‘Modern, efficient and sustainable’ trains arrive in Costa Rica
COSTA RICA: National railway Incofer has taken delivery of eight diesel multiple-units for use on commuter services around the capital San José.
Delhi – Meerut RRTS to get ETCS Hybrid Level 3
INDIA: The 82 km Delhi – Ghaziabad – Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System will be the country’s first railway to be equipped with ETCS Hybrid Level 3, which adds short virtual sections on top of a Level 2 installation to allow operation at closer headways.
Chicago commuter operator approves ‘transformational’ order for Alstom coaches
USA: The Metra board has approved the award of a ‘transformational’ $1·8bn framework agreement for Alstom to supply up to 500 double-deck coaches, which the Chicago commuter operator said would be ‘more comfortable, accessible, reliable and safe than the outdated gallery cars they will replace.’
Delhi – Panipat Regional Rapid Transit System corridor approved
INDIA: The government of the state of Haryana has approved the 103 km Delhi – Panipat Regional Rapid Transit System commuter rail corridor, along with a contribution of Rs47bn towards the estimated Rs216bn cost of the project.
Indiana double tracking project awarded funding
USA: The Federal Transit Administration has announced a $173m grant for Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District’s $491m project to double-track 43 km of the South Shore commuter line between Gary and Michigan City.
CAF-Bombardier consortium selected for Paris RER rolling stock contract
FRANCE: National passenger operator SNCF Voyageurs and Paris transport operator RATP have confirmed their selection of a consortium of Bombardier Transpoartion and CAF as preferred bidder for a contract to supply 146 suburban trainsets for the jointly operated north-south RER Line B.
Caltrain operating contract extended to support electrification programme
USA: The Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board has awarded Herzog subsidiary TransitAmerica Services a five-year extension to its current contract to operate Caltrain commuter services, which link San Francisco with San Jose.
More Île-de-France EMUs ordered
FRANCE: Acting on behalf of Paris regional transport authority Île-de-France Mobilités, national operator SNCF has awarded Bombardier Transportation a firm order to supply a further three Omneo Regio 2N electric multiple-units.
São Paulo tenders suburban operations
BRAZIL: The São Paulo state government has called tenders for the operation and maintenance of two busy suburban lines, under a programme intended to attract private investment for enhancements.
Indigenous ballastless track for Delhi commuter line
INDIA: Work is underway to build the factory at Shatabdi Nagar which will supply ballastless slab track for the Delhi – Ghaziabad – Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System commuter line.
High Capacity Metro Trains enter service in Melbourne
AUSTRALIA: The first of 65 High Capacity Metro Trains being built for the Melbourne suburban network entered service on the Pakenham line on December 26.
New EMUs enter service as first Berlin S-Bahn concession starts
GERMANY: The first Class 483/484 EMUs for the Berlin S-Bahn network began running on route S47 in the early hours of January 1, as the route became the first in the city to be operated under a tendered contract.
Salzburger Lokalbahn extension approved
AUSTRIA: Salzburg city council has approved the long-planned extension of the Salzburger Lokalbahn from its underground terminus alongside the main railway station to Mirabellplatz in the city centre.
Preferred bidder for Perth station contract
AUSTRALIA: ADCO Constructions has been selected as preferred bidder to design and build Lakelands station as part of Perth’s Metronet suburban rail expansion programme.
Ottawa Trillium Line extension signalling contract awarded
CANADA: Prime contractor TransitNEXT has selected Siemens Mobility to supply signalling and train control systems for Ottawa’s Trillium Line South Extension project.
Stuttgart S-Bahn EMU refurbishment contract awarded
GERMANY: DB Regio has selected Bombardier Transportation to help modernise its fleet of 157 ET 423 and ET 430 electric multiple-units used on Stuttgart S-Bahn services over the past two decades.
Moscow commuter EMU order
RUSSIA: Leasing company VEB.RF Group has awarded Transmashholding’s Demikhovsky factory a contract to supply six 11-car EP2D electric multiple-units.
Reducing brake dust to improve air quality
FRANCE: Paris transport operator RATP is testing Wabtec’s Green Friction braking materials, which are designed to help improve the air quality in tunnels by reducing the amount of microparticles emitted.
Real-Time Asset Management research grants awarded
USA: The Federal Transit Administration’s Real-Time Asset Management research programme has awarded grants totalling $1·37m to six projects which aim to enhance asset management and safety by deploying innovative technologies.
Metrolink operating contract awarded
USA: National passenger operator Amtrak has beaten four other bidders to win the next contract to operate Southern California Regional Rail Authority’s Metrolink commuter services.