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Uk’S Great Western Railway To Introduce New Class 175 TrainsUK-based train operating company Great Western Railway (GWR) has announced the introduction of 26 Class 175 trains to its fleet, aiming to enhance punctuality across its network.
This move is part of GWR’s strategy to modernise its regional and suburban services and align with decarbonisation efforts.
The fleet, comprising ten two-car and 16 three-car trains, is scheduled to commence operations in Devon and Cornwall later this year.
The first stage of this plan will see the replacement of older, less efficient diesel trains with these newer models.
By the end of the following year, all trains are expected to be fully operational.
Peninsula Rail Taskforce chair and councillor Andrea Davis said: “Rail services are a big part of our climate change and economic development offer, and we have been campaigning for extra rolling stock for some time.
“It is also great to hear that the additional trains will mean improvements to services elsewhere across the GWR network, but I am especially delighted with the news for Devon and Cornwall.”
The new trains can be connected to form four, five, or six-car formations, primarily serving the line between Exeter St Davids and Penzance, including routes to Barnstaple and Okehampton.
Before launch, GWR will train staff and prepare Laira depot for train maintenance.
GWR managing director Mark Hopwood said: “The benefits of these trains will be felt by customers across the whole of the GWR network. With more trains we will have more scope to increase resilience where it is needed most, delivering the reliability our communities deserve and need.
“They are a fantastic addition to our fleet and will provide a welcome boost as we seek to rejuvenate our regional and suburban services.”
In February 2024, GWR announced the trialling of UK’s first FastCharge battery technology, using a 2,400kW system to recharge trains in 3.5 minutes, supporting its goal to phase out diesel-only traction by 2040.railway
Mar 12, 2025
Railway Technology
Oriental Rail Wins Vande Bharat Express Seats OrderOriental Rail Infrastructure has secured a contract to supply seats for the Vande Bharat Express, which is claimed to be India’s “first indigenous” semi high-speed train.
The contract, valued at approximately Rs428.9m ($4.92m), was awarded by Rail Coach Factory (RCF), Kapurthala.
It involves the supply of eight sets of one-rake set of seats for the trains, with delivery scheduled for July 2026.
The payment terms for the Vande Bharat Express seats order stipulate that 95% will be paid upon inspection certification and proof of dispatch, with the remaining 5% to be paid upon final acceptance.
Earlier this month, the company announced an order from Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai, valued at Rs16.3m ($0.18m).
This project involves supplying and installing five sets of chair car seats for train sets MC, TC, and MC2, with the delivery to the furnishing Depot/ICF, Chennai.
The company confirmed that full payment for this order will be made upon receipt, inspection, and acceptance of the goods by the consignee.
Oriental Rail Infrastructure offers a wide range of railway products, including seats and berth, recorn, compreg board, furniture, coated upholstery fabric, plywood, phenolic resin, and silicon foam, catering to Indian Railways and other related industries.
In 2023, Tata Steel secured a contract with Indian Railways to produce seats and coaches for Vande Bharat Express trains.
The agreement includes manufacturing seats for first AC to three-tier coaches and producing Linke Hofmann Busch (LHB) coaches for these high-speed trains.railway
Mar 10, 2025
Railway Technology
Airspan And Druid Deploy Private 5G Network For European RailwaysAirspan Networks and Druid Software have announced that they deployed a private 5G network for a “major European railway company”.
The 5G network, consisting of 5G Radio Access Network (RAN) and 5G Core (5GC), is expected to enhance the railway’s maintenance and operational facilities.
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Deployed across various maintenance and operational sites, the network ensures customised connectivity solutions for each setting.
This initiative utilises Airspan’s Open RAN solutions alongside Druid’s Raemis 5G Core network to provide reliable, secure, and high-performance connectivity essential for critical railway operations.
Boldyn Networks, previously known as Smart Mobile Labs (SML), played a crucial role in the deployment of this technology.
Druid Software global partnerships president Tadhg Kenny said: “Our collaboration with Airspan and Boldyn Networks on this private 5G deployment showcases the power of 5G to revolutionise rail transport.
“Our Raemis platform is designed for mission-critical environments like rail, delivering the security and scalability needed for seamless operations.”
The 5G network facilitates augmented reality (AR)-powered maintenance, integrating tools such as HoloLens to enhance workflows and provide remote support.
The network also supports operational technology (OT) integration, enabling low-latency connections that improve the monitoring and control of critical railway systems.
