Arup AECOM JV secures consultancy contract for Northern Link project

The Arup AECOM joint venture (JV) has secured a preliminary design consultancy contract from Hong Kong Mass Transit Railway (MTR) to conduct the planning and design for the proposed Northern Link main line project.

Work will include the development of the scheme into an engineering design, preparing the construction programme and gazette plans, as well as determining the cost estimate.

The Arup AECOM JV will work closely with MTR’s Capital Works team to deliver the works.

Alstom sets up innovation centre for green rail mobility tech

French rolling stock manufacturer Alstom has established an innovation centre for green rail mobility solutions in Canada.

The new centre will be engaged in the development of future platforms for green hybrid, battery or hydrogen propulsion technologies with a main focus on the North American rail freight and passenger market.

Expected to generate around 80 jobs in the coming few years, the centre will feature modern virtual and augmented reality equipment to support the development of future green propulsion platforms.

Its engineers will work with major players in Quebec’s research and innovation sector in addition to industrial partners in the Quebec battery and hydrogen industry.

The centre will mainly work with the Hydrogen Research Institute of the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières on the refuelling and operating ecosystem for hydrogen propulsion.

Siemens to supply Desiro HC trains for Elbe-Spree network

Siemens Mobility has received an order for the delivery of six-car Desiro HC trains for the Elbe-Spree network in Brandenburg an der Havel, Germany. Ostdeutsche Eisenbahn has entered a 12-year transport contract for this network, which is an extension of the existing S-Bahn network.

The contract was also signed by representatives from the states of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Berlin, Brandenburg, and Saxony-Anhalt; and the transport authorities VBB-Verkehrsverbund Berlin-Brandenburg, Nahverkehrsservice Sachsen-Anhalt, and Verkehrsgesellschaft Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

The tender procedure has been handled by VBB on behalf of the four states. Siemens displayed one of the new six-car Desiro HC trains in Magdeburg and Brandenburg an der Havel as part of the signing ceremony.

The electric single and double-decker train has real-time occupancy displays networked with the VBB app, a special passenger safety comfort system, and wider car doors. Furthermore, the train is configured with two powered single-deck end cars and four double-decker unpowered middle cars.

GIP and ADIA to acquire controlling stake in rail logistics firm VTG

A consortium of funds managed by Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) and a wholly owned arm of Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) have agreed to purchase a 72.5% holding in German rail logistics company VTG Aktiengesellschaft.

The stake is being acquired from Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners unit Deodoro Holding and Joachim Herz Stiftung. The pair have 57.55% and 15% stakes in VTG, respectively.

Subject to customary regulatory closing conditions, the deal values VTG at around €7bn ($7bn). The transaction will give ADIA and GIP an equal share of VTG’s controlling interest.

Canadian public pension fund OMERS will continue to hold its 27.5% indirect interest in VTG, which has nearly 88,500 railcars in its fleet.

Hamburg-based VTG has tank wagons, intermodal wagons, standard freight wagons, and sliding-wall wagons in its fleet, in addition to around 5,000 tank containers.

UK commits funds to help repair Ukraine Railways

The UK has decided to provide up to £10m ($11.9m) to Ukraine Railways to restore rail infrastructure and use it for the export of grains from the country.

The capital will help Ukraine secure materials and equipment required for rail repairs.

This decision comes in light of the disruption of rail exports by Russian attacks, in addition to grain export blockades through the Black Sea.

Currently, the UK is in talks with the Ukrainian Government regarding rail capacity expansion and enabling the movement of both trains and grains from the country.

Furthermore, the UK is providing expertise to Ukraine to enable a safe passage for commercial vessels.

Ukraine accounts for 10% of global wheat exports and 12%-17% of global maize exports. The country also delivers half of the globe’s sunflower oil.

Hitachi, Hyperloop TT complete trial of cloud-based signalling system

Hitachi Rail and Hyperloop Transportation Technologies (Hyperloop TT) have concluded proof of concept for a cloud-based European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) signalling system for the latter’s capsules.

The companies have created a digital simulator at Hitachi Rail’s Naples site in Italy.

This will facilitate the integrated trial of traffic management, signalling besides the hyperloop system’s certain physical safety needs.

Currently, the partnership is engaged in the development of an interface with Hyperloop TT’s simulators for functional integration.

The technology is anticipated to increase flexibility in installation, boost sustainability and reduce expenses related to maintenance through the replacement of complex physical equipment with cloud-based solution.