RailTech.com

20/06/2024

A London bridge is falling down

A summer of possession is just a month away. What may appear to rail users as the mouth to the tunnel under Hackney Downs is, in fact, a road overbridge, too. It’s the road element that has East Londoners declaring “in a bit of a state”. So, Network Rail, Britain’s national infrastructure agency, is about…

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A summer of possession is just a month away. What may appear to rail users as the mouth to the tunnel under Hackney Downs is, in fact, a road overbridge, too. It’s the road element that has East Londoners declaring “in a bit of a state”. So, Network Rail, Britain’s national infrastructure ag...

20/06/2024

Trenitalia announces new timetable promising a full ‘summer experience’

Italy’s national carrier, Trenitalia, has expanded its timetable for an expected summer of content among domestic passengers. The state-owned operator, the backbone of the government’s Passenger Business Unit of Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane, has announced its 2024 “Summer Experience” timetable. The nationwide schedule emphasises a collaboration with Busitalia, the state-regulated road passenger carrier. Summer Experience…

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Italy’s national carrier, Trenitalia, has expanded its timetable for an expected summer of content among domestic passengers. The state-owned operator, the backbone of the government’s Passenger Business Unit of Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane, has announced its 2024 “Summer Experience” timeta...

19/06/2024

“New Dawn” steam to power British freight

Steamology, a green technology start-up company in the South of England, is rolling back the wheels of time. The company is on the verge of making history by turning to the historic power source of steam. However, in an entirely futuristic way, it’s steam, Britain, but not as we know it. We always thought that…

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Steamology, a green technology start-up company in the South of England, is rolling back the wheels of time. The company is on the verge of making history by turning to the historic power source of steam. However, in an entirely futuristic way, it’s steam, Britain, but not as we know it. We always...

14/06/2024

ERTMS director on Dutch rollout: ‘There is a time of thinking and a time of doing’

The head of ERTMS at the European Union Agency for Railways (ERA) Jo de Bosschere feels that the Netherlands should start taking action on the ERTMS roll-out. “I think that in the Netherlands, they think too long and do too little,” he said. De Bosschere knows very well what it is all about, what trees…

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The head of ERTMS at the European Union Agency for Railways (ERA) Jo de Bosschere feels that the Netherlands should start taking action on the ERTMS roll-out. “I think that in the Netherlands, they think too long and do too little,” he said. Want to read more? You have read all of your f...

14/06/2024

Fully electric drive integrated system by ZEMT

Beijing Zongheng Electro-Mechanical Technology Co., Ltd. (abbreviated as ZEMT) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of China Academy of Railway Sciences. ZEMT is a China leading technology company supplying advanced mobility products and systems for rail vehicles, including high-speed railway and urban transit, and providing comprehensive solutions for customers. Building on its robust technical foundation, accumulated over…

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Beijing Zongheng Electro-Mechanical Technology Co., Ltd. (abbreviated as ZEMT) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of China Academy of Railway Sciences. ZEMT is a China leading technology company supplying advanced mobility products and systems for rail vehicles, including high-speed railway and urban tran...

13/06/2024

Luxembourg, the only EU country to run an all-ERTMS network

Since its mandatory introduction in 2009 for all new EU-funded rail projects, the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) has been gradually installed across the trans-European rail networks, including Train Control (ETCS) and GSM-R digital communications. What is the state of the roll-out in the French-speaking countries in Europe? Since the 2009 announcement by the…

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Since its mandatory introduction in 2009 for all new EU-funded rail projects, the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) has been gradually installed across the trans-European rail networks, including Train Control (ETCS) and GSM-R digital communications. What is the state of the roll-out i...

12/06/2024

Vote for rail says UK industry association

The Railway Industry Association, which champions a dynamic rail supply sector in the UK, has entered the political fray. The RIA has called upon the next Government to boost rail capacity to meet future demand. The representative Association wants the forthcoming general election to signal a long-term and strategic approach to rail investment, leveraging the…

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The Railway Industry Association, which champions a dynamic rail supply sector in the UK, has entered the political fray. The RIA has called upon the next Government to boost rail capacity to meet future demand. The representative Association wants the forthcoming general election to signal a long-t...

11/06/2024

Delft Hyperloop achieves world’s first lane switch

Students at TU Delft have taken the development of the hyperloop another step further: they have managed to make their prototype switch lanes. This is unprecedented worldwide, according to the student team. Students have built a 42-metre test track on the Delft campus. Inside the steel structure floats their small, unmanned version of the hyperloop.…

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Students at TU Delft have taken the development of the hyperloop another step further: they have managed to make their prototype switch lanes. This is unprecedented worldwide, according to the student team. Students have built a 42-metre test track on the Delft campus. Inside the steel structure flo...

