UK urban rail industry news – Page 3
-
Metro Report International
Sandbags simulate a full load on Tyne & Wear Metro trains
UK: Testing of Stadler trains for the Tyne & Wear Metro has included loading one with containers containing a total of 39 tonnes of sand to represent the weight of passengers under crush-loading conditions. ‘The test ensures that the train can perform safely and correctly when ...
-
Metro Report International
London Lost Property Office finds new home
UK: Transport for London’s Lost Property Office has moved from its previous site in South Kensington to a location in West Ham which offers more space and enables faster processing. The Lost Property Office recovers more than 200 000 items each year, including 4 400 wallets, ...
-
Metro Report International
Wearable devices provide tram driver fatigue warnings
UK: Light rail industry association UKTram says prototype FOCUS+ wearable devices developed to detect tram driver fatigue have shown ‘remarkable results’ in independent testing, with an accuracy rate greater than 98%. The devices have been developed by Integrated Human Factors Ltd, following a Driver Innovation Safety ...
-
Metro Report International
Edinburgh tram inquiry report sets out reasons for delays and cost increases
UK: The long-awaited report of the inquiry into why the Edinburgh tram project incurred delays, cost more than budgeted and was reduced in scope was finally published on September 19. The construction of the line from the city’s airport to Newhaven was initially budgeted at £545m ...
-
Metro Report International
West Midlands Metro extended to Wolverhampton railway station
UK: A 600 m branch of the West Midlands Metro light rail network to Wolverhampton railway station was opened on September 17, including an intermediate stop at Pipers Row to serve the city’s bus station. ‘With two new stops and services up to every 10 min, ...
-
Metro Report International
Croydon tram operator to use Omnibus software
UK: FirstGroup company Tram Operations Ltd is to use cloud-based software from Omnibus for activities including timetabling, crew scheduling and depot planning on the London Trams network it operates in south London. ‘After extensive market research, we identified Omnibus’ industry experience, evolving software and unmatched customer ...
-
Metro Report International
Emergency services get to know Stadler metro trains
UK: Tyne & Wear Metro operator Nexus is running sessions to familiarise the emergency services with its new Stadler trains ahead of their entry into passenger service. The events at the Nexus Learning Centre cover the layout of the Class 555 trainsets, their fire suppression systems, ...
-
Metro Report International
Depot Personnel Protection System installed at Tyne & Wear Metro site
UK: Volker Fitzpatrick has installed a Zonegreen Depot Personnel Protection System on four roads and the wheel lathe at the Tyne & Wear Metro’s rebuilt Gosforth depot. The system provides physical protection for trackside staff using powered derailers controlled by road end panels. It is interfaced ...
-
Metro Report International
Speed and flexibility from London Underground station staff scheduling tool
UK: Decision support software company SISCOG says London Underground is benefiting from time savings and increased flexibility following the deployment of its Crews scheduling and optimisation platform for managing 5 000 station customer service staff. LU has been using SISCOG’s Crews software to manage its 3 ...
-
Rail Business UK
East London Line maintenance contract planned
UK: Transport for London has begun market engagement for the next contract to maintain London Overground’s East London Line. The Infrastructure Maintenance Contract 3 will cover the core route from north of Dalston Junction to New Cross, New Cross Gate and Old Kent Road Junction. It ...
-
Metro Report International
CitySwift to track Blackpool tram performance
UK: A decision intelligence platform which CitySwift developed for bus networks is to be used on a tramway for the first time, providing passenger demand and performance data to help Blackpool Transport optimise its operations. This builds on CitySwift’s work on the seaside town’s bus services, ...
-
Metro Report International
Transport for London seeks next Docklands Light Railway operator
UK: Transport for London has invited expressions of interest in the next franchise to operate and maintain the Docklands Light Railway automated light metro. The current contract held by the KeolisAmey Docklands joint venture of Keolis (70%) and Amey (30%) is due to expire on April ...
-
Metro Report International
Unicard adds EMV ticketing capabilities with Ecebs acquisition
UK: Transport ticketing and payment company Unicard has added contactless EMV payment to its portfolio with the acquisition of smart ticketing business Ecebs from Visa. Unicard has also signed an agreement to use Visa’s Cybersource global payments platform. This gives Unicard an opportunity to offer services ...
-
Metro Report International
London Underground seeks alternatives to full-scale driver training simulators
UK: Transport for London is looking for ‘innovative solutions’ which would reduce its reliance on full scale mock-up cab simulators for training London Underground drivers. TfL says full-scale simulators ‘seem to add value to the training experience’, but are large, immovable, and require staff to travel ...
-
Metro Report International
First of London Underground’s new Piccadilly Line trains ready for testing
UK: The first of the trainsets which Siemens Mobility is supplying to replace the existing 1970s fleet on London Underground’s Piccadilly Line has arrived at the Wegberg-Wildenrath Test & Validation Centre in Germany from the company’s factory at Wien in Austria. Tests will include acceleration, braking, ...
-
Metro Report International
Identifying tramway training needs
UK: The Light Rail Safety & Standards Board is working with sector professionals to identify their current and future training needs and provide access to practical information and forums to share best practice. This follows a workshop in Birmingham that brought together representatives of the Edinburgh, ...
-
Metro Report International
Transport for London and operator fined over Croydon tram crash
UK: Transport for London and Tram Operations Ltd have been fined a total of £14m over the fatal London Trams derailment at Sandilands in Croydon. Seven passengers were killed and many more injured in November 2016 when a tram overturned after entering a sharp curve at ...
-
Rail Business UK
London Day Travelcards could be scrapped to tackle funding shortfall
UK: The Mayor of London has directed Transport for London to give notice that it will withdraw from the Travelcard Agreement. This would mean that Day Travelcards valid across most public transport in London would cease to be valid on TfL-sponsored services from January 2024, effectively ...
-
Metro Report International
’One app, one account everywhere’ as Transport for West Midlands revives MaaS ambition
UK: Transport for West Midlands has appointed FOD Mobility Group to design, develop and deliver a mobility-as-a-service app based on its Mobilleo MaaS platform. Users will be able to plan journeys, receive live travel information and book and pay for local transport options including buses, trains, ...
-
Metro Report International
HS2 Interchange peoplemover procurement begins
UK: HS2 Ltd has begun procurement of an automated peoplemover to link the future High Speed 2 Interchange station in Solihull with the National Exhibition Centre, the existing Birmingham International station and the airport. Procurement has begun with the APM Systems contract, which has two elements. ...