This week’s news from the global railway supply chain.
Alstom has awarded Knorr-Bremse a ‘high double-digit million-euro’ contract to supply braking and air-conditioning systems and AutoLink automatic front couplings for 90 custom-designed Adessia Stream EMUs ordered by go.Rheinland and Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr for use on Köln S-Bahn services. Knorr-Bremse said this was its first order to supply couplers to Alstom.
As part of its rail reform programme, Italy’s government is to set up a national rolling stock owning body outside the FS Group. This would acquire rolling stock using National Recovery & Resilience Plan funding, and potentially take over trains already financed in this way, and then make the vehicles available to any future operators.
Arsenal Capital Partners’ engineered elastomer product manufacturer Polycorp has acquired Iron Horse Engineering, which produces rail boot and embedded track technologies. Polycorp said the transaction announced on January 21 brings together two innovation-driven organisations with complementary technologies to provide expanded geographic reach and a comprehensive rail portfolio. All existing operations and service agreements will continue without interruption.
Vinci Construction has signed an agreement to acquire the Fletcher Construction subsidiary of the New Zealand-based Fletcher Building Group, which undertakes rail, hydraulic, maritime, port, airport and road works. The acquisition announced on January 29 is expected to be finalised in 2026.
Indian Railways has awarded Titagarh Rail Systems a Rs2·73bn contract to design and supply 62 self-propelled rail-borne vehicles for the efficient inspection, maintenance and repair of track and overhead equipment, and to provide staff training. The supplier said ‘this maiden order marks a significant strategic milestone for TRSL, signalling the company’s successful entry into a high-value, technology-driven and safety-critical segment’.
JR East has announced plans to develop a 320 km/h successor of its Series 926 ‘East i‘ infrastructure monitoring train, with expected entry into service in FY 2029. To be designated at Seres 927, the train‘s design is to be based on the proposed successors to the series E8 trains used on the Akita ‘mini-Shinkansen’. Design works are to be finalised in mid-2026, following the sourcing of ideas from JR Group employees.
Indra has opened an office in Dublin for the Irish market, where it is managing the National Transport Authority’s multimodal ticketing programme. Minister for Transport, Climate, Environment & Energy Darragh O’Brien said ‘the office will be the nerve centre for the implementation of the national contactless ticketing system, which is set to enhance user comfort and support more sustainable mobility. It will also provide a major boost for the economy, as it will generate high-skilled jobs and strengthen Ireland’s position as a benchmark for smart transportation.’
ENSCO and the Korea Railroad Research Institute have signed a memorandum of understanding establishing a framework for co-operation to identify and pursue mutually beneficial research and development initiatives, including heavy haul operations, high speed rail technologies, advanced testing methodologies and safety systems. It also provides for the potential exchange of technical expertise, joint training programme and shared use of test facilities in the USA and South Korea.
TÜV SÜD has developed an assessment methodology to enable companies to undertake the assessment of sustainability performance which is now required when responding to all Deutsche Bahn tenders exceeding €100 000. ‘With our comprehensive assessment approach, we provide companies with real added value that improves their competitiveness’, said Andrea Mann, sustainability specialist at TÜV SÜD Rail. ‘Not only do they receive a recognised sustainability assessment, but the workshop and results report also provide clear recommendations for action on the sustainable development of the entire company and its future-oriented positioning in the market.’
The US Railway Engineering-Maintenance Suppliers Association has elected JLA Railroad Services President Jason Rea to the board for a two-year term from January 1 2026.
UK-based Loram EMEA has appointed Lee Tinney as Managing Director, with Jennifer Gladding succeeding him as Operations Director. Brad Willems, President & CEO of US parent company Loram Maintenance of Way, said ‘the UK and EMEA regions form a key part of Loram’s ambitious global strategy, and I’m delighted that Lee and Jen will give a renewed focus to existing and new markets across Europe, the Middle East and Africa’.