MAHARASHTRA TO BUILD $2.2BN SEMI-HIGH-SPEED RAIL CORRIDOR

India’s Maharashtra state government has approved the Pune-Nashik semi-high-speed rail corridor.

This corridor will shorten the travelling time between Pune and Nashik from the present six hours to one hour and 45 minutes.

The length proposed for the Pune-Nashik corridor is around 235km.

The project is expected to aid the creation of the Mumbai-Pune-Nashik ‘golden triangle’ as an economic centre, as well as improve passenger and freight movement in the region.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister was quoted by The Times of India as saying: “24 stations are proposed on this route. The speed of the train will be 200km/h. The expected cost of the project is Rs16,030 crore (or nearly $2.2bn).”

The project will be executed by Maharashtra Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation (MRIDC), which is an equal joint venture between the state and the Indian Railways.

Last June, Indian Railways granted its in-principal approval for the project, which was developed by the state government in 2017.

The state has started the procedure of acquiring 1,470ha of land to start the project.

The cost of the project will be covered by the state and the railways, with each contributing 20% of equity.

The outstanding 60% will be raised from internal financial institutions.

National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) recently opened two technical tenders for the construction of bridges for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) corridor.

The bridges will be constructed in Gujarat and union territory Dadra and Nagar Haveli.

As many as nine companies participated in the technical bids.

ALSTOM TO SUPPLY DOUBLE-DECKER TRAINS IN GERMANY

Alstom has signed a contract with Landesnahverkehrsgesellschaft Niedersachsen (LNVG) for the delivery of 34 Coradia Stream high-capacity double-decker EMU trains in Germany.

The total value of the contract is approximately €760m.

The new double-decker trains will each include four vehicle units, two centre cars and two driving cars.

In addition, 18 more centre cars will be delivered for the extension of the trains up to six units, based on passenger capacity.

The complete order adds up to 68 driving trailers and 86 middle coaches.

Apart from the delivery of the double-decker trains, the contract also covers the maintenance of the fleet for 30 years, including an assurance for spare parts at all times.

Alstom DACH region president Müslüm Yakisan said: “I am very pleased about the decision of the State of Lower Saxony and LNVG to set an example for sustainable mobility and climate protection with our Coradia Stream.

"Our modern double-decker train for LNVG is an ideal combination of innovation and passenger comfort. We are building our own service centre especially for this order and will thus set an example with regard to environmental protection and energy efficiency.”

In December 2024, the trains will commence operations in Expresskreuz Bremen/Niedersachsen, linking Bremen, Hanover, Norddeich-Mole, Oldenburg, Wilhelmshaven, Osnabrück and Bremerhaven.

These trains will feature a modular design and adjustable seating capacities.

The Coradia Stream provides ramp-free access in the middle carriages, enabling comfortable access for commuters with reduced mobility.

The trains are also equipped with individual customer solutions such as multi-generation zones, expandable bicycle compartments, and more.

WORLD BANK APPROVES $440M LOAN TO SUPPORT EGYPT’S RAIL NETWORK

The World Bank has approved a $440m loan to support Egypt’s initiatives to upgrade the safety and service quality of its railways.

The total cost of the Railway Improvement and Safety for Egypt (RISE) project stands at $681.1m, $241.1m of which will be contributed by the Egyptian National Railways (ENR).

The project aims to modernise the signalling for the Cairo-Giza-Beni Suef section and enhance ENR’s performance and competitiveness.

Egyptian Minister of International Cooperation Dr Rania A Al-Mashat said: “Today, more than ever, there is a great need to develop sustainable infrastructure. Redefining smarter transportation solutions improves safety, enhances mobility, safeguards the environment and strengthens job creation and economic growth.

“This project supports the momentum for reform and the demand for urban mobility and reliable public transport, integral to achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.”

The newly approved RISE project is a follow-up of the Egypt National Railways Restructuring Project (ENRRP).

Concluded last year, ENRRP was focused on enhancing the signalling system of the Alexandria-Cairo and Beni Suef-Nag Hammadi sections.

The RISE project will include track upgrade works and modernisation of the signalling system on the Cairo-Beni Suef segment, as well as pick up ENRRP’s works along the Alexandria-Cairo and Beni Suef-Nag Hammadi segments, covering a total length of 763km.

An upgraded Safety Management System will also be introduced to improve the safety of ENR’s passengers and workers.

The project will also help Egypt to align the ENR network, which comprises more than 5,000km of rail tracks, with international best practices by launching performance-based funding. 

