GB Railfreight CEO John Smith to step back after 25 years
UK: Freight operator GB Railfreight has announced that founder and Chief Executive John Smith is to step back from his role, and the company and its shareholder Infracapital have begun the process of appointing his replacement as part of long-standing succession planning.
Akiem places first order for main line electric-battery Vectron locomotives
EUROPE: Akiem is the launch customer for an electric-battery bi-mode version of Siemens Mobility’s Vectron locomotive, which will be able to operate using overhead electrification where available and battery power on non-electrified sections of route.
Engineers take advantage of emergency closure of Glasgow Central station
UK: Glasgow Central station has fully reopened following disruption caused by a major fire in an adjacent commercial building, with Network Rail having taken the opportunity of the unexpected closure of Scotland’s busiest station to undertake maintenance and renewal works that would normally have taken around 10 months to complete.
Alcalá de Guadaíra receives first trams
SPAIN: The first two of six CAF trams for the 12 km tramway which will link Montecarmelo in Alcalá de Guadaíra with Metro de Sevilla’s Line 1 at Universidad Pablo de Olavide are delivered.
Trenitalia increases high speed train order
ITALY: National railway FS Group’s passenger business Trenitalia has signed a €260m contract for Hitachi Rail to supply a further nine Frecciarossa high speed trainsets.
Urban transport industry news round-up
This week’s round-up of news from the urban transport sector.
AtkinsRéalis awarded £98m signalling contract
UK: Network Rail has awarded AtkinsRéalis a £98m three-year contract to upgrade signalling and telecoms under the Havant area relock and recontrol project.
High Speed 2 told to explore cutting speeds to reduce costs
UK: Secretary of State for Transport Heidi Alexander has told HS2 Ltd to look at lowering the maximum speed of future train services from 360 to 320 or 300 km/h, with the aim of reducing costs and delays to the overall programme.
Fix rail replacement provision to limit ‘do not travel’ warnings, urges CMAC
UK: Rail replacement transport specialist CMAC has issued a manifesto to improve the passenger experience when rail disruption occurs. Director Ian Jeffrey tells Rail Business UK how this could keep passengers moving amid the challenges facing both road and rail transport provision.
