North America
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NewsProgress Rail to supply battery locos to BNSF
USA: Progress Rail is to supply BNSF with ‘up to four’ EMD Joule SD70J battery locomotives and two charging stations for demonstration in southern California from 2024. The manufacturer said they would be the largest battery electric locomotives in North America, with a capacity of 8 ...
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News
California is not just dreaming of hydrogen trains
INNOTRANS: Stadler has unveiled the first hydrogen fuel cell powered version of its Flirt multiple-unit family, which is to be used on commuter services in California, and has signed a memorandum of understanding to supply up to 25 more to the state. Stadler said the development ...
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Metro Report International
Toronto metro project preferred bidders selected
CANADA: Infrastructure Ontario and Metrolinx have announced the preferred proponents for the Toronto Ontario Line metro project’s Civil, Stations & Tunnel (South) and Rolling Stock, Systems, Operations & Maintenance PPP contracts. Ontario Transit Group and Connect 6ix each ranked first after the evaluation of the requests ...
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News
Mascot and cheerleaders relaunch Boston commuter service
USA: The Pat Patriot mascot of the New England Patriots American Football team joined Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority on September 12 for the launch of a pilot commuter rail service between Foxborough and Boston. Commuters from Foxboro station were greeted by cheerleaders and complimentary Dunkin’ Donuts, ...
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News
Ford executive to take over at CSX
USA: Joseph R Hinrichs has been appointed as the next President & Chief Executive Officer of CSX Corp, succeeding James M Foote with effect from September 26.
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News
BNSF to test Norwegian drone
USA: BNSF is to test the use of a Staaker drone from Norwegian aerial vehicle specialist Nordic Unmanned for infrastructure inspection and general data acquisition. The UAV platform will be integrated with BNSF’s current railway data acquisition and management systems, which Nordic Unmanned said required a ...
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Metro Report International
O-Train extension systems integration support contract awarded
CANADA: Ricardo has been appointed to provide systems integration verification services for the southern extension of Ottowa’s DMU-operated O-Train Line 2. Services on the 6 km line from Bayview to Greenboro were suspended in May 2020 to enable engineering work for the extension south to Limebank, ...
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News
New York Gateway tunnel timescale slips
USA: The timescale for completion of the planned trans-Hudson Gateway tunnel between New York and New Jersey has slipped by three years, the Gateway Development Commission has confirmed.
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Metro Report International
CAF to supply 102 Type 10 Supercar light rail vehicles to Boston
USA: The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority board has awarded CAF USA a contract to supply 102 light rail vehicles for Boston’s Green Line. The base contract approved on August 31 is worth $811m, including the 102 Type 10 Supercar LRVs, two driving simulators, spare parts, tools, ...
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News
Southwest Ontario passenger rail study
CANADA: The federal government is to call tenders shortly for the appointment of an external adviser to assist with exploring options for upgrading passenger rail services in southwestern Ontario. The adviser will analyse passenger demand and route options, submitting a final report by the end of ...
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Metro Report International
SEPTA extends services to reopened Wawa station
USA: Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority opened an extension of Philadelphia’s Media/Wawa Regional Rail Line from Elwyn to Wawa on August 21. SEPTA trains last served the area in September 1986, and the opening marks the first extension of its rail services since the Airport Line in ...
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News
Foxboro commuter rail pilot to start in September
USA: Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority is to launch a one-year pilot of a weekday commuter rail service between Boston’s South station and Foxboro station in the town of Foxborough on September 12. There will be 11 inbound and 10 outbound weekday trains via the Fairmount and ...
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Metro Report International
New York MTA launches combined commuter rail app
USA: New York MTA has launched the TrainTime one-stop journey planning, ticket purchasing and real-time train location app for Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad commuter rail passengers. This was developed in-house by MTA, and replaces the eTix app and the previously separate TrainTime apps ...
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In depth
USA: Attracting shippers to freight rail
AAR subsidiary Railinc has developed an intuitive software platform aimed at making it easier for freight shippers to choose rail over other modes, as Product Manager Danny Dever explains to Nick Kingsley.
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News
US inter-city rail grants announced
USA: The Department of Transportation has announced the award of more than $233m from the Federal-State Partnership for State of Good Repair programme for 11 projects to improve inter-city passenger rail services in eight states. Federal-State Partnership for State of Good Repair programme grants ...
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News
Metra awards battery locomotive contract
USA: Chicago commuter operator Metra has awarded Progress Rail a contract to convert up to six of its oldest diesel locomotives to zero-emission battery power for testing on the Rock Island Line. The base order covers the conversion of three EMD F40PH-3 locomotives over 3½ years, ...
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In depth
Traction Technology: Are hydrogen locomotives the next big thing?
Several US and Canadian railroads have teamed up with suppliers to investigate the potential for hydrogen as an alternative to diesel traction for heavy freight operations. Dave Lustig investigates.
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Metro Report International
New York revises CBTC programme to prioritise reliability over peak-hour capacity
USA: New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority is to revise its programme to roll out communications-based train control across the Subway network under proposed amendments to its 2020-24 Capital Plan.
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News
RAISE grants awarded for US transport projects
USA: The Department of Transportation has announced the award of $2·2bn of grants for 166 projects to modernise transport infrastructure under the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability & Equity programme. The grants include $25m for the Florida East Coast Corridor Trespassing & Intrusion ...
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News
Mexico – Toluca operating concession awarded
MEXICO: National Infrastructure Fund Fonadin has been awarded a concession to operate and maintain the 57·7 km Tren Interurbano railway between Mexico City and Toluca, which is still under construction.
