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December 2020 | Volume 60 Issue 12 www.railjournal.com | @railjournal

IRJInternational Railway Journal

French liberalisation Regions progress towards open competition in 2023

Future radio FRMCS project reaches key milestone

SNCF at a crossroads Farandou plots route to recovery

French plan to double rail freight = Inspiring the next generation IRJDECXX (TMH)_Layout 1 16/11/2020 11:08 Page 1 Dec Contents_Layout 1 20/11/2020 17:15 Page 3

Contact us ContentsDecember 2020 Volume 60 issue 12 Editorial offices Post 46 Killigrew Street News Falmouth 4 This month Cornwall, TR11 3PP, UK 6 News headlines Tel +44 1326 313945 12 Transit news Web www.railjournal.com 14 Financial news Editor-in-Chief 15a News analysis - ONLINE EDITION Kevin Smith [email protected] Consulting Editor/ Associate Publisher France 16 David Briginshaw 16 SNCF at a crossroads [email protected] Covid-19 adds to the list of challenges facing SNCF’s CEO News & Features Writer David Burroughs 20 Can France double freight volumes in 10 years? [email protected] An alliance of operators sets out ambitious expansion plan News & Features Writer 24 Passenger liberalisation stumbles towards start Oliver Cuenca France gears up to open PSO contracts to competition [email protected] Production Manager Sue Morant [email protected] 20 IRJ Pro Account Manager Chloe Pickering Track [email protected] 28 Adjustable track verifies measurement systems IRJ Pro Market Analyst TTCI tests high-speed geometry measurement systems Oscar Sinclair [email protected] Advertising sales office Post 88 Pine Street, 23rd Floor New York, NY 10005 United States Education, training and recruitment Tel +1 212 620 7200 32 Pandemic transforms learning 28 Business development manager BCRRE adapts to online teaching Jerome Marullo [email protected] 34 Skills for the next-generation rail industry Tel +1 732 887 5562 European skill base responds to a changing industry Subscriptions hotline Tel (US only) +1 800 553 8878 35 Inspiring rail’s next wave of engineers (Canada/International) +1 319 Class of Your Own provides real-world experience 364 6167 Fax +1 402 346 4740 35a Online extra - DB takes learning digital International Railway Journal (Print ISSN 2161-7376, Digital ISSN 2161-7368), is published monthly by Adapting training to the restrictions brought by a pandemic Simmons-Boardman Publishing Corp, 88 Pine Street, 23rd floor, New York, NY 10005, USA. Printed in Great Britain by Buxton Press and distributed in the USA by Mail Right International, 1637 Stelton Road 35 B4, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA. Periodicals postage paid at Piscataway, NJ and additional mailing offices. 17/11/2020 09:10 Page 1

December 2020 | Volume 60 Issue 12 COPYRIGHT © Simmons-Boardman Publishing Cor- Also in this issue www.railjournal.com | @railjournal poration 2020. All rights reserved. Contents may Front cover IRJInternational Railway Journal not be reproduced without permission. For reprint 36 Rendezvous Since taking over as CEO information please contact Editor-in-Chief. For sub- French liberalisation Regions progress towards scriptions & address changes, please call +1 319 364 37 Full contact list of SNCF in November open competition in 2023 6167, Fax +1 319 364 4278, Email: internationalrail- Future radio 2019, Jean-Pierre FRMCS project reaches [email protected] or write to: International 37 Advertisers index key milestone Railway Journal, Simmons-Boardman Publishing Farandou has guided the Corp, PO Box 1407, Cedar 37 Fresh faces company through a Rapids, IA, 52406-1407. number of challenges, POSTMASTER: Send address 38 The last word including Covid-19. See changes to International Rail- SNCF at a crossroads way Journal, PO Box 1407, our exclusive interview Farandou plots route to recovery French plan to double rail freight = Inspiring the next generation Cedar Rapids, IA, 52406-1407. on p16.

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This month | Kevin Smith

and the 1900MHz band. FRMCS There is also a general lack of will offer extra dedicated harmonisation of cybersecurity Next-generation railway bandwidth during the migration regulations. when the two platforms will Combating many of these radio reaches key milestone co-exist, and significantly more challenges requires a new set LL good things must come Union Agency for Railways, bandwidth overall, providing of skills and expertise. As to an end. But the gradual Shift2Rail, and European more flexibility in the long-term. many railways around the Adecommissioning of GSM-R, Telecommunications Away from FRMCS, another world embrace their respective the 2G+ dedicated railway Standards Institute (ETSI). significant step for European digitalisation strategies, they radio platform, at the end of While conceived in Europe, transport telecommunications are actively recruiting experts the decade will mark the FRMCS will become the global was taken in October. The in fields such as Artificial withdrawal of arguably the standard for railway telecoms. European Commission’s decision Intelligence and data science. most successful interoperable 5GRail participants will to adopt the 5.9GHz band for However, a skills gap remains. rail system ever conceived. validate specifications for the exchange of real-time As Unife director general, Mr Installed on more than FRMCS by developing and information on the safety Philippe Citroën, points out (p34) 150,000km of lines in Europe testing prototypes of trackside condition of connected transport new campaigns are actively and 250,000km worldwide, infrastructure and onboard effectively doubles the level of publicising rail as a career path GSM-R has been universally applications in Germany and available spectrum for Intelligent for environmentally conscious well received and adopted France by the middle of 2023. Transport Systems including people interested in Science, since its standards were The UIC is aiming to deliver urban rail, metro, light rail and Technology, Engineering and ratified by the International an FRMCS first edition based road vehicles to 60MHz. Mathematics (Stem) careers. It Union of Railways (UIC) in 2000. on 5G (3GPP Release 17) in The ruling, which will enter is also hoped next year’s This contrasts sharply with 2025, which will be available force on June 30 2021, includes European Year of Rail will ETCS, the signalling component for national pilots. CBTC for the first time and is offer positive PR for recruiters. of ERTMS. While trains can The UIC and other equivalent cross borders seamlessly without bodies will help guide railways switching radio systems, the through the technical adaptations piecemeal rollout of ETCS in required by offering necessary Europe means a completely The biggest challenge for FRMCS is expertise outside of rail’s interoperable signalling replacing something that has worked traditional wheelhouse - network is still a long way off. Evangelou for example hails Indeed, major railways in “ so well for so long. from the telecoms sector. And France, Germany and Britain while railways should not lose are only now getting onboard. sight of the day-to-day - intricate A key milestone was reached Mr Jean-Michel Evangelou, significant because it harmonises knowledge of the railway system last month in the development the UIC’s head of telecoms the European market and is as critical now as it has ever of GSM-R’s successor, the Future and signalling, says the biggest should encourage the been - a marriage of the two Railway Mobile Communication challenge for FRMCS is replacing development of new systems, will leave railways well placed System (FRMCS). something that has worked so regulate costs and improve to maximise the opportunities FRMCS is 5G-based and like well for so long. However, the maintenance efficiency. offered by new technology. GSM-R will support train UIC and its FRMCS partners Increased spectrum will offer radio voice applications and deserve great credit for getting greater scope for innovation ETCS data. However, it is also the project to the point where and telecoms suppliers are an enabler for possible game- “we know what we know, and lining up to offer their tailored changing applications such as we know what we don’t know,” solutions. However, a number [email protected] ETCS Level 3, ATO, virtual as Mr Dan Mandoc, the UIC’s of challenges remain, notably coupling, smart maintenance, head of FRMCS, puts it. relating to cybersecurity. monitoring of trackside A key element in this While developers are components, and direct process is acceptance by 3GPP, building security into FRMCS, connections between trains and the global standard for telecoms, cybersecurity is a general traffic management systems. which will protect the standard challenge for the sector. The 5GRail project will develop and provide added flexibility According to a study the first FRMCS prototypes and for future evolution as new published by the European work began on the É13m, 30- telecoms technologies emerge. Union Agency for Cybersecurity month project on November 1. The result is significant because (Enisa) last month, railways Funded by the European Union’s it recognises the importance of generally suffer from low digital Horizon 2020 initiative, the rail among all the vertical and cybersecurity awareness. project is led by the UIC and markets that will use 5G and The large geographical spread supported by the European was no easy task given the of networks, an over-reliance Rail Industry Association literally hundreds of meetings on the supply chain, limitations (Unife), infrastructure managers, with various parties that of legacy systems as well Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB), Mandoc says have taken place. as a growing need to DB Networks, SNCF Network, Significant work was strike a balance Swiss Federal Railways (SBB), necessary to secure adequate between cybersecurity, and Portugal Infrastructure, as frequency or spectrum competitiveness, and well as telecoms suppliers, allocation for FRMCS. While operational efficiency two universities, and industry GSM-R is primarily standardised as railways embrace regulatory and standardisation in the 900MHz band, FRMCS digitalisation are bodies, including the European is targeting adoption at 900MHz major challenges. 4 IRJDECXX (Plasser)_Layout 1 16/11/2020 11:06 Page 1

