Britain to develop PTC equipment for heritage steam and diesel equipment

British train with steam locomotive

LONDON — British rail infrastructure owner Network Rail has appointed two specialist contractors to deliver an industry-first “pathfinder” project fitting positive train control to heritage steam and diesel locomotives. The consortium of Atkins (part of the SNC-Lavalin Group) and Thales is undertaking the work as part of Network Rail’s “East Coast Digital Programm” which will […]

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Australian mining firm is first buyer for Wabtec battery-electric locomotive

Red and black locomotive with full-width carbody to accomodate batteries

PITTSBURGH — Australian mining company Roy Hill has become the first purchaser of Wabtec’s FLXdrive battery-electric locomotive. Wabtec and Roy Hill announced the purchase on Monday. Roy Hill will receive the second-generation version of the FLXdrive locomotive, currently under development for delivery in 2023, which will have an energy capacity of 7 megawatt hours. The […]

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Third German rail strike ends

Deutsche Bahn logo

BERLIN — Germany’s third and longest rail strike in a month ended Tuesday morning, with national rail operator Deutsche Bahn saying it would work quickly to restore full operations. Broadcaster DW reports about 19,700 train drivers had taken part in the walkout that began Sept. 1 and was the second-longest ever for the rail network. […]

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Court turns down bid for injunction to end German rail strike

Deutsche Bahn logo

FRANKFURT, Germany — A labor court rejected national rail operator Deutsche Bahn’s effort to end a strike by train drivers on Thursday evening, turning down DB’s bid for an injunction to halt the third strike by the GDL union in less than a month. The strike began Wednesday by freight operators and widened to passenger […]

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German rail operator seeks injunction to end strike

German_Trains_Lassen

FRANKFURT, Germany — National rail operator Deutsche Bahn is seeking an injunction to end the third strike in a month by German train drivers, saying the action is not within “the relevant legal framework.” TheLocal.de reports the Frankfurt am Main labor court will hold a hearing on the injunction Thursday beginning at 6 p.m. local […]

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Germany faces third national rail walkout

White high speed train rounds curve to arrive at station

BERLIN — Germany will face a third nationwide rail strike in less than a month, as the union representing train drivers said it would stage a one-week strike beginning Wednesday. TheLocal.de reports the GDL union will strike freight services as of Wednesday afternoon, with passenger traffic targeted as of 2 a.m. Thursday. The strike will […]

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Europe’s railways face up to decarbonization

Blue passenger train in shop building

In Europe, a widespread consensus has developed among politicians and national governments that climate change is a real and present danger, and that it is primarily caused by human activity, both historic and now. Addressing this concern could spell major changes for railway activity across the continent. While much of the historic climate damage from […]

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Report delayed on fatal Mexico City subway accident

Orange and white "M" logo

MEXICO CITY — Risk management and auditing firm DNV has requested a two-week extension to complete a report on the fatal collapse of a Mexico City metro rail line in May. Reuters reports the Norwegian firm said the follow-up report to an earlier document indicating a structural failure led to the accident is “the most […]

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Germany hit by second national rail strike in two weeks

German_Trains_Lassen

BERLIN — German passenger rail service is in the midst of a second two-day strike this month, part of a larger action by the GDL union, which represents the nation’s train drivers in a dispute with national rail operator Deutsche Bahn. Freight-train drivers went on strike at 5 p.m. local time Friday, with passenger drivers […]

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Germany hit by two-day rail strike

High speed trains at station platform

BERLIN — Much of Germany’s rail system has been shut down by a two-day strike expected to leave only about a quarter of the nation’s long-distance trains in operation Wednesday and Thursday. The Associated Press reports national operator Deutsche Bahn is asking passengers to avoid unnecessary travel and will suspend COVID-19 related restrictions, allowing every […]

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Three killed in Czech train collision

Czech Railways logo

MILAVCE, Czech Republic — Three people, including the drivers of both trains, were killed Wednesday when a Munich-Prague express train ran a stop signal and collided with a commuter train, Reuters reports. About 50 passengers were injured. Eight who were seriously injured were flown to hospitals by helicopter; 10 German passengers with lesser injuries were […]

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