Germany’s DB expands program to paint rails white
With the extreme heat of climate change placing greater stress on the steel in rails, Deutsche Bahn is expanding its program of painting rails white. The white color will keep the rails cooler during the hot summer months. A large number of lab tests revealed that white rails reflect a significantly greater amount of light, which means they are 7–8 degrees cooler than rails that have not been painted. [railway-news.com]
VIA Rail pledges to improve rail accessibility
VIA Rail Canada has proposed new steps toward ensuring universal accessibility for all passengers.
To increase accessibility, VIA Rail will adapt telephone reservations procedures to meet the needs of those unable to make online reservations; will offer curbside assistance from select station entrances to the platform, which includes wheelchair assistance, guiding assistance and assistance carrying baggage; provide relief areas for service animals at 80 stations; snd improve access to digital, braille, and large print information. [progressiverailroading.com]
Planning Tel Aviv’s Metro begins in earnest
The first budget for detailed planning of Greater Tel Aviv’s Metro is about to be allocated. The underground network will have three lines extending over 145 km (90 mi) to serve 109 stations in 24 cities, and wil include a branch line to Ben Gurion airport. Intensive work on the initial plans has begun and the final plans are scheduled for approval in mid-2022. If passed, an upcoming Economic Arrangements Bill will enable key supports for the project. [globes.co.il]
Four counties now poised to join Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority
Four Montana counties have now joined in a push to restore passenger rail service across the state’s southern tier. Dawson, Sanders, and Park counties have joined Missoula County, which was first to adopt a draft resolution for the upstart Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority. Once Missoula County holds a public hearing adopting the multi-county resolution to establish the new rail authority, the hearing and resolution processes will be followed by the other counties. [missoulacurrent.com]
