Research, training & skills news – Page 16
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NewsLevel 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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NewsGeorge 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 InternationalVirtual 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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NewsSpanish 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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NewsLevel 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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NewsDigital 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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NewsColas 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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NewsEU 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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NewsEurostar 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 UKFirst 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 UKHS2 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 ...
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Rail Business UKData-driven performance and short term planning projects funded
UK: RSSB has announced the three winners of funding under the second round of its Data Sandbox+ programme, which aims develop data-driven ways of improving operational performance, and two projects to be funded under the Dynamic Train Planning competition. The selected Data Sandbox+ projects are: Utilising ...
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NewsUniversities study options for battery traction to replace diesel
GERMANY: A three-month study of the extent to which battery-powered trains could replace diesel traction in Germany is being undertaken through a collaboration between rolling stock financing company Rock Rail, Technische Universität Dresden and the UK’s University of Birmingham. According to lobby group Allianz pro Schiene, electrified ...
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NewsLatest Shift2Rail call for proposals attracts strong market interest
EUROPE: The 2020 Shift2Rail call for proposals has prompted requests for railway research funding worth €113∙3m, the joint technology initiative announced on May 29. A total of 43 proposals have been submitted with a total value of €185∙8m, of which S2R would support €113m. Eight were reserved ...
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NewsFreight innovation funding applications invited
GERMANY: The Federal Ministry for Transport & Digital Infrastructure has invited applications for funding of projects designed to improve the economics and efficiency of rail freight. Proposals should relate to digitalisation, automation and vehicle technology, and applications should be made via the Federal Railway Office in Bonn. ...
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NewsAutomatic operation of regional passenger trains to be tested
GERMANY: The automatic operation of regional trains in passenger service is to be tested in a ‘regulatory sandbox’ in Niedersachsen, the project partners announced on May 27. Due to launch in 2021, the project brings together Alstom, aerospace research centre DLR, the Technical University of Berlin, train ...
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NewsShort Line safety culture resources published
USA: The Short Line Safety Institute has released Strong Safety Culture Best Practices, a resource which draws on more than five years of safety culture assessments and the 10 core elements of a strong safety culture as defined by the Department of Transportation’s Safety Council. Best practices ...
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NewsClimate change question in REMSA’s 2020 scholarship application
USA: The Railway Engineers Maintenance Suppliers Association has made climate change the focus of its 2020 scholarship programme, for which applications close on May 29. Applicants are being asked to draft an essay addressing ‘in what ways can the freight rail industry can benefit our environment? Do ...
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Rail Business UKInvestigation into human performance in signalling operations published
UK: The Rail Accident Investigation Branch has published the results of an investigation into human performance during signalling operations, looking at what affects decisions made by signallers and the systemic factors which may influence them. The investigation examined five categories of incident: user worked crossing irregularities; ...
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Metro Report InternationalVery light rail track under development
UK: The Coventry Very Light Rail scheme to develop a low-cost transport system for medium-sized cities has been awarded £1∙5m of West Midlands Combined Authority funding to support the design and development of track for use by lightweight battery powered vehicles. The project aims to design an ...