COTS technology cuts level crossing control system cost 22 Oct 2018 GREECE: Aktor has used commercial-off-the-shelf controllers from HIMA to automate the operation of level crossings on the mixed traffic Athens – Piraeus route . The control system provides comprehensive information on the status of the barriers using Aktor’s Artemmis monitoring system. Data from the…
Posts published in “Current railroad news”
Bonomi launches updated Omnia cantilever design 19 Oct 2018 The Omnia self-supported cantilever was shown at InnoTrans 2018. ITALY: Electrification specialist Gruppo Bonomi has updated its Omnia cantilever design with what it terms a ‘self-supporting’ variant suited to use in tunnels and other restricted access sites. The Omnia range of overhead line structures has been…
Bluetooth beacon competition to enhance stations 18 Oct 2018 Paris St-Lazare is likely to be one of more than 300 French stations to be equipped with Bluetooth beacons for geolocation services. FRANCE: SNCF’s stations business Gares & Connexions has launched an innovation competition branded Open Beacon aimed at enhancing the accessibility of and service offering…
Shift2Rail announces 2018 grants 17 Oct 2018 EUROPE: Shift2Rail is to provide up to €77·3m of co-funding for 19 research and innovation projects with a total value of €152·6m, the joint undertaking announced on October 17. The funding to be awarded under the 2018 Call for Proposals brings the cumulative spending on railway research to…
Aerospace innovation for rolling stock electrical systems 17 Oct 2018 FRANCE: Alstom, IGE+XAO and Safran have agreed to establish a centre of excellence for onboard electrical systems in Toulouse. Located at aerospace equipment manufacturer Safran Electrical & Power’s site, the facility will be able to accommodate up to 100 engineers. IGE+XAO is providing design, simulation…
BatteryFLEX Desiro EMU conversion proposed 15 Oct 2018 UK: An engineering assessment has found that there is a ‘positive case’ for fitting Siemens Desiro Class 350/2 electric multiple-units with batteries to enable off-wire operation, Porterbrook Leasing said on October 15. The company is holding discussions with battery chemistry specialists with a view to producing a…
RENFE and ADIF to support Texas Central high speed service 12 Oct 2018 Central Japan Railway is among the backers of the Texas Central project, which is intended to use Shinkansen technology. USA: On October 10 high speed project promoter Texas Central announced that it had selected Spanish national operator RENFE and infrastructure manager ADIF…
Passenger assistance app on test 11 Oct 2018 UK: A mobile app enabling passengers with disability to get assistance during their journeys is being tested by Greater Anglia, London Northwestern Railway, West Midlands Railway and South Western Railway ahead of a planned national launch next year. Developed by Transreport in collaboration with disability organisations including…
TrainPal smartphone app offers split ticketing options 08 Oct 2018 UK: A smartphone booking app which calculates split ticketing options has been launched by Ctrip, the parent company of flight booking platform Skyscanner. The intricacies of the UK ticketing system mean it is sometimes possible for passengers to save money by booking separate tickets for…
Polymer sleeper research partnership 08 Oct 2018 AUSTRALIA: The University of Southern Queensland has formed a partnership with Austrak and Laing O’Rourke to develop and deploy fibre-reinforced polymer composite materials as an alternative to timber in sleepers and bridge transoms. The A$10m project has been backed by an A$3m grant from the government’s Co-operative Research…