CANADIAN Pacific (CP) and Kansas City Southern (KCS) have stated the US Surface Transportation Board (STB) issued a decision approving the CP and KCS joint merger application, subject to certain conditions. This creates the first single-line railway connecting the US, Mexico and Canada.
The decision authorises CP to exercise control of KCS as early as April 14 2023, at or after which point CP and KCS would combine to create the new CPKC. CP is reviewing the full 212-page decision in detail and in the coming days will announce its plans with respect to the creation of CPKC.
CP President and Chief Executive Officer Keith Creel extended the company's sincere gratitude to the STB board and staff for their hard work as part of the comprehensive review of the combination.
"This decision clearly recognises the many benefits of this historic combination," Creel
said. "As the STB found, it will stimulate new competition, create jobs, lead to new investment in our rail network and drive economic growth.
"These benefits are unparalleled for our employees, rail customers, communities and the North American economy at a time when the supply chains of these three great nations have never needed it more," Creel added. "A combined CPKC will connect North America through a unique rail network able to enhance competition, provide improved reliable rail service, take trucks off public roads and improve rail safety by expanding CP's industry-leading safety practices."
"This important milestone is the catalyst for realising the benefits of a North American railroad for all of our stakeholders," said Patrick J Ottensmeyer, KCS President and Chief Executive Officer. "The KCS Board of Directors and management team are very proud of the
many contributions and achievements of the people who have made KCS what it is today and we are excited for the boundless possibilities as we move forward into the next chapter as CPKC."
CPKC will bring a new standard of safety to the North American rail landscape. CP has been the safest railroad in North America for 17 straight years as measured by the Federal Railroad Administration train accident frequency ratio. In 2022, CP had an all-time best frequency of 0.93, a rate nearly half what the company produced a decade ago and 69 percent lower than the Class 1 average.
CP's culture of safety, supported by its history of sustained investments in core infrastructure and technology, aligns with KCS's likeminded culture, allowing the combined system to operate at the apex of rail safety. CPKC will implement the combination with safety at the forefront of everything it does.
Among the core conclusions reached by the STB regarding the public and pro-competitive benefits of the CP-KCS combination, including that the combination "should ultimately enhance safety and benefit the environment":
"The Board expects that this new single-line service will foster the growth of rail traffic, shifting approximately 64,000 truckloads annually from North America's roads to rail, and will support investment in infrastructure, service quality, and safety," the board said in its decision, going on to say, "Indeed, approval of this transaction may even enhance safety for the nation as a whole" and that "thus, any rail traffic diverted to CPKC from other railroads will likely mean traffic moving to a railroad with a better safety record.
"The transaction is also expected to drive employment growth across the CPKC system, adding over 800 new union-represented operating positions in the United States."
www.freight-tracks.com
WiseTech Global, developer of the leading logistics execution software CargoWise, has acquired Blume Global (Blume), provider of a leading solution facilitating intermodal rail in North America, for $414 million. Headquartered in the United States, Blume is being acquired from funds managed by Apollo, EQT and other minority shareholders.
North America is the world’s largest domestic logistics region1, and Blume manages intermodal containers and chassis on behalf of six of the seven Class 1 US railroads, ocean carriers and other intermodal equipment providers including global freight forwarders and Beneficial Cargo Owners (BCOs). Blume is a high-growth recurring revenue business and is expected to generate FY242 revenues in the range of $65 million to $70 million representing annual
growth of 45% to 55%. Before operational synergies, on a standalone basis, Blume expects to achieve FY24 EBITDA margins of approximately 10% and be cash-flow breakeven by the end of FY24.
Richard White, Founder and CEO of WiseTech Global, said: “This is another strategically significant acquisition that follows our acquisition of Envase Technologies last month. It further extends our capability in one of our six key CargoWise development priority areas, integrating rail into our landside logistics offering in North America, the most complex and largest logistics region in the world. Blume also brings significant new talent, a portfolio of other valuable product capabilities, and further enhances our product development skill set. This transaction demonstrates WiseTech’s continued investment in its CargoWise ecosystem,
improving visibility and process efficiencies end-to-end across the supply chain for our customers.”
Blume Global’s CEO Pervinder Johar said: “Joining the WiseTech Global group means greater scale and resources to make logistics processes more productive, agile, dependable, and sustainable with innovative execution and visibility solutions. We want to thank the team at Apollo for helping to stand up and grow Blume as a standalone company and are
thrilled to embark on this next chapter to drive even greater digital innovation in this sector.”
Justin Korval, Partner in Apollo Hybrid Value, and Antoine Munfakh, Partner in Apollo Private Equity, said: “This transaction underscores the tremendous growth of Blume since establishing it as an independent company in 2019. By providing meaningful growth capital and strategic support, Blume’s management team was empowered to pursue an ambitious expansion strategy and successfully develop an industry leading supply-chain technology platform. We wish Pervinder and the entire team the best in this exciting next chapter.”
WiseTech Global is a leading developer and provider of software solutions to the logistics execution industry globally. Our customers include over 18,0003 of the world’s logistics companies across more than 170 countries, including 41 of the top 50 global third-party logistics providers and 24 of the 25 largest global freight forwarders worldwide4.
PACIFIC National is to implement RailCube as its new rostering solution.
RailCube is an operational management solution, designed specifically for the rail industry. "We are the first operator in Australia to adopt the system, and we’re in good company joining 50+ European rail organisations already using it," says the railway.
"We chose RailCube after a tender and proof of concept process, to find the solution that would best suit our needs. We know that effective crew rostering is critical to delivering to plan for our customers and will give certainty to our train crew."
The system will be rolled out through the business over the next two years.
www.freight-tracks.com
RAIL software and solutions specialist 3Squared have secured funding from the Department for Transport (DfT) and Innovate UK’s ‘First of a Kind’ (FOAK) competition, to further develop its PathPlanner tool to improve freight operations and unlock network capacity, across the UK rail network.
The FOAK competition aims to support and enable new projects to help create a greener, more efficient railway for all. This year’s competition focused on new concepts that will transform rail travel for passengers and decarbonise the network.
PathPlanner is an innovative software solution designed to help freight operators run additional trains. It does this by utilising over 7 years’ worth of historical train records to help planners quickly identify available paths which can be bid to Network Rail through the Very Short-Term Planning (VSTP) process – therefore allowing them to take advantage of much needed spare, and potentially wasted, capacity.
Jason Durk, Principal Consultant at 3Squared, commented: “It is fantastic that 3Squared have secured prestigious FOAK funding to further develop and enhance PathPlanner, a system that we hope will transform the rail freight industry – especially at a time when the sector is undergoing significant growth and it has never been more important to focus on reducing carbon emissions.
“At 3Squared, we have been working hard to create solutions that support the drive towards modal shift, moving freight from road to rail and supporting the industry’s aim to be both greener and more responsive. Through innovative application of technology, we look forward to making this a reality with PathPlanner, bolstered by wider industry support.”
IN 2019, Lithuania's railway market companies moved to liberalisation by implementing the European Union's Fourth Railway Package requirements. As a result, the most significant railway group in the Baltic region, Lietuvos Geležinkeliai, reorganized its activities. Lithuania's second-largest rail freight company, shunting operator Gargždų Geležinkelis,
then in its 20th year of operations, got an opportunity to go beyond just shunting. As soon as the changes began, Gargždų Geležinkelis started seeking ways to turn them into a chance. The goal was to digitise processes, stay profitable in a profoundly altered competitive environment, and prepare itself for a business leap.
The answer to many challenges proved to be technologies and fundamental digitisation of processes. Gargždų Geležinkelis managed, in under a year, to become the first shunting service provider in Lithuania to fully digitise its operating procedures. That was only possible with the help of the next-generation railway freight software system - CargoRail.
Gargždų Geležinkelis operates at several important cargo hubs: at the Draugystė railway station, the biggest in Lithuania, through which 15 million tonnes of freight is carried each year; at the Rimkai railway station, where it serves more than ten different types of freight clients; and at the Mockava railway station on the Lithuanian-Polish border.
