You are here: Home » Archives for Rolling stock
Rolling stock - Articles and news items
Latest issue / 6 December 2011 /
Today’s European rail networks are getting busier with trains travelling at higher speeds, and carrying more passengers and heavier axle loads, than ever before. This combination of factors is putting considerable pressure on the existing infrastructure, leading to increased demands in inspection and maintenance of rail assets.
To maximise safety efficiency in rail travel the rail industry has applied a pro-active maintenance policy for wheelsets. This policy combines on-line monitoring and manual inspections during production and maintenance. Minimising wheel set failures not only improves safety but also helps reduce maintenance costs, and is a consideration for both train and light-rail vehicle operators.
A European collaborative research project called SAFERAIL, jointly led by TWI and the University of Birmingham, has spent the last three years developing new inspection technology. This technology is intended to extend on the current state-of-the-art for both trackside monitoring and manual inspection of rolling stock wheelsets in a bid to minimise wheelset failures and improve safety and reduce maintenance costs. (more…)
Issue 5 2011 / 22 September 2011 /
Rail travel in Northern Ireland is a huge success story. More-and-more people are choosing to take the train following service enhancements in recent years and the introduction of 23 Translink NI Railways Class 3000 trains in 2005. These developments have brought enormous benefits to passengers, greatly improving levels of reliability and comfort. There has been over 60% rail customer growth since 2002 meeting government targets four years early. In May 2011, Translink NI Railways announced that a record 10.4 million passenger journeys were made during 2010/11 – the highest level since the 1960s.
‘New Trains Two’
To date, the ‘New Trains Two’ Programme continues on schedule. Three of the 20 brand new Translink NI Railways Class 4000 DMUs (Diesel Multiple Units) have arrived in Northern Ireland and are currently undergoing intensive testing. The first train is due to enter passenger service in late-2011. All 20 new trains are due to be in service during 2012 when Translink NI Railways will operate an entirely modern fleet on its suburban services, replacing all of its old Class 450 and Class 80 DMUs. (more…)
Issue 3 2011 / 31 May 2011 /
Rail travel in Northern Ireland is a major success story with over 60% customer growth since 2002 exceeding government targets. Two years ago, Translink NI Railways celebrated delivering 10 million passenger journeys in a year – the highest on record in the company’s history and we are on schedule to carry even more passengers in 2011.
This significant growth in passenger numbers reflects an ongoing programme of change and enhancement to the local rail network, continued high performance levels, clever marketing campaigns and shows that government investment is paying off. (more…)
Rail industry news / 23 May 2011 /
Metro has welcomed the successful sale of rolling stock to the rail leasing company Porterbrook, which will release funding for local transport development schemes.
“This deal keeps the carriages in Northern’s hands until the end of the franchise while at the same time releasing significant funding for local rail improvements which could include the proposed new stations at Kirkstall Forge, Apperley Bridge and Low Moor.”
(more…)
Rail industry news / 26 April 2011 /
Bombardier Transportation and DB Regio AG have signed a nine-year frame contract – valued at approximately 600 million euro ($867 million US) – for 200 BOMBARDIER TRAXX diesel locomotives with game-changing multi-engine propulsion. (more…)
Issue 2 2011 / 6 April 2011 /
Over the past years, a market for maintenance has developed and this market is becoming more-and-more vibrant, leading to astonishing cost savings and efficiency gains. The industry welcomes this development and calls up on the legislator to put in place the right framework for the future.
For decades, the maintenance of rolling stock and infrastructure was carried out by the maintenance divisions of the state railways. This has changed. With the increasing degree of liberalisation and the disintegration of the incumbent railways, the number of actors in the railway sector has multiplied. As a result of this, a market for railway maintenance has begun to develop and it can be witnessed how, slowly but surely, more-andmore railway operators and infrastructure managers outsource maintenance activities to third parties instead of relying on in-house maintenance divisions. (more…)
Issue 2 2011 / 6 April 2011 /
Governments, passengers and freight customers have rising expectations and aspirations for the rail system. There is a constant pressure to drive up availability and reliability, and to drive down costs, while assuring and improving safety. At the same time, users want improved service levels, with increasing demands for better information systems, travelling environments and on-board facilities as rail tries to strengthen its competitive position against other modes. (more…)
Issue 1 2011 / 15 February 2011 /
Cables have applications all across the railway industry. Increasing interest in electrification implies extra demand for cables.
Electrified railways are the way forward for the future, as they are cleaner and cheaper to operate than diesel. Another key point is that they are able to draw their power from any primary source – nuclear, renewable or fossil fuel – rather than being dependent on oil. (more…)
Issue 1 2011 / 15 February 2011 /
HŽ Putnički prijevoz d.o.o. is one of four associated companies in HŽ Holding and its main activity is passenger transport. The mission of HŽ Putnički prijevoz d.o.o. is providing high-quality, reliable, and economically and environmentally acceptable passenger transport services in urban-suburban, local-regional, international and domestic long-distance transport with modern rolling stock. Its vision is to become a major operator in Croatia focused on mass railway passenger transport according to market principles, while at the same time taking into account and protecting the owner’s interests to the satisfaction of transport users and employees. (more…)
Issue 5 2010 / 17 September 2010 /
Extending inspection periods can result in a lower level of safety, but based on insight from using a mathematical model it is possible to use improvements to the rolling stock to create more efficient inspection schedules while maintaining the same level of safety. (more…)
Rail industry news / 1 September 2010 /
Bombardier Transportation announced today that it has received an order for 100 MultiLevel commuter rail cars from the New Jersey Transit Corporation (NJ TRANSIT). The contract is valued at approximately $267 million US (210 million euro) and includes options for up to 79 additional vehicles. (more…)
Issue 4 2010 / 3 August 2010 /
Six months in to its contract as operator of Melbourne’s metropolitan train network, Metro’s focus is firmly on improving asset reliability, simplifying the timetable and making every minute count.
In 2009, the Victorian Government selected a new contractor to operate Melbourne’s metropolitan rail services. The network assets, which are Government-owned and funded, have been privately operated and maintained since 1999.
On 30 November 2009, Metro Trains Melbourne (Metro) began operations, taking over from former operator Connex (Connex was involved in the management of Melbourne’s rail network since it was privatised, and assumed full operational control of the network in 2000). (more…)
Login to access exclusive content