Main line rail industry news – Page 487
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NewsFerrocarril Central PPP project launched
URUGUAY: President Tabaré Vázquez joined Minister of Transport & Public Works Victor Rossi on August 15 to officially launch the Ferrocarril Central project, a public-private partnership to upgrade the 273 km Montevideo — Paso de los Toros route. To be tendered in September, the contract will also include maintenance over ...
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NewsPK TS wins first order for its Varyag tram
RUSSIA: Sole bidder PK Transportnye Systemy is to supply three trams to St Petersburg under a 155m rouble contract signed with operator Gorelektrotrans. PK TS will supply three-section Varyag trams, designated 71-922. This model was unveiled at the SmartTransportExpo in St Petersburg last year, and a prototype underwent dynamic ...
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NewsCairo electric railway agreement signed
EGYPT: The National Authority for Tunnels signed a US$1·24bn contract on August 15 for the construction of a electric railway serving greater Cairo. Work is due to start in two to three months and will be carried out by a consortium of AVIC International and China Railway ...
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NewsElron rolls out Ridango ticket sales system
ESTONIA: This month passenger operator Elron will begin its transition to a ticketing system developed by Tallinn-based Ridango to replace the current system dating from 2010. The new system includes terminals for stations and vending machines for use on trains, and also supports online distribution. Contactless bank card payment will ...
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NewsNSK receives first bearing order from SNCF
FRANCE: NSK has received its first order for wheelset bearings as a qualified supplier to SNCF, following a five-year process to obtain approval for their use on TGV trainsets. NSK worked closely with the operator to ensure that its requirements were met, with audits of its manufacturing processes and extensive ...
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NewsTrenitalia agrees to acquire V250 trainsets
ITALY: Trenitalia has agreed to acquire 17 of the former Fyra V250 trainsets to expand its high speed train fleet. The contract includes five years of ‘full-service’ maintenance with an optional five-year extension. According to a notice published in the Official Journal of the EU on August 11, Trenitalia says ...
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NewsNSW regional train fleet to be replaced
AUSTRALIA: The entire New South Wales regional train fleet is to be replaced and a new maintenance depot built at Dubbo, state Deputy Premier John Barilaro announced on August 14. Plans to replace the XPT fleet of 60 coaches and 19 power cars used on NSW TrainLink serves linking Sydney, ...
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NewsSOR to supply electric buses to Czech operators
CZECH REPUBLIC: The 3ČSAD union of transport operators ČSAD Havířov, ČSAD Karviná and ČSAD Frýdek-Místek has ordered 12 electric buses from SOR Libchavy. ČSAD Frýdek-Místek is due to take delivery of six EBN 9.5 buses by October for service in Hranice. These will be funded by the Integrated Regional ...
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NewsAtkins awarded £29m Norwich – Lowestoft resignalling contract
UK: Infrastructure manager Network Rail has awarded Atkins a £29m contract to resignal the Norwich – Great Yarmouth – Lowestoft route by spring 2019. The project covering 42 route-km will include the deployment of Alstom ElectroLogIXS digital interlockings to replace mechanical systems, and the upgrading of six level crossings. The ...
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NewsSweco to plan Stockholm Central station modernisation
SWEDEN: Trafikverket has appointed Sweco to provide planning, design and support services for the modernisation of Stockholm Central station. The aim is to adapt the country’s busiest station and its environment to meet future needs and improve accessibility. Announcing the contract on August 14, Sweco said the size, location and ...
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NewsHigh speed rail promoter Texas Central selects planning and construction contractors
USA: Privately-financed high speed line project promoter Texas Central has appointed Fluor Enterprises and The Lane Construction Corp to refine the construction planning, scheduling and cost estimates for the project, and to support procurement. It is envisaged that the two contractors would also design and build the project following financial ...
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NewsSolaris wins Cluj-Napoca electric bus order
ROMANIA: Solaris Bus & Coach is to supply up to 30 electric buses to Cluj-Napoca, the company announced on August 11. Deliveries would take place over the next three years, with the base order of 10 buses due to be completed within nine months. Solaris will supply its Urbino ...
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NewsAurizon to quit intermodal freight
AUSTRALIA: Aurizon Holdings Ltd has announced its intention to withdraw from the intermodal market, with the closure or sale of its activities in the sector. The decision announced on August 14 followed a 12-month review of options including retention, divestment, joint ventures or the closure of activities that it felt ...
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NewsLatest electric buses presented in Kraków
POLAND: MPK Kraków unveiled 20 electric buses delivered by Solaris Bus & Coach on August 9. In October 2016 Solaris signed a contract to supply 17 Urbino 12 and three Urbino 18 articulated buses. The low-floor vehicles are air-conditioned, and equipped with a cash and card ticket machine and ...
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NewsPenn Station co-ordination review
USA: Amtrak announced on August 9 that it had commissioned an independent review of the way in which the three railroads serving New York’s Penn Station work together. The objective is to improve the ‘design, functionality, communications and co-ordination’ of the passenger facilities. While Amtrak is the station owner, commuter ...
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NewsMagnitogorsk tram leasing agreement signed
RUSSIA: Magnitogorsk city transport operator Maggortrans signed a hire purchase contract for covering the supply of 15 trams on August 9. Roscosmos subsidiary United Missile & Space Corp was the sole bidder in the tender to supply 16·4 m long unidirectional partly low-floor trams. Roscosmos owns tram manufacturer UKVZ. ...
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NewsElectric buses ordered for Haifa
ISRAEL: BYD is to supply 17 battery buses to Haifa. To be operated by Egged, the 12 m long vehicles form part of the city’s 400m shekel programme to reduce air pollution. Each bus will have capacity for 68 passengers including 31 seated. The batteries will be ...
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NewsWorld rail freight news round-up
The Russian government has allocated 5·1bn roubles to buy three new train ferries for the route from Ust-Luga to Baltiysk in Kaliningrad. They will be 200 m long with a capacity of up to 66 wagons. In March it was announced that Russian Railways would take a 25% stake in ...
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NewsSpecialist doors supplied for Doncaster maintenance depot
UK: Jewers Doors has installed five of its latest Swift SEW automated sliding bifolding doors at the £80m depot in Doncaster where Hitachi Rail Europe will maintain Virgin Trains East Coast Class 800/801 and TransPennine Express Class 802 AT300 trainsets. ‘As well as securing the building, the practical issues of ...
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NewsBangkok Blue Line extension opens
THAILAND: On August 11 Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha attended the opening of a 1·2 km extension of Bangkok’s MRT Blue Line from Bang Sue to Tao Poon. Revenue services were expected to start the following day. The extension takes the metro line to 21 km and 19 stations, and provides ...