German-Swiss Agreement to Foster Shift to Rail for Freight
A new German-Swiss agreement to develop interconnected infrastructure projects to encourage a shift to rail and maritime transport.
Related News
Industry Insider Week 46 · 14 Must-Read Rail News Stories
Your quick read for all the important rail news for the week from 11–15 November, including Stadler's first hydrogen train order in the US.
Workplace Medical Health Screening – MECX Medical
MECX Medical support your business by providing your employees with regular medical health screening programs for a happy workforce.
Alstom Presents Future Metro for Lille Metropolitan Region
Alstom has presented the new rubber-tyred future metro for the Lille metropolitan region at the 3rd Assises des Mobilités.
European Transport Commissioner-Designate Hearing
Adina-Ioana Valean, the European Transport Commissioner-Designate, had her hearing in front of MEPs on 14 November.
Alstom Begins Delivery of Coradia Stream EMUs for Veneto and...
After signing a framework agreement in 2016, Alstom has delivered the first of 46 Coradia Stream 'Pop' trains to Trenitalia.
MARTA Signs Contract for 127 Stadler METRO Trains
MARTA and Stadler have signed a contract for 127 two-car METRO trains to be delivered between 2023 and 2028. The contract is worth 646m USD.
Alstom to Supply 19 Coradia Trains to Baden-Württemberg
After signing a contract with DB Regio, Alstom will deliver 19 Coradia Continental trains to Baden-Württemberg.
Deutsche Bahn Opens New Training Centre in Cologne
Deutsche Bahn has opened a new training centre in Cologne, where it will train new apprentices and upskill its existing workforce.
Spain: Recoletos Tunnel Project Completed
The Recoletos Tunnel in Madrid has been undergoing upgrade works worth 45 million euros. Alstom has now completed the signalling works.
Stadler Wins FLIRT H2 Hydrogen Train Contract in the US
Stadler has won its first contract for a hydrogen train, the FLIRT H2. The SBCTA will operate the train on the Redlands Passenger Rail line.
First Test Tram on Manchester’s Trafford Park Line
The first test tram on the Trafford Park Line, the new extension to the Metrolink network in Manchester, took place overnight Sunday.
Rail Baltica Tender for Riga International Airport Announced
Rail Baltica has announced its tender for the Riga Airport station and associated works. Candidate selection will occur in January 2020.
UWC to Supply 100 Freight Cars to Zimbabwe
UWC will supply 100 gondola freight cars to National Railways of Zimbabwe for cross-border operations. They will run on 1067mm gauge track.
Talgo Gifts Rodal to National College for Advanced Transport...
As part of its knowledge transfer strategy Talgo UK has gifted a Rodal to the National College for Advanced Transport & Infrastructure.
Industry Insider Week 45 · 8 Must-Read Rail News Stories
The Railway-News Industry Insider week 45 2019: all the latest rail news from 4–8 November in one place covering DB, CAF, Alstom and others.
Crossrail Central Section Will Not Open in 2020
Crossrail Ltd says the central section of the Elizabeth line now will not open in 2020. The previous window suggested Oct 2020–Mar 2021.
New Transport Commissioner for the EU Announced
Von der Leyen has picked her candidate for Transport Commissioner, Romanian politician Adina-Ioana Valean. Her hearing is on 14 November.
Workplace Drug & Alcohol Testing – MECX Medical
MECX Medical Drug & Alcohol Testing Programs are straightforward, simple and backed by a rapid results turnaround service.
Deutsche Bahn Agrees Purchase of 30 High-Speed Trains · Sig...
The Deutsche Bahn supervisory board has agreed a €100m investment in 30 new trains. Dr Sigrid Nikutta, head of BVB, will join DB in 2020.
30 Years Since the Fall of the Berlin Wall: A Look at the Ge...
The Berlin Wall came down 30 years ago, on 9 November 1989. After German Unity, the government implemented major transport projects.
