NEWS FOR MAY 2009

Capitol Corridor Authority seeks wireless system

California´s Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority (CCJPA) has released a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to find a company to develop and install an advanced wireless network system for its intercity passenger rail system. The aim is to provide free internet access to passengers on trains and at stations along the Capitol Corridor from Auburn to San Jose.

CCJPA managing director Gene Skoropowski says, “Riders have been requesting WiFi access on the trains for years. Our wireless network will increase productivity and satisfaction among our passengers, and will be another Capitol Corridor amenity that will encourage people to leave their cars at home. Wireless broadband networks are a compelling proposition for passengers and train operators alike, and we expect to see a rapid increase in this service enhancement across the United States.”

Interested parties can find out more about the project by logging on to http://www.capitolcorridor.org/aboard_the_train/wi_fi.php.

New trains for Stuttgart

Bombardier and Alstom will be working together on 83 Deutsche Bahn Regio AG (DB) electric multiple units. The order is worth approximately €452 million (US $605 million). Alstom's share accounts for around €112 million (US $150 million). The contract includes an option for up to 83 additional electric multiple units.

The new trains feature 24 electrical swivel-sliding doors with bridge plates for easier passenger movement on and off. The wide centre aisles and the accessible gangways should allow for convenient passenger flow between cars. There is full visibility of the complete interior length due to the clearance above the seat backrests. Four video security cameras are fitted in each car, and onboard monitors display information on live rail traffic in real time.

The vehicles will be delivered between February 2012 and December 2012.

Passenger Focus in the UK has been looking at passengers' views on the design of trains currently in service across the British inter-city train network. The findings show that although passengers want improved luggage space, this should not impact on the comfort of their journey. They also expect seating and legroom to be of a standard which at least meets current best practice.

The organisation is now calling on the industry to build mock-ups of the new trains to run on the East Coast Main Line and Great Western Main Line, giving passengers the opportunity to give feedback on design. Passenger Focus chief executive Anthony Smith says, “Trains currently running on these lines are at least 30 years old. Modern trains with better performance and passenger capacity are urgently needed. It is passengers who will be buying tickets to travel on these trains for the next 30 or 40 years, so it is only right that they're given a say on how trains for the 21st century should be designed.”

Read the full report at http://www.passengerfocus.org.uk/news-and-publications/document-search/document.asp?dsid=2717

Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) has released some early renderings of possible interior seat layouts for the next-generation railcar. The operator says in a statement, “These early concept illustrations are intended to expand the realm of possibilities at this very early stage in the process.” The formal design process for the new railcar will not start until late in 2010, after a contract has been awarded to a manufacturer. All of the new design concepts include a third door, designed to speed boarding and reduce congestion.

Orient Express interior for sale

Panels, doors and an original sleeping car (including the bathroom) from an Orient Express railcar are to be sold off at auction in June. The interiors come from a sale in Monaco in 1977, when a number of discarded carriages and interiors were sold at auction. The fixtures and fittings will go on sale on June 10 in Bonhams' Design from 1860 auction. The train's interiors were designed by a leading French artist of the Art Deco movement, Rene Prou. Prou was a top designer for luxury travel; he also carried out commissions for luxury liners and designed the interior of the dining room at the Waldorf Astoria hotel in New York.

World leading composite suppliers attend Expo

Railway Interiors Expo is returning to the Kölnmesse, Cologne on 24, 25 and 26 November 2009. This year's event promises to be bigger and better than ever, with a winning combination of exhibitors showcasing their latest products and services and the Open Technology Conference Forum.

Already there are more exhibitors booked for the 2009 exhibition than the total in Amsterdam last year. Composite companies ANSA Compositi, Compotech and Euro Composites will be in attendance, and other recent exhibitor confirmations include Dowaldwerke, J.C.F Kaufmann, Clagi, Herbert Knietz, Andrew Muirhead and Walter Mader. Replin Fabrics, Perrone Aerospace, Werserland Sitzsyteme and Gibo Plast have also announced their participation.

Are you thinking about exhibiting? Then get in touch now!

Over the course of 2010 there is predicted to be a huge increase in rail infrastructure investment across the world. With so many operators and manufacturers attending Railway Interiors Expo, the show is a must-attend event for any company that wants to take advantage of this large-scale investment. Any suppliers wishing to expand their business and make new contacts are encouraged to book their stand early to avoid disappointment. Call Michael Blackhurst on +44 (0)1306 743744 to learn about the great opportunities that exhibiting brings. Space is filling up, so don’t delay!