Lighter and safer seats 28 Dec 2017 SEATS: Commuters at opposite sides of the USA are now sitting on BASF’s Basotect open cell melamine foam, which Rogers Corp is using in BART and Long Island Rail Road seat cushions. According to BASF, the foam’s density of less than 9 kg/m3 helps reduce the overall weight of…
Posts published in “Current railroad news”
Rail-specification ball valves developed 28 Dec 2017 VALVES: IMI Precision Engineering has developed a range of robust ball valves specially designed to meet rolling stock standards and to offer consistency across a temperature range between -40°C and +85°C. The range includes lever, latching or locking handles for on-board applications including door and step systems and…
Passenger LNG trial starts 10 Jan 2018 SPAIN: Development Minister Íñigo de la Serna joined Energy Minister Álvaro Nadal on January 8 to mark the start of what is claimed to be the first trial of liquefied natural gas as a fuel for passenger rail traction, being undertaken by national operator RENFE in conjunction with…
Shift2Rail issues 2018 call for proposals 18 Jan 2018 EUROPE: The Shift2Rail joint undertaking formed to promote strategic research and innovation in the European rail sector has published its 2018 call for proposals, based on its amended Annual Work Plan 2018. The call for proposals covers 18 topics, of which seven are open to Shift2Rail…
Optimising sensor data to support predictive maintenance 19 Jan 2018 BELGIUM: An imec.icon research project has been launched to investigate ways of collecting and presenting the increasing amount of data which is being produced by on-train sensors, with the aim of helping operators undertake predictive maintenance of rolling stock. Televic Rail is leading the project,…
Locomotive control system certified 20 Jan 2018 RUSSIA: Diesel locomotives produced by Bryansk Engineering Plant are now being fitted with an electronic control system which the Transmashholding subsidiary has developed in-house. This follows certification for use of the technology across the Eurasian Economic Union countries. A central computer monitors the state of the onboard systems…
Automatic train operation to be tested on Dutch freight corridor 22 Jan 2018 NETHERLANDS: Automatic Train Operation is to be tested on the Betuwe Route dedicated freight line this year, following the signing of an agreement between infrastructure manager ProRail, freight operator Rotterdam Rail Feeding and technology supplier Alstom. It is planned that an RRF…
Travel Support Cards to assist passengers with hidden disabilities 23 Jan 2018 UK: Govia Thameslink Railway is introducing sets of Travel Support Cards to support passengers with hidden disabilities who need help with communication, such as those who are hard of hearing or have language or learning difficulties. The card has a ‘how you can…
Rail News Home Rail Industry Trends 12/18/2017 Rail News: Rail Industry Trends APTA: Public transit ridership fell in third quarter Some agencies attributed the decline to an increase in auto travel and continued low gas prices, according to APTA. Photo – Metropolitan Transportation Authority / Patrick Cashin In the third quarter, U.S. transit ridership slipped…
Rail News Home Rail Industry Trends 12/20/2017 Rail News: Rail Industry Trends TransLink mulls late-night SkyTrain service The agency will study how other systems around the globe have managed the introduction of late-night service. Photo – TransLink TransLink plans to study the feasibility of providing late-night SkyTrain service on Fridays and Saturdays.The agency is studying…