Freight Tracks issue 19

The

of

HEADLINE NEWS

RAILWAY READING

FROM “MISERABLE EXCUSE” RAILROAD TO “MONEY EARNER”

Keep the Date Railway industry events

WORLD FREIGHT TRAIN DAY 2023

After the positive reaction to the soft launch of World Freight Train Day 2022, we are beginning to plan World Freight Train Day 2023. We welcome any reader who wants to get in at the start of planning WFTD23. Just get in touch.

A complete

Built by Wabtec in 2000, the locomotive approximately 20 million tonnes of approximately two million miles across America over the past 22 years. It has been a

complete locomotive transformation

locomotive has hauled freight over across North a workhorse

for the economy connecting cities and delivering essen tial goods. The faded paint and weathered exterior are a testament to its illustrious career in the CN fleet.

However, despite the mileage and weathered look,

this locomotive was not ready to retire and has many years ahead of it hauling freight across the continent thanks to Wabtec’s modernisation programme. It is the first locomotive out of CN’s 50-unit order to be mod-

-ernised at Wabtec’s plant in Fort Worth, Texas. After sev eral weeks, the approximately 430,000-pound locomotive experienced an extreme makeover and emerged from the factory looking brand new, smarter, stronger, and ready for another long-term tour of duty in CN’s fleet.

“Our modernisation programme allows CN the ability to extract more value of their asset by bringing their per formance to the latest standards,” said Pascal Schweitzer, President of Wabtec’s Freight Services.

“These modernsations are customised to reflect CN operational strategies and sustainability goals. The pro gramme is helping CN realise outcomes including increased tractive effort, fuel efficiency and reliability, which reduces

emissions as well as maintenance, repair expenses.”

Complete transformation

Wabtec completely transformed CN’s Dash 9 by convert ing the locomotive from a DC propulsion system to mod ern-day AC propulsion. Additionally, Wabtec upgraded the control systems and implemented an engine upgrade with its FDL Advantage program.

These enhancements will extend the locomotive’s life; enhance fuel efficiency by more than 17%; improve reli ability by approximately 30%; and increase haulage ability more than 55%. These upgrades reduce the locomotive’s emission and operating costs.

“By modernising some of our locomotives, we are max imizing the investment and performance of our existing fleet,” Rob Reilly, Chief Operating Officer of CN.

“The improved capabilities and power of these mod ernised locomotives will enable us to efficiently move more freight, while also reducing our emissions and environmen tal footprint.”

The continuing successful development and availability of innovative propulsion technology is part of a portfolio of carbon reduction initiatives.

In April 2021, the Science-Based Target initiative (SBTi) approved CN’s commitment to reduce scope 1 and 2 green house gases (GHG) emissions by 43% per million gross ton miles by 2030 from a 2019 base year. CN furthermore com mitted to reduce scope 3 GHG emissions from fuel and en ergy related activities by 40% per million gross ton miles by 2030 from a 2019 base year.

"

The programme is helping CN realise outcomes including increased tractive effort, fuel efficiency and reliability, which reduces emissions as well as maintenance, and repair expenses. "

Pascal Schweitzer, President, Freight Services Wabtec Corp

"IF YOU DON'T HAVE COURAGE, YOU'VE ALREADY LOST."

by hydrogen-powered hybrid locks.

Inablog,Dr.HeikoFischer talksaboutrailfreightwith VAPCargorail.ch

Dr. Fischer, where do you see the biggest challenges and where the adjustment screws for the European rail market?

There's a whole series. The railway infrastructure is outdated or, in many places, a historically grown patchwork quilt. Boundaries between the subsystems still exist. With every year that nothing happens, the problem gets bigger because the infrastructure continues to age undeterred. Here I see the adjusting screw in the Cen tral Europe-wide co-ordination of expansion plans, relief routes and corresponding structural measures. It is true that the trans-European networks follow this integrative approach. However, branch lines and local distribution networks must not be excluded when it comes to invest ment allocation, expansion and renewal planning, train control systems and regulation.

I see another control factor in the complete digitiza tion of the railway sector, starting with the networking of the infrastructure and rolling stock to operations. There should be a unified logic with corresponding interfaces. As a result, electrification can take place with moderation and purpose. Lightly loaded routes could also be served

Available capital is also a cornerstone. The railway market not only needs sufficient private capital. For cer tain emergencies, it is dependent on public funds, for example for basic digitization, infrastructure expansion, electrification, the implementation of the digital automat ic coupling DAC and other time-critical innovations. Such investments exceed the financial strength of the private sector and most state railways. After all, nobody wants to invest in technologies that will only bear fruit in the next decade, perhaps even with other players in the rail system. This brings me to another adjustment screw: We also need governments, regulators and politicians to have a well-established economic understanding of the mech anisms of action of rail freight transport.

In what way?

The rail sector is not exactly known for thinking pro-actively and implementing new things quickly. Many see themselves as victims, be it from the past, from wrong decisions, from the street, from the weather or from something else. In my opinion, that absolutely has to change. After all, we don't pull freight trains around because we enjoy it, but because we want to generate added value for the shippers and our community. Rail freight players need to put the customer back in the spot light and anticipate their future needs. In order for the upcoming change to actually take place, we need a more pioneering mentality, a “can do” attitude.

Which innovations have you promoted at VTG in re cent years, which of them were groundbreaking?

VTG Connect spontaneously comes to mind. This telematics technology collects relevant data about the entire fleet and many transports. It creates the basis for efficient digital fleet management because it makes data usable for customers, freight railways and maintenance purposes. With this innovation, we have, so to speak, paved the way for real-time data transmission in freight transport, as intended by the DAK.

What future importance do you give to the DAC?

The DAC is a catalyst for the digital transformation of the rail sector. This allows a new control logic and real-time data streams to be mapped. We are a long way from that today. The DAC does more than automate the coupling process. It networks the train driver, load, charge carriers and energy, i.e. electricity. The potential of this combined with new digital technologies is immense. The DAC is not only an intelligent train and load control, but also enables other digitization offensives such as digi tal data, train control and booking platforms.

What role will they play in the future?

There will certainly be several platforms, because every company will continue to collect information that it cannot or is not allowed to share. One or more of these platforms will emerge as central hubs that control rail operations. As such, they provide freight transport stakeholders with reliable information that can be used to reduce the distances between trains, calculate time win dows and put more tonnage on the track per unit of time. A Europe-wide electronic freight traffic control system must not come from a tech giant à la Google, but should develop out of the rail sector itself. This shows that we are innovative compared to other modes of transport.

Perhaps in the future there will even be a higher au thority like Eurocontrol for the central coordination of air traffic control. Such a cockpit could control European rail freight traffic, give the train drivers certain instructions, intervene if necessary and later allow autonomous trains to run. However, such quantum leaps are only possible if digital technologies with artificial intelligence are imple mented and take effect. Only they bring dynamism and ensure the necessary speed, which is absolutely central

to the success of the digital transformation.

How can rail freight transport in Europe be further developed in a sustainable manner?

With something that brings the economic impact of freight transport down to a common denom inator and to which all actors are committed. I can imag ine that one day there will be a long-term master plan in the sense of a self-regulating yet binding declaration of in tent. All participating state and non-state railways would have to sign it. This master plan could state that we are

Dr.HeikoFischerpresidesover theInternationalUnionofWagon KeepersUIP.TheformerVTGboss explainswhyheconsidersthecessationofsinglewagonloadtraffic inSwitzerlandtobefatal.

working together towards a modal shift. I remind you of the general contract of use AVV from 2006. This regulates the interaction between wagon keepers and railway com panies as wagon operators.

The advantage of a non-statutory supranational agreement is that it can be supplemented or amended quickly and easily. The inflows to the NEAT are the best example of what shouldn't happen: The railroad commu nity including Switzerland has committed itself to expand ing the north-south axis. When Switzerland opened the NEAT tunnel, other countries had not even started plan ning. A master plan for European freight transport could make this intention more binding and make it clear that the Green Deal and modal shift goals are meant seriously.