Serbian State Railway Company Gets €100m Rolling Stock Loa...
Serbia: the EBRD is loaning 100 million euros to the Serbian state railway company Srbija Voz for the acquisition of up to 18 trains.
CAF Wins Signalling Contract in Uruguay
CAF Signalling has won a contract for the Ferrocarril Central project, Uruguay, expanding the CAF Group subsidiary's international operations.
Alstom Reveals Model for the Aqua Line in Mumbai
Alstom and MMRC revealed a mock up of the train for the Aqua Line in Mumbai. Alstom is supplying 31 8-car units as part of a 2018 contract.
Gail Valley Railway Electrification Almost Complete
The electrication works on the Gail Valley Railway in Austria have entered their final phase. The OLE will go live on 11 November for testing.
Alstom and FS Italiane Reconfirm Partnership with University...
Alstom and FS Italiane have reconfirmed their partnership with Bologna University. A four-week course will equip students with vital skills.
Industry Insider Week 44 · 8 Must-Read Rail News Stories
All the important rail news from around the world, including Germany's first digital interlocking for a long-distance rail service.
Alstom to Test Coradia iLint in the Netherlands
Alstom is set to test the new Coradia iLint in the Netherlands. This is due to a signage between Alstom, Engie, Arriva and ProRail.
FreiLacke – Strength within the System
FreiLacke is the only company to supply both powder coatings and wet coatings in a combined system to the advanced TrainLab.
The United Kingdom’s Railway Improvements for 2020
The British rail operators have jointly published a report outlining investments in rolling stock and infrastructure for 2020 and beyond.
Talgo to Establish Manufacturing Base in Scotland
Talgo has signed a framework agreement with Transport Scotland and Scottish Enterprise for a manufacturing base in Longannet, Fife.
Gazpromtrans Purchases 120 Further UWC Tank Cars
Gazpromtans have signed another contract with UWC, this time for 120 tank cars in order to transport molten sulphur for parent Gazprom.
Germany’s First Digital Signal Box for Long-Distance S...
Deutsche Bahn is transforming its rail network with digital signal boxes. The first regulating a long-distance route has entered service.
Vivarail’s Ongoing Success Leads to Expansion
Vivarail has announced expansion plans with a move to Southam. It has out-grown its premised at Long Marston thanks to a growing order book.
Austria: WESTbahn Buys 15 Stadler KISS Trains
WESTbahn has purchased 17 Stadler KISS trains. The TOC is selling its existing fleet to DB. The new trains will enter service in 2021.
Alstom Celebrates Hanoi Metro Contract Milestone
Alstom is celebrating a milestone for its Hanoi Metro contract signed in 2017. The first trainset will be complete by the end of the month.
Industry Insider Week 43 – 10 Must-Read Rail News Stories
The Railway-News Industry Insider week 43: Wabtec and Bombardier celebrate milestones, and Avignon's tramway opens with Alstom rolling stock.
TfW Continues Station Improvement Vision on Borderlands Line
Transport for Wales is continuing its station improvement vision by investing 280,000 GBP in enhancing 13 Borderlands Line stations.
Network Rail Engages Passengers with Augmented Reality
Network Rail is choosing to use augemented reality to showcase its three new footbridge designs to the public via the ARki app.
Bombardier Celebrates 25 Years of APMs in Germany
Bombardier is celebrating 25 years of its APM system running in Germany. Frankfurt Airport got the INNOVIA 100 sytem in 1994.
Wabtec Celebrates ‘Make in India’ Project Milest...
Wabtec has announced 2 milestones for its India operations at IREE 2019. For example, its Indian factory has been operating for a year now.
Spanish Train Manufacturer Talgo Establishes Talgo UK
Spanish train manufacturer Talgo has established Talgo UK with Jon Veitch as its new MD. It aims to build an 'all Britain' supply chain.
Crossrail Publishes ‘Realistic and Achievable’ C...
