World
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World’s ‘first autonomous’ tram carries passengers in Germany
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SIEMENS and Potsdam transport operator Verkehrsbetrieb Potsdam (ViP) have developed what they claim is the world’s first autonomous driverless tram. The tram carried its first passengers in a media demonstration run on September 18, timed to coincide with the Innotrans trade fair in nearby Berlin. Fully autonomous unmanned freight trains are already in operation in…
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German ‘Rabbits’ days numbered
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GERMAN Railways (DB) had hundreds of diesel-hydraulic locos introduced in the 1960s and 1970s to replace steam, but their days working passenger trains are now coming to an end. Of the several hundred ‘V160’ B-B design locos built, only the final variant – Class 218 – remains in use with DB for passenger services. They…
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Chinese steam swansong
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THE world’s last bastion for standard gauge steam locomotives continues its 24-hour daily operation in the giant Sandaoling open cast coal mine near Hami in Xinjiang Province, China. About a year ago, the coal mine’s management unexpectedly decided to retain and overhaul some its extensive steam fleet after assessing the cost and benefit of steam…
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Roof renewal for Ireland’s busiest commuter station
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THE Republic of Ireland’s busiest commuter station, Dublin Pearse, is to have its 1880s-built overall roof renewed as part of a €17million project by Iarnród Éireann-Irish Rail (IÉ). The iron-vaulted, glazed structure dates from the construction of the City of Dublin Junction Railway to Amiens Street in 1891, and has been suffering in recent years…
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Virgin Trains USA launched
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By Keith Fender VIRGIN group has announced it will become a minority investor in start-up inter-city passenger operator Brightline. Brightline started operation in Florida in January 2018 and will be renamed Virgin Trains USA, with rebranding starting in 2019. Brightline operates its Florida services using 10 new 125mph Siemens-built ‘Charger’ diesel locos, and has five…
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Innotrans 2018: Battery power and new technology on show
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THE biennial Innotrans global rail trade fair saw more than 160,000 people visit from 110 countries, with more than 3,000 companies from 61 countries exhibiting. The event was held in Berlin in September. As well as the 145 different items of rolling stock on show, which ranged from entire eight-coach trains to individual freight wagons,…
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Threat to Australia’s long-distance ‘Overland’ service
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ONE of Australia’s iconic long-distance passenger trains is threatened with withdrawal in 2019 as politicians cannot agree on future funding. ‘The Overland’ has run between Adelaide and Melbourne since October 1887 when it was known as the ‘Intercolonial Express’. At that time South Australia and Victoria were separate British colonies. In 1926 it became ‘The…
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Eastern European railways celebrate 100 years of independence
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NOVEMBER marks 100 years since the end of the First World War, and for several Eastern European countries this signals the centenary of them gaining or regaining independence. The national operators in several countries are marking this major anniversary, which led to the establishment of state railway companies to replace the former Austrian, Russian or…
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Electrified North Island main line to convert to diesel as more new locos arrive
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FIFTEEN more DL class locomotives ordered by KiwiRail in 2016 from CRRC in Dalian, China arrived at the port of Mount Maunganui, near Tauranga, on October 10. They were transferred to Te Rapa (Hamilton) for commissioning two days later. KiwiRail now has 63 of the Chinese-built locos and eight more are on order. The 108-tonne…
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Baldwin diesel survivors in France
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IN SEPTEMBER there was a rare opportunity to travel in a passenger train operated by one of the 70-year-old former French Railways (SNCF) Baldwin-built diesel locos at the Chemin de Fer Touristique du Rhin heritage line, near Colmar, in Alsace. The train was organised by the UK-based enthusiasts behind the European Traction website. American loco…
