Rail news The latest from the industry

NEWS

New developments in the Rail industry RAILNEWS

Rexroth’s fan drives deliver more power

The comprehensive range of hydrostatic fan drive systems from Rexroth offers a costeffective and energy-efficient solution for cooling engines and exhaust systems in rail vehicles. By continuously adjusting cooling effort to match changing requirements, the new systems greatly reduce energy use compared with traditional solutions, and they also occupy up to 20 per cent less space in the engine compartment.

Rexroth hydrostatic fan drive cooling systems provide designers with a convenient and dependable way of optimising engine and combustion temperatures, which is an essential pre-requisite for satisfying today’s increasingly stringent emission requirements. Visit: www.boschrexroth.com

Leading UK train maintenance specialist LNWR is on track to grow its business after expanding operations to include four new depots.

Four Axiom Rail depots have transferred from DB Schenker Rail (UK) Ltd to Arriva’s LNWR rail maintenance operations. The transfer of the passenger train servicing and rolling stock maintenance depots at Bristol, Eastleigh, Cambridge and Tyne Yard (Gateshead) to the Crewe-based business gives it a combined turnover of £30 million with a 210 strong workforce.

Bob Holland, managing director of Arriva’s UK Trains division, said: “Developing our LNWR maintenance business is essential if we want to progress and continue to compete with some of the largest international maintenance companies for major contracts.” Visit: www.arriva.co.uk

Alstom’s Citadis tramway begins commercial service in Algiers

On 8 May 2011, Algeria’s transport minister Amar Tou, and the president of the Algiers Metro Authority (EMA), Aomar Hadbi, ushered in the start of commercial tramway service in Algiers, the first Algerian city to possess a modern tram network.

Alstom’s Citadis tramway runs on the line’s initial segment, which Mediterrail delivered to the EMA in December 2010. This stretch of the line is 7.2km in length and with the completion of two additional sections currently under construction the line will extend 23 kilometres and includes 38 stations along with eight transfer hubs.

Alstom, the project leader for the Mediterrail consortium, is providing a comprehensive service that includes a portion of the civil engineering, all the infrastructure (platform, rails, electrification, signalling, ticketing), the workshop-depot at Bordj El Kiffan and the central command post. Alstom is also supplying the fleet of 41 Citadis trainsets, already delivered in full. In addition, Alstom will be responsible for maintaining the tramway system equipment and the Citadis tramsets for 10 years. Visit: www.alstom.com

Depot integration puts Arriva’s LNWR on track for future growth

French Pavilion on track for Railtex 2011

The French Trade Commission UBIFRANCE in London will unveil the French Pavilion at the Railtex trade show, which will be held in London from 14 to 16 June 2011.

Companies on the French Pavilion include BORFLEX, a specialist in the design, prototyping and manufacturing of rubber parts; DEVISMES, which specialises in both fine sheet-metal work and the manufacturing and supply of locking systems; GETRASUR, an equipment manufacturer that supplies multicomponents and equipment for the treatment of surfaces by impact; ICCO, which produces and supplies pultruded parts, including standard and unusual profiles made of glass and polyester; MIRE, a topography company that specialises in design and measurement as well as the development of software solutions applied to the railway industry; SOURIAU, which designs, manufactures and markets high-performance interconnect solutions for the rail industry and industrialequipment markets; and VISSAL, a leading manufacturer of rail fastening systems. Visit: www.ubifrance.com/uk

NEWS

New developments in the Rail industry

Network Rail publishes analysis of passenger congestion stations

The UK’s Network Rail has published an analysis of passenger congestion at stations along with a range of measures that could relieve it as part of its network route utilisation strategy (stations).

Stations such as King’s Cross, Birmingham New Street and Reading are already undergoing major redevelopments to cope with projected passenger numbers, so the analysis identifies stations not covered by committed enhancement schemes that would benefit from further investigation into congestion reduction measures.

Paul Plummer, Network Rail’s director of planning and development, said: “If not tackled effectively, passenger congestion at stations could reduce the popularity of rail travel. Working with a range of partners across the rail industry we have identified a number of stations that would benefit from further investigation into congestion reduction measures.” Visit: www.networkrail.co.uk

Deutsche Bahn AG and Siemens AG have officially signed the multi-billion euro contract for construction of up to 300 new long-distance ICx trainsets. DB will immediately order 130 trainsets from the framework order agreement valid until 2030. An order of an additional 90 trainsets is planned. The potential order volume for the 220 trainsets totals some €6 billion.

The ICx trainset will form the backbone of DB’s long-distance transportation system in the future. The technical basis for the ICx is an innovative platform concept. The ICx provides a high level of flexibility for assembling up to 24 different train configurations. This is made possible by ‘power cars’, train cars equipped with all the components that drive units have. Visit: www.siemens.com

Green light for the world’s most modern train

Vossloh wins another megacontract

Vossloh Electrical Systems has gained the contract to supply new TW 3000 urban light rail vehicles to the Hannover local transport company, Üstra Hannoversche Verkehrsbetriebe AG. This means that order intake by the Transportation division (locomotives and local transport vehicles) has in the first quarter of 2011 surged to a total of around €300 million, equivalent to the bulk of all of fiscal 2010 (€358 million).

