Main line rail industry news – Page 318
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NewsLong-term loco brake maintenance agreement signed
KAZAKHSTAN: Alstom Kazakhstan and Knorr-Bremse Russia have signed a comprehensive agreement for the corrective and preventive maintenance of braking systems on up to 200 twin-section freight locomotives and 95 passenger locomotives being supplied to national railway KTZ. This includes the supply of replacement parts. ...
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NewsVincent Ducrot named next SBB Chief Executive
SWITZERLAND: The Swiss Federal Railways board has appointed Vincent Ducrot as CEO with effect from April 1 2020. He will succeed Andreas Meyer, who is stepping down at the end of March. SBB said 57-year old Ducrot knows Switzerland’s public transport sector very well. He has been ...
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NewsPRASA put into administration
SOUTH AFRICA: The interim board of Passenger Rail Authority of South Africa has been dismissed, and the troubled organisation has been put into administration Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula announced on December 9. ‘The continued decline of the quality of service PRASA provides to the commuting ...
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NewsLocal content emphasised as Alstom awarded Perth train contract
AUSTRALIA: Public Transport Authority of Western Australia has formally signed the A$1·3bn contract for Alstom to supply and maintain diesel and electric multiple-units for use around Perth. Announcing completion of the deal on December 10, PTA said the biggest rolling stock contract that it had placed had ...
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NewsTransANT lightweight wagons for multiple bodies on test
AUSTRIA: Testing is underway with TransANT modular wagons with exchangeable bodies which Rail Cargo Group has developed in conjunction with its customers. The wagons are available in lengths between 10 m and 21 m. The basic vehicle with no body can be used to ...
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NewsVy Tog wins Bergen – Oslo operating contract
NORWAY: National railway agency Jernbanedirektoratet has named Vy Tog as preferred bidder for the Lot 3 Vest operating contract, which covers long-distance passenger services from Bergen to Voss, Myrdal and Oslo, and local services between Bergen and Arna. The winning bidder was announced on December 9. Jernbanedirektoratet ...
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NewsWorld rail freight news round-up
United Wagon Co is to supply a second batch of 20 dump cars to BrIK by the end of 2020. The Type 32-6982-01 cars will be used to transportation and bulk and lump mineral cargoes for the mining and construction industries. Hector Rail and the Södra Skogsägarna ...
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NewsRM Rail expands hopper wagon range
RUSSIA: RM Rail’s Ruzkhimmash plant has developed a further four types of hopper wagon, taking its wagon range to 78 designs. The Type 19-1273 (-01) and 19-1274 (-01) are designed to carry mineral fertilisers or grain, with a corrosion-resistant internal protective coating making them suitable for transporting ...
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NewsHelping short lines to prepare for emergencies
USA: ‘Short lines need to be thinking through disaster preparation, response, mitigation and resiliency on the calm days so that they’re ready to respond in a crisis’, explained American Short Line & Regional Railroad Association President Chuck Baker when the organisation announced a package of resources designed ...
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NewsRZD sells its stake in Transcontainer
RUSSIA: State railway group RZD has sold its majority stake in intermodal operator Transcontainer to private freight and logistics company Delo Group, which runs intermodal terminals and port facilities across the Russian Federation. The Russian government had given its approval in April for the sale of RZD’s ...
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NewsWabtec delivers locomotives to Egypt
EGYPT: Wabtec has delivered 10 Evolution Series diesel locomotives to Egyptian National Railways and the Ministry of Transportation. In June 2017 the Ministry of Transportation and Egyptian National Railways signed a US$575m letter of intent for the supply of 100 mixed-traffic locomotives from GE, which subsequently merged ...
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NewsNS CEO calls for comprehensive high speed network
EUROPE: ‘Something is really wrong’ when airlines can offer flights ‘at ridiculous prices’ in Europe, said Roger Van Boxtel, CEO of Dutch national passenger operator NS in the keynote opening session at the World Rail Festival in Amsterdam on December 4. Referring to the UN Climate Change ...
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NewsLeo Express to operate trains to Wrocław
EUROPE: Czech open access operator Leo Express signed an agreement with Polish regional operator Koleje Dolnośląskie on December 5 to run services between Praha and Wrocław, starting on December 20. Leo Express plans to run three trains a week from Praha and two a week in the ...
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NewsComponents turn to foam to provide fire protection
GERMANY: Hübner Group has developed HFP 34, a semi-rigid polyurethane-based material which can be used to make weather-resistant moulded parts for rolling stock which will turn to foam in the event of a fire, protecting passengers from smoke and flames until they can be evacuated. ...
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NewsRailway supply industry news round-up
To make itself ‘structurally fit for future challenges’, infrastructure construction company Swietelsky Baugesellschaft mbH has been restructured as Swietelsky AG. Supervisory Board Chairman Günther Grassner explained that no stock exchange listing was envisaged, as the change in legal structure would have no impact on the ownership. Former ...
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NewsLeo Express goes multimodal
CZECH REPUBLIC: Leo Express has launched a pilot first and last mile service by partnering with peer-to-peer car sharing company HoppyGo. The open access operator has become a minority shareholder in HoppyGo and expects to expand the service to destinations in Poland next year.
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News‘Romance’ of rail can mitigate skills crisis
AUSTRALIA: The rail sector needs to embrace rapid changes in workplace expectations in order to overcome a looming demographic crisis, delegates at the AusRail conference in Sydney heard on December 4.
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NewsMoment launches on-train entertainment platform
FRANCE: Air and cruise infotainment technology supplier Moment is now offering its multimedia platform for train operators. The platform allows passengers to access a range of services from their electronic devices using wi-fi, without needing connectivity from the train. Operators can provide a custom range of content, ...
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NewsDB plans Arriva flotation in May
GERMANY: Deutsche Bahn is looking to float its international public transport operating subsidiary Arriva on the stock market next year, CEO Richard Lutz told local media on December 4.
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NewsCP signs public service contract
PORTUGAL: State-owned train operator Comboios de Portugal has finally signed its first contract to run passenger services on the national rail network.