Crossrail has published a new plan that will see 120 key milestones being tracked, with a scheduled opening of October 2020–March 2021.
Grand Est Region Buys 39 Coradia Polyvalent Trains
France's Grand Est region has ordered 39 Alstom Coradia Polyvalent trains for both cross-border and domestic operations.
BLS Cargo Acquires 25 Siemens Vectron Locomotives
BLS Cargo has announced it is buying 25 Siemens Vectron multi-system locomotives to operate in Belgium, the Netherlands and Italy.
Ontario: Hurontario LRT Contract Awarded
Infrastructure Ontario and Metrolinx have awarded the contract to design, build, maintain, operate and finance the Hurontario LRT.
Network Rail and Arup Publish Tomorrow’s Living Statio...
Network Rail and Arup have published a report entitled Tomorrow's Living Station to investigate how Britain's stations might evolve.
Avignon Tram Line Opens with Alstom Citadis X05 Trams
Avignon's first tram line opened to the public on 19 October with Alstom Citadis X05 trams. A second line is scheduled to open in 2023.
Industry Insider Week 42 – 9 Must-Read Rail News Stories
All the important rail news of the week, summed up for you in one place: our Railway-News Industry Insider Week 42 for 14–18 October 2019.
Stadler Signs Contract for 22 Locomotives for ADIF
Stadler has signed the contract with ADIF for 22 rescue locomotives following the company's announcement on 31 July that it won the tender.
Alstom Ubunye Inaugurates Rail Factory in South Africa
Alstom Ubunye has opened its rail factory in Ekurhuleni. It will supply components to Gibela Rail where the PRASA trains are being built.
Vienna-Bratislava Upgrade Works: 1st Overpass Complete
The Vienna-Bratislava line is seeing upgrade works to make it a faster, electrified railway. 1 of 14 level crossings has now been eliminated.
Germany to Cut VAT on Long-Distance Rail Journeys
Germany will cut VAT on long-distance rail journeys to 7%, down from the current 19%. It will also increase taxes on air passengers.
EU: 1.4 Billion Euros for Sustainable Transport Projects
The EU says that it is seeking applications for funding for transport projects worth up to 1.4 billion euros. 50 million are for ERTMS.
Industry Insider Week 41 – 11 Must-Read Rail News Stories
All the important rail news of the week, summed up for you in one place: our Railway-News Industry Insider Week 41 for 7–11 October 2019.
NAH.SH Signs Contract with Stadler for FLIRT Akku Trains
Stadler and NAH.SH have signed the contract for 55 FLIRT Akku trains that will enter service in Schleswig-Holstein in 2022 and beyond.
Stadler to Supply 34 Locomotives to Taiwan
Stadler has won its first major rolling stock contract in the Pacific region, with the Taiwan Railways Authority ordering 34 locomotives.
Expo Ferroviaria 2019: Record Visitors and an Appointment to...
The ninth edition of EXPO Ferroviaria, Italy’s showcase for railway technologies, products and systems, closed at Rho Fiera Milano.
Skoda Wins Subway Train Contract in Warsaw
Skoda Transportation has won a contract to supply trains for the Warsaw metro. The Czech company will deliver the first unit within 2 years.
Corinna Salander Becomes Head of the DZSF
Corinna Salander has been appointed the head of the German Centre for Rail Transport Research – DZSF. She will start on 1 January 2020.
Rail Baltica Announces Notified Body Tender
RB Rail AS, which is delivering Rail Baltica, has announced a tender for a Notified Body service provider to assess EU TSI conformity.
First Stadler Train for Merseyrail Begins Dynamic Testing
The first Stadler train for Merseyrail has been transported to Germany where it will undergo dynamic testing before entering service in 2020.
Salini Impregilo to Deliver Vestfold Line Upgrade Works
Engineering company Salini Impregilo has won a contract with Bane NOR to upgrade 13.6km of railway track on the Vestfold Line.
