Research, training & skills news – Page 27
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NewsShift2Rail invites 2020 research proposals
EUROPE: Within the framework of its Annual Work Plan, the Shift2Rail Joint Undertaking issued its 2020 call for proposals on January 7, covering research and innovation projects with a total value of €146·6m. Applications are due by April 21. The call covers 19 topics, of which eight ...
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Rail Business UKNetwork Rail and Strukton Rail to co-operate on R&D
UK: Dutch engineering company Strukton Rail has signed a memorandum of understanding to support the delivery of Network Rail’s £245m research and development portfolio during Control Period 6 (2019-24). The collaboration will build on work undertaken through the European Shift2Rail partnership’s Innovation Programme 3 covering the cost-efficient ...
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NewsLightweight bogie made from recycled carbon fibre
UK: A prototype passenger vehicle bogie made from recycled carbon fibre was unveiled at the Railway Industry Association’s Unlocking Innovation event at the University of Huddersfield on December 10. The bogie is being developed through a two-year programme being undertaken by a consortium of fibre recycling company ...
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NewsRail associations welcome EU Green Deal proposals
EUROPE: Railway industry associations have welcomed the transport sector proposals in the EU Green Deal package outlined by new Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during a plenary session of the European Parliament on December 11.
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NewsUnderstanding fuel cell applications
USA: Having undertaken research into alternative propulsion technologies to support the order for North America’s first commercial hydrogen-powered train, the Center for Railway Research & Education at Michigan State University is to host a seminar on the topic in Long Beach on January 29-31.
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NewsCourse builds opportunities for ex-military personnel
UK: Govia Thameslink Railway is sending staff from Southern’s newly-formed in-house maintenance team on an intensive five-week Level 1 foundation course in property maintenance run by Chichester College. The Building Heroes charity puts ex-servicemen and women through the same course, with Southern helping towards the cost of ...
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NewsLocal content emphasised as Alstom awarded Perth train contract
AUSTRALIA: Public Transport Authority of Western Australia has formally signed the A$1·3bn contract for Alstom to supply and maintain diesel and electric multiple-units for use around Perth. Announcing completion of the deal on December 10, PTA said the biggest rolling stock contract that it had placed had ...
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NewsHelping short lines to prepare for emergencies
USA: ‘Short lines need to be thinking through disaster preparation, response, mitigation and resiliency on the calm days so that they’re ready to respond in a crisis’, explained American Short Line & Regional Railroad Association President Chuck Baker when the organisation announced a package of resources designed ...
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News‘Romance’ of rail can mitigate skills crisis
AUSTRALIA: The rail sector needs to embrace rapid changes in workplace expectations in order to overcome a looming demographic crisis, delegates at the AusRail conference in Sydney heard on December 4.
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Rail Business UKRail Industry Ambassadors wanted
UK: The Young Rail Professionals networking and educational association is recruiting volunteer Rail Industry Ambassadors to visit schools, colleges, universities and career fairs to raise awareness of the ‘fantastic’ career opportunities available within the rail industry. Ambassadors are sought from all levels of the industry, from frontline ...
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Rail Business UKCity & Guilds Group buys railway training company Intertrain
UK: City & Guilds Group has acquired Intertrain, which provides more than 300 railway infrastructure training courses and trains more than 22 000 learners and 40 apprentices every year. The courses include Level 2 and 3 engineering apprenticeships, and re-skilling, upskilling and recertifying existing rail personnel. Intertrain ...
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NewsShort line specific PTC training
USA: The American Short Line & Regional Railroad Association has appointed Tech Mahindra to provide Positive Train Control training courses customised to meet the specific needs of short line operators. The courses will be provided through a subscription-based online platform, with interactive modules covering aspects of PTC ...
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Metro Report InternationalMetro training centre to be fitted with depot protection system
UK: Main contractor Galliford Try has awarded Zonegreen a contract to install its Depot Personnel Protection System at an £8·4m training and light maintenance facility which it is building for Tyne & Wear Metro operator Nexus. Intended to provide a wide range of ...
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NewsDigital signalling test centre to be built in Sydney
AUSTRALIA: Transport for New South Wales has invited expressions of interest in a contract to build a testing facility for digital signalling technology. To be built at the Rail Technology Campus at Chullora in western Sydney, the Digital Systems Facility would enable technologies to be tested in ...
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NewsFreight to be focus of Shift2Rail successor
EUROPE: Freight is likely to be a core focus of the successor to the Shift2Rail joint technology initiative, S2R Executive Director Carlo Borghini told Railway Gazette on October 30 on the sidelines of the World Congress on Railway Research in Tokyo. While the so-called Shift2Rail II programme ...
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NewsInfrastructure managers share knowledge
EUROPE: The Norwegian and Spanish infrastructure managers have signed a memorandum of understanding covering the exchange of experiences, mutual training, joint workshops, study visits and technical assistance. ‘We have a lot to learn from ADIF in certain areas, for example ERTMS where they have the largest network ...
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NewsEmployers and unions aim to increase the number of women in the rail sector
EUROPE: Negotiations for an EU-level agreement aimed at promoting the employment of women in the rail sector have been launched by the Community of European Railway & Infrastructure Companies, representing more than 70 employers, and the European Transport Workers’ Federation which represents 5 million transport workers from ...
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NewsAlstom launches internships for people with Asperger syndrome
SPAIN: Alstom and the Madrid Asperger Association have signed a partnership agreement for people with Asperger syndrome to undertake pre-occupational professional internships at the company’s sites in Spain. This will include theoretical training and practical internships at Alstom’s Railway Signalling & Safety Centre in Madrid, where participants ...
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Rail Business UKRail-specific deaf awareness course developed
UK: London Overground concessionaire Arriva Rail London has launched a rail-specific deaf awareness training course to bolster its existing disability awareness training as part of customer service induction. The course was developed with Signly, Deafax and University College London’s Deafness Cognition & Language Research Centre with funding ...
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NewsTurkey to develop national rail research institute
The institute is intended to support development of the Turkish main line network. It will be eventually be based at TCDD premises in Ankara. TURKEY: The Ministry for Transport & Infrastructure is to establish an Institute of Rail Transport Technology, which will be operated jointly by infrastructure ...