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Category: Rolling stock

A 21st Century Underground Rolling Stock Update

On 3 November 2025 By Pedantic of Purley In Focus, London Underground, Long reads, Rolling stock

Something we have been wanting to do for some years is an overall look at the update plans for London Underground rolling stock (aka trains) and, independently, line resignalling. With all the uncertainty around this …

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The €2bn question: why has Eurostar still not ordered any new trains? (CrossBorderRail)

On 9 June 2025 By Long Branch Mike In Eurostar, Industry News, Rolling stock

Is there space for a further Channel Tunnel operator at the Temple Mills depot off the HS1 line at Stratford? The issue rumbles on, with ORR expected to make a decision on the issue by …

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Commuter Rail BEMU Rolling Stock Costs (PedestrianObservations)

On 7 January 2025 By Long Branch Mike In Electrification, Industry News, Rolling stock

[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)

On 26 November 2024 By Long Branch Mike In Industry News, Rolling stock

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 …

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2 State railways fined for colluding against open access operator (RailwayGazette)

On 19 November 2024 By Long Branch Mike In Industry News, Policy, Rolling stock

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 …

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Friday Reads – 4 October 2024

On 4 October 2024 By Heliomass In Friday Reads, Rolling stock, Sustainability, Tunnels

• 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 …

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Standardizing Stations & Rolling Stock the Right Way in the US (PedObservations)

On 26 September 2024 By Long Branch Mike In Design, Industry News, Rolling stock, Stations

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 …

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Siemens to build US high-speed rail factory in New York State (RailwayTechnology)

On 16 September 2024 By Long Branch Mike In Industry News, Rolling stock

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 …

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Tinted window film trial to determine reduction of train air-conditioning needs (RailwayGazette)

On 4 September 2024 By Long Branch Mike In Industry News, Rolling stock, Sustainability

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 …

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Labour’s railway renationalisation should be directed at ROSCOs: Opinion (RailwayTechnology)

On 7 August 2024 By Long Branch Mike In Industry News, Policy, Rolling stock

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 …

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Chinese carbon fibre metro trainset to enter service (MetroReport)

On 21 July 2024 By Long Branch Mike In Industry News, Rolling stock, Technology

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 …

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The global metro market: Driven by urbanisation & climate policy (UrbanTransport)

On 15 July 2024 By Long Branch Mike In Industry News, Rolling stock

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 …

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Bonus Trains for Crossrail – More Details

On 8 July 2024 By Pedantic of Purley In Crossrail, Focus, Long reads, Rolling stock

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 …

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Bonus Trains for Crossrail?

On 29 May 2024 By Pedantic of Purley In Crossrail, Focus, HS2, Long reads, Rolling stock

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 …

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Applying drone tech to rail to develop autonomous rail cars (RailwayTechnology)

On 9 May 2024 By Long Branch Mike In Freight, Industry News, Rolling stock, Technology

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 …

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