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.

Siemens to deliver battery-electric trains for East Brandenburg rail

Siemens Mobility has secured an order from private railway operator Niederbarnimer Eisenbahn (NEB) to deliver 31 two-car battery-operated Mireo Plus B trains.

The order also covers a service and spare parts supply contract, which will continue for 12 years until 2036.

These battery-electric, emission-free regional trains will operate on all East Brandenburg rail network tracks in Germany.

NEB, which secured the contract for the network in June, is expected to deliver the Mireo Plus B trains in 2024.

With the planning and financing from the federal states of Berlin and Brandenburg, these trains will be put in service for the first time in the VBB network in Berlin and Brandenburg.

These trains are projected to cut down yearly consumption of diesel fuel by around 4.4 million litres in the East Brandenburg network.

Thales and Egyptian National Railway reach framework agreement

The Egyptian National Railway (ENR) has entered a framework agreement with French multinational Thales to upgrade signalling and telecommunication, overhaul tracks, and duplicate two railway lines.

These lines include the 94km Qalyoub–Menouf–Tanta Line and 64km Qalyoub–Shebin El Qanater–El Zagazig line.

In addition, Thales and ENR signed a memorandum of understanding to upgrade two interlocking stations in Farz and Limon bridge.

The framework agreement is the continuation of a deal that was struck between the two parties in September this year. These two lines face heavy congestion in the Delta region and ENR is planning to enhance their capacity.

Thales will offer a turnkey proposal to enhance signalling and telecommunication systems and restore the track. It will duplicate the tracks, upgrading them from single to double lines.

The company will also work towards the incorporation of a national centralised traffic control  system for ENR Network, as well as an ETCS L1 solution along the two tracks.

Hitachi and Eversholt make progress in tri-mode train development

Hitachi Rail, in collaboration with Eversholt Rail, has proceeded to the advanced phases for designing and engineering an electric-diesel-battery (tri-mode) train.

The intention is to undergo testing on a Great Western Railway (GWR) Class 802 next year.

For functional trial and incorporation onto the train, work has commenced for the development of the battery while the proof of concept and layout have reached the last stages of approval.

The 6m x 2.2m battery will replace one of the diesel engines on a five-car GWR Class 802 train.

This battery system, which will comprise two operating modes, can function on partially electrified track between Penzance and London.

It will be able to run solely on battery when moving on non-electrified segments of the GWR network.

Greater Anglia renews fleet to minimise carbon emissions

British train operating firm Greater Anglia has announced plans to swap all of its old trains with new greener ones.

Some of the new trains have already started operations on routes, such as the intercity, Stansted Express and regional lines.

Greater Anglia’s new five-carriage electric commuter train is expected to take 362 cars off the road, while one of its full intercity trains could remove 504 cars.

A new four carriage bi-mode train is projected to remove 152 cars, while a three carriage bi-mode train could replace 111 cars.

Manufactured by Stadler, the bi-mode trains that operate on electricity and diesel have replaced every old diesel trains of the company.

These have also been ‘future-proofed’ to allow them to operate on battery power in the future.

Built from aluminium instead of steel, the new electric trains are lighter compared to previous trains.

Their fronts have also been designed to become more ‘aerodynamic’ compared to the more boxy or flat fronts of the old vehicles.

The new trains are equipped with energy-saving intelligent computer systems that oversee the maintenance status of the trains.