Rumo has repainted one of its AC44 diesel-electric locomotives and a wagon in the colours of the Brazilian flag to mark the start of the football World Cup in Qatar. The locomotive’s first trip was from the yard at Araraquara to Rondonópolis on November 8.
Canpotex has awarded National Steel Car a US$155m contract to supply 1 300 wagons for carrying potash from Saskatchewan for export through Vancouver and St John in Canada and Portland in the USA. The latest evolution of wagons custom-designed for Canpotex will feature enhanced steering to reduce fuel consumption and maintenance, and will take its fleet to 8 000 vehicles by June 2023.
Nordic Re-Finance has appointed Railcare to modify 28 locomotives for lease in the Scandinavian market. A SKr10m contract will see six Traxx locomotives purchased from Switzerland adapted for use in Sweden and Norway with Railcare handling the entire approval process via the EU Agency for Railways, while a SKr20m contract will see ETCS installed on 22 TMe diesel locomotives.
The 2023 edition of the Regulation concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Rail is now available on the website of the Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail. Taking account of recent technical and scientific progress, RID 2023 will enter into force on January 1 2023, replacing RID 2021 which can be applied until June 30 2023.
ČD Cargo has begun taking delivery of 60 Type Zacns 98 m3 tank wagons ordered from Nymwag CS the transport of light mineral oils.
On November 14 Alpha Trains announced that it had ordered a further 15 Vectron MS and AC locomotives under a November 2021 framework agreement with Siemens Mobility.
FESCO has introduced a FESCO Flexi service transporting bulk liquids such as vegetable and mineral oils, molasses, lubricants, detergents and household chemicals, alcoholic beverages and food products by rail and sea in containers using sealed flexitank liners. Accelerated trains can be offered within Russia, and a service to China is planned from early December.
Railinc’s TransmetriQ unit has added eBills of Lading to its rail management system, automatically converting data into language and formats necessary to initiate rail shipments. ‘Shippers can now eliminate time-consuming and error-prone manual translation of their shipment tendering information into rail-specific terminology’, said Product Manager Danny Dever. ‘The system is designed to both speed bill of lading creation and, most importantly, eliminate reworks after eBOLs are submitted.’
In early November Turkmenistan’s national railway took delivery of a further five 2TE25KM mainline freight diesel locomotives ordered from TMH Bryansk in August. Similar locomotives in use since 2021 are reported to have performed well in the hot and dry climate and on routes with difficult profiles.
ČD Telematika and AŽD have completed the fitting of ETCS on-board units to 78 ČD Cargo Class 163 and 363 locomotives, ahead of the introduction of a requirement for all locos on certain main routes in the Czech Republic to use ETCS from January 2025.
Union Pacific has published its second comprehensive Climate Action Plan, outlining its continued approach to reducing its environmental impact, responding to emerging risks affecting the rail industry, and achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The plan includes climate scenario analysis and outlines the company’s efforts to make greater use of low-carbon fuels, modernise locomotives and purchase of battery locomotives.
