All articles by Railway Gazette International – Page 405
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NewsGauge-changing freight axles under test
SPAIN: The OGI gauge-changing axle for freight wagons, designed to operate on both 1 435 mm and 1 668 mm gauge, has completed Phase 1 of its testing programme, it was announced on November 7. Developed and manufactured by Azvi, Tria and OGI, the axle has now operated for 50 ...
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NewsArmy studies dual gauge
ARGENTINA: Under an agreement signed with infrastructure manager Trenes Argentinos Infraestructura, army engineers are to undertake studies for providing 1 676 mm gauge on a 60 km section of the 1 435 mm gauge Urquiza network between Zárate and Pilar. This will include new junctions and the design of specialised ...
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NewsUK railway news round-up
Parliament’s Transport Select Committee is to hold an inquiry into the structure of railway funding. ‘We will consider whether the mechanism of control periods is the best way to manage investment in rail infrastructure‘, said Chair Lilian Greenwood MP. ‘At a time when UK passengers have seen ticket prices rising ...
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NewsSwitzerland to participate in EU Agency for Railways
EUROPE: The European Commission has asked the Council for a mandate to negotiate an amendment to the 1999 bilateral Land Transport Agreement with Switzerland, which would enable the country to participate in the European Union Agency for Railways. On November 15 the Commission said Swiss involvement was foreseen by the ...
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NewsRhätische Bahn launches double-tracking project
SWITZERLAND: Rhätische Bahn held a ceremony on November 14 to mark the start of work to on a project to provide a second track between Bever, at the junction of the Albula and Engadin lines, and Samedan where the Bernina and St Moritz routes join. As well as increasing capacity, ...
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NewsIncreasing capacity on the BAM and Trans-Siberian routes
RUSSIA: A programme to increase capacity on the Trans-Siberian and Baikal – Amur Magistral routes is underway, to support the development of coal mines in the Zabaykalsky region as well as the growth in long-distance and transit freight traffic. According to Russian Railways, capacity on the two routes has already ...
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NewsMercitalia orders up to 125 locomotives and 250 wagons
ITALY: FS Group’s freight subsidiary Mercitalia announced an order for 'up to' 125 Bombardier Transportation locomotives and a total of 250 wagons on November 14. The operator said Bombardier was awarded the €400m contract to supply the 6·4 MW Traxx DC3/MS locomotives to Mercitalia Rail and TX Logistik after a ...
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NewsFinland to China freight service launched
INTERNATIONAL: A freight train left Kouvola between Helsinki and the Russian border on November 10 carrying 41 containers for Xi’an in China. The containers were filled with Finnish products including timber, machinery, work clothing and ship components. The 9 110 km journey via Russia and Kazakhstan is expected to take ...
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NewsRafael Santana
Rafael Santana has been appointed President & CEO of GE Transportation with effect from November 1, replacing Jamie Miller who becomes GE’s Chief Financial Officer. Santana was previously President of GE’s Latin America regional business.
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NewsSBB targets 15 min frequencies in 'next quantum leap'
SWITZERLAND: Swiss Federal Railways is drawing up long-term proposals to run its long-distance services at 15 min intervals. Describing this as ‘the next quantum leap in Swiss public transport’, SBB was responding on November 9 to a government consultation document on long-term investment in the national rail network. The government’s ...
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NewsWork begins on Budapest tram extension
HUNGARY: Work has started on a 1·7 km extension of Budapest tram Route 1. The western extension from Etele út/Fehérvári út to Kelenföld railway station will include two intermediate stations. Interchange with metro line M4 will be provided at Bikás Park and Kelenföld. The HF8·6bn project is 98·5% financed ...
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NewsFuel cell Mireo multiple-unit to be developed
GERMANY: Siemens and Canadian fuel cell technology company Ballard Power Systems have signed an agreement to develop a 200 kW fuel cell suitable for powering Mireo electric multiple-units. The initial deployment of a fuel cell powered trainset is planned for 2021. ‘Our co-operation with Ballard is a decisive step towards ...
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NewsEPH eyes Škoda Transportation
CZECH REPUBLIC: The Energetický a Průmyslový Holding power and industrial group controlled by Czech billionaire Daniel Křetínský is reportedly close to signing a deal to acquire rolling stock manufacturer Škoda Transportation. An agreement worth at least KC10bn could be completed by the end of the year, according to local media, ...
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NewsGE looks to sell rail business
USA: General Electric expects to dispose of its Transportation business unit over the next two years, along with its Industrial Solutions and Lighting activities, new CEO John Flannery confirmed on November 13. Presenting his reshaping programme to investors, Flannery indicated that he was looking to ‘focus the portfolio’ around the ...
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NewsVegetable oil fuelled multiple-units ordered for future battery conversion
NETHERLANDS: Arriva has signed a €170m contract for Stadler to supply 18 Flirtino multiple units which will be able to use overhead electrification or hydrotreated vegetable oil fuel. They will also have onboard batteries to store regenerated braking energy. Produced from vegetable fats and oils, HVO is intended to be ...
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NewsTurkish rolling stock local content requirement published
TURKEY: Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım published a notice on November 7 stipulating that all urban rail vehicles for Turkey must have at least 51% local content. This requirement covers metro trains, trams, light rail vehicles, funiculars and monorails, as well as cable cars. Last year the Ministry of Transport, ...
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NewsNTV to order more Pendolinos
ITALY: High speed open access operator Nuovo Trasporto Viaggiatori is to order a further five non-tilting Alstom Pendolino trainsets. The company’s board of management approved a decision to exercise an option for the seven-car trainsets on November 9. This follows an earlier option for four trainsets, and will take the ...
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NewsNovocherkassk presents UTM trams
RUSSIA: The city of Novocherkassk has officially unveiled the first two of five trams that Uraltransmash is supplying under a contract signed earlier this year. Sole bidder Elektrotransport won the 81·5m rouble contract and selected UTM to supply its Type 71-407. The 16 m long single-section trams will augment ...
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NewsTrenitalia orders Jazz EMUs
ITALY: Trentialia has ordered a further 27 Coradia Meridian regional electric multiple-units for delivery between mid-2018 and mid-2019, Alstom announced on November 13. The €170m order has been placed within a framework agreement signed in late 2012, and will take Trenitalia’s fleet of Coradia Meridian units, which it operates under ...
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NewsWorld rail freight news round-up
Automotive logistics company CAT has acquired SNCF’s car transport subsidiary STVA Group, which is active in nine countries, including France, Germany, the UK and Morocco. The acquisition includes 31 vehicle logistics compounds, 2 600 wagons, 725 lorries and 2 000 staff. The European Commission has approved a 1bn złoty state ...