Today it is still a dream of the future. Most of the time, everyone agrees on the basic requirements. But as soon as it comes to developing something concrete from a sin gle source, opinions diverge. A master plan for European freight transport could make this intention more binding and make it clear that the Green Deal and modal shift goals are meant seriously. Today it is still a dream of the future. Most of the time, everyone agrees on the basic re quirements. But as soon as it comes to developing some thing concrete from a single source, opinions diverge.

A master plan for European freight transport could make this intention more binding and make it clear that the Green Deal and modal shift goals are meant seriously. Today it is still a dream of the future. Most of the time, ev eryone agrees on the basic requirements. But as soon as it comes to developing something concrete from a single source, opinions diverge.

What do you think of the Federal Council's report on 'regional rail freight transport'? What would it mean if the Federal Council abolished this?

In my opinion, that would be the biggest transport policy mistake in decades. Switzerland proves that wagonload traffic works. However, it is still too expensive. However, if trains are formed and separated automatical ly, the train line is controlled digitally and the market ben efits from the many advantages of digital offers, then costs will also fall - and the need for subsidies will decrease. The Federal Council should consider how the offers for rail freight customers can be made more attractive. It would be criminal to break off the whole thing before digitiza tion bears fruit. Loading rail freight onto trucks also costs

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money and not every freight can be containerized for block trains. In my opinion, the Swiss government should be more confident on this issue: who has no courage has already lost.

We at the VAP are members of the UIP. How would you describe the VAP?

It is a valuable member association of our European family of wagon keepers. I see him as innovative and opinionated. Due to its unique membership structure, it is particularly important to us. The VAP not only represents the five largest Swiss wagon keepers, but also the inter ests of shippers, sidings and representatives of multimod al logistics chains. This diversity creates an impact and a wealth of ideas for us, I consider it a valuable strength. With its member diversity, the VAP can align its demands more holistically to the users and place them with greater authority. I support the VAP's customer-centric approach, which involves the end-user in the discussion and deci sion-making process. Europe can benefit from Swiss expe rience with wagonload traffic or the performance-related heavy vehicle fee. We often regard it as a 'minilab' that reflects topics for us. Furthermore, the VAP shows us in an exemplary manner how to convince the population or how to shape something positively as a community.

What can the VAP do better?

There is always a better way. My appeal is not only addressed to the VAP, but to all associations and those involved in transport policy. We need committed people who are willing to formulate interests with a view to the future. There are enough people who think in quar terly reports. But you can't win the future with that.

What do you wish for this future?

Even more interest, more confidence. More enthu siasm. Shippers should be keen to get even more tons onto the rails. This is the only way we can achieve the ambitious modal shift and climate targets. The population should be aware of how important rail freight transport is - and that it costs money. An unrestrained flood of trucks is not an alternative. I hope that you at the VAP and we at the UIE will continue to fight for this awakening day after day.

Joint Vision on International

Forrail freight to be able to meet the objectives set out in the European Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy, it is essential that railway capacity management moves towards a system that is European, digital, flexible and secure. Rail freight undertakings must be able to book capacity which is in line with their business models and allows for flexibility to meet customer needs. Along with FTE (Forum Train Europe) and ALLRAIL, ERFA has agreed a common vision on how this can be achieved.

The goal of rail infrastructure capacity management is to provide the necessary quantity and quality capacity for all traffic needs at the time when it is required by the customers. The

current capacity models are not meeting these needs and, in many cases, remain strongly national in focus. This is a concern for rail freight given that more than 50% of rail freight crosses at least one border.

ERFA believes that a common, Eu ropean-wide process for capacity management, supported by the necessary legal framework at European Union level, is required. ERFA recognises progress being made by some Infra structure Managers on meeting rail frights needs, but it is critical that there is a common approach enshrined in legislation. Although well intended, national initiatives may deviate from common processes at the expense of cross border rail.

ERFA President, Dirk Stahl, “how capacity is managed the biggest issues facing rail undertakings over the coming Rail freight needs a system European, digital, flexible and in order to meet our customer’s In this regard, we strongly the joint vision agreed with ALLRAIL. We believe it sets roadmap on how all actors, ernmental and industry, can towards a better system for management.”

ERFA Secretary General, Feighan, concluded, “it is legislation will be required a European-wide process for ity management. This will require

International Capacity Management

Stahl, stated, is one of rail freight coming years. system which is and secure customer’s needs. strongly support with FTE and sets a clear both govcan move for capacity General, Conor clear that to deliver for capacrequire the

creation of a real single European rail capacity market, without national specific standards. The objective is that capacity management should be managed in the same way throughout Europe. ERFA supports the European Institutions in their work on this im portant issue.”

Rail freight needs a system which is European, digital, flexible and secure

Union Pacific Railroad and ZTR, a green technology company and leader in locomotive control sys tems, today announced a partner ship to build hybrid-electric locomotives.

The locomotives will be built at Union Pacific’s North Little Rock, Arkansas, facility with the first prototype expected to be delivered in late 2023 and five additional units arriving in 2024.

The locomotives work much like today’s plug-in hybrid car, capable of operating in multiple modes with several ways to charge the locomotive batteries including wayside and onboard charging.

“Adding hybrid-electric locomotives to our fleet is another important step for Union Pacif ic as we work to explore ‘drop-in’ technologies that modify current systems and reduce our carbon footprint," said Union Pacific’s Senior Vice President of Engineering and Mechani cal Shane Keller.

“This pilot will help make our fleet more fuel efficient and further advance our com mitment to reaching our sustainability goals, while testing the technology’s capability for expanded use across our locomotive fleet.”

Mother-slug sets

Known as “mother-slug” sets, two locomo tives are replaced with one diesel locomotive connected to an accessory or slug. In keeping with its sustainability commitments, Union Pa cific converts older locomotives, typically with higher emissions.

The slug unit will be converted and equipped with batteries, power electronics and controls supplied by ZTR. This helps achieve fuel and maintenance savings and offers environmental benefits allowing the hybrid-electric “mother-slug” to operate in sin gle engine, battery charging or electric only modes.

As the new locomotives will be used chief

UP AND ZTR PARTNER

HYBRID-ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVES

ly for yard operations, the engineless slug increases traction motors available to the locomotive, boosting the pulling and braking power that is key for this kind of work.

“ZTR is proud of our long-standing re lationship with Union Pacific and excited to partner with them on this hybrid-electric loco motive development,” said ZTR Control Sys tems President Derek Shipley.

“This investment aligns well with our ongo ing goal to leverage ZTR’s technical expertise to support railways in their decarbonization and efficiency improvement efforts.

"This initial hybrid-electric mother-slug application will be the basis of our design for future hybrid-electric, long-haul and fully elec tric solutions.”

Union Pacific began er-slug” sets with ZTR’s tems in five years ago more than 65 in yards Depending on the mode savings and greenhouse tions could total up to 80%.

Single gallon of diesel Railroads already are one ficient means of transportation. by rail instead of truck sions by up to 75%.

On average, Union freight 463 miles on a fuel.

PARTNER ON NEW LOCOMOTIVES

began rolling out “moth ZTR’s Nexsys control sysand currently operates systemwide.

mode of operation, fuel greenhouse gas emission reduc 80%.

diesel fuel one of the most fuel-ef transportation. Moving freight truck reduces GHG emis

Pacific moves a ton of single gallon of diesel

Prototypes of the Hybrid-Electric locomotive expected in late 2023.

Union Pacific published its first compre hensive Climate Action Plan in December 2021, outlining its efforts to significantly re duce emissions within its operations.

