02 June 2012, 05:00:00
Rail Industry Training & Recruitment in Brief
02 June 2012,
05:00:00
The Universidad Politécnica de Madrid
has introduced an Alstom Chair at its Industrial Engineering School. The
collaboration between the two parties is intended to foster research in the
areas of electricity transmission, smart grid technology and railway signalling.
On May 8 the University of Rhode Island and Deutsche Bahn signed a
co-operation agreement covering a work abroad programme for students and an
exchange option for younger DB staff. DB also plans to work with URI to offer a
joint dual honours qualification in German and a relevant engineering
discipline. Deutsche Bahn subsidiary Arriva has joined The Pearls
Initiative, a professional development programme aimed at increasing the
number of women in senior corporate positions in UK business. The programme is
managed by An Inspirational Journey, a not-for-profit organisation backed by
Royal Bank of Scotland Group. German federal railway authority EBA has approved
the Prignitzer Bahn Akademie for driver training and
licensing.
Updated BiLevel coaches ordered for Go Transit
01 June 2012,
13:12:00
CANADA: Toronto regional transport agency
Metrolinx has awarded Bombardier Transportation a C$200m order to supply
commuter operator GO Transit with 60 double-deck coaches to an updated version
of Bombardier's BiLevel design. The contract was announced by Ontario Premier
Dalton McGuinty on May 25 during a visit to Bombardier's Thunder Bay plant,
where design work is underway. Production will begin in the second quarter of
2013 for entry into service from spring 2015. According to Bombardier, the
revised design will include a new structure incorporating crash energy
management crumple zones. The push-pull driving cars will have a revised cab
design, which, as well as increasing safety, will provide better visibility. Cab
ergonomics will be improved, and train monitoring capabilities enhanced.
Passengers will benefit from onboard wi-fi, and improved ventilation, door and
toilet systems. Better insulation will increase energy efficiency, and LED
lighting will be used instead of fluorescent tubes.
Groundbreaking launches Central Mesa light rail construction
01 June 2012,
11:56:00
USA: A ceremony on May 30 officially marked
the start of construction of the $200m Central Mesa light rail extension of the
Valley Metro in Phoenix, Arizona. The Valley Transit Construction joint venture
of Kiewit, Mass Electric and Parsons Transportation Group is expected to begin
main works shortly under a design-build contract. Opening is scheduled for 2016,
but this may be brought forward to 2015. The 5 km extension will run along Main
Street in Mesa from the current terminus at Sycamore to Mesa Drive, with four
stops including a park and ride facility. It will be the first extension since
the opening of the 32 km Metro light rail line in December 2008. Transport
agency Valley Metro and the City of Mesa have developed a programme to assist
businesses affected by the works, including Metro Max Rewards, which offer
people who subscribe to project updates discounts at local companies.
Braunschweig orders Solaris trams
01 June 2012,
11:32:00
GERMANY: Solaris Bus & Coach has been
awarded a contract to supply 15 Tramino low-floor trams to Braunschweig, where
they will replace 30-year old cars which do not meet modern accessibility
requirements. The customised trams for Braunschweiger Verkehrs AG will be
unidirectional vehicles around 36 m long, with each of the four sections riding
on a 1 100 mm gauge bogie. The trams will have six twin-leaf doors, 77 seats and
a total capacity of 201 passengers. Deliveries are scheduled to run from May to
December 2014. The Land of Niedersachsen is meeting half the €33·1m cost
of the contract announced on May 30, which includes an option for a further
three vehicles. Six companies had initially expressed interest in bidding, and
four submitted tenders. 'The tram's attractive design will enhance the cityscape
and we are sure that passengers in Braunschweig will love the excellent comfort
of the Tramino', said Solaris CEO Solange Olszewska. The Tramino family was
launched in 2009, and 45 vehicles are now in service in Poznan. The Braunschweig
contract is the Polish firm's second tram order from Germany, following a July
2011 deal to supply five trams to Jena, where deliveries are due to take place
in 2013.
Integrated wagon tracking could improve productivity
01 June 2012,
09:29:00
RUSSIA: Proposals to develop a co-ordinated
wagon tracking and reporting system covering the combined networks of Russia,
Kazakhstan and Belarus were debated at the 1520 Strategic Partnership forum in
Sochi on May 31. The hope is that an integrated system using advanced IT and
automated reporting would improve productivity and reduce costs compared with
the regime introduced five years ago. Reform of RZD's freight sector, including
the partial privatisation of Freight One and the establishment of Freight Two,
was intended to encourage private investment in renewing the wagon fleet.
According to Freight Two President Vitaly Yevdokimenko, there are now 16
companies owning more than 10 000 wagons and 137 smaller operators.
Nevertheless, the total fleet had fallen from 1·6 million to 1·3 million
vehicles. Wagon management problems have been impacting on railway productivity,
with vehicles averaging 18 days between loading against a target of 12; this has
caused problems for major shippers, and for neighbouring operators unable to get
their vehicles back. As a result average carryings have fallen from 1 900 tonnes
to 1 300 tonnes per wagon per year. As a short-term measure RZD is looking to
improve the loading frequency to around 15 days. KTZ Vice-President Yermek
Kizatov said it was vital to establish a unified system to monitor all vehicles
'regardless of ownership' and 'confirm where it is being used'. He felt recent
steps to integrate resources within the customs union area would ensure the
'beneficial use of rolling stock'.
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