Heavy haul news – Page 3
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NewsMalmbanan resignalling to support ETCS
SWEDEN: Trafikverket has started work on a three-year project to resignal the Malmbanan heavy haul line between Boden and Riksgränsen with digital interlockings and ETCS at an estimated cost of SKr3bn. According to the infrastructure manager, most of the existing interlockings on the iron ore corridor are more than ...
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NewsRio Tinto completes AutoHaul autonomous train project
AUSTRALIA: Rio Tinto has announced the successful deployment of its AutoHaul technology for the autonomous operation of iron ore trains in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, creating what the mining company said was ‘the world’s largest robot and first automated heavy-haul, long-distance rail network’. Deployment of the ATO over ...
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NewsHeavy haul tests to improve capacity to the ports
RUSSIA: A Type 2ES10 Granite twin-section electric freight locomotive manufactured by the Ural Locomotives joint venture of Sinara (51%) and Siemens (49%) has been undergoing haulage and energy efficiency testing on Russian Railways’ Oktyabrskaya Railway as part of a government programme to increase capacity on routes to ports in northwest ...
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NewsDriverless heavy haul train completes first iron ore delivery
AUSTRALIA: Rio Tinto completed its first iron ore delivery using a driverless train on July 10. The Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator had granted approval on May 16, and full commercial operation is planned for late 2018. The fully-loaded autonomous train with three locomotives carried 28 000 ...
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NewsFortescue plans rail link to fourth mine
AUSTRALIA: Around 143 km of new railway is to be built in the Pilbara region of Western Australia as part of a A$1·7bn development programme announced by Fortescue Metals Group Chief Executive Elizabeth Gaines on May 28. The extension from the Solomon Hub will connect the group’s planned Western Hub ...
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NewsRio Tinto’s automated trains approved
AUSTRALIA: Rio Tinto has been granted accreditation by Australia’s Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator, approving the autonomous operation of iron ore trains in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, the group announced on May 18. Confirming that the AutoHaul project is ‘on schedule to be completed by the ...
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NewsHeavy haul rail fastening contract awarded
CHINA: Shanxi Jingshen Railway Co has awarded Pandrol a contract to supply almost 880 000 Fastclip FC-16 rail fastening sets for 232 track-km of heavy haul line under construction in central China. The line will connect with a 400 track-km section of the Menghua heavy haul railway where Pandrol is ...
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NewsRio Tinto operates first fully-autonomous test train
AUSTRALIA: Rio Tinto has successfully operated its first fully-autonomous freight train on its iron ore network in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, the company announced on October 2. The 100 km pilot run from Wombat Junction to Paraburdoo was completed without a driver on board. Throughout the trip, the ...
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NewsIHHA conference considers rail’s role in a changing world
INTERNATIONAL: ‘This is a journey, not just an event’, emphasised Transnet Freight Rail General Manager, Capital Projects, Brian Monakali, welcoming delegates to the 11th International Heavy Haul Association conference which began in Cape Town on September 4. Newly elected as IHHA Chairman for the next two years, Monakali said ...
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NewsVale anticipates fuel saving from Trip Optimizer
BRAZIL: Vale expects to make significant fuel savings by deploying GE Transportation’s Trip Optimizer automated cruise control system across 114 locomotives used on the Estrada de Ferro Carajás heavy haul network. Pilot tests are also expected to start shortly on the Vitória a Minas network, and on the Nacala Corridor ...
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NewsFirst Roy Hill locomotives arrive in the Pilbara
AUSTRALIA: The first of 21 GE Evolution Series locomotives ordered for the Roy Hill Iron Ore Project was named ‘Ginny’ by Roy Hill Holdings Chair Gina Rinehart in a ceremony at Port Hedland on March 23. GE and its local partner UGL Ltd have delivered 14 of the 21 locomotives ...
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NewsHeavy haul coal line opened
CHINA: The country’s longest dedicated heavy haul coal railway was opened for revenue operation on December 30. According to the Shandong provincial development and reform commission, the completion of the line is important to for China’s energy security. It is also expected to stimulate economic development along the route. Intended ...
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NewsRio Tinto ready to test automated operation
AUSTRALIA: Rio Tinto Iron Ore has confirmed its intention to ‘soft launch’ its AutoHaul project before the end of May, to test the automatic operation of heavy haul freight trains. The initial run on the Hamersley line between Tom Price and the port at Dampier is described by an ...
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NewsRio Tinto orders Wabtec ECP braking equipment
AUSTRALIA: On April 30 Wabtec Corp announced an US$15m order to provide electronically-controlled pneumatic braking equipment including software for use on heavy haul locomotives and wagons operated by Rio Tinto in the Pilbara region. Delivery is scheduled for this year. The contract follows on from previous orders to supply ECP ...
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NewsRoy Hill railway contract awarded
AUSTRALIA: Construction of the proposed 342 km railway to serve the Roy Hill iron ore mine in the Pilbara region of Western Australia is on course for completion by November 2015, following the award of an A$5·9bn contract to Samsung C&T. Under the deal, South Korea’s second largest construction company ...
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NewsRio Tinto awards heavy haul signalling contract
AUSTRALIA: Ansaldo STS Australia has been awarded a A$80·2m contract to supply signalling, communications and train control equipment for Rio Tinto's heavy haul Rail Capacity Enhancement Project 353. Project 353 covers doubling of the 70 km single track line from Emu Siding to the port at Cape Lambert, as part ...
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NewsRio Tinto automation contract confirmed
AUSTRALIA: Train operations on Rio Tinto’s heavy haul iron ore railways in the Pilbara are to be fully automated by 2015 under two contracts announced on July 6. Valued at A$362m in total, the contracts have been exercised under the framework agreement which Rio Tinto signed with Ansaldo STS in ...
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NewsUGL announces freight locomotive orders worth A$190m
AUSTRALIA: Four 'significant' orders to supply and maintain a total of 38 freight locomotives were announced by UGL Ltd on May 31. The total value of the contracts is A$190m. Rio Tinto has ordered an unspecified number of GE Evolution locomotives, taking the total number of GE/UGL locomotives ordered for ...
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NewsBHP Billiton places large heavy haul locomotive order
AUSTRALIA: Downer EDI has been awarded a five-year contract to supply a minimum of 80 Electro-Motive Diesel SD70ACe/LCi locomotives for BHP Billiton Iron Ore's heavy haul network in Western Australia. The A$292m agreement announced on March 2 has options which could take the total value to more than A$400m. ...
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NewsRio Tinto to introduce driverless trains by 2014
AUSTRALIA: Rio Tinto confirmed on February 20 that driverless trains would begin running on its Hamersley and Robe River iron ore network in Western Australia’s Pilbara region during 2014, under an A$518m investment package which forms part of the group’s ‘Mine of the Future’ strategy. Rio Tinto is currently investing ...