At the start of 2020, Gargždų Geležinkelis did not have a system for gathering all the information it needed for its activities. But after structural changes to obtain a competitive advantage, having a robust and autonomous system like that become essential.
"We needed a system where we could: process data on operations perform accounting for services verify data received from the infrastructure manager issue invoices to clients handle other critical administrative tasks.
"We wanted the new tool to optimize our activities without requiring significant IT or staff investments. We plan to take advantage of the opportunity created by the European Union requirements and start operating on main lines. In short, we were looking for a robust system that could meet all these needs," says Gintautas Lukauskas, the Commerce Director at Gargždų Geležinkelis.
The use of intelligent devices essentially altered some operating processes.
The head of commerce notes that they formulated several specific requirements to search for a system to meet those needs.
First, the system's developer should already have experience working with the railway industry.
Second, the developer should not be far away and should provide advice and technical support in the Lithuanian language.
And third, the new system should help perform shunting tasks on both broad- and narrow-gauge tracks.
The best fit for all those requirements was the CargoRail next-generation software for railway transport developed by the Lithuanian team "Blue Bridge Code". This system adapts processes at every station, enabling real-time completion of documents on intelligent devices, centralised accounting for services, and automatic preparation of critical documents. Besides, it is the first system that supports operations on both narrow- and broad-gauge tracks. It has the carrier's mandatory integrations - infrastructure manager, customs, seaport, and other entities.
In starting to use the system from the beginning of 2020, Lukauskas recalls that the entire team of 67 employees felt the change. So the system's acquisition can boldly be called the start of full-scale digitization. Where previously one person worked with data processing and documents, on starting to use CargoRail, the whole team got involved in that process. First of all, drivers and conductors received intelligent devices – phones and tablets – to enter operations in the system in real-time. For example, they were inspecting railcars, attaching or detaching cars and letting them perform service accounting with the click of a button and just as quickly issue an invoice.
"I'd say it was precisely the ability to perform so many actions in real-time that was the key change. In addition, the team needed time to acquire the new habit and not fear assuming responsibility. That process was more comfortable because it's easy to trace data and quickly fix any mistakes on the new system. So we were not surprised that soon the whole team valued the new system's convenience," Lukauskas says.
Much smoother data collection was also made possible by performing much more accurate accounting for services provided by third parties, starting with the infrastructure manager. "Summing up the digitization of processes with this system, we can say that it has helped us, as a company, achieve greater efficiency and transparency. Accounting with precise data makes it possible to avoid human errors, charge for additional services, and have full data traceability and accountability. As a result, we have grounds to expect that soon the collected data will help us optimize our
operations and improve the quality of services," the manager explains.
Ambitious business future. CargoRail and the digitisation process have also emboldened Gargždų Geležinkelis to plan for a future as an international carrier, Lukauskas acknowledges.
"We now have and are learning to use a powerful digital tool. Its functions will be necessary for us when we enter the carrier market. As a result, we see good chances to compete successfully in the new market. Our belief in the future and the growing role of technologies in the railway business is also inspired by the fact that we've managed to adapt to changes and maintain our clients' trust," Lukauskas says.
Gargždų Geležinkelis's success story and business transformation have not gone unnoticed in Lithuania's railway market. "We say jokingly that we're the first shunter whose drivers and conductors use smart devices at work. But we feel that our example encourages other market players to start working on digitization," Lukauskas says.
According to one of CargoRail's developers, Jolanta Skeivelienė, carriers' problems in the Baltic and Eastern European regions motivated the creation of the solution.
"Real operating hindrances preventing the region's carriers from doing their work faster and better dictated CargoRail's most important features. Working with Gargždų Geležinkelis, we've seen with our own eyes how system features and abilities that are already standard in other business sectors make the work of railway companies significantly easier and, in some cases, cheaper as well.
"We're also just as happy that we've managed to build a system that can fundamentally transform operating processes while remaining very user friendly," Skeivelienė says.
She notes that the CargoRail core idea is the simplicity of the user interface, with many actions that can be performed at the click of a button and automatically prepare critical documents.
"Thanks to the universality of these features, CargoRail can give railway companies of any type
greater flexibility without increasing the number of staff, making it possible to serve more clients and offer them individualised pricing, and reducing the chance of human errors in accounting and documentation," Skeivelienė says, adding that the future vision of CargoRail's creators is a Lithuanian railway industry united in one common electronic space, where all the parties involved in transporting freight can more easily and more quickly interact with each other and more effectively conduct their activities: not just carriers, shunters, and infrastructure managers, but also customs, veterinary and agricultural services and the state border guard.
THE Indian National Rail Plan envisages that the share of freight traffic by rail should go up from current share of 28% to 44% by 2051. The construction of Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFCs) on the important high density route is an important policy measure by Indian Railways to arrest the trend of falling market share of railways in the country and also will shift the advantage in favour of rail transport. DFC operation will bring-in efficiency in freight operation and enable rail tariff being more competitive because of its following operational/design features:
n Higher throughput per wagon and per train: run heavy haul trains.
n Lower energy consumption: reduce operation and maintenances costs
n Reduction in transit time: reduce logistic cost of transportation and better utilisation of rolling stock
Moreover, IR has taken number of multi-pronged strategy to increase its modal share in freight segment which includes tariff rationalisation and tariff/freight incentive schemes which includes; diversification of freight basket, Liberalised Automatic Freight Rebate Scheme in Traditional Empty Flow Directions, Rationalization of Station to station rates policy, Rationalization of Merry-Go-Round, Concession in short Lead Traffic, Discount in freight to fly ash traffic booked in Open/flat Stock and covered wagons, Round trip charging for ultra short lead (up to 50Kms) container traffic, Round Trip Traffic (RTT) Policy, Automobile Freight Train Operator Scheme (AFTO), Introduction of Cube Container for two wheeler traffic. A New ‘Gati Shakti Multi- Modal Cargo Terminal (GCT)’ policy has also been launched to facilitate development of cargo terminals on non Railway land, as well as on Railway land (partially or fully) etc.
In addition, various other schemes have also been introduced to attract private investment in General Purpose Wagons, Special Purpose/High Capacity wagons and Automobile carrier wagons. Presently around 232 rakes have been inducted under various investment schemes.
Strategic disinvestment of Container Corporation of India Limited (CONCOR) is being carried out by Department of investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM). DI-
PAM has informed that the Cabinet Committee of Economic Affairs (CCEA) in its meeting held on November 20 2019 has given in principle approval for Strategic disinvestment of Government of India’s (GOI) holding of 30% out of its present holding of 54.8% in CONCOR along with transfer of management control to strategic buyer.
The Master Circular on “Policy for Management of Railway Land” issued on October 4 2022 permits setting up of Renewable power plants for exclusive use of Railways for a lease period of upto 35 years at 1/- per square metre per annum. Further, it permits Hospitals selected through a transparent policy and Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan for a lease period of upto 60 years at 1/- per square metre per annum. So far, Indian Railway has set up about 6.7 Mega watt (MW) of Solar Power Plant on its vacant land. Details are as follows:
n 3 MW solar plant at Modern Coach Factory (MCF), Raebareli (Uttar Pradesh) has been commissioned.
n 2 MW solar plant at Diwana (Haryana) has been Commissioned.
n 1.7 MW solar plant at Bina (Madhya Pradesh) has been commissioned.
Further, vacant railway vacant land has also been used for setting up of plant of 50 MW capacity at Bhilai.
COAL transportation by Indian Railways (IR) in terms of tonnage and NTKM has increased by 11.92% and 24.51% in this current fiscal year (up to February).
Loading of rakes for power sector from various sources in the current fiscal year (April-Feb) is 408 rakes per day against 344 rakes per day in last year, an increase of 64 rakes per day.
