News – Page 192
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NewsFunding agreement advances high speed link to Perpignan
FRANCE: A memorandum of understanding covering the financing of construction of the first phase of the LGV Montpellier-Perpignan mixed-traffic high speed line was signed in Narbonne on January 22 in the presence of Prime Minister Jean Castex,
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NewsGreen hydrogen partnership targets rail sector
SPAIN: CAF and electricity company Iberdrola have signed an agreement to co-operate to promote the use of ‘green’ hydrogen to replace diesel power on railways which would be difficult or expensive to electrify. The companies aim to offer a comprehensive package of technologies, including rolling stock, ...
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NewsRegioPanter EMUs arrive in southern Bohemia
CZECH REPUBLIC: Škoda Transportation has delivered the first two of a batch of 10 Class 650 RegioPanter EMUs to national operator ČD. The two-car trainsets are due to replace rolling stock dating back to the early 1990s on regional routes across southern Bohemia. ...
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Rail Business UKSidings warning system installed at Doncaster depot
UK: Zonegreen has installed a sidings warning system on a track at Hitachi Rail’s Doncaster Carr depot, which is used for toilet emptying, water tank filling, fuelling and sanding of various Class 80x fleets. Inbound vehicles are detected by a treadle switch that activates beacon sounders, ...
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NewsRail spending to boost economic growth
INDIA: The construction of 400 Vande Bharat inter-city trainsets over the next three years and the installation of short-range radio-based anti-collision devices on 2 000 route-km of Indian Railways are highlights of the 2022-23 national budget presented to parliament by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on February ...
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NewsFramework contract agreed for 50 passenger locomotives
BELGIUM: National passenger operator SNCB has awarded Alstom a framework contract for the supply of up to 50 third-generation Traxx electric locomotives, with a €120m firm order for an initial 24 to be delivered from 2026. The 200 km/h locomotives are be used on domestic and cross-border ...
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NewsDB orders more ICE3neo sets as first unit is unveiled
GERMANY: Deutsche Bahn has placed a €1∙5bn firm order for a further 43 Siemens Mobility ICE3neo trainsets, CEO and Chairman of the management board Dr Richard Lutz announced on February 1. Speaking at an event held in DB’s Berlin-Rummelsburg workshops to unveil the first of 30 ...
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NewsHŽ Infra picks Leskovac – Karlovac route modernisation preferred bidder
CROATIA: HŽ Infrastruktura has selected Strabag as preferred bidder for a contract for infrastructure and station enhancements and double-tracking on the 44 km Hrvatski Leskovac – Karlovac line, after a rejecting a lower-priced bid. Strabag’s offer was valued at 1·71bn kuna excluding VAT, and was ranked ...
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Metro Report InternationalViaMobilidade takes over São Paulo suburban lines 8 and 9
BRAZIL: State-owned suburban operator Companhia Paulista de Trens Metropolitanos has handed over management, operation and maintenance of Line 8 (Diamante) and Line 9 (Esmeralda) to private-sector concessionaire ViaMobilidade, a consortium owned 83% by CCR and 17% by RuasInvest. The two lines are the busiest of CPTM’s seven routes.
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In depthComment: Rail freight’s big battery booster
A string of recent orders for battery-electric locomotives from railways in North America and Australia offers hope of decarbonising the heavy haul freight sector, as well as the promise of innovations which railways elsewhere could adopt in the future.
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NewsDB Regio to operate Netz 18 electric services
GERMANY: The Land of Baden-Wurttenberg and local authority body Zweckverband ÖPNV im Ammertal have awarded sole bidder DB Regio the Netz 18 contract to operate service RB63 between Herrenberg, Tübingen, Metzingen and Bad Urach from December 2022. The regional passenger service will use the 21 km ...
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News200 km/h trial running underway in Serbia
SERBIA: Trial running at up to 200 km/h has begun on the extensively upgraded and double-tracked Beograd – Novi Sad line, ahead of the planned launch of passenger services in March. This will be the first route suitable for 200 km/h running in the former Yugoslavia. ...
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In depthStations & Terminals: Solving the problem of Budapest Nyugati
As the busiest station in the Hungarian capital, Nyugati pályaudvar has reached capacity. The favoured solution is to convert the existing terminus into a through station at the heart of a reshaped regional rail network. Benjámin Zelki reports.
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Rail Business UKAngel Trains acquires Readypower Group
UK: Leasing company Angel Trains has acquired Readypower Group, which provides specialised on-track plant equipment as well as railway civil engineering, drainage, haulage and operating services. Readypower will continue to run as an independent business under its existing brand and management team, with Angel Trains investing ...
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NewsNokia to supply Delhi RRTS communications network
INDIA: Nokia is to provide a LTE/4·9G private wireless communications network to support the ETCS Hybrid Level 3 signalling which Alstom is to deploy for the Delhi – Ghaziabad – Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System commuter rail project. The 82 km railway will be India’s first ...
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NewsUnion Pacific to create ‘world’s largest’ battery-electric loco fleet
USA: Union Pacific has ordered 20 battery locomotives for trials as part of a plan to create what it says will be the world’s largest fleet of operator-owned battery-electric freight locomotives. Progress Rail is to supply 10 EMD Joule locos and Wabtec 10 FLXdrive locos. Associated ...
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NewsTendering ahead as Finnish operating contract signed
FINLAND: The Ministry of Transport & Communications and national operator VR have signed a directly-awarded public service obligation contract for the operation of loss-making passenger services over the next nine years, with provision for the procurement of new rolling stock and greater regional involvement in funding ...
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NewsNew fleet to serve Olacyr de Moraes Railroad
BRAZIL: Freight concessionaire Rumo is planning to spend around R$1∙9bn on the acquisition of up to 45 locomotives and a fleet of 2 142 wagons, according to local media reports. The fleet would operate on new lines to be known as the Olacyr de Moraes Authorised ...
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NewsCharger locos ordered for Montréal commuter services
CANADA: Montréal regional transport authority Exo has awarded Siemens Mobility a C$132m contract to supply 10 Charger diesel locomotives for use on its commuter services. The Chargers will be delivered from 2025 to replace F59PH locomotives which Exo acquired in 2011 from GO Transit in Toronto, ...
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In depthJapan: Kintetsu plans a post-pandemic recovery
Regional operator Kintetsu is looking to refocus its business in the Kansai region with real estate and leisure developments aimed at changing lifestyles and reflecting new working patterns. Mike Bent investigates.