Australia:BHP Billiton Iron Ore has ordered a further 10 SD70ACe 4300hp diesel locos from Downer EDI subsidiary EDI Rail, taking the mining firm’s total order to 24. They will be assembled in Canada by EMD for delivery during 2007.
Belgium:SNCB has ordered a further 90 M6 double-deck coaches worth €166m for delivery in 2008-09 from a consortium of Alstom and Bombardier. The 18 driving and 72 trailer cars take the total ordered to 370, the first having entered service in 2002.
Cuba:Under its first contract from Latin America and the Caribbean, China Northern has shipped to Cuba 12 DF7G-C diesel-electric locos of 2500hp which were ordered in January 2005 (RG 3.05 p125).
Czech Republic:CD has taken delivery of 50 Sggmrss 90 twin-section container wagons suitable for 120 km/h operation. Lostr Louny built the six-axle vehicles using Y25 Lssd1 bogies from Tatravagónka Poprad.
Namibia:The Namibian Rail Contractors joint venture which was responsible for tracklaying between Tsumeb and Omuthiya has secured the N$75m contract for the 75 km second phase onwards from Omuthiya to Ondangwa, scheduled for completion in mid-2006.
Nigeria:Rites and Ircon representatives visited Nigeria on November 8-10 and agreed to supply 10 Indian-built locos to NRC as part of a proposed upgrading and network expansion programme.
South Africa:Following a successful pilot project (RG 7.05 p388), Wabtec Railway Electronics has signed a US$13m contract to retrofit electronically-controlled pneumatic braking and distributed power control to around 50 locos and 3300 wagons used on Spoornet’s coal line to Richard’s Bay. Knorr-Bremse is to fit its EP-60 and WireDP to a further 58 locos and around 3000 wagons.
Spain:A consortium of Sacyr, Cavosa and GEA 21 has been awarded a €75·7m contract to build 5·3 km of new alignment between Meirama and Bregua on the Santiago de Compostela - A Coruña route. Expected to take 36 months, work will include construction of a 3·5 km tunnel and a 34-span viaduct 1·2 km in length.
Salvador Rus López Construcciones and Cyopsa-Sisocia have been awarded a €16·5m contract to undertake civil works for the Barranco Les Paisanes - Vila-Seca station section of the connection between the Valencia - Barcelona route at Vandell
