Technology news – Page 31
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NewsChemical company tackles wagonload performance
FRANCE: Real-time tracking data is helping chemical company Arkema to improve the performance of its wagonload shipments, building on a project conducted in partnership with digital transport management specialist Everysens and Fret SNCF.
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Rail Business UKCrossrail Building Management System contract
UK: Telent Technology Services has awarded Sella Controls a contract to supply a building management system as part of the continuing work on the Crossrail project. The building management system will provide Transport for London subsidiary Rail for London with a centralised platform to monitor assets, ...
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NewsBNSF to test Norwegian drone
USA: BNSF is to test the use of a Staaker drone from Norwegian aerial vehicle specialist Nordic Unmanned for infrastructure inspection and general data acquisition. The UAV platform will be integrated with BNSF’s current railway data acquisition and management systems, which Nordic Unmanned said required a ...
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NewsRENFE begins launch of Dōcō Mobility-as-a-Service platform
SPAIN: RENFE Operadora has begun the launch of its multimodal Mobility-as-a-Service platform which aims to offer planning booking and payment facilities covering all public transport and shared mobility services in Spain. The platform is branded Dōcō, an abbreviation of the phrase ‘ir donde quieras, ir como quieras’ ...
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In depthInfrastructure: Connected workers inspect catenary
A novel workflow tool has been trialled by Network Rail on the East Coast Main Line in northeast England to combine the benefits of monitoring overhead lines using drones with the elimination of paper-based processes at the worksite.
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Metro Report InternationalNew York MTA launches combined commuter rail app
USA: New York MTA has launched the TrainTime one-stop journey planning, ticket purchasing and real-time train location app for Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad commuter rail passengers. This was developed in-house by MTA, and replaces the eTix app and the previously separate TrainTime apps ...
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In depthUSA: Attracting shippers to freight rail
AAR subsidiary Railinc has developed an intuitive software platform aimed at making it easier for freight shippers to choose rail over other modes, as Product Manager Danny Dever explains to Nick Kingsley.
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NewsBeacons deployed to provide better train location data than GPS
BELGIUM: National passenger operator SNCB has completed an initial deployment of HID Global’s real-time location services platform and BEEKs Bluetooth Low-Energy beacons to provide more precise data than is possible with GPS. This approach replaces the use of an app on an onboard attendant’s smartphone which ...
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Metro Report InternationalLondon Underground fits customised cable hangers
UK: Transport for London has installed Ellis Patents’ Pegasus cable hangers as part of the Bank station capacity enhancement project. Specified through UK distributor ETS Cable Components, the hangers were chosen because their modular design meant they could be manufactured to the project’s specific requirements. ...
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In depthTraction Technology: Are hydrogen locomotives the next big thing?
Several US and Canadian railroads have teamed up with suppliers to investigate the potential for hydrogen as an alternative to diesel traction for heavy freight operations. Dave Lustig investigates.
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In depthBrazil: making more use of urban railways
Better utilisation of under-used main line railways is seen as key to developing cost-effective urban and suburban rail networks that can relieve road congestion in Brazil’s fast-growing cities. Benjámin Zelki investigates.
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Metro Report InternationalNew York revises CBTC programme to prioritise reliability over peak-hour capacity
USA: New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority is to revise its programme to roll out communications-based train control across the Subway network under proposed amendments to its 2020-24 Capital Plan.
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NewsPolish approval for wheel detector
POLAND: Infrastructure manager PKP PLK has approved the use of Alstom’s ELS-96 rail-mounted wheel detector for axle counters. The ELS-96 provides full digital transmission without lineside electronics with fully automatic adjustment as well as a remote diagnostics and software upgrade capability. It can withstand high and ...
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Metro Report InternationalMetro escalator refurbishment matches speed to the time of day
SINGAPORE: Otis has completed a six-year project to refurbish 231 escalators at 42 stations on the North-South and East-West metro lines, installing additional safety features, improving efficiency and enabling operation at different speeds depending on the time of day. The escalators are programmed to move at ...
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NewsTrain-to-train data transmission over 4 km
SOUTH KOREA: Korea Railroad Research Institute has successfully tested train-to-train data communications over distances of 2 km in the open air and 4 km in tunnels. The communications use a directional antenna developed by KRRI, which said it was the first successful test over such distances. ...
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Metro Report InternationalHelsinki smart ticketing contract
FINLAND: Helsinki regional transport authority HSL has awarded Conduent Transportation a contract to supply fare collection equipment for buses, trams, trains, metros and ferries. There were 238 million passenger boardings on these services in 2021. The first phase of the project is scheduled to begin in ...
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In depthTechnology: Siemens Mobility targets Destination Digital
Emphasising the importance of optimising railways as an integrated system, Siemens Mobility is developing its data capabilities, and opening up software interfaces to facilitate cross-industry co-operation. Chris Jackson reports from Braunschweig.
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Metro Report InternationalParramatta tram collision warning system
AUSTRALIA: A collision warning system developed by Bosch is to be installed on the 13 seven-section trams that CAF is to supply for Stage 1 of the Parramatta Light Rail network in western Sydney. The 12 km, 16-stop Stage 1 connecting Westmead to the Parramatta CBD, ...
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Rail Business UKGet a Gripple on electrification at InnoTrans
INNOTRANS: Wire joining and tensioning specialist Gripple and Unipart Rail will be launching the Gripple Rail Dropper, which they say enables catenary droppers to be installed up to eight times faster than conventional methods. The Gripple catenary hanger design enables the quick and easy installation of ...
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NewsElectrification that is safer and cooler
INNOTRANS: ‘Safe by design’ is the theme of this year’s offering from Swiss-headquartered electrification specialist Furrer+Frey.