Flatvision Industry News

Eurotunnel and Siemens have tested the Vectron locomotive in the Channel Tunnel as part of an effort to increase cross-Channel rail freight.

The tests were intended to assess the locomotive’s compatibility with Channel Tunnel systems and safety rules, as Eurotunnel expects that open-access freight operators will be able to use TSI-compliant four-axle locomotives as well as six-axle models.

The Vectron locomotive, in standard configuration and hauling wagons with a total weight of 1,350t, entered the tunnel via the French portal and completed a series of traction, braking and pantograph tests.

The Vectron exited the tunnel at Folkestone before returning to France for a second phase of tests.

The test runs confirmed that the standard four-axle locomotives can operate without any problems in the Channel Tunnel and will be capable of hauling rail freight between the continent and the UK.

Groupe Eurotunnel deputy chief executive Michel Boudoussier said that the company’s cooperation with Siemens will open the way to new international rail freight flows, which will in turn reduce CO2 emissions.

(For full article please see: http://www.railway-technology.com)

Are you looking for high performance passenger information displays for platform or general trackside applications such as waiting rooms, cafe´s etc?

A new technology known as Rail Technical Strategy (RTS) has been unveiled in the UK to increase the capacity of the rail network and enable operators to efficiently run more trains over the next 30 years.

Network Rail and the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) have collaborated with the RSSB and the rest of the industry in the Technical Strategy Leadership Group (TSLG) to set up a strategy to make the most of existing technologies.

They also aim to promote new ideas in areas that have the potential to transfer technology from other sectors to railway applications such as nanotechnology.

Network Rail technical director and chair of TSLG Steve Yianni said that the company knows that the approach has to be complete, from the way the track relates to the trains and the trains to the signalling and hence it cannot work on one part of the system without affecting another.

The new RTS technology is likely to have an impact on the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS), which is being jointly developed by Network Rail and ATOC in association with RSSB and the rest of the industry.

By allowing traffic management to move inside the trains and reduce the number of control centres, a large amount of cost can be saved as the lineside signalling maintenance has an expenditure of around £100m per annum.

Network Rail has been developing automated methods of lineside inspection, including plain line pattern recognition and remote asset monitoring.

About 40% of trains run by operators in the UK are already fitted with diagnostic technology that enables the vehicles to detect potential faults as they develop.

(To view full article please see: http://www.railway-technology.com)

Canadian National is testing two Electro-Motive Diesel locomotives which have been converted to use natural gas for 90% of their fuel needs, with diesel used for ignition.

The two 3000 hp SD40-2 locomotives are operating in revenue service on the 450 km Edmonton – Fort McMurray route. They have been retrofitted with natural gas conversion kits, which expects that gas/diesel hybrid fuelling will reduce CO2 emissions by 30% and NOx emissions by 70% over a locomotive duty cycle.

CN is also developing a ‘state-of-the-art’ natural gas engine and standardised tender in partnership with EMD, Westport Innovations and Gaz Métro Transport Solutions. CN is to provide two 4 300 hp SD70M-2 locomotives, and EMD will integrate the natural gas engine and controls, including Westport high-pressure direct injection and gas technologies. GMTS will develop gas liquefaction and distribution systems, with a gas tender to be jointly developed by the project partners.

Laboratory tests are planned for 2013, before trials with prototype locomotives in 2014.

(To see full article please visit: http://www.railwaygazette.com)

Virgin Media has extended its underground Wi-Fi service to 41 London tube stations, including Leicester Square, Warren Street and Stratford.

The Wi-Fi service, which was launched a month ago, is being used by over 100,000 tube passengers to access the internet while in underground stations.

The service is being offered to passengers for free until the summer, which coincides with the 2012 Olympic Games.

After the summer, Virgin said that the Wi-Fi portal with Transport for London (TfL) travel information, updates and London news and entertainment will remain free for all tube passengers.

Virgin is also planning to enable 120 London Underground stations with the Wi-Fi service by the end of 2012.

(To see full artice: http://www.railway-technology.com)

More reliable trains and improved infrastructure were amongst the plans outlined for the future of Scottish rail services yesterday. Transport minister Keith Brown announced £5bn investment ahead of the expiry of ScotRail’s contract in 2014.

Brown called for the new franchisee to improve services between Glasgow and Edinburgh, and pledged 100km a year of new electrification between 2014 and 2019.

£60m has been earmarked for improving journey times, and planned infrastructure projects such as the Borders Railway will also be expanded.

Operators will be expected to link trains with other forms of transport and deliver wi-fi across the network.

The next franchise will be extended to run for ten years, with a potential ‘break point’ after five. The franchise to operate the Caledonian sleeper service is expected to run for 15 years.

Anthony Smith, Passenger Focus chief executive, said: “The sooner money is spent onScotland’s railways, the sooner passengers will feel the benefits. 

(For full article please see: http://www.railtechnologymagazine.com)

South Korea has unveiled its new high-speed train the HEMU 430X in Changwon.

The high-speed electric multiple unit (HEMU) 430X bullet train covered 28.2km on a test run at a speed of 150km/h, but is capable of reaching speeds of up to 430km/h.

The HEMU 430X is claimed to be the world’s fourth fastest high-speed train, after models developed in France, China and Japan.

The train is powered by 410kW traction motors, each of which produces a tractive effort of 9.1kN.

It will be equipped with two types of traction systems. The first of these consists of 16 units with two IGBT PWM converters and VVVF inverter-controlled asynchronous traction motors.

Until 2015, the HEMU will be tested and driven for at least 100,000km, while actual passenger operations are scheduled to start in 2016 or 2017.

(For full article please see: http://www.railway-technology.com)

New tram-trains are set to be piloted in South Yorkshire, transport minister Norman Baker has confirmed.

The £58m scheme will see tram-trains run on both rail and tram networks between Sheffield and Rotherham.

The pilot will involve the electrification of a stretch of track as well as the construction of a 400m line linking the tramway to the train tracks. From 2015, the vehicles will operate on Sheffield’s Supertram network as well as part of the national rail network.

There are expected to be three services an hour, all day every day, and the pilot will last for two years, with a view to permanent operation. If the pilot is a success, it could be rolled out in different cities. The scheme is expected to create 35 new jobs.

The core objectives of the tram-train pilot are to understand the changes to industry costs of operating a lighter weight vehicle with track brakes on the national rail network, determine changes to technical standards required, gauge passenger perception and understand the technical and operational challenges involved in the project.

Baker said: “Providing better connections between Sheffield and Rotherham’s city centres and residential areas will help to reinvigorate the local economy. This is great news for passengers in South Yorkshire and potentially it could benefit people across the country wherever tram and rail networks exist together.

“Tram-trains have already proven hugely popular on the Continent. Now we will be able to test whether they can bridge the gap between tram and train networks in this country.”

(To see full article: http://www.railtechnologymagazine.com)

BWCS’ seventh WiFi on Trains conference – Train Communications Systems 2012 will examine the huge growth in new on-train services.

Hear from train companies how they are winning the fight to get more passengers on board, cut operating costs and coax more cash from existing riders.

The conference will be dominated by real case studies presented by train operators who have launched WiFi on-board services. Book now, to hear how these go-ahead companies have overcome technical, marketing and operational issues to offer passenger WiFi and help win the battle to fill empty train seats and cut operating costs.

This is the conference to attend in this fast-moving sector. Join the throng of train companies, rail authorities, metro operators and new competitors from around the world to discuss the latest developments and new services in this fast-moving sector.

In addition several train operators are now beginning to develop new passenger entertainment and information services based on their high-speed wireless to train connections.

(See full article: www.traincomms2012.com)