Rail business, industry and technology news
Live Last read · last published · next check
SWITZERLAND: Fribourg transport authority TPF has awarded Stadler a contract to supply 13 four-car Flirt Evo electric multiple-units to modernise its standard gauge fleet. The SFr117m firm order announced on August 21 has been placed as an option on a framework contract for up to 510 regional EMUs which Swiss Federal Railways and its local…
THAILAND: On August 11 the State Railway of Thailand board approved a 122.7bn baht investment framework for Phase 2 of the southern double-tracking programme. This will extend the double-track network southwards from the completed and ongoing Phase 1 works. Four contracts will cover the 168 km Chumphon – Surat Thani section (planned for completion in…
This week’s global railway supply chain news from Railway Gazette International. The completion of TSI certification of the domestically developed Türasaş E5000 electric locomotive was announced by Turkey’s Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu on August 20. ‘We have documented that the E5000 can be produced to world standards and paved the way for its sale to…
EUROPE: International high speed train operator Eurostar has returned to service the first of its e300 trainsets to be equipped with ETCS. The e300 (UK Class 373) trainsets were built for the launch of Channel Tunnel services in the 1990s, and eight remain in use. Eurostar said installing ETCS would support their continued operations in…
INDONESIA: The Ministry of Finance is set to acquire a 60% stake in PT Kereta Cepat Indonesia-China, which operates Whoosh passenger service on the 142 km Jakarta – Bandung high speed line. KCIC is a 60:40 joint venture between a consortium of Indonesian state-owned enterprises and the Beijing Yawan HSR consortium of Chinese companies. It…
AUSTRALIA: Following a competitive process, the High Speed Rail Authority has selected groups of international suppliers to provide early contractor involvement services for the Trains, Systems & System Integration and Tunnelling & Construction elements of the Newcastle – Sydney high speed line project. The ECI process aims to finalise the cost, scope, design and approvals…
AUSTRALIA: The Australian subsidiary of US company Ensco has been awarded a framework contract to supply Melbourne’s Yarra Trams with trackside remote condition monitoring equipment and related services. This will include a KLD Labs WheelScan system for wheel monitoring which will be installed at the New Preston Depot on the world’s largest tram network .…
SOUTH KOREA: Hyundai Rotem has completed the development of an obstacle detection system for light rail vehicles, the manufacturer announced last month. The Autonomous Driving Assistance System tool detects obstacles on the tracks by considering track dimensions and the operating environment, and alerts the driver if a high-risk situation is detected. The technology uses LiDAR…
BULGARIA: The opening of a 3 km eastern extension of Sofia metro Line 3 on August 14 is expected to reduce road traffic in the local area by up to 25%, according to operator Metropoliten EAD. The extension runs northeast along Vladimir Vazov Boulevard from Hadzhi Dimitar to the Levski residential district, adding three stations.…
THAILAND: The first of 32 three-car trainsets being supplied for Bangkok’s Orange Line metro by a consortium including Siemens Mobility and Bozankaya has been completed. The train was unveiled on August 14 at Bozankaya’s plant in Ankara, where it has completed initial tests. It is now being transported to Germany to undertake further trials. The…
This week’s round-up of news from the global urban transport sector. The last of 85 six-car C2 metro trainsets supplied to München by Siemens Mobility’s Wien plant under orders placed from 2010 to 2022 entered service on July 30. The fleet is being used to replace older A series trains built in 1967-83 and to…
USA: Los Angeles County MTA has awarded the San Fernando Transit Constructors joint venture of Skanska and Stacy Witbeck the main works contract for the East San Fernando Valley light rail project. The line will run for 10.8 km along the Van Nuys Boulevard corridor from Van Nuys station on LA Metro’s G Line bus…
UK: German national railway group Deutsche Bahn has begun the process of selling British rail freight business DB Cargo UK, as it focuses its attention on markets closer to home. In a statement released on August 17, DB Cargo UK CEO Andrea Rossi said current parent company DB Cargo had ‘recently confirmed that its strategic…
GERMANY: A tram bypass line has opened to relieve congestion on routes around Mainz Hauptbahnhof. Services began using the 300 m section of track running along Binger Straße from Hauptbahnhof West to Münsterplatz on August 10, ahead of the official inauguration on August 15. Construction of the bypass began in June 2024, but work was…
