NEWS THIS MONTH

Railway Interiors awards - call for nominations!

The Railway Interiors Innovation and Excellence Awards are designed to recognise and reward the increasing sophistication of railcar interior design, equipment, technology and furnishings.

The awards cover every class of passenger rail vehicle from local light rail to intercontinental high-speed services, and nominations can be put forward by anyone working in the sector.

The jury is made up of up to 30 internationally renowned independent industry journalists, passenger representative groups and consultants.

So get ready to nominate your favourite railcar interior!

Here are the categories:

• Design of the Year
• Passenger Comfort Innovation of the Year
• Safety/Accessibility Innovation of the Year
• Security Innovation of the Year
• Passenger Infotainment Innovation of the Year
• Refurbishment of the Year
• Passenger Service Innovation of the Year
• Innovation of the Year (awarded at the show)

These prestigious awards will be presented at the end of Day 2 or at a ceremony during a Gala Dinner. Make sure your favourite project doesn’t get missed off the nominations list!

The rules

Nominations must refer to passenger rail carriages entering service between 1 November 2008 and 1 November 2009. Carriages undergoing final shakedown trials may be entered; concepts may not.

Design of the Year:
Entries should relate to total carriage interior design, taking into consideration all the factors below.

Passenger Comfort Innovation of the Year:
Entries can refer to seats, toilet provisions, lighting, carriage environment controls – anything that has a major, positive impact on passenger comfort.

Safety/Accessibility Feature of the Year:
Entries can cover any interior design or equipment provision that makes rail travel more accessible or safe.

Passenger Infotainment Innovation of the Year:
An award for the system, or the innovative use of such a system, that best contributes to passengers’ information and entertainment.

Refurbishment of the Year:
Entries can cover any full interior refurbishment.

Security Innovation of the Year:
The award will go to the design concept or use of technology that most enhances the security of either passengers, staff or both.

Passenger Service Innovation of the Year:
Entries can relate to any activity or initiative that enhances levels of passenger service, for instance a new training scheme, work practice or branding initiative. Only rail operators or their outsourced contractors may be entered for this award.

Nominate Now

To make your nomination for the Railway Interiors Innovation and Excellence Awards, please email railwayinteriors@ukintpress.com with your nomination. Please also state which category your nomination should be entered under.

WiFi online

The Wrexham & Shropshire railway is set to offer free WiFi services to passengers on all trains running between central London and the UK Midlands.

The system to be used is Icomera AB’s Moovbox M200R using multiple next-generation 3G HSPA (High-Speed Packet Access) connections from Vodafone and Orange, at speeds up to several megabits per second.

Andy Hamilton, managing director of Wrexham & Shropshire, says, “Free internet access is an extremely attractive service for both business and leisure travellers, and the Icomera Moovbox has enabled us to upgrade our fleet cost-effectively.”

Amtrak has done a deal worth US$17.2 million with Virginia authorities to operate a new daily service to Washington, DC from Lynchburg over a three-year demonstration period beginning in October 2009 and from Richmond beginning in December 2009. Detailed schedules and fares will be announced by the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation and Amtrak in the next few months.

In addition to Virginia, Amtrak currently has partnership agreements with several other states including California, Illinois, Maine, Michigan and New York to operate state-funded passenger rail services.

Amtrak president and CEO Joseph Boardman says, “Amtrak is excited to establish new passenger rail services for Virginia, and is seeking opportunities to partner with other states to provide additional rail transportation options.”

Bombardier’s new facility in Savli, Vadodara Gujarat, has sent its first MOVIA metro train to customer Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC).

The factory was completed in 24 months at a cost of €33 million. It will serve various projects across the Southeast Asia region, generating 750 jobs on-site and a further 2,000 indirectly in India.

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!