Research, training & skills news – Page 11
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NewsNorfolk Southern uses Waze for targeted level crossing safety messages
USA: Norfolk Southern is using the Waze mobile app to target safety messages at motorists approaching level crossings. ‘Leveraging the Waze app allows us to select areas of our system where we have significant train volume and a history of highway vehicle train incidents’, said Public Safety ...
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News
Short Line Safety Institute offers assessment model to commuter operators
USA: The Short Line Safety Institute says its FRA-recognised multi-method Safety Culture Assessment process for freight railways could be easily transferable to commuter train operators. The institute said on September 17 that a recently-published study looking at the methodology and results of a safety assessment for a ...
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Rail Business UK
Scottish hydrogen train demonstrator procurement begins
UK: The University of St Andrews has begun the process of appointing an industrial partner to participate in the Zero Emission Train Project, which will see a redundant Class 314 electric multiple-unit equipped with hydrogen fuel cells as a technology demonstrator. The project is being led by ...
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Rail Business UK
Five firms selected for HS2 Innovation Accelerator initiative
UK: HS2 Ltd has opened the second round of applications to join its Innovation Accelerator programme, seeking small and medium-sized firms specialising in process efficiencies and the passenger experience at stations. Entrepreneurs and tech specialists are invited to apply by September 18. This follows the announcement of ...
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Metro Report International
Very Light Rail vehicle prototype under construction
UK: A prototype battery-powered carbon fibre and metal Very Light Rail vehicle is under construction at NP Aerospace’s plant at Foleshill in Coventry. The VLR project to develop low-cost technologies which would make light rail a viable option for medium sized cities is being managed by the ...
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News
Task forces to improve Network Rail’s understanding of severe weather and earthworks management
UK: Infrastructure manager Network Rail has launched two independent task forces to improve its understanding of severe weather and help it better manage its earthworks, following the fatal derailment of a ScotRail train near Stonehaven on August 12. Dame Julia Slingo, former chief scientist at the ...
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News
Improved maglev prototype starts test running
JAPAN: JR Central began trial running with its latest Superconducting Maglev Series L0 vehicles at the test guideway in Yamanashi prefecture on August 17.
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News
European Rail Partnership to succeed Shift2Rail
EUROPE: The European Commission has invited expressions of interest in becoming founding members of a new European Partnership on Rail Research & Innovation, which is being put forward as a successor to the current Shift2Rail Joint Undertaking.
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Rail Business UK
UK universities and HS2 Ltd finalise research partnership
UK: High Speed 2 project promoter HS2 Ltd has signed what it terms a ‘ground-breaking agreement’ with the UK Rail Research & Innovation Network of universities and research institutions. The agreement with UKRRIN Ltd which was announced on August 14 is intended to enable HS2 Ltd to ...
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News
Level crossing safety training for farmers
CANADA: The Operation Lifesaver Canada safety campaign has designed a virtual-reality interactive video to train people from the agricultural sector in how to approach level crossings safely. ‘Train to Drive allows drivers to make choices in real time around virtual railway tracks and trains, and to see ...
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News
George Washington University to advise Amtrak on pandemic response
USA: National passenger operator Amtrak has engaged the Department of Environmental & Occupational Health at the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health to provide technical expertise and guidance to enhance its response to the coronavirus pandemic. This will include advice on: reviewing safe ...
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Metro Report International
Virtual reality based training for tram drivers
UAE: Dubai’s Roads & Transport Authority and metro and tram operator Serco are using virtual reality during the training of tram drivers. ‘Introducing cutting-edge technologies avails trainee drivers of interactive experiences and opportunities’, said Hassan Mohammad Al Mutawa, Director of Operations at RTA’s Rail Agency. ‘They will ...
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News
Spanish partners to research better ERTMS location data
Enhancing satellite coverage of secondary railways is a key focus of ongoing research under the EU’s Horizon 2020 programme. It is hoped that satellite location could reduce some of the cots of adopting ERTMS. SPAIN: Infrastructure manager ADIF and domestic partners Ineco and Cedex will start work ...
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News
Level crossing inspection trial
USA: Railway Internet-of-Things developer Wi-Tronix has been awarded a grant to test the use of AI-aided machine vision for the automated inspection of level crossing equipment. Wi-Tronix is to evaluate the ability of locomotive-mounted forward-facing cameras to detect and analyse level crossing equipment such as lights and ...
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News
Digital automatic couplers on test
Source: DB/Volker Emersleben EUROPE: Trials with prototype digital automatic couplers from four manufacturers are to start this month, with a view to selecting a single type of coupler that could be introduced across Europe. Testing will continue through to December 2022. The pilot project aims to obtain ...
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News
Colas Rail and Adecco join forces to seek a more inclusive workforce
FRANCE: Infrastructure contractor and open access freight operator Colas Rail has entered into a long term partnership with employment agency Adecco to develop a more inclusive approach to its recruitment processes. The two parties signed a ‘social pact’ in Paris on June 17 aimed at ‘developing ...
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News
EU funds rail cybersecurity research
EUROPE: The Safety4Rails research programme to improve the resilience of railways and metros to cyber and physical attacks is one of five projects that will share €38m in funding from the EU’s Horizon 2020 research budget.
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News
Eurostar to test facial biometrics for ‘walk-through’ check-in
EUROPE: A walk-through facial biometric verification system is to be tested which would enable Eurostar passengers to complete ticket checks and border exit processes at London’s St Pancras International station without contact with people or hardware. Passengers opting the use the accelerated pre-boarding option would use ...
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Rail Business UK
First of a Kind funding awarded for 25 rail innovation projects
UK: The Department for Transport and Innovate UK have announced the 25 projects which are to share £9·4m of funding under the 2020 round of the First of a Kind rail industry innovation programme.
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Rail Business UK
HS2 Ltd launches innovation accelerator
UK: HS2 Ltd announced the launch of an ‘innovation accelerator’ programme on June 16 aimed at attracting start-ups and small businesses to put forward ideas to be incorporated into the first phase of the high speed line between London and the West Midlands. The project promoter ...
