
Western Australia and Alstom Sign Contract for 43 Trains
Alstom and the Public Transport Authority of Western Australia have signed a contract for 43 trains for Perth. Delivery will begin in 2022.
Alstom and the Public Transport Authority of Western Australia have signed a contract for 43 trains for Perth. Delivery will begin in 2022.
A consortium of Bombardier joint ventures in China has won a contract to upgrade the automated people mover system at Beijing Airport.
Adif says it wants to reduce its carbon footprint by 86 percent by 2030, taking into account its plans to purchase green electricity.
The Railway-News Industry Insider week 49 – all the important news 2–6 December: COP25 takes place in Madrid, new rolling stock contracts.
Bombardier Vado Ligure site celebrates the production of the 2000th locomotive. It has manufactured 1000 since 1994, averaging 40 per year.
Rail Baltica has revealed the first visualisations of elements of the infrastructure for the new high-speed line, such as regional stations.
Alstom's Avelia AGVs have hit a milestone of 100 million kilometres travelled across the high-speed Italian network for operator NTV..
Hitachi is to build 23 new intercity trains for the new Avanti West Coast franchise which First Trenitalia will begin operating on 8 December.
All 22 metro train the Siemens Mobility consortium delivered for the Green Line of the Bangkok metro are now in passenger service.
The climate change conference COP25 is under way in Madrid. Transport is a major polluter and a shift to rail is vital for our future.
Alstom's first Citadis X05 tram for the Île-de-France T9 line was inaugurated in Orly on 3 December. Alstom will supply 22 trams in total.
The UK's Railway Industry Association's Exports Director Neil Walker on the UK and Australasian rail industries.
Stephanie Salter, Director at the Transport Digital Accelerator for TfNSW explains how the accelerator has already had a positive effect.
Two of the authors of McKinsey's 2019 report "Australia's Infrastructure Innovation Imperative" talk to Railway-News about their findings.
Alstom and FERROVIENORD have signed a contract for 31 Coradia Stream EMUs for the Lombardy Region. Delivery will commence in 2022.
The Railway-News Industry Insider week 48 with the top news and comment pieces for the rail sector, including from AusRAIL sponsor Bombardier.
The Alstom-Bombardier consoritum have won a contract with Île-de-France Mobilités for 44 four and five-car metro trains for Paris.
Construction of the standard-gauge high-speed line connecting the Baltics to Poland and Finland, began in Estonia on 28 November 2019.
The Australian and Queensland governments have signed a bilateral agreement that is a major step forward for teh 1700km Inland Rail project.
Desiree Baer is to be the new CEO of SBB Cargo, starting in March 2020. Her appointment will be preceded by a one-month introductory period.
Alstom has won a metro contract in Marseille. It will provide 38 new rubber-tyred metro trains and automation equipment for lines M1 and M2.
An overview of Melbourne's most important rail infrastructure projects, such as the new Metro Tunnel, which is due to open in 2025.
Azerbaijan Railways has purchased its first FLIRT trains from Stadler for deployment on both interregional and regional lines.
Our Infrastructure Progress Report for Syndey, the city hosting this year's AusRAIL PLUS 2019, the biggest rail event in Australia.
Early works have now commenced on the Yanchep extension of teh Joondalup Railway Line. It is estimated works will be complete in 2021.
Hull Trains has received the first of its five Class 802 'Paragon' trains from Hitachi. They will enter service over time, all by early 2020.
The Australian Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities and Regional Development on the key successes and challenges for rail.
Bombardier is one of the event sponsors of AusRAIL PLUS 2019 the biggest rail show in Australia, which takes place in Sydney 3–5 December.
The Railway-News Industry Insider week 47 with all the important rail news from 18–22 November 2019, including TPE's new Nova fleet.
The government of NSW will acquire 23 additional Alstom Metropolis trains for the seamless operation of the Sydney Metro, once extended.
TransPennine Express has launced its new Nova fleet, unveiling the trains to the public at Liverpool Lime Street station on 22 November.
Alstom and SBB have signed a second ten-year maintenance contract for 25m euros for on-board ETCS equipment installed between 2003 and 2008.
Stadler's board of directors has nominated former President of Switzerland, Doris Leuthard, to join it starting in April 2020.
OEBB spent one month putting its Cityjet eco through its paces in passenger service. The electric-battery multiple unit performed well.
