[Effective Transit Alliance] ETA just published a report on New York rolling stock costs for commuter rail. In the report, we talk about the need to electrify the entire system, and, if there are unelectrified …
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Rolling Stock Costs Database (Transit Costs Project)
This is the first version of our rolling stock costs database, to complement our primary urban rail construction costs database, excluding rolling stock. The new database looks at the procurement costs of metro trains, commuter …
Continue reading2 State railways fined for colluding against open access operator (RailwayGazette)
The European Commission has fined the Czech and Austrian national train operators a total of €48·7m for colluding to prevent new entrant RegioJet from acquiring second-hand rolling stock to support its growth in the Czech Republic and …
Continue readingFriday Reads – 4 October 2024
• A first look at the new Piccadilly line trains being built in Yorkshire (IanVisits) • A nightmare journey on GWR (BusAndTrainUser) • US port strike ends as dockworkers near agreement (Quartz) • Riding Transit …
Continue readingStandardizing Stations & Rolling Stock the Right Way in the US (PedObservations)
Picking consistent standards in order to make use of economies of scale is an important part of good planning. In our construction costs report, we attribute a high cost premium on systems and finishes in New …
Continue readingSiemens to build US high-speed rail factory in New York State (RailwayTechnology)
The company said the investment marked the beginning of a brand-new industry in the US with production set to begin in 2026. Siemens Mobility is set to build its first high-speed rail factory in the …
Continue readingTinted window film trial to determine reduction of train air-conditioning needs (RailwayGazette)
TransPennine Express is trialling two tinted window films which it hopes will reduce solar heating and thus lower the energy used by train air-conditioning systems. The operator expects the film supplied by Aura Brand Solutions to …
Continue readingLabour’s railway renationalisation should be directed at ROSCOs: Opinion (RailwayTechnology)
Labour’s push for renationalisation should focus on rolling stock companies, which continue to profit from taxpayer subsidies and send profits abroad. The King’s Speech at the State Opening of Parliament has signalled a significant shift …
Continue readingChinese carbon fibre metro trainset to enter service (MetroReport)
CRRC Qingdao Sifang has unveiled its six-car Cetrovo 1.0 Carbon Star Express metro trainset, which features carbon fibre composite bodyshells, bogies and other load-bearing structures. The manufacturer says the material is five times stronger than …
Continue readingThe global metro market: Driven by urbanisation & climate policy (UrbanTransport)
The global metro vehicle market is steadily increasing with annual growth of 3.1% expected until 2035. This is the result of the current market study by SCI Verkehr, a management consultancy specialising in rail and …
Continue readingBonus Trains for Crossrail – More Details
We were surprised when on 14th June 2024 it was announced that agreement had been reach by TfL, the DfT and the train maker Alstom to provide 10 new trains for Crossrail. We were not …
Continue readingBonus Trains for Crossrail?
In an unexpected piece of potentially good news for London, it was reported last month that 10 new trains could be built for Crossrail. We look at the substance of the reports, catch up with …
Continue readingApplying drone tech to rail to develop autonomous rail cars (RailwayTechnology)
US-based startup Intramotev is on a mission to take rail freight into a new era. The Missouri-based company is focusing on developing a battery electric autonomous rail car, enabling freight to move with the flexibility …
Continue readingChina’s CRRC Train Manufacturer: Poor Quality, Late Deliveries, Cancelled Order (RailwayAge)
Almost 10 years ago, CRRC (China Railway Rolling Stock Company), the world’s largest rail rolling stock and railcar components company, a Chinese Communist Party SOE (State-Owned Enterprise), set forth a grand strategy to dominate the …
Continue readingWho owns the trains? ROSCOs & their repatriated profits (RailwayTechnology)
All three rolling stock companies, or ROSCOs, have parent companies in low-tax jurisdictions. In the realm of British rail transportation, a curious financial arrangement defines the landscape of locomotives hurtling across England, Scotland, and Wales. …
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