Moreover, the network enables real-time communication with trains, providing high capacity 5G links for continuous data exchange, whether the trains are stationary or in motion.
Airspan Networks CSMO Henrik Smith-Petersen said: “5G private networks are transforming transportation, where mobility, security, and reliability are essential.
“With Open RAN and dedicated spectrum, we ensure high-performance, interference-free connectivity for mission-critical rail applications. We are proud to collaborate with Boldyn Networks and Druid Software to drive this transformation.”
In December 2024, UK-based AWTG chose Airspan Networks as the Radio Access Network (RAN) partner for England’s Connected Heartland Railways project.railway
Mar 07, 2025
Railway Technology
Auckland Transport Taps Up Hitachi Rail For Contactless PaymentsHitachi Rail and Auckland Transport have deployed contactless payments for seamless multimodal travel in Auckland, New Zealand.
Commuters can now use Visa, Mastercard, UnionPay, or American Express debit or credit cards, as well as digital wallets on smartphones or smart devices for seamless journeys.
The project entailed a comprehensive upgrade of the payment validation infrastructure, including the integration of the Transcity account-based ticketing (ABT) back-office and application programming interfaces (APIs), 3,825 bus validators and 180 platform validators.
This was achieved through staged hardware and software upgrades that allowed for the implementation of the technology without disrupting passenger journeys.
In addition, 100 new card readers for gates at rail and ferry platforms were installed.
The integration of all of Auckland Transport’s services, which includes train, bus, and ferry operations, was a crucial part of the project deliverables.
This integration supports various contactless fare payments and harmonises with Auckland Transport’s existing technology framework.
Auckland Transport chief technology officer Roger Jones said: “AT will continue to invest in ways to make it easy, safe, and reliable to get around using public transport.
“Working with Hitachi Rail to seamlessly enable contactless payments to be accepted across our public transport network is one example of this investment.”
Auckland’s contactless ticketing system has recorded 3.5 million taps since launching in November 2024.
The system went live across Auckland’s public transport network in 15 months from project launch to full implementation.
Hitachi Rail RCS vice president Jean-Marc Reynaud said: “This contract celebrates the long-lasting support of Hitachi Rail to Auckland Transport for the integrated fare system in the city.”
Last month, Hitachi Rail, in partnership with SISINT and Conecticabo, secured contracts from Infraestruturas de Portugal to upgrade telecommunications and passenger information systems on Lisbon’s Cascais Line.
The project includes deploying a fully automated Passenger Information System across all stations.railway
Mar 05, 2025
Railway Technology
Hitachi To Deploy Cbtc Digital Signalling On Paris Metro Line 12Hitachi Rail has secured a contract, valued at €20m ($20.89m), to implement its communications based train control (CBTC) digital signalling technology on Paris Metro Line 12 in France.
The contract, which covers the initial design and installation phase, includes options for additional orders of up to €65m ($67.8m), including maintenance activities.
Paris Metro Line 12, spanning 17.2km with 31 stations, will utilise an advanced train control system to enhance capacity and transit operations.
This development is part of the OCTYS 2030 programme, aimed at modernising the city’s metro system.
With the successful operation of metro line 3 and the anticipated commissioning of line 6 in 2025, the upgrade of line 12 represents Hitachi Rail’s third CBTC project for the Paris Metro.
These projects are part of a partnership between Hitachi Rail and RATP, the operator of the Paris metro, under successive OCTYS programmes.
Hitachi Rail France CBTC division head François Destribois said: “Hitachi Rail’s CBTC solutions have been successfully deployed worldwide for decades.
“This new contract underlines our continuous commitment to rail innovation, supporting our clients to modernise key networks such as the Paris metro, one of the busiest in the world.”
The CBTC technology, based on RATP’s technical specifications, will be designed and deployed by Hitachi Rail.
Hitachi’s CBTC technology is said to enhance the safety, availability, and scalability of services, contributing to the sustainability of public transport and improving the overall experience for passengers and operators, according to the company.
Recently, Hitachi Rail, in partnership with SISINT and Conecticabo, secured two contracts from Infraestruturas de Portugal to modernise telecommunications and deploy an automated Passenger Information System on Lisbon’s Cascais Line.railway
Feb 28, 2025
Railway Technology
Hyundai Rotem Secures $1.5Bn Train Deal With MoroccoHyundai Rotem, the train manufacturing arm of Hyundai Motor Group, has secured a KRW2.2tn ($1.53bn) contract to supply advanced double-decker electric trains to Morocco’s national railway operator, ONCF.
