All articles by Railway Gazette International – Page 1168
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News
Gauge conversion moves ahead
UNDER the final version of the PEIT strategic infrastructure plan for 2005-20, approved by the cabinet on July 15, the Spanish government is to launch studies to define in detail a programme of works to convert the 1668mm gauge network to 1435mm gauge to achieve compatibility with the rest of ...
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Terror bombers attack London Underground
THREE BOMBS were detonated on the London Underground at about 08.50 on July 7, with a fourth exploding later on a double-deck bus. At least 56 people died and more than 700 were injured in the attack that police quickly traced to suicide bombers from the Leeds area. Two of ...
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Ergomechanical back support
FOLLOWING earlier scientific research into optimum back posture (RG 11.04 p747), Grammer AG used the Roma exhibition to display its first production seat with an automatically-adjusting back support.Just released on the market, but not yet ordered, the ergomechanical seat is designed to optimise support for the passenger’s back. When the ...
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Boring starts on Pajares base tunnel
SPANISH PRIME MINISTER José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero was present at La Pola de Gordón on July 13 to mark the start of work on the 25 km Pajares base tunnel. The first of five machines to be used on the €1·4bn project, a Herrenknecht TBM began work on one of ...
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What next for the Belgrano?
THE FAILURE of the Argentinian government’s attempt to sell a 79% stake in Belgrano Cargas (RG 7.05 p385) received a degree of official confirmation at the end of June, when Minister of Federal Planning Julio De Vido and Transport Secretary Ricardo Jaime met officials from the 14 provinces served by ...
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Bombardier takes Dutch regional order
NETHERLANDS Railways has awarded a €248m contract to Bombardier, partnered with Siemens, for 18 four-car and 17 six-car EMUs for regional services. Five consecutive options for 16 four-car and 16 six-car EMUs could take the fleet to 974 cars, lifting the total value to €1·2bn.Announced on July 21, the deal ...
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Bombela wins Gautrain race
ON JULY 2 Gauteng Premier Mbhazima Shilowa announced that the Bombela Consortium had been chosen as preferred bidder for the Gautrain Rapid Link. Financial negotiations are expected to take around six months. Bombela is 50% owned by Bombardier, Bouygues and RATP Développement, with the remaining half owned by South African ...
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Composite brakes
AN INTERCHANGEABLE lightweight composite brake block for use on European freight wagons is being launched by a joint venture of Italian Brakes and Trenitalia.The LL block is designed as a straight substitute for conventional cast iron blocks, but its lighter weight makes it safer to handle and its life expectancy ...
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Passenger News in Brief
The Canadian government is to provide C$2·5m to ensure the continuation of Ontario Northland passenger services between Toronto and North Bay until March 31 2005.Almost all Swiss trains, buses and ferries will be non-smoking with effect from the December 11 timetable change. UK operator GNER will withdraw its smoking accommodation ...
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Roma in Brief
Italian door specialist Bode Sud SpA has developed an electrically-operated retractable wheelchair ramp which can be interlocked with train doors. A manual version is also available. The company is now using the same technology to develop a retractable step to bridge the gap between train and platform edge.Bode Sud SpAFrati ...
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Products in Brief
Fahrenheit 50200MT low toxicity fire resistant cables are being used to connect substations and tracks on the Oslo metro, extending Aristoncavi’s range of cables into medium voltage applications. Gisette Atox NPI cables are being used in high-risk areas on Caracas metro lines 3 and 4, along with Fahrenheit 50200-22 cables ...
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City News in Brief
Mallorca operator SFM has let contracts worth €114·9m for construction of the island’s first metro line in Palma (RG 5.05 p244). Linking Plaza de España with Campus de la Universitat, the 7·2 km line will be built in three stages. Three joint ventures will complete the work by the end ...
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Refurbishment in Brief
By autumn JR East will have fitted all 1117 of its Shinkansen cars with Braille maps showing the carriage layouts and locations of doors, different types of waste bin and onboard facilities. The toilets are being fitted with Braille plans showing the locations of the operating buttons and emergency alarm.Axminster ...
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Industry News in Brief
On July 1 Slovak rolling stock supplier ZOS Vrútky bought a majority stake in the ZOS Nymburk loco maintenance and overhaul workshops in the Czech Republic for KC85m. Declared bankrupt in January 2004, ZOS Nymburk employs 290 people and turnover in 2004 was KC152m.Anti-vibration and suspension component maker Trelleborg Industrial ...
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Trams to have a wash and brush up
INSTALLATION and commissioning of a tram washing plant for the new Valenciennes light rail network (MR 05 p45) is due to be completed in October. Ordered three years ago, the washing plant is being built by Ceccato of Italy. Each plant is specifically designed for local conditions, although in practice ...
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Depot plan tops WMATA budget
WORK is due to start this month on a $141·4m project to expand capacity at three maintenance and servicing depots on the Washington DC metro network. The package was scheduled for approval by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority board on July 21. Due to be completed by ...
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ICF business looks eastwards
Intercontainer-Interfrigo launched a restructured servicepattern in July, concentrating on ’promising intermodal traffic flows between western Europe and central, eastern and southeast Europe’ and shuttle services to Switzerland. Following a drop in volumes and sales, services between Belgium and France, Spain and Italy were withdrawn from July 16; 40 jobs have ...
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Fitted out for the refurbishment business
THE REFURBISHMENT Centre at Bombardier Transportation's Derby works was officially opened by UK Transport Minister Derek Twigg on June 29. Although the company has undertaken passenger car refurbishment at its workshops in Wakefield, Ilford and Ashford, this was 'the first time we've had a purpose-built facility at Derby', said ...
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Buying seats
SEAT MAKER Compin has been acquired from Balloffet Group and a private investor by former Alstom Rolling Stock Director Marc Granger and a financial partner, the company announced on June 17.Based in Normandy, Compin’s 250 staff produce around 130000 seats per year. The majority are for trains, but there are ...