
SINGAPORE: Volvo has unveiled its first autonomous fully electric bus designed for passenger use, which is to undergo trials on the Nanyang Technological University campus. The Volvo 7900 Electric bus is equipped with sensors and navigation controls managed by an artificial intelligence system developed by NTU researchers. These include LIDAR ...
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Rail Business UKUK railway news round-up
The Railways (Interoperability) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 were laid before Parliament on February 26, and would come into effect in the event of a no-deal Brexit to maintain the regulatory status quo for obtaining authorisation to put rolling stock and infrastructure into service. DfT is consulting on a new ...
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NewsBLS Cargo acquires Crossrail to strengthen north–south corridor
EUROPE: An agreement for BLS Cargo to acquire 100% of Belgian freight operator Crossrail from Rhenus for an undisclosed price was signed on March 5. The transaction is subject to regulatory approval and would be backdated to January 1. Switzerland-based BLS Cargo said it would gain a stronger position on ...
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Metro Report InternationalElastomer factory to serve US rail and bus markets
USA: Having secured a major order to supply the gangways for new New York City Subway trains, Hübner has announced plans to build a elastomer product factory at Dunlap in Tennessee by 2020. This is to produce moulded parts, silicone seals and sensor-equipped rubber profiles for the US rail and ...
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NewsHübner to open US gangway factory
USA: Having secured a major order to supply the gangways for new New York City Subway trains, Hübner has announced plans to build a elastomer product factory at Dunlap in Tennessee by 2020. This is to produce moulded parts, silicone seals and sensor-equipped rubber profiles for the US rail and ...
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Metro Report InternationalOttawa O-Train expansion approved
CANADA: Meeting on March 6, the Ottawa City Council formally approved the award of contracts for the O-Train Stage 2 expansion project, which will add 44 km and 24 stations to the capital’s light rail network by 2025. Now expected to cost C$4·6bn, the Stage 2 package is to be ...
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Rail Business UKGemini confirms Springburn works closure
UK: Gemini Rail has confirmed that it is to close its Springburn rolling stock maintenance works in Glasgow, citing ‘severely adverse market conditions affecting its core business’ and losses of £1m per month throughout 2018. The site has work in place until July, but closure is planned by March 2020 ...
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Metro Report InternationalStrategic partnership to develop integrated transport IT
GERMANY: Daimler Buses has announced a strategic partnership with technology company IVU Traffic Technologies to develop ‘integrated mobility solutions for the public transport of tomorrow’. As part of this, Daimler Buses has acquired a 5·25% stake in Berlin-based IVU from the Gerlind & Ernst Denert-Stiftung foundation established by IVU’s previous ...
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NewsRailway supply industry news round-up
The first production staff to be recruited for CRRC Sifang America’s Chicago rolling stock factory have gone to China for training. The plant in the Hegewisch district of southeast Chicago is to produce at least 840 Series 7000 metro cars for Chicago Transit Authority, and CRRC has committed to hiring ...