All Railway Gazette International articles in September 2020
All articles published this month.
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NewsAutomotive wagons meet changing needs of car manufacturers
EUROPE: Transfesa Logistics has put into service the first 18 of 100 automotive wagons ordered from Greenbrier in Poland. The company said this would help to meet the growing demand for transporting electric vehicles, and cars which are larger and heavier than those produced in the past. ...
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Rail Business UKSoutheastern launches SeatFinder
UK: Southeastern is to provide train loading data to passengers through its app and journey planner, with the launch in September of SeatFinder which uses data based on vehicle weights to produce daily estimates of future loadings. Live departure boards on the website ...
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Rail Business UKGWR Emergency Measures Agreement extended
UK: On September 1 the Department for Transport exercised its option to extend the Emergency Measures Agreement covering FirstGroup’s Great Western franchise until at least June 26 2021. FirstGroup Chief Executive Matthew Gregory said this ‘provides important clarity and continuity for our customers, employees and wider stakeholders’. ...
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NewsJR East extends repair work on concrete structures
The Shinkansen network makes extensive use of long elevated structures to minimise land take in urban areas. JAPAN: East Japan Railway announced on August 26 that it intends to carry out remedial work on several elevated concrete structures across its 1 067 mm gauge conventional network, complementing ...
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NewsVoters reject Liechtenstein S-Bahn proposal
LIECHTENSTEIN: Plans for a cross-border S-Bahn service linking Austria and Switzerland through the principality were rejected by 62·3% of voters in a referendum held on August 30. A letter of intent to go ahead with the long-planned project had been signed by Liechtenstein’s Deputy Prime Minister and ...
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Metro Report InternationalFirst phase of Toshkent’s circular metro line opens
UZBEKISTAN: The first stage of a planned orbital metro line and an extension to an existing route have opened in Toshkent. On August 29, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev inaugurated the 2·9 km, two-station northern extension of the Yunusobod Line from Shahriston to Yunusobod and ...
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NewsThree prequalify for large Swiss train contract
SWITZERLAND: Three manufacturers have prequalified for a contract to supply a total of 194 electric-multiple units in a procurement process which is being run by Swiss Federal Railways and its local operating joint ventures Thurbo in Thurgau and RegionAlps in Valais. The shortlisted bidders announced on September ...
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NewsDigital coupler ‘opens door to automation’
GERMANY: Deutsche Bahn has launched a programme to test digital automatic couplings in live freight traffic. Speaking during a demonstration of prototype couplers at the DB Systemtechnik Minden research facility on August 31, Sabina Jeschke, DB’s Board Member for Digitalisation & Technology, said that the technology ‘opens ...
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Metro Report InternationalUrban transport industry news round-up
This week’s round-up of news from the urban transport sector
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Rail Business UKTreasury concerns over ticketing changes
UK: Department for Transport sources have confirmed to Rail Business UK that a key focus within the department is now on the development of part-time season tickets or carnets to encourage commuters to return to train services. However, pressure from the Treasury to manage any lost ...
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Rail Business UKPassenger concerns hold back return to rail
Passenger demand remains low, with Transport Focus data showing that travel by train remains at around 5% of pre-pandemic levels, and the industry’s work during the pandemic has brought a range of responses.
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NewsUzbekistan completes Ferghana Valley electrification project
UZBEKISTAN: Electrification of the 331 km railway ring in the Ferghana Valley was officially completed on August 30, when electric services were inaugurated on the 101 km Namangan – Andijon section. The ring runs from Pap through Namangan, Andijon, Marg‘ilon, and Qo‘qon back ...
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NewsCovid-19 aid package unfair, say independent operators
GERMANY: Financial aid earmarked for national operator Deutsche Bahn in the form of a €5bn equity increase as compensation for the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic constitutes unfair state aid under European Union law, according to Netzwerk Europäischer Eisenbahnen, an association of around 60 independent rail freight ...
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NewsKnorr-Bremse brings rail HVAC activities under Merak brand
MERAK: Knorr-Bremse has unified its worldwide rolling stock heating, ventilation and air-conditioning activities under the overall brand name Merak. This covers Merak’s global headquarters at Getafe in Spain, Merak North America, the Merak-Jinxin joint venture in China, the rail HVAC activities of Sigma in Australia, Kiepe Electric ...
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Metro Report InternationalConstruction contracts awarded as Porto light rail network expands
PORTUGAL: The Metro do Porto management board has approved the award of two construction packages for expansion of the city’s light rail network to a consortium of Alberto Couto Alves and Ferrovial Agroman. Worth €189m, the first package covers construction of the 3∙1 km Line G with ...
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Rail Business UKEast Midlands collaboration aims to give a greater voice for local stakeholders
UK: The government and Transport for the East Midlands have reached a multi-year collaboration agreement which is designed to give councils and local stakeholders a more influential role in deciding how rail services can support development in the region. Announced on September 3, the agreement will give ...
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NewsIncreasing capacity west of Spandau
GERMANY: The Länder of Berlin and Brandenburg have signed an agreement with Deutsche Bahn to finance studies for a project to increase capacity on the 23 km Spandau – Nauen section of the Berlin – Hamburg corridor, including a proposed extension of the Berlin S-Bahn to Finkenkrug. ...
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In depthGermany: Master Plan confirms state’s commitment to rail
The German government has assigned rail a fundamental role in its climate change strategy, promising unprecedented levels of financial support for expansion and modernisation of the national network. Murray Hughes investigates.
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NewsFreight RAILCAR bill aims to support US wagon industry
USA: The Railway Supply Institute which represents more than 200 companies has welcomed the bipartisan introduction to the House of Representatives of the Freight Rail Assistance & Investment to Launch Coronavirus-era Activity & Recovery Act, which would offer a time-limited 50% tax credit for purchasing new wagons ...