11/06/2024

The Tartan Army discover the Bayern Ticket

Football fans from Scotland are in Germany for the opening match of Euro 2024. The host nation is playing Scotland in the opening match of the tournament. The organisers expect anything up to 120,000 Scots to be in Bavaria for the match. That’s good news for the bierkellars of Bavaria. It is also good news…

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Football fans from Scotland are in Germany for the opening match of Euro 2024. The host nation is playing Scotland in the opening match of the tournament. The organisers expect anything up to 120,000 Scots to be in Bavaria for the match. That’s good news for the bierkellars of Bavaria. It is also ...

10/06/2024

UK’s iconic ‘magstripe’ ticket nears buffers

For train travellers in the UK, it has been an integral part of the railway experience for decades. No, not rail replacement bus services and strikes. It’s the familiar orange and cream-coloured credit-card-sized ticket with a magnetic stripe on the back. However, according to one operator, the handy little cardboard ticket will be a museum…

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10/06/2024

No goodnight for Midnight Trains

Smart logo. Even smarter graphics. In the end though, no trains, no access and no more finance. Whether Midnight Trains ever stood a chance of getting rolling is open to question. However, the team behind the would-be start-up open-access operator have called it a night. they’ve pulled the plug on the Midnight Trains concept. In…

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Smart logo. Even smarter graphics. In the end though, no trains, no access and no more finance. Whether Midnight Trains ever stood a chance of getting rolling is open to question. However, the team behind the would-be start-up open-access operator have called it a night. they’ve pulled the plu...

06/06/2024

Czechia: 4 passengers dead after head-on collision

A fatal collision between a passenger and a freight train in Czechia resulted in four passengers losing their lives and dozens being injured. The head-on collision occurred between a RegioJet and a CD Cargo train on the east of Prague, near Parduvice. The line where the accident occurred is still not equipped with ETCS, something…

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A fatal collision between a passenger and a freight train in Czechia resulted in four passengers losing their lives and dozens being injured. The head-on collision occurred between a RegioJet and a CD Cargo train on the east of Prague, near Parduvice. The line where the accident occurred is still no...

06/06/2024

Sun Train could decarbonise America

A Californian start-up company has found a novel way to bring renewable energy to consumers by using existing infrastructure. The whole concept depends on exploiting the versatility of rail freight. Sun Train intends to transport generated electricity in huge trains directly from the generating sites to cities and industrial consumers. The beauty of their concept…

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A Californian start-up company has found a novel way to bring renewable energy to consumers by using existing infrastructure. The whole concept depends on exploiting the versatility of rail freight. Sun Train intends to transport generated electricity in huge trains directly from the generating site...

05/06/2024

Salzburg to get new express tram line

Jump off at Hauptbahnhof and speed away to the outer suburb of Hallein. That’s the future prospect for Salzburg commuters. The city is set to embark on a brand new high-speed tram line project. The so-named S-LINK has been approved by the Federal Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation, and Technology. It will…

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Jump off at Hauptbahnhof and speed away to the outer suburb of Hallein. That’s the future prospect for Salzburg commuters. The city is set to embark on a brand new high-speed tram line project. The so-named S-LINK has been approved by the Federal Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, M...

05/06/2024

Arriva’s Three-Country train launch delayed due to damaged tracks

The much-anticipated launch of Arriva’s Three-Country Train, scheduled for 9 June, has been delayed. This news, already anticipated due to storm damage requiring track repairs between Maastricht and Liège until at least 16 June, has been officially confirmed by the company. The planned start of the Three-Country Train that connects Maastricht with the Belgian city…

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The much-anticipated launch of Arriva’s Three-Country Train, scheduled for 9 June, has been delayed. This news, already anticipated due to storm damage requiring track repairs between Maastricht and Liège until at least 16 June, has been officially confirmed by the company. Want to read more? You...

05/06/2024

UK manifesto from High Speed Rail Group

A comprehensive long-term strategy to develop the UK’s inter-urban rail network. That, says the industry-wide High Speed Rail Group, is essential for future economic growth and achieving net zero. Those claims are backed up by a new report from the group. It urges political parties to look beyond the HS2 high-speed rail project and take…

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A comprehensive long-term strategy to develop the UK’s inter-urban rail network. That, says the industry-wide High Speed Rail Group, is essential for future economic growth and achieving net zero. Those claims are backed up by a new report from the group. It urges political parties to look beyond ...

