News – Page 511
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NewsSiemens completes first Avenio M tram for Ulm
GERMANY: The first of 12 Avenio M trams that Siemens is supplying to Ulm has left Siemens’ factory in Wien and is on its way to the supplier’s Wegberg-Wildenrath test track. Stadtwerke Ulm ordered the trams in May 2015 under a €32m contract that includes an option for six ...
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NewsBombardier hands over HSL Traxx locos
GERMANY: In a double ceremony taking place at the manufacturer’s Kassel plant on November 29, Bombardier Transportation handed over three Traxx AC electric freight locomotives to leasing company Akiem, which in turn passed them directly to its customer HSL Logistik. A further three locos are due to be handed over ...
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NewsFirst Flirt3 for GySEV presented
HUNGARY: On November 30 Stadler presented the first of 10 Flirt3 electric multiple-units that it is supplying to GySEV under a contact awarded in September 2016. Two EMUs are currently undergoing acceptance trials in Hungary. Built by Stadler factories in Switzerland and Poland, the first Flirt3 EMUs are due to ...
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NewsDuisburg selects Bombardier trams
GERMANY: Duisburg transport authority DVG announced on November 29 that it had selected Bombardier Transportation as preferred bidder for a contract to supply 47 trams. The €135m contract is expected to be signed on December 8 following the mandatory standstill period. A prototype tram is due to enter service ...
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NewsRoute numbers to identify SBB’s long-distance services
SWITZERLAND: Swiss Federal Railways will introduce route numbers for its long-distance services from the start of the winter timetable on December 10. Intended to offer passengers ‘simple and reliable’ identification of their services, the numbering is based on that used for the national road network. The main east-west route ...
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NewsTwindexx fleet to enter service in 2018
SWITZERLAND: Swiss Federal Railways confirmed on November 30 that it will launch the first Twindexx double-deck electric multiple-units in commercial service during 2018. The decision follows an interim ruling by the Federal Office for Transport authorising the trains to carry passengers after supplier Bombardier Transportation provided all the necessary safety ...
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NewsDelays and escalating costs hit Stuttgart 21
GERMANY: The Stuttgart 21 project to replace the city’s terminus by an underground through station is likely to cost €1bn more than planned, and completion may be delayed from 2023 to December 2024. According to reports in the German media citing sources in the Supervisory Board of Deutsche Bahn, ...
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WebinarThe Cybersecure Railway
Digitisation of main line and urban railways is gathering pace as policymakers push operators and infrastructure managers to enhance the capacity and efficiency of their networks. But with the widespread adoption of networked tools comes an increasing need to mitigate the risks posed by cyber threats.
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NewsWorld rail infrastructure market - November 2017
Argentina: Trenes Argentinos Infraestructura has ordered 1∙7 million concrete sleepers from domestic suppliers Astori, Dhasa, Frontera, Prear, Premoldeados de Argentina and Zonis for 2∙4bn pesos. Canada: The City of Ottawa has signed a contract with EllisDon for the expansion of the Belfast Yard light rail depot for ...
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NewsUK railway news round-up
TransPennine Express announced on November 28 that it had shipped a Class 68 locomotive to Spain from Royal Portbury Dock. The locomotive, which is being subleased from Direct Rail Services, will be used to haul the first Mk Va coaches being supplied for TPE by CAF from its facilities in ...
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Metro Report InternationalKøbenhavn metro extension contractors selected
DENMARK: København metro authority Metroselskabet announced on November 27 that it had selected contractors to build and fit out the southern section of Line M4. The TUNN3L joint venture of Hochtief Infrastructure and Vinci Construction Grands Projets is to build 4·5 km of twin tunnels and five stations. A ...
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NewsContainers by rail from China to France
INTERNATIONAL: For its customer PSA, Gefco has operated its first trainload of 40 ft containers between Wuhan in China and Dourges in northern France. Having departed on November 3, the train arrived in Dourges on November 22. Operating via Kazakstan, Russia, Belarus, Poland and Germany, the service was handled by ...
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NewsRNV becomes first Mercedes-Benz Citaro electric bus customer
GERMANY: Rhein-Neckar transport authority RNV and Daimler subsidiary EvoBus have signed a memorandum of understanding for the supply of an unspecified number of electric buses. Daimler says that this will make RNV the launch customer for the new Mercedes-Benz Citaro electric bus. As part of the agreement, the operator ...
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NewsTrams ordered for Plzeň
CZECH REPUBLIC: Sole bidder Krnovské Opravny a Strojírny is to supply up to 16 Pragoimex EVO2 trams to Plzeň under a KC524m framework agreement. The 100% low-floor two-section trams will be 21·7 m long. Pragoimex, which is majority-owned by KOS, has to date produced one EVO2 tram, which entered ...
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NewsStrategic vision to bring infrastructure and operations closer
UK: On November 29 Secretary of State for Transport Chris Grayling published the government’s ‘strategic vision’ for rail, containing what it says are ‘sweeping proposals’ to bring infrastructure and train operations closer together. In what is described as ‘an evolution’ of the franchising system, single management teams are to be ...
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NewsHyderabad metro inaugurated
INDIA: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Telangana Chief Minister Chandrashekhar Rao inaugurated the Hyderabad metro on November 28. Revenue services starting the following day on what has become the 10th metro network in India. Two lines have opened, which share an interchange at Ameerpet. Line 1 is 12·2 km ...
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NewsNacala investment package complete
MOZAMBIQUE: Brazilian mining and steel group Vale has signed binding financial contracts which complete the investment structure for the Nacala Logistics Corridor. Announced on November 27, the deal covers US$1·03bn from Japan Bank for International Co-operation, a US$1bn loan insured by Nippon Export & Investment Insurance and a US$400m loan ...
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NewsWorld rolling stock market - November 2017
Austria: ÖBB has resumed tendering for a fleet of coaches for daytime and overnight inter-city services following the withdrawal of an objection by Siemens, which had complained about specification changes. Bombardier is understood to have proposed sourcing bodyshell components from CRRC. Siemens has ordered 128 U-Lift ...
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NewsRail market share falling in France, says regulator
FRANCE: In a report on rail passenger services covering 2015 and 2016, regulatory body Arafer found that rail’s market share had fallen by an average of 0·5% a year since 2011, whereas that of other modes had increased. Published on November 16, the report said that rail had a 9·2% ...
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NewsSNCF to assist PRASA with renewal programme
SOUTH AFRICA: Under a tripartite agreement signed on November 27, SNCF and French government development agency AFD have agreed to provide technical and financial assistance worth R6·2m to suburban passenger operator Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa. Commencing from the start of December, the 12-month partnership will provide technical expertise, ...