In the month of February 2023, 426.3 rakes per day have been loaded for power stations against 399 rakes per day in February 2022 some increases of 27.3 rakes. In order to meet the projected demand for rakes by the power sector in the coming fiscal year, a number of actions have been taken.
Higher induction of coal carrying wagons - 7692
BOXNHL and 1052 BOBRN wagons have been inducted during April 2022 to January 2023. Around 32,534 BOXNHL and 2450 BOBRN wagons indents pending.
During the current FY, 1018 freight locomotive have been added to the fleet of IR until the end of February 2023. This increase is expected to continue.
Some 4500 kms of new track is expected to be commissioned in 2022-23, the majority of which is on coal carrying routes. This will further improve turnaround of coal-carrying rakes.
Keeping in view the rising demand in the next few years, a comprehensive planning of the Energy Corridor has been done with planned investment of one lakh crores ($15.3 billion) ranging over some 100 projects.
FEW conjugal relationship last for over a century and still remain intensely in love, total trust in each other, striding along hand in hand, ever-growing and everflourishing.
It’s over a century since Indian railways started transporting coal, and even today the existence of either coal or railway without the existence of other partner can not be imagined.
They truly fit into the category of “Made for each other."
Piyush Goyal was Indian Minister for Railway as well as Coal Minister in 2018-20 period .
As soon as he took over, he formed a WhatsApp group of top functionaries of the two ministries for better co-ordination and smooth flow of coal from mines to the power houses and other industrial units. This step helped in improving the flow of coal to power plants and coal-based industries. I happened to be member of this elite group in my position as GM ECR one of the top coal transportation zones of Indian Railways.
plants/coal-based industries.
Even the offspring of coal the flyash, produced in huge quantity in thermal power plants. Nowadays it is being evacuated from thermal power plants by railways.
In the domestic coal ash percentage varies from 25 to 45% and in imported coal it is around 20% .
Power plants have to make major investments to handle the ash produced by coal burning process . To handle this hazardous waste, ash handling plantshave been set up. Usage of fly ash have been found in Road building, cement manufacturing, Brick manufacturing and so on.
Special tank wagons have been developed for fly ash transportation. NTPC has acquired three such rakes for Flyash evacuation from its power plants. Ash is loaded pneumatically in power plant and evacuated into silos at receiving end .
This has brought down cost of road building, cement manufacturing and brick building.
This also resulted in conversion of a cost centre into a profit centre for thermal power plants.
Railway officers in coal mining zones are incorporated in the board directors of Coal companies. Regular co-ordination meetings are held between two ministries to ensure optimum utilisation of rail and coal infrastructure.
Railway projects are financed by coal companies to augment coal evacuation railway lines and to lay new lines for accessing new mines .
Leading railway zones engaged in coal evacuation and transportation are SECR Bilaspur (CG), ECR (Hajipur Bihar), ECOR (Bhubaneswar Odisha), SER (Kolkata) and ER (Kolkata) .
Coastal railways like ECOR are also engaged in transportation of imported coal to power plants and industry located in the hinterland.
Thus both for domestically mined coal or imported from far lands of Indonesia, Australia and South Africa the rail and coal bond remains intact .
Over the years, an eco system has developed which is fostering this relationship. This includes mechanised loading and unloading respectively in mines and power
WESTERN Railway is contributing immensely in the infrastructural development of railways in Gujarat and in the last few years, tremendous boost has been given to new line, gauge conversion, electrification, doubling and other infrastructural upgradations along with enhancement of passenger amenities. In this direction, Western Railway has completed the work of doubling between Chhansara – Piprala (24 km) over Ahmedabad division which is part of the Palanpur –Samakhiyali Doubling Project (247.73 km). With the commissioning of this section, the entire Palalanpur – Samakhiyali double line project has been commissioned.
According to a press release issued by Shri Sumit Thakur, Chief Public Relations Officer of Western Railway, recently, the new double line of 24 km between Chhansara -Piprala stations was completed in Ahmedabad Division of Western Railway. This section is part of the Palanpur – Samakhiyali Doubling Project. The section has been opened at a speed of 100 kmph.
Giving further details of the recently completed Chhansara – Piprala section, Shri Thakur stated that this section has two major bridges and 15 minor bridges. Among these major bridges, one bridge is of PSC Slab of four 12.2 m span and another one is span of three 6.1 m. The Palanpur – Samakhiyali Doubling Project passes through the districts of Banaskantha and Patan in the state of Gujarat and is a very crucial project as it primarily carries freight traffic from various ports of Kutch region towards the North and Western parts of the country. This will help in the socio -economic development of these regions.
THE 92.825 km Broad Gauge Single Electrified Railway Line section Station in Angul District and Baghuapala Station near Sukinda in rda Road Railway Division of East Coast Railway has received of goods traffic. General Manager Shri Manoj Sharma has congratulated & RVNL for this accomplishment.
The Senior Administrative Grade (SAG) Committee nominated ager comprising of Chief Safety Officer (CSO), Chief Track Engineer cal Distribution Engineer (CEDE) & Chief Signalling Engineer Chief Project Manager (CPM-II) of Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) Headquarters and Khurda Road Division inspected the newly between Budhapank and Baghuapal Stations covering a length Road Division of East Coast Railway on February 21 2023 and Report on February 23 2023.
Earlier, Commissioner Railway Safety (CRS) had inspected Budhapank Station Yards and advised for modification of Station yards which with all safety angles to run goods train.
Based on the compliance to SAG Inspection Report and after uments/Certificates; the General Manager under the powers delegated has sanctioned for opening of the newly built BG Electrified Single
section between Budhapankh in Jajpur District under Khuauthorisation for operation congratulated the team of ASRL nominated by ECoR General ManEngineer (CTE), Chief Electri(CSE) of ECoR along with (RVNL) and other officers of constructed BG single line length of 92.82 km in Khurda submitted their Inspection
Budhapank and Baghuapal which has now been complied
after perusal of various Docdelegated by Railway Board Single Line Section for GOODS
TRAFFIC up to a maximum permissible speed of 65kmph, subject to the observance of all the permanent and temporary speed restrictions in force or those, which may be imposed from time to time.
Angul-Sukinda Railway Ltd. (ASRL), a SPV has been incorporated on February 20 2009 by Ministry of Railways through Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd. (RVNL) for construction and maintenance of broad gauge single railway Line between Budhapank Station (Angul) and Baghuapala Station (Sukinda). This new rail-line provides a direct link between iron-ore rich areas of Odisha (Joda-Barbil) to steel and sponge iron industries in Angul region. It will also provide a shorter and congestion free alternative route between coal mining belt of Talcher to coal based thermal power plant in Kalinganagar Industrial areas. This will also be in close proximity to the Steel Plants in Angul region, NALCO and a cluster of Industries located in Kalinganagar areas of Odisha. Dispatch of finished products of steel plants from Kalinganagar complex to destinations in Mumbai and Delhi via Talcher-Sambalpur-Jharsuguda will also be shorter and cheaper via the new alignment as compared with the route via Kharagpur.
The project is being funded through Public Private Partnership (PPP) model as envisaged in the Concession Agreement signed between the Ministry of Railways and ASRL on May 14 2010. The funding pattern for this project was through equity-participation from Stake-Holders and debt raised from market.
TO meet the requirement of forged wheels for rolling stock, Indian Railways had floated a tender for setting up a manufacturing plant in the country with assured offtake of 80,000 wheels per annum for next 20 years so that the requirement is met from domestic sources. It is an important initiative in the direction Make in India Initiative for Import Substitution.
The bidding process was transparent and competitive. Tender was opened on January 24 2023. Three bids rom M/s Steel Authority of India Ltd,M/s Bharat Forge, Pune, M/s Ramakrishna Forgings, Kolkata.
Price Bid opened on March 14 2023. L1 is from M/s Ramakrishna Forgings Ltd., Kolkata. L2 is from M/s Bharat Forge, Pune, L3 is from SAIL.
