News

Luxembourg’s national railway operator CFL has awarded Kapsch CarrierCom the contract to implement a countrywide railway communication network based on GSM-R (Global System for Mobile Communications – Railway) for the country’s railway network. The contract, which is scheduled to be complete at the beginning of 2017, includes operation and service support for the first three years. Kapsch will be installing an end-to-end railway telecommunication network based on the GSM-R standard, including a modern IP

Spanish technology company GMV has been awarded a contract by the Malta Public Transport (MPT) to provide the advanced fleet-management and video surveillance system (SAE-CCTV) and the electronic fare-collection system for the modernisation of Malta’s buses. MPT has purchased 143 new low-floor buses for the modernisation process; these feature an advanced fleet management system along with a state-of-the-art ticketing system. The SAE-CCTV is GPS, 3G and wifi-enabled, with door sensors, connection to a

The Norwegian Public Roads Administration (NPRA) has announced its intention to award Q-Free an order for the extension of the ongoing contract for operation of Norway’s central toll collection system. The contract is valued at around US$20 million (NOK 170 million) over three years.

Metropolitan EAD, the metro operator in Sofia, Bulgaria, has commissioned a consortium of Siemens and the Polish train manufacturer Newag to equip the new metro line 3 in the city, which will create an 18 kilometre east-west link that will serve 18 stations. The order, valued at around US$158 million (EUR140 million), comprises the delivery of 20 Inspiro type metro trains and the Trainguard MT automatic train protection system, using wireless CBTC technology (communications-based train control) to provid

A recently-released report from MarketsandMarkets indicates that the global vehicle surveillance market is expected to grow from US$49.93 billion in 2015 to US$103.21 billion by 2022, at a CAGR of 11.1 per cent between 2016 and 2022. Factors such as regulations in different countries for compulsory driver assistance or passenger safety products, the wide range of advantages of in-vehicle surveillance systems, increasing sales of premium cars and the increase in traffic fatalities demand greater traffic c

A growing number of US state departments of transportation are leveraging innovative drone technology to creatively improve safety, reduce traffic congestion and save money. According to a March 2016 survey by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), 33 state departments of transportation have or are exploring, researching, testing or using unmanned aerial vehicles, commonly referred to as drones, to inspect bridges and assist with clearing vehicle crashes, among othe

A coalition of New York State Assembly Members has unveiled legislation that they say will not only fund Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) capital needs but will create a US$4.5 billion Transit Gap Investment Fund (TGIF) to expand public transit and improve accessibility for millions of New Yorkers, particularly those who live in so-called ‘transit deserts’. Introduced by Assembly Member Robert J. Rodriguez, chair of the subcommittee on infrastructure, and joined by 14 co-sponsors from across t

Kapsch TrafficCom subsidiary Kapsch TrafficCom Australia is to replace the existing road tolling systems for Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Harbour Tunnel operated by the New South Wales Roads and Maritime Services (RMS). The contract, worth more than US$112 million (€10 million), comprises supply of a new tolling system, as well as maintenance and support for five years. The new tolling solution is expected to be operating by early 2017. Kapsch will deliver its latest tolling technology based on th

Live traffic video integrator TrafficLand is to provide live video from its network of public traffic cameras to the Weather Channel’s new Local Now service. Local Now, launched in January on Sling TV, offers real-time, local updates on weather, traffic and news content to streaming content services. Under the agreement, Local Now can show live TrafficLand network video from over 250 US and Canadian markets, providing ground level video verification from up to six locations in each market. The Local

Clean diesel grants aimed at cleaning up old diesel engines have greatly improved public health by cutting harmful pollution that causes premature deaths, asthma attacks and missed school and workdays, according to a new report by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Since its start in 2008, the Diesel Emission Reduction Act (DERA) program has significantly improved air quality for communities across the country by retrofitting and replacing older diesel engines. Diesel exhaust significantly con

Hexagon’s dispatch and mobile software to support national system aiding millions of drivers A consortium of Australian motoring clubs serving 2.8 million customers has selected US-based Hexagon Safety & Infrastructure to provide a cloud-based platform for roadside assistance for its Common Australian Roadside Assistance System (CARS) program. Comprising the Royal Automobile Clubs of Queensland, Western Australia and South Australia, the Australian Club Consortium (ACC) was formed to promote inter-clu

City of York Council is to introduce thermal imaging technology on key cycle routes in York to help reduce the time spent at traffic signals, improve journey reliability and cycle safety. The city is set to become one of the first councils in the country to start using the technology which will accurately detect cyclists at signals by their ‘heat signature’, allowing the signals to react accordingly and be adjusted to give more ‘green time’ for cyclists. The thermal technology was first introduced by

Stroud District Council in the UK has upgraded its town centre parking with the installation of 32 multi-service, colour screen Parkeon StradaPAL parking terminals. The solar powered machines feature a 7-inchcolour display screen which offers the functionality to enhance the parking solution into a multi-purpose sales and information channel with a ready-made connection to the Parkeon cloud. Nine of the new terminals accept multiple payments, including contactless, with the remainder being coin-only with

According to Sveriges Radio, the charging stations on Norway’s Green Highway between Sundsvall and Storlien charged over 20,000 cars in 2015. Most of the charges were made in Åretrakten, in central Sundsvall and in the area of trade Birsta. The Green Highway is a joint project by Sundsvall, Östersund and Trondheim municipalities to develop a fossil-free transport corridor. In total there are over 170 electric charging stations along the highway, a number that is growing steadily each year as the numbe

Sweden’s two kilometre-long Elväg Gävle electric road test track, which runs along the E16 between Sandviken and Kungsgården, is to begin operation in June 2016, according to Processnet. The project is managed by the Regional Development Council of Gävleborg (Region Gavleborg), which is financing it in partnership with the Swedish Transport Administration, Trafikverket, the Swedish Energy Agency, Swedish government agency for research and development Vinnova, Scania and Siemens. Other partners include st