Northern Latitudinal Railway construction to begin next year

A protocol finalising the conditions and parameters for the concession to build the Northern Latitudinal Railway (NLR) was signed in Salekhard on May 12 by Russian transport minister, Mr Maxim Sokolov, Russian Railways (RZD) chairman, Mr Oleg Belozerov, governor of Yamal-Nenets Autonomous District, Mr Dmitry Kobylkin, and representatives of Gazprom and the NLR concession company.

Albanian railway rehabilitation project moves forward

TENDERING has begun for a contract to rehabilitate the 34.2km line between the Albanian capital Tirana and the port of Durrës, together with the construction of a new 7.4km line which will connect both cities to Rinas International Airport.

Construction of Northern Latitudinal Railway to start in 2019

A foundation stone was laid on May 11 for a bridge over the River Ob which is to be built as part of the 353 km Northern Latitudinal Railway. Attendees included Russian Railways President Oleg Belozerov, Minister of Transport Maxim Sokolov and Governor of the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous District Dmitry Kobylkin.

Turkey to start production of national EMU

PRODUCTION is due to start in the fourth quarter of 2018 on Turkey’s national EMU project under a joint venture of Tüvasaş, Turkish State Railways (TCDD) and Turkey’s Ministry of Transport, Maritime and Communications (UDH).

Digital guide to the Bernina Express

Following a successful launch in first class, from May 10 Rhätische Bahn is making its Infot(r)ainment digital route guide available to all Bernina Express passengers.

Second airport rail link opens in Kuala Lumpur

A rail link to Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Kuala Lumpur was inaugurated on May 1. The Ministry of Transport funded the 521m ringgit project.

GTR and Siemens unveil Great Northern class 717 EMUs

BRITISH train operator Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) presented its new fleet of class 717 Desiro City EMUs for Great Northern suburban services to the press at Siemens’ Wildenrath test centre in Germany on May 2.

Network Rail adopts new ERTMS procurement process

IRJ at Infrarail 2018 London: British infrastructure manager Network Rail (NR) says it is planning to adopt a new approach to the procurement of ERTMS, with a focus on the whole life of the assets.

Union Pacific orders low-emission shunters

Union Pacific has ordered 10 EMD24B low-emission locomotives from Progress Rail for yard shunting work in California. Announced on May 1, the order is the first for the EMD24B design, following the testing of a demonstrator by Pacific Harbor Line at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.

Alpha Trains forms French subsidiary

Leasing company Alpha Trains Group is targeting the emerging French passenger rolling stock leasing market with the formation of a French subsidiary. ‘France is a new and important market for us, which we are relying on to replicate our success in Germany and become the ideal partner of the regions to facilitate opening up to competition’, said group CEO Shaun Mills on May 3.