North America – Page 7
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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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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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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 ...
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NewsSiemens Mobility begins construction of $220m North Carolina factory
USA: A groundbreaking ceremony on August 23 launched construction of Siemens Mobility’s future passenger rolling stock manufacturing and services facility in Lexington, North Carolina. The $220m plant will produce passenger coaches and overhaul locomotives and hauled stock. It is scheduled to open in 2024, and is ...
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NewsAmtrak orders more Airo push-pull trainsets
USA: Amtrak has awarded Siemens Mobility a firm order to supply a further 10 Airo push-pull trainsets. The order announced by the national passenger operator on August 21 has been placed as an option on a contract let in 2021. It takes the total procurement to ...
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NewsBattery train to take Caltrain electric operation beyond the wires
USA: The California Transportation Commission has approved funding for Stadler to supply a battery-electric multiple-unit which will enable Caltrain to extend its future San Francisco – San Jose electric train service to Gilroy over track which is not currently scheduled for electrification. The funding allocated on ...
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NewsCanadian battery locomotive under development
CANADA: Cando Rail & Terminals is developing a lithium-ion battery-powered locomotive to offer a zero-emission replacement for diesel shunters in yards and industrial sites, with an expected 40% reduction in energy consumption. Cando is working with Innovative Rail Technologies, which has previously produced a demonstrator battery ...
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NewsSafety training prepares for commuter rail service launch
USA: Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority and train operator Keolis Commuter Services have provided emergency responders with hands-on training ahead of the launch of South Coast Rail Phase 1 passenger services later this year.
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NewsAutonomous battery-powered wagons to be tested in Georgia
USA: Genesee & Wyoming is to pilot the use of autonomous battery-powered wagons on two short lines in Georgia, saying the technology from Parallel Systems could be used to transport containers to and from the Port of Savannah, reinvigorate rural railways, revive inland ports and remove ...
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NewsAmtrak to work with Texas Central on high speed rail plan
USA: Amtrak is working with Dallas to Houston high speed rail project promoter Texas Central Partners to further develop plans to build a 330 km/h line using Japanese technology. On August 9 Amtrak said the organisations have co-operated on various initiatives since 2016, and they are ...
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NewsConnecticut orders customised commuter train coaches
USA: Connecticut Department of Transportation has awarded Alstom a $315m contract to supply 60 single-deck coaches customised to its requirements, with options for 313 more. They are to be delivered from 2026, initially for use on CTRail-branded regional services on the Hartford Line, which run over ...
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NewsFinal design consultant appointed for TEX Rail extension
USA: Fort Worth transport agency Trinity Metro has selected a partnership of Huitt-Zollars and TranSystems as final design consultant for the TEX Rail extension. To be built at a cost of $167m, the 3·4 km extension will take the 43 km commuter and suburban rail route ...
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In depthUSA: Safety under the spotlight
With rail safety legislation making its way through the US Congress following a recent spate of derailments, the major railroads, regulators and politicians are divided over the best way to drive change. Chris Jackson investigates.
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NewsFishy tale of a very short line comes to an end
NORTH AMERICA: Settlement has been reached in a legal dispute over the isolated Bayside Canadian Railway in New Brunswick, which had been built in an effort to circumvent US shipping rules. Alaska Reefer Management and its subsidiary Kloosterboer International transport frozen fish including pollock from Alaska ...
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Metro Report InternationalBeyoncé funds metro service
USA: Singer Beyoncé’s Renaissance World Tour funded an extra hour of operation of the Washington metro at a cost of $100 000, ensuring that fans could get home after bad weather delayed the start of her concert at the FedEx Field stadium.
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Metro Report InternationalNew York light rail environmental review contract awarded
USA: WSP USA has been appointed to undertake the environmental review for the Interborough Express light rail project which would link Brooklyn and Queens in New York. The contract announced by state Governor Kathy Hochul on August 2 covers conceptual design and ...
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NewsNorfolk Southern enhances conductor training programme
USA: Norfolk Southern has launched a partnership with the Transportation Division of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail & Transportation Workers to enhance the railroad’s conductor training programme. A train-the-trainer programme for all conductors and foremen will ensure consistency and quality in the training ...
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In depthMexico: Government fosters rail revival
Fresh impetus has been injected into the rail business in Mexico thanks to initiatives by the government of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. Regulatory changes plus a long-term vision promise a revival that could include reinstating passenger services in addition to the Tren Maya project already in hand. Stefan von Mach reports.