As part of that commitment, Union Pacif ic will reduce absolute Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions 26% by 2030 and achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Earlier this year, Union Pacific announced a historic commercial agreement with Wabtec Corporation for 600 locomotive modernisa tions. This was the largest investment in mod ernised locomotives in rail industry history.

The contract was valued at more than $1 billion, as well as the purchase of the world’s largest carrier-owned battery-electric locomo tive fleet.

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Maritime Transport in collaboration with Coca-Cola

Coca-Cola

Europacific Partners

(CCEP), the largest indepen dent bottler of Coca-Cola glob ally, is making the switch from road to rail to distribute its soft drinks between its manufacturing sites and third-party warehouse locations across London and Yorkshire.

When running at full capacity, the change will see up to 18,000 loads of CCEP’s products – some 2.5 million cans and bottles of some of the world’s most popular soft drinks – delivered by rail per day, reducing carbon emissions by nearly 50% compared to previous road operations.

The move represents a further step towards the business’ target of reducing carbon emissions across its value chain by 30% by 2030 and its overall ambition of reaching net zero by 2040.

The bottler has made the transition in partnership with Maritime Transport Ltd. (Maritime), a leading provider of in tegrated road and rail solutions for UK businesses, and GB Railfreight.

Final mile deliveries

It represents Maritime’s first Domestic Distribution intermodal service, which will see the movement of 34’ x 45’ heav ily modified containers by rail six days per week, with Maritime’s distribution fleet making final mile deliveries to CCEP’s sites.

The switch will save a total of almost 4 mil lion road miles per year and remove a total of 15,000 lorry journeys from some of the UK’s busiest roads.

When running at full capacity 31% of

CCEP’s total product volume destined for Yorkshire will now be distributed via rail.

The first-ever rail collaboration between the businesses expands Maritime and CCEP’s existing partnership, through which Maritime has provided the bottler with distri bution services since 2017.

Francisco Javier Vice President Customer Chain, Coca-Cola Europacific Britain says: "As a business, to reduce our overall need to work with our supply continue making meaningful

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in first-ever rail

Coca-Cola Europacific

Alex Williams, Managing Director - Dis tribution, Maritime Transport says: "The launch of this dedicated service in part nership with CCEP underlines the flex ibility and breadth of our business’ ca pabilities.

"Converting domestic cargo from road to rail is a key strategic develop ment for us in our ambitions to reduce emissions and offer greater resource to our customers.

"Our advancements in the distribu tion and rail freight sectors have en abled us to provide a truly networked, end-to-end logistical product to our commercial customers, whilst our com mitment to developing innovative solutions that allow more freight to be moved by rail is a great fit for CCEP, and means we are well-posi tioned to support their journey towards a net-zero future.

"This is a really exciting next phase in our evolution, and our partnership with a valued customer.

"This important forward-focused ini tiative will further enhance Maritime’s logistics links whilst at the same time making them more resilient by signifi cantly reducing the strain on both road networks and HGV driver retention by cutting road miles."

Sanchez Gandarias, Customer Service and Supply Europacific Partners Great business, we know that carbon emissions, we supply chain partners to meaningful strides towards

our business goals.

"The transition from road to rail forms an important part of our This is Forward sustainability strategy and our overall road map to net zero, and means we can continue to meet demand for our soft drinks in a way that is more beneficial to the environment."

Julie Garn, General Manager, GB Railfreight: adds: "We are delighted Maritime has approached us to run its very first Domes tic Distribution intermodal service between Wakefield Europort and the Port of Tilbury’s London Container Terminal, a testament to the successful partnership we have forged over many years."

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Clayton Equipment CB45

Now in the final stages of comple tion, the Clayton Equipment new generation future-ready CB45 lo comotive comes with significant benefits over its much larger counterparts in Clayton's locomotive range.

This battery-only, 100% emission free, centre cab locomotive offers enhanced safety features, improved efficiency and performance.

Based on proven design, the CB45 is a 45 tonne 2 axle 0-4-0 locomotive.

The company says: "We expect the CB45 to attract worldwide interest.

"Battery technology is energy efficient of fering many benefits to the rail sector such as emission free, air quality and noise improvements. Key advantages when needing to de carbonise transport rapidly."

Battery performance

As battery performance and costs have sig nificantly improved over recent years, battery powered trains become more commonplace and their use in battery and hybrid rolling stock has become increasingly attractive to customers.

The CB45 locomotive is self-contained with onboard chargers, where battery charging is undertaken from a 3-phase supply, providing 100% maximum emission free solutions.

Fitted with a large battery and using re generative braking to return energy back to the battery, the CB45 is capable of long-range use without recharging

Clayton continues to play a part in the decarbonisation journey with the most exten sive range of battery locomotives on the mar ket offering a sustainable efficient approach to railway shunting, says the company:

"Our future-ready locomotives operate economically while reducing environmental impact and conserving resources using green technologies to constantly set new standards." the company adds.

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locomotive introduced

Driving Toward Sustainability Union Pacific Grows Its Electric

Sustainability

Electric Vehicle Fleet

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Union Pacific is putting employees in the driver’s seat to achieving the railroad’s sustainability goals by adding dozens of electric vehicles to its systemwide fleet. Over the next six months, 67 electric vehicles – 50 Ford Lightning pickups and 17 Ford Mus tang Mach-Es – will be delivered to se lect field locations across the railroad’s 23-state network.

Growing its zero-emission vehicle fleet helps move UP closer to one of its Climate Action Plan goals, on a path to net zero emissions by 2050.

“Testing electric vehicles is another great step forward in our sustainability journey,” said Wes Hutcherson, Gener al Director-Strategic Sourcing, Supply Chain. “In conjunction with other proj ects, like our battery-electric locomo tive fleet, these new vehicles will help further reduce emissions across our operations.”

UP began adding electric vehicles to its fleet in 2020, when eight Chevrolet Bolts were procured for use in North Platte, Nebraska; Los Angeles and Ros eville, California; Dallas and Houston, Texas; and Chicago. The vehicles were primarily used for customer site visits and administrative purposes.

Now, UP is expanding its fleet to better understand how electric vehi cles can support the railroad’s unique footprint. For example, operating em ployees will test using the new, larg er Ford Lightning trucks for rail yard maintenance and other field tasks.

Charging stations

The railroad also is working with elec tric vehicle charging vendor SemaCon nect to install charging stations in seven locations over the next year, including North Platte, Nebraska; Long Beach and Roseville, California; North Little Rock, Arkansas; and Houston, Texas.

“We’re excited to move toward util ising more zero-emission vehicles,” said Dana Bittner, Director-Strategic Sourcing, Supply Chain. “And as the market continues expanding, we plan to continue growing our electric vehicle fleet.”

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Top award for Direct Rail Services

Direct Rail Services (DRS) has won a prestigious award for its innova tive refrigerated rail service with UK supermarket giant Tesco DRS and Tes co won the Freight and Logistics Achieve ment of the Year award at this year’s UK National Rail Awards.

The awards showcase excellence in all aspects of the rail industry and are one of the most prominent in the rail calen dar. The team from DRS fought off strong competition from across the sector to win the award.

The service, introduced 10 months ago, is Tesco’s first refrigerated rail freight service, distributing chilled goods from Tilbury to Coatbridge by low CO2 rail twice a day, seven days a week.

The 415-mile (667 km) route uses

DRS’s Class 88 bi-mode electric locomo tives which run on electricity and produce zero exhaust and greenhouse gas emis sions when doing so. This service alone will take at least 17,000 containers off the road each year, saving Tesco 7.3 million road miles (11.7 million km) and nearly 9000 tonnes of CO2e.

DRS is part of Nuclear Transport Solutions (NTS), a subsidiary of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA).

Speaking about the award success Seth Kybird, NTS CEO, said: “We’re very proud of this service and the work we’re doing with our customers to introduce new and innovative freight trains to the rail network.

