US announces federal rules on certification of dispatchers and signalling employees
USA: The Federal Railroad Administration has announced two final rules that will require railways to develop certification and training programmes for dispatchers and people who install and maintain signalling systems.
Tri-mode tunnel rescue train designed for the ‘worst-case scenario’
AUSTRIA: Stadler and Austrian Federal Railways have unveiled the first Servicejet multifunctional firefighting and rescue train, which the manufacturer says is tailor-made ‘for the worst-case scenario’ of a fire in a tunnel.
Locos modernised for African lease fleet
SOUTH AFRICA: Leasing company Traxtion has completed a major overhaul of five Class 39 diesel locomotives which it acquired from South Africa’s Transnet Freight Rail as part of a strategy of expanding its fleet to meet a growing demand for rail freight services in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Commuter trains to be repainted and repaired
UK: Trenitalia-owned Essex to London commuter operator c2c has awarded Alstom an £8·8m contract to repaint and repair its Class 357 Electrostar EMU fleet.
Vossloh to acquire Scandinavian Track Group
SWEDEN: Vossloh has signed an agreement to acquire Scandinavian Track Group, which provides rail infrastructure maintenance services in the ‘fast-growing and strategically important’ Swedish market.
Velaro EGY high speed train for Egypt on test
EGYPT: The first of the Velaro EGY high speed trainsets which Siemens Mobility is to supply to Egypt is undergoing dynamic testing at the Wegberg-Wildenrath circuit in Germany ahead of delivery later this year.
Wabtec opens Indian rail component manufacturing campus
INDIA: Wabtec Corp officially opened a US$18m rail component and subsystem manufacturing campus at Rohtak northwest of New Delhi in Haryana on May 20.