Container wagon designed to offer seven day China – Europe transit time
RUSSIA: Sinara Transport Machines has unveiled a prototype wagon developed to meet Federal Freight Co’s requirements for transporting containerised high-margin goods between far eastern and European Russia at passenger trains speeds of 140 km/h.
Prototype refurbished Coradia Continental EMU rolled out
GERMANY: ‘This is a prime example of how tried and tested rolling stock can be upgraded and refurbished to provide passengers with a level of convenience similar to that of new trains’, said Thomas Schmidt, Managing Director of Alpha Trains Europa, when Talbot Services unveiled a modernised Alstom Coradia Continental ...
Friesen Bridge replacement project gets underway
GERMANY: A ceremony has been held to symbolically launch work to build the largest swing bridge of its kind in Europe, which will replace the Friesen Bridge over the River Ems near the Dutch border which was irreparably damaged by a cargo ship in December 2015.
Comment: Modal shift still key to rail’s green agenda
In the transport sector, the urge to decarbonise is manifesting itself in an increasingly frenetic push for the roll-out of hydrogen fuel cell and battery technology to replace internal combustion in everything from cars to small aircraft. These offer significant potential for decarbonising rail too, but should not be prioritised over the need to deliver modal shift from more polluting forms of mobility, argues our Managing Editor Nick Kingsley.
Rail Freight Energy & Emissions Calculation tool to help optimise performance
UK: Funding has been awarded for the development of a low-cost tool allowing train operators and their customers estimate accurately the emissions produced by different traction, route and loading options in order to assess the benefits of modal shift to rail.
CP set to acquire 117 EMUs in ‘largest ever’ procurement
PORTUGAL: The Council of Ministers has approved investment worth €819m to enable national passenger operator CP to call tenders for 117 regional and suburban EMUs, of which €617m would come from EU grants.
Africa: Traxtion eyes growth potential
New investment opportunities are opening up in the African rail sector, and as the continent’s largest private freight operator Traxtion wants to lead the charge, CEO James Holley tells Chris Jackson.