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News | headlines

European operators reduce services again as passenger numbers drop UROPEAN operators have cut back national and cross- borderE passenger services in response to a number of national lockdowns instituted to curb the second wave of Covid-19. France: A second lockdown began on October 30 and was expected to run until December 1. On November 17, French National Railways (SNCF) said ridership was better than during the first lockdown from mid-March to mid-May. The 30% of TGV trains in Italo-NTV has laid off around 1300 staff in response to the sharp reductions in services. Photo: Marco Stellini service were running at 30- Nightjet: Austrian Federal France until December 1 and says 90% of services will 40% of capacity and the Railways (ÖBB) scaled back Italy until December 12. continue to operate but has operator confirmed it would Nightjet services between Czech Republic: A drop in cancelled extra commuter and not reduce services further. Austria and Germany, passenger numbers led to weekend night services. However, international trains Switzerland and Germany, Czech Railways (CD) reducing Britain: open-access operators, are severely limited; Eurostar and Austria and Italy from the number of passenger trains Grand Central and Hull is operating just one London - November 7 until at least in operation around Prague, Trains, suspended operation Paris and London - Amsterdam December 2. ÖBB said it had Central Bohemia, Pardubice, following the start of England’s service per day; Thalys is to react to the restrictions on Hradec Králové, the Moravian- second lockdown on providing two Paris - Brussels international travel but hoped Silesian Region and the November 5. services with one running to resume services in time for Vysocina Region. Italy: private high-speed through to Amsterdam. the holiday period. Netherlands: Netherlands operator Italo-NTV suspended French transport minister, Switzerland: Following a Railways (NS) began adjusting most of its services on Mr Jean-Baptiste Djebbari, also significant decline in its timetable from November 9 November 10 following the instructed SNCF to operate a international passengers, in response to a 70% drop in reintroduction of nationwide full timetable over the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) passengers, with most changes Covid-19 restrictions. Italo- Christmas period from cut back services from coming into effect from the NTV is only operating six December 15 to January 4. November 9 operating to second half of November. NS Naples - Milan - Turin and two Salerno - Rome - Venice trains every day, down from ÖBB and Westbahn secure Austrian government support the 112 daily services. The HE Austrian government has reintroduced a same as during Austria’s first lockdown. current timetable will run until subsidy to Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) The government introduced a temporary December 12. This follows a andT Westbahn to operate their passenger public service obligation (PSO) contract to both 90% drop in passengers. services on the Vienna - Salzburg route as the operators on April 20 to maintain an hourly : open-access country enters a second national lockdown. service on the route. This agreement expired on Germany operator FlixTrain suspended The government will provide ÖBB with October 7, with the government instead its services for a second time 37m and Westbahn 7.5m to operate a choosing to waive track access charges for É É this year from November 3 revised timetable on the route from November operating services. Track access charges have until at least February 2021. 16 until February 7 2021. Tickets for either been reinstated under the revised agreement. Unlike its principal competitor operator are valid on all services. Westbahn said that the decision not to extend German Rail (DB), Flixtrain ÖBB told IRJ that without the financial support, the subsidy had left it at risk of further staff has received no funding from ÖBB would have withdrawn the service, which cutbacks and service reductions because relief the German government other ÖBB and Westbahn operate commercially. of track access charges would only cover a than an employee furlough Current loadings are around 20% of normal, the quarter of its costs. funding scheme. Zambia Northwest Rail 166km Phase 1A agreement signed AMBIA’s Northwest Rail a Bankability Feasibility Study Phase 1A involves the the feasibility study, Smart (NWR) has signed a (BFS) for Phase 1A, which is construction of the first 166km Operations will construct cooperationZ agreement with scheduled to be completed in section, which will link the Phase 1A of the line and Transmashholding subsidiary the first quarter of 2021. The existing north-south rail supply locomotives, wagons Smart Operations and Uroven, study will include a land corridor at Chingola to the and advanced control and Britain, to build the first phase survey and examine the land new Solwezi freight terminal. maintenance systems. of a 590km east-west railway. acquisition process. The line will also connect with The line is expected to Phase 1A will run from The project will support a recently upgraded road to unlock economic growth and Chingola to Solwezi, Phase-1B Zambia’s aim to shift more Kipushi on the Democratic open new export revenue from Solwezi to Kalumbila and than 30% of freight from road Republic of the Congo border, opportunities in Zambia’s Phase 2 from Kalumbila to the to rail and connect with the creating a new export corridor Copperbelt Province and the Angola border. 1067mm-gauge Benguela for Katanga mining production. northwest region known for its The partnership will conduct railway through Angola. Following the completion of mining and agricultural exports. 6 IRJ December 2020 Dec News_Layout 1 19/11/2020 17:58 Page 7

In brief

Argentina Indian Railways to adopt National Rail Plan The Salta - Güemes regional NDIAN Railways (IR) plans 2050,” says Mr V Shankar, IR 130km/h and later to rail service in northwest to implement its National board executive director, 160km/h. Current average Argentina will be extended RailI Plan (NRP), which aims to planning. “The policy will be speeds of IR’s Mail and southwest from Salta to increase IR’s modal share from formally adopted in the first Express trains are 55km/h. Campo Quijano following 26% of all transport to 45% by week of December, but major The document stresses the agreements signed by the 2030 and integrate the IR recommendations contained in need for IR to complete track Argentine government, network with other modes to the draft report have already doubling and yard remodelling Argentinean Trains (SOFSE) achieve a seamless national been accepted and are in the work rapidly and pushes for and the governor of Salta multi-modal network. The plan process of being implemented.” the installation of advanced province. Work is expected to also calls for the deployment of Route surveys for new lines signalling systems, longer be completed in June 2021. Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools had previously been conducted passing loops, and on future infrastructure according to the demands of construction of major bridges Belgium expansion and rolling stock Members of Parliament. The and tunnels. Belgian National Railways modernisation projects. NRP proposes to reverse this AI tools for data analysis (SNCB) has received a É2.4m “The NRP, which is being process by having a network will help IR to run trains on grant from the European formulated by Rail India plan in place before demand, use capacity Union (EU) to support a pilot Technical and Economic sanctioning fresh surveys. effectively, improve service project to upgrade onboard Services (Rites) in consultation The NRP envisages speed quality through accurate ETCS signalling and control with Aecom, United States, increases on IR’s Golden demand prediction, optimise systems from ETCS Level 2 will form the template for rail Quadrilateral and Golden resource utilisation and offer Baseline 2 to ETCS Level 2 development in India until Diagonal routes, first to accurate asset planning. Baseline 3. The funding will be used to upgrade four vehicles ahead of a larger-scale roll-out of the system in 2023.

