East West Rail has completed the first stage of track laying for the project using an innovative track laying solution. The New Track Construction (NTC) train has completed 58 shifts, laying the foundation for the ambitious …
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$12B Brightline West new passenger railway advances (RailwayAge)
The Surface Transportation Board (STB) has authorized construction and operation of a modified alignment of the high-speed passenger rail project proposed by private-sector firm Brightline West, subject to environmental mitigation measures. Brightline West says its …
Continue readingThe Evolution of Tunnel Boring Machines (ConstructionPhysics)
Tunneling is an important technology for modern civilization, as a tunnel is often the only reasonable way to create a direct path between two points. When the Hoosac tunnel was completed in 1875, it turned …
Continue readingMonday’s Friday Reads – 23 October 2023
• TfL & Google Maps collaborate to make cycling better for Londoners & world (TfL) • Glasgow Subway services could soon run later (Glasgow Live) • ULEZ already raising air quality at 144 more London schools (OnLondon) …
Continue readingDithering & long processes make the UK’s infrastructure too expensive (SamDumitriu)
“Unachievable.” The Infrastructure and Projects Authority’s assessment of High Speed 2 (HS2) does not pull its punches. Back in 2013, the high-speed line to connect London, Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds was estimated to cost about £56.7bn …
Continue readingWhere is the UK railway strategic rolling stock & depot plan? (RailEngineer)
2018 saw the last Long Term Passenger Rolling Stock Strategy (LTPRSS). Yet with the UK’s rolling stock fleet comprising of 14,000 vehicles and costing £3 billion per annum, there is clearly a need for the …
Continue readingTrain operators propose 32 000 km high speed rail ‘Metropolitan Network’ (RailwayGazette)
Proposals for a huge expansion of the high rail speed network have been drawn up by Deutsche Bahn working in partnership with nine other major European operators. This would be necessary to achieve the Green …
Continue readingEarth Friendly Concrete foundation for HS2 (RailEngineer)
As one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects in the UK, HS2 is set to transform the country’s transport network. Concrete is an essential component of this project. From the foundations of the track to …
Continue readingThe digital twin tech turning the Piccadilly line underground green (ERPToday)
It might not be the longest or busiest line of the underground network, but the Piccadilly line has a fascinating history – it made London the first city in the world with an underground railway …
Continue readingHow Montréal’s REM learnt from the Paris RER – Automatic for the People
Move over RER, Montréal’s new fully automated Réseau express métropolitain (REM)’s first segment has opened. Once fully completed, the REM line will link directly across Montréal Island north, south, and west. Essentially, a Regional Express …
Continue readingThe impacts of capital investment in London’s Underground: Long-term analysis (TransportationResearch)
Abstract The deferred repair of infrastructure is often a pressing issue since infrastructure failures can have severe economic consequences for both operators and users. Although the benefits of non-expansion capital spending are well-known within the industry, …
Continue readingDeutsche Bahn’s Europabahn study (PedestrianObservations)
Deutsche Bahn released a study three days ago proposing to build a Europe-wide network of high-speed trains. There aren’t too many details – the fully study PDF is corrupted – but we can already learn a lot …
Continue readingMitigating the effects of tunnelling under Euston Bridge 7 (EarningLegacyHS2)
HS2 tunnels will pass below an existing main line railway intersection bridge near Euston, known as Bridge 7, constructed in the early 20th century. An assessment of tunnelling induced ground movement predicted potential adverse effects …
Continue readingPublic transport consultants gone wild, escalating rail costs (Slate)
The real reason it costs so damn much to build new subways in America. For the past decade, as the cost of building American mass transit has soared to world records, advocates have found themselves …
Continue readingWhen capital becomes interested in high speed rail (MediaRail)
[This industry blog post has noticed an interesting trend that we are LR Towers have also noticed – large financial investment firms investing in constructing, purchasing, and/or operating railway infrastructure. This article looks at the …
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