Argentina:Under a contract worth 1·3m pesos, Luis Carlos Zonis has begun work to repair track on the network operated by Buenos Aires port authority AGP.
Austria:ÖBB has awarded Kapsch TrafficCom a five-year contract to implement a train management and telephone communications system using its Mulitmedia Access IP Dispatcher technology.
Bulgaria:Koncar Ellok in Zagreb has completed the modernisation of two Class 44 Bo-Bo electric locomotives for BDZ. A new driving console has been fitted, along with thyristor controls and modified cooling and air braking systems.
Denmark:Alstom has delivered the first of 29 Coradia Lint DMUs ordered by Arriva Tog.
Egypt:ENR is taking delivery of 30 GA900 diesel-electric shunting locomotives being built by Alstom and fitted with 900 kW 8V396 engines, electronics and auxiliary systems from MTU.
Finland:CKD Vagonka has rolled out the first of 16 Dm12 four-axle 120 km/h diesel railcars ordered for €25m by VR for use on regional services. Expected to enter service by February 2005, the 58 tonne railcar has two MAN engines producing 530 kW and Voith T111 transmission.
France:CTC has awarded Vossloh Cogifer SA a contract worth at least €11m to renew operations control and signalling equipment in Corsica in five turnkey stages over four years. Alster interlocking, axle counters and 145 LED signals will be supplied.
On March 25 SNCF President Louis Gallois, Alstom President Patrick Kron and Siemens President Heinrich von Pierer formally signed the contract that will see 400 diesel locomotives delivered to Fret SNCF from June 2006 (RG 3.04 p122).
Germany:On March 21 DB’s Leipzig operations centre began remotely controlling the last of three Simis C electronic interlockings installed at Magdeburg by Siemens in a €63·8m modernisation project.
Track construction company Eichholz GmbH has ordered a Harsco Track Technologies switch and crossing rail grinder.
On March 24 Connex signed a contract with Alstom for seven single-car and 12 two-car Coradia Lint DMUs for use on the Nordharz network which Connex will operate from December next year (RG 1.04 p6).
Italy:Ansaldo Segnalamento Ferroviario has been awarded contracts totalling €92m to supply computer-based interlockings for Mestre and Rogoredo stations in joint ventures with Sirti, SITE and EGM.
Lithuania:Latvian firm RVR has modernised two DMUs for LG’s Vilnius - Sestokai services at a cost of US$2·3m. Work is underway on a further eight, and LG plans to upgrade 10 more.
Peru:Harsco Track Technologies is to supply a tamper for Transandino Railway’s 914mm gauge Cuzco - Quillabamba line.
Serbia-Montenegro:Smederevo works is overhauling 10 couchette and 10 sleeping cars bought from SNCF by Montenegrin Railways. Podgorica works is modifying 10 double-deck car transporter wagons which were part of the €405000 purchase.
Croatian firm Koncar has been awarded a contract financed by EBRD to modernise 30 Class 441 and eight Class 461 electric locomotives for Serbian Railways. Romanian firm Relok will renovate further Class 441 locomotives.
Spain:Nortel Networks is to supply Renfe with a GSM-R network to upgrade communications in Bilbao and Santander.
GIF has awarded Patentes Talgo a €12m contract to supply a high speed test train that will be deployed on new lines currently under construction in Spain.
Sweden:LKAB has ordered 110 UAD iron ore wagons of 80 tonne capacity from K Industrier for SKr115m. Final assembly of the cars will be at LKAB’s Kiruna works, for delivery from April 2005. LKAB hopes to obtain 100 tonne wagons in 2007.
Switzerland:Windhoff has ordered 10 Euro 3 PowerPacks from MTU for use on CargoSprinter units being supplied to SBB.
Rhaetian Railway has placed a SFr18m order with Stadler for 10 panoramic cars for Heidi Express and Bernina Express services.
Taiwan:Taiwan Rail Administration has awarded Alcatel a €20m contract to supply 6200 axle counters and FieldTrac controls.
United Kingdom:Network Rail has awarded a series of five-year framework track renewal contracts. Renewal of plain line in the West Country and Wales will be carried out by Amey Seco; work on plain line, switches and crossings in East Anglia and Southern England by Balfour Beatty; and plain line and S&C in the West Midlands; S&C in the North West, West Country and Wales will be handled by Carillion Rail.
On April 1 Network Rail took over direct control from Jarvis of infrastructure maintenance in the Great Northern, North Eastern and Liverpool contract areas, along with 3250 staff. In total 43% of the network is now maintained in-house.
ImageMap is to supply 15 unattended track geometry measuring systems which will incorporate AEA Technology Rail TrackLine high speed sensors to Network Rail for installation on Virgin CrossCountry and Eurostar passenger trains.
Network Rail has selected Nortel Networks to provide infrastructure for the planned national GSM-R network.
Harsco Track Technologies has signed a $50m three-year agreement to operate and maintain rail grinding machines it has supplied to Network Rail.