Britain The University of Birmingham has completed work on a new Photo: Photo: Quintus Vosman purpose-built research centre for the development of digital rail technologies, including railway control and simulation, data integration, cybersecurity, condition sensing and monitoring technologies, as well as improved methods for technology introduction. = The government has confirmed that the eastern leg of High Speed 2 (HS2) Phase EC alleges Czech Railways engaged in “predatory pricing” 2b from Birmingham to Leeds HE European Commission for an infringement, CD could the EC, the EC statement does will be split into a second (EC) has informed Czech pay a fine of up to 10% of its not have any bearing on parliamentary bill, separate RailwaysT (CD) of its preliminary annual turnover. ongoing court cases with from the western section of view that CD breached European Prague - Ostrava trains are competing operators. Phase 2b from Crewe to Union (EU) anti-trust rules by operated commercially, receiving In contrast, RegioJet welcomed Manchester. Each phase of the engaging in predatory pricing no public subsidy. RegioJet and the commission’s announcement, line must receive approval on the Prague - Ostrava route Leo Express entered the market calling it “a victory of the from the government, which between 2011 and 2019. in 2011 and 2012 respectively, general right for fair competition.” Phase 1 received in February. CD competes with private helping to double traffic on the RegioJet says that just one week operators RegioJet and Leo route within a few years. after introducing its services Czech Republic Express on the route and the However, the EC investigation between Prague and Ostrava, Infrastructure manager SZ has EC says its investigation shows shows that CD felt RegioJet CD reduced ticket prices to published a tender for a that CD’s ticket prices were and Leo Express expanded too 30% below those of RegioJet. contractor to undertake of insufficient to cover operating quickly and CD subsequently RegioJet says it took several feasibility study for a costs. reacted by starting to sell years to stabilise the financial proposed high-speed line from Following a complaint, the tickets at below cost price with performance of its trains, Prague, via Hradec Králové, to EC carried out inspections at the aim of hindering competition. causing damage worth hundreds Wroclaw, Poland. CD’s premises in April 2016, Under EU antitrust rules, of millions of Czech koruna. = SZ has announced plans for subsequently opening a formal dominant companies have a Leo Express says it will a new double-track, electrified investigation in November responsibility not to abuse increase the amount it is line suitable for 200km/h to 2016. The EC has now issued a their powerful market position seeking in compensation from replace the single-track, non- Statement of Objections to CD, by restricting competition. The CD from Koruna 468m ($US electrified line from Pilsen to whereby CD can examine the EC says pricing below cost 20.9m) to Koruna 1.05bn for Domazlice and the German documents and request an oral may constitute such an abuse. alleged predatory pricing on border near Furth im Wald, hearing. If the EC concludes CD says that while it will the Prague - Ostrava route Bavaria. that there is sufficient evidence cooperate and negotiate with between 2011 and 2019. IRJ December 2020 7 Dec News_Layout 1 19/11/2020 17:58 Page 8

News | headlines

New Setrag CEO set to oversee Gabon line upgrade HE board of directors of Gabon passenger and freightT railway Setrag has appointed Mr Christian Magni as CEO, succeeding Mr Renato Torres who has left the company. Setrag, a subsidiary of mining company Comilog, operates a 648km line linking Franceville and Libreville. The board has directed Magni A series E7 high-speed train will be to continue the transformation used to conduct the tests next autumn. Photo: Shutterstock.com and development of Setrag, including continuing the 2016- JR East to trial ATO and 5G on Joetsu Shinkansen 2024 upgrade plan (PRN) to AST Japan Railway (JR depot. The ATO trials will of 5G in railways. JR East will rehabilitate and modernise the East) has announced plans consist of remote departure, install a base station with the line to double freight capacity. toE test Automatic Train tests of the ATO system to capability to perform large- After obtaining a master’s Operation (ATO) at GoA 4 and automatically accelerate and capacity, low-delay degree from the Higher 5G telecommunications on an decelerate the train, automatic communication along the line Normal School of Technical E7 series train on a section of stopping in a pre-determined to support the transmission Education in Libreville, Magni the Joetsu Shinkansen. location, and emergency stop test. joined Comilog in May 1999. The trials will take place in procedures. JR East says experience from In July 2013, he was appointed October and November 2021 JR East will also test the use these trials will support the director of track maintenance using an out-of-service 12-car of local 5G infrastructure to wider deployment of ATO in Owendo, before joining train on the 5km stretch transmit high-definition video across its Shinkansen network, Setrag as director of fixed between Niigata station and in real-time, which will a policy included in its installations in May 2015 and the Niigata Shinkansen vehicle support verification of the use Transformation 2027 strategy. deputy CEO in 2019.

Ukrainian Railways set for restructuring SNCF Network to rollout digital interlockings HE new chairman of on the way to transforming UZ RENCH infrastructure mechanical systems to be Ukrainian Railways (UZ) from a loss-making company manager SNCF Network converted and upgraded to hasT announced a major into a profitable business,” hasF announced that its É1bn digital technology. restructuring along with an Zhmak says. Argos innovation partnership, SNCF Network says by increase in investment in 2021, “This is not an illusion - UZ launched in June 2018 to transmitting information in as he looks to turn the loss- should end next year with a develop a new generation of real-time, incident response making company into a profit not on paper, but with computer-controlled signal will be swifter, reducing profitable business. real figures.” interlockings, will progress to maintenance and the impact of UZ is being split into four Hryvnia 7bn will be allocated the implementation stage. failures. The technology will divisions: passenger, freight, to renew UZ’s freight wagon Over the last 18 months, reduce the need for intermediate production and infrastructure. fleet. “We want to increase our engineers from SNCF Network relays, cables and other “In 2021, we plan to complete freight market share from 19% and industry have undertaken ground-based infrastructure. the subordination of UZ’s to 35-40% by the end of next research to find a technical This should reduce installation divisions so that each year,” Zhmak says. UZ wants solution best suited to the and maintenance costs by 15% production unit receives all the to increase freight traffic from French network. In order to and cut installation lead times necessary assets so that they 814,000 tonnes a day to one move to the development by 30% - medium-sized can calculate profits and losses million tonnes a day in 2021. phase, SNCF Network has interlockings currently take three and produce their own balance Hryvnia 4.1bn will be spent announced it will pursue a years to commission, and will sheets,” Zhmak says. The on locomotives next year, with cooperation with the Thales, reduce to two years with Argos. process should be completed UZ planning to begin Alstom and Hitachi Rail-led The Thales-Engie Solutions- by the end of next year. purchasing new electric groups. Vossloh group, Alstom, and Zhmak also announced that locomotives in 2022. SNCF Network says that the Hitachi Rail-Eiffage Energy UZ plans to invest Hryvnia Hryvnia 9.4bn and Hryvnia many existing interlockings are Systems-Systra group have 26bn ($US 907.9m) in 2bn will be spent on old or contain obsolete each been tasked with upgrading infrastructure, locomotives, infrastructure and passenger technologies and are therefore an existing installation and freight wagons and passenger services respectively. UZ plans due for replacement. The developing pre-series services in 2021, subject to to purchase 100 coaches worth Argos computer-controlled production interlockings, the approval from the Ukrainian Hryvnia 2.7bn and will spend interlockings under first of which are scheduled for government. Hryvnia 100bn to extend development will enable these commissioning at the end of “2021 should be a breakthrough electrification. electro-mechanical, electrical or 2023. 8 IRJ December 2020 Dec News_Layout 1 19/11/2020 17:58 Page 9

