All Railway Gazette International articles in November 2008 – Page 2
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NewsKnorr-Bremse acquires Hübner doors
HÜBNER: During InnoTrans Hübner announced the sale of its rail vehicle door division to Knorr-Bremse’s IFE Automatic Door Systems, with effect from January 1 2009. Knorr-Bremse will continue to offer Hüb-ner products at least for the duration of existing contracts and will meet obligations regarding servicing and spares. Most ...
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NewsWarszawa signs 15 year operating contract
POLAND: The city of Warszawa's suburban rail subsidiary SKM has signed a 15-year operating contract with transport authority Zarzad Transpotru Miejskiego. Running from 2010 to 2024, it covers the operation of 154 million train-km on one existing and two new routes, and is worth an estimated 2·6bn zloty. SKM ...
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NewsPlzen works prepares to expand
SKODA TRANSPORTATION: Having signalled its re-emergence as a locomotive supplier with the Type 109E design for Czech Railways (RG 9.08 p719), Skoda Transportation intends to cement its position among Europe’s major rolling stock manufacturers by upgrading its main production facility in Plzen.
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NewsITSO to phase out vulnerable smart card
UK: Smart card specification body ITSO announced on November 4 that it is to 'phase out Mifare Classic 1k and 4k customer media from the ITSO environment' as a precautionary measure in response to the 'theoretical risk posed by Mifare Classic security issues'. Last month Radboud University Nijmegen published ...
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NewsExploiting synergies in the wheelset market
EUROPE: The takeover of Valdunes by GHH Radsatz International this year has reshaped the competitive global market for wheels and axles, reports Dr Harry Hondius.
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NewsLightweight Turbostars to get MTU drives
UK: Three batches of Class 172 Turbostar diesel multiple-units being built at Bombardier’s Derby plant for train operators London Midland, Chiltern and London Overground are to be equipped with MTU underfloor engines. MTU’s parent group, Togum, announced on November 5 that the Friedrichshafen-based company had won a contract from Bombardier ...
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NewsIranian links make progress
ARMENIA: Construction of a rail link to Iran is likely to be pushed forward with Russian backing, following the recent conflict between Russia and Georgia. At a meeting in Sochi in September, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev discussed the project with his Armenian counterpart Serch Sarkissjan as part of a co-operation ...
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NewsPlastic track installed in Germany
SLEEPERS: A service life of at least 50 years is expected from the Eslon Neo Lumber FFU Polyurethane sleepers which Voestalpine has installed on private sidings serving a chemical plant at Leverkusen in Germany. The 74 m turnout has 136 sleepers between 2 200 and 4 500 mm long. They ...
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NewsEBRD to boost loco production
SINARA: The European Bank for Reconstruction & Development is advancing a seven-year loan of US$65m to Russian freight locomotive manufacturer Sinara Transport Machines. This will enable the company to create a modern production plant capable of building over 500 locomotives a year, set up a service centre and continue development ...
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NewsLiefkenshoek PPP reaches financial close
BELGIUM: Work is to start on November 12 on construction of the Liefkenshoek Connection serving the port of Antwerpen, following the signing of a PPP concession for the project. Infrastructure manager Infrabel confirmed on November 5 that it had reached financial close on the deal, under which LocoRail NV will ...
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NewsAmbitious upgrading plans take shape
SLOVENIA: Up to €9bn will be spent over the next 15 years to upgrade Slovenia's trunk rail corridors, under a programme being developed by the Ministry of Transport.
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NewsSlovenian Railways at the crossroads
SLOVENIA: Strategically placed at the intersection of two key international corridors, Slovenian Railways is well placed to act as a hub linking east and west, but it must face up to emerging competition in the lucrative freight market. Chris Jackson asked SZ Director-General Tomaz Schara about the challenges and opportunities ...
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NewsLTA awards Downtown Line contracts
SINGAPORE: The Land Transport Authority has awarded three major contracts totalling more than S$1bn covering the supply of signalling, communications systems and rolling stock for the 40 km Downtown Line automated metro, which is now under construction. Linking the north-western and eastern parts of the island to the Central Business ...
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NewsHigh-tech Czechs
CZECH REPUBLIC: Renewal of telecoms and IT equipment is a major priority for the railways of central and eastern Europe, especially those in EU member states which must also comply with the Technical Specifications for Interoperability set out by the European Railway Agency. The Czech Republic boasts a growing cluster ...
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NewsIndustry News in Brief
Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Karim Massimov has opened discussions with Transmash for the establishment of a electric locomotive plant near Astana. Costing around US$150m, it would have a capacity of up to 200 locos and 100 coaches a year. The Ministry of Transport & Communications has also signed a MOU ...
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NewsVelim team focuses on delivery
CZECH REPUBLIC: The Velim test circuit has been the subject of considerable media attention as it has been testing Pégase, Alstom’s AGV demonstrator and AnsaldoBreda’s first Albatros trainset, which will be deployed on NS Hispeed services between Amsterdam and Brussels.
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News'We are not a low-cost supplier’
CZECH REPUBLIC: Over the past two decades, Prostejov-based Hanácké Zelezárny a Pérovny a s has transformed itself from its former position as the Soviet Union’s principal suspension component manufacturer into Europe’s leading supplier of coil springs for rail applications. Sub-suppliers such as HZP are the first to challenge the popular ...
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NewsPerishables back on the rails
USA: On October 6 CSX and Union Pacific launched a perishable produce service with trains of 55 refrigerated cars taking 128 h between California and New York. 'What is exciting about this new service is that we’re carrying produce such as peppers, grapes and celery that we haven’t ...
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NewsNew York orders 382 subway cars
USA: New York MTA has ordered a further 382 R160 metro cars from the ALSKAW joint venture of Alstom and Kawasaki. The $784m order announced on November 10 is a second option on a July 2002 contract for 660 cars worth $961·6m, which was followed with a $1·12bn option for ...
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NewsAcquisition and restructuring
PÖYRY: The engineering and consultancy group has acquired Madrid-based ETT Proyectos, which provides engineering consultancy in the rail sector. It has 45 staff, and sales totalled €3·2m in 2007. Pöyry said the acquisition is part of a strategy of expansion into the Spanish market, offering synergies with its position in ...