All Railway Gazette International articles in September 2020 – Page 9
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NewsFRA updates track inspection rule
USA: The Federal Railroad Administration has introduced an updated rule on the use of ultrasonic rail inspection technology with GPS location data, enabling railroads to undertake continuous testing of rails more efficiently.
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NewsJerusalem – Tel Aviv electrification completed
ISRAEL: Israel Railways began test running of electric trains between Jerusalem, Tel Aviv University and Herzliya on September 6, following the completion of 25 kV 50 Hz electrification on the northern section of the Ayalon Corridor.
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In depthGermany: Growth ambitions undeterred despite Covid-19
With passenger traffic down by 44% and freight by 13% in the first half of the year, the coronavirus pandemic caused Deutsche Bahn’s profits to slump by almost €4bn, reports Timon Heinrici. Nevertheless, the government has committed huge sums to try and turn the state-owned railway group around.
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NewsÖBB and Voestalpine joint venture to commercialise innovative wagon design
AUSTRIA: ÖBB-Technische Services and Voestalpine Stahl have agreed to establish a 50:50 joint venture to manufacture and market a range of lightweight modular freight wagons under the TransANT brand.
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Metro Report InternationalLviv opts for local manufacturer’s trams
UKRAINE: Local manufacturer Electron Concern signed a contract to supply 10 low-floor trams to the city of Lviv on September 2. This follows an international tender supported by the European Investment Bank’s urban public transport programme for Ukraine. The five-section metre-gauge trams costing €1·2m each will be ...
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Rail Business UKRailcard discounts now available on GTR smart cards
UK: Railcard discounts can now be obtained for pay-as-you-go travel when using Govia Thameslink Railway’s Key smart cards. Key smart card holders enter their Railcard details onto their online keyGo account. Any journeys made are then automatically assessed at the end of each day, and if they ...
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NewsSilver IRIS certification now available with Gold on test
INTERNATIONAL: The International Railway Industry Standard certification programme for the rail supply chain has been expanded, with companies now able to obtain the Silver quality performance level during their next audit. This follows the completion on September 1 of a one-year test of the standard, which builds ...
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NewsBangkok's Three Airports rail link delayed
THAILAND: The project to built a 220 km fast rail line connecting Bangkok and its three main airports has been delayed for financial reasons. ‘The budget to demolish infrastructure to make way for the new high speed system has not been approved’, said State Railway of Thailand ...
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Rail Business UKHigh Speed 2 main works construction officially begins
UK: High Speed 2 project promoter HS2 Ltd marked the symbolic start of the main works for the 225 km Phase 1 of the project on September 4, noting that its contractors were moving from enabling, design and preparatory works to full construction. The announcement followed the ...
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NewsCeneri Base Tunnel inaugurated
SWITZERLAND: The 15·4 km Ceneri Base Tunnel between Bellinzona and Lugano was formally inaugurated on September 4, with President of the Swiss Confederation Simonetta Sommaruga cutting a ribbon before the inaugural freight train ran south. This was followed by special passenger trains carrying guests in each direction. ...
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NewsBLS CEO steps down after Federal Audit Office finds flaws in accounting processes
SWITZERLAND: The country’s second largest railway has an overly complex accounting process which needs improvement, according to an investigation of flawed reporting for public funding by BLS which was published by the Federal Audit Office on September 3. Following the publication of the report, BLS announced that ...
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NewsRegioJet takes on MÁV-Start by offering intra-Hungarian fares
RegioJet’s Hungarian service links Budapest with Wien twice daily. HUNGARY: RegioJet has begun selling tickets for journeys within Hungary on its Praha – Wien – Budapest services, becoming the first private operator to challenge incumbent MÁV-Start on domestic journeys. On August 26 the open access operator began ...
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NewsX-ray train inspection systems ordered for US border crossings
USA: The Department of Homeland Security’s Customs & Border Protection agency has awarded Smiths Detection a framework contract for the supply of X-ray scanners for use at railway checkpoints on the borders with Canada and Mexico. The side-view high-energy X-ray inspection scanners will be used to screen ...
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NewsTamworth Intermodal Rail Line funding announced
AUSTRALIA: The government of New South Wales has announced A$28m of funding for the Tamworth Intermodal Rail Line to reinstate a section of non-operational railway between West Tamworth and Barraba. This will provide a rail route to a planned intermodal facility at Westdale near Tamworth. Construction is ...
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Metro Report InternationalDesign agency showcases post-Covid metro train concept
INTERNATIONAL: Design company Tangerine has developed a concept for a ‘post-Covid’ metro train, designed to help operators plan for future pandemics by enabling them to readily adapt the interior to minimise the risk of transmission during local outbreaks. The ‘Metamorphosis’ concept has an ...
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Rail Business UKTransport for Wales selects 11 ideas for virtual innovation lab
UK: More than 100 companies applied to take part in the second phase of the Lab by Transport for Wales innovation and accelerator programme, and 11 have been selected to develop their ideas to proof of concept or minimum viable product stage in a virtual programme which ...
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NewsRail receives €4·7bn in French recovery spending package
Photo: Christophe Masse FRANCE: The government announced on September 3 its intention to provide a financial support package for the rail sector worth €4·7bn as part of a post-pandemic recovery plan. Transport Secretary Jean-Baptiste Djebbari said that the funding package, which forms part of a wider national ...
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NewsWabtec opens additive manufacturing centre in Bengaluru
INDIA: Wabtec Corp has collaborated with 3D printing equipment supplier HP and supply chain specialist Redington to open an additive manufacturing centre at its Bengaluru site The Wabtec India Additive Manufacturing Centre is focused on accelerating the design and production of components for prototyping and short to ...