In brief

Europe Network Rail sets ambitious emissions reduction targets The European Union Agency RITISH infrastructure = 75% of NR’s suppliers, greenhouse gas emissions, for Railways (ERA) became manager Network Rail (NR) calculated by emissions, and with all energy used to power the sole authority for the hasB announced the introduction covering purchased goods and depots, stations and offices certification and authorisation of science-based targets for services and capital goods, will coming from renewable of rolling stock across the reducing its carbon footprint. have science-based targets by sources. A trial to deploy an entire European Union (EU) NR’s Science-based targets 2025, and entirely electric road fleet is on October 31, as part of the are validated and approved by = reducing absolute scope 3 also underway. Technical Pillar of the Fourth the Science Based Targets indirect emissions by 28% by NR is also exploring how it Railway Package. Initiative (SBTi), a group of 2029. can generate renewable electricity The European Commission’s environmental non-profit Scope 1 and 2 emissions are as well as ways to support = Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint organisation CDP, the United within NR’s control, while improved biodiversity, with an Undertaking (FCH JU) has Nations Global Compact, World scope 3 are indirect. “We are extensive community tree awarded a 10m grant to the Resources Institute, and the the first railway in the world to planting scheme underway. É CAF-led FCH2RAIL World Wide Fund for Nature set targets that will help limit With around two-thirds of consortium for the design, (WWF). global warming to 1.5oC and the railway’s emissions development and testing of a The targets include: this shows our commitment to generated by suppliers, NR prototype bi-mode hydrogen- reducing absolute scope 1 change,” says NR chief says it is keen to support its = electric propulsion system. and 2 greenhouse gas emission executive, Mr Andrew Haines. supply chain to set their own Work will begin in January. by 46% by 2029 NR is already reducing its targets. = Shift2Rail has launched a competition to develop a programme to track all in- CRRC unveils 400km/h gauge-changeable train service commercial freight RRC Changchun has CRRC has also developed a gauge in Russia, Mongolia, trains across the whole unveiled a new high-speed gauge-changer track device to Kazakhstan and former Soviet European network. The trainC equipped with variable- enable the bogies to switch countries; and 1676mm common system will incorporate data gauge bogies, which can between gauges. in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. from Telematic Applications operate on a range of gauges At present, China’s rail CRRC also says that the train for Freight Services (TAF), and power supplies. The network is 1435mm gauge, can operate in temperatures operators, infrastructure o o 400km/h train has been with around 79,685km of line. between -50 C and 50 C and managers, Rail Net Europe’s developed to facilitate faster By contrast, neighbouring under a range of different (RNE) Train Information services on international countries employ two main power supplies and rail System (TIS), terminals, port routes. broad gauges, with 1520mm standards. authorities and combined Development of the train transport operators. Entries was revealed in July last year close on September 21 2021. by Mr Yu Weiping, vice- president of CRRC at the Germany Global Manufacturing Service DB Regio has begun operating Outsourcing Summit in services in the state of Bavaria Changchun, China, and is using six Škoda double-deck expected to be completed in push-pull trains ordered in time for the Beijing 2022 2013 following a four-year Winter Olympic Games. delayed approval process due The project was supported to reliability concerns. by a research grant from the = The state of Hesse has begun Chinese government. construction of its first hydrogen CRRC says that it is now filling station, following a ready to take orders for ground-breaking ceremony on customised high-speed trains October 26 at the site in Höchst based on the prototype. Industrial Park, near Frankfurt. = The Federal Administrative Court in Leipzig has dismissed Brightline fails to sell bonds for Las Vegas - California HSL six appeals against the RIGHTLINE, United States, to $US 2.4bn, according to sister publication Sbjmxbz!Bhf. construction of the German has suspended the sale of CmppncfshRvjou. “We will continue this project. section of the Fehmarn Belt bondsB to support its $US 8.4bn Under the arrangement, This does not stop us but rather tunnel between Denmark and Las Vegas - Southern California Fortress had to sell the bonds causes us to shift our funding Germany, enabling the project Brightline West high-speed line by December 1, or the state of goals until the market improves. to proceed. following a failure to source California would return the We will continue the project buyers. funding it had allocated to the and focus on raising equity.” International Parent company, Fortress project to the state’s affordable A construction schedule, The governments of Egypt and Investment Group, began housing fund. with a potential to start work Sudan have signed a joint selling the bonds, worth $US Despite the setback, Brightline on the 217km California line cooperation agreement to 3.2bn, at the end of September, says the project will continue. and 54km Nevada line by the carry out economic, social and under a bond arrangement “I’ll confirm that we postponed end of the year, was released environmental feasibility agreed with California and our bond sale, but we will on a new website in October, studies for the creation of a Nevada state agencies. This continue to move our project with a current completion date new cross-border railway sum was subsequently reduced forward,” Brightline told IRJ’s of 2024 between the two countries. IRJ December 2020 9 Dec News_Layout 1 19/11/2020 17:58 Page 10

News | headlines

DB confirms new Frankfurt - Mannheim high-speed route ERMAN infrastructure manager DB Networks has announcedG the final route for the new Frankfurt - Mannheim high-speed line following a four-year public consultation period. After considering 32 routes, the 57.8km option 2b has been selected. The new 300km/h line will begin south of Frankfurt airport at Zeppelinheim, where it will connect with both the airport and Frankfurt city centre via existing routes. It will then follow the A5 highway south to Darmstadt, before following the A67 The new high-speed line will use the existing line via Mannheim-Waldhof to Mannheim main station. Photo: Keith Fender highway to Lorsch, around fastest ICE journey times Frankfurt - Mannheim line paralleling the A8 highway. 15km north of Mannheim. between Frankfurt and with the upgraded Karlsruhe - The new line will reduce The new line will then run Mannheim from 38 to 29 Basle main line. The journey times by 15 minutes to under the A67 before heading minutes. The line will be built Mannheim - Karlsruhe line 26 minutes compared with the southwest, largely in tunnel, to for mixed traffic with freight could be either a new existing 85km 200km/h a junction with the existing trains running at night. alignment or a complete conventional line via Zeppelinheim - Gross Gerau - Planning permission and rebuild of existing Günzburg. Mannheim line south of funding for the project will be infrastructure. The first phase of public Lampertheim. Services will sought in the next 18 months, DB has also presented four consultation is due for then use the existing line via with construction unlikely to potential corridors for the new completion in mid-2021. Mannheim-Waldhof to reach begin until the mid-2020s. 70km Ulm - Augsburg Planning permission will be Mannheim main station. In November, DB launched 300km/h line. The four sought for the final route The new line will include public consultation for a new corridors will run parallel to around 2023-24, with 12.7km in tunnels and 7.2km in Mannheim - Karlsruhe high- the existing route at both ends, construction unlikely before cuttings, and will reduce the speed line connecting the new with some options partially the late 2020s.