The German Pro-Rail Alliance has honoured Alstom employee Saskia Schulz with its 2019 innovation prize for shaping mobility
A new German-Swiss agreement to develop interconnected infrastructure projects to encourage a shift to rail and maritime transport.
Your quick read for all the important rail news for the week from 11–15 November, including Stadler's first hydrogen train order in the US.
MECX Medical support your business by providing your employees with regular medical health screening programs for a happy workforce.
Alstom has presented the new rubber-tyred future metro for the Lille metropolitan region at the 3rd Assises des Mobilités.
Adina-Ioana Valean, the European Transport Commissioner-Designate, had her hearing in front of MEPs on 14 November.
After signing a framework agreement in 2016, Alstom has delivered the first of 46 Coradia Stream 'Pop' trains to Trenitalia.
MARTA and Stadler have signed a contract for 127 two-car METRO trains to be delivered between 2023 and 2028. The contract is worth 646m USD.
After signing a contract with DB Regio, Alstom will deliver 19 Coradia Continental trains to Baden-Württemberg.
Deutsche Bahn has opened a new training centre in Cologne, where it will train new apprentices and upskill its existing workforce.
The Recoletos Tunnel in Madrid has been undergoing upgrade works worth 45 million euros. Alstom has now completed the signalling works.
Stadler has won its first contract for a hydrogen train, the FLIRT H2. The SBCTA will operate the train on the Redlands Passenger Rail line.
The first test tram on the Trafford Park Line, the new extension to the Metrolink network in Manchester, took place overnight Sunday.
Rail Baltica has announced its tender for the Riga Airport station and associated works. Candidate selection will occur in January 2020.
UWC will supply 100 gondola freight cars to National Railways of Zimbabwe for cross-border operations. They will run on 1067mm gauge track.
As part of its knowledge transfer strategy Talgo UK has gifted a Rodal to the National College for Advanced Transport & Infrastructure.
The Railway-News Industry Insider week 45 2019: all the latest rail news from 4–8 November in one place covering DB, CAF, Alstom and others.
Crossrail Ltd says the central section of the Elizabeth line now will not open in 2020. The previous window suggested Oct 2020–Mar 2021.
Von der Leyen has picked her candidate for Transport Commissioner, Romanian politician Adina-Ioana Valean. Her hearing is on 14 November.
MECX Medical Drug & Alcohol Testing Programs are straightforward, simple and backed by a rapid results turnaround service.
The Deutsche Bahn supervisory board has agreed a €100m investment in 30 new trains. Dr Sigrid Nikutta, head of BVB, will join DB in 2020.
The Berlin Wall came down 30 years ago, on 9 November 1989. After German Unity, the government implemented major transport projects.
Serbia: the EBRD is loaning 100 million euros to the Serbian state railway company Srbija Voz for the acquisition of up to 18 trains.
CAF Signalling has won a contract for the Ferrocarril Central project, Uruguay, expanding the CAF Group subsidiary's international operations.
Alstom and MMRC revealed a mock up of the train for the Aqua Line in Mumbai. Alstom is supplying 31 8-car units as part of a 2018 contract.
The electrication works on the Gail Valley Railway in Austria have entered their final phase. The OLE will go live on 11 November for testing.
Alstom and FS Italiane have reconfirmed their partnership with Bologna University. A four-week course will equip students with vital skills.
All the important rail news from around the world, including Germany's first digital interlocking for a long-distance rail service.
Alstom is set to test the new Coradia iLint in the Netherlands. This is due to a signage between Alstom, Engie, Arriva and ProRail.
FreiLacke is the only company to supply both powder coatings and wet coatings in a combined system to the advanced TrainLab.
The British rail operators have jointly published a report outlining investments in rolling stock and infrastructure for 2020 and beyond.
Talgo has signed a framework agreement with Transport Scotland and Scottish Enterprise for a manufacturing base in Longannet, Fife.
Gazpromtans have signed another contract with UWC, this time for 120 tank cars in order to transport molten sulphur for parent Gazprom.
Deutsche Bahn is transforming its rail network with digital signal boxes. The first regulating a long-distance route has entered service.
Vivarail has announced expansion plans with a move to Southam. It has out-grown its premised at Long Marston thanks to a growing order book.
