News – Page 199
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Metro Report InternationalBe’er Sheva light rail plans to be further developed
ISRAEL: The Infrastructure Planning & Development Administration has given the go-ahead for the further development of plans for a 25 km light rail line in Be’er Sheva.
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Rail Business UKCompetition & Markets Authority narrows concerns over Hitachi acquisition of Thales signalling business
UK: Hitachi Rail’s planned €1·7bn acquisition of Thales’ Ground Transportation Systems business would not result in a substantial lessening of competition in the UK communications-based train control market, the Competition & Markets Authority says in an update of its provisional conclusions on the transaction. The announcement ...
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In depthComment: Trains on the tourist trail
As summer moves into autumn in the northern hemisphere, a debate is beginning over the future of tourism, catalysed in part by the searing heatwaves and wildfires that have been sweeping across much of the planet.
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NewsTransPennine Express to stop using loco-hauled push-pull trains in December
UK: TransPennine Express has confirmed that it will cease using its push-pull sets of Class 68 locomotives and MkVa coaches, previously designated ‘Nova 3’, from the December 2023 timetable change. The decision is the result of a review of operations after TPE was transferred to the ...
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NewsBritish HSTs among fleets finding new homes in Mexico
MEXICO: Redundant UK inter-city diesel trains and two tram-trains have been acquired by the Mexican navy, according to local sources.
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NewsIndustry concerns as Swedish train planning woes continue
SWEDEN: Maintenance and operations contractor Railcare says train operators and contractors have been experiencing ‘tough industry conditions’ owing to ‘major problems’ with the introduction of Trafikverket’s market-adapted planning method for allocating train paths. The MPK platform and working methods went live in December but ran into ...
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Metro Report InternationalUrban transport industry news round-up
This week’s round-up of news from the urban transport sector.
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NewsPresident presents Serbian railway plan
SERBIA: President Aleksandar Vučić has announced plans for development of the rail network by 2027, including proposals to begin construction of a rail link to Beograd airport. The 18 km double-track electrified line designed for 120 km/h operation would run from Zemun Polje to Beograd Nikola ...
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Metro Report InternationalSantiago de los Caballeros monorail contract awarded
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: Public transport development agency SITRAM has selected the SIF consortium of Alstom and Sofratesa to supply railway systems and rolling stock for the elevated monorail under construction in Santiago de los Caballeros. The 13·2 km line between Cienfuegos in the northwest of the country’s ...
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Metro Report InternationalUtsunomiya Lightline tramway opens
Source: Kazumiki Miura JAPAN: Celebrations on August 26 marked the opening of the Lightline light rail line in the city of Utsunomiya, 100 km north of Tokyo, as Japan’s first new-build tram line since the opening of a line in Takaoka in 1948. The 1 067 mm ...
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NewsRail projects tax exemption will be ‘gigantic incentive’
BRAZIL: The National Council for Finance Policy has approved a proposal to exempt rail investment projects from a tax on the circulation of goods and transport and communication services, known as ICMS. The transport ministry expects the decision on August 9 to foster demand for rolling ...
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Metro Report InternationalSantiago’s planned metro Line 9 gets longer
Like Line 3, Line 9 is to be fully automated and will be fully accessible from street to train CHILE: President Gabriel Boric presented updated plans for the proposed metro Line 9 in Santiago on August 9. Line 9 will be the city’s ...
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Rail Business UKNetwork Rail orders trial batch of ‘green’ steel rails
UK: To help assess whether ‘green’ track renewals could be a viable option, Network Rail has ordered a trial batch of rails manufactured by Saarstahl using an electric arc furnace. Network Rail is seeking to understand the technical differences between EAF and non-EAF steel, particularly from ...
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NewsModi launches Indian Railways station redevelopment programme
INDIA: As part of its national focus on infrastructure investment, the government has launched a programme to redevelop 508 stations across the country, at an estimated cost of Rs244·7bn.
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Metro Report InternationalVancouver’s MkV SkyTrain cars on test
CANADA: The first of the MkV trainsets for Vancouver’s SkyTrain automated light metro are on test at Alstom’s factory in Kingston, Ontario. In December 2020 transport agency TransLink awarded what was then Bombardier Transportation a C$722·6m contract to supply 205 cars as part of the Expo ...
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Metro Report InternationalWashington metro deploys higher and stronger ticket gates
USA: Washington DC area metro operator WMATA has begun installing higher and stronger ticket gates as part of efforts to reduce fare evasion. An L-shape door panel minimise gaps between the openings, and the increase in height from 710 to 1 400 mm makes it harder ...
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NewsOn-train connectivity rolls out
EUROPE: Following successful trials on the UK’s Island Line, FirstGroup’s railway telecoms company Evo-rail has worked with Comsa to install its Rail-5G on-train connectivity technology on the Figueres - Perpignan high speed line between Spain and France. Evo-rail said the mmWave technology which uses trackside antenna ...
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NewsAmtrak achieves top score in Disability Equality Index
USA: National passenger train operator Amtrak has scored 100 out of 100 on the Disability Equality Index for the second year running. The DEI was launched in 2015 by Disability:IN and the American Association of People with Disabilities to help businesses make a positive impact on ...
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NewsCalifornia High-Speed Rail Authority begins procurement of 355 km/h trains
USA: California High-Speed Rail Authority has begun the process of procuring six electric trainsets capable of operating at 355 km/h. On August 24 the board approved the release of a request for qualifications. Responses are to be submitted by prospective manufacturers in November, with a request ...