Research, training & skills news – Page 4
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NewsUniversities to assist Jamaican railway revival ambitions
JAMAICA: The University of Technology and the UK’s University of Birmingham have signed a memorandum of understanding for technical co-operation to develop engineering capabilities in support of ambitions to revive railway services. The MoU was facilitated by Dr Kevin Brown of the Global Jamaica Diaspora Council, ...
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Metro Report International
Route Learning System simulates a ride with an instructor
USA: Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority has begun using PTSI Transportation’s Route Learning System software suite to train light rail drivers in San Jose. Suitable for both classroom and home use, the Route Learning System provides detailed route maps and track diagrams synchronised with an annotated ...
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Rail Business UK
Dual-fuel Class 66 tested
UK: A Freightliner EMD Class 66 locomotive has been modified to test the diesel engine’s ability to use biomethane or hydrogen dual-fuelling as a potential path to lowering carbon emissions from rail freight. The tests used precision injection technology from Clear Air Power. This had previously ...
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Rail Business UK
‘Unique in Europe’ Welsh test centre to push technological boundaries
UK: The Global Centre of Rail Excellence at Onllwyn in south Wales will be ‘unique in Europe’ when it opens in 2025, GCRE Chief Technology Officer Andy Doherty told the Railway Industry Association Innovation Conference on April 27.
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Rail Business UK
Williams sees ‘vast opportunities’ for the private sector under Great British Railways
UK: There will be ‘vast opportunities’ for the private sector to shape the rail sector as the development of Great British Railways gathers pace, Keith Williams, author of the Williams-Shapps Review into rail reform, told the Railway Industry Association’s Innovation Conference. GBR is being established ‘as ...
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News
Carbon fibre reinforced polymer high speed train running gear frame on test
SPAIN: Talgo is developing a carbon fibre reinforced polymer composite version of its characteristic ‘rodal’ running gear frames. The company expects this will offer a 50% reduction in weight compared to using welded steel plates, with an associated cut in energy consumption and track wear as ...
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In depth
USA: Pueblo test centre comes under new management
With management of the vast TTC railway centre in Pueblo, Colorado, transferring from TTCI to ENSCO this year, future director of operations Ron Lang spoke to railway companies to dispel speculation about what the change means for the industry.
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Rail Business UK
MkIV coaches donated to Fire Service College
UK: The Fire Service College has taken delivery of three redundant MkIV coaches donated by Eversholt Rail to replace older vehicles. The college at Moreton-in-Marsh in Gloucestershire trains emergency responders to deal with rail incidents. It is also working with leasing company ...
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Rail Business UK
Shape-changing wayfinding and self-deploying flood barriers among innovation funding recipients
UK: Shape-changing passenger wayfinding technology and self-deploying flood barriers are among the 51 projects awarded a share of £1·95m of Department for Transport funding under the Transport Research & Innovation Grant programme. TRIG is run by the Department for Transport and Connected Places Catapult to bring ...
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Rail Business UK
Freight Terminals of the Future theme for fourth SME challenge
UK: Derby-based industry group Rail Forum has announced its fourth SME Challenge, which will focus on Freight Terminals of the Future and ‘working smarter, not harder’. The Challenges form part of the Rail Supply Group’s Rail Sector Deal Midlands Pilots, providing opportunities for SMEs to develop ...
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Rail Business UK
Graduate scheme aims to tackle the rail industry’s ‘talent vacuum’
UK: Rail contractor QTS Group has launched a graduate scheme to help develop talent and position the industry as an attractive career choice for young people. Following a pilot in 2021, QTS Group is now recruiting graduates for the programme across several offices, including South Lanarkshire ...
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Rail Business UK
Rail research institute opens motion simulation and pantograph behaviour laboratories
UK: The Institute of Railway Research at Huddersfield University has opened two more laboratories with a focus on full-train motion simulation and the study of pantograph-catenary behaviour. IRR is the specialist hub for rolling stock R&D within the UK Rail Research & Innovation Network, and has ...
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News
CAF to develop Saudi rail expertise
SAUDI ARABIA: Saudi Arabia Railways has awarded CAF a €200m, five-year contract to maintain and support the trainsets it supplied for the North–South Railway and Riyadh – Dammam routes and to develop local technical competencies. SAR’s depot facilities will be adapted to undertake the overhaul of ...
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News
Europe’s Rail research programme issues first call for proposals
EUROPE: The Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking that is co-ordinating EU railway research over the next decade has issued its first call for proposals, under which it will provide €234m to back rail innovation projects worth €390m.
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News
First cohort of Saudi women begins train driver training
SAUDI ARABIA: After receiving 28 000 applications from women for 30 high speed train driving vacancies, Renfe is about to begin training the successful candidates. According to the Spanish operator, the first trains to be driven by Saudi women should be running between Makkah and Madinah ...
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News
Australasian Railway Association warns of skills shortages
AUSTRALIA: The local rail sector faces a shortfall of up to 70 000 skilled workers by 2023, according to a report published by the Australasian Railway Association in conjunction with the AusRail Plus conference in Sydney. ARA CEO Caroline Wilkie said attracting and retaining talent was ...
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News
NSAR to support Philippines rail training academy
INTERNATIONAL: The Philippines and UK governments have signed a memorandum of understanding covering co-operation in rail. Under the MoU, which covers training and skills development, the UK’s National Skills Academy for Rail will work directly with the Philippine Railway Institute.
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Metro Report International
Tram driver trainer standards published
UK: Light rail industry association UKTram has published a set of National Occupational Standards for tram driver trainers, which has been approved by the Scottish Qualification Authority. This forms part of a wider joint project by UKTram and the Light Rail Safety & Standards Board to ...
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News
FRA compares global high speed rail noise mitigation standards
USA: Ricardo has completed a study for the Federal Railroad Administration which aims to improve the accuracy of comparisons of global high speed rail noise reduction standards and their costs. The report, High Speed Rail: Cost of Compliance for Noise Mitigation Procedures, has now been published ...
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News
Europe’s Rail research initiative launched
EUROPE: The Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking that will co-ordinate EU railway research over the next decade was formally launched in Paris on February 21, during an event organised by SNCF in conjunction with the French Presidency of the European Union.
