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Found 138 bulletins. The archive was last updated on 18 October 2005 and there are 2345 bulletins.
25% of European jobs at manufacturer Adtranz are in danger as a British-inspired restructuring program takes shape. "We have just transferred the UK restructuring team to Germany to do the same in Germany as in England," says Kaare Vagner, Adtranz CEO, to the Financial Times. Almost half of Adtranz' British employees were let go in the 1990s. FT does not mention Adtranz' Swiss operations, which recently swallowed Schindler Waggon. (September 11th 1997, more here)
The Federal Railroad Administration and Union Pacific have agreed to some measures to increase safety. The agreement comes as UP is undergoing a safety investigation by the FRA. The agreement essentially calls for
- a toll-free number that UP employees may anonymously phone to voice their safety concerns. UP President Jerry Davis will personally review each call within 24 hours.
- a review of UP's training programs from a safety perspective, and
- a safety group to formed, which will study all forms of job fatigue, including work-rest cycles. (September 4th 1997, full story here, press release here)
The Canadian, a tourist train, derailed on Wednesday night with 222 people on board and one American woman died. Two engines and 10 of 19 cars left the track. The accident happened on the prarie in Saskatchewan near the small town Biggar, whose hospital has 12 beds. If the accident had happened in the middle of nowhere, the consequences would have been worse. (September 4th 1997, more here, with aerial view photo)
High speed railways on divided highway medians are a great idea, researchers at John Moores University in Liverpool think. The trains would reach 320 km/h which would shorten travel time London -Birmingham from 105 minutes to 35, London -Manchester from 150 minutes to 80, and London -Glasgow from over five hours to under three. The researchers have done a study which is currently being reviewed by the British department of transport. (September 2nd 1997, more here)
40 tilting high-speed trains are required by Virgin Rail, one of the new operators on the privatized British railways. On Friday, Virgin is expected to invite bids from ten companies to design, build and maintain the 40 trains, for between £500m and £600m. An order should follow this year, with delivery starting 2001. The trains may look strange as they must fit inside the narrow British railway profile despite tilting. Companies competing include Adtranz, Bombardier, General Electric, General Motors, Kawasaki, and Siemens. GEC Alsthom will team up with Fiat. (GEC Alsthom is instead allied with Bombardier in building trains for Amtrak.) (August 26th 1997, more here)
Angel Trains, one of the three British train leasing companies set up and privatized by the former government, may be floated on the stock market in the USA or Britain. Any flotation must be well-timed, as stock markets are expected to experience a "correction", meaning lots of money may leave the markets all at once. Angel Trains is currently owned by its management and the Nomura bank. In 1995, the business made a pre-tax profit of £107m on turnover of £290m. Why it is to be sold is unclear. (August 21st 1997, more here)
Fare and timetable information is not being properly provided in Britain. In April, only 52% of calls on the national rail inquiry telephone line were answered. The rate now is 82%, but companies have raised response rates by bringing in unqualified staff simply to pick up phones. The Rail Regulator John Swift has announced that Train Operating Companies will be collectively be fined in a month's time unless service improves. The fine will be £50,000 for every percentage point of calls not answered between 85 per cent and 90 per cent, and much more for percentage points below that. (August 21st 1997, more here)
Magnetic levitation trains are more environmentally friendly than the German high-speed train InterCityExpress at speeds over 350 km/h, researchers at the university in Kassel say. The maglev uses less energy, both in manufacturing and use. However, the ICE, built for 280 km/h, is unusually heavy for being a high-speed train. The next generation, ICE3, will be lighter and built for 330 km/h. (June 14th 1997)