The successful bidder to set up the manufacturing facility within 36 months from award date and to supply the wheels of various types at 80,000 annually. To consider the learning curve and economies of volume, the price applicable will be reduced by 2% every year up to three years and the fourth year onwards the applicable price will be 94% of the quoted price which is valid for the balance period of 20 years. The pre-determined price variation clause is applicable for the price on quarterly basis.
Indian Railways has been importing various types of forged wheels required for locomotives and coaching stock (LHB) since 1960s from UK, Czech Republic, Brazil, Romani, Japan, China, Ukraine and Russia. In this year (2022-23),
Some 80,000 wheels worth approximately 520 Crore ($4.2 billion) are imported from China and Russia, with remaining 40,000 being sourced from SAIL. Currently, due to Russia-Ukraine Crisis, all the import requirement of wheels is being met from China.
Requirement of wheels is projected to increase up t o 2 lac by 2026 onwards due to induction of more and more high speed trains.
CENTRAL Railway retains the highest revenue figures among all zones for April 2022 to February 2023, registering Rs. 78.86 crore ($9.5 million) in Non-fare revenue and Rs. 232.50 crore ($28.1 million) in parcel revenue.
Central Railway’s performance in Financial Year 2022-23 (April to February) has been impressive with a record revenue of Rs. 78.86 crore in Non-Fare Revenue as compared to Rs. 27.10 crore during the corresponding period last year, which is the highest among all zonal railways, showing an enormous increase of 191%.
Eighteen tenders were awarded through e-auction with annual licence fee of Rs.491.06 lakh
Five Contracts for external vinyl wrapping on EMUs with earnings of 243.30 lakh per annum for a period of three years awarded by Mumbai
division.
Two Out of Home earnings of Rs.5.88 for a period of five by Mumbai division Home contract each tur with earnings of Per annum and with earnings of Rs.51.80 period of five years.
Four Rail Display tracts with earnings lakh per annum awarded bai division.
Truck/Tempo parking ing contract at CSMT of Rs.43.5 lakh per riod of 5 years.
Central Railway also nificant revenue [$2.8 bn] (including
Home contracts with Rs.5.88 lakh per annum years e-auctioned division and one Out of each awarded of Laof Rs.6.75 lakh and of Pune division Rs.51.80 lakh for a years.
Display Network conearnings of Rs.125.44 awarded by Mumparking cum stakCSMT with earnings per annum for a pealso registered sigof ₹232.50 crore (including Rs17.96 crore
[$218 m] in the month of February alone), through transportation of approximately 4.56 lakh [456,000] tonnes of parcel and luggage in Financial Year 2022-23 (April to February).
During the same period in the Financial Year 2022-23, some 201 trips of time-tabled parcel trains generated a revenue of ₹24.81 crore including Rs.14.97 crore through 99 trips of CSMT-Shalimar Parcel train, Rs.6.25 crore through 30 Indent Parcel Trains from Bhiwandi –Jalgaon to Azra and RS.3.59 crore through Lease Parcel Trains from Godhani to Tinsukia Junction in 22 trips.
Presently 101 SLRs and 14 VPs are on lease (out of which 50 SLRs and 2VPs have been leased through E-auction) as against 74 SLRs and five VPs leased during the corresponding period last year.
NARESH Lalwani, General Manager, Central Railway, formally flagged off a mountaineering expedition to Mount Everest. He presented Ice Axe with the flag of Railway Sports Promotion Board (RSPB), crest of Central Railway Sports Association (CRSA) to Hemant Jadhav and Sandeep Mokashi, two railway men who are attempting the feat. The ice axe will be carried by these two when they summit the Mount Everest.
Speaking on the occasion, Lalwani said “Central Railway Adventure Sports Club members, Hemant Jadhav, Chief Office Superintendent, working in Engineering Branch and Sandeep Mokashi, Office Superintendent, Electrical branch are the first Indian Railwaymen to achieve the feat of scaling Mt.Nun peak situated at 7135 meters above sea level on 21.8.2022. Now, with the active patronisation of CRSA, they are embarking upon their expedition to Mount Everest. This expedition aims to spread the word of climate change and global warming. This expedition would be the first of its kind from Railways which is itself a record.” He also said Central Railway Sports Association has 450 active sports persons pursuing 40 types of games.
The Central Railway Adventure Sports Club under Central Railway Sports Association organizes campaigns at many forts in Maharashtra to educate the young minds about the value of trekking and forts. Additionally, they have carried out numerous rescue missions that have saved many lives, and the team engages in a variety of activities such as assisting in disaster zones, planning cycling campaigns, and educating people about the significance of cycling.
The Railway Sports Promotion Board (RSPB) is the apex organisation under the Ministry of Railways that functions with the complete mandate of sports promotion at the national and international podiums. It is the Central Organization for all sporting activities that span national and international Games and Championships. It has presence in all the Divisions and Workshops under the jurisdiction of Central Railway. CRSA has a battery of sports persons who have achieved national and international fame.
INDIAN Railway is working in a mission mode to become the largest Green Railway in the world and is moving towards becoming a “net zero carbon emitter” before 2030. After completion of Electrification in Uttar Pradesh recently, Indian Railways has achieved another milestone. Indian Railways has completed the electrification of Uttarakhand.
The existing Broad Gauge network of Uttarakhand 347 Route kilometres, which is 100% electrified, resulting in saving on account of reduced line haul cost (about 2.5 times lower), heavier haulage capacity, increased sectional capacity, reduced operating & maintenance cost of electric loco, energy efficient and eco-friendly mode of transpor-
tation with reduced dependence on imported crude oil, saving of foreign exchange.
Uttarakhand state’s territory falls in Northern & North Eastern Railway’s jurisdiction. Some of the major railway stations in Uttarakhand are: Dehradun, Haridwar, Roorkee, Rishikesh, Kathgodam, Tanakpur. Some of them have religious importance and some are tourist attractive places. Badrinath, Kedarnath, Yamunotri, Gangotri, Hemkund Sahib, Mussoorie, Nainital, Jim Carbet & Haridwar are a few to name. Kathgodam station is an important station with annual passenger footfall of about 7 lacs and this terminating station acts as entry of Kumaun region of Uttrakhand. Some of the prestigious
trains of Uttarakhand state are: Nanda Devi, Haridwar Express, Mussoorie Express, Utkal Express, Kumaon Express, Doon Express & Shatabdi Express.
These trains provide convenient connectivity to various parts of the state and other major cities in India, helping greatly to state in tourism business.
Further, Rishikesh to Karnprayag, a new line work is under construction which will be another landmark achievement of Indian Railways, bringing Char Dham pilgrimage route on Indian Railways’ circuit.
This route is sanctioned along with electrification, in sync with Railways’ policy of 100% electrified network.
DB Cargo UK is committed to doing its bit to support the environment and lead the way in green and sustainable freight transportation across Great Britain.
Recently, the company welcomed colleagues from DB Cargo AG, its German rail freight operator parent company, to support DB Cargo's alternative fuels project.
To demonstrate the benefits of using Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) fuel, DB Cargo UK worked with Group Technical Support (GTS) and Toton TMD to facilitate load bank testing of a Class 60 locomotive. The testing also aimed to compare the effect of HVO fuel on locomotive exhaust gas emissions and performance to that of standard red diesel..
The Class 60 locomotive was fully fuelled with standard red diesel and connected to the Toton TMD Load Bank facility for the performance testing of the locomotive engine over its whole power range. To accurately monitor exhaust gas emissions at each power position from Idle to Full Load, a purpose-built exhaust extension tube was fitted to the locomotive to calm the exhaust gases. The emissions of nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, hydrocarbons, and particle mass were measured twice in a standardised measuring cycle (F-cycle) at three load points.
