Heavy haul railway news
News about heavy haul rail freight operations, infrastucture, technology and projects around the world.
Pilbara iron ore wagon manufacturing agreement
AUSTRALIA: An agreement to manufacture iron ore wagons in the Pilbara region has been announced by Rio Tinto and Gemco Rail, supported by supply partner Qiqihar Railway Rolling Stock and the government of Western Australia.
Battery freight locomotive conversion underway
AUSTRALIA: One of Aurizon’s Class 4000 diesel locomotives is being converted to a prototype EMD Joule battery powered heavy-haul freight loco which can be charged using renewable electricity and capture regenerated energy when braking or travelling downhill.
Study finds batteries and hydrogen could replace diesel locos on heavy freight trains
AUSTRALIA: Batteries or a combination of batteries and hydrogen fuel cells could feasibly replace diesel traction on rail freight corridors across Australia, according to a study undertaken by the University of Queensland and operator Aurizon.
Guinea bauxite miner orders British sleepers
GUINEA: British Steel, Trackwork and Pandrol are to supply 244 000 steel sleepers to mining company Compagnie des Bauxites de Guinée, which is upgrading its 135 km standard gauge heavy haul line which links the Sangarédi bauxite mine with Kamsar.
LKAB orders 100 ore wagons
SWEDEN: Mining company LKAB has awarded Kiruna Wagon a contract to supply a further 100 high-capacity iron ore wagons and refurbish 92 of its existing vehicles.
Export boost expected from Mongolia – China railway opening
MONGOLIA: Prime Minister Luvsannamsrai Oyun-Erdene has officially opened the 226·9 km railway from Zuunbayan to Khangi on the Chinese border, saying it will form ‘Mongolia’s new gateway for transporting mining export products competitively to the global marketplace’.
Mongolian heavy haul coal railway opens
Driverless heavy haul railway expanded to serve automated iron ore mine
Tetra communications deployed on Gobi desert railway
Mongolia: Gobi coal exports poised to switch to rail
US locomotives rebuilt for Australia
Fortescue looks to Infinity and beyond with gravity-powered battery train
Comment: Rail freight’s big battery booster
Formula 1 technology company to support development of battery train
BHP to trial battery locos on Pilbara iron ore network
Fortescue orders EMD Joule battery locomotives
Rio Tinto battery locomotive
Iron ore miner orders heavy-haul battery locomotive
DB joint venture to build Congolese iron ore line
Australia: Ore trains return to Whyalla
Vysus supports IORE heavy haul locomotive refurbishment programme
Tavan Tolgoi coal line accord signed
1 800 km Menghua coal railway opens
International Heavy Haul Association (IHHA)