10 Must-Read Rail News Stories – Industry Insider Week 13
All the important rail news of the week, summed up for you in one place: our Railway-News Industry Insider Week 13 for 25–29 March 2019:
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UNIFE: EU Investments for Innovation in Rail Transport
Tommaso Spanevello, UNIFE, discusses R&I in the rail sector in the EU. “UNIFE has developed an R&I vision for the future Shift2Rail, key-enablers – ranging from automated rail transport, digitalisation and ‘mobility as a seamless service’ to ‘maintenance of the future’ and optimised infrastructure.”
Read: UNIFE: EU Investments for Innovation in Rail Transport
The Grand Paris Express: A Transport Project Serving the Residents of the Paris Region and the Capital’s Development
The new Grand Paris metro lines, together the Grand Paris Express, have created an infrastructure project of unprecedented magnitude: 200km of new track, of which 90 percent is under ground, with four new lines, one extension, 68 new stations, fully automated rolling stock, all for a 35 billion euro investment.
Rolling Stock
Deutsche Bahn: Free Wifi on All InterCity 1 and 2 Trains
Currently Germany’s ICE fleet (the InterCity Express fleet) has free wifi on all its trains. Now Deutsche Bahn says it will equip all of its InterCity trains 1 and 2 with free wifi as well. These upgrades will be complete by the end of 2021 and will use multi-provider technology to provide the best-possible coverage.
Read: Deutsche Bahn: Free Wifi on All InterCity 1 and 2 Trains
CRRC and Aurizon Sign Contract for 264 Narrow Gauge Coal Hopper Cars
CRRC has signed a contract with Australian logistics company for 264 narrow gauge coal hopper cars. Shipped in two batches of 132 cars each, CRRC has already dispatched the first set. It will then ship the second batch in 2020.
Read: CRRC and Aurizon Sign Contract for 264 Narrow Gauge Coal Hopper Cars
ODEG Orders 23 Siemens Desiro HC Trains for Elbe-Spree Network
The Ostdeutsche Eisenbahn GmbH has ordered 23 Siemens Desiro HC trains. 21 of them will be six-car trains, while two of them will be four-car trains. Siemens will commence delivery in summer 2022. The ODEG was able to place this order following its winning bid to operate the Elbe-Spree franchises in January 2019.
Read: ODEG Orders 23 Siemens Desiro HC Trains for Elbe-Spree Network
France: Occitanie to Get 13 New Alstom Coradia Polyvalent Trains
Alstom will deliver 13 Coradia Polyvalent ‘Régiolis’ trains to the French region of Occitanie. Since 2014 the region has ordered 33 of these trains. This current order therefore brings the total up to 46. Alstom says this contract is worth 330 million euros (370 million USD). The four-car trains will either be electric or dual mode.
Read: France: Occitanie to Get 13 New Alstom Coradia Polyvalent Trains
UWC to Supply 400 Articulated Tank Cars to Kazakhstan
United Wagon Company will deliver 400 articulated tank cars to Texol Group in Kazakhstan. Once in service, the tank cars will transport liquefied petroleum gas. The tank cars in question are model no. 15-9541-01. The cars have a boiler volume of 163.1 cubic metres and payload capacity of 90t. They are 24m long.
Read: UWC to Supply 400 Articulated Tank Cars to Kazakhstan
Stadler Wins First Metro Contract in the US: 127 Trains for Atlanta
Stadler has won its biggest contract in the United States to date. It is to supply 127 trains for the Atlanta metro, where they will serve the city’s airport. The two-car trains will enter service in 2023. Each train will comprise 128 seats along with plenty of standing room and luggage space, which is vital for such an airport link.
Read: Stadler Wins First Metro Contract in the US: 127 Trains for Atlanta
Infrastructure
Pune and Mumbai Metros to Get Train Control and Signalling from Alstom
Alstom will equip both the Pune and Mumbai metros with its signalling and train control solutions. In both cases it will install its Urbalis 400 CBTC system. Alstom will equip lines 2A, 2B and 7 of the Mumbai Metro and lines 1 and 2 of the Pune Metro. These contracts have a combined value of 90 million euros (101 million USD).
Read: Pune and Mumbai Metros to Get Train Control and Signalling from Alstom
Business
Deutsche Bahn Looks at Options for DB Arriva Sale
Deutsche Bahn’s supervisory board met last week, during which it discussed the sale of DB Arriva. Based in the United Kingdom, Arriva generated a turnover of 5.44 billion euros (6.12 billion USD) in 2018. The management board is to keep the supervisory board up to date about the sales progress.