After the first test was completed, the diesel fuel was completely drained, and the locomotive was refuelled with
HVO for the second test. The emission measurement was then repeated, analogous to the measurement with diesel, to gain a direct comparison of exhaust gas emissions and performance between the two fuels. The back-to-back tests were done to assess the impact of HVO fuel on locomotive emissions and its potential as an alternative fuel.
Locomotives usually have a service life of 40 years; therefore, it is vital that we can radically reduce the use of fossil fuels that power traditional diesel engines.
Jörg Schneider, Head of Climate Protection and Energy, and the lead for sustainability at DB Cargo AG said:
“If this round of testing shows that HVO fuel cuts emissions in a Class 60 locomotive, a loco with a 34-year-old engine, in a similar way to more modern locomotives, this would prove that HVO is a viable and effective alternative to standard red diesel. Adopting HVO fuel in all diesel locomotives would then have a significant impact on the rail industry's carbon footprint and overall air quality in the UK.”
Kathryn Oldale, Head of Strategy, Policy and Communications at DB Cargo UK, and the UK lead for sustainability said: "HVO is the only credible solution to decarbonise rail freight today and requires significantly less investment than mass electrification in the short term. In the long term however, we must see a programme for electrification of key routes across our network. Today, we are poised to decarbonise our operations by 90% just by swapping to renewable fuel but this will require marginal investment to promote a step change culture across our industry, this is where we are calling on our decision makers to see the direct benefits of HVO.”
DB Cargo has already reduced its CO2 emissions by al-
most 70% over the past 30 years and has set itself an ambitious target for climate neutrality by 2040. As part of the alternative fuels project, they are also planning to use synthetic (i.e., artificially produced) fuels, as well as so-called air-to-fuel (A2F). The load bank testing of the Class 60 locomotive at DB Cargo UK is another important step in this journey towards a more sustainable future for rail freight.
DB Cargo has already reduced its CO2 emissions by almost 70% over the past 30 years and has set itself an ambitious target for climate neutrality by 2040. As part of the alternative fuels project, they are also planning to use synthetic (such as artificially produced) fuels, as well as so-called air-tofuel (A2F). The load bank testing of the Class 60 locomotive at DB Cargo UK is another important step in this journey towards a more sustainable future for rail freight.
EUROPE currently wastes land the size of Irelandon crops for biofuels which are an obstacle to tackling climate change and food security, a new study shows. The study commissioned by Transport & Environment (T&E) shows that this land could be used to feed 120 million people or, if given back to nature, could absorb twice as much CO2 as is supposedly saved by powering cars with biofuels. Using an area equivalent to just 2.5% of this land for solar panels would produce the same amount of energy.
Maik Marahrens, Biofuels Manager at T&E, said: “Biofuels are a failed experiment. To continue to burn food as fuel while the world is facing a growing global food crisis is borderline criminal. Countries like Germany are discussing limiting food crop biofuels in response.
"The rest of Europe must follow suit.”
Julie Bos, EU climate justice policy advisor at Oxfam: “The EU’s biofuel policy is a catastrophe for hundreds of millions of people who are struggling to find their next meal. Not only does it surrender vast swathes of cropland to
fuel cars, but it also pushes food prices once and for all stop burning food for fuel.”
According to the research, land cultivated be used to provide the calorie needs of be more than enough to cover the 50 million emergency or worse levels of acute food es sky-high and the UN-brokered deal Ukraine in the balance, the organisations prioritise food over fuel.
This is made worse due to biofuels’ biofuels consumed in Europe require a area larger than the island of Ireland land). If this were returned to its natural tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere –CO2 savings from biofuels replacing traditional
even higher. European countries must fuel.”
cultivated to grow crops for biofuels could of at least 120 million people. It would million people that the UN says are “in food insecurity.” With world fertiliser pricthat allowed shipments of grain out of organisations call on European governments to biofuels’ questionable climate benefits. Crop total of 9.6 million hectares of land – an (Republic of Ireland and Northern Irestate, it could absorb around 65 million nearly twice the officially reported net traditional fossil fuels.
Using the land for solar farms would also be far more efficient. Youneed 40 times more land to power a car using biofuels compared to an electric car powered by solar energy, the analysis shows. An area just 2.5% of the land currently dedicated to biofuels would be needed for solar to produce the same amount of energy, leaving the rest available for natural carbon sinks or growing food.
“Right now we surrender vast swathes of land for crops that we simply burn in our cars. It’s a scandalous waste. This land could feed millions of people or, if given back to nature, provide carbon sinks rich in biodiversity.
"Crop biofuels are probably the dumbest thing ever promoted in the name of the climate,” concludes Marahrens.
The EU has set itself targets to halt and reverse the loss of biodiversity in its Nature Restoration Law. With biofuel feedstocks taking up a good chunk of Europe’s croplands, ending the use of land for biofuels could be an important step to achieving this goal.
CARGOBEAMER, the leading operator of rail connections for non-craneable semi-trailers in Europe, is expanding its portfolio by establishing a service for first and last mile transportation by road (“drayage”). The concept serves as an optional add-on to CargoBeamer’s regular rail connections by providing a road traction solution for our clients’ semi-trailers. It will commence operations during the second quarter of 2023.
An integrated drayage solution makes intermodal more accessible for both existing and new customers who are working on shifting road transports to rail. Additionally, it allows transportation companies to assess the increasing shortage of truck drivers by optimizing their utilization.
The drayage service is offered in the following regions: northern Italy, western Germany and Benelux, northern France, southern France and Northeastern Spain, and large parts of the UK plus Ireland. It will connect all terminals in the network of CargoBeamer to third-party locations, warehouses, and Ro-Ro ports of the region.
First test trials have already been completed on the Kaldenkirchen <> Domodossola route, where the transport of semi-trailers in both directions was extended by road to the port of Genoa.
Bookings of the new service will be made via the integrated “eLogistics” system of CargoBeamer. When ordering first or last mile transportation, clients can choose between a single or rotational model. All emissions caused by first and last mile transportation by road will be covered by the carbon neutrality program of CargoBeamer and therefore offset by using gold standard certificates.
Boris Timm, Chief Operating Officer of CargoBeamer, says: “CargoBeamer has always pursued the goal of making intermodal logistics more accessible to road transport companies across Europe. By adding this drayage service, we are lowering another important barrier that especially held back small and medium-sized freight forwarders from shifting semi-trailers to rail. An integrated trucking service for virtually all types of semi-trailers lowers the costs of organising intermodal transport significantly and will allow companies with little or no road-to-rail experience to start using CargoBeamer for the first time.
"Our clients will also benefit from an increased throughput rate of units moved by truck drivers and a fully carbon-neutral supply chain when using CargoBeamer.”
RAILROAD Day on Capitol Hill 2023 is May 17. Plan to join the freight rail industry in the annual tradition of Railroad Day on Capitol Hill when the entire industry — Class I railroads, short line railroads, suppliers, labor organizations, and supporting associations — meets with House and Senate leaders and Hill offices representing states and districts across the country to ensure that our voices are heard and our priorities are understood.
Attendance is open to all Class I, II, and III railroad personnel, shippers, labour rail representatives, state and local government representatives, as well as members from the supplier community with an interest in furthering the policy priorities of the railroad industry.
Registration for Railroad Day on Capitol Hill 2023 is now open. Meetings will be held during the day, with a reception for all participants and Congressional members and staff in the evening.
7:00-9:00 a.m. — Railroad Day on Capitol Hill will kick off with a Grab and Go event within walking distance of the Hill offices. Here you can meet up with your first appointment team members, and pick up materials. Coffee and breakfast snacks will be available at Monocle Restaurant, Capitol Hill, Senate Side, 107 D Street NE, Washington, DC. 20002.
9:00 a.m.-5:00 pm — Meetings on Capitol Hill. Each attendee should receive a schedule by May 16.
Lunch — You are on your own for lunch; there are cafeterias on the House and Senate sides of the Capitol building. We will provide maps and details on the training calls on May 4 and 9.
5:00 p.m.-7:00 pm —A reception will be held at the Rayburn Building for attendees and Congressional members and staff.