This deal marks the company’s first foray into the Moroccan market and is claimed to be its largest single railway supply agreement.
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Morocco is enhancing its rail infrastructure in preparation for co-hosting the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
The maintenance of the new trains will be a collaborative effort between Hyundai Rotem and the Korea Railroad (KORAIL), with details to be finalised in separate negotiations.
These high-speed double-decker trains, capable of reaching up to 160kph, will connect Casablanca, Morocco’s largest city, with key regions across the country.
Hyundai Rotem anticipates that this project will support over 200 small and medium-sized enterprises within Korea’s rail sector, as around 90% of the train components are expected to be supplied by these companies.
This deal is expected to bolster Korea’s expanding influence in the African railway market, building on Hyundai Rotem’s involvement in rail projects across Tunisia, Tanzania, and Egypt.
A Hyundai Rotem official stated: “We will ensure the delivery of high-quality trains that provide safe and convenient transportation for both local citizens and international visitors attending the 2030 World Cup.”
The contract surpasses Hyundai Rotem’s previous major deals, such as the Australian NIF double-decker train project at KRW1.4tn ($976m), the Queensland train supply at KRW1.3tn ($906m), and the Los Angeles Metro train contract at KRW900bn ($627m) for the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics.
In 2024, three of the 17 Hyundai Rotem locomotives ordered by Tanzania Railway Corporation arrived in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania.
Most of the delivered and ordered cars and locomotives will serve the new standard gauge line between Dar-es-Salaam on the Indian Ocean coast and Morogoro in the mountainous interior.railway
Feb 27, 2025
Railway Technology
Metro-North Railroad To Introduce Battery-Powered Passenger TrainsThe Metro-North Railroad, a suburban commuter railway serving the New York Metropolitan Area, is set to introduce the nation’s “first” battery-powered passenger trains.
The initiative is part of a broader expansion of Metro-North’s railcar fleet to provide New Haven Line service to Penn Station and four additional stations in the Bronx.
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The new passenger trains will operate with battery and electric-powered locomotives, representing a milestone for North American rail transportation.
The locomotives will primarily draw electricity from overhead catenary wires and switch to battery mode when travelling through sections of track in and around Penn Station, where the electrical traction system differs.
The Siemens Mobility Charger locomotives, based on the European Vectron platform, are being developed as the next generation of locomotives for North America.
Pending approval from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) board, Metro-North plans to acquire 13 battery- and electric-powered locomotives.
These will be purchased through an option on an existing contract with Siemens Mobility North America, which is currently manufacturing 33 dual-mode locomotives for Metro-North.
MTA chair and CEO Janno Lieber said: “Transit is the antidote to climate change, and these locomotives – the first ever in North America – demonstrate, again, the MTA’s commitment to using innovation to green the region.”
Siemens is currently manufacturing the locomotives for Metro-North, capable of operating on diesel or third rail power.
These locomotives will operate with coach cars, either pulling or pushing them based on the direction of travel, similar to the configuration of Metro-North’s existing diesel trains.
MTA Rolling Stock Programme chief Tim Mulligan said: “These new locomotives, powered exclusively by electricity but capable of operating on non-electrified lines via battery, will take a technology that is common in Europe and use it to revolutionise railroading in North America.
“The battery/electric locomotives will enable Metro-North to provide reliable, extremely environmentally friendly service using existing electrified infrastructure.”
The new locomotives are anticipated to resemble the 4,200-horsepower diesel/electric SC42-DM models, which Metro-North introduced in November 2024.railway
Feb 26, 2025
Railway Technology
Alstom Secures $25M Deal For Nj Transit Multilevel Ii Truck OverhaulsAlstom has received a contract worth more than $25m to overhaul 209 Multilevel II Trucks for New Jersey Transit Corporation (NJ Transit) in the US.
The upgrade work will take place at Alstom’s Kanona, New York facility, which specialises in vehicle and component overhauls.
The contract involves rebuilding or replacing truck components to meet the original equipment manufacturer’s specifications.
This process is essential for maintaining performance, and safety, and enhancing the passenger experience, according to the company.
The Multilevel II vehicle trucks undergo a mandatory overhaul every ten years to ensure they meet federal safety standards and the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) standards.