“It’s absolutely fantastic that we’ve been recognised for our efforts and the

work we’re doing to promote the use of rail as the environmental choice for big re tailers in the UK.

“Each train removes around 40 lorries from Britain’s road network and we’re running two trains a day, seven days a week. But the journey doesn’t stop here as we continue to encourage the use of rail freight for retailers across the country.”

David Peattie, NDA CEO, added: “This is wonderful news for Direct Rail Services and extremely well-deserved recognition.

DRS plays a crucial role in the NDA’s mis sion, safely transporting materials across the UK, and offers world-leading and innovative rail operations for Tesco, keeping the supermarket shelves full, all while supporting our carbon net-zero ambitions.”

Etihad Rail completes tracklayingworks for the main line

Etihad Rail, the developer and operator of the UAE National Rail Network, completed the main works of the UAE Nation al Rail Network with the completion of the tracklaying works of the main line in Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah, as part of the last package of Stage Two of the project. The main line of the UAE National Rail Network extends from Ghuweifat on the border of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and passes through the emirates of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah.

Moving full steam ahead, Etihad Rail continues the tracklaying works in the emirate of Fujairah within the upcom ing weeks, bringing it closer towards the completion of the UAE National Rail Network as per the set schedule. This comes in line with the goals of the National Railways Programme, the biggest integrated sustainable trans port system in the UAE, which seeks

to connect the Emirates via rail and accelerate the country’s sustainable economic development.

The line in Sharjah extends over 45 km (28 miles) and is part of the last package of the project, which is 145 km (90 miles) in length.

The line in Ras Al Khaimah, which extends over 5.7 km (3.5 miles) and connects the Emirate to the main line, recorded more than 1.3 million hours in 25 months, by around 350 workers and engineers.

Engineer Khuloud Al Mazrouei, Deputy Project Manager at Etihad Rail, said: “Today, we have made remarkable strides by completing the main works for the UAE National Rail Network and connecting it to the main lines in Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah, bringing us closer than ever to completing the network on schedule and achieving our objective of providing an efficient and sustainable transport network

that links the country’s emirates, and connects the UAE with the region.

"This plays a key role in opening up new prospects in the logistics and transport industry, driving social de velopment, and providing promising economic opportunities in the UAE and the region.”

“We would like to extend our sincere appreciation to the local government entities in the Emirates of Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah for their momentous support in making this project a reality.

"We are also proud to witness this step further drive the success of Etihad Rail in developing the strate gic national project, particularly after the consecutive achievements that we have made, most recently connecting the railway freight station in the Industrial City of Abu Dhabi (ICAD) with the main line of Etihad Rail,” she com mented.

headline newsheadline news Rail Partners Director of Policy, John Thomas, has published a blog calling for an ambitious freight growth target to treble UK rail freight by 2050.

DON'T HOLD BACK ON RAIL FREIGHT TARGETS

The railway was, of course, initially built for the trans portation of goods up and down the country, a role it still performs today and which silently underpins our everyday lives without the majority of people giving it a second thought. Every freight train is contributing to our economic and environmental wellbeing. That is why, as we look to the reform of our railway, we cannot afford to underplay or leave to chance the opportunity to grow this sector. We must be ambitious and capture the demand we know exists and in doing so support net zero ambitions and spread economic benefits throughout the country.

There has been a subtle but important policy shift towards the sector in recent years, compounded by Brexit, the pandemic and in light of the legislative commitment to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050. The market itself is also responding as customers look for low carbon routes to market. This is most notable in the tone and content of the Plan for Rail, published in May 2021 which our members welcomed. In particular it com mended freight operators for the resilience they demonstrat ed during the pandemic to ensure that key freight flows were maintained, and the significant agility that rail freight, as a largely private sector industry, has shown in responding to changing

customer demands with previously prominent markets like coal having been replaced by the expansion of intermodal and construction traffic.

Perhaps most importantly, it committed to a government set freight growth target. The industry has been calling for this for some time and we have already seen the transformative effect that such a target can have in Scotland. European counterparts including Germany, France and Spain have also committed to growing rail freight.

Call for evidence

The Great British Railways Transition Team recently launched a call for evidence to understand the scope for rail freight growth in the future, and receive the sector’s view on the design of the growth target. The evidence received will be used to inform a series of options for the future rail freight growth target. We have to be ambitious. Not just for the benefit of the sector, but for the benefit of Britain. Today the rail freight mar ket contributes £2.45bn to UK plc every year, with an estimated 90% of these benefits occurring outside of London and the South East. Using rail freight also removes the need for seven million HGV move ments whilst saving 1.4 m tonnes of CO2 every year.

That is why we are calling for an ambitious freight growth target to treble rail freight by 2050 supported by policies, incentives and investment to achieve freight growth, creating an environment for growth.

Analysis of potential demand suggests that trebling rail freight by 2050 is achievable which in turn could treble all the benefits I outlined above. In order for the long-term target to be met, in terim targets will also be needed and progress measured against these.

As an industry that makes significant long-term investments, a track access and charging policy framework that is stable and affordable is of paramount importance to encourage investment and support the achievement of the target.

Since privatisation freight operators have made investments totalling upwards of £3bn to improve the productivity, reliability and safety of their services.

Operators are ready to build on this proud track record and help to realise freight growth but this can only happen if rail reform results in a policy and regulatory environment which provides the necessary level of confidence for freight operators to continue to make investments.

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We want to see a wider use of incentives to help make rail the mode of choice for potential customers. An example is the Mode Shift Revenue Support (MSRS) grant, provided by Gov ernment, which has been successful in attracting price sensitive container traffic to rail from road. It involves relatively small amounts of public funding, but provides an important role by helping to address the cost differential between rail and road haulage in recognition of the wider environmental benefits of rail. It is estimated the scheme today prevents 900,000 diesel HGV movements per year and there is a strong case for at least doubling the scheme in future funding cycles.

In a constrained fiscal environment, freight growth in the short-term does not have to be contingent on major infrastruc ture investments. Making best use of existing railway capacity can support a growing rail freight sector.

However, there are a series of infrastructure and infill elec trification schemes that would enable our proposed 2050 freight growth target to be met and accelerate the decarbonisation of

the freight sector.

Clear timelines and commitments to the delivery of the schemes that we have outlined will enable the private sector to make substantial complementary investments in new carbon friendly rolling stock and rail connected facilities.

While 2050 is a generation away, the need to start to strive towards an ambitious trebling of rail freight growth, is not. As an industry that invests in long-lived assets, policy decisions made now will have a tangible impact on the rail freight sector’s ability to grow in the longer-term.

A vibrant rail freight sector, which has certainty for opera tors and which is able to respond reliably to customer demand, has the potential to deliver for Britain in the long term.

We must not be cautious or apologetic for being ambitious, we must seize the opportunity presented to us and create the right environment to encourage investment, use the network ef fectively and support growth to enable us to secure the benefits to the environment and economy that rail freight brings.

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CP Holiday Train returns

The return is in support of community food banks after two-year hiatus

The Canadian Pacific (CP) Holiday Train will return to the rails this season on its first cross-continent tour in three years, following virtual concerts in the pan demic years of 2020 and 2021. The train will again raise money, food and awareness for local food banks in com munities along the CP network.

"I'm grateful to the CP team members who adapted during the COVID-19 pandemic to deliver two exceptional virtual Holiday Train shows and to all those who continued to donate while we kept community members safe," said Keith Creel, CP's President and Chief Executive Officer. "The Holiday Train

year's performers has a star-studded line-up and will include Alan Doyle, Tenille Townes, Mackenzie Porter and Lindsay Ell, to name a few. Details about this year's artists and which per formers will play which shows are available at cpr.ca/holiday train.

