Industry news

Hitachi Rail wins contract for digital signalling system in Italy

10 March | signalling

Rolling stock manufacturer Hitachi Rail has secured a framework contract for the European Rail Transport Management System (ERTMS) digital signalling technology in Italy.

Under the €500m ($549m) contract, Hitachi Rail will design and deploy advanced digital signalling on 700km of rail lines across the country.

The new technology will be installed on rail lines in four regions, including nearly 480km of Sicily’s rail lines, as well as 150km in Umbria. This digital signalling system will also be implemented on 80km of the Roccasecca-Avezzano rail line in the Lazio and Abruzzo regions.

The ERTMS will integrate train control systems in different European countries to create a consistent railway system in Europe.

The system will also enable trains coming from neighbouring European nations to run on Italian lines without disruption.

16 July | Contract

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.

10 March | Ukraine Crisis

Alstom halts Russia deliveries and future investments

Alstom has put a hold on all future business investments and deliveries in Russia, in keeping with sanctions imposed on the country for its attack on Ukraine.

The French rolling stocking manufacturer has a 20% interest in Russian locomotives and rail equipment manufacturer Transmashholding (TMH), which focuses on the local market.

Alstom stated that it has no material business or operational link with TMH, adding that it would reevaluate the book value of its TMH holding in the closing accounts of FY 2021/22.

The company also committed to abiding by all applicable laws and sanctions.

Alstom has also suspended partnership talks with Ukrainian rail operator UZ as a result of the conflict.

The train maker has now decided to stop the supply of locomotives and related services to UZ.

9 MArch | Safety

Train derailment in Argentina injures at least 21

At least 21 people have been reportedly wounded in an intercity passenger train derailment in the town of Olavarría, Argentina.

Multiple carriages of the train fell off the rails in the incident, reported Reuters citing local authorities.

Olavarría mayor Ezequiel Galli said on Twitter: “At the moment, 21 passengers have received treatment at the hospital.”

The mayor further said that a 40-year-old passenger experienced a cranial injury, reported the news agency. Among the injured were five children who have now been reportedly discharged.

The people wounded suffered minor injuries, said the mayor.

In a statement on Twitter, Trenes Argentinos confirmed the train accident.

Trenes Argentinos, a state-owned firm, manages the train network in the country.

9 March | Deals

Stagecoach accepts Inframobility’s $780m takeover offer

UK-based transport group Stagecoach has ditched its support for the National Express takeover offer in favour of a $780m (£594.9m) bid from Inframobility UK Bidco.

The rail and bus operator said that it no longer wants to recommend rival National Express’ bid of $583m (£445m), and instead accepted Inframobility’s offer of 105p a share.

Stagecoach had earlier accepted the offer from UK-based intercity and inter-regional coach operator National Express, which would have created a company worth almost £1.9bn.

Inframobility’s offer is a 37.2% premium to Stagecoach’s closing price on 8 March this year.

It is a 54.3% premium to the closing price of 68.05p for each Stagecoach share on 20 September 2021, prior to the announcement of National Express’ bid.

Inframobility is indirectly wholly owned by Pan-European Infrastructure III, which is an infrastructure fund managed by DWS Infrastructure.

8 March | Signalling

Alstom wins $64m signalling delivery contract from Network Rail

Rolling stock manufacturer Alstom has secured a $64m (£49m) signalling delivery contract from UK-based Network Rail.

Under the contract, Alstom will provide new signalling, level crossings and other assets on the London Waterloo to Portsmouth line – the Portsmouth Direct route.

The areas between Farncombe in Surrey and Petersfield in Hampshire will be covered on the route.

This contract is part of Major Signalling Framework Agreement (MSFA) for the Southern Region, which was awarded to Alstom in 2020.

The project, dubbed GRIP 5-8, will include signalling, track and level crossing enhancements between 2022 and 2024. It will be beneficial to passengers travelling on the line between Woking and Portsmouth.

7 March | projects

Network Rail proceeds with Levenmouth Rail Link project

The UK’s Network Rail has commenced the construction of the Levenmouth Rail Link after receiving Transport Scotland’s approval for the $154.11m (£116.6m) project.

As a result, Levenmouth will be able to relaunch passenger services for the first time in over five decades.

Under this project, the old trackbed will be removed, along with other route preparation activities that will take place before the reinstatement of a double-track railway and passenger services to Leven.

The utilisation of the current double trackbed is expected to facilitate cost-effective delivery of capacity for commuter, charter, and freight service growth.

Initially, diesel-operated services will run on the line before moving on to electric operation at the earliest chance.

In brief

JB Hunt and BNSF partner to boost intermodal capabilities

US-based transportation and logistics firm JB Hunt Transport Services has teamed up with BNSF Railway to enhance intermodal services.

JB Hunt is planning to increase its intermodal fleet to 150,000 containers within three to five years, depending on present and projected trends.

GB Railfreight, Porterbrook team up on sustainable rail freight

UK-based rail freight company GB Railfreight has collaborated with rolling stock provider Porterbrook to build 50 new Greenbrier wagons.

The deal is said to demonstrate a revived commitment from both firms to develop sustainable freight transport to accommodate growth in the industry.

Thales to deploy ERTMS Central Safety System in Netherlands

France-based Thales has secured a €420m ($458m) contract from ProRail to deploy its European Rail Traffic Management System Central Safety System (CSS) in the Netherlands.

Under the contract with a maximum duration of 37 years, the existing system will be replaced with a new CSS on the Dutch railway network.

Alstom secures digital signalling contract in Greece

Alstom has won a contract from Greek national railway firm OSE’s subsidiary Ergose to provide digital signalling solutions.

1 March | Ukraine Crisis

Belarus hackers attack train systems to disrupt Russian troops

Activist hackers in Belarus have reportedly disrupted some of the country’s rail services after breaching computers that control these trains.

This move by Cyber Partisans, as the activist hackers identify themselves, is said to have been made in an attempt to ‘slow down the transfer’ of Russian soldiers that are entering Ukraine.

Under the plan, hackers put the train system into ‘manual control’ mode, which will ‘significantly slow down the movement of trains, but not create emergency situations.’

As a result, train movements faced disruption in the cities of Minsk, Orsha, and in the town of Osipovichi.

25 February | Projects

AFRY to develop new railway line in Czech Republic

Swedish firm AFRY has secured a public tender from state-owned railway manager Správa železnic for developing the final stage project documentation for a new railway line in Czech Republic.

This track will span between Prague Ruzyně Station and Prague Václav Havel Airport.

The contract is part of one of the Czech Republic's largest rail infrastructure projects and one of the railway building information modelling pilot programmes.

At present, the country’s capital Prague does not have a direct rail link between the city centre and the international airport.