04/06/2024

HS2 Thame Valley Viaduct arriving in sections

The HS2 high-speed rail project is littered with superlatives. Among them is the Thame Valley Viaduct in Buckinghamshire, England. The low-lying bridge, which crosses a flood plain, is under construction, using a modular approach that’s a first for the UK. It’s just passed the halfway point, and the infrastructure team is somewhat excited. The Thame…

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The HS2 high-speed rail project is littered with superlatives. Among them is the Thame Valley Viaduct in Buckinghamshire, England. The low-lying bridge, which crosses a flood plain, is under construction, using a modular approach that’s a first for the UK. It’s just passed the halfway point, and...

03/06/2024

Hitachi Rail completes Thales GTS’ takeover following major deal

Hitachi Rail has completed the nearly 1.7 billion euro acquisition of Thales’ Ground Transportation Systems (GTS) business as of May 31. This acquisition expands Hitachi Rail’s operations to 51 countries, with a significant portion of its revenue now coming from signalling and systems. The acquisition strengthens Hitachi Rail’s role in the global mobility sector, focusing…

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Hitachi Rail has completed the nearly 1.7 billion euro acquisition of Thales’ Ground Transportation Systems (GTS) business as of May 31. This acquisition expands Hitachi Rail’s operations to 51 countries, with a significant portion of its revenue now coming from signalling and systems. The a...

03/06/2024

Heavy storms cause rail havoc in Southern Germany

Another year–another round of heavy spring/summer rainfall that causes problems in the German railway network. Last weekend, multiple services were disrupted in Bavaria, with impairments persisting on Monday, 3 June. In response to the situation, Deutsche Bahn extended the validity of train tickets for cancelled trips during the weekend. “In addition, other tariff or statutory…

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Another year–another round of heavy spring/summer rainfall that causes problems in the German railway network. Last weekend, multiple services were disrupted in Bavaria, with impairments persisting on Monday, 3 June. In response to the situation, Deutsche Bahn extended the validity of train ticket...

03/06/2024

Levenmouth: Britain’s newest railway opens

It may not be the biggest project in Britain, but it’s the biggest thing to happen to Leven in fifty years. The Levenmouth Railway opened to fare-paying passengers on Sunday, 2 June. That may have been two days after the “Spring” deadline, but few people were complaining. The fifty thousand residents of the Leven area…

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It may not be the biggest project in Britain, but it’s the biggest thing to happen to Leven in fifty years. The Levenmouth Railway opened to fare-paying passengers on Sunday, 2 June. That may have been two days after the “Spring” deadline, but few people were complaining. The fifty thousand re...

31/05/2024

Infrabel and Lineas sign 42 million euro contract

Infrabel, Belgium’s rail infrastructure manager, has signed a contract worth more than 42 million euros with the Belgian rail operator Lineas. This agreement, valid for up to six years, allows Infrabel to lease up to 20 locomotives from Lineas, who will also handle maintenance. The locomotives will be deployed nationwide as shunting trains following a…

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31/05/2024

SNCF and Deutsche Bahn cooperate on sustainable tech

SNCF and Deutsche Bahn (DB) have signed a new cooperation agreement focusing on innovation, eight years after their initial technological partnership began. SNCF Président Jean-Pierre Farandou, DB President Richard Lutz, SNCF’s Director of Technologies and Innovation Carole Desnost, and DB’s Director of Digitization and Technology Daniela Gerd tom Markotten signed the agreement to enhance their…

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SNCF and Deutsche Bahn (DB) have signed a new cooperation agreement focusing on innovation, eight years after their initial technological partnership began. SNCF Président Jean-Pierre Farandou, DB President Richard Lutz, SNCF’s Director of Technologies and Innovation Carole Desnost, and DB’s Di...

31/05/2024

Meeting CBTC interoperability challenges: a breakdown

Up to 10 railway systems worldwide annually move to Communications-based train control (CBTC), completely or partially. For instance, last year it witnessed the first commissioning in Australia’s history of the next-generation CBTC-based signalling system on the two most loaded lines of the Melbourne Metro. BART project impresses with its large-scale target of the full system…

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Up to 10 railway systems worldwide annually move to Communications-based train control (CBTC), completely or partially. For instance, last year it witnessed the first commissioning in Australia’s history of the next-generation CBTC-based signalling system on the two most loaded lines of the Melbou...

