About the author

Kevin Smith

Kevin Smith joined IRJ in 2009 as Features Editor and since then has travelled the world reporting on developments in the world's railways. He was appointed Managing Editor in 2017 and Editor-in-Chief in February 2020. Before joining IRJ, Kevin worked for several local newspapers in the United States and as a freelance technical writer for a university engineering magazine. Kevin graduated with a first class honours degree in American Studies from Lancaster University, Britain, in 2006, and with a Master's degree in American Studies from Purdue University, United States, in 2008.

April 4, 2018 | Commuter Rail

Ontario issues RFQ for Go upgrade and electrification project

INFRASTRUCTURE Ontario (IO) and Metrolinx have issued a request for qualification (RFQ) to design-build, finance, operate and maintain the GO Rail expansion project, a key element of the region’s $C 21.3bn ($US 16.6bn) Go Expansion (RER) rail network upgrade programme.

April 2, 2018 | Freight

SBB Cargo trials automatic wagon coupling

SBB Cargo is set to trial Voith’s CargoFlex Type Scharfenberg automatic freight coupling on five wagons in mixed service beginning in January 2019.

April 2, 2018 | Financial

John Laing Group sells stake in IEP consortium

THE John Laing Group has announced that it is to sell its 15% stake in the Agility Trains consortium delivering the Intercity Express Programme (IEP) Phase 1 fleet of 57 Super Express Trains built by Hitachi for Britain’s Great Western Main Line to a subsidiary of Axa.

March 29, 2018 | Rolling stock

Alstom nets German DMU orders

ALSTOM has announced orders for 25 140km/h two-car Coradia Lint regional DMUs with operators in southern Germany in deals worth a combined €116m.

March 29, 2018 | Telecoms

Poland selects Nokia for nationwide GSM-R contract

POLISH track authority PKP PLK has awarded Nokia and its partners Herkules, Pozbud and Wasko a five-year contract to deploy GSM-R and a mission-critical backhaul network across the Polish railway network.

March 29, 2018 | Main line

Cost only factor in cancellation of British electrification projects

A report released on March 29 by Britain’s National Audit Office has concluded that the Department for Transport’s (DfT) cancellation of three major electrification projects in July 2017 was motivated solely by cost, countering secretary of state for transport, Mr Chris Grayling’s, claims at the time that bi-mode trains could offer similar benefits to passengers.

March 29, 2018 | High-speed

Tracklaying begins on Turkish high-speed line

TRACKLAYING is underway on the 253km Yerkoy - Sivas section of the 405km high-speed line under construction between the Turkish capital Ankara and Sivas in Anatolian province after a ground-breaking ceremony was held on March 25.

March 28, 2018 | Rolling stock

TfL orders extra Aventra EMUs for Elizabeth Line

TRANSPORT for London has placed an order with Bombardier for an additional five nine-car class 345 Aventra EMUs for use on London’s Elizabeth Line, which will take the total fleet for the new east-west service to 70 trains ahead of full opening in December 2019.

March 28, 2018 | Locomotives

MRCE and Siemens form loco maintenance JV

MITSUI Rail Capital Europe (MRCE) and Siemens have reached an agreement to form a joint venture company, Locomotive Workshop Rotterdam (LWR), for the service and maintenance of locomotives.

March 27, 2018 | North America

Bombardier secures Marc operations and maintenance extension

MARYLAND Transit Administration (MTA) has agreed a five-year extension of its operations and maintenance services contract with Bombardier for the Maryland Area Regional Commuter (Marc) network’s Brunswick and Camden lines.