CEO of Australia’s V/Line sacked over corruption claims Spain opens new HE board of Victoria’s regional rail network Pinder has denied any wrong doing and V/Line has sacked its CEO after he appeared claims he and Bollas were in a secret gambling HS rail section beforeT an anti-corruption hearing in Melbourne syndicate and that was the source of the money. PAIN inaugurated a 110km accused of receiving illicit payments from the However, Bollas confessed to the inquiry he section of the Madrid - contractors employed to clean the operator’s trains. had taken up to $A 150,000 in corrupt cash GaliciaS high-speed line Mr James Pinder was suspended in August payments from Transclean director, Mr George between Zamora and Pedralba when it became known that he was to be the Haritos. de la Pradería on October 26. subject of a hearing by the Victorian Independent In addition to the regular cash payments, Pinder The new section, which Broad-based Anti-Corruption Commission (IBAC). also reportedly received a gift of $A 320,000 from opened to traffic on October The IBAC inquiry heard Pinder, together with Transclean which was spent on his $A 2.5m house. 27, cost É898m, and expands the fleet manager of Metro Trains, the operator The CEO of Metro Trains, Mr Raymond the Spanish high-speed of the Melbourne’s suburban network, Mr Peter O’Flaherty, announced he had sacked Bollas, network to around 3567km. Bollas, received regular cash payments of up to who was also stood down in August. The section reduces travel $A 10,000 ($US 7021) from Transclean, the The IBAC hearing was also told Pinder helped times between Madrid and the company contracted to clean Victoria’s trains cover up the fact Transclean had not properly major Galician cities, including and trams. sanitised trains at the start of the Covid-19 24 minutes to A Coruña, 31 The V/Line board immediately cancelled the pandemic despite being paid an additional $A minutes to Vigo, 39 minutes to contract, saying the alleged conduct of Pinder 1.3m a month to carry out extra cleaning and Ourense, 41 minutes to Santiago and the cleaning company was unacceptable sanitising. The basic contract with V/Line was de Compostela, 1h 2min to Lugo “under any circumstances.” worth $A 40m. and 1h 26min to Pontevedra. There are now four trains per day between Madrid and China starts work on central section of Sichuan-Tibet Railway Ourense, Santiago and A mobilisation meeting for will be 1011km long and have December 2018, while Coruña and between Madrid the construction the Ya’an - a design speed of 120-200km/h. construction of the Lhasa - and Vigo, five times per day NyingchiA central section of the China National Railway Nyingchi section started in between Madrid and Lugo, and Sichuan-Tibet Railway was estimates it will take 10 years June 2015. six times per day between held on November 8 at the to complete the project. When the Sichuan-Tibet Madrid and Pontevedra. Renfe Sejila Mountain tunnel and the The first section of the Railway is completed in 2030 it plans to further increase the Dadu River bridge. Sichuan-Tibet Railway from will cut the Chengdu - Lhasa frequency of services when The Ya’an - Nyingchi section Chengdu to Ya’an opened in journey from 48 to 13 hours. demand recovers. 10 IRJ December 2020 Dec News_Layout 1 19/11/2020 17:58 Page 11

In brief

= Japanese logistics company Five-point plan aims to accelerate US high-speed Nippon Express is planning to OLLOWING the election of with the states. The authority receive funding and assistance double the number of freight long-time passenger rail would be tasked with initiating for early works. These include: trains it operates between advocate,F Mr Joe Biden, as new high-speed rail projects, Chicago - Milwaukee ($US 8bn), China and Europe from 2500 president elect of the United conducting route studies, filing Atlanta - Charlotte ($US 18bn), return journeys to 5000 States, the United States High for permits, assembling land, Denver - Albuquerque ($US 40bn), journeys annually. Speed Rail Association (USHSR) hiring contractors and consultants, Nashville - Memphis ($US 15bn), = Shift2Rail has signed two has published a five-point plan and hiring operators. Chicago - Detroit ($US 30bn), agreements to promote to encourage the development 2: Identify the top five high- Phoenix - Tucson ($US 12bn), and international cooperation in of high-speed networks across speed rail priority projects, which Kansas City - St Louis ($US 19bn). research and innovation (R&I) the country. would be fast-tracked to 4: Coordinate closely with local One, with the Canadian Urban The plan looks to build on completion with the full support cities on transit-oriented Transit Research & Innovation Biden’s campaign promise to of the federal government. The development (TOD) planning Consortium (Cutric), will “spark the second great five projects are: California to maximise community and support cooperation on the railroad revolution” in the US. ($US 60bn); Texas ($US 20bn), economic development development of environmentally- The plan comprises: Northeast Corridor (NEC) opportunities brought by new friendly and energy-efficient 1: Create a new High-Speed upgrade and New York City high-speed stations. transport modes. The second, Rail Development Authority tunnels ($US 50bn); Cascadia 5: Work with airlines and with the Permanent Secretariat within the US Department of Vancouver - Seattle - Portland airports to replace short-haul of the Transport Community, Transport to direct and ($US 40bn); and Florida Tampa flights with high-speed rail will promote modernisation of coordinate the national - Orlando ($US 2.5bn). and extend high-speed lines to the rail sector in the western programme, working closely 3: Select second-tier projects to major airports. Balkans. = The International Union of Railways (UIC) has announced São Paulo announces network modernisation plans it will introduce a new Open HE Brazilian state of São between Rubinéia and Itirapina. agricultural industry. Sales and Distribution Model Paulo announced a Reais The upgrades will expand “It is the largest expansion of (OSDM) platform supplied by 6bnT ($US 1.05bn) programme the network’s capacity from 35 rail transport in the state of São Hit Rail to replace the existing of upgrades to its rail network million to 75 million tonnes of Paulo in the last 50 years and Price and Fare Information on October 19, which includes freight per year, and are is the first major announcement Storage (PRIFIS) international the reopening of two lines intended to consolidate the of the 2021-2022 economic tariffs distribution tool. totalling 527km. state’s position as the main recovery plan,” says São Paulo Under the new plan, the export corridor for Brazil’s governor, Mr João Doria. Italy 369km Panorama - Bauru and Italian State Railways (FS) and 158.6km Colombia - Pradópolis energy infrastructure company lines will be reopened for Snam have signed an agreement freight services operated by to assess the technical and Rumo Logistics. economic feasibility for the Other improvements include: development and rollout of

= track doubling between Photo: Shutterstock.com hydrogen-powered trains. Itirapina, Boa Vista Velha and Perequê Korea = around 18km of track and a Hyundai Rotem and the new rail yard in Catanduva Korean Rail Research Institute = construction of a new bypass (KRRI) have signed a in Mirassol, São José do Rio memorandum of understanding Preto and Cedral to cooperate on the research = closure of redundant depots and development of a in Araraquara and Rio Claro, and hydrogen-based propulsion = extension of passing loops Rumo Logistics will benefit from the reopening of two lines in São Paulo state. system for rail vehicles. CRRC Zhuzhou Institute releases fully automatic signalling system Norway RRC Zhuzhou Institute has including enhanced operational integrated monitoring and system Norway has begun testing of released its fully automatic flexibility, improved capacity, integration technologies,” says onboard ETCS ahead of the operationC (FAO) tSafer-UC3000 reduced labour requirements, Mr Shang Jing, CRRC Zhuzhou introducion into commercial signalling system, which it says and lower energy requirements Institute general manager. operation from 2021. provides a more comprehensive and emissions. Automatic operation supports urban rail signalling solution. CRRC says the system adjustable departure times as Taiwan Hyundai Rotem has delivered CRRC says the system is an supports both manned and well as 24-hour operation, seven the first of 52 EMUs ordered upgrade on CBTC, with more unmanned operation. days a week. CRRC says the by Taiwan Railways than 20 additional functions “The FAO system is a fully system will reduce human errors, Administration under a Won including train start-up, dynamic automated and highly centralised stopping times and headways. 909.8bn ($US 803.4m) contract and static self-testing, obstacle train operation control system, The system also improves awarded in June 2018. The and derailment protection, and which is a new generation of energy efficiency by controlling new trains will be used on remote reset. urban rail transit systems that the power supply for all trains existing suburban lines from The system is compatible automates the operation process in a sub-section of the network 2021. The full fleet is scheduled with conventional CBTC and using modern computing, to improve the use of for delivery by 2023. IRJ provides several benefits communication, control, regenerative power. IRJ December 2020 11 Dec TN_Layout 1 20/11/2020 10:39 Page 12