CHINA-TIBET BULLET TRAINS TO COMMENCE OPERATIONS BEFORE JULY

China State Railway Group, also known as China Railway (CR), reportedly has plans to operate bullet trains to Tibet before July.

This will mark the start of high-speed train services to all mainland provincial-level regions.

CR board chairman Lu Dongfu was quoted by Xinhua news agency as saying that Fuxing high-speed trains, powered by both electricity and internal combustion, will operate on a 435km rail track to the provincial capital of Lhasa.

Construction on the railway line, which will link Lhasa with Nyingchi in eastern Tibet, commenced in 2014.

The track-laying work was finished by the end of last year.

Marking the first electrified railroad in Tibet, this railway project will start its operations in June.

According to Tibet Railway Construction Company, a subsidiary of China State Railway Group, the high-speed trains will operate at a speed of 160km/h.

The country is aiming to extend the total length of its high-speed train network from 37,900km to approximately 50,000km by 2025.

This railway network will pass through 98% of cities.

Lu also said that the country’s self-developed Fuxing trains are currently running at speeds ranging between 160km/h and 350km/h.

China is developing a railway network in the south-east Tibet Autonomous Region, in an attempt to connect its remote areas with the Chinese mainland.

After the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, Sichuan-Tibet Railway will be the second railway into Tibet, covering the south-east of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

SIEMENS MOBILITY AND TFL UNVEIL DESIGN OF NEW TUBE TRAINS

Siemens Mobility and the UK’s Transport for London (TfL) have revealed the detailed design of the new Piccadilly line Tube trains, which will soon be produced to replace the current 1970s fleet.

The existing trains, which will be 50 years old by the time of their replacement, have become unreliable and costly to maintain.

The new ‘Inspiro London’ trains are expected to commence operations from 2025 on the Piccadilly line.

With the introduction of the new trains, the existing fleet will be gradually withdrawn from passenger service.

During peak hours, the frequency of trains also will increase from 24 to 27 trains an hour from mid-2027, representing a 23% rise in capacity.

The new trains will feature optimised spacing, wider doors and longer, air-conditioned walk-through carriages. The innovative articulated designs will be lighter, increase energy efficiency and reduce track damages.

With a 95% recoverability rate, the new trains will offer regenerative braking capability, modern traction systems, LED lighting, and cutting-edge energy management.

In comparison with the current fleet, energy consumption will also be reduced by 20%.

The design of the new fleet has been developed on the basis of the feedback received from TfL’s Independent Disability Advisory Group (IDAG) and the TfL Accessibility Forum.

Around 50% of the new trains will be produced in Goole, East Yorkshire.

Siemens Mobility CEO William Wilson said: “The state-of-the-art trains will transform the Piccadilly line passenger experience. They are lighter, more environmentally-friendly and future-proofed for a long life. But the benefits are not just confined to London.

“Building the new trains creates new UK jobs and extensive supply chain opportunities.”

Last month, the company announced £50m of associated contracts for UK suppliers for train components.

Nearly £6m in contracts were secured by I M Kelly for driver seats and footrests, LPA Lighting to supply the interior train lighting, and Baker Bellfield to provide cab partition wall.

The company stated that this project will generate around 25,000 new job opportunities in London.

KAWASAKI SHIPS OUT ROLLING STOCK FOR DHAKA MRT LINE-6

Japan-based Kawasaki Heavy Industries has shipped out six railcars for Bangladesh’s Dhaka MRT Line-6 from Kobe Port.

Kawasaki stated that after the completion of testing and commissioning, the rolling stock will be delivered to Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL).

The delivery consists of the first train set out of 24 six-car trainsets, a total of 144 cars, which were ordered by DMTCL in August 2017 from a consortium of Kawasaki and Mitsubishi.

The rolling stock is equipped with indoor and external CCTV cameras to monitor the status of passengers and platforms during one-man operation.

each car features two large-capacity air conditioning units to enable a comfortable commute in high temperatures and humidity.

Set to be the first MRT system in Bangladesh, Dhaka MRT Line-6 will cover around 20km through a fully elevated track, including 16 stations.

The construction of Dhaka MRT Line-6 is currently underway with the Japan ODA Loan Agreement regarding infrastructure development, which was signed between the Bangladeshi Government and Japan International Cooperation Agency.

In addition to Dhaka MRT Line-6, the government plans for the construction of other MRT in Dhaka.

The company noted that future demand for MRT rolling stock in Bangladesh is projected to rise due to urbanisation and rapid economic growth.