News – Page 208
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News
QR awards concrete sleeper contract
AUSTRALIA: Queensland Rail has awarded Vossloh’s Austrak subsidiary a framework contract for the supply of concrete sleepers worth around A$25m over three years. Sleepers will be supplied from the Austrak plant in Rockhampton for use in modernisation and renewal works across the state’s 6 600 route-km ...
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News
Wagon wheel exports start
TURKEY: Steel producer Kardemir is to begin exporting wagon wheels to EU customers, having obtained TSI certification. The company announced on October 20 that it was about to begin exporting 30 000 freight wagon wheels to unnamed customers across the EU. The steel plant at Karabuk ...
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News
Indian plant begins assembly of Russian track machines
INDIA: Experts from Sinara Transport Machines have begun supervising the assembly of tampers and ballast regulating machines at the Russian company’s ‘Make in India’ partner San Engineering & Locomotives Co’s site in Bengaluru. STM has supplied staff from RPM Group, Kalugaputmash and ...
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News
Co-operative model underpins Railcoop’s long term plans
FRANCE: The Grand Est regional government has contributed €500 000 to open access operator Railcoop through its co-operative business model, becoming the latest institutional member to support the start-up.
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News
Vietnamese government approves planning of nine lines
VIETNAM: Deputy Prime Minister Lê Văn Thành has signed off the government’s formal approval for plans to be drawn up for nine new railway lines totalling 2 362 km. Design work is scheduled to be completed by 2030, with opening envisaged by 2050. The longest of ...
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News
SNCF sells wagon leasing business
FRANCE: SNCF has completed the sale of its 100% stake in wagon leasing company Ermewa Group to a consortium of Canadian pension investor Caisse de Dépôt et Placement du Québec and investment group DWS. This follows French and EU regulatory approval and the completion of consultations ...
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News
CAF wins Swedish inter-regional EMU contract
SWEDEN: National passenger operator SJ has selected CAF as preferred bidder for a SKr3bn contract to supply 25 trainsets for use on inter-regional services, mainly in the Stockholm-Mälaren region. The Civity Nordic electric multiple-units will have a maximum speed of 200 km/h, with winterisation for Swedish ...
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Rail Business UK
Ticket sales ahead of expectations as low-cost Lumo launches
UK: FirstGroup reports that initial ticket sales at its newly launched London – Edinburgh open access operator Lumo are ahead of expectations, with weekend services proving to be particularly popular. ‘We have always said we intend to reimagine rail travel and we are glad people ...
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Rail Business UK
Porterbrook appoints Chief Operating Officer
UK: Porterbrook has appointed Ben Ackroyd as its first Chief Operating Officer, with strategic responsibility for all operational aspects of the business. Currently Managing Director of Trenitalia c2c Ltd, he is expected to join the rolling stock leasing and asset management company in spring 2022. ‘The ...
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News
SWEG to take over Abellio operations in Baden-Württemberg
GERMANY: The Baden-Württemberg cabinet has approved a rescue plan for the regional passenger services currently operated by Abellio Rail Baden-Württemberg GmbH.
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News
VR infrastructure training simulators
SPAIN: Infrastructure manager ADIF has awarded Virtualware a US$1m contract to supply virtual reality simulators for construction and maintenance training. A 250 m2 room in Valencia will be used to train staff in lifelike immersive multi-user environments using Virtualware’s Viroo platform ADIF will be able to ...
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News
RENFE aims to compete with Eurostar on Paris – London route
EUROPE: Spanish national rail operator RENFE is developing plans for a Paris – London train service which would compete with Eurostar and provide it with an alternative route into the French passenger market. RENFE believes that the launch of a Paris – London service would be ...
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News
DB Cargo awards automated shunting loco contract
GERMANY: Driverless shunting locomotives are expected to be operating in commercial service at DB Cargo’s München-Nord marshalling yard by the end of 2024, following the award of contracts for the development of onboard systems for both train positioning and ATO. DB Cargo has appointed Augsburg-based Railergy ...
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Rail Business UK
Tunnel drill offers speed and safety
UK: Network Rail and Amey have developed a tunnel drill designed to reduce the risk of vibration injuries, noise, inaccuracies and dust contamination when installing overhead electrification equipment. The infrastructure manager noticed the potential for improvement when working with the contractor on tunnel refurbishments that require ...
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Metro Report International
Seat designed for facing in either direction
SEAT: Grammer has launched its Ubility Light seat, which is designed with ‘innovative minimalism’ to enable passengers on high-density urban trains and buses to sit facing in either direction without the need for any conversion. The seat has an ultra-lightweight aluminium frame ...
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News
Perpignan – Rungis fruit and veg express reinstated
Photo: Fret SNCF/JC Milhet FRANCE: Prime Minister Jean Castex, Transport Minister Jean-Baptiste Djebbari and SNCF President Jean-Pierre Farandou formally relaunched the Perpignan – Rungis overnight express freight service on October 22. The seasonal service that carried fresh fruit and vegetables from southwest ...
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News
Pro Trilhos programme attracts more new line proposals
BRAZIL: The Ministry of Infrastructure has now received a total of 21 applications to build rail projects under the provisional legislation designed to promote new line construction and rehabilitation under the Pro Trilhos programme launched in September.
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News
PKP Intercity orders 200 km/h multi-system locomotives
POLAND: PKP Intercity has ordered a build of 200 km/h multi-system electric locomotives from Newag for use on international and domestic services. The contract signed on October 22 covers an initial 10 locos valued at 258·6m złoty, with an option for a further five and the ...
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News
Norway to increase rail spend but end competitive tendering
NORWAY: The recently elected Norwegian government intends to pursue an aggressive policy of investing in rail, with a view to driving modal shift, but plans to end the competitive tendering of passenger train operations and to simplify the structure of the country’s rail sector.