News – Page 108
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NewsDigital innovation included in Maryland commuter rail operating contract
USA: Digital innovations are included in the next contract for the operation of MARC commuter rail services, which the Maryland Transit Administration has awarded to incumbent Alstom. The contract covers train operations, locomotive and coach maintenance, customer service, crewing and station and facilities management on the ...
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NewsErmewa Group rebrands as Streem
FRANCE: Wagon and tank container management business Ermewa Group has rebranded as Streem, and announced an aim to double its revenues by 2030. ‘The evolution of the Ermewa Group brand is a key strategic shift’, said CEO David Zindo on April 11. ‘This new name reflects ...
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NewsSiemens Mobility expands locomotive manufacturing and services site
GERMANY: Siemens Mobility is expanding its locomotive manufacturing and services plant in München-Allach.
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NewsGepard Express to take over Brno – Wien Airport service
EUROPE: Brno city council has selected local minibus and tour train operator Gepard Express to operate a subsidised daily train service to Wien airport from June 11 until the December 2025 timetable change.
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NewsJoint operating company formed to manage freight terminal
GERMANY: Ziel Terminal GmbH has been established by Samskip (49·8%), Duisport (25·1%) and TX Logistik (25·1%) to operate the Logport III combined transport terminal at Duisburg-Hohenbudberg under a long-term lease. The 140 000 m2 facility has seven 720 m transhipment tracks, two shunting roads and two ...
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NewsJoint venture offers rail asset digitisation by drone
AUSTRIA: SmartDigital Group and Plasser Group’s Digital Railway Solutions have formally established the Dynamic Rail Utilities Monitoring joint venture which will use unmanned aircraft and AI to build digital models of rail infrastructure assets. ‘With SmartDigital we are able to digitise a route from the air ...
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NewsUnion Pacific to transfer Chicago commuter services to Metra
USA: Chicago transport agency Metra is to take over the operation of three commuter rail services which are currently run on its behalf by infrastructure owner Union Pacific.
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In depthEurope: Alpine approach routes lag behind base tunnels
While construction of the Brenner and Mont Cenis transalpine base tunnels is making steady if slow progress, upgrading of the approach routes has failed to keep pace. Toma Bačić and Murray Hughes assess the work in hand.
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NewsOtter footbridge installed in Denmark
DENMARK: Pontoons for use by otters have been installed under a railway bridge which carries the line to Ribe over the River Tved. Infrastructure manager Banedanmark said that while the protected mammals are good swimmers, they dislike swimming under bridges and instead take the more dangerous ...
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NewsLease information module added to fleet management software
USA: Railinc’s TransmetriQ has added a Lease Management module to its wagon asset management software, providing wagon owners and lessees with a central location for storing detailed lease information such as renewal dates and repair responsibilities. ‘The new module addresses a lack of visibility to lease ...
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In depthMontenegro: EU funding is key to rehabilitation
Montenegro’s small network has seen only intermittent investment in recent years, and the poor state of the strategically vital main line between Bar and Beograd is an ongoing concern. Putting the country on the TEN-T map is now a priority for policymakers, as Toma Bačić explains.
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NewsTrenes Argentinos extends Entre Ríos passenger service
ARGENTINA: Trenes Argentinos has opened a two-station extension of its Paraná – Berduc local passenger service in Entre Ríos province. There is a service of two trains each way per day from the city of Paraná to the new stations at La Picada and Jorge Méndez, ...
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NewsWagon manufacturer enters passenger market
KAZAKHSTAN: The passenger division of national railway KTZ has put into service the first batch of coaches supplied by Petropavlovsk-based wagon manufacturer Ziksto. The company has begun producing Type 61-4440 compartment and 300 Type 61-447 open saloon coaches to a design developed at Transmashholding’s Tver plant. An ...
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NewsFreight operator investigates whether ghost trains are haunting its network
SOUTH AFRICA: Transnet has started investigating allegations of ‘ghost trains’ on its network, following reports that services may be operating which are not formally scheduled, with the revenue not flowing back to the national freight operator. In a statement on March 27, Transnet emphasised that ‘these ...
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NewsVR FleetCare awarded Swedish EMU refurbishment contract
SWEDEN: National passenger operator SJ has awarded Finland’s VR FleetCare a €35m contract to modernise its 27 three-car Alstom Coradia Duplex X40 double-deck electric multiple-units. The comprehensive refurbishment of the EMUs dating from 2004–08 will include changes to the internal layout, replacement of the seats and ...
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NewsStadler sees growth amid the turmoil
Continuing the remarkable expansion of recent years, Swiss-based Stadler remains profitable as it pivots towards the signalling sector. Toma Bačić reports from the company’s headquarters in Bussnang.
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Rail Business UKRail cybersecurity firm secures funding for international growth
UK: Railway cybersecurity firm RazorSecure has sourced £1·3m of funding to support its plans for expansion in the Europe and North American markets over the next five years. The funding is coming from national debt financier Frontier Development Capital’s Advanced Manufacturing Supply Chain Initiative Recycled Fund, ...
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NewsOperail completes disposal of wagon leasing fleet
ESTONIA: National freight operator Operail has completed its exit from the wagon leasing business, with the sale of the final 1 036 vehicles in February and March. More than 40 companies were invited to participate in the sale of the fleet, and 20 opted to make ...
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Rail Business UKClass 230s finally enter service with Transport for Wales
UK: Transport for Wales has run its first Class 230 battery-diesel hybrid trainset in passenger service on the Wrexham – Bidston Borderlands Line. Tony Miles reports.