Head of the Russian Republic of Mordovia Vladimir Volkov officially reopened RM Rail’s Ruzkhimmash factory in Saransk on June 10. It had been mothballed in 2014, but has reopened to produce lightweight aluminium-bodied hopper wagons and high-capacity container flat wagons.
South African industrial and infrastructure group Aveng has completed the sale of its Aveng Rail business to black-owned investment company Mathupha Capital for R133m in cash, which will be used to reduce overall debt. Aveng said the sale was an important step in its strategy to focus on becoming an international infrastructure and resources group.
French development agency AFD is to provide in-kind grant financing of up to €700 000 to support station modernisation works to be undertaken by Indian Railway Station Development Corp in partnership with SNCF.
DB’s UK consultancy arm DB ESG has opened a brake system technology laboratory to house its wheelslide protection evaluation rig at the Railway Technical Centre in Derby. New developments include the ability to simulate up to 12-car trainsets and electrodynamic brake testing, and a software interface between multivehicle brakes and a train’s IP network is being developed to enable whole train system testing. DB ESG is also in discussions with customers about the potential use of WSPER for ETCS qualification tests.
Russian Railways and Mizuho Bank signed a co-operation agreement defining general principles for collaboration at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum on June 7. This provides for the bank’s participation in projects that are planned in RZD’s long-term development programme to 2025.
Following an audit by AFNOR Certification, Alstom has obtained AFAQ ISO 37001 anti-bribery certification for the North America, Middle East & Africa and Latin America regions. It has previous been certified for Europe and Asia-Pacific, and so is now certified to the standard in every territory where it operates.