Industry Insider Week 22 – 10 Must-Read Rail Stories

All the important rail news of the week, summed up for you in one place: our Railway-News Industry Insider Week 22 for 27–31 May 2019:

Alstom metro for Lyon Line 2 © Alstom/Mobylette Jaune

Infrastructure

Sydney Metro Rouse Hill Station © MDRX under licence

Sydney Metro North West Enters Commercial Service

Sydney Metro North West began operations on Sunday, 26 May – eight years after it was initially announced. The Australian operator, Metro Trains Sydney, will run the new trains every four minutes during peak hours. Services will have the potential to be increased in the future if necessary. The Metro North West Line is made up of 36km of track, 13 stations and one depot. Additional works on the line are in progress and will be completed by 2024.

South Wales ‘Site of the Future’ Is 97 Percent Diesel-Free

Network Rail and Colas Rail have been collaborating on an extensive rail renewal project in South Wales. The two companies wish to show the feasibility of a sustainable ‘Site of the Future’ and have successfully managed to operate 97 percent diesel-free. Network Rail and Colas Rail chose to utilise solar and battery technologies from Prolectric Ltd in favour of diesel generators which resulted in them saving 6,000 litres of fuel and more than 15 tons of carbon dioxide in two weeks.

Rolling Stock

CAF is a major rolling stock manufacturer in Europe. Here: Brussels Metro © Stephane Mignon under licence

CAF Acquires EuroMaint to Expand Train Maintenance Sector

CAF (Spain) has bought 100 percent of shares of EuroMaint Group to support its position in the rolling stock maintenance sector. EuroMaint is the market leader in rolling stock maintenance in Sweden whose contributions could massively benefit CAF’s order book. Due to this acquisition CAF will also be able to consolidate its firm presence within the Nordic market as well as highlight its increased activity in the rail services division.

Stadler to Supply 26 Additional FLIRT Trains to Slovenia

Slovenian state railway operator Slovenske Železnice has requested a further 26 FLIRT trains to be delivered by Stadler. The contract is worth around 150 million euros (168 million USD). This order is an option from a contract signed by both parties in April 2018. 16 of the trains will be three-car diesel-electric trains (DMUs) whilst the other ten will be four-car electric multiple units (EMUs). The 26 trains are expected to enter service from October 2021.

Vy selects Stadler to maintain its fleet of 100 FLIRT trains © Stadler

Stadler Wins Maintenance Contract in Norway

The Norwegian train operator Vy has awarded Swiss manufacturer, Stadler, a maintenance contract for over 100 FLIRT trains. The preventive and corrective maintenance will begin within the first quarter of 2020. The contract includes further options and is worth an overall total of 100 million Swiss francs (89 million euros / 100 million USD). Stadler will perform the maintenance works in leased depots until the end of 2024.

Bombardier Preferred Bidder for Cairo Monorail Project

Bombardier Transportation is the preferred bidder for the Cairo (Egypt) monorail project. The project includes 2 new monorail links, one connecting East Cairo with the New Administrative City and the other connecting 6th October City and Gizeh. The contract has a total value of 3 billion euros (3.36 billion USD). Bombardier Transportation has said they will carry out the project with two Egyptian companies: Orascom Construction and Arab Contractors.

Alstom Delivers First MP16 Metro Train for Lyon

French manufacturer Alstom has constructed the first MP16 metro train that will enter service on Line B of the Lyon Metro. The train has received more than 5 months of testing in Valenciennes following its arrival at the La Poudrette depot on 25 April. The first train will now receive extensive testing on the Lyon network, which will take place at night. The complete order of MP16 metro trains, pertaining to the 2016 contract, is for 30 units.

Alstom Begins Production of Passenger Locomotives in Kazakhstan

The Alstom-Transmashholding joint venture EKZ has begun manufacturing the Prima M4 ‘KZ4AT’ electric passenger locomotives in Kazakhstan. The locomotives are part of a contract that Kazakhstan Railways awarded to Alstom for the delivery and maintenance of 302 Prima T8 freight locomotives, type ‘KZ8A’, and 119 Prima M4 passenger locomotives, type ‘KZ4AT’. 50 freight locomotives and 20 passenger locomotives are already in service in Kazakhstan.

ELP orders 10 Stadler multi-system 9MW locomotives

Stadler to Deliver Ten Further Locomotives to ELP

European Loc Pool (ELP) have signed a contract with Swiss manufacturer Stadler to deliver an additional ten six-axle locomotives. This order forms part of a framework contract for 100 locomotives, which was announced on 20 May 2019. Including this current order and the order for the hybrid locomotives, ELP’s fleet will expand to 30 locomotives. Therefore ELP will have a fleet that it can run on both electrified and non-electrified lines.

Newag Impuls Electric Trains to Undergo Maintenance

Polish Rolling stock manufacturer Newag S.A. has signed a maintenance contract for thirteen of its IMPULS electric multiple units in service in Western Pomerania Province. These maintenance works will take place from 2019–2021 and comprise of a P4 inspection, which is necessary either after 1.2 million kilometres or after a maximum of six years following a previous inspection. Western Pomerania owns the largest fleet of Newag’s IMPULS electric trains.