Technology news – Page 19
-
NewsGround-penetrating radar helps pre-empt track problems
AUSTRALIA: Queensland Rail and Zetica have begun analysing ground-penetrating radar data to map the condition of unseen parts of the state’s 4 600 km railway network. The GPR equipment was mounted on a Queensland Rail vehicle during a measuring campaign which ran February to April 2023. ...
-
Rail Business UKSiemens Mobility begins national deployment of geofencing technology
UK: Siemens Mobility has begun the national roll-out of Tended’s geofencing technology, following a successful six-month pilot programme involving various teams and work activities. The deployment aims to provide an additional layer of protection for trackside teams, and show the live location of road-rail vehicles and ...
-
NewsGas-fuelled freight locomotive under development
USA: Plans have been unveiled for the development and testing of a prototype main line freight locomotive with a powered tender, which will be fuelled by renewable natural gas. RNG is a purified biogas that can be used interchangeably with conventional natural gas. ...
-
NewsJR Central develops automated Shinkansen overhead line checks
JAPAN: Central Japan Railway has developed an automated overhead line inspection system that can be fitted to series-built trains used on the Tokaido Shinkansen. Able to check the position of wires and the condition of fittings while trains are travelling at up to 300 km/h, the ...
-
Metro Report InternationalUrbanloop personal rapid transit testing begins
FRANCE: Testing of Urbanloop personal rapid transit pods has begun on 2 km track in a park at St-Quentin-en-Yvelines in the suburbs of Paris. The line is to be operated by Keolis, connecting a car park to a 2024 Olympic Games fan zone. The rubber-tyred vehicles ...
-
Rail Business UKSpring time for train seats
UK: Mattress and furniture spring manufacturer Spinks has been awarded a £250 000 research contract to bring its EcoSeat glue-free pocket microcoil technology to the rail seating market. The funding has been awarded under the Department for Transport and Innovate UK’s First of a Kind programme. ...
-
Rail Business UKConverting passenger information into sign language
UK: Signapse is aiming to improve access to real-time passenger information by using AI to translate messages at stations and on trains into British Sign Language. The specialist technology company is working with Network Rail, South Western Railway and Whoosh Media on the project, which has ...
-
In depthData systems: Managing the transition to next-generation communications
The emergence of packet-based MPLS-TP data networks offers infrastructure managers a means to move away from legacy technology such as Time Division Multiplex, enabling them to keep pace with demands for an increasingly digital railway.
-
![MobileUnit 6[81]](https://d1c4d7gnm6as1q.cloudfront.net/Pictures/100x67/1/1/8/62118_mobileunit681_627241.jpg)
Rail Business UKTrain toilet servicing vehicle delivered
UK: Vogelsang has taken delivery of a Bradshaw PFB1500-1100 electric vehicle which will be used for servicing train controlled emission toilets. The company needed a vehicle which could carry its CET wastewater units while offering user-friendly operation, low noise and the ability to service several trains ...
-
NewsSoftware expands ticket vending machine capabilities
ITALY: Trenord is the first customer to deploy a ticket machine software platform which Conduent Transportation has developed to provide a user experience similar to a web app and to enable the future sale of new products. The ticket machines accept payment by digital payment apps, ...
-
In depthResilient Infrastructure: Reducing rail noise with acoustically optimised crossings
The noise generated by trains passing over turnouts can pose problems for railways, particularly in residential areas. Laboratory trials have shown the potential benefits of high-damping polyurethane composites, and a field test is currently underway on the ÖBB network in Austria.
-
Metro Report InternationalChicago Transit Authority to launch Innovation Studio
USA: Chicago Transit Authority is to launch an Innovation Studio which will solicit ideas for improving the customer experience, enhancing operations and addressing safety and security challenges. CTA will release several ‘problem statements’ based on feedback from employees and customers that identify specific challenges. Companies will ...
-
Metro Report InternationalJourney planning collaboration
INTERNATIONAL: Ticketing and passenger information technology company UrbanThings and white label journey planner developer SkedGo have formed a strategic partnership to combine their platforms to deliver preference-based journey planning. ‘Working with SkedGo will supercharge our journey planning offering’, said Guy Sutherland, Head ...
-
Metro Report InternationalConnectivity in a complex underground station
USA: Telecoms-provider neutral 5G and Wi-Fi 6 connectivity supplied by Boingo Wireless is now live at New York MTA’s Grand Central Madison station and through Long Island Rail Road tunnels to and from Queens. As well as being available to public mobile phone operators, this is ...
-
Metro Report InternationalChicago transport chatbot under development
USA: Chicago Transit Authority is working with Google Public Sector to develop a virtual assistant to go live on the transport agency’s website in early 2024. Chat with CTA is intended to provide simple, one-step-away support which can resolve many questions and concerns within minutes. CTA ...
-
NewsUnion Pacific rebuilds Plasser tamper
USA: Union Pacific’s Denver workshop has completed work on the first of 32 Plasser American 09-16 Dynacat continuous action tampers which are to be rebuilt to be more user-friendly, enhance safety and simplify repairs. Casey Prewitt, Senior Manager, Maintenance of Way Shop, said this was the ...
-
In depthResilient Infrastructure: Using machine learning to inspect overhead wires
Swedish infrastructure manager Trafikverket and maintenance contractor Infranord are using machine learning technology to monitor the condition of electrification equipment across the country.
-
Metro Report InternationalDigital maps accelerate Berlin U-Bahn incident response
GERMANY: Synectics has developed a digital mapping tool to provide Berlin U-Bahn control centre staff with accurate locational and contextual information to support incident response. ‘For security reasons, we operate a closed system, so we can’t access open web-based tools such as Google Maps’, said Steffen ...
-
In depthResilient Infrastructure: Protecting Japan’s national network from earthquakes
The Railway Technical Research Institute is striving to find ways of making Japan’s railways safer and more secure against damage from earthquakes.
-
Rail Business UKHybrid satellite and terrestrial communications for rail
UK: Technology consultancy CGI, satellite operator Eutelsat OneWeb and on-train connectivity supplier Icomera are running trials to demonstrate how constellations of low-earth orbit satellite and terrestrial communications networks could provide seamless, low-latency broadband on the rail network. The trial is connected to the Satellites ...