WESTbahn has purchased 17 Stadler KISS trains. The TOC is selling its existing fleet to DB. The new trains will enter service in 2021.
Alstom is celebrating a milestone for its Hanoi Metro contract signed in 2017. The first trainset will be complete by the end of the month.
The Railway-News Industry Insider week 43: Wabtec and Bombardier celebrate milestones, and Avignon's tramway opens with Alstom rolling stock.
Transport for Wales is continuing its station improvement vision by investing 280,000 GBP in enhancing 13 Borderlands Line stations.
Network Rail is choosing to use augemented reality to showcase its three new footbridge designs to the public via the ARki app.
Bombardier is celebrating 25 years of its APM system running in Germany. Frankfurt Airport got the INNOVIA 100 sytem in 1994.
Wabtec has announced 2 milestones for its India operations at IREE 2019. For example, its Indian factory has been operating for a year now.
Spanish train manufacturer Talgo has established Talgo UK with Jon Veitch as its new MD. It aims to build an 'all Britain' supply chain.
Crossrail has published a new plan that will see 120 key milestones being tracked, with a scheduled opening of October 2020–March 2021.
France's Grand Est region has ordered 39 Alstom Coradia Polyvalent trains for both cross-border and domestic operations.
BLS Cargo has announced it is buying 25 Siemens Vectron multi-system locomotives to operate in Belgium, the Netherlands and Italy.
Infrastructure Ontario and Metrolinx have awarded the contract to design, build, maintain, operate and finance the Hurontario LRT.
Network Rail and Arup have published a report entitled Tomorrow's Living Station to investigate how Britain's stations might evolve.
Avignon's first tram line opened to the public on 19 October with Alstom Citadis X05 trams. A second line is scheduled to open in 2023.
All the important rail news of the week, summed up for you in one place: our Railway-News Industry Insider Week 42 for 14–18 October 2019.
Stadler has signed the contract with ADIF for 22 rescue locomotives following the company's announcement on 31 July that it won the tender.
Alstom Ubunye has opened its rail factory in Ekurhuleni. It will supply components to Gibela Rail where the PRASA trains are being built.
The Vienna-Bratislava line is seeing upgrade works to make it a faster, electrified railway. 1 of 14 level crossings has now been eliminated.
Germany will cut VAT on long-distance rail journeys to 7%, down from the current 19%. It will also increase taxes on air passengers.
The EU says that it is seeking applications for funding for transport projects worth up to 1.4 billion euros. 50 million are for ERTMS.
All the important rail news of the week, summed up for you in one place: our Railway-News Industry Insider Week 41 for 7–11 October 2019.
Stadler and NAH.SH have signed the contract for 55 FLIRT Akku trains that will enter service in Schleswig-Holstein in 2022 and beyond.
Stadler has won its first major rolling stock contract in the Pacific region, with the Taiwan Railways Authority ordering 34 locomotives.
The ninth edition of EXPO Ferroviaria, Italy’s showcase for railway technologies, products and systems, closed at Rho Fiera Milano.
Skoda Transportation has won a contract to supply trains for the Warsaw metro. The Czech company will deliver the first unit within 2 years.
Corinna Salander has been appointed the head of the German Centre for Rail Transport Research – DZSF. She will start on 1 January 2020.
RB Rail AS, which is delivering Rail Baltica, has announced a tender for a Notified Body service provider to assess EU TSI conformity.
The first Stadler train for Merseyrail has been transported to Germany where it will undergo dynamic testing before entering service in 2020.
Engineering company Salini Impregilo has won a contract with Bane NOR to upgrade 13.6km of railway track on the Vestfold Line.
Matt Byrne is the new president for the UK region of Bombardier Transportation and the Chair of Bombardier Transportation UK Ltd.
Leo Express has received its first Sirius EMU from CRRC. It is Velim for the necessary certification tests so it can enter passenger service.
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Comment
by Railway-News
Published:
07 Feb 2018
Tags
ACRI
Australia
Education
New Zealand
Science, Research and Rail: The Industry and Academia in Australia and New Zealand
Andrew Meier, the Executive Director and CEO of the Australasian Centre for Rail Innovation (ACRI) tells Railway-News what the research conducted by his organisation can do for development in the rail industry.
