The newest – and for the time being last – TramTrain line in Greater Paris, the T12 from Massy to Évry-Courcouronnes, has been been officially inaugurated today – 9 December 2023, scheduled revenue service starts on 10 December 2023… © Île-de-France Mobilités The T12 was created by converting the Massy and Épinay-sur-Orge section previously served by the RER suburban railway…
U nconscious U pdate Whilst OBB (Austrian State Railways) are positioning themselves as Konig of the cross-border sleeper service, it is worth remembering that there are several internal sleeping car trains in France, for example. Unravelling exactly what they are is beyond fbb’s pay grade at CHRISTmas approached at high speed. But here is a list. Note, however, that the list…
One of the most salient current engineering challenges facing sub-surface rail networks is overheating of stations during increasingly warm summer months. Reducing temperatures is a complex proposition in older networks like the London Underground (Tube): overheating poses important risks from both public health and engineering perspectives. Here we critically examine the use of two potential water sources – subterranean river…
Tram Or Train Or Tram-Train, Again T ram T rain T 12 T ram T rain T 13 In Order Of Opening – T13 Regular blog readers will know that fbb is an enthusiastic (but currently armchair-based) about Public Transport in and around Paris. As the above headline shows, new tram lines now reach a dizzy total of 13 with the two more recent openings best…
Kinaxia Logistics has upgraded its fleet with more than 200 bespoke new curtainsiders from Tiger Trailers. The top 15 UK logistics group has invested more than £6m this year on the 205 new trailers and is looking to order more in 2024. They are being deployed across the group as part of Kinaxia’s move to standardise its curtainside trailer fleet. …
Top trainer’s adaptive-controls vehicle steers Darren to Class 1 licence A disabled driver says his world ‘would be so much smaller’ without the support of a training expert in helping him gain a Class 1 HGV qualification. Darren Wiles, a T12 paraplegic, needed to pass his Category 3a and 3b driving tests in order to tow a trailer with his…
Looking back over several years of articles written for Rail Engineer covering the European Train Control System (ETCS), it is somewhat depressing to observe that none of the predictions for system introduction have come to fruition in the timescale stated or at the forecast price. Right across the world, national railways have struggled to implement ETCS systems for many different…
Above is a view of Sunderland in steam days, looking from south to north. And there are plenty of sleepers as well as the tower of the Town Hall. S underland’s S outhern S tructure Whist the histrionic and more traditional station building used to be at the northern end of the platforms, that at the southern end (in the 1930s) matched the…
Tyne & Wear transport agency Nexus has begun the process of appointing a legal adviser to support the development of the proposed Washington Metro Loop. The 13·5 km WML would link the existing Tyne & Wear Metro stations at Pelaw and South Hylton via Washington, serving the UK’s fourth largest town without access to a rail service’. Link to full article The post Washington…
Business Manager Competitive Salary, Surrey Highly respected family-owned Safeguard Coaches is offering a really interesting management role supporting the Managing Director and helping the company to take advantage of the exciting opportunities that it believes are ahead for its 33-strong bus and coach fleet. The successful candidate will be expected to get ‘up close and personal’ with all commercial,…