“This new big order is another proof for the upswing in locomotive and local transport vehicle market. Thanks to our modern and energy-saving products we are excellently positioned and successful in this segment. With the orders booked in Q1/2011, the upswing in our locomotive and local transport vehicle business is picking up further momentum,” says Vossloh AG CEO Werner Andree.

In bidding for this major order from Hannover, Vossloh together with consortium partner Alstom Transport Germany prevailed against Europeanwide competition thanks to a modern vehicle proposal comprising new six-axle LRVs outstanding for their passenger comfort and energy savings. Visit: www.ag.vossloh.com

Werner Andree

DSB wins new train contract in Sweden

DSB Sweden has won the tender for regional train services Upptåget in the Uppsala area just north of Stockholm.

The decision comes just two months before DSB will start operation for Västtrafik in Gothenburg and Krösatåg in the Jönköping area, which DSB won in August and December last year.

“Sweden is already our second home market and with the takeover of the Upptåget operation, DSB will now be expanding its position in Sweden. In future, DSB will operate Tåg i Väst at Gothenburg, the Swedish part of the Oresund services, Roslagsbanen in Stockholm, Krösatåg at Jönköping and Upptåget north of Stockholm,” said DSB’s CEO Søren Eriksen.

With this victory DSB’s total track network in Sweden exceeds 25000km, which is approximately 800km more than the total Danish network. Visit: www.dsb.dk

RAILNEWS

New SOURIAU connectors

To meet the growing demand for small waterproof connectors for on-board railway equipment, SOURIAU has developed a special connector: the SMS IP. Designed to meet railway standards, the SMS IP combines compactness and safety: IP 67 sealing, operating voltage up to 500 V and compliance with the most demanding fire and smoke standards. SMS IP is intended for on-board applications such as lighting, door controls, detectors, air conditioning programmes, the SMS cabs etc.

The SMS IP can be used in trains running in severe climatic conditions, since it has been tested under temperatures ranging from -50˚C to +100˚C. It can withstand shock and vibration in accordance with the EN 61-373 class 2 standard. Visit: www.souriau.com

Bombardier partners Siemens in Deutsche Bahn Project ICx

Bombardier Transportation has signed a framework agreement with Siemens AG to become a partner to develop and supply important components of up to 300 ICx high speed trains for Deutsche Bahn (DB AG).

The first call-off for 130 trains is worth an estimated €1.3 billion ($1.8 billion US) to Bombardier. DB AG is planning to place an additional call-off with Siemens for a further 90 trains.

Bombardier will supply Siemens with, among other components, all the body shells as well as trailer bogies of the new ICx fleet. The steel body shells are being developed in the Bombardier factory in Hennigsdorf and are being manufactured in Görlitz. Hennigsdorf is responsible for the final assembly of all ICx end coaches. Visit: www.bombardier.com

SBB Cargo International begins operations

The new company established by SBB Cargo and Hupac has commenced operations. SBB Cargo International, the specialist in intermodal transport and block trains on the European north-south corridor, has been running since the beginning of the year.

European intermodal operator Hupac’s 25 per cent stake in the new company has been legally finalised. The aim is to jointly establish and develop a lean, neutral traction company that is close to its market. SBB Cargo International has its own production companies in Germany and Italy.

The new company’s primary customers are intermodal operators. Its offering is geared to large customers who rely on lean and efficient rail haulage that offers Swiss precision on both intermodal and conventional block train services. Apart from operators, these include railfreight and other railway companies and companies with sufficient volume to fill entire trains, such as steel producers. SBB Cargo International also runs international RAlpin piggyback trains. Visit: www.sbbcargo-international.com

DB Schenker Logistics opens new office in Kaluga

ZAO Schenker, the Russian country organisation of DB Schenker Logistics, has recently launched a new business unit in Kaluga. Kaluga is a fast growing economic region, especially with regard to the automotive sector.

The new branch will provide clients with the full range of the company’s services, such as international and domestic land transport including rail forwarding, air and ocean freight, contract logistics and supply chain management, customs clearance, and special projects such as global projects, oversized and heavy-lift cargo etc.

DB Schenker Rail Automotive is responsible for the implementation of the logistics concept to supply the Volkswagen/Skoda plant in Kaluga. Visit: www.dbschenker.com

RAILENIUM consortium wins bid for French State investment

The RAILENIUM project, the name given to the European Institute for Technological Research in Rail Infrastructure (based near Valenciennes, in northern France), is set to become a world leader for excellence and innovation in railways and has been selected by the French government as an “investment programme for the future”.

Eurotunnel, one of the founding members of the consortium, is delighted that railway infrastructure will be the recipient of major investment for research and innovation. Over the past 17 years, Eurotunnel has shown that a successful infrastructure is the basis of service quality.

RAILENIUM will conduct research into issues relating to safety and railway infrastructure maintenance, the standardisation of equipment, rail life and investment costs, all areas in which Eurotunnel has an established reputation. Visit: eurotunnel.com