All articles by Railway Gazette International – Page 541
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NewsIsfahan metro extended
IRAN: An extension of Isfahan’s sole metro line by 800 m south from Shohada to Takhti opened on November 2, along with three more intermediate stations at Baharestan, Golestan and Shahid Chamran on the existing route. This takes Line 1 to 12·5 km with 11 stations. Most ...
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NewsAir travel portal to offer Amtrak bookings
USA: Fareportal is to use SilverRail's API to sell Amtrak tickets through its CheapOAir travel portal. Fareportal ‘will be amongst the first leisure online booking platform to offer Amtrak tickets alongside airfare results', said SilverRail Chief Commercial Officer Cameron Jones on October 26. 'This partnership helps raise the profile of ...
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NewsDetecting voids on the move
UK: The Institute of Railway Research at the University of Huddersfield has developed an algorithm aimed at enabling sensors fitted to Siemens GSM-R cab radios to detect track voids and potentially other rail defects. The algorithm is intended to enable every vehicle equipped with GSM-R radio equipment to act as ...
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NewsSNCF Réseau raises €900m with inaugural green bond
FRANCE: SNCF Réseau has raised €900m with its inaugural 15-year ‘green bond’, which it says was the first to be issued by a railway infrastructure manager and the first issued by a European transport company. Crédit Agricole CIB, HSBC France and JP Morgan acted as joint lead managers. The proceeds ...
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NewsGenesee & Wyoming acquires Providence & Worcester Railroad
USA: International freight railway group Genesee & Wyoming Inc announced on November 1 that it had completed the acquisition of Providence & Worcester Railroad Co for $126m. Following the closing of the transaction, G&W immediately transferred control of P&W to a voting trust with R Lawrence McCaffrey appointed as trustee. ...
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News€3·1bn Berlin fleet renewal programme approved
GERMANY: The supervisory board of Berlin city transport operator BVG approved a €3·1bn metro trainset and tram procurement programme running until 2035 at its meeting on October 31. This decision enables BVG to call the first tenders under the fleet expansion and renewal programme, which could eventually cover 700 large-profile ...
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NewsJeswant Gill
Jeswant Gill has been appointed President of Harsco Rail, while Andre Schoen becomes Vice-President for the International Regions.
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News
China to fund and build Malaysian east coast link
MALAYSIA: The government is planning to start construction of the 538 route-km East Coast Rail Link next year once agreements for funding have been agreed with China.Speaking to local media at the start of an official visit to China on October 31, Treasury Secretary-General Mohd Irwan Serigar Abdullah said that ...
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News£60m Hull Trains electro-diesel train deal signed
UK: Contracts worth £60m for Hitachi Rail Europe to supply and maintain five AT300 five-car electro-diesel multiple-units for use by open access company Hull Trains were finalised by the operator’s parent company FirstGroup and leasing company Angel Trains on November 2. This follows the granting of a ...
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NewsNSB assets transferred to standalone businesses
NORWAY: National operator NSB’s rolling stock fleet and ticketing activities and the associated staff were transferred to two standalone subsidiary companies with effect from October 15. The rolling stock is now owned by Materiellselskapet AS and the sales and ticketing activities by Entur AS (formerly known as Salg og Billettering ...
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NewsMoscow – Berlin Talgo starts on December 17
EUROPE: Russian Railways is to launch its Moscow – Minsk – Warszawa – Berlin Talgo train service in December, the national railway confirmed on October 28. The first trains will depart from Moscow’s Kursk station on December 17 and from Berlin Ostbahnhof the following day, RZD said. Tickets are now ...
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NewsContractors inch towards deal on Haramain delay
SAUDI ARABIA: An agreement to end the dispute over delays and cost over-runs affecting the Haramain High Speed Rail Line could be reached in the next few weeks, following a visit by Saudi Railways Organization President Dr Rumaih Mohammed Al-Rumaih to Madrid on October 25-26. During his visit to ...
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NewsCAF preferred for De Lijn trams
BELGIUM: CAF has been selected as preferred bidder to supply 146 low-floor trams for De Lijn, at an estimated cost of €320m, the Vlaanderen transport operator announced on October 31. De Lijn invited bids last year for its largest ever procurement, covering three builds of 32 m long cars to ...
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NewsFehmarn Belt client consultants prequalified
DENMARK: Fehmarn Belt fixed link project promoter Femern A/S has prequalified companies to tender for two framework agreements covering the provision of consulting services. The client consulting contract includes assistance in relation to potential claims from contractors during and following the construction phase. The prequalified companies are: CH2M Hill (UK), ...
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NewsFinnish firm wins TGV lighting contract
FRANCE: SNCF has selected Finnish company Teknoware to supply LED interior lighting for the refurbishment of its Alstom-built TGV Duplex double-deck high speed train fleet. The contract covers the supply of main lighting elements housed in opening ceiling frames on both sides of the aisles, as well as indirect mood ...
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NewsPKP Cargo fleet modernisation
POLAND: The PKP Cargo Tabor workshop at Ostrów Wielkopolski has completed work on the first of seven ET41 twin-section locomotives which are to be modernised. The work has focused on improving working conditions, with redesigned driving desks, air-conditioning, sound-proofing, tinted windows, heating for snow and water clearance and the installation ...
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NewsRail to gain from Göteborg intermodal terminal relocation
SWEDEN: Port authority Göteborgs Hamn expects rail market share to grow from early 2018 when the Göteborg intermodal terminal is moved from its current central site to a new location adjacent to the port’s roll-on roll-off terminal. The current terminal handles 12 trains and 200 lorries on a typical weekday, ...
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NewsVossloh names Busemann CEO
Andreas Busemann is set to take over as CEO of Vossloh AG for a three-year term, with effect from April 2017. He will succeed Hans M Schabert, who has opted not to extend his contract when it expires on March 31. Busemann is currently Chief Sales Officer at DB Cargo ...
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NewsNSW fleet replacement accelerated
AUSTRALIA: The procurement of new trainsets to replace the XPT passenger fleet is to begin the first half of 2017, two years earlier than planned, New South Wales Deputy Premier Troy Grant and Minister for Transport & Infrastructure Andrew Constance confirmed on October 28. An additional A$50m has been committed ...
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NewsBitcoin to be sold through Swiss ticket machines
SWITZERLAND: Passengers will be able to buy the digital currency Bitcoin from Swiss Federal Railways’ ticket machines from November 11, under a distribution deal between the operator and financial intermediary company SweePay. SBB said there have been limited opportunities to purchase Bitcoin in Switzerland, and over the past two years ...