News
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NewsBrenner Base Tunnel exploratory bore reaches the border
ITALY: Celebrations were held in the Brenner Base Tunnel on November 24 to mark tunnel boring machine ‘Serena’ reaching the Austrian border, after completing the 14·1 km exploratory drive on the Italian side of the project over the past 3½ years. Operated by Italian construction contractor ...
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Quantum algorithms to optimise train scheduling
GERMANY: DB Netz and Cambridge Quantum are co-operating to explore the use of quantum computing to optimise train rescheduling at times of disruption. The partnership will combine CQ’s Filtering Variational Quantum Eigensolver with DB’s operations research expertise. ‘We are very excited to be working with Deutsche ...
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ETCS takes priority as Bane NOR postpones Brynsbakken expansion
NORWAY: Infrastructure manager Bane NOR confirmed on December 3 that it intends to prioritise the implementation of ETCS around Oslo by 2026, having been forced to postpone the construction of additional tracks through the Brynsbakken district.
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Test running starts on privately financed high speed line
CHINA: The 267 km Hangzhou – Taizhou high speed line in Zhejiang province is on course to open by the end of this year, following the start of trial running on November 26.
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GO Transit BiLevels to be overhauled
CANADA: Transport authority Metrolinx has awarded Alstom a C$171m contract for the mid-life overhaul and refurbishment of 94 BiLevel commuter coaches used on GO Transit commuter serves in the Toronto area. The two-year programme is to be carried out at Alstom’s Thunder Bay plant where the ...
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News
Tadami Line transfer brings vertical separation to Japanese passenger market
JAPAN: Part of the storm-damaged Tadami Line in central Honshu has been transferred from JR East ownership to management by the local prefecture, the Tohoku Transport Office within the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport & Tourism announced on November 30.
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Freight-only launch for Laos – China rail link
LAOS: The 418 km railway linking Vientiane and the Chinese border at Boten was formally opened for revenue services with a ceremony on December 3, marking the 46th anniversary of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic. The government hopes that the line will help to stimulate the ...
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Shaw to succeed Squire as Norfolk Southern CEO
USA: Norfolk Southern Chairman & CEO James A Squires is to retire on May 1 2022, with Executive Vice-President & Chief Marketing Officer Alan H Shaw becoming CEO. Shaw has 27 years of experience in marketing, operations and finance at Norfolk Southern, and was appointed CMO ...
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Alstom to transfer V300 Zefiro activities to Hitachi Rail
ALSTOM: Alstom has agreed to transfer its activities relating to V300 Zefiro very high speed trainsets to Hitachi Rail, which produces the trainsets in partnership with the former Bombardier Transportation business. Divesting the Zerfiro V300 activities was one of the commitments Alstom made to the European ...
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VIA Rail highlights comfort and accessibility of next generation of Corridor trains
CANADA: National passenger operator VIA Rail has officially unveiled the first of the 32 push-pull trainsets which Siemens Mobility is supplying for inter-city services on the Québec City – Montréal – Toronto – Windsor corridor. ‘This new fleet marks a new era for passenger rail service ...
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Germany – Poland cross-border upgrade begins
EUROPE: Work has begin on the first phase of a project to reduce the journey time between Berlin and the Polish city of Szczecin by 20 min to 90 min. A ceremony on November 30 marked the start of work by Deutsche Bahn to upgrade the ...
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EU’s Global Gateway to offer ‘values-driven’ alternative to China’s Belt & Road Initiative
INTERNATIONAL: The European Commission has unveiled its Global Gateway international investment programme, which aims to offer countries around the world a ‘values driven’ alternative to China’s Belt & Road Initiative when they are deciding how to meet their infrastructure development needs. Global Gateway aims to provide ...
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Fuel cell co-operation agreement signed
HYDROGEN: Alstom and fuel cell compressor manufacturer Liebherr Aerospace & Transportation have signed an agreement to co-operate to improve the reliability and durability of fuel cells, increase their power density and reduce their costs. ‘Our ambition is to accelerate the adoption of hydrogen in the rail ...
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Wagon lease fleet bought
USA: ITE Management has purchased the North American wagon assets of CK Industries, saying the ‘highly productive, well-maintained’ fleet would directly benefit the ‘breadth and flexibility’ of its wagon leasing business. CK Industries is a privately held company with wagon leasing business in France and Germany, ...
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Europe’s Rail takes over railway research portfolio
EUROPE: The Europe’s Rail joint undertaking which is being established under the EU’s Horizon Europe research programme has formally assumed responsibility for railway research, succeeding the Shift2Rail joint undertaking which has led the sector for the past five years. The regulation establishing Europe’s Rail and nine ...
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In depth
Australia: ARA targets modal shift
The Australasian Railway Association has launched a new strategy that it hopes will bring a greater share of Australia’s expanding freight market on to the country’s railway network.
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TCDD opens Kars logistics hub
TURKEY: Infrastructure manager TCDD has formally opened its Kars logistics centre, created to serve the Baku – Tbilisi - Kars railway linking Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan, which opened in October 2017.
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Groundbreaking launches work on German side of Fehmarn Belt tunnel
GERMANY: Construction of the German side of the 18 km Fehmarn Belt immersed tube road and rail tunnel between Germany and Denmark was officially launched with a sod-turning ceremony on Puttgarden on November 29. Attendees included Enak Ferlemann, Parliamentary State Secretary in the Federal Ministry of ...
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JR West to renew Okayama EMU fleet
JAPAN: On November 18 JR West announced plans to order a batch of two- and three-car EMUs for use on local services in the Okayama and Bingo areas.
