News – Page 456
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NewsMorgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners aims to increase VTG stake
VTG: On July 16 the Warwick Holding subsidiary of funds advised by Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Inc announced a voluntary public tender offer of €53 per share in cash for all outstanding shares in wagon leasing and logistics company VTG AG. Warwick Holding acquired a 29% stake in Hamburg-based VTG in ...
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NewsNext phase of Firenze tram network inaugurated
ITALY: A tram extension was inaugurated in Firenze on July 16, adding 4·1 km to the city’s sole light rail route. The extension links the former eastern terminus of T1 at Alamanni-Stazione with Careggi-Ospedale to the north. The extension was known during construction as route T3, and ...
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NewsDB Netz introduces ‘green’ driver advisory functions
GERMANY: This month, infrastructure manager DB Netz has introduced ‘green wave’ train running functionality to support the use of connected driver advisory systems. Train operators seeking to improve their energy efficiency have been encouraged to sign up to the service at 0·315 euro cents per path-km. Available on all routes ...
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NewsHitachi signs new Leonardo train contract
ITALY: Hitachi Rail Italy has signed an €87m contract with Milano transport operator ATM for the supply of 12 Leonardo trains for metro Line 2, the supplier announced on July 16. The through-gangwayed trains will be manufactured at HRI’s Reggio Calabria and Napoli factories. Deliveries are due to start ...
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NewsDVV acquires Smart Rail World
INTERNATIONAL: Railway Gazette’s parent company DVV Media International has purchased events and digital media business Smart Rail World Ltd and its subsidiary Global Transport Forum Ltd. The London-based business manages a suite of international events in the rail and transport sector including Smart Rail, Smart Transit, Smart Metro, Safe Rail ...
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Metro Report InternationalElectric bus leasing programme launched
USA: A joint venture of electric bus manufacturer BYD Motors and infrastructure financier Generate Capital has launched a $200m electric bus leasing programme. The aim is to help public- and private-sector clients accelerate the adoption of battery electric buses. Generate Capital notes that while electric buses are cheaper over ...
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NewsEnvironmental approval paves way for Linha do Oeste upgrading
PORTUGAL: National environment agency APA has approved plans for the modernisation of part of the Linha do Oeste which links Lisboa with Louriçal and Figueira da Foz. Being undertaken as part of the government’s Ferrovia 2020 investment programme, the upgrading covers the 87 route-km between Meleças on the Lisboa suburban ...
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NewsBYD wins Oslo electric bus order
NORWAY: Bus operator Nobina has awarded BYD a contract to supply 42 electric buses to operate in Oslo. The 18 m articulated buses are due to arrive in the second quarter of 2019. They will join two BYD electric buses that are already operating in the city on a ...
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NewsIsfahan metro reaches Soffeh
IRAN: The sole line of the Isfahan metro was extended south from Azadi to Soffeh on July 10. The 4 km extension adds four stations, taking Line 1 to 20·2 km with 20 stations. On the same day two infill stations were opened on the northern section ...
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NewsCompetition concerns trigger full European Commission review of Siemens-Alstom merger
EUROPE: Following an initial Phase I investigation which raised concerns about competition in the rolling stock and signalling markets, the European Commission confirmed on July 13 that it had opened a Phase II in-depth investigation under the EU Merger Regulation to assess the proposed combination of Alstom with Siemens’ transport ...
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NewsJacobs awarded Etihad Rail consultancy contract
UAE: Etihad Rail has appointed Jacobs Engineering Group to provide technical and programme consulting services to support the expansion of its network under stages 2 and 3 of its national railway plan, now scheduled for completion by 2024. Jacobs will provide engineering and design services, review and provide critical oversight ...
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Rail Business UKReview of Network Rail’s tree management launched
UK: Terms of reference for a review of how Network Rail can best ensure the safety of railway operations while also protecting wildlife and preserving trees were published by the Department for Transport on July 12. There are estimated to be more than 10 million trees within 60 m of ...
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Metro Report InternationalCairo railway construction fleet delivered
EGYPT: Kadmar Group’s specialist heavy load logistics company EGL has won a contract to transport equipment for the construction of a 68 km electrified rail link which is being built to link Cairo with the new administrative capital development to the east. In August 2017 the National Authority for Tunnels ...
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NewsWorld rail freight news round-up
Romania’s national Environment Fund Administration has approved funding to support CFR Marfă with the operation of rolling motorway services. The freight operator owns 160 Greenbrier Type Saadkms wagons which operated between Wels in Austria and Glogovat in Romania in 2002-06. In February 2018 a trial train with 10 lorry ...
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NewsFreightliner to deploy RailSmart software suite
EUROPE: Freightliner has signed a five-year deal to use 3Squared’s RailSmart software suite, including exclusive collaboration for future developments. The Genesee & Wyoming subsidiary will initially roll out RailSmart in the UK, starting this year with the RailSmart EDS competency management module and RailSmart ORS rostering system. Subsequent modules ...
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NewsLoco control and communication connectors
CONNECTORS: TE Connectivity’s MU27P connectors are designed to provide reliable control and communication connections between locomotives and rolling stock. The 27-point plugs and receptacles with aluminium shells in five colours can be used for applications such as door controls, public address systems and brake indications. ‘These high-quality units are ...
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NewsFranco-Belgian passenger services to be enhanced from December
EUROPE: Amid concern from policymakers and rail advocates about the extent and quality of cross-border passenger services in Europe, SNCB is to reintroduce conventional services linking Charleroi and Mons with Maubeuge and Aulnoye in France from the December timetable change. Direct inter-city trains had linked Paris with the Wallonie region ...
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Metro Report InternationalFortaleza metro construction contract awarded
BRAZIL: The state of Ceará has awarded Spain’s Sacyr Engineering & Infrastructure and Brazilian company Ferreira Guedes a 48-month contract to build Phase 1 of the 12·4 km East Line of the Fortaleza metro within a budget of R$1·47bn. The route from Tirol-Moura Brasil station to the depot located beyond ...
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NewsDriverless heavy haul train completes first iron ore delivery
AUSTRALIA: Rio Tinto completed its first iron ore delivery using a driverless train on July 10. The Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator had granted approval on May 16, and full commercial operation is planned for late 2018. The fully-loaded autonomous train with three locomotives carried 28 000 ...
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NewsUTM unveils two prototype trams
RUSSIA: Uraltransmash Holdings unveiled two prototype trams at the Innoprom-2018 industrial exhibition held in its home city of Yekaterinburg on July 9-12. The Type 71-415 is a fully-low floor vehicle designed in-house by UTM as the basis for a planned family of two, three and four-section vehicles. The single section ...