In 2023, Freight Tracks issues will contain a series of monthly in-depth feature articles on rail freight business topics.
Our writers will look at the subject from different angles to give a 360o oversight. These will be perfect places for advertisements to reach your customers.
editor@freight-tracks.com
January
Rolling stock leasing
February
Intermodal
March
Rail freight software
April
Personnel training
May
Rolling stock design
June
Rolling stock leasing
July
Automotive
August
EU rail freight
September
North American rail freight
October
UK & Ireland rail freight
November
Freight locomotives
December
Prospects for 2024
ARTC Inland Rail and the NSW Farmers’ Association (NSWFA) have worked together to develop a new information pack that acknowledges and addresses issues of concern to property owners in relation to the construction of the Inland Rail program of works.
In December 2021, the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee report on Inland Rail recommended that an independent mediator be employed to facilitate an improved working relationship between ARTC Inland Rail and NSWFA.
In response to this recommendation, ARTC Inland Rail and NSWFA have been engaging in open and productive mediator-facilitated discussions, working through issues of mutual concern.
Following these productive discussions, ARTC Inland Rail and NSWFA have jointly produced an information pack that provides further details on how ARTC Inland Rail is addressing issues of concern to landowners including the property acquisition process, fencing standards and Inland Rail’s complaint management process.
The release of this joint information pack for property owners is a demonstration of our shared commitment with NSWFA to listening and understanding each party’s perspective and reaching mutually beneficial solutions which enable
the safe and efficient delivery of Inland Rail for the benefit of regional Australia.
NSW Farmers is Australia’s largest state farming organisation, representing the interests of its farmer members in the state. We are Australia’s only state-based farming organisation that represents farmers across all agricultural commodities. We also speak up on issues that matter to farmers, whether it’s the environment, biosecurity, water, animal welfare, economics, trade, or rural and regional affairs.
Agriculture is an 'engine room' industry in NSW. Farmers across the state produce more than A$17 billion worth of food and fibre every year, or around 25% of total national production.
They also contribute significantly to the state’s exports. Agriculture is the heartbeat of regional communities, directly employing almost 2% of the state’s workers and providing the foundation to roles in processing, manufacturing, retail, and hospitality across regional and metropolitan areas.
The sector is building this contribution even further, working towards the target of A$30 billion in economic output by 2030.
THE Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) will carry out essential rail maintenance and improvement works across next weekend on the main railway line between Sydney and Melbourne.
As part of the ARTC ‘Super Possession’, the line will be closed for three days, from 6:00am March 18 until 6:00pm March 20 to improve safety and reliability across the network.
Works include track re-railing, resurfacing, and reconditioning, as well as drainage restoration, track ballasting, level crossing upgrades, relocation of utilities, turnout maintenance and bridge maintenance.
Routine track maintenance activities will be completed, along with signaling works, and vegetation control.
To minimise disruption to customers, the ARTC ‘Super Possession’ will run in conjunction with similar possessions on the Sydney Trains network.
These works are part of ARTC’s additional investment over the next three years to improve network resilience, further helping to reduce speed restrictions.
During this period, early works will also commence on the Southern Highlands Overtaking Opportunities project at Werai. Works will include earthworks, and installing ballast, sleepers and rail.
This project is being delivered with $41.6 million in funding support from the Australian Government.
The project aims to increase flexibility and reduce congestion on the network, by allowing freight trains to be overtaken by faster services.
The Super Possession also provides the opportunity for ARTC to undertake Inland Rail construction at Glenrowan and Barnawartha North.
ARTC will also facilitate early works on the Melbourne Airport Rail project with the installation of monitoring equipment on the Maribyrnong Bridge and carry out geotechnical investigations.
ARTC General Manager Asset Maintenance Services –Interstate, Costas Kokkoni said:
“This Super Possession will see more than $15 million worth of essential works completed from Sydney to Melbourne, to maintain a high standard of safety and reliability across the network.
“Work will be completed across 90 worksites along the corridor in New South Wales and Victoria, including early works commencing on the Southern Highlands Overtaking Opportunities project. ARTC would like to thank the community for their patience while these critical, longterm improvements take place.”
THE Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) and Telstra have started work on delivering new mobile telecommunications infrastructure on the Narrabri to North Star (N2NS) section of Inland Rail, enabling rail systems operations on the network and delivering improved connectivity for rural communities in north-western New South Wales.
The A$3.4 million project to enhance mobile telecommunications at four sites along the Inland Rail alignment will begin at North Star and will provide required 4G coverage for trains running on the line.
Following the commencement of construction at North Star, a new base station will be installed in Crooble, a new ‘small cell’ base station will be delivered in Croppa Creek and an existing base station in Gurley will be upgraded.
A feasibility study was carried out in 2021 to confirm the site-specific technical approach for each site.
In addition, rural communities near the Inland Rail alignment will also see the benefits as the mobile infrastructure is deployed.
The work will form a part of the legacy that Inland Rail will leave with communities on this section of the alignment, enabling them to benefit from the improvements for years to come.
As the mobile telecommunications enhancements are rolled out, Telstra will manage the ongoing operations and maintenance once the infrastructure has been delivered.
Rebecca Pickering, Interim Chief Executive Inland Rail, said: ‘ARTC Inland Rail is thrilled to work alongside Telstra to meet the operational needs of the Narrabri to North Star project, and improved telecommunications are another great outcome in the nation-building Inland Rail project.
‘A key commitment of Inland Rail is to leave a positive legacy along the rail corridor and delivering improved mobile telecommunications is just one
example of how we seek to ensure regional communities benefit from this once-in-a-generation rail project’.
‘We are committed to doing what we can to benefit communities beyond freight logistics, and rail infrastructure – that includes providing additional opportunity for regional development.
‘Inland Rail is being predominantly delivered in regional Australia, meaning there is a prime opportunity for regional Australia to reap the immediate benefits that come with construction’.
‘Local communities and businesses are already seeing the benefits of Inland Rail through Phase 1 of the Narrabri to North Star Inland Rail project’.
‘As of December 2022, more than 668 local residents had worked on Inland Rail and more than $224 million had been spent with local businesses and suppliers.’
Andrew Stormont, Telstra Enterprise Channel & Network Sales Executive, said:
‘Mobile connectivity is so important in today’s world, and we know the huge benefits it can deliver for residents such as providing new business and educational opportunities and being able to connect in more places in case of emergencies.
‘Telstra is delighted to work with ARTC Inland Rail on these four projects which will deliver improved connectivity in and around North Star, Crooble, Croppa Creek and Gurley.
‘When completed in early May 2023, we expect the new mobile base station at North Star to provide approximately 15km of improved or new 4G coverage for residents and visitors in a radius from the base station.’
BRITISH Steel’s Export Sales Manager, Rail, Jérôme Bonef said: “This is fantastic news for our business, particularly given the high level of competition we faced to secure this contract.
“Our steel sleepers provide the perfect technical solution to the challenges facing rail operators in this region and we’re proud to have been chosen to support such a major project.” Guinea is estimated to possess more than a quarter of the world’s supply of bauxite and as it continues to increase its export capacity, it needs to upgrade existing freight lines.
British Steel’s contract with the Guinea Bauxite Company (Compagnie des Bauxites de Guinée, CBG) will see it deliver 20,000 tonnes of its 436 profile steel sleepers over the next year. The UK manufacturer has partnered on the project with Trackwork, which
processes the rolled sleeper into its finished railway fastenings to secure the sleepers.
Jérôme said: “We have long-term partnerships we’re able to provide a complete global supply sleepers and railway fastenings. This enables us ments and deliver a cost-effective and timely
Steel sleepers are stronger and more durable been traditionally used in African regions. Steel
Additionally, the transportation of steel sleepers transportation of their concrete equivalents vehicles can carry three times more steel sleepers
form, and Pandrol, which is providing the partnerships with Trackwork and Pandrol. Together supply chain solution involving processed steel us to meet all heavy-haul technical requiresolution to our customer.” durable than wooden sleepers, which have Steel sleepers are also 100% recyclable. sleepers is much more efficient than the as they are lighter and easily stacked – road sleepers than concrete, meaning lower trans-
portation costs.