Holiday Train shows are free to attend. CP asks attendees to bring a cash or non-perishable food donation if they are able. Local food shelves will set up collection stations at each event, with all donations made staying with the local food bank to help people in need in the community. Because local food shelves buy food at a discount, cash donations can go further

is all about families and communities coming together to cele brate the season and help those in need. We are excited to be back out on the rails and in our communities, taking these two beautiful trains across our network and sharing the joy that comes with gathering in the spirit of giving."

The 2022 tour will launch on November 23 with the Holiday Train's first-ever Maine shows in Jackman, Brownville Junc tion and Hermon.

Also for the first time, the Holiday Train will host shows on November 24 in Lac-Megantic, Sherbrooke and Farnham, Quebex.; the first Canadian stops of 2022.

The tour will feature 168 live shows, including Toronto on November 29; Bensenville, Ill., on December 2; Davenport, Iowa, on December 3; Kansas City, Mo., on December 4; Cal gary on December 10; and a final show in Port Coquitlam, B.C., on December 18. A full schedule is available at cpr.ca/ holidaytrain

The right note

Live music is essential to the CP Holiday Train experience. This

than food donations to help those in need.

"Food banks and communities across Canada are so ex cited to see the CP Holiday Train return, as it brings together the City of Calgary to kick off the holidays and give back at the same time," said Calgary Food Bank President and CEO James McAra.

"The Calgary Food Bank is so grateful for CP's continued support to help us build a Canada where no one goes hungry."

Since the Holiday Train programme launched iover two de cades ago n 1999, it has raised more than $21 million and col lected five million pounds of food for community food banks across North America.

"This year, more than ever, the support, awareness and goodwill that the CP Holiday Train brings will make an impact beyond imagination to the food support programs of East Side Neighborhood Services," said Mary Anstett, Vice President, Community Engagement for East Side Neighborhood Services in Minneapolis.

"With the support that Holiday Train brings in, we can rest assured that so many will have warm nutritious food on their tables in the coldest months."

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returns to the rails

SOME OF THE HOLIDAY TRAIN PERFORMERS

Texas Hill

Mackenzie Porter

Kelly Prescott Lindsay Ell

Tenille Townes

Brittany Kennell

Don Amero

OCEAN NETWORK

RAILWAYS REDUCE

to contribute to a CO2 neutral value-chain, Ocean Network Express (ONE) is actively procuring environmentally friendly transport solutions suitable for their European and African inland services net work.

Striving

The Singaporean-headquartered shipping line consciously considers the environmental impact of all aspects of their service activities, including their scope 3 value chain up stream emissions and values working with eco-conscious inland transportation partners.

Long term partner ERS Railways GmbH (ERS), provides

rail services from Hamburg, Bremerhaven and Rotterdam and shares ONE’s environmental ambition. The company is committed to avoiding unnecessary emissions, reducing ex isting emissions and compensating unavoidable emissions.

ERS exclusively operates ultra-modern Vectron locomo tives that run on clean TüStrom Bahn Natur green energy sourced from Norwegian hydropower. Equipped with intel ligent driver assistance and advanced braking systems which allow energy recovery, the trains are currently amongst the most energy-efficient locomotives on the market.

The TÜV-certified Norwegian hydropower is particularly

EXPRESS AND ERS CO2 EMISSIONS

environmentally friendly as its produc tion generates neither CO2 nor radio active waste.

Jan van Dijk, Senior Environmental Specialist at ONE’s Rotterdam-based inland procurement team, emphasizes ONE’s environmental aspirations say ing: “Initiatives like operating Vectron trains running on green energy fit into ONE’s environmental ambition to be a leading green business partner. It con tributes to achieving our environmen tal goals as set out in our ISO14001 certified environmental management system for our landside operations. Electric trains are generally considered to be one of the most eco-friendly means of transport, but by buying hydropower-based energy, ERS contrib utes to reducing emission figures even further.”

ERS recently implemented an emis sion calculator in accordance with the EN16258 standard. According to this calculation method, ONE has saved 175,000 kilograms of CO2 by using ERSs’ rail

services during its 2021 business cycle.

Tjeerd Spierdijk, ERS’s Senior Sales Manager for Benelux and Germany said, “ERS takes environmental responsibility by proactively enhancing and emphasising the green aspect of our services.

"We foresee that transportation services in future, as part of the supply chain, will be measured against CO2 and we are glad that partners like ONE are already procuring their landside operations taking the environmental performance of their suppliers in mind.”

He also said: “CO2 emission calculations are a complex activity if you want to do it right. ERS strives to provide our customers emission reporting of their individual booked containers which is as close as possible to the actual emis sion. Our CO2 calculator differs from the existing market standards as ERS takes it one step further by calculating the individual transport energy consumption per loaded unit on a specific rail shuttle, taking into consideration variables such as payload and actual train utilisation”.

ONE is also working on visualising its scope 3 emission figures, similar to ERS’s method, by incorporating calcula tion logic into their inland transportation planning software. The algorithm allows for calculation based on a variety of variables like mode of transport, container condition, cargo weight and actual travelled distances.

Wabtec wins European service agreement

Wabtec

Corporation has signed a services contract with Akiem, a leading European rolling stock leas ing company, to provide maintenance of critical equipment for locomotive fleets in Europe. The deal will im prove safety, reliability, and avail ability of rolling stock for Akiem's customers.

The agreement, which runs for the next five years, covers brake components, pantographs and HVAC for the company's PRIMA and TRAXX fleets in France and Germany. The ob jective for Wabtec and Akiem is to maximize asset availability for the operator's customers.

"This crucial equipment maintenance partnership with Akiem sees Wabtec working di rectly with the owner of the rolling stock," said Sameer Gaur, President of Wabtec Transit Services Group. "Akiem's key role in this value chain means it fully measures the value of robust and reliable equipment. We share their commitment to maxi mize train safety and reliability and are looking forward to supporting this major actor in European rail to achieve its goals."

Wabtec's European footprint was a key enabler in building

this relationship. The proximity of Wabtec's teams to Akiem's maintenance sites will allow for optimal equipment monitoring. An additional factor was Wabtec's expertise and leadership in the products covered by the contract. These should provide key building blocks to further the support of Akiem for both – overhauling their equipment as well as optimising the fleets while in ser vice with their customers.

"We are confident this longterm partnership with the Wabtec team regarding the revisions of components will enable Akiem to secure and shorten our main tenance operations on half our current fleet, to the direct benefit of our customers," said Maxandre Garzino-Fréchot, Purchasing Di rector of Akiem. "Wabtec's flex ibility along with the possibility to acquire new spare parts, or even extend the scope of services will indisputably be a source of a successful partnership."

The two parties will also work together to develop inno vative services, including additive manufacturing, remote diagnostics, and more sustainable HVAC refrigerants, to optimize efficiency and environmental performance.

CARGOBEAMER AWARDED BY CITY OF LEIPZIG

CargoBeamer has been awarded the "Via Oeconomica." the eco nomic prize from the city of Leipzig where CargoBeamer is headquartered. Organised by Stadt Leipzig and Gemeinsam für Leipzig, it aims to award companies that contribute positively to the international per ception of the city as a booming busi ness location.

CargoBeamer CEO Nicolas Albrecht and Dr. Markus E. Fischer, joined mayor Burkhard Jung and several representatives from politics and economy to accept the prize and to discuss a sustainable future in both regional and international logistics.

The FS Group strengthens its fleet of

contract with

Rail

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for

in particular to

after signing a

lIONESSES ROAR ON THE UK RAIL FREIGHT NETWORK

Freightliner Group has presented its newly named loco recognis ing the success of the English La dies Football team in winning the 2022 European Championship and

their continued success as a global force to be reckoned with.

The loco was named at Freight liner's Birmingham Terminal in the presence of one of Freightliner's

sponsored girls football teams and roared off to Southampton later that day. Hopefully at some point in 2023 another 66 may be named after a successful result in Qatar.

