News – Page 129
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NewsAurizon agrees East Coast Rail sale
AUSTRALIA: Aurizon has signed a binding agreement to sell its East Coast Rail coal haulage business to Magnetic Rail Group. Completion is expected in early 2023. Aurizon undertook to divest ECR as part of regulatory approval for its acquisition of One Rail Australia. The takeover was ...
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NewsRENFE orders more double-deck EMUs from Stadler
SPAIN: Stadler has been awarded a €308m contract to supply a further 20 double-deck electric multiple-units 200 m long to national operator RENFE. The firm order announced on December 15 has been placed an option on a March 2021 contract which covered an initial 24 EMUs ...
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NewsTrains ordered for Ontario Northlander revival
CANADA: The government of Ontario has announced a C$139·5m order for three trainsets to enable the reintroduction of the Northlander passenger service.
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In depthTraction Technology: Diverse fleets demonstrate energy storage advances
ABB’s novel modular battery powerpacks are being deployed on new trains being built by several major manufacturers, as advances in energy storage technology start to become commercialised.
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NewsAmtrak unveils Airo electro-diesel train design for ‘the next generation of travel’
USA: Amtrak has announced Airo as the brand name for the electro-diesel push-pull trainsets which it has ordered from Siemens Mobility for use on medium-distance inter-city services.
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Rail Business UKFive innovators to work at HS2 contractor sites
UK: High speed line project promoter HS2 Ltd has launched the fifth round of its Innovation Accelerator programme, focusing on the use of artificial intelligence and advanced sensing technology to drive cost and carbon efficiencies across the construction programme. The five SMEs in the new cohort ...
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NewsRENFE orders more Coradia Stream EMUs
SPAIN: Alstom has been awarded a €370m contract to supply a further 49 Coradia Stream partly double-deck electric multiple-units to national operator RENFE. The firm order announced on December 15 has been placed an option on a March 2021 contract which covered an initial 152 EMUs ...
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NewsGrand-Est launches regional express network
FRANCE: Passengers travelling in the Strasbourg area now have access to a much improved network of local rail services with effect from December 11 when the Réseau Express Métropolitain Européen was launched by local authorities and national operator SNCF. Driven by a ...
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NewsHigh speed line opening boosts international rail axis
GERMANY: ‘Stuttgart and Ulm are moving closer together, but also Paris and Budapest’, said Minister-President of Baden-Württemberg Winfried Kretschmann at the official inauguration of the 59∙6 km Wendlingen – Ulm high speed line two days before revenue services started with the December 11 timetable change. The importance ...
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NewsKyrgyz Railways to increase climate resilience
KYRGYZSTAN: National railway KTJ is to replace wagons, undertake climate mitigation works and promote economic inclusion using €11m of financial support which has been arranged by the European Bank for Reconstruction & Development. The package comprises a 12-year sovereign bank loan of up to €8m, plus ...
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In depthTraction Technology: Remanufacturing diesel trains with battery power
Although UK rolling stock specialist Vivarail entered administration on December 1, the company’s Managing Director Steve McBride argues that remanufacturing of existing trains with battery traction remains a compelling choice for a quick and cost-effective transition away from diesel power.
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NewsStadler signs Kazakh rolling stock contracts
KAZAKHSTAN: Stadler has signed three contracts totalling €2·3bn to supply national railway KTZ with 537 coaches in 2023-30, provide full-service maintenance for 20 years and acquire a local production facility. The order includes 234 sleeping cars with 40 berths, 233 couchette cars with 58 seats, 35 ...
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NewsKing opens Norway’s longest railway tunnel
NORWAY: Bane Nor’s 22 km Follobanen high speed line between Oslo and Ski was officially opened by King Harald V on December 12, the day after the start of revenue operations with the annual European timetable change.
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In depthIndia: On the way to a sustainable railway
As well as its traction decarbonisation strategy, Indian Railways has launched a raft of initiatives aimed at improving its wider environmental credentials. Raghu Dayal investigates.
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NewsUkraine withdraws from CIS Railway Council
UKRAINE: Ukraine has withdrawn from the CIS Railway Council, which was established in 1992 to facilitate continued interoperability between the railways across the former Soviet Union. National railway Ukrzaliznytsia cut all ties with Russia and Belarus following the full-scale invasion on February 24. The military removed ...
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NewsNext phase of Korea’s Central Inland Line approved
SOUTH KOREA: The government has given the go-ahead for construction from 2026 of the final Mungyeong – Gimcheon section of the Central Inland Line medium high speed corridor. The 250 km/h, single-track Central Inland Line is being developed in phases to link Seoul with Gimcheon on ...
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NewsNS orders first double-deck version of CAF’s Civity multiple-unit family
NETHERLANDS: National passenger operator NS has awarded CAF a contract to supply 60 partly double-deck electric multiple-units for use on inter-city services, the first order for a double-deck version of the Spanish manufacturer’s Civity family. The €600m contract signed on December 12 covers the supply of ...
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NewsOrange Phoenix EMU unveiled
CHINA: CRRC Nanjing Puzhen has unveiled its latest design of Type D electric multiple-unit intended to operate suburban and interurban services on routes with journey times of up to 1 h. Branded as ‘Orange Phoenix’, the unit features styling inspired by paintings of the mythical bird. ...
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NewsCDPQ completes acquisition of leasing company Akiem
EUROPE: Canadian pension and insurance investor CDPQ has completed the acquisition of locomotive leasing company Akiem from SNCF Group and DWS. Exclusive negotiations with CDPQ began in August following a competitive auction. Closing of the transaction was announced on December 9 following staff consultations and regulatory ...