News | transit

Chicago Transit Authority faces $US 375m operating deficit in 2021 HICAGO Transit Authority aid package delivered as part of capital funding will go toward Accessibility Plan ($US 78m). (CTA) faces a $US 375m the $US 2 trillion Coronavirus previously announced major Other capital projects to operatingC budget deficit in 2021 Aid, Relief and Economic projects, including: continue or begin in 2021 in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. Security Cares Act (Cares). This = upgrade of the Cottage Grove include: The $US 1.64bn proposed funding will help to sustain Green Line station ($US 60m) = testing of the 10 new 7000- operating budget released by operation for the remainder of = Blue Line O’Hare branch series metro cars CTA at the end of October 2020 and into early 2021. power improvements ($US 50m) = quarter-life overhaul work highlights the need for new However, the American Public = advancement of the Red on 5000-series metro cars federal funding to support Transportation Association Line extension project ($US = start of station and track public transport across the (APTA) projects that if additional 327.8m), and construction as part of RPM United States. While CTA will emergency federal transit = Phase 1 station improvements Phase One, and enter 2021 with no planned funding is not provided, six in under the All Stations = the roll-out of all-electric buses. changes to services or fares, the 10 public transit agencies will agency is dependent on have to consider service cuts or continued federal support to other cost-cutting measures as retain this level of service. they continue to suffer from CTA says it has witnessed an unprecedented financial losses unprecedented loss of ridership and lower-than-normal ridership. and revenue since the start of Despite the challenges to the the pandemic in March. State operating budget, which sales tax funding that supports covers day-to-day service, transit also fell well below CTA’s proposed budget anticipated levels. includes a $US 3.4bn five-year Like other transit operators, Capital Improvement Program

CTA benefitted from a $US 24.9bn (CIP). More than half of the Photo: Shutterstock/Big Joe

Minsk Metro opens first section of cross-city line Israel announces INSK Metro opened the completed. Construction of the lines, planning for which is first section of the cross-city southern extension to Slutsky underway. Haifa - Nazareth LineM 3 on November 6 following Gostinets is underway, and is Minsk’s metro network, which an inauguration attended by scheduled to open in 2023. Work opened in 1984, is now 41.8km line contractors RANSISRAEL, the authority Belarusian president, Mr on the northern extension to long and is used by around leading the $US 2bn Haifa - Alexander Lukashenka. Full the Zialiony Luh district is due 700,000 passengers daily. NazarethT tram-train project, has operation began the next day. to begin in 2023-24, with the full The line will initially be announced the 10 contactors The new 3.5km north-south line scheduled to be completed operated by a fleet of six four- which will build the 41km line. line has four stations and by 2028. Other shorter car Stadler M110/M111 EMUs, The winners of the 34km Har interchanges with Line 1 at extensions to the existing two which were delivered in 2019. Yona - Merkazit Hamifratz Vakzal’naja and Line 2 at lines are also proposed. A further four five-car trains interurban sections A, B and C Yubileynaya Ploshcha. Work In addition, Lukashenka delivered in 2020, currently are K S M G Contractors began in February 2014. announced his support for the being used on other parts of (infrastructure and development), Two extensions are planned, creation of a fourth ring line to the network, will be introduced A M Z Shemesh, Olizki extending Line 3 to 17km when connect with the other three to Line 3 at a later date. Infrastructures, Rolider, and Y Lehrer. Mixed results for transit initiatives in 2020 US elections Y Lehrer, Rolider, Abraham HERE were mixed results for transit funding The plans include adding stations to the Isaac Co, and Brothers Anton measures included on election ballots in states existing Metro Rail Red Line to Leander and Earthworks won the 7km Har andT cities across the United States on November 3. construction of the Green Line from central to Yona (Yona mountain) - Taufic According to the American Public Transportation east Austin. Two new light rail lines will also be Ziad urban section D. Association (APTA), 16 measures on various built: the Orange Line between north and south Preliminary work is due to ballots gave voters the chance to make decisions Austin, and the Blue Line between Austin city start before the end of the year, concerning $US 38bn in potential transit funding, centre and the airport. A new city centre tunnel including relocating and although not all these schemes include rail. will be constructed for the light rail service. rebuilding infrastructure, Among the winners was Caltrain with voters The result was different in Portland, Oregon, building supporting walls, in the San Francisco Bay Area set to approve a where voters rejected a measure which included earthworks and pavements. measure to increase a sales tax to provide dedicated the construction of a new 17km light rail line Initial works will be funding for the commuter operator, which is from central Portland to Tualatin, a suburb concentrated at Kiryat-Ata and haemorrhaging money during the Covid-19 southwest of the city. Nof Hagalil, and will include pandemic. The measure is expected to generate Voters in Gwinnett County, Georgia, a suburban clearing an area for a depot at $US 108m in additional funding, which will help county, northeast of Atlanta, also voted narrowly Kiryat-Ata, building two park- to keep the San Francisco - San Jose - Gilroy to defeat a measure to raise $US 12.2bn through and-ride facilities at Nof service operational. a 1% sales tax over the next 30 years to support Hagalil in the industrial zone Voters in Austin, Texas, overwhelmingly the improvement of transit connections to of Har Yona and at the urban approved Project Connect, a $US 7.1bn initiative Atlanta. Uif!Hxjoofuu!Ebjmz!Qptu!reported on market, and work at the to improve bus and rail transit, which is funded November 4 that the “no” vote received 50.22% government offices at Nof by a 0.875 cent sales tax increase. of the votes cast. Hagalil. 12 IRJ December 2020 Dec TN_Layout 1 20/11/2020 10:39 Page 13

