Based on our study of Turkish rail construction, we found that there were four primary factors that kept construction costs low and the processes efficient. First, there was an ongoing political commitment spanning different administrations …
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How Italian metro construction costs 57% less than global average (TransitCosts)
In this in-depth case study of Italian rail rapid transit projects, we investigate how Italian construction costs have changed over time and distill lessons learned to understand how design, procurement, and policy drive costs. We …
Continue readingHS2 trials electric drilling rig (RailwayNews)
HS2 Ltd’s construction partner, Balfour Beatty VINCI Joint Venture (BBV) is trialling an electric, high-capacity drilling rig for construction on HS2’s site in Warwickshire. This trial advances the joint venture’s plan to meet HS2 Ltd’s …
Continue readingDfT to fund East West Rail phases 2 & 3 (NewCivilEng)
The Department for Transport (DfT) is preparing to set aside almost £2.7bn to pay for contracts for the delivery of the next stages of East West Rail (EWR). EWR is a new high-speed rail line …
Continue readingItalian urban rail transit costs 57% less than global average (TransitCosts)
The Italian Case – In this in-depth case study of Italian rail rapid transit projects, we investigate how Italian construction costs have changed over time and distill lessons learned to understand how design, procurement, and …
Continue readingChina’s annual December Metro openings bonanza
It has become a popular pastime among Chinese railfans to get really excited at around the end of December, as that is the period of a slew of metro openings across the country. And being …
Continue readingFriday Reads – 6 May 2022
• Royal Mail to double Scotland mail trains (Scotsman) • To live or to park? That is the question – Whether ’tis nobler to park at the Tube station (OnLondon) • Estonia’s free public transport …
Continue readingHS2 using retired wind turbine blades to reinforce concrete (HS2)
Innovation believed to be world-first Process cuts carbon production by up to 90% Worn-out wind turbine blades destined for the incinerator will instead be used to create carbon-friendly reinforced concrete on Britain’s new high speed …
Continue readingThe benefit from legacy railway assets (RailEngineer)
Nature’s reclamation of our dismantled railway network describes a delightfully melancholy intermingling, whereby wildlife and vegetation recolonise trackbeds while structures are lost to the permeative interventions of water and tree growth. But a more malevolent …
Continue readingTfL removes ineffective sound dampening near Morden (LocalLondon)
Transport for London is removing a noise reduction system from the Northern line track between South Wimbledon and Morden. People have expressed concerns on social media that the noise pollution will “switch back on overnight” …
Continue readingFriday Reads – April 15 2022
• Early UK bus station architecture descended from cinemas (BeautyOfTransport) • Montreal’s Blue line East Extension progresses toward 2029 (MassTransit) • Tel Aviv Red Line LRT almost ready for November opening (IntlRailJ) • Is third …
Continue readingHS2’s huge carbon savings with modular viaduct design (RailUK)
HS2 today revealed the final designs for the Thame Valley Viaduct and the pioneering pre-fabricated construction methods that will see the 880m long structure slotted together like a giant Lego set, cutting its carbon footprint …
Continue readingTfL testing chemical-free wayto eliminate Japanese knotweed (IanVisits)
Transport for London (TfL) has been carrying out a trial of a method of killing Japanese Knotweed infestations using electricity instead of chemicals. Japanese knotweed is an invasive species introduced to the UK in the …
Continue readingDiaphragm walls for HS2 Old Oak Common station (GroundEng)
HS2’s Old Oak Common station is set to be the biggest to be built since Victorian times with platforms enclosed in a record breaking box currently under construction. The scale of High Speed 2’s (HS2’s) …
Continue readingMetro/railway tunnel ventilation energy savings (RailwayPro)
Within the energy needs, a distinction must be made between the traction area, which in a simplified way brings together the energy necessary to move the trains, and the station area, which includes the installations …
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