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Carrillo named to LRW board

BNSF gets zero exhaust emission locomotives for demonstration in Southern California

Linda Hernández Carrillo, KCSM Gerente Negocios y Desarrollo Industrial, who has been named to the League of Railway Women (LRW) board of directors as director at large for the 2023-24 term, effec tive October 11 2022. Linda joined KCSM in 2008 and is currently re sponsible for industrial development and sales for the chemical and petro leum business units.

Founded in 1997, LRW is commit ted to improving the railroad industry by connecting and cultivating wom en in rail. Its mission is to advance the representation, recognition and opportunities for women, thereby promoting diversity and improving the business results of the railroad industry.

KCS is a Platinum Partner with the LRW.

Progress Rail, a Caterpillar Company, is supplying up to four EMD Joule battery elec tric locomotives to BNSF Railway (BNSF). Supported in part by grant funding, the locomotives would replace BNSF diesel units operating in Southern California, with charging systems for continuous operation.

“Progress Rail is excited to pro vide this groundbreaking zero ex haust emission technology to BNSF,” said Marty Haycraft, president and CEO of Progress Rail.

“We are committed to helping our customers meet their emissions re duction goals.”

motives in North America.

“The Joule locomotive is an ex citing advancement in battery-elec tric locomotive technology with more energy storage and faster charging,” commented John Lovenburg, Vice President Of Environment & Sustain ability at BNSF.

“The project is well aligned with BNSF’s commitment to innovation and leadership in sustainable freight. We are focused on continuing to re duce the environmental impact in the communities where we operate and proud to do our part to assess the commercial and operational viability of emerging technologies that reduce

Combining its broad locomotive expertise with Caterpillar, Progress Rail will deliver the first battery elec tric locomotive with eight MWh of storage capacity, making the SD70J units the largest battery electric loco

emissions.”

When delivered in 2024, the BNSF locomotives would operate in yards and routes in Southern California. Progress Rail will supply two charging stations.

Adif advances in the standard gauge project between Huesca-Canfranc

Adifhas taken a new step to articulate a cross-border corridor between Spain and France through the Can franc tunnel, by advancing the plan to implement the standard gauge on the Huesca-Canfranc line.

This action, which is part of the agreement signed by the govern ments of both countries, Aragon and the Gallic region of New Aquitaine, will make it possible to make connec tions through the Pyrenees, with the consequent boost to rail transport. In the case of freight traffic, it will also allow important lo gistics nodes to be connected.

Specifically, Adif has awarded the contract to draft the standard gauge implementation project on the Hu esca-Canfranc line, which is about 138 kilometres (86 miles) long.

The project constitutes the nec essary preliminary step to tender the works, since it details all the ac tions to be carried out based on the Informative Study carried out by the Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda (Mitma). Its drafting has been awarded to the Temporary Business Union (UTE) formed by Meta Engineering and Subterra En

gineering, for an amount of €847,000 and a term of ten months.

Adjustment of gauges

In addition to implementing the stan dard gauge, the project contemplates equipping the line with the ERTMS

(European Rail Traffic Management System) train control and command system, the most advanced in the world, to guarantee the interoperabil

to advance in the modernisation of the Zaragoza-Huesca-Canfranc line.

The first phase of works on the railway platform in the area of Zuera (Zaragoza) was recently completed and the complete renovation of the track is currently progressing in one of the sections between Huesca and Canfranc, the Plasencia del Mon te-Ayerbe.

In addition, these same works will soon be contracted in two other sec tions: the Ayer be-Caldearenas and the Ja ca-Canfranc.

ity of cross-border traffic.

Its gauges will also be adapted, sidings of 450 metres (1500 ft) will be built at its stations and the necessary actions will be defined in the infra structure of the line.

Modernisation of Zaragoza-Canfranc

Parallel to this action, Adif continues

These ac tions are part of said agree ment to reopen the 310-kilome tre (192-mile) Zaragoza-Can franc-Pau line to international traffic, interrupt ed in 1970 when an incident on a bridge south of the French town of Bedous forced the suspension of traffic on the French side.

Likewise, they contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), such as number 9, which promotes reliable, sustainable and quality infrastructures, 8 (contribu tion to economic growth and job cre ation) and 17 (achieving alliances to achieve objectives).

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All-aluminium coal wagons roll in India

India’s

first all-aluminium freight rail wagons have begun to roll. According to Rajendra B. Aklekar, Deputy City Editor at Mumbai's Mid-Day publication, "the gleaming rakes are 180 tonnes lighter than existing steel rakes, can carry 5-10% more payload, consume less energy with relative ly negligible wear and tear to rolling stock and rails.

"The bottom discharge alu minium freight wagon, specifically designed to carry coal, is tipped

to reduce the carbon footprint measurably. The new generation wagons, fabricated by MS BES CO based on Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RD SO)-approved design are made from high strength aluminium alloy plates and extrusions, indigenously made at Hindalco’s state-of-the-art rolling facility in Hirakud, Odisha with extrusions from the company’s Renukoot plant in UP, leveraging its global technology.

"These all-aluminium rakes offer

19% higher payload to tare weight ratio. This will have a transforma tive impact on the railways’ logistics and operational efficiency.

"The commercial freight sector in India is expected to grow at more than 7% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) to 15-billion tonnes by 2050.

"The energy-efficient and eco-friendly railways are expect ed to notably increase its volume share from the current 18% as modal shift is undertaken."

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LLISTOSELLA TO BECOME THE NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF KNORR-BREMSE

The Supervisory Board of Knorr-Bremse voted unanimously to appoint Marc Llis tosella as the Chief Executive Officer of Knorr-Bremse for a period of three years with effect from January 1 2023.

Dr. Reinhard Ploss, Chairman of the KnorrBremse Supervisory Board, said: “I am extreme ly delighted that we have been able to gain Marc Llistosella as the new Chief Executive Officer of Knorr-Bremse.

He is an impressive corporate leader with an excellent reputation and many years of man agement experience, especially in technology, operations, sales and strategy.

"I am firmly convinced that he will return Knorr Bremse to its former strength with his international background in the capital goods sector, his extensive experience in top-level management, especially in Asia, his ability to see things through and his soft skills.”

Llistosella was most recently active in in vestor and start-up founder roles, for example at Vaionic, a start-up specialising in the devel opment of electric drive systems, and Einride, a Swedish company that develops electric and self-driving commercial vehicles.

He is a member of the advisory or superviso ry boards at both companies, and the 55-yearold business graduate and economist will retain both of these positions going forward.

BECAUSE

"LIGHTS,CAMERA,(RAILROAD)

TrainTime, a feature film featuring BNSF trains and team members, has been released and is playing in IMAX cinemas and other cinemas across North America and internationally.

Viewers of this film join BNSF crews on a journey across our rail network, including visits to Cajon Pass in Califor nia, the gorges of the Columbia River between Oregon and Washington, the Rocky Mountains and more.

The railroad says: "The film pays tribute to the incred ible industry we serve and illustrates the passion so many have for railroading.

"Beginning in 2015, BNSF teams hosted film crews over

several years at various locations around our network."

Cinema showings

You can find all the details, including the movie trailer and screening locations, on the Train Time website at https:// lnkd.in/e_BQZzmS . Actual locations and schedules may vary, so be sure to check your local cinema for exact dates and showtimes.

"A special thanks to all the team members who sup ported the Train Time filming and development!" says the railroad

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(RAILROAD)ACTION!"

CHEMET to integrate Nexxiot’s advanced technology into newlymanufactured railway tank cars

CHEMET,

one of the leading European manufactur ers of stationary and transportable pressure tanks and vessels for liquefied gases, has selected Nexx iot to digitalise its product line of railway tank cars.

CHEMET, based in Poland and France, is the first European manufacturer to commit to fully digitalising its railway tank car offerings.

CHEMET will integrate Nexxiot’s Asset Intelligence technology into newly manufactured railway tank cars. CHEMET’s clients will be able to access the real-time loca tion of equipped railway tank cars, monitor total mileage, and shocks and receive notifications if the tank experienc es significant temperature changes.