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Alexandria city’s new lines 3 and 4 light Lahore opens Pakistan’s first metro Egypt’s National Authority for rail routes. The contract includes AKISTAN’s first metro line The new line is operated by Tunnels has awarded a Systra- an initial order for 66 LRVs, has opened in Lahore. The 27 five-car trains supplied by led consortium a contract for which are scheduled for 27.1kmP Orange Line runs from CRRC Zhuzhou Electric the design and supervision of delivery by the end of 2023. Ali Town in the southwest via Locomotive. The 80km/h trains the 360m rehabilitation of Lahore main station to Dera have heat-resistant bogies to É the 13.8km Raml light rail line. Gujran in the east. improve durability, systems Edmonton The rehabilitation is expected The Canadian city announced The line comprises 25.4km configured to handle unstable to be carried out over 34 months. Marigold Infrastructure Partners of elevated and 1.7km of voltage, and energy-saving air- (MIP) as preferred bidder for a underground track and 26 conditioning. The first train contract to design, build and stations. Two stations, Chauburji arrived in May 2017 and test Antwerp Belgium’s Flemish Transport partially finance the $C 2.6bn and Lakshmi, will become running began in October that Company (De Lijn) has ordered ($US 1.98bn), 14km Valley interchanges with the planned year. 17 additional LRVs under a Line West light rail extension. 24km Blue Line and the planned The Orange Line is forecast to contract signed in October MIP is a consortium of Colas Purple Line to the airport. carry 245,000 passengers per day. 2017 for up to 146 CAF Urbos Infrastructure Canada, Parsons, 100 low-floor LRVs. Standard General, Francl DMUs introduced on Nairobi network Architecture, Fast + EPP, and ENYA Railway Corporation a Shillings 1.5bn ($US 13.76m) Athens Stantec. (KRC) began operation of agreement signed in March 2019. Athens Metro has awarded a fiveK metre-gauge class 61 DMUs The trains were originally $US 1.8bn contract for the Istanbul on the Nairobi Commuter built by CAF between 1995 construction of the first phase Metro Istanbul began operation Network (NCR) on November and 2003, and were sold by of its 38.2km Line 4 metro of the 18.5km Mecidiyeköy - 10, following a ceremony at SFM following the completion project to an Avax-led Mahmutbey section of the Nairobi Central station attended of electrification of the consortium, which also includes driverless Line M7 on October by Kenyan president, Mr Uhuru Mallorcan network. Alstom and Ghella. The contract 28. The section is the first phase Kenyatta. The trains were purchased as covers the construction of the of the Kabatas - Esenyurt line on The trains will be used to part of the Nairobi Commuter 12.8km Section A. the European side of Istanbul. expand capacity on the four Rail Service (NCRS) project, commuter lines which radiate which includes upgrades to Auckland Kolkata from Nairobi to Syokimau, existing stations, rolling stock, The Link Alliance, led by Vinci Work on Phase 2 of Kolkata’s Ruiru, Embakasi and Kikuyu. signalling systems and around Construction Grands Projects, East-West metro line, including a The trains are part of a fleet 100km of track, as well as the has been awarded two contracts 500m tunnel below the River of 11 second-hand DMUs construction of new stations in for the Auckland City Rail Link Hooghly, has restarted following acquired by KRC from Mallorcan Buru Buru, Pipeline, Umoja, project. Package 5 includes the a five-year stoppage to the Railway Services (SFM) under Githurai, Donholm. construction of two grade- project. The Indian cabinet separated junctions and 2km of sanctioned a revised project new track. Package 7 includes cost of Rs 85.8bn ($US 1.15bn) Qatar completes Lusail LRT phase 1 installation of power supply, in October. overhead lines, signalling and the control system. London The British government is set Baghdad to provide Transport for London A consortium of Alstom and (TfL) a funding and financing Hyundai signed a Letter of package worth around £1.8bn Intent with the Iraqi Ministry to make up for lost revenue of Transport to define a caused by the coronavirus framework to accelerate pandemic. The funding will implementation of the $US enable the authority to keep 2.5bn Baghdad Elevated Train London Underground trains HE LRTC Consortium has comprises Alstom (40%) and (BET) project. and buses running through the completed phase 1 of the QDVC (60%), a Qatari second national lockdown that turnkeyT Light Rail Transit (LRT) shareholding company in Bucharest began on November 5. project in Lusail, a new city charge of civil works which is Metrorex has awarded a É240m currently under construction held 51% by Qatari Diar Real contract for up to 30 six-car Panama near Doha, Qatar. Estate Investment Company Metropolis trains to Alstom for A consortium of Hitachi, Hitachi The first phase includes and 49% by Vinci Construction use on the newly constructed Rail STS and Mitsubishi has 9.7km of single-track catenary- Grands Projects. metro Line 5. The contract signed a $US 883m contract free line and 12.8km of single- Alstom’s share of the includes an initial order for 13 with HPH Consortium, the track underground line. The line contract is worth É750m and trains worth around É100m, prime contractor for the Metro has 16 stations, an interchange includes rolling stock, catenary with an option for another 17 Line 3 monorail project, to with Doha metro Red Line, a and catenary-free technology trains worth É140m. supply rolling stock and equip depot and a viaduct over the (APS), signalling and platform the 25km line. Hitachi and Al Khor Expressway. screen doors. Casablanca Hitachi Rail STS will provide Qatar Railways Company The 28 five-car Citadis low Casa Transport has awarded 28 six-car trains equipped with awarded the LRTC consortium floor LRVs supplied by Alstom Alstom a É130m contract to Hitachi’s B-CHOP a É2bn contract in 2014 to can operate with both catenary supply up to 88 Citadis X05 regenerative braking supply the turnkey light rail and APS, with capacity for 209 LRVs for operation on the technology. IRJ system. The consortium passengers. IRJ December 2020 13 Dec FN_Layout 1 19/11/2020 17:25 Page 14

News | financial Adif and Renfe announce major investments for 2021 PANISH infrastructure managers Adif access charges will remain at 20 cents per Of this, 77.1% will go towards rolling and Adif High-Speed (Adif AV) have train-km in 2021. stock, including É300m for new purchases announcedS plans to invest É4.86bn in Renfe will increase spending to É857m and another É300m on improvements to 2021, while national operator Renfe will for 2021, a 116% rise compared with 2020. existing fleets. invest É857m. The Adif budget includes É3.01bn on various projects already underway, as well as É1.85bn for the refurbishment and improvement of the existing network. Work will also focus on completing the Spanish sections of the Mediterranean and Atlantic Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) corridors. Adif has allocated É815m for continuing upgrades to commuter networks in various cities, as well as on the Algeciras - Zaragoza, Júndiz (Vitoria) - French border and Valencia - Madrid corridors to improve reliability and connectivity. Adif AV proposed reducing access fees for high-speed services by 12% on the Madrid - Barcelona - French border route; 16% on the Madrid - Andalusia high-speed corridor; and 23% of minimum access fees for all other high-speed lines. Rail Freight Renfe is planning to spend €300m to upgrade its fleet in 2021. Photo: Shutterstock/Takashi Images €3.5bn revenue loss predicted for urban opeartors in 2021 RZD predicts ERMANY’s urban public expected to continue until then. of new lockdowns, continued transport operators expect “We only expect a noticeable reduced working hours, the freight growth toG lose up to É3.5bn in revenue recovery towards the end of absence of tourists and the HE head of Russian in 2021, even if a coronavirus 2021,” says VDV president, Mr cancellation of events, trade Railways (RZD), Mr Oleg vaccine is available by spring, Ingo Wortmann. “At the same fairs and Christmas markets. Belozerov,T has predicted that rail a study from the Association of time, we as an industry will of “In September, we were freight volumes will continue German Transport Companies course try everything to minimise already back at around 80% of to grow in 2021 as the railway (VDV) says. losses. Much of this, however, the passenger numbers we had recorded strong figures in 2020 VDV says the introduction of is not in our hands, such as the before the pandemic broke despite the Covid-19 pandemic. a vaccine will only result in a availability of the vaccine and out,” Wortmann says. “But due “The full recovery of freight recovery in passenger numbers the capacity to vaccinate as to the overall sharp rise in the traffic volumes on the railways if a large portion of the public many people as possible.” number of infections and the in Russia is expected in the first receive it, with restrictions on Operators are anticipating associated second lockdown, half of 2021,” Belozerov told passenger numbers and an increased losses over the end the figures have been falling the online PRO//Motion.1520 increase in working from home 2020 following the introduction again since mid-October.” international and transport logistics forum on October 22. “The pandemic became a serious Siemens and Alstom report fall in net income challenge. We understood that IEMENS and Alstom have orders, which counteracted Alstom retains an order backlog the situation was absolutely Sboth reported a fall in lower proceeds from higher- worth É40bn, with a year-on- not trivial and we had to react income due to the Covid-19 margin rail infrastructure and year decline of only 3%. quickly. Our prompt response pandemic. service businesses. Alstom is anticipating has demonstrated what RZD is Siemens Mobility announced Alstom reported net income stronger performance in the now: a modern, flexible and an adjusted Ebitda of É241m for of É161m in the first half of the second half of 2020-21, providing innovative company.” its 2020 fiscal year, which ran 2020-21 fiscal year from April that the second wave of the Belozerov says RZD revised from October 1 2019 to 1 to September 30, a 24.4% pandemic has no material its decision-making processes September 30 2020, a fall of drop compared with É213m effect on production or the by granting staff the authority 19% compared with É299m in in the first half of 2019-20. commercial tendering schedule. to make the decisions necessary 2019. The manufacturer also The company forecasts sales during the pandemic. The Despite the impact of reported an adjusted Ebit of for the second half of between company also approved freight Covid-19, revenue fell by only É263m for the first half of É7.6bn and É7.9bn, and an tariff discounts worth Roubles 2% year-on-year from É2.5bn 2020-21, falling 18% from adjusted Ebit margin within 10bn ($US 130m). to É2.45bn. The company É319m for the same period the 7.7-8% range. Initial forecasts predicted a recorded 14% growth in orders last year. Alstom’s Ebit margin Siemens Mobility remains drop in volumes of between 15 in 2020, rising from É1.83bn remains robust, falling by only optimistic about the 2021 fiscal and 30% for 2020, but this has in 2019 to É2.08bn. 0.2% to 7.5%. year, and forecasts that the not materialised. Intermodal Siemens says that the Despite new orders declining Covid-19 pandemic will not traffic in particular grew by company experienced gains in by 43% year-on-year to É2.65bn, have a long-lasting impact on 18%, with traffic doubling on rolling stock and signalling and sales by 15% to É3.15bn, the global economy. some routes. 14 IRJ December 2020 Dec FN_Layout 1 19/11/2020 17:25 Page 15

