On March 3 Alstom inaugurated a €2m factory at Valmadrera in Italy where it will design and produce catenary components, conductor rail and APS ground-level power supply equipment for railway, metro and tram applications. The plant unifies production which was previously divided between two smaller sites in Pescate and Olginate.
The stability of European rolling stock lessors’ business models could be negatively affected by the phasing-out of extraordinary pandemic-related government support as passenger volumes recover across European rail markets, according to Fitch Ratings. However, it expects the reduction in support for operators to be gradual and accompanied by further recovery in passenger volumes and net benefits from higher inflation.
Spanish infrastructure manager ADIF has awarded four regional contracts for the upgrading of its optic fibre network to Emurtel (East region, €17·2m), Sistemas & Montajes Industriales (Northeast, €27·2m), Teléfonos Líneas & Centrales and Cobra Instalaciones & Servicios (Northwest, €16·9m), and Comsa Instalaciones & Sistemas Industriales and Emurtel (South, €20·8m)
Australian Rail Track Corp and John Holland, MBJV and Regional Trac JV, the preferred contractors for the Illabo to Stockinbingal section of the Inland Rail project, have held events in Cootamundra and Junee to explain the opportunities available to local and First Nations businesses. ‘Inland Rail is being predominantly delivered in regional Australia, meaning there is a prime opportunity for regional Australia to reap the immediate benefits that come with construction’, said Director of Programme Delivery Melvyn Maylin.
Alstom has expanded the photovoltaic installation at its Trápaga plant in Spain, commissioning 30 solar panels in addition to 91 installed in 2021. This will generate a total of 50 000 kWh/year, or 15% of the total energy consumed by the site.
Zandra Ford has joined US infrastructure consultancy HNTB as Director of Rail Operations for the Capital Region. She began her career as an analyst at New York City Transit, working in the Department of Subways and Capital Programs Management, advancing to managing line operations and eventually managing service delivery at the NYCT Rapid Transit Operations Rail Control Center where she oversaw seven Subway lines. She then joined the Maryland Transit Administration as Deputy COO Rail.