Trackwork Sales Manager Dave Roberts said: “We are absolutely delighted to be part of securing this contract; the most significant single order for steel railway sleepers in the long history of our partnership with British Steel. Succeeding in the face of such high-level competition bears full testament to the expertise, competence and quality within our long-established global supply chain.”
Pandrol Sales and Commercial Director UK Iqbal Chadda said: “Pandrol are proud to have collaborated in this unique project, which brings together the finest range of British products and expertise in order to provide a complete sleeper and rail package for West Africa. The Pandrol team worked alongside British Steel to design a bespoke cast steel shoulder with an E-Clip, that together provide an anti-vandal feature.”
"Our long history of voluntarily employing safety measures that go above and beyond federal requirements"
THE US rail freight industry is revealing an initial set of steps it is taking in its drive toward a future with zero incidents and zero injuries — one where what happened in East Palestine never happens again.
The industry believes that the February 3 derailment and its aftermath require railroads and freight shippers alike to lead with actions that restore trust and that will make a difference in the march toward zero.
The industry has long recognised the risk posed by hot bearings and voluntarily installed thousands of hot bearing detectors (HBDs) across the railroad network.
The railroads have also voluntarily installed acoustic bearing detectors, which can ascertain potential problems from the noise created by bearings that are starting to fail. For over three decades, the Class I railroads have voluntarily spaced HBDs no more than forty miles apart on key routes, which are routes over which commodities that are particularly hazardous travel. In recent years, all the Class I railroads have reduced their HBD spacing significantly below the 40-mile criterion.
All Class I railroads have now agreed to go further and are immediately beginning to install additional HBDs across their key routes, with the goal of achieving average spacing of 15 miles, except if the route is equipped with acoustic bearing detection capability or other similar technology.
This will amount to the deployment of approximately 1000 new HBDs.
A route containing acoustic bearing detection capability or other similar technology shall maintain maximum HBD spacing not to exceed 20 miles where practical due to terrain and operating conditions. Inoperative HBDs on key routes will generate critical incident tickets and be prior-
itized for dispatch and repair without undue delay.
The Class I railroads commit to stopping trains and inspecting bearings whenever the temperature reading from an HBD exceeds 170° above ambient temperature. This action establishes a new industry standard for stopping trains and inspecting bearings.
Analysis of trending data from multiple HBDs can reveal a bearing problem before an absolute temperature threshold is reached.
While HBDs have been in use for a long time, it is relatively recently that software and data processing have led to the ability to proactively identify bearings that have not yet exceeded absolute temperature thresholds but that, based on HBD trending data, may become problematic and should be addressed. Each Class I railroad now uses trending analysis, but there are a variety of approaches employed by the Class I railroads to accomplish this goal. The Class I railroads are reviewing the trending analyses programs each uses and have targeted March 31 to arrive at recommendations regarding the use of trending analyses.
As outlined in a recent letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), all seven Class I railroads are joining the FRA’s voluntary program to supplement their own programmes for confidential reporting of safety issues.
In 2023, the railroads will train roughly 20,000 first responders in local communities across the country on accident mitigation. In addition, the industry will facilitate the trainwww.freight-tracks.com
ing of 2000 first responders at the Security and Emergency Response Training Center (SERTC) facility in Colorado, which includes enhanced scenario planning and training at a new facility. SERTC’s world-renowned programme offers an immersive experience with full-scale training scenarios that prepare first responders for real-world surface transportation emergencies. SERTC is a member of the National Domestic Preparedness Consortium (NDPC), which fully funds local, state, tribal and territorial first responders to attend any of SERTC’s DHS/FEMA-certified courses.
The industry is expanding its efforts to get the AskRail app (which provides real-time information about the contents of every car in a train and the safe handling of those contents in the event of an accident) into the hands of every first responder by directly targeting emergency communication centres to promote broader access versus relying solely on individual downloads. Railroads are also targeting all 50 state fire associations. If successful, these measures should dramatically increase the number of first responders that have access to AskRail, with a goal of doubling the number of first responders who have access to the tool by the end of 2023.
Following a safety advisory from the NTSB raising the “potential for certain manway assemblies with aluminum protective housing covers to melt when exposed to extreme heat as experienced in a pool fire situation,” the AAR’s Tank Car Committee is accelerating the work of a dedicated task force that has been investigating the use of heat-resistant gaskets for tanks transporting flammable liquid. The task force, comprised of railroads, equipment owners and tank car manufacturers, will expand its scope to consider all fire performance improvements to service equipment.
“Healthy railroads are essential to the U.S. economy, and consistently and reliably safe operations are essential to healthy railroads,” said Association of American Railroads (AAR) President and CEO Ian Jefferies.
“Our long history of voluntarily employing safety measures that go above and beyond federal requirements proves our belief in that principle.While we will continue to follow the National Transportation Safety Board’s ongoing investigation in Ohio closely and recognize its deliberate, methodical, and fact-based approach, railroads are committed to taking appropriate steps now.”
The AAR has released data showing that railroads are very safe and getting safer. This is especially true for hazardous material transportation, where the accident rate is down 78% since 2000. Mainline accidents are down 44% in that same period and reached an all-time low in 2022.
“Rail is indisputably the safest way to move dangerous commodities,” added Jefferies. “Yet we fully appreciate that these data do not comfort the residents of East Palestine and that public trust must be restored through action. Until we achieve our goal of zero, we will maintain our fierce commitment to getting there.”
While participating in public policy discussions, railroads encourage policymakers to take an objective, data-driven approach. Policy actions taken reflexively that are not likely to achieve meaningful safety benefits could have a wide range of unintended economic and environmental consequences and a negative impact on the safe movement of all goods, including hazmat.
Congress and the USDOT can play a key role in the meantime in promoting both SERTC and AskRail, including through expanded outreach to states and counties. An allthe-above approach is needed.
IARNRÓD Éireann (Irish Rail) has marked the 100th XPO Logistics Europe train. It marks a significant milestone in the partnership between Iarnród Éireann and XPO Logistics. The trains transport goods between Dublin Port and Ballina, County Mayo, covering a distance of over 220 kilometres or some 22,000 km.
The partnership has been successful in promoting sustainable transportation while improving the efficiency and reliability of freight transport.
The 100th train is a testament to the success of the partnership between with XPO Logistics, and highlights the important role that rail transport plays in supporting economic growth and promoting sustainable development in Ireland.
THE US Surface Transportation Board (STB) has approved Montana Rail Link’s petition to conclude its longterm lease with BNSF. MRL announced an agreement in early 2022 for BNSF to resume operations of its mainline rail corridor through southern Montana.
Since 1987, MRL has leased and operated BNSF track between Huntley, Montana and Sandpoint, Idaho, with a deep commitment to service.
That track has become a critical link in our northern transcontinental network. Integrating it back into BNSF operations means freight won’t need to be interchanged between two railroads. This will strengthen the supply
chain and enhance rail capacity in the Pacific Northwest, benefitting customers who ship agricultural, consumer and industrial products along the route. Montanans will continue to have consistent, reliable rail access to global markets.
In a statement, BNSF said: “We expect to complete the process with a smooth transition for our customers by the end of this year. All MRL employees will keep their positions and join the BNSF team.
"We welcome our new team members, and we look forward to what the future brings for our railroad and our customers who move freight in and through Montana.”
IN a historic development South Africa's Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) and Caminhos De Ferros De Mocambique (CFM), the Mozambique state owned railway operator, signed an in-principle agreement that will enable an uninterrupted passage of freight trains between the two countries.
