Main line rail industry news – Page 323
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NewsBattery trains to be tested in Denmark
DENMARK: Suppliers are to be invited to test battery-powered trains on regional lines in late 2020 and early 2021, ahead of a potential order which could see battery trains enter passenger service from 2025. Under an agreement between the Ministry of Transport & Housing and the Sjælland, ...
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NewsDonizetti trains ordered for Lombardia
ITALY: Lombardia regional operator FNM has signed a framework contract with Alstom for the supply of up to 61 electric multiple-units, the supplier announced on November 29. The €194m base order covers the supply of 31 EMUs from Alstom’s Coradia Stream family that will be branded Donizetti ...
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NewsWuhan – Shiyan high speed line opens
CHINA: The 399 km Passenger-Dedicated Line between Wuhan and Shiyan was opened for revenue services on November 29, as the first stage of a direct high speed route linking Wuhan with Xi’an. The city of Shiyan is a major automotive manufacturing centre in the northwest of Hubei ...
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NewsBanedanmark seeks ideas for digitising cable information
DENMARK: Infrastructure manager Banedanmark has asked for help to automate the digitisation of more than 10 000 paper-based records of its electrical networks. The aim is to comply with legislation requiring electrical network owners to digitise their records, and to make it easier for contractors to access ...
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NewsRailway supply industry news round-up
A line for repairing Alstom traction equipment from EP20 locomotives has been opened at TMHs Novocherkassk plant. TMH said the EP20 locos supplied to Russian Railways under life-cycle based contracts were one of the most complex designs in service in Russia. The traction equipment was previously repaired ...
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NewsBasel intermodal agreement signed
INTERNATIONAL: Deutsche Bahn, the German Federal Asset Authority (Bundeseisenbahnvermögen) and the Canton of Basel-Stadt signed an agreement on November 15 intended to increase the volume of freight moving by rail and water thanks to improvements to rail infrastructure and transhipment and terminal facilities. The agreement covers upgrading ...
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NewsEurasian containers replace coal as freight market changes
Source: Duisport GERMANY: The Coal Island facility at the inland Port of Duisburg is to be replaced by a rail, river and road intermodal terminal in a change which operator Duisport said reflects a ‘sharp decline’ in the coal market but ‘booming’ trade with China. The ...
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NewsThree operators awarded Spanish high speed paths
SPAIN: High speed infrastructure manager Adif AV has selected three preferred bidders to negotiate 10-year framework agreements enabling them to operate passenger services on the routes from Madrid east to Valencia and Alacant, south to Sevilla and Málaga and north to Barcelona and the French border. The ...
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NewsStadler Flirts in Azerbaijan
AZERBAIJAN: National railway ADY has ordered 10 five-car Flirt multiple-units from Stadler. The €115m contract announced on November 27 includes spare parts and depot equipment. The first four trainsets to be delivered, starting in 2022, will be DMUs for inter-city services. These will include a power module ...
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NewsFreight hub master plan unveiled
NEW ZEALAND: A master plan for a rail and road freight hub near Palmerston North was unveiled by Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones on November 26. Video: Palmerston North intermodal freight hub master plan The proposed facility would replace an existing yard ...
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NewsSNCF selects train connectivity technology supplier
FRANCE: SNCF has selected Klas Telecom and its local partner Seolane Innovation for a contract to provide LTE train-to-ground communications to support operational and passenger connectivity services. The first deployment of the supplier’s TRX R6 Connected Transportation Platform will support CCTV onboard regional trains, with passenger information ...
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NewsArup to review the case for hydrogen trains
UK: The Rail Safety & Standards Board has appointed Arup to develop a ‘route map to enter service’ for hydrogen-powered trains. This will involve working with manufacturers, regulators, rolling stock owners and operators to establish a high-level operational concept as well as to identify hazards and regulatory ...
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NewsLocomotive Workshop Rotterdam maintenance facility opens
NETHERLANDS: The Locomotive Workshop Rotterdam maintenance depot in the port’s Maasvlakte 2 area was offically inaugurated on November 26. It has been developed by a joint venture of manufacturer Siemens Mobility and leasing company Mitsui Rail Capital Europe, and will undertake preventive and corrective maintenance, inspection and ...
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NewsRizhao – Qufu high speed line opens
CHINA: The Rizhao to Qufu section of the Rizhao to Lankao Passenger-Dedicated Line opened for revenue services on November 26. Crossing the south of Shandong province from east to west, the 235 km long line designed for 350 km/h operation connects the port of Rizhao on the ...
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NewsArticulated open wagons offer 23% increase in load per unit length
RUSSIA: United Wagon Co has obtained federal certification for two designs of articulated open wagon. It said these can increase the load per unit length by 23% compared to conventional designs, providing a significant boost to network efficiency without needing to change the infrastructure to accommodate ...
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NewsRATP and Getlink target French regional market
Photo: Christophe Masse FRANCE: RATP Dev has signed an agreement with Channel Tunnel operator Getlink to establish a joint venture to bid for tendered operating contracts in the forthcoming opening up of the French regional rail market. RATP would have a 55% stake in the joint venture, ...
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NewsNightjet plans mini-capsules for private travellers
AUSTRIA: ÖBB has unveiled the interior designs for the sleeping car and couchette vehicles in its Siemens-built Nightjet overnight trains which are scheduled to enter service from 2022.
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NewsWorld rail freight news round-up
Kiel-Meimersdorf yard has been remodelled to increase the maximum length of trains it can handle from 535 m to 740 m. The €7·9m project is one of 17 rail schemes being undertaken as part of the federal Sea Port Hinterland Transport II programme Kansas City Southern has ...
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NewsStrukton updates asset monitoring platform
NETHERLANDS: Strukton has released a ‘completely renewed’ version of its cloud-based POSS Online R7 condition monitoring platform, which uses big data, IoT and machine learning technology to provide rail asset owners with 24/7 performance insight. POSS Online R7 analyses and interprets the collected data and reports on ...
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NewsFavourable opinion on Firenze high speed tunnel
The tunnel will significantly reduce travel times by avoiding the need for trains to reverse at the existing Santa Maria Novella terminus. ITALY: A cost:benefit analysis has come out in favour of continuing with the project to build 7 km twin-bore high speed rail tunnel and Belfiore ...