Unife's CleanER-D research initiative says there will be significant benefits from accelerating the uptake of diesel engines compliant with European Stage IIIA and IIIB emissions standards. Kevin Smith examines the project, its findings and recommendations.

SIEMENS Rail Systems and Cummins jointly announced on December 3 that they are launching a passenger locomotive partnership with the aim of bringing "one of the most modern and efficient diesel-electric passenger locomotives in the world to the US marketplace."

SOUTH African mining company Kumba Iron Ore has taken delivery of six C30ACi diesel locomotives from GE to shunt heavy-haul trains at its Sishen mine in Northern Cape.

LITHUANIAN Railways (LG) CEO Mr Stasys Dailydka has signed a memorandum of understanding with Transmashholding (TMH) president Mr Andrei Bokarev as a first step towards establishing a joint venture to assemble locomotives in Lithuania for the Baltic States and other European markets.

THE FIRST two of 95 Class 20E dual-voltage electric locomotives being supplied to Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) by the CSR E-loco supply consortium was transferred from the port of Durban to the nearby depot at Umbilo on November 14 for commissioning.

THE founder of Hungary's first open-access railfreight operator Floyd, Mr András Bogdán, has set up a new railway company called Fox Rail after selling his shares in Floyd earlier this year.

THE Russian government was presented with a provisional three-year investment budget of Roubles 1.2 trillion ($US 37.78bn) for Russian Railways (RZD) during a cabinet meeting on November 14, which includes investments of Roubles 395.6bn in 2014, Roubles 415.2bn in 2015, and Roubles 438.4bn in 2016.

NORTH American Class 1 CSX has teamed up with GE Transportation to explore adapting Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) traction technology for its locomotives through a pilot programme which will commence next year.

ISRAEL Railways (IR) has launched the procurement process for its first electric trains by issuing a request for information (RFI) from potential suppliers of locomotives and multiple units.

THE first of 40 HSP46 diesel locomotives being supplied by Wabtec subsidiary MotivePower to Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) for use on commuter services around Boston has arrived at TTCI's test centre in Pueblo, Colorado, for testing.