Azerbaijan: Alstom has successfully commissioned the first seven Prima T8 AZ8A freight locomotives for Azerbaijan Railways (ADY). The locomotives will operate on ADY’s main east-west corridor linking the Caspian Sea to the Georgian border, which was recently converted from 3kV dc to 25kV ac electrification. ADY signed a €288m contract with Alstom in 2014 to supply 50 electric locomotives, including 40 Prima T8 AZ8A heavy freight locomotives. The 10 Prima M4 AZ4A passenger locomotives, which were manufactured in Belfort, France, have already been delivered.
Czech Republic: Czech Railways (ČD) is negotiating the purchase of four Siemens Taurus multi-system electric locomotives from an unnamed operator. The locomotives are equipped with ETCS, and are certified for operation in the Czech Republic, Austria, Germany and Hungary, with two also approved for operation in Slovakia. The locomotives will haul new 230km/h coaches that are being purchased by ČD.
Russia: Russian Railways (RZD) and Transmashholding (TMH) have presented a concept for a capsule passenger coach. The design features 56 individual stacked capsules, including 28 along the bottom and 28 on top. The capsules are designed to allow passengers to sleep or sit against the back rest, and feature a curtain for privacy and a table. The curtain rods have built-in lighting, with brighter lights fitted insight the capsule.
Czech Republic: Infrastructure manager SŽ has contracted CZ Loko to equip 44 MUV 75 track maintenance vehicles with ETCS. The contract is worth Koruna 438m ($US 20.25m). The first vehicles will operate on the Olomouc - Uničov line from December 2022, while the remaining 42 will be equipped by the end of 2024. SŽ awarded AŽD Praha a Koruna 553m contract in May to equip 54 maintenance vehicles with ETCS, including three MTW 100 vehicles and 51 MVTV vehicles.
Canada: Canadian National (CN) has ordered 1000 new generation, high-capacity grain hopper wagons from the TrinityRail manufacturing plant in Mexico. The order is part of a larger programme to build and renew a fleet of 6000 hopper wagons over the next three years.
South Africa: CRRC Dalian has delivered two CKD8F diesel locomotives to South African mining company Palabora Copper. The 1067mm-gauge 1.715MW locomotives can be used for both freight and passenger services with a top speed of 100km/h.
Germany: Wagon leasing and logistics company VTG Rail Europe has announced it will switch from a time-based to a mileage based maintenance structure from 2022, allowing it to exploit the full mileage potential of its wagons. VTG says its full European fleet is equipped with telematics systems allowing it to monitor the condition of components.
Russia: United Wagon Company (UWC) has obtained vehicle type approval for its Sggrs(s) 80 foot six-axle and Sgmmns 40 foot four-axle flat wagons from the European Union Agency for Railways, allowing operation of the wagons in Europe. The company already has orders for more than 1000 standard-gauge wagons for Europe. The authorisation was given based on testing conducted by the Czech Railway Research Institute (VUZ). The articulated structure of the wagons provides a 108-tonne capacity.
Azerbaijan: TMH subsidiary Metrowagonmash (MVM) has delivered four five-car 81-765.B/766.B metro trains for Baku Metro. MVM and Baku Metro signed a contract for 60 metro cars in 2019, with the first trains receiving regulatory acceptance in June.
Europe: Alstom has signed an €20m agreement with Vossloh Locomotives to equip 50 DE 18 freight locomotives with the Atlas ETCS-based on-board signalling system. The locomotives will then be deployed in Germany, France, Luxembourg, and Belgium from 2022. The contract includes an option to equip up to 30 additional locomotives. The signalling system is based on the Baseline 3 Release 2 standard. The locomotives will operate under ETCS Level 1 in Luxembourg, and with the KVB train protection system in France. The freight trains will also be equipped with the Belgian Transmission Balise-Locomotive (TBL1+) train control system, and the PZB system for operation in Germany.
Armenia: TMH subsidiary Tver Carriage Works has completed the delivery of 27 locomotive-hauled coaches for RZD subsidiary South Caucasus Railway. The order included 21 compartment coaches, which include two and four seat compartments, and six non-comportment coaches. The coaches are expected to be used for international services to Georgia.
Germany: Darmstadt light rail operator HEAG mobile has ordered another 11 LRVs from Stadler, following an order for 14 ST15 series LRVs in January 2020 which included an option for up to 30 additional sets. Delivery will begin in autumn 2022, with the LRVs entering service in summer 2023.
Britain: Testing of the first rebuilt class 69 locomotives has begun. Progress Rail is rebuilding 16 class 56 locomotives and equipping them with EMD710 power units. The locomotives, which have been certified by the Office of Rail and Road for use on the British network, will be used by GB Railfreight.
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