Matt Byrne New Head of Bombardier Transportation UK
Matt Byrne is the new president for the UK region of Bombardier Transportation and the Chair of Bombardier Transportation UK Ltd.
Leo Express Receives First Sirius EMU from CRRC
Leo Express has received its first Sirius EMU from CRRC. It is Velim for the necessary certification tests so it can enter passenger service.
Henrik Hololei Talks Shift2Rail at Digital Transport Days
Henrik Hololei spoke at Digital Transport Days to hail the successes and goals of Shift2Rail to address climate change and other focuses.
Alstom to Supply 42 Metropolis Trains for Barcelona
Alstom is to supply 42 Metropolis trainsets for Barcelona. Barcelona currently runs Metropolis trains on Lines 9 and 10 of its metro.
UK: CAF to Supply Catenary-Free Trams to Birmingham
CAF has won a contract to supply 21 Urbos 3 trams for Birmingham. Just like the city's existing Urbos fleet, they can run without catenaries.
Engadine Line Reopens Following Infrastructure Works
The Engadine Line infrastructure works between Scuol-Tarasp and Susch are almost complete. RhB had closed the section completely on 11 March.
The Infrastructure Progress Report
An in-brief look at the status of current European railway infrastructure projects in Switzerland, Spain, Lativa, and France.
The Policy Update Europe
An in-brief look at current rail policy in Europe and the United Kingdom issued by the European Commission, the BAV and more.
TfW: 6500 More Spaces to Improve Capacity in Wales
One major complaint of rail passengers in Wales has been capacity. In response, TfW is introducing 6500 extra spaces per week from December.
LTA: We Want More Local Train Maintenance Expertise
The Singapore LTA is getting OEMs to open local facilities as part of their contracts to reduce train maintenance and repair times.
GTR Completes 5-Year Transformation Programme
UK rail franchise operator GTR has completed a 5-year transformation programme that has seen the introduction of 1,500 new carriages.
NCHSR Rebrands to Reflect Broader Transport Remit
The NCHSR rebrands to reflect its broader remit. It will now be known as the National College for Advanced Transport & Infrastructure.
Stadler and FNM Present FLIRT Mock-Up in Milan
At Ferroviaria 2019 Stadler and FNM have presented a mock-up of the new FLIRT diesel-electric multiple unit for the Lombardy region.
Manchester Mayor Publishes Vision to Transform Rail
The Mayor of Manchester has published his vision for rail for the city, to double passenger numbers to 200,000 by 2040 and other goals.
Stadtwerke Augsburg to Buy 11 Stadler TRAMLINK Trams
Stadtwerke Augsburg has signed a contract with Stadler for the supply of 11 metre-gauge TRAMLINK trams, to enter service in 2022.
Industry Insider Week 39 – 18 Must-Read Rail News Stories
All the important rail news of the week, summed up for you in one place: our Railway-News Industry Insider Week 39 for 23–27 September 2019.
Rail Baltica Addresses Impact of Climate Change
Rail Baltica has produced a study to assess the potential impact of climate change on the project and to develop mitigation measures.
Rail Delivery Group: Reform Rail Fares to Combat Climate Cri...
The Rail Delivery Group has published proposals for rail fare reforms following the largest-ever passenger survey in the country.
Copenhagen Cityringen Metro Line Opens Sunday
Copenhagen's new metro line, Cityringen, will open on 29 September 2019. It has been under construction for 8 years and features 17 stations.
Alstom to Equip ICE 3 Trains with Atlas ETCS
Alstom has been awarded the contract to retrofit 17 ICE 3 trains with its Atlas ETCS solution in a contract worth more than 30 million euros.
NEWAG to Deliver 5 Dragon 2 Locomotives to RCP
NEWAG has signed a contract with the ROSCO Rail Capital Partners for the delivery of 5 electric Dragon 2 locomotives for delivery in 2020.
Brigitte Zypries Joins Bombardier Transportation Supervisory...
