SNCF and Nevomo have signed a memorandum of understanding to explore increasing the performance of freight trains with higher loading limits and more line capacity, boosting capacity on congested urban passenger routes, and evaluating the use of lightweight maglev vehicles on rural lines. The MoU ‘is part of the collaborative actions that we carry out with innovative ecosystems to feed our scientific watch and allow us to identify emerging technologies to explore’, said David De Almeida, Research Director at SNCF, on March 10.
Shaun Mills has stepped down as CEO of leasing company Alpha Trains, with Fernando Perez appointed Interim CEO while the board seeks a successor. Chief Financial Officer Hermann Schlösser also resigned with effect from April 30. ‘After 12 years with Alpha Trains, I have decided it is time for me to step down and allow for a successor to continue with Alpha Trains’ ambitious growth plans’, Mills said on March 9.
Systra has acquired Bamser, an Australian infrastructure advisory firm providing multi-disciplinary tunnelling services to the transport, utility, mining and energy sectors in Australasia and Asia. ‘By combining our strengths, Systra in design and Bamser in delivery, our current and future clients gain a broader service offering across more of the project lifecycle’, said Bamser director Ben Crosby on March 9.
Vossloh’s supervisory board has extended the contracts of CFO Dr Thomas Triska and COO Jan Furnivall by a further five years until October 31 2028.
Luca Necchi Ghiri has been named CEO of MerMec; he starts the role in April.
Telecoms infrastructure supplier BAI Communications, which has deals with various transport operators, is to rebrand as Boldyn Networks at the end of June, bringing together its six companies under one brand.
Wabtec Transit’s Indian sites in Hosur, Baddi and Bahadurgarh have received Great Place to Work Certification for the second time.
ENSCO has announced the 1st Annual TTC Conference & Tour at the Transportation Technology Center in Pueblo on November 7-8. This aims to highlight the latest advances in rail safety, emerging alternative energy technology, and research funding opportunities, with presenters from multiple organisations including the Federal Railroad Administration, Transportation Security Administration, railways and suppliers.
Nicolas Groult has been appointed CEO of Pandrol and a member of the Executive Committee of Groupe Delachaux with effect from March 13. He spent 10 years at Parker Meggitt Group, most recently as Senior Vice-President & General Manager of Power & Sensing.
ILSA is the first Spanish railway customer to use IVU Traffic Technologies’ IVU.rail staff and rolling stock planning platform. It was deployed in three months by FS Group’s IT arm FS Technology from the IVU.cloud already used by Trenitalia.
Pesa has awarded Ingeteam a contract to supply 120 high-power traction converters in 2023-24 for use on 60 locomotives. It is the largest order to be fulfilled by Ingeteam’s Ortuella factory, which opened in 2019.
