Industry Insider Week 46 · 14 Must-Read Rail News Stories

All the important rail news of the past week, summed up for you in one place: our Railway-News Industry Insider Week 46 for 11–15 November 2019:

Stadler Wins FLIRT H2 Hydrogen Train Contract in the US | Rolling Stock

Stadler has won its first contract for a hydrogen train, the H2. The San Bernardino County Transit Authority (SBCTA) will operate the train on the new Redlands Passenger Rail line. The contract also includes an option for four further H2 trains. The first of these hydrogen trains is to enter service in 2024. This will be the first hydrogen train in service in the United States.

European Transport Commissioner-Designate Hearing | Policy

On 14 November the candidate to become the new European Commissioner for Transport, Adina-Ioana Valean, had her hearing in front of MEPs at the Transport and Tourism Committee. During the three-hour hearing she outlined her policy focuses and had to answer MEPs questions, which addressed the European Green Deal, climate change, and transport matters from the aviation and marine sectors in addition to rail.

Transport Commissioner-designate hearing 2019

Adina-Ioana Valean at her hearing for Transport Commissioner

Alstom to Supply 19 Coradia Trains to Baden-Württemberg | Rolling Stock

DB Regio, Deutsche Bahn’s regional operator, has ordered 19 EMUs from Alstom, type Coradia Continental. The trains will gradually enter service from December 2022 onwards, in a contract worth 120 million euros. Once delivered, the trains will become the property of the Landesanstalt Schienenfahrzeuge Baden-Württemberg, who will lease them to DB Regio for a contract period of 13 years.

MARTA Signs Contract for 127 METRO Trains | Rolling Stock

Following the announcement of the order in spring 2019, the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority and Stadler have now signed the contract for the supply of 127 two-car METRO trains, which will operate at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the largest in the world. Another superlative: this is the biggest single order of vehicles in Stadler’s history and also MARTA’s largest procurement to date.

Alstom Begins Delivery of Coradia Stream EMUs for Veneto and Liguria | Rolling Stock

Alstom has delivered the first Coradia Stream train, branded ‘Pop’, to Trenitalia. In March 2018 Alstom and Trenitalia signed a contract for 54 regional trains, based on a framework agreement for up to 150 units signed in 2016. This train and the further 45 trains Alstom is delivering in this batch are part of that contract. The remaining eight trains are for two different Italian regions.

Spain: Recoletos Tunnel Project Completed | Infrastructure

The Recoletos Tunnel in Madrid has been undergoing upgrade works with an investment of 45 million euros. Alstom, who was contracted for the signalling works, has now completed its portion of the contract. The works on this 7km tunnel will improve the reliability of the line. Seeing 470 trains and 200,000 passengers a day, it is the busiest on the Spanish rail network.

Deutsche Bahn Opens New Training Centre in Cologne | Science & Technology

Deutsche Bahn has opened a new training centre in Cologne. It will train around 250 apprentices each year as well as dozens of individuals entering the rail sector from other professions. Measuring 7,200 square metres in size, it is the largest and most modern of its kind in Germany. It is important to Deutsche Bahn to train and upskill its workforce for the new challenges of digitalisation ahead.

Alstom Presents Future Metro for Lille Metropolitan Region | Rolling Stock

Alstom and the Métropole Européenne de Lille presented the future metro for the Lille Metropolitan Region. The event took place at Alstom’s maintenance workshop in Villeneuve d’Ascq. Each rubber-tyred metro train will have a capacity of 405. The project is very local-oriented with 40 percent of subsystems coming from French production and of these 40 percent, 45 percent are manufactured by local companies in the Hauts-de-France region.

First Test Tram on Manchester’s Trafford Park Line | Infrastructure

Manchester is expanding its Metrolink network with the opening of the new 5.5km Trafford Park Line in the first half of 2020. Before passenger services can begin, the infrastructure needs to be put through its paces now that construction is complete. The first test tram on the line took place on Sunday night, with engineers performing tests as it ran at walking pace. Following these tests, driver training can begin.

Rail Baltica Tender for Riga International Airport Announced | Infrastructure

The Implementing Body of Rail Baltica in Latvia, Eiropas Dzelzceļa līnijas, Ltd., has announced an international tender for the construction of the Rail Baltica station at Riga International Airport. The tender process will take place in two phases, the first of which will be selecting qualified candidates.

UWC to Supply 100 Freight Cars to Zimbabwe | Rolling Stock

UWC will supply 100 gondola freight cars to the National Railways of Zimbabwe who will use the cars on 1067mm gauge track to transport materials such as coal into neighbouring countries. Once NRZ finalises the necessary export loan with the help of UWC, it will receive the cars within 12 months.

Talgo Gifts Rodal to National College for Advanced Transport & Infrastructure | Science & Technology

Talgo, which recently established Talgo UK, has gifted a Rodal – a twin wheelset – to the National College for Advanced Transport & Infrastructure. As part of its UK operations, Talgo wants to bring knowledge to the UK rail sector to nurture R&D so that it can manufacture fully in the UK, without needing to import components.

New Transport Commissioner for the EU Announced | Policy

Of the two potential Commissioner candidates from Romania, Adina-Ioana Valean and Siegfied Muresan, Commission Head Ursula von der Leyden has chosen the former. She will now have her hearing on 14 November. To form the new Commission, she and two other candidates will need to be approved prior to a vote in the European Parliament on 27 November.

Crossrail Central Section Will Not Open in 2020 | Infrastructure

In October 2019 Crossrail Ltd announced an opening window for the central section of the Elizabeth line of October 2020–March 2021. It has now confirmed to the Crossrail Board that it will not open in the earlier half of that window, pushing the date back to 2021. In addition, the project is facing a cost overrun of 400–650m GBP in excess of the revised funding agreement of December 2018.