Brigitte Zypries has joined the supervisory board of Bombardier Transportation. She was previously a member of the supervisory board at DB.
ScotRail to Harness GSM-R for Passenger Information
Following a successful six-month trial ScotRail is now rolling out the use of GSM-R to give passengers more detailed real-time information.
Northern Fleet Refurbishment Two Thirds Complete
The Northern refurbishment works are now two thirds complete. As part of its franchise agreement Northern is refurbishing 243 trains.
Ground-Breaking for Dallas Area Rapid Transit Silver Line
Ground-breaking events for the new 26-mile Silver Line took place at six locations in the Dallas Area Rapid Transit region on 19 September.
Paris-Lyon High-Speed Line to Get Atlas ERTMS Level 2
The Paris-Lyon high-speed line is to get the Atlas ERTMS Level 2 solution to increase capacity on what is Europe's busiest route.
Deutsche Bahn Tests White Rails to Reduce Overheating
Deutsche Bahn is experimenting with white rails to reduce the temperature of the steel, thereby avoiding stress on the rails in extreme heat.
BLS Halts Roll-Out of New Planning Software
The private Swiss rail operator BLS is halting the introduction of a new resource planning system. BLS has aborted the roll-out of the new software, which would...
Changzhou Metro Line 1 Commences Passenger Service
Changzhou Metro Line 1 began passenger operations on 21 September 2019. It is the first metro line in the Chinese city, with 5 more planned.
The Future of Rail Freight
The Association of American Railroads (AAR) is headquartered in Washington, D.C. It lobbies Congress on behalf of the railroad industry.
The Policy Update North America
An in-brief look at current rail policy in the United States issued by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), ASLRRA and more.
Industry Insider Week 37 / 38 – 20 Must-Read Rail News Sto...
All the important rail news of the week, summed up for you in one place: our Railway-News Industry Insider Week 37 / 38 for 09–20 September 2019.
MBTA Orders 80 Commuter Rail Double-Decker Coaches
The MBTA has ordered 80 double-decker coaches from Hyundai-Rotem to add capacity to its commuter rail services and replace ageing vehicles.
Deutsche Bahn Establishes Digital Railway Company
Deutsche Bahn has established Digitale Schiene Deutschland GmbH to drive forward the digital transformation in the rail industry.
METRONET Railcar Depot Tender Announced
Metronet has made public a tender for the construction of an assembly and maintenance depot for railcars in Bellevue, Western Australia.
Brexit: Eurotunnel One of UK’s Vital Freight Carriers
Eurotunnel is one of the eight freight carriers chosen by the UK government to be a preferred carrier of vital goods following Brexit.
Stadler Enters Asian Market with Indonesian Joint Venture
Stadler has signed a joint venture with PT INKA in Indonesia, which marks the Swiss company's entry into the southeast Asian market.
Comment
by Josephine Cordero Sapién
Published:
05 Oct 2018
Tags
Bombardier
DB Cargo Eurasia
DB Netz
Digital railway
ECA
European Court of Auditors
GE Transportation
HS2
Network Rail
United Wagon Company
Railway-News Industry Insider: This Week’s 12 Must-Read Rail Stories
The Railway-News Industry Insider for the week 1–5 October 2018:
Europe
1. DB Netz to Invest €825 Million in Upgrading Its High-Speed Lines
DB Netz, which manages the rail infrastructure in Germany, has announced that it is investing more than €800 million in the upgrade of its high-speed network. Some of the lines are now almost thirty years old and need to be made fit for the coming decades. The work, which will begin in 2019, will take place in stages. Full story here.
2. DB Makes International Train Travel Easier in Europe
Deutsche Bahn has announced it is adding the rail services of non-German operators such as SNCF, Thalys and Eurostar to its online booking platform bahn.de as well as to its DB Navigator to make it easier for passengers to book tickets conveniently for a seamless travel experience. Full story here.
