News – Page 305
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Metro Report InternationalWork starts to renovate Paris T1 tramway
FRANCE: A major programme of renewal and renovation has begun on the T1 tramway which runs through the suburbs north of Paris.
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NewsMadrid tunnel unites Spain’s standard gauge high speed networks
SPAIN: A cross-city tunnel between Madrid Atocha and Chamartín with two 1 435 mm gauge tracks opened on July 1, integrating the standard gauge lines to the north and south of the capital. Through trains no longer need to use gauge-changers at Atocha and Chamartín, reducing ...
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In depthSouth Africa: PRASA revival hangs by a thread
Infrastructure theft and vandalism brought South Africa’s passenger railways to their knees during the pandemic lockdown of spring 2020. Restoration of PRASA’s Western Cape suburban services is now offering hope for the future, but in populous Gauteng the outlook seems bleak, with many routes rendered inoperable. Benjámin Zelki visited in early 2022.
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Metro Report InternationalGreen bonds raise funds for Virginia commuter rail improvements
USA: Commuter operator Virginia Railway Express closed a public bond sale on June 28 which will enable it to make a $119·2m contribution towards the state’s purchase of a CSX line in the Interstate 95 corridor as part of the $4bn Transforming Rail in Virginia programme. ...
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Metro Report InternationalBhopal and Indore metro trains ordered
INDIA: Madhya Pradesh Metro Rail Corp has awarded Alstom a contract to supply and maintain trainsets, communications-based train control and telecoms for the Bhopal and Indore metro projects. The €387m order announced on July 7 covers the supply of a total of 52 three-car Movia metro ...
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NewsDigital track monitoring on test in Finland
FINLAND: VR Group’s rolling stock maintenance company VR FleetCare is testing technology it has developed for the digital monitoring of the condition of track equipment including track circuits. A pilot project with national infrastructure manager Väylävirasto was launched last year and has recorded more than a ...
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NewsWestern Balkan railways need better integration and more maintenance, conference hears
EUROPE: Planned major projects, available financing mechanisms, and the need for international integration of railways including the expansion of the Trans-European Transport Network were discussed at the Connecting the Western Balkans to the EU rail market through investment and reform conference. The online event was ...
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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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Metro Report InternationalHedjaz Railway-inspired trams planned in AlUla
SAUDI ARABIA: Plans for a 50 km light rail network with trams designed to look like trains from the historic Hedjaz Railway have been announced by the Royal Commission for AlUla. The tramway would connect urban areas, archaeological sites and tourist destinations around the ancient city ...
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Metro Report InternationalChengjiao Line extended in Zhengzhou
CHINA: The second phase of Zhengzhou’s Chengjiao Line opened on June 20, running 9 km underground from Xinzheng International Airport to Zhengzhou Hangkonggang railway station. The metro extension adds three new stations, with another to follow when the airport’s Terminal 3 is ...
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NewsDB to operate Delhi – Meerut RRTS commuter railway
INDIA: National Capital Region Transport Corp has awarded Deutsche Bahn International Operations a 12-year contract to operate and maintain the future 82 km Delhi – Ghaziabad – Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System. The Delhi area commuter rail project promoter said it had taken a ‘path-breaking step’ ...
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NewsTwo more Chinese high speed routes opened
CHINA: The 424 km Xiangyang – Wanzhou section of the Chongqing – Zhengzhou high speed rail corridor and the 195 km Zhengzhou – Puyang section of the Zhengzhou – Jinan route opened on June 20, and on the same date Beijing Fengtai station reopened following a ...
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NewsIngeteam to show traction and control system innovations at InnoTrans
INNOTRANS: Spanish company Ingeteam designs and supplies traction systems and converters, control systems and predictive maintenance technology based on its in-house developments of power and control electronics. In Hall 9 at InnoTrans 2022 it will be showing Ingetrac modular traction converters incorporating the latest advances in ...
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Metro Report InternationalLondon Underground signalling design contract awarded
UK: Transport for London has appointed Costain to design enhancements to the signalling infrastructure on London Underground’s Piccadilly Line. Costain will work with TfL’s design team to ensure that the signalling between Heathrow Airport and Barons Court is compatible with both the existing trains and the ...
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NewsNS unveils its Intercity Next Generation trainset
NETHERLANDS: The Intercity Next Generation trainset was officially unveiled by Acting President of national passenger operator NS Bert Groenewegen and Alstom CEO Henri Poupart-Lafarge at Rotterdam Centraal station on July 2, ahead of entry into service later this year. NS said the trains would become an ...
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NewsVectron locos ordered with XLoad to increase Alpine capacity
SWITZERLAND: SüdLeasing has placed an order for Siemens Mobility to supply and maintain 20 Vectron multisystem locomotives equipped with the XLoad package to increase the locos’ haulage capability. The 160 km/h locos will be delivered from early 2024 and leased by SBB Cargo International under a ...
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NewsGeopolitical risks increase demand for multisystem locomotives
POLAND: Cargounit has ordered a further five Siemens Mobility Vectron MS electric locomotives for delivery in 2023-24.
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Metro Report InternationalLight rail plan to get Wellington moving
NEW ZEALAND: The government has backed the further development of plans for a light rail line from Wellington railway station to the Regional Hospital and Island Bay under the Let’s Get Wellington Moving programme. A study of four potential public transport options had concluded that light ...
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Metro Report InternationalChangsha metro Line 6 opens
CHINA: Changsha’s east-west metro Line 6 was opened on June 28, running 48·1 km from Huanghua Airport to Xiejiaqiao with 34 stations including seven interchanges. Construction of Line 6 began in December 2016, and the opening takes the metro to 190·7 km ...
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In depthComment: No time to delay
The rail industry is emerging from the pandemic facing an urgent need to prioritise investment and ensure tangible operational, productivity and technological benefits are delivered within the next five years, argues our Executive Editor Nick Kingsley.