Railway-News Industry Insider: This Week’s 13 Must-Read Rail Stories
The Railway-News Industry Insider for the week 12–19 October 2018:
Europe
Direct High-Speed Rail Service Between London and Bordeaux One Step Closer
The four infrastructures responsible for the route between London and Bordeaux – Eurotunnel, SNCF Réseau, HS1 and LISEA – have said they will be launching a joint feasibility study to find out what needs to be done to make Bordeaux’s Saint Jean station suitable for international passenger transport. Costs and options for the project are to be examined.
Read: Direct High-Speed Rail Service Between London and Bordeaux One Step Closer
Slovakian Rail Company Orders Stadler GTW Multiple Units
Stadler Rail is to supply five rack-and-pinion / adhesion traction articulated railcars and one multifunctional rack-and-pinion / adhesion traction locomotive for the narrow-gauge 1000mm Tatra Electric Railway (TEŽ), which is operated by Slovakian rail company ŽSSR.
Read: Slovakian Rail Company Orders Stadler GTW Multiple Units
DB Launches New App for Passengers with Impairments
As part of its efforts to make rail transport barrier-free for all, Deutsche Bahn has launched a new app, called ‘DB Barrierefrei’ that allows users to access information about Deutsche Bahn services in an accessible format. In addition it provides information on important aspects such as whether lifts are in service at any given station etc.
Read: DB Launches New App for Passengers with Impairments
Bombardier to Showcase Its Transport Solutions for the Nordic Market
Bombardier will participate in the Persontrafik exhibition taking place in Stockholm, Sweden, on 22–24 October 2018. At this show for the Nordic rail market Bombardier will present its energy-saving MITRAC TC1500 propulsion solution as well as its new battery-operated hybrid electric train.
Read: Bombardier to Showcase Its Transport Solutions for the Nordic Market
Shift2Rail Announces Results from its Call for Proposals 2018
Shift2Rail says that 19 projects worth 152m EUR are to be funded by the Shift2Rail Joint Undertaking 2018 Call for Proposals for Research & Innovation. Roughly half of this money will come from Shift2Rail. The aim of the projects is to speed up the switch to next-generation railways in Europe.
Read: Shift2Rail Awards 19 Grants for its Call for Proposals 2018
Getlink Moves to 22nd Place in the Gaia Index
Getlink has announced that it has been selected from a total of 230 companies to be part of the Gaia Index. Established in 2009, the Gaia Index looks at company data beyond the financial. For example, it looks at how committed a company is to the challenges of sustainable development and social responsibility. Getlink has made year-on-year progress and was ranked 22nd this year.
United Kingdom
1.3bn GBP of Private Investment in UK Rail Industry During 2017–18
The Rail Finance 2017–18 Annual Statistical Release that is published by the ORR (Office of Rail and Road) has revealed that 1.3bn GBP were invested from private sources in the UK rail industry during this period. 1bn GBP of this sum went into rolling stock.
Read: £1.3bn of Private Investment in UK Rail Industry During 2017-18
Priti Patel MP Joins Rail Fellowship Programme
Conservative MP Priti Patel has joined the Railway Industry Association’s Rail Fellowship Programme. This programme features the work done by the UK railway supply chain by inviting MPs and other influential individuals to see the industry in action. Ms Patel toured Bombardier’s depot in Ilford.
Read: UK: Priti Patel MP Joins Rail Fellowship Programme
Russia
Russian Commodities Producer Awards Tank Car Tender to United Wagon Company
Ural Mining Metallurgical Company has awarded a contract for the supply of tank cars to United Wagon Company. UMMC says it wants to use these tank cars to transport sulphuric acid. In total this tender covers 73 tank car vehicles. The goal is for UWC to hand them over to UMMC’s subsidiaries at the end of January 2019.
Read: Russian Commodities Producer Awards Tank Car Tender to United Wagon Company
United States
Operation Lifesaver Appoints New Director of Communications and Marketing
The not-for-profit organisation Operation Lifesaver, a campaign group that works to bring about rail safety improvements, has appointed Jessica Puchala as its new director of communications and marketing.
Read: USA: Operation Lifesaver Appoints New Director of Communications and Marketing
California State Gives Metrolink 91.2m USD for Rail Safety Improvements
The California Transport Commission has agreed to issue 91.2m USD to Metrolink so that the design and work on projects in the company’s Southern California Optimized Rail Expansion (SCORE) programme can progress. The aim is to improve rail safety on the Metrolink tracks in time for when Los Angeles hosts the Olympic Games in 2028.
Read: State Provides Metrolink with $91.2 million for Rail Safety Improvements
Australia
Sydney Metro TBMs to Begin Work on the Project’s Tunnels
As part of the Sydney Metro project there will be 31km of tunnels under the city centre and the harbour district. The first of the tunnel boring machines to perform the work was launched on 17 October. It is called Nancy, after Nancy Bird Walton OBE. In total five tunnel boring machines will be used on the project.
Read: Sydney Metro TBMs to Begin Work on the Project’s Tunnels
Government Solicits EOI for Warrnambool and Geelong Upgrades
The Australian Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack and the Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan have begun seeking expressions of interest for a contract worth several million dollars to design and construct key parts of rail line upgrades in the state of Victoria.
Read: Australia: Government Solicits EOI for Warrnambool and Geelong Upgrades