Nexxiot’s sensors and data analytics also provide ad vance notice of adverse conditions, preventing greater damage and losses.

Deployment

“We want to celebrate CHEMET’s bold move to fully digi talize their manufactured tank cars,” said Stefan Kalmund,

CEO of Nexxiot. “The deployment is an important step in the digitalisation of tanks and sets an example for the in dustry to aspire to.”

“Our customers have expressed an increased desire for digitalisation, and we want to ensure that their needs are being met,” said Bartosz Urbaniak, Commercial Opera tions Director of CHEMET. “Partnering with Nexxiot allows CHEMET to offer fully digitalised tank cars and eliminates the need for our customers to undergo the rigorous pro cess of identifying, mounting and coordinating the rollout of new technology themselves.

"CHEMET manufactures the safest railway tank cars available today, and with the addition of Nexxiot’s technol ogy, our customers will benefit from smarter and safer tank cars that are rail-ready right off the manufacturing line.”

CHEMET focuses on serving the European tank cars market, producing annually up to 500 complete tank cars and up to 1000 tanks for the railway industry designed for transportation of dangerous goods (LPG, ammonia, chem ical products) for leading rail clients including ERMEWA, ARETZ and GATX Europe.

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People on the move

Luke Lumley has been promoted to Sr. Instructor Tech nical Training at Union Pacific Railroad.

Stefan Krutsch is now Logistics Manager BU Pharma / Pharma Services at HELM AG.

Simon Altham has started a new position as Depot Team Leader - Birmingham for UK express logistics start-up Varamis Rail.

Matthew Blachuciak has started a new position as Assistant Train - Master Bensenville operations. at Canadian Pacific

Matthieu Chabanel has taken office as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of SNCF Réseau, following his appointment by the SNCF Réseau Board of Directors on October 18.

Susanne M. Manaigre, MBA is starting a new position as Senior Director, Business Acquisition at SNC-Lavalin

Angela Hoskins is starting a new position as Senior Business Manager (Nuclear) at Nuclear Transport Solutions.

Stephen Hannan has started a new position as Lead Rail Project Manager at CSR Engineering

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Containerbahnhof moves closer with land purchase

On October 13 2022, GVZ Entwicklung smaßnahmen GmbH der Städte Augsburg, Gersthofen und Neusäß signed the purchase contract for 85,000 sq m of building land in the Augsburg Region Freight Village (GVZ) together with the DB Netz AG. This means that the next milestone on the way to Containerbahnhof has certainly been reached.

With the contract, the property west of the Augs burg-Nördlingen railway line becomes the property of DB Netz AG. Currently, preliminary measures for clearing the

construction site are taking place on the property. With the approval of the design planning, the Europe-wide invitation to tender for construction services begins. The award of all trades is expected to be completed by the end of 2023.

Mayor of the Stadt Augsburg and Chairwoman of the association Eva Weber, said: "We are very pleased about the conclusion of the contract with DB Netz AG. This is a striking milestone on the way to the container terminal. The Augsburg region is getting closer and closer to its vi sion of an efficient freight transport centre."

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INLAND RAIL CONFIRMS STEADY PROGRESS ON N2NS BUILD

Speaking at the Australasian Railway Association annual Rail Freight Conference in Brisbane, Peter Borrelli, Project Director for the Narrabri-to-North Star (N2NS) section of Inland Rail, told conference dele gates that steady progress continues to be made on the section that is near ly 200km in length and being built in two phases.

Three stages

Phase One has three stages, 57 km (35.4 miles) of track from north of Narrabri to Penneys Road, 28 km (18 miles) of track from Penneys Road to South Moree, completed in 2021, and 80km (52 miles) of track from Camurra to North Star.

Phase Two of the N2NS project will see 15 km (10 miles) existing track up graded plus 2.3 km of (1.5 miles) new rail track built between Moree and Camurra.

The construction of Phase One of the N2NS section will see the ex isting rail corridor upgraded to being able to accommodate double-stacked trains up to 1.8 kilometres (1.1 mile) in length. During construction of Phase One some 170 kms (105 miles) of old track has already been ripped out and nearly 300,000 old railway sleepers removed, with 135 kms (1.1 miles) of new track and 225,000 new sleepers already installed.

Peter Borrelli, Inland Rail Project Director on N2NS, said: “We are all very proud of what we have already

When Stacey met Shawn

achieved on the N2NS section, espe cially since we have faced significant challenges in the form of inclement weather and dealing with the COVID pandemic.

“Nearly two thousand people have worked on N2NS, including more than 600 local residents and 160 of these workers local indigenous residents.

“Inland Rail has also pumped around $180 million into the local economy, signing deals with nearly 140 local businesses.

“On the N2NS project we have de livered around 10,000 tonnes of cap ping and ballast per day and we have used around 320 tonnes of quick lime daily and have used nearly 5000 pre cast reinforced concrete box culverts and built seven new bridges.”

Earlier this month, Stacey Lyons, Canadian National (CN) Government and Public Affairs Manager, hosted a fireside chat with Secretary Shawn Wilson of the Louisiana

Department Of Transportation and Development at the CN-sponsored Association of American Railroads' annual State Relations Policy Conference in New Orleans.

Oscar new President of Mexican Railroad Assoc

Oscar Del Cueto Cuevas, Kansas City Southern (KCSM) President, General Manager and Executive Repre sentative, who was appointed President of the Mex ican Railroad Association (AMF) by a unanimous vote by the board of directors. This is Del Cueto’s second term as presi dent (2020 – 2021) after serving as the Chairman of the Op erations and Security Committee for five years.

Del Cueto has more than 30 years’ experience in the rail way industry. He joined KCSM in 2006 where he has served in numerous roles including Director of Mechanical, Director of Transportation, General Superintendent of Transportation and Vice President and General Director, which he held un til becoming President in August 2020. Del Cueto was a key

member from KCSM in securing the concession within Mexi co. He is on the Board of Directors of the Railway and Termi nal del Valle de México, (Ferrovalle) and a full member of the Steering Committee of the Ferrovalle railway terminal. He is also a member of the Mexican Council of Foreign Trade of the Northeast (Comce Noreste) and in January 2021, he was appointed to the Board of the American Chamber of Com merce of Mexico (AMCHAM).

He holds a Bachelor's degree in Communications and a Master's degree in Business Administration from the Univer sity of Monterrey. Additionally, he received a Certificate in the Management Rail Program from the University of Mich igan.

Mandy Rail wins major contract to

Mandy Rail is celebrating after being awarded a long-term contract to be a key maintenance supplier for Touax rail wagons in the UK, includ ing covering those leased by GB Railfreight and DB Cargo.

With bases in Durham and Doncaster Mandy Rail has

gone from strength to strength since it was established by joint managing directors Mark Hedley and Andy Hird in 2019. The company began with the two of them and, three years on, they employ 20 staff responsible for the maintenance, repair and overhaul of freight wagons.

Never miss a www.freight-tracks.com

Chris and Joe Yates from the Mandy Rail team on site

Mark Hedley said: “It’s absolute ly fantastic news that Mandy Rail has won this new business. Contracts such as this bring continued stability and al low for further growth. Mandy Rail is a close-knit team, and I am delighted for everyone who works with us as we con tinue to build our company’s presence and excellent reputation in the market.”

Andy Hird added: “Our successes in our first three years of trading is proof that hard work pays off.

"We’ve got a fantastic team behind us and a great vision as to how we will continue to build Mandy Rail by provid ing the highest quality in maintaining freight wagons to keep Britain’s wagons rolling.

"The future looks bright and very exciting.”

