About the author

David Briginshaw

David Briginshaw joined IRJ in 1982 as associate editor, and was appointed editor-in-chief in 2001. He has travelled the world extensively interviewing many of the CEOs and senior managers of the world's railways and transit systems which has given him an in-depth knowledge of the global railway industry. David Briginshaw is currently consulting editor and associate publisher of IRJ.

November 20, 2017 | Light Rail

CAF and Mitsubishi win Manila LRV contract

THE Philippines Department of Transportation and Communications has awarded Mitsubishi Corporation and CAF a €225m contract for 30 LRVs for Manila Light Rail Transit Authority’s Line LRT1.

November 17, 2017 | Rolling stock

NJ Transit to order 113 double-deck EMU cars

NJ Transit has issued a call for tender for the supply of 113 double-deck EMU cars with a closing date for bids of February 15 2018. NJ Transit also plans to invite bids early in 2018 for 17 dual-mode locomotives.

November 16, 2017 | Policy

England’s Transport for the North to become statutory authority in 2018

THE British government introduced legislation into parliament on November 16 to turn Transport for the North (TfN) into a what it describes as “the first ever statutory sub-national transport body, with legal powers and duties” by April 2018.

November 15, 2017 | Main line

First British railway supervisory boards set up

NETWORK Rail (NR), together with Virgin Trains, Abellio (the winner of the West Midlands franchise), and Chiltern Railways, have appointed Mr Geoff Inskip to chair two independent supervisory boards being set up to oversee business performance and help attract external investors covering two areas of NR’s London North Western route.

November 15, 2017 | Freight

Mercitalia Rail orders locomotives and freight wagons

ITALIAN State Railways’ (FS) freight subsidiary, Mercitalia Rail, and its subsidiary TX Logistix, have agreed to purchase up to 125 new-generation Traxx DC3/MS electric locomotives from Bombardier for a total investment of around €400m, while Mercitalia Rail and Cemat will purchase 250 freight wagons at a cost of €27m.

November 9, 2017 | Rolling stock

ČD launches train procurement plan

THE Supervisory Board and Steering Committee of Czech Railways (ČD) has approved the procurement of more than 160 vehicles for long-distance and regional services worth about CKr 20bn ($US 910m).

November 9, 2017 | Locomotives

Uzbekistan launches tender for electric locomotives

UZBEKISTAN Railways (UTY) has launched a tender for 24 electric locomotives divided into 16 freight and eight passenger units to address what it describes as a chronic shortage of locomotives and to cater for traffic growth.

November 8, 2017 | Technology

Idea Train mock-up unveiled in Nuremberg

DB Regio and Bavarian Railway Company (BEG) presented a one-to-one double-deck mock-up of their Idea Train in Nuremberg on November 7 showing innovative product and service concepts for regional services.

November 7, 2017 | Track

Thameslink project moves a step closer to completion

NETWORK Rail’s £6.5bn Thameslink project to upgrade the north-south route through London has moved a step nearer completion with the installation of new track and signalling between London Bridge and Blackfriars which will allow this section to reopen in May 2018.

November 6, 2017 | Europe

UIC calls for public safety awareness campaign

ACCORDING to the International Union of Railways’ (UIC) annual report on railway accidents in Europe, in 2016, 52% of accidents were caused by trespassing, and 24% by accidents at level crossings, while 7% of accidents involved people being hit on a platform or falling from a train or platform.