All Railway Gazette International articles in February 2020 – Page 5
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Metro Report InternationalFirst of 12 Panorama trams arrive in Olsztyn
POLAND: The first of 12 Durmazlar Panorama trams was delivered to Olsztyn on February 14. The low-floor vehicles were ordered from the Turkish manufacturer in August 2018 at the cost of 107·9m złoty, and will operate on the 6 km extension of the city’s tram network from ...
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Rail Business UKWigan multiple-unit depot inaugurated
Source: Tony Miles UK: Northern and Network Rail have inaugurated a £46m rolling stock stabling and light maintenance facility at Wigan Springs Branch, alongside the former diesel locomotive depot now used by Network Rail. The four-road depot provides Northern with an additional base for its expanding fleet, ...
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NewsKintetsu prepares to launch luxury Hinotori EMUs
JAPAN: Kinki Nippon Railway has started driver training with the first of 11 Series 80000 EMUs that it has ordered from sister company Kinki Sharyo to operate limited express services between Nagoya and Osaka-Namba.
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Metro Report InternationalFast-charge battery development funded
AUSTRALIA: The development of fast-charge lithium-ion batteries to power catenary-free trams is among the projects which have been awarded A$11m of government funding under a programme to develop the national minerals sector. The A$5m tram battery project brings together the Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation, University ...
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Rail Business UKUnite seeks reassurance about future of Bombardier’s Derby factory
UK: Trade union Unite said it was seeking reassurances about the long-term future of the Bombardier Transportation factory in Derby following Alstom’s announcement on February 17 that it had signed a memorandum of understanding to acquire Bombardier Inc’s activities in the rail sector. ‘The Bombardier factory in ...
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NewsAlstom agrees to buy Bombardier Transportation
INTERNATIONAL: The signing of a memorandum of understanding for Alstom to acquire 100% of Bombardier Transportation from Bombardier Inc and Caisse de Dépôt et Placement du Québec was announced by the companies on February 17. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2021, ...
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NewsIllegally-closed cross-border railway reopened
EUROPE: The reinstated 19 km railway between Mažeikiai in Lithuania and Rengė in Latvia was officially reopened February 15, when ministers and officials from both countries attended a ceremony to mark the departure of a train carrying oil to Latvia from Orlen’s Lithuanian refinery. ...
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NewsAkiem acquires Macquarie European Rail fleet
EUROPE: Leasing company Akiem Group has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Macquarie European Rail’s rolling stock leasing business, subject to regulatory approval. The transaction includes 137 locomotives used by 21 freight and passenger operators, including EMD Class 66, Bombardier Traxx, Alstom Prima and GE Transportation 311D ...
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Metro Report InternationalIași orders 16 more trams
ROMANIA: The Ministry of Regional Development & Public Administration has awarded Polish manufacturer Pesa a €38·5m contract to supply 16 trams to the city of Iași on February 5. The five-section low-floor Swing 122Na vehicles will be 30·5 m long with a capacity for 239 passengers, 58 ...
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Metro Report InternationalFirst of 10 trams delivered to Katowice
modertrans katowice tram POLAND: Modertrans delivered the first of 10 single-section trams to Tramwaje Śląskie on February 12. The low-floor vehicle is one of two bidirectional trams and eight unidirectional ones expected to operate in Katowice by the end of ...
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NewsHitachi Rail STS awarded VR ETCS contract
FINLAND: Stadler has awarded Hitachi Rail STS a contract to provide onboard train control equipment for the 60 diesel-electric locomotives it is to supply to national railway VR . This will be compatible with ETCS Baseline 3.6 as well as the JKV national train protection system. ...
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In depthIndia: IR firms up private train strategy
The government is pressing ahead with plans for private operators to fund much-needed extra passenger capacity on the Indian Railways network. Raghu Dayal investigates.
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Metro Report InternationalVitoria-Gasteiz tram network extended
SPAIN: A 1·4 km southern extension of the Vitoria-Gasteiz tram network opened on February 15. The metre gauge extension runs from Angulema stop to Unibertsitatea Universidad via the stations of Florida and Hegoalde. The section between Hegoalde and Unibertsitatea Universidad is single track. A 2·5 km extension ...
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NewsAlstom and Bombardier Transportation confirm acquisition discussions
INTERNATIONAL: Discussion are underway for the possible acquisition of Bombardier Transportation by Alstom SA, both companies have confirmed. The French company issued a statement on February 17 confirming that discussions were on-going but no final decision had been made. This was echoed by Bombardier Transportation, which told ...
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Rail Business UKTransport Focus publishes penalty fare appeals investigation
UK: Transport Focus has published its Penalty Fares – the Appeals Process investigation into how passengers are treated when they appeal a penalty fare to two independent bodies under the regulations which came into force in 2018. The watchdog found problems with the signposting of the service, ...
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NewsADB funds Bangladesh enhancement plans
BANGLADESH: Planning for a major programme of railway upgrading and intermodal transport projects is set to move forward following the approval of a US$42m package of ‘project readiness financing’ by the Asian Development Bank on February 7.
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NewsCertifer enters the German-speaking market
EUROPE: Testing, inspection and certification body Certifer has entered the German, Austrian and Swiss market with the acquisition of railway inspection and certification company Angewandte Eisenbahnteknik. AEbt is based in Nürnberg, has a Swiss office in Olten and is the main shareholder of Austrian notified body ERC. ...
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Metro Report InternationalTransport for London selects preferred route and trams for Sutton Link
UK: Transport for London has announced its preferred route option for the proposed extension of the London Trams network to serve Sutton, along with the use of light rail rather than bus rapid transit. Public feedback had been invited on three possible routes and the use ...
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NewsWorld rail freight news round-up
Last year 363 842 tonnes of freight passed through the Astara rail terminal on the Azerbaijan–Iran border which opened in February 2018. This was up from 263 976 tonnes in 2018. Traffic comprised wood products (48%), cereals (17%), construction materials (18%) and other goods including fruit, vegetables ...
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NewsWabtec starts work on Bochum brake and coupler plant
Source: Panattoni GERMANY: Wabtec has held a groundbreaking ceremony to launch construction of a 20 000 m2 brake and coupler manufacturing and maintenance factory at Bochum. Source: Wabtec/Patrick Sordoillet The plant is being developed by Panattoni Europe, with completion planned for Q3 2020. ...