This operating model, once implemented, as per the signed agreement, on April 1 2023, will result in significantly reduced transit times, which will enable an increase in freight volume throughput for all commodities railed to Maputo. This run-through operating model will effectively offer all freight customers on rail, a more efficient and economical logistical solution.
The implementation of this agreement follows a
successful 90-day run-through between TFR and CFM. Through this pilot phase, the two rail operator companies clearly demonstrated that the run through model was a more efficient operating proposition, with great potential to make rail a more competitiveness option on this channe.
This channel, which forms part of TFR’s North East- Corridor, is a key export channel for export commodities such as magnetite, chrome, ferrochrome, rock phosphate and coal. This agreement, effectively means all freight trains between Mpumalanga and Maputo will stop for crew change-over only, including at the Lebombo boarder, hence a seamless or borderless train service.
TRANSNET Freight Rail (TFR) has condemed the criminal acts perpetrated against employees who were held hostage in Ogies, Mpumalanga. Lives were put at risk when members of the Ogies Phola Taxi Associassion (OPTA) hijacked the vehicles transporting staff from various areas. The incident happened shortly after 06:00 when staff were on their way to collect colleagues in four Transnet branded vehicles. Staff and drivers (five people in total) were driven to a nearby taxi rank against their will and held for several hours. The incident was sparked by an outcry from OPTA wanting to provide the transport services for TFR staff. TFR currently outsources the services to a third party service provider.
TFR security personnel with law enforcement officials negotiated the release of employees , but members of OPTA held on to the vehicles unlawfully. Employees were not physically harmed but are receiving trauma counselling. Investigations into the matter continues
and formal statements will be provided on Tuesday by the victims to the South African Police Services (SAPS). TFR staff successfully negotiated for the release of vehicles.
No arrests have yet been made by police.
The contract for the leasing of vehicles by TFR was concluded in 2020 and a winning bidder appointed, through an open tender process which by it’s very nature affords any company the opportunity to participate in a fair manner.
The vehicles are specifically utilised to ferry employees in the Operations and Infrastrcture departments of TFR who work outside normal working hourse – early in the morning and late into the night, when no public transport is available.
Linz, GATX Rail Europe's Freight Business Unit jump started the year with the handover of 30 new 9435 Type Shimmns to valued customer, Logistik Service GmbH (LogServ). GATX's dedicated teams have put their expertise to good use by making railcar leasing easier for LogServ, renewing this collaborative relationship with another long-term contract.
Jürgen Hofstetter, Key Account Manager at GATX Rail
Europe and co-ordinator for the handover, said: “The entire team is very happy to continue supporting the upcoming handovers of new freight wagons to one of GATX Rail Europe’s long-standing customers. We value LogServ’s steadfast commitment to our services and look forward to further expanding our partnership.. It is clear that after working together for many years, we have built a solid base of trust, giving space
for an even stronger alliance with each other.”
Excellent for the transport of moisture-sensitive steel coils, the 4-axle Shimmns car type has a sliding tarpaulin cover as well as one fundamental feature: a quickly adjustable, lateral-
ly operated spindle drive, which allows for the coils’ variable fixation. This gives our clients the ability to safely secure the coils.
"The new Shimmns are also equipped with our latest telematics and sensor solutions allowing for GPS and location tracking as well as Geofencing and alerts to optimise transport management.
NORFOLK Southern will create a new regional training centre in Ohio for first responders. Additionally, Norfolk Southern will expand its Operation Awareness & Response (OAR) programme, which travels the company's 22-state network and trains first responders on how to respond safely to rail incidents.
Norfolk Southern will partner with community leaders to identify a location for the new facility. The mission of the safety training center will be to provide additional, free training for first responders from Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and the greater region. It will also strengthen coordination between railroads and first responders in the event of an emergency response.
"These commitments are the direct result of my conversations with Governor DeWine and other leaders, all to better support our first responders and their communities. First responders are often immediately on the scene of a rail incident, and we want to ensure they have the knowledge and tools to work safely and effectively to protect the health and safety of their fellow citizens," said Norfolk Southern President and CEO Alan H Shaw.
"I want to reiterate our profound gratitude to the first responders from Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia who rushed to the derailment site on February 3."
"The derailment in East Palestine made clear that ensuring first responders are prepared for disasters involving hazardous materials is vitally important to the safety of communities," said Ohio Governor Mike DeWine.
"Often, first responders are volunteers, and their need to have the most up-to-date training and equipment is vitally important. Today's commitment by Norfolk Southern is an important next step in the company's commitment to make the citizens of Ohio and of East Palestine whole after the recent derailments, a commitment Ohio will continue to monitor closely."
While the location for the dedicated facility is selected, training classes will commence on March 22 at Norfolk Southern's yard in Bellevue, Ohio.
Additionally, Norfolk Southern is expanding its OAR program, which provides training to approximately 5,000 first responders annually. In 2023, the program will make 12 stops, with four to be scheduled in Ohio. At the center of the OAR program is a safety train which includes a dedicat-
ed locomotive, specially-equipped classroom box cars, and several tank cars designed to provide first responders with hands-on training. It also provides training on the AskRail mobile app that enables first responders to use their mobile phones to look up commodity and response information on rail shipments.
"I want to reiterate our profound gratitude to the first responders from Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia who rushed to the derailment site on February 3."
Alan H Shaw, NS CEO
A block train with 20 x 90 ft InnoWaggons transports pipeline pipes between Mühlheim an der Ruhr and the port in Brake in Germany. In a very short time, technicians developed the HighPerformanceBase to be able to carry out these transports.
prototype tests in October, to the delivery of the first 80 bases at the end of January 2023, only a few months passed – a remarkable example of the company's ability to react quickly.
The HighPerformanceBase serves as a carrier
The HighPerformanceBase has a square profile with a wooden support.
Together with the common system for pipe transports of the company DHATEC, the HighPerformanceBase allows a payload of two to four additional pipes per wagon.
The maximum payload of 147.5 tonne per wagon has increased the loading capacity by a third. For this transport, carried out by DB Cargo for the pipe producer Europipe, four bases are installed on one InnoWaggon.
From the inquiry in August 2022, over the first
on which a wide variety of products can be transported.
With this development, Innofreight has created a universal product which can transport numerous goods thanks to its supporting surface.
In addition to pipes, the HighPerformanceBase can also be used to transport slabs or concrete parts easily and safely – flexibly adapted to the specific load.
Bilton Welding and Manufacturing, a progressive custom manufacturer in Central Alberta employing upwards of 200 tradespeople, technologists, engineers, and office professionals, is providing fabrication expertise and services to Canadian Pacific’s hydrogen locomotive programme.
The programme has successfully converted a diesel locomotive to a hydrogen-electric drivetrain with zero carbon emissions, with plans for additional locomotive conversions. The goal of CP’s program is to play a leading role in decarbonising the freight transportation sector.
CP has contracted with Bilton from the beginning of this groundbreaking project on many challenging design
and fabrication components that arise from converting diesel-powered locomotive to a hydrogen-powered motive. All aspects of this project were completed manufacturing facilities of Bilton in Innisfail, AB.
Ashley Gorr, Bilton VP Organizational Effectiveness stated “Working with CP has allowed us to showcase drive towards continuous development of sustainability practices and local entrepreneurship within our communi ty. Projects this unique in nature allow us to attract candidates that can think creatively and have ambition take part in meaningful projects that help promote ability, whether it is in the environment or the economy.”
converting a hydrogen-powered lococompleted at the Effectiveness showcase our sustainability communiattract quality ambition to promote sustaineconomy.”
IF you don't have a desktop background, ecco rail is happy to help. They have made screen wallpaperable material to print as a poster or to decorate your screen available. The Eurodual with tank wagons was photgraphed and edited by Safety Manager Joffrey Grimm.
"It's great how the locomotive from Stadler and European Loc Pool AG comes into its own with our traction," says the company.
If you have any stunning photos of freight trains you might like to see on the cover, send them to freighttracks@gmail.com
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