Alstom Americas president Michael Keroulle said: “We are committed to restoring the performance of NJ TRANSIT’s fleet through comprehensive overhauls, ensuring our customer and their passengers benefit from safe, reliable and efficient transit services.
“This initiative underscores our dedication to maintaining the highest standards for our products for our customers over their entire lifecycle.”
Earlier this month, Alstom signed a ÂŁ24.5m (30.3m) variation contract expanding its existing contract with Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) in the UK for the reactivation of an additional 30 Class 379 trains.
The 30 trains were initially built by Alstom between 2010 and 2011.
Last month, Alstom inked a deal valued at approximately C$500m ($348.56m) with Metrolinx, the public transportation authority, to refurbish bi-level commuter railcars for GO Transit, serving Ontario’s Greater Golden Horseshoe region.
Alstom’s Thunder Bay facility in Ontario is set to conduct mid-life refurbishments and enhancements on 181 Bi-Level series VIII railcars under a newly signed agreement.railway
Feb 25, 2025
Railway Technology
Railtel To Install Kavach System On East Central Railway Routes In IndiaRailTel Corporation of India has secured a Rs2.88bn ($33.2m) tender to install the Kavach train protection system across 71 railway stations in the country.
This initiative spans a 502km route within the Danapur and Sonpur divisions of the East Central Railway.
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The Kavach system, a homegrown automatic train protection (ATP) technology, is set to play a pivotal role in enhancing rail safety by preventing potential train collisions.
The system is engineered to automatically apply brakes when train drivers fail to do so, thereby averting accidents.
It is a critical component in ensuring the safe operation of trains, capable of preventing red signal overshoots and collisions.
RailTel’s successful bid for the installation of this advanced system is a strategic move that aligns with its commitment to leverage technology in the transformation of the Indian Railways.
According to RailTel, the implementation of the Kavach system will cover an extensive network of tracks, safeguarding the journeys of millions of passengers.
RailTel chairman and managing director Sanjai Kumar said: “We are excited to have been selected for implementation of the Kavach Project in East Central Railway.
“The Kavach system represents a major leap forward in railway safety and we are committed to delivering this project with the highest standards of quality and efficiency. This tender win is a testament to RailTel’s expertise and dedication to innovation in the railway sector.”
In January this year, RailTel entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Quadrant Future Tek to implement the Kavach Train collision avoidance system for Indian Railways and potential international railway clients.
The Ministry of Railways adopted Kavach as the national ATP system in July 2020. Indian Railways introduced Kavach system in March 2022.
In 2022, RailTel announced plans to allocate Rs2.24bn (approximately $29.5m) for upgrading signalling systems across 26 stations in India’s Northern Railway zone.railway
Feb 24, 2025
Railway Technology
Siemens Mobility Signs Deal For 50 Vectron LocomotivesSiemens Mobility has entered into a framework agreement with RIVE Private Investment, the parent company of Northrail, for the delivery of up to 50 Vectron locomotives.
This deal includes an initial order of 15 locomotives and a comprehensive eight-year full-service contract, with an option for an additional 35 locomotives and an extension of the service contract by eight years.
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The agreement, which builds on a partnership initiated in 2021, was finalised before the handover of the 40th Vectron Dual Mode locomotive from the current contract.
The service contract is enhanced by Railigent X, an application suite from Siemens Mobility that aids in maintenance and life cycle management.
Northrail chief investment officer and chief commercial officer Michael Trentzsch said: “With Siemens Mobility, we have a partner whose technical expertise and comprehensive service approach will support us in our continued sustainable growth and the optimisation of our operations.”
Siemens Mobility’s sale of the Vectron family locomotives now surpasses 2,600 units to 103 customers across 16 countries.
The Vectron fleet has collectively covered over one billion kilometres. Additionally, the Vectron platform locomotives are certified for operation in 20 European countries.
Siemens Mobility rolling stock CEO Andre Rodenbeck said: “We are delighted that Northrail and RIVE Private Investment have once again opted for innovative Siemens Mobility technology.
“With more than 2,600 locomotives sold, the Vectron offers both reliability and flexibility and is perfectly designed for the requirements of European rail freight transport.”
Earlier this month, Siemens Mobility secured a 40-month maintenance contract from SMH Rail for Kuala Lumpur’s Klang Valley MRT Line, providing technical support and spare parts after eight years of successful operation.railway
Feb 21, 2025