Technology news – Page 106
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NewsSpeedInnov to develop future TGV
FRANCE: The ministries responsible for transport, research and industry announced on December 17 the creation of SpeedInnov, a joint venture that is to develop ‘the TGV of the future’. The new joint venture also includes Alstom and ADEME, a government agency providing funding for projects aiming to reduce environmental impact ...
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NewsShift2Rail issues first open call for research proposals
EUROPE: The Shift2Rail Joint Undertaking issued its first open call on December 17, inviting proposals for a range of research projects expected to have a total value of €170m. Proposals have been invited for nine packages in three of the five Shift2Rail Innovation Programmes (below). An information day is to ...
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Metro Report InternationalKeolis takes share in Masabi
MASABI: International transport operator Keolis has taken a share in mobile ticketing provider Masabi as part of an investment made with MasterCard, Lepe Partners and existing shareholder MMC Ventures. The combined investment from the four companies amounts to US$12m. Earlier this year Masabi formed partnerships with both ...
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NewsNomad Digital and Bombardier announce North American partnership
NORTH AMERICA: Nomad Digital and Bombardier Transportation announced a partnership to provide passenger and fleet management connectivity technology across the region on December 3. Nomad said the agreement would provide Bombardier with access its expertise in the development, implementation and management of on-board systems including passenger information, media and ...
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NewsTracsis buys Ontrac
UK: Tracsis plc has acquired the entire issued share capital of Ontrac Ltd and Ontrac Technology Ltd, which develop workflow and information sharing software for the rail and transport industries. Ontrac has around 30 permanent staff, and generated revenue of £7·1m and an adjusted pre-tax profit of £2·4m ...
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NewsDetecting mobile phone use in the cab
USA: Mobile asset monitoring technology company Wi-Tronix has launched a Mobile Phone Detection System which enables railways to monitor train crew compliance with their individual policies on the use of mobile devices in cabs. The Mobile Phone Detection System can identify powered and transmitting devices which are receiving an inbound ...
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NewsNomad Digital and ÖBB agree 10-year onboard connectivity partnership
AUSTRIA: Technology provider Nomad Digital has signed what it says is the world’s largest ‘multi-transport connectivity’ contract to date with Austrian Federal Railways, it announced on November 13. Under the terms of the 10-year framework agreement, Nomad Digital is to equip ‘the majority’ of ÖBB’s passenger trains with onboard wi-fi ...
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NewsSemi-automated containerised coke unloader inaugurated
AUSTRIA: A facility for the rapid semi-automatic unloading of coke delivered to Voestalpine’s Leoben/Donawitz site in containers has been inaugurated by the steel maker, technology supplier Innofreight and ÖBB’s freight division Rail Cargo Group. The RockTainer ORE system of modular steel containers is designed to speed-up unloading, improve safety ...
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NewsSECRET studies electromagnetic security risk
EUROPE: The final conference of the three-year SECurity of Railways against Electromagnetic aTtacks research project was held in Lille last month. SECRET aimed to assess the risks and consequences of electromagnetic attacks on rail infrastructure, identify preventive and recovery measures and develop protection techniques. The project was funded by the ...
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NewsLow-emission locos enter service in Chicago
USA: Government officials joined Norfolk Southern at 47th Street intermodal yard in Chicago on November 5 to inaugurate a fleet of remanufactured low-emission diesel shunting locomotives. Intended to offer cut particulate emissions by 76% and reduce NOx pollutants, the GP33ECO locomotives are remanufactured from EMD GP50 locomotives repowered with ...
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Newsc2c offers contactless payment wristbands
UK: Essex to London commuter operator c2c has offered free contactless payment wristbands to selected passengers. The bPay by Barclaycard wristbands contain a contactless chip which can be used to pay for travel within London and at certain other c2c stations, in the same way as a contactless bank card ...
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NewsUnited Wagon Co awarded first tank wagon contract
RUSSIA: United Wagon Co’s TikhvinChemMash tank wagon business has won its first order, covering the supply of 105 methanol tanks to chemical company Metafrax. Production is to begin by the end of the year, with entry into service planned for 2016. Announcing the contract on November 3, UWC said the ...
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NewsGoogle backs Indian station wi-fi roll-out
INDIA: As part of a strategy to widen access to the internet, Google has announced a project to provide high speed public wi-fi at 400 Indian Railways stations. Google is to work with telecoms company RailTel, which provides internet services via its lineside fibre network. Google aims to provide ...
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NewsHitachi completes Ansaldo deal
INTERNATIONAL: Finmeccanica and Hitachi announced on November 2 the 'closing of transactions' covering the acquisition by Hitachi of AnsaldoBreda and Finmeccanica’s 40% stake in Ansaldo STS. Having acquired the largest shareholding in the signalling business, Hitachi will now launch a mandatory tender offer for all the remaining shares, in accordance ...
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NewsSNCF launches digital investment fund
FRANCE: SNCF has launched a €30m SNCF Digital Ventures investment fund, which aims to ‘actively seek and identify digital initiatives that will impact SNCF’s transport business’. The fund will invest in companies that are working with SNCF on innovation, and acquire stakes in companies specialising in areas that ‘are ...
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NewsMonitoring tank wagons via satellite
EUROPE: Chemical supplier SABIC is to equip its fleet of 500 chemical tank wagons with ATEX Ovinto Sat M2M tracking and monitoring systems developed by Ovinto based on Globalstar satellite communications technology. Ovinto Sat collates data from various sensors and GPS devices on each of SABIC's wagons, and sends information ...
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NewsPredictive maintenance at the heart of Thameslink EMU depot
UK: ‘We want to prevent malfunctions before they even occur,’ said Siemens Mobility Division CEO Jochen Eickholt when Secretary of State for Transport Patrick McLoughlin officially opened the new rolling stock depot at Three Bridges on October 15. The depot will maintain the 115 Class 700 Desiro City electric ...
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NewsPRASA’s Gauteng Nerve Centre completed
SOUTH AFRICA: The Gauteng integrated control centre in Kaalfontein near Johannesburg was handed over to passenger operator PRASA on October 13, and is due to take control of an initial section of the province’s 1 067 mm gauge 3 kV DC electrified main line network from January. The Gauteng Nerve ...
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NewsWabtec acquires lineside sensor supplier Track IQ
AUSTRALIA: Wabtec Corp announced its acquisition of lineside sensor manufacturer Track IQ on October 12. Track IQ products use acoustic sensors to monitor the condition of bearings and wheels on passing rolling stock. They are installed at more than 150 locations in countries including Australia, New Zealand, ...
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NewsProgress Rail buys fuel injection system supplier
USA: Progress Rail Services has acquired Haynes Corp, which manufactures precision diesel fuel injection systems for heavy duty engines. Products includes injection pumps, injector assembles, nozzles, delivery valves, plungers, barrels and electronic injectors. Haynes also undertakes contract manufacturing. ‘This acquisition is a good strategic fit to expand our offering of ...