Clayton Equipment is to supply a CB40 40 tonne 0-4-0 battery locomotive to the Sellafield Ltd subsidiary of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority. This follows the recent supply of two 80 tonne hybrid locomotives to Sellafield Ltd.
Network Rail has awarded a consortium led by Thales Ground Transportation Systems a contract to develop and test the use of acoustic sensing technology which could turn the 20 000 km of optical fibre cables running alongside railways into ‘virtual microphones’ to support remote condition monitoring. Trials will be undertaken at the RIDC Melton test track, and between Melton Mowbray and Leicester.
Contractor KN Circet has begun work to refurbish the Grade I listed 1838 Curzon Street station building in Birmingham on behalf of HS2 enabling works contractor LMJV. Work will include a new steel structural frame to strengthen the building, a lift giving access to all four levels, a glass balustrade for the historic staircase, internal fit-out, roof repairs, structural repairs to the façade and cleaning the external masonry. Specialist subcontractors include Umberslade, Orton Group and JFE Attridge Scaffolding Services.
National Rail Enquiries has launched an ‘Alert Me by WhatsApp’ service developed by Zipabout, which provides real-time personalised details of delays, disruption and alternative travel routes. Passengers can also opt-in to receive free coffees and newspapers as part of a retail pilot that rewards customers for travelling by train.
HS2 Ltd has shortlisted three bidders for the £275m contract to build the network control centre and rolling stock maintenance depot at Washwood Heath in Birmingham. They are: Gülermak; Vinci Construction UK (Taylor Woodrow) with Keltbray; and VolkerFitzpatrick with VolkerRail. The contract is expected to be awarded in 2023.
All 14 of Spencer Group’s largest ever intake of apprentices have secured full-time positions with the rail engineering and construction company, two years after starting. Spencer Group has recently taken on another nine apprentices, in addition to five recruited last year.
Rail, energy and infrastructure security and communications company Optilan has appointed Kari Williams as Sales & Marketing Director. Williams joins Optilan from Rolls Royce, where she was Vice-President of Marketing, responsible for Services.
