News – Page 174
-
NewsUS government allocates $8·2bn to inter-city rail initiatives
USA: The Federal Railroad Administration has allocated a total of $8·2bn of Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail programme 2022-26 funding to 10 projects, and selected 69 proposals for further development. Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail funding State Project Maximum ...
-
Metro Report InternationalLight metro extended across Macau bridge
CHINA: The 3·2 km Barra Extension of the Macau Light Rapid Transit automated metro has opened, using a guideway installed in a dedicated lane on the 2·2 km Sai Van cable-stayed bridge to connect the 9·3 km Taipa Line to the Macau Peninsula. ...
-
Metro Report InternationalSão Paulo light rail plan to be studied
BRAZIL: São Paulo municipality is working on a plan to build two circular light rail lines totalling 12 km in the centre of the city. Brazil’s Minister of Cities Jader Barbalho Filho announced at the COP28 UN Climate Summit in Dubai on December 1 that, following ...
-
In depthResilient Infrastructure: Protecting Japan’s national network from earthquakes
The Railway Technical Research Institute is striving to find ways of making Japan’s railways safer and more secure against damage from earthquakes.
-
NewsHiivr Rail autonomous wagon unveiled in Western Australia
AUSTRALIA: Western Australia rail infrastructure concessionaire Arc Infrastructure and US technology partner Parallel Systems have unveiled a prototype autonomous container wagon following three years of development. The battery-powered wagon branded Hiivr Rail was demonstrated to government and industry stakeholders at the Kenwick Freight Rail Facility in ...
-
-
Metro Report InternationalWashington Metro Loop plans under development
UK: Tyne & Wear transport agency Nexus has begun the process of appointing a legal adviser to support the development of the proposed Washington Metro Loop. The 13·5 km WML would link the existing Tyne & Wear Metro stations at Pelaw and South Hylton via Washington, ...
-
NewsKazakhstan begins work on additional rail link to Uzbekistan
KAZAKHSTAN: Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov has formally launched construction of a 152 km rail link to Uzbekistan, participating in the November 27 ceremony by teleconference. The line is intended to contribute to the development of the Turkestan region by connecting it to the main Kazakh rail ...
-
Rail Business UKRevolution Very Light Rail vehicles ordered for passenger trials
UK: Leasing company Eversholt Rail has awarded Transport Design International contracts to build three pre-series battery-powered Revolution Very Light Rail railcars for trial passenger operation. This follows successful tests with a diesel-battery hybrid RVLR demonstrator vehicle at Ironbridge over the past two years. RVLR is being ...
-
NewsUIC launches Middle East Regional Competence Hub
UAE: The International Union of Railways’ Middle East Regional Competence Hub was officially launched at the University of Birmingham’s Dubai campus during the COP28 climate change conference. UIC is establishing Regional Competence Hubs around the world to bridge the gap between academic and professional knowledge and ...
-
In depthComment: Freight’s miserable year
According to UIRR, the European rail freight industry is facing a downturn. Our Executive Editor Nick Kingsley highlights the critical importance of intermodal transport for the future of rail freight and the need for policy support to decarbonise global supply chains.
-
NewsRailpool sets up French subsidiary
FRANCE: Already the largest locomotive leasing company in Germany, Railpool has opened a French subsidiary with a view to tapping into demand for greater interoperability between European rail networks and growing domestic rail freight in France. Created in 2008 and based in München, Railpool has turnover ...
-
Metro Report InternationalBangkok Pink Line monorail opens
THAILAND: Passenger carrying test operations have begun on the 34·5 km Pink Line straddle monorail in Bangkok. Passengers can travel free of charge until January 2. Official opening is scheduled for December 18. The northwest-to-northeast Pink Line serves 30 stations. It links Nonthaburi Civic Centre on ...
-
NewsUSAID backs standard gauge rail link to Lviv
UKRAINE: The United States Agency for International Development has signed a memorandum of understanding to support national railway Ukrzaliznytsia in the development of a 75 km of standard gauge line from the Mostyska II yard near the Polish border to Sknyliv in the city of Lviv. ...
-
NewsTX Logistik completes Exploris acquisition as part of European expansion strategy
GERMANY: The TX Logistik subsidiary of FS Group’s Mercitalia Logistics has finalised the acquisition of Exploris Deutschland Holding GmbH and its Via Cargo, HSL Logistik and Delta Rail subsidiaries. This makes the Italian state railway group company the second largest rail freight operator in Germany, behind ...
-
Rail Business UKDoncaster rail freight terminal expansion deal
UK: Expansion of industrial property developer Verdion’s iPort Rail multimodal freight terminal in Doncaster is to go ahead, after the UK subsidiary of MSC Group’s Medlog business agreed terms to operate the facility under a long-term lease. Handover is expected in Q1 2024, with container lifting ...
-
Rail Business UKLatest tranche of Transpennine Route Upgrade funding confirmed
UK: The release of a further £3·9bn tranche of funding for the ongoing £11·5bn Transpennine Route Upgrade was confirmed by Rail Minister Huw Merriman on December 4. The Department for Transport indicated that work on TRU would be accelerated through the cash injection and noted that ...
-
Metro Report InternationalSanctions lead to withdrawal of Moskva’s Polish trams
RUSSIA: The use of Moskva’s Pesa Fokstrot 71-414 trams was suspended from December 4, because international sanctions imposed as a result of the war against Ukraine have made the vehicles difficult for the operator to maintain. A framework contract for up to 120 trams was agreed ...
-
In depthJapan: Challenge and change at JR Freight
Legislation limiting overtime worked by road haulage drivers comes into force next year, offering JR Freight an opportunity to win back lost traffic. Challenges include the need to adapt more of the 1 067 mm gauge network for 40 ft high cube containers and to develop wagons to carry them. Mike Bent reports.
-
Metro Report InternationalUrban transport industry news round-up
This week’s round-up of news from the urban transport sector.