Network Rail has awarded a contract to a consortium led by Thales Ground Transportation Systems Ltd to develop and trial Fibre Optic Acoustic Sensing (FOAS) technology that will support improvements in safety and performance on …
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Why Sweden is reviving its night trains (CityLab)
The Swedish government sees this low-cost, environmentally friendly travel option as key to “becoming the world’s fossil-free welfare country.” In the quest to reduce the massive carbon footprint from global transportation, Sweden plans to revive …
Continue readingUltra/Supercapacitors for trams (RailwayTech)
The ultracapacitor technology will help in improving the efficiency of trams by reducing costs and carbon emissions. Skeleton Technologies has secured a contract to deliver ultracapacitors for trams powered by CAF Power & Automation’s (CAF …
Continue readingUnderwater concrete pour to protect West Coast Main Line bridges (RailInsider)
Underwater concrete is being poured by specialist divers to protect two railway viaducts in Carlisle which carry the West Coast main line. The work is being carried out after laser surveys by Network Rail revealed …
Continue readingUK rail freight can resolve the truck driver crisis (RailFreight)
Railfreight operators say they have the solution to Britain’s long-term truck driver shortage. A permanent solution to the supply chain shortfall in drivers would be a radical adjustment to make much more use of rail …
Continue readingDenmark Hill station first use innovative solar technology (RailTechnology)
Denmark Hill station has become the first train station in Europe to have BIPVco’s Flextron thin film technology installed, on top of other upgrades, following a £7.5m extension. The sophisticated and flexible solar panels are …
Continue reading3D printed steel bridge developed by Imperial College (Engineer)
A 3D-printed steel footbridge has been unveiled by a robot in Amsterdam where it will serve as a ‘living laboratory’ to assess the long-term behaviour of metal printed structures. The world’s first 3D-printed steel structure …
Continue readingWhy the US grid is ready for electric truck fleets (MITTechReview)
Existing technology can support heavy-duty electric trucks that travel short distances, though longer trips still pose a challenge. Whether you call them semis, tractor-trailers, or 18-wheelers, heavy-duty trucks keep the economy (literally) moving. And at …
Continue readingElectrification islands proposed on Brandenburg route (Railpage)
Hybrid battery-electric trains could be running on the Berlin – Neuruppin – Wittenberge route by 2028, according to a study undertaken for the District of Ostprignitz-Ruppin by the Innoverse transport consultancy. Marketed as Prignitz Express, the …
Continue readingSix better ways to visualize transit reliability (Klumpentown)
Reality, Perceived Reality, and Reported Reality The feeling of confusion, concern, and irritation that comes with waiting for an uncertain bus is ubiquitous for transit riders. Sure, some systems are more punctual and reliable than …
Continue readingUK funding EV battery with petrol engine range devt (E&T)
The UK government has announced £91.7m funding for green automotive engineering projects, including electric vehicle (EV) batteries with range similar to internal combustion engines and batteries which can charge in as little as 12 minutes. …
Continue readingParcel tram software under development (MetroReport)
Public transport IT specialist INIT has been selected to develop the booking, transport management, payment and shipment tracking system for the RegioKArgo freight tram demonstrator project in Karlsruhe. The project aims to assess the feasibility …
Continue readingFrance ministry seeks decarbonising rail tech (IntlRailJ)
Lightweight passenger trains, digital rail and automated freight for France. The French Ministry of Ecological Transition launched calls for Expressions of Interest in projects concerning “digitalisation and decarbonising of rail transport” on July 29.This is …
Continue readingThor Point transformer car bi-mode conversion concept (AnonWidower)
In his Informed Sources column in the August 2021 Edition of Modern Railways, Roger Ford has a section with the same sub-title as this post. He discusses what is to happen to the Class 22x …
Continue readingCrash resistant glazing developed after Croydon tram crash (RailBusinessD)
A new form of window glazing featuring a lightweight polymer with an advanced scratch-resistant coating has been installed on the Coventry Very Light Rail vehicle, and could be used in other means of public transport. …
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