All articles by Railway Gazette International – Page 407
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NewsPadma Rail Link project launched
BANGLADESH: The project to build the 225 km Padma Rail Link formally got underway on July 3, following the signing on April 27 of US$2·67bn loan agreement between the government and China Eximbank. Bangladesh Railway and China Railway First Group Ltd had signed a US$3·14bn contract for civil works and ...
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NewsNice transport operator partners with Uber
FRANCE: Nice public transport operator Lignes d’Azur is partnering with on-demand taxi service Uber for a one-year pilot project. Services on tram Line 1 run until around 02.30 but the last buses linking some tram stops with residential areas leave around 20.00. To fill the last-mile gap, ...
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NewsAlstom shareholders approve Siemens Mobility merger
ALSTOM: All proposed resolutions related to the proposed merger of Alstom and Siemens Mobility were approved with majorities of more than 95% at Alstom’s special and combined shareholders’ meetings held in Paris on July 17. The transaction is expected to be completed in the first half of 2019, subject to ...
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NewsSBB challenges long-distance concession split
SWITZERLAND: Insisting that ‘legal clarification is necessary’, on July 16 Swiss Federal Railways lodged a formal challenge with the Federal Administrative Court against the decision to split the concession to operate long-distance passenger services. According to SBB, the decision by the Federal Office of Transport to award two inter-regional ...
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NewsSNCF Logistics buys Spanish freight operator
SPAIN: An agreement for SNCF Logistics to acquire Comsa’s stake in private operator Comsa Rail Transport was signed on July 9. The transaction is subject to Spanish regulatory approval. Founded five years ago, Comsa Rail Transport now has a turnover of €32m, nearly 200 employees and operated 19 200 trains ...
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NewsMorgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners aims to increase VTG stake
VTG: On July 16 the Warwick Holding subsidiary of funds advised by Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Inc announced a voluntary public tender offer of €53 per share in cash for all outstanding shares in wagon leasing and logistics company VTG AG. Warwick Holding acquired a 29% stake in Hamburg-based VTG in ...
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NewsNext phase of Firenze tram network inaugurated
ITALY: A tram extension was inaugurated in Firenze on July 16, adding 4·1 km to the city’s sole light rail route. The extension links the former eastern terminus of T1 at Alamanni-Stazione with Careggi-Ospedale to the north. The extension was known during construction as route T3, and ...
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NewsDB Netz introduces ‘green’ driver advisory functions
GERMANY: This month, infrastructure manager DB Netz has introduced ‘green wave’ train running functionality to support the use of connected driver advisory systems. Train operators seeking to improve their energy efficiency have been encouraged to sign up to the service at 0·315 euro cents per path-km. Available on all routes ...
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NewsHitachi signs new Leonardo train contract
ITALY: Hitachi Rail Italy has signed an €87m contract with Milano transport operator ATM for the supply of 12 Leonardo trains for metro Line 2, the supplier announced on July 16. The through-gangwayed trains will be manufactured at HRI’s Reggio Calabria and Napoli factories. Deliveries are due to start ...
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NewsDVV acquires Smart Rail World
INTERNATIONAL: Railway Gazette’s parent company DVV Media International has purchased events and digital media business Smart Rail World Ltd and its subsidiary Global Transport Forum Ltd. The London-based business manages a suite of international events in the rail and transport sector including Smart Rail, Smart Transit, Smart Metro, Safe Rail ...
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NewsEnvironmental approval paves way for Linha do Oeste upgrading
PORTUGAL: National environment agency APA has approved plans for the modernisation of part of the Linha do Oeste which links Lisboa with Louriçal and Figueira da Foz. Being undertaken as part of the government’s Ferrovia 2020 investment programme, the upgrading covers the 87 route-km between Meleças on the Lisboa suburban ...
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NewsBYD wins Oslo electric bus order
NORWAY: Bus operator Nobina has awarded BYD a contract to supply 42 electric buses to operate in Oslo. The 18 m articulated buses are due to arrive in the second quarter of 2019. They will join two BYD electric buses that are already operating in the city on a ...
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NewsIsfahan metro reaches Soffeh
IRAN: The sole line of the Isfahan metro was extended south from Azadi to Soffeh on July 10. The 4 km extension adds four stations, taking Line 1 to 20·2 km with 20 stations. On the same day two infill stations were opened on the northern section ...
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NewsCompetition concerns trigger full European Commission review of Siemens-Alstom merger
EUROPE: Following an initial Phase I investigation which raised concerns about competition in the rolling stock and signalling markets, the European Commission confirmed on July 13 that it had opened a Phase II in-depth investigation under the EU Merger Regulation to assess the proposed combination of Alstom with Siemens’ transport ...
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NewsJacobs awarded Etihad Rail consultancy contract
UAE: Etihad Rail has appointed Jacobs Engineering Group to provide technical and programme consulting services to support the expansion of its network under stages 2 and 3 of its national railway plan, now scheduled for completion by 2024. Jacobs will provide engineering and design services, review and provide critical oversight ...
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NewsWorld rail freight news round-up
Romania’s national Environment Fund Administration has approved funding to support CFR Marfă with the operation of rolling motorway services. The freight operator owns 160 Greenbrier Type Saadkms wagons which operated between Wels in Austria and Glogovat in Romania in 2002-06. In February 2018 a trial train with 10 lorry ...
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NewsFreightliner to deploy RailSmart software suite
EUROPE: Freightliner has signed a five-year deal to use 3Squared’s RailSmart software suite, including exclusive collaboration for future developments. The Genesee & Wyoming subsidiary will initially roll out RailSmart in the UK, starting this year with the RailSmart EDS competency management module and RailSmart ORS rostering system. Subsequent modules ...
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NewsLoco control and communication connectors
CONNECTORS: TE Connectivity’s MU27P connectors are designed to provide reliable control and communication connections between locomotives and rolling stock. The 27-point plugs and receptacles with aluminium shells in five colours can be used for applications such as door controls, public address systems and brake indications. ‘These high-quality units are ...
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NewsFranco-Belgian passenger services to be enhanced from December
EUROPE: Amid concern from policymakers and rail advocates about the extent and quality of cross-border passenger services in Europe, SNCB is to reintroduce conventional services linking Charleroi and Mons with Maubeuge and Aulnoye in France from the December timetable change. Direct inter-city trains had linked Paris with the Wallonie region ...
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NewsDriverless heavy haul train completes first iron ore delivery
AUSTRALIA: Rio Tinto completed its first iron ore delivery using a driverless train on July 10. The Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator had granted approval on May 16, and full commercial operation is planned for late 2018. The fully-loaded autonomous train with three locomotives carried 28 000 ...