Entity in Charge of Management

Touax Rail is the second largest lessor of intermodal rail cars in Europe. Initial investments of the Touax Group in the railcar industry began in 1955 and since then the rail division has kept a continual growth, multiplying its fleet by five in the last 10 years and reaching a total fleet of around 11,300 freight railcars/platforms under manage

cars maintenance in Europe and the UK.

Cédric SCHEIFFER, Touax’s Maintenance Organisation Manager of the fleet of wagons, said: “Mandy Rail is a maintenance supplier committed and motivated to build with its customers maintenance solutions and services allying with availability, reliability and quality. Touax Rail was one of the first to trust Mandy Rail and today, this

maintain Touax wagons in the UK

ment.

Touax Rail was one of the first railway companies to be certified for Entity in Charge of Management (ECM) in December 2011, which recognises the know-how of the company in the field of technical management and rail

contract signed is the proof for the future, that Touax believes in the team and its capacities to maintain Touax wagons in the UK.”

Mandy Rail is an independent company which pro vides freight wagon maintenance, repair and overhaul.

a rail freight story again. www.freight-tracks.com

Mark Hedley (left) and Andy Hird (right), managing directors of Mandy Rail, with Cédric Scheiffer, Maintenance Organisation Manager with Touax, at the Touax offices in Paris

Railway Reading

Happy 100th birthday From “Miserable Excuse” railroad

Warren G. Harding, an Ohio Republican, was the President of the United States when the Mississippi Export Railroad (MSE) was founded by Gregory M. Luce. He purchased the insolvent Alabama & Mississippi Railroad Railroad (A&M). As well as reviving the railroad oper ation, a family legacy begins as Luce is the great-great-grandfather of the current president and CEO of the Mis sissippi Export Railroad, Kate Luce.

Mississippi Export Railroad, as it is known today, was incorporated in 1922 with the purchase of rail from Pascagoula to Luce Farms. Soon after, the railroad served the paper mill near Moss Point, and eventually facilitat ed the return of log trains to the rails (after 20 years’ absence from 1909 –1929).

A newspaper describes the MSE as suppling services to “cotton gins, canning factories, naval stores, lumber mills, bag factories and ship-building plants.”

In 1935, J. H. Luce becomes the MSE’s second President and Chairman of the Board. A year later, to handle its growing business, the MSE purchases a new locomotive. It’s an 85-ton Bald win with eight drive wheels. This new workhorse is about 20 tons heavier than any of the others the railroad uses.

Four years after the acquisition of the Baldwin, as the MSE continues to

grow and prosper, it acquires one of Mississippi’s first diesel-electric loco motives.

Second World War

In 1941, prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor, in the MSE’s annual report, General Manager W. M. Dutton an nounces “one of its best years in the history of its op erations.” Major businesses begin to build plants close to the rail line and the MSE’s customer list continues to grow.

According to Mis sissippi History Now, Mississippi, like most of America, respond ed with unbridled patriotism when the attack on Pearl Har bor in 1941 thrust

the nation into World War II. Thousands of Mississippians entered the armed forces. In every com munity, citizens on the home front con tributed to the war effort. Tthe war years brought tremendous change to Mississippi, but the most signif icant change was to its economy — the war ended the Great Depression in the state. Agri culture, the most important sector of the pre-war economy, went through significant and lasting change. Thou sands of farm workers either entered the military or took other employment in 1940 and 1941. Yet in 1942, the War Manpower Commission, or WMC, rat ed the hills region, Mississippi Delta,

Railway Reading

birthday to the MSE

railroad to “Money Earner” in a century

and nearby Memphis, Tennessee, as areas with surplus farm labour.

In the post-war Eisenhower years, the MSE adds significantly to its cus tomer list, serving local industry, in cluding International Paper, Menha den, Thiokol Chemical, Veneer and Puss ‘n Boots Cat Food.

In 1958, Dwain G. Luce is named as the third President and Chairman of the Board of the Mississippi Export Railroad Company.

Dividends for decades

In 1954, the expansion of Highway 90 begins and will create many positive effects for the MSE and its home coun ty of Jackson. Down South magazine reports that the MSE has been paying an annual dividend for 20 years.

Four years later, Dwain G. Luce is named as the third President and Chairman of the Board of the Missis sippi Export Railroad Company. The following year, engineer Pete Cirlot re tires after 45 years of serving the MSE. His retirement is the first among loco motive engineers in company history. Many MSE employees stay with the company for their entire career.

At the start of the Swinging Sixties, the Port of Pascagoula grain elevator opens, bringing more positive impacts to the MSE and the surrounding re gion.

In the nineteen-seventies, the MSE is again in the news with a story dis

cussing the progress it has made over the years. A newspaper article de scribes the MSE as having come a long way since it was dubbed the “Miser able Excuse” railroad. Since then, the piece goes on, it has earned the name “Money Earner.”

In 1986, D. Gregory Luce, Jr. be comes the fourth President and Chair man of the Board of the Mississippi Export Railroad Company.

The last decade of the 20th centu ry saw the development of an indus trial park by the MSE and a notable milestone. The MSE begins work to develop the Helena Industrial Park in Moss Point.

The park is a far-sighted effort aimed at fostering economic growth in Jackson County and diversifying the MSE’s own services. In 1991, with a banquet aboard its “office car,” the North Carolina, the MSE celebrates the 2000th train of coal delivered to Mississippi Power’s Plant Daniel in northeast Jackson County.

A decade agom in 2012, in recogni tion of its 90th anniversary, MSE estab lished a scholarship at The University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast to give back to the coastal community. By offering financial assistance to those pursuing higher education, Mississippi Export Railroad can help them grow and succeed at the premier research university of the Gulf South.

Kate C. Luce is named President and Chief Executive Officer of Missis sippi Export Railroad in 2017. Three years ago, MSE subsidiary, Alabama Export Railroad (ALE) begins opera tions in Mobile, AL. Just last year, the Helena Industrial Park certified as a Canadian National Rail Ready Site in the programme’s inaugural year.

KEEP THE DATE: Railway industry calendar of events

November TBC Barcelona, Spain BCNRAIL Internacional Rail Forum

07-09 November Warsaw, Poland 9th International Transport & Logistics Exhibition

08-10 November Amsterdam, Netherlands Intermodal Europe

09 November Stockholm, Sweden Scandinavian Rail Optimisation

10 November Manchester, UK TransCityRail North

14-17 November Lisbon, Portugal Transport Research Arena

15-17 November TBC Intelligent Rail Summit 2022

25 November London, UK Golden Spanner Awards

29 Nov - 01 Dec Malaga, Spain Rail Live 2022

06 December London, UK Rail Industry Forum 2022

07-08 December Duisberg, Germany European Silk Road Summit

08 December Paris, France 101st UIC General Assembly

2023

07 February London, UK Rolling Stock Forum 2023

09 February Birmingham, UK TransCityRail Midlands

03 March London, UK Golden Whistle Awards

08 March Glasgow, UK Rail in Scotland

28-30 March Lille France SIFER13th International Exhibition of Railway Technology

09-11 May Birmingham, UK Railtex

09-11 May London, UK Railtex

23 May London, UK Railway Innovation Awards

03-05 October Milan, Italy Expo Ferroviaria

If you would like your event listed here free of charge, just send details to freighttracks@gmail.com

Bye-bye 2022, Hello 2023

This year represents the third year since the Covid pandemic hit the world's population. It was also the year that Freight Tracks was launched.

Drawing on the talents of some of the finest railway journalists writing today,we set out to bring rail freight to the fore.

In our last issue of 2022, due out on Monday December 19, we will look back at the year just completed and what might lie ahead in the year to come.

We will be inviting industry leaders to comment on 2022 and what they might expect in 2023.

At the same time, we will be provid ing the opportunity for firms in the rail freight industry supply chain to invest in advertising to thank those customers that kept loyal during the year while reaching potential advertises in 2023.

We welcome contributions from our readers in this issue.

Just get in touch with the email be low.