United Kingdom
3. 1 in 7 Drivers Risk Their Lives at Level Crossings Every Day
A study conducted by Populus has found drivers of lorries and cars engage in worrying behaviour around level crossings. A key finding of the study commissioned by Network Rail was that 1 in 7 drivers said they would not wait for the gates and barriers at level crossings to open before driving across. Network Rail and the British Transport Police have launched a national safety campaign. Full story here.
4. HS2 Completes Euston Station Demolition Works
In what is a major milestone for the UK’s high-speed rail project, HS2 Ltd has completed the demolition of Victorian-era carriage sheds at the Euston station site, which will see the construction of tunnel portals at the southern end of the route. The tunnels, which will be 13 miles in length, will be the biggest tunnelling project in the UK since Crossrail. Full story here.
Comment
5. European Court of Auditors: Progress is Slow on High-Speed Rail Across Europe
Oskar Herics, the member of the ECA who co-ordinated the study on high-speed rail in Europe that said the 10,000km of high-speed rail lines in the EU were an “ineffective patchwork of national lines without proper coordination across borders”, tells Railway-News why the European Court of Auditors was compelled to produce its negative evaluation. Full story here.
6. Railways are Changing: The Transformation of Transit and the Passenger Experience
Kyle Connor, Global Transportation Industry Principal, Cisco Systems, Inc., says: “In today’s ever changing world, people are constantly online and always connected. This on-going connectivity changes our daily lives and has a major influence on how we view the world of tomorrow. […] Innovations in the area of mobility are now no longer conceivable without digitisation.” Full story here.
7. The Current Impact of Digitisation on the Rail Industry
Features writer Keri Allan has interviewed rail industry experts at Bombardier, GE Transportation, Siemens and other organisations to find out how digitisation is impacting every area of the rail industry, from train maintenance to ticket sales. Full story here.
8. Why Rail Operators Must Get on Board with Mobile Coverage Solutions
Cobham Wireless says about its flagship wireless coverage solution idDAS (intelligent distributed digital antenna system) that it is “delivering cellular and public safety communications in stadiums, hospitals, schools, offices, hotels, airports, road and rail tunnels (and more!) the world over.” One of the cities benefitting from its technology is Berlin, where it has been installed on the underground system. Full story here.
Eurasia
9. Bombardier Joint Venture to Supply 120 High-Speed Train Cars to China
Bombardier Sifang Transportation Ltd (BST), a Bombardier joint venture, has announced that it has won a contract with China Railway Corporation to supply 120 CR400AF high-speed train cars by the end of the year. They will be delivered as five 8-car units and five 16-car units. Full story here.
10. DB Sets Up DB Cargo Eurasia Due to Success of Trans-Eurasian Corridor
Deutsche Bahn AG has had an overland rail route to China since 2008, with weekly services commencing in 2011. The company hopes it will move 100,000 containers between Germany and China in 2020. It is on target for this goal, expecting to move 90,000 containers in 2018. Deutsche Bahn has set up DB Cargo Eurasia to make this service more efficient and allow it to grow in the future. Full story here.
11. UWC and URALCHEM-TRANS Sign Maintenance Infrastructure Agreement
United Wagon Company and URALCHEM-TRANS, a subsidiary of URALCHEM HOLDING, have signed an agreement to develop maintenance infrastructure. Signed at the international transport and logistics forum PRO//Motion.1520, the two companies hope to developed shared infrastructure for the repair and maintenance of a new generation of freight cars further. Full story here.
United States
12. GE Transportation to Supply 3 Locomotives to Iowa Interstate Railroad
GE Transportation will supply three of its Evolution Series locomotives, fitted with its digital GoLINC solutions as well as other platforms, to Iowa Interstate Railroad. Production of these locomotives will begin in 2020. The 17 other Evolution Series already owned by Iowa Interstate Railroad will be upgraded to contain GE Transportation’s digital solutions suite. Full story here.