Industry Insider Week 9 2020 · 14 Must-Read Rail News Stories

Rolling Stock

by Josephine Cordero Sapién

Published
2 Mar 2020

Welcome to our Railway-News Industry Insider Week 9 2020, covering all the important rail news of the past week:

Lineas Joins European Rail Freight Association | Business

The private rail freight operator Lineas is the latest company to join the European Rail Freight Association (ERFA), whose goal it is to advocate for a fully liberalised and competitive European rail freight market. Lineas is headquartered in Belgium but has locations in Germany, France, the Netherlands, Spain and Italy as well.

Deutsche Bahn Prepares for Coronavirus | Policy

Deutsche Bahn has passed on advice from the Robert Koch Institute about measures that will help curb the spread of coronavirus. It has also outlined how it will respond in the case of a suspected case on one of its trains. Lastly, it has detailed how it will approach requests for refunds for passengers who will no longer be travelling due to coronavirus.

OEBB Invests €460m in Styria’s Rail Network | Infrastructure

Austrian Federal Railways is investing 460 million euros in Styria’s rail network over 2020. The highlight investment focuses on the Südstrecke, which will connect Vienna and Villach. As part of this project, OEBB will modernise 200km of track and build 170km of new track. Construction works on all sections of the Semmering Base Tunnel are also progressing well.

OEBB station in Styria

Rail Baltica Estonia Appoints Tõnu Grünberg CEO | Business

Rail Baltica Estonia, part of the Rail Baltica Global Project, has appointed Tõnu Grünberg as its CEO. The appointment became effective on 1 March. His background lies in the telecommunications and IT sectors.

British Stations Get £20m Accessibility Funding | Policy

The British government has announced 20 million GBP in funding for 124 railway stations, primarily in England but also in Wales and Scotland. Accessibility features include new lifts, accessible toilets and customer information screens. This funding follows the launch of a new campaign to improve public transport for the disabled.

First Hydrogen Train Arrives in the Netherlands | Rolling Stock

Following an announcement at the end of 2019 that Alstom wanted to test its Coradia iLint in the Netherlands, these tests are now underway. The first hydrogen train arrived in the Netherlands and is now undergoing testing between Groningen and Leeuwarden. The participating partners in the test are ProRail, the vehicle inspection agency DEKRA, train operating company Arriva, the province of Groningen and Engie, the supplier of the hydrogen.

EC: Rail Freight Operator CFR Marfa Received Illegal Aid | Policy

The European Commission has found that Romania issued at least 570 million euros in ‘incompatible state aid’ to state-owned rail freight operator CFR Marta. As a result, Romania will now have to take steps to recoup this money to re-establish a level playing field with competitors. Romania must have followed through on this within six months.

OEBB Makes Neulengbach Station Accessible | Infrastructure

Austrian Federal Railways is investing in excess of seven million euros to make Neulengbach Station more accessible. The preparatory work for this project was completed in 2019, while the main works, now underway, should be finished by the end of 2020. Accessibility features include lifts and ramps.

UWC Sggrs80 Standard Gauge Flat Cars Pass Testing | Rolling Stock

United Wagon Company (UWC) is manufacturing articulated flat cars for Deutsche Bahn. These have now successfully passed their homologation and certification testing in Europe. Consequently, UWC is able to trigger the official certification procedure with the European Union Agency for Railways before delivering on its contract with Deutsche Bahn.

UK Government to Invest £2.5m in CrossCountry | Rolling Stock

The UK rail minister said the government would make a 2.5 million GBP investment to fund improvements on CrossCountry Trains. From May 2020 some CrossCountry trains will therefore be able to run longer trains, creating more than 5,000 extra seats per week. By mid-2021 there should be a further 15,000 additional weekly seats.

Siemens Releases New Images of Goole Rail Manufacturing Site | Business

Siemens Mobility has submitted its detailed planning proposals to the East Riding of Yorkshire Council for its rail manufacturing site in Goole. At the same time it has released new CGI images illustrating what the site would look like once completed. The initial phase of the project would create facilities for the new generation of London Underground trains for the Piccadilly line.

DB Supervisory Board Extends Contract for Martin Seiler | Business

Deutsche Bahn will extend the contract of Martin Seiler, who serves on its management board as Head of Human Resources and Legal Affairs until the end of 2025. His current contract runs out at the end of the year so the new one will kick in from January 2021.

€10 Million for Station Video Technology in NRW | Infrastructure

The transport ministry of North-Rhine Westphalia will invest 10 million euros into video surveillance technology. By 2024 one in three stations in the federal state will be equipped with the technology. The announcement was made during the 5th NRW Security Congress, held in Düsseldorf, the state capital.

SBB ICN Intercity Tilting Trains to Undergo Full Refurbishment | Rolling Stock

Swiss rail operator SBB will modernise its entire fleet of ICN Intercity Tilting Trains. SBB took possession of the 44 trains between 1999 and 2005. They have now travelled an average of six million kilometres each. This refurbishment, which will take place between 2021 and 2029 is their mid-life refurbishment and will cost 400 million CHF.