Purpose and Priorities
In launching the National Innovation and Science Agenda in December 2015, the recently appointed Liberal prime minster of Australia, Malcolm Turnbull said, “We cannot future-proof ourselves from change, nor should we seek to do so”. What was sought was the “agility to identify opportunities and embrace risk”. Fully embracing risk may feel a bold step for most but understanding that advances in technology bring great opportunity as well as disruption should not be. The Transport and Infrastructure Council (TIC), which functions under the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) to progress nationally significant reforms, aims to capitalise on the opportunities afforded by new and emerging technologies and support adaptable and resilient infrastructure and transport systems.
Access to knowledge is a key component of this objective. Initially, the Australian Federal Government aided industry by setting up the Rail Cooperative Research Centre (Rail CRC). The Rail CRC, which was supported by organisations in Australia and New Zealand, ran for two iterations before winding up in 2014 in line with the designated lifespan of centres under the CRC programme. Private and state government entities supported a continuation of co-operative rail research and the not-for-profit Australasian Centre for Rail Innovation (ACRI) was established to facilitate independent research and analysis to provide innovative solutions tailored to rail industry needs. It is overseen by a board representative of both industry and government and operates on a shared intellectual property model with research findings disseminated across all participants.
ACRI’s programme of research is agreed co-operatively by funding participants from within heavy haul, passenger and freight rail, and level crossing focus areas in Australia and New Zealand, including transport and rail authorities, universities and private companies in both countries, and the state governments of South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. Now in its fourth year of operation and second research funding tranche, there are presently 25 research initiatives in delivery or development, with more than 20 projects already completed since its inception. Activities to advance the health monitoring of infrastructure include readying industry for the implementation of new technologies in broken rail detection through the independent evaluation of a commercially developed locomotive-mounted broken rail detection device in a variety of Australian weather and rail stress conditions. Technology also aids the understanding of the human interaction with rail infrastructure. Current initiatives utilising eye tracking include evaluating level crossing visual warning devices for pedestrians and furthering knowledge on slips, trips and falls within rail station environments to aid design improvements.
Action and Adaption
Such research initiatives address currently tangible challenges for rail but the industry must also be ready and open to those that are emerging. Presently two frameworks are being developed to address the impact of technological change within rail organisations, one aimed at all aspects of rail operations and the other with a specific focus on track worker safety and competencies. These holistic tools aim to mitigate the challenges of introducing new technology, improving Australasian rail industry competitiveness by identifying in advance the training and management adjustments that may be required.
The speed with which rail can identify and adapt innovation from outside the industry will also have a significant impact on industry competitiveness. This may require some facilitation, as those researching emerging technologies do not necessarily have applications in transport and infrastructure foremost in mind. ACRI is presently evaluating the suitability of a technology originally from the naval operations sector for locomotive-mounted rail condition monitoring which has been developed and tested to its current state within New Zealand.
It is also important for rail industry advancement and competitiveness that activities are co-operative, linking operations with academia and linking Australasia with international developments. Initiatives like the Australian Research Council Industrial Transformation Training Centre for Advanced Technologies in Rail Track Infrastructure (ITTC-Rail) which will combine higher degree civil rail engineering research with significant periods of industry placement, aims to deliver not only industry-relevant research but importantly industry-ready post-graduates. Internationally, the ACRI has fostered formal relationships with entities in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Italy and with the International Union of Railways (UIC), providing channels for currently international knowledge to inform Australasian rail infrastructure practices.
The largest-ever Australian freight rail infrastructure project, the 1,700km Inland Rail line connecting Melbourne and Brisbane is now underway with ACRI participant the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) managing delivery over the next decade. Lowering freight supply chain costs, providing regional connectivity to ports, reducing road congestion and allowing the opportunity for increased passenger rail services on the Sydney network, Inland Rail will strongly impact industry efficiency, sustainability and competiveness. Importantly it presents a major opportunity for rail innovation as it is easier to apply new technology to new projects than it is to retrofit it to existing infrastructure.
Innovation can bring challenge or significant opportunity, with the outcome influenced by informed decision-making and planning. Through knowledge, advancing entities like ACRI, the rail industry in Australia and New Zealand is well positioned to take advantage of the opportunities ahead.
FOR ALL THE LATEST INFORMATION, NEWS, IMAGES, VIDEOS AND ARTICLES ON ALL ASPECTS OF RAILWAY RESEARCH AND TESTING, PLEASE CLICK HERE.