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Listen to this article On Thursday 29 May, HS2 revealed the first section of platform to be installed for Britain’s new high-speed railway. In the underground box at HS2’s Old Oak Common station, engineers have begun installing the platform slabs which passengers will use when boarding or alighting high-speed trains in the future. Six platforms…
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Listen to this article The iconic Glenfinnan Viaduct in the Scottish Highlands, made famous worldwide by the Harry Potter films, has undergone an extensive, £3.4 million maintenance programme to safeguard its future for generations to come. Network Rail, along with principal contractor AmcoGiffen, assessed the condition of the viaduct. Concrete repairs were carried out across…
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Listen to this article HS2 celebrated another construction milestone on 9 May when the 1,600-tonne tunnel boring machine (TBM), Mary Ann, broke through at Washwood Heath, Birmingham, marking the end of her mission to excavate the first bore of what will soon become the longest railway tunnel in the West Midlands. The 125-metre-long machine began…
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Listen to this article Engineers at Senceive have developed a rockfall detection system for sites considered vulnerable to blockage or damage caused by falling rocks and debris. While the UK rail network does not generally face the same degree of risk from rockfall as some European routes, for example those in the Alps and Pyrenees,…
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Listen to this article Railway asset engineers and their project colleagues currently face a huge challenge to keep the railway safe and reliable, with a budget said to be 25% less than what is required to maintain the current asset condition. All asset types face the same challenge, but geotechnical earthworks face another challenge with…
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Image courtesy Alliander To meet the growing electricity demand, Dutch regional grid company Alliander has awarded a tender of €422 million ($489.5 million) to renew and expand the capacity of its electricity stations on the medium-voltage network. Increasing demand continues to be a headache for grid operators in the Netherlands. To meet it and resolve…
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Listen to this article SPL Powerlines UK (SPL) has just completed a major milestone on the East Kilbride Enhancement project as it prepares to enter into service the latest electrified route in Scotland. Regional Director Lee Pounder took some time out to chat with Rail Engineer about the significant achievements following the completion of the…
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Nicki Garland, head of UK&I, innocent drinks. Posted: 24 June 2025 Share this page innocent drinks, Europe’s leading healthy drinks company, announces Nicki Garland will take on the role of Head of UK & Ireland this summer. Nicki takes on the reigns from John Taylor who is set to move on to a new role…
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Listen to this article Over the past 20 years the railway has adopted many new technologies on modern passenger trains and infrastructure equipment which have provided significant benefits. However, rail freight has seen little new technology. Most freight trains are hauled by a diesel locomotive introduced in the 1990s. Freight wagons, with no electrical supply,…
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Glass bottles have higher levels of microplastic particles than those in plastic bottles, cans, or cartons. This was the unexpected conclusion of a study carried out by the ANSES Laboratory for Food Safety‘s Boulogne-sur-Mer unit. The paint used on bottle caps may be the source of these plastic particles, according to the scientists’ idea. Compared…
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