31/05/2024

Renfe board approves formation of French subsidiary Renfe France

The Renfe Board of Directors has approved the initiation of the process to establish a French subsidiary of Renfe Proyectos Internacionales, to be named Renfe France. This subsidiary, headquartered in Paris, will focus on business development and management of various Renfe projects within the French market. The company will submit the proposal to the Ministry…

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The Renfe Board of Directors has approved the initiation of the process to establish a French subsidiary of Renfe Proyectos Internacionales, to be named Renfe France. This subsidiary, headquartered in Paris, will focus on business development and management of various Renfe projects within the Frenc...

30/05/2024

Trenitalia introduces virtual experience of new Intercity Notte trains

Trenitalia presented a virtual reality experience to preview its new Intercity Notte trains at the National Museum of 21st Century Art (MAXXI) in Rome, as part of FS Group’s Passenger Business Unit’s Summer Experience 2024 event. Participants used 3D headsets to take a virtual tour of the forthcoming carriages, providing an immersive preview of the…

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Trenitalia presented a virtual reality experience to preview its new Intercity Notte trains at the National Museum of 21st Century Art (MAXXI) in Rome, as part of FS Group’s Passenger Business Unit’s Summer Experience 2024 event. Want to read more? You have read all of your free premium...

30/05/2024

Europe’s busiest mixed traffic route blocked

The West Coast Main Line, which connects London with Birmingham, Manchester Liverpool and Glasgow, is blocked by a freight train derailment. The incident happened overnight Wednesday-Thursday, at a location north of Preston. Services to Scotland (Glasgow and Edinburgh) from London, Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool are all severely affected. The main passenger operations have advised passengers…

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The West Coast Main Line, which connects London with Birmingham, Manchester Liverpool and Glasgow, is blocked by a freight train derailment. The incident happened overnight Wednesday-Thursday, at a location north of Preston. Services to Scotland (Glasgow and Edinburgh) from London, Birmingham, Manch...

30/05/2024

Arriva starts using ETCS trains for its Three-Country Trains

Carrier Arriva has put the first FLIRT trains with ETCS into use for the Three-Country Train between the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. Travellers can now transit between Maastricht, Liège and Aachen without transfers. The new vehicles fulfil ‘a long-cherished wish’, according to Arriva. The eight FLIRT trains have been equipped with the latest ETCS-GUARDIA system…

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Carrier Arriva has put the first FLIRT trains with ETCS into use for the Three-Country Train between the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. Travellers can now transit between Maastricht, Liège and Aachen without transfers. The new vehicles fulfil ‘a long-cherished wish’, according to Arr...

30/05/2024

Over five hundred extra crossings between Wales and England

UK infrastructure agency Network Rail has made a safety warning over 564 extra level crossings. It’s even more on Saturdays. – 658 of them. More precisely, that’s around six hundred extra train movements over a series of existing level crossings, all 47 of them. It’s all down to a new, improved service between Wales and…

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UK infrastructure agency Network Rail has made a safety warning over 564 extra level crossings. It’s even more on Saturdays. – 658 of them. More precisely, that’s around six hundred extra train movements over a series of existing level crossings, all 47 of them. It’s all down to a new, i...

29/05/2024

Costly Rail Baltica adjusts scope and seeks more funding options

As Rail Baltica’s projected costs are mounting and continue to grow, the project’s feasibility is in question. Uncertainty surrounding EU funding is forcing Rail Baltica to look elsewhere and readjust ambitions. As Rail Baltica eagerly awaits the results of the January application round for EU funding, discussions surrounding pan-Baltic railway continue. It is uncertain how…

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As Rail Baltica’s projected costs are mounting and continue to grow, the project’s feasibility is in question. Uncertainty surrounding EU funding is forcing Rail Baltica to look elsewhere and readjust ambitions. As Rail Baltica eagerly awaits the results of the January application round...

29/05/2024

UK follows Europe to attract young train drivers

A new UK Government proposal aims to attract more young train drivers. Thousands of opportunities could open up for young people, says the UK Department for Transport. They say it will help secure the skills needed to improve Britain’s railways in the long term. It is an issue that has been on the agenda in Europe…

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A new UK Government proposal aims to attract more young train drivers. Thousands of opportunities could open up for young people, says the UK Department for Transport. They say it will help secure the skills needed to improve Britain’s railways in the long term. It is an issue that has been on the...