11 Must-Read Rail News Stories for Week 50
The Railway-News Industry Insider for week 50 (10–14 December 2018):
Science & Technology
Mumbai Metro to Get Alstom CBTC Signalling System
Alstom will supply its CBTC signalling system to the Mumbai metro. The system will benefit metro line 3. The customer, Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd, already ordered rolling stock and power supply solutions from Alstom earlier in 2018. This particular contract is worth more than 100 million euros to Alstom.
Read: Mumbai Metro to Get Alstom CBTC Signalling System
Israel Railways Trains to Get Alstom ETCS Level 2 Atlas Solution
Israel Railways has asked Alstom to design and fit its ETCS Level 2 Atlas solution for the company’s rolling stock. In total, Israel Railways owns 192 trains. Alstom will equip the entire fleet with its European Train Control System. The design process will begin in January and the complete installation process is expected to last two years.
Read: Israel Railways Trains to Get Alstom ETCS Level 2 Atlas Solution
Rolling Stock
Bombardier Joint Venture Wins Contract for Chinese-Standard High-Speed Trains
One of Bombardier’s joint ventures in China, BST, has won a contract for high-speed trains for the country. The contract is with China Railway Corporation. Specifically, the joint venture is to supply 168 train cars, type CR400AF. The specified configuration is for 15 eight-car units and 3 sixteen-car units.
Read: Bombardier Joint Venture Wins Contract for Chinese-Standard High-Speed Trains
Hamburg to Receive 13 Additional DT5 Metro Trains from Alstom-Bombardier Consortium
Alstom and Bombardier have joined forces to supply Hamburg, Germany, with 13 additional DT5 metro trains. These new trains are to enter service in December 2020 and run on Hamburg’s underground network. The Alstom-Bombardier consortium has supplied 46 metro trains to Hamburg to date.
Read: Hamburg to Receive 13 Additional DT5 Metro Trains from Alstom-Bombardier Consortium
Stadler Lands Contract for 12 Additional FLIRT Traverso Trains for Switzerland
Stadler and Schweizerische Südostbahn AG (SOB) have signed a contract for 12 additional FLIRT trains. SOB requires this additional rolling stock in order to run an hourly service between Chur, Zurich and Bern starting in December 2021. SOB’s total order with Stadler is for 34 trains. The original order was for 11 trains. Next, SOB took advantage of an option for a further eleven Traverso trains. Finally, SOB made use of a second option for seven Traverso trains and five FLIRT trains.
Read: Stadler Lands Contract for 12 Additional FLIRT Traverso Trains for Switzerland
Hitachi Launches Joint Bid for Tyne and Wear Metro Trains
Hitachi and Spencer Group have put forward a joint bid to build the new Tyne and Wear metro trains as well as a maintenance depot. In total, the contract would be worth 500 million pounds. The existing fleet running on the Tyne and Wear network is due to be replaced from 2022 onwards.
Read: Hitachi Launches Joint Bid for Tyne and Wear Metro Trains
Grand Avignon Gets Its First Alstom Citadis X05 Tram
Grand Avignon ordered a total of 14 trams from Alstom. On 13 December the first, a Citadis X05, arrived with the customer. These new trams are to enter service in summer 2019. The Citadis X05 is a popular tram. Alstom has sold it to more than 50 cities around the world. It is low-floor and has big windows. In addition, up to 98 percent of the materials used in it are recyclable.
Read: Grand Avignon Gets Its First Alstom Citadis X05 Tram
First GE Transportation Evolution Series Locomotive Enters Service in Ukraine
In February 2018 Ukrainian Railways placed an order with GE Transportation for their Evolution Series locomotives in order to replace its existing fleet. GE Transportation completed production of the first one in July 2018. Now, in December this locomotive has entered service in Ukraine.
Read: First GE Transportation Evolution Series Locomotive Enters Service in Ukraine
Infrastructure
British Steel Wins Two Major Contracts with Italy’s National Rail Network
British Steel has won two contracts in Italy. One is for 68,000 tonnes of standard-grade rail. The second is for 18,000 tonnes of the company’s premium heat-treated SF350 rails. These contracts are worth several million pounds and follow other major contracts earlier in the year with Network Rail (UK) and Infrabel (Belgium).
Read: British Steel Wins Two Major Contracts with Italy’s National Rail Network
Business & Policy
European Parliament Approves Funding for Connecting Europe Facility
The European Parliament has voted in favour of a report on funding the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) for the EU’s next budget cycle. This pot of funding is key in aiding infrastructure projects that cross national borders. In total, 434 MEPs voted in favour of the report, 134 voted again. 37, meanwhile, abstained.
Read: European Parliament Approves Funding for Connecting Europe Facility
DB Arriva in Sweden: Company Commences Transport Contract in Schonen
The Deutsche Bahn subsidiary responsible for operations outside of Germany, DB Arriva, will continue to operate regional rail services in southern Sweden. In particular, the contract has a runtime of eight years, from 2018 to 2026. DB Arriva first began operating in Sweden in 2007. This current contract is worth 550 million euros to the company.
Read: DB Arriva in Sweden: Company Commences Transport Contract in Schonen