In brief

Australia providing single wagon load Mayan Train rolling stock and The government of Victoria services. equipment tender announced has released a new business EXICO’s National Fund Pons, says the railway will plan to rescue the troubled India Murray Basin project. The The National High Speed Rail for Tourism Promotion require a mixed fleet of electric Corporation (NHSRCL) has (Fonatur),M which is overseeing and diesel-electric trains and project stalled last year after its entire $A 440m ($US named Larsen & Toubro (L&T) construction of the 1452km has a budget of approximately as the preferred bidder for a Mayan Train project on the Pesos 40bn ($US 1.97bn). The 314.64m) budget was spent before completion. Rs 249.85bn ($US 3.39bn) Yucatan peninsula, has released network will be electrified on a contract to construct a section details of the international 690km stretch between Merida of the Mumbai - Ahmedabad public tender to supply rolling on section three and Chetumal Canada high-speed line. The contract stock and signalling and on section six. Canadian National Railway (CN) reported $C 3.41bn ($US covers a 237.1km section of operations equipment for the The second element comprises the 508.1km line. first five sections of the project. the acquisition, installation, 2.59bn) in revenue for the third The contract is split into four testing and commissioning of quarter of 2020, down $C 421m from the same period in 2019. Italy components, which Fonatur signalling, train protection, Webuild has completed the says is intended to maximise telecommunications and radio Operating expenses fell by 8% to $C 2.04bn. acquisition of 65% of possible efficiencies. systems. This element also international construction firm The first element includes includes the design, construction, Astaldi. The new group has an the procurement, testing and equipment and operation of Czech Republic order backlog of more than commissioning of 43 trains for control rooms for the network. Czech Railways (CD) has É40bn and 70,000 direct and operation on the first five The third element is the design, awarded a Koruna 9.6bn ($US 429.17m) framework contract to indirect employees in 50 sections of the line from construction and equipment of countries. Palenque via SF Campeche, rolling stock maintenance supply up to 60 RegioPanter Izamal, and Cancun to Tulum. depots. The fourth is a five-year EMUs to a consortium of Škoda Transportation and Netherlands There is also an option to after sales agreement, which The EC has approved a Dutch purchase an additional 27 sets includes knowledge transfer to Škoda Vagonka. The trains will operate regional services scheme worth around É1.5bn for the remaining two Maya Fonatur and Fonatur Tren Maya. to compensate regional and Train sections, which are new Bidding for the tender is in the east of the country, with the initial order for 29 trains. long-distance public transport build sections between Tulum, running from November 24 operators for losses caused by Bacalar and Escárcega. until December 4, with the the coronavirus pandemic and Speaking to IRJ, Fonatur winning contractor announced Denmark the subsequent measures chief, Mr Rogelio Jiménez on May 26 2021. Danish State Railways (DSB) and Nordic Investment Bank introduced to contain the virus. (NIB) have signed a É400m loan agreement to support a South Africa project to fully electrify and Transnet has reported a 34.9% convert DSB’s fleet. The 15- decrease in net profit to Rand year loan will help finance 42 3.9bn ($US 241.7m) for the new Siemens Vectron electric financial year ending March locomotives, more than 100 new 31, despite a 1.3% increase in EMUs and coaches, and the revenue to Rand 75.1bn. establishment of three Operating costs increased by workshops. 1.9% to Rand 41.1bn, while Ebitda increased by 0.7% to France Rand 34bn. Transport minister, Mr Jean- Baptiste Djebbari, presented the United States

Photo: Photo: Shuterstock/Andre Luiz Moreira 2021 provisional rail budget to Short line and regional freight parliament on November 10. operator Patriot Rail has The proposed budget for entered into an agreement to Brazilian passenger operators face transport infrastructure and acquire Class 3 short line $US 1.3bn loss from Covid-19 services will increase by 17% operator Salt Lake Garfield & HE Brazilian National numbers in the third quarter to É3.7bn. Western Railway (SLGW) and Association of Passenger were still down by 54% year- its subsidiaries Caballero and RailT Operators (ANPTrilhos) on-year. Germany Caballero 2, which provide says metro, urban and light This recovery has been Bombardier Transportation storage and multi-modal rail operators are expecting a slowed by the fact that 70% of reported $US 2.1bn in revenue services. total loss of Reais 7.4bn ($US journeys are usually taken for for the third quarter of 2020, 1.3bn) in 2020, with passenger work, with high unemployment adjusted to exclude the impact Uzbekistan numbers dropping 30% coupled with an increase in of foreign exchange rates due The Asian Development Bank compared with 2019. companies closing or working to the impact of the Covid-19 (ADB) has issued a $US 121m The situation is beginning to remotely affecting passenger pandemic. The result is a 5% loan to complete the improve slightly, with passenger numbers. drop compared with the same modernisation of the country’s numbers recovering by 27% in Between January and period in 2019. eastern rail network. The loan the third quarter compared September, operators carried = The European Commission will support projects to with the second quarter, which around 1.1 billion fewer (EC) approved a É600m increase capacity and recorded an 84% drop year-on- passengers, a 47% decrease scheme to support operators frequency. IRJ year. However, passenger year-on-year. IRJ December 2020 15 Dec NA_Layout 1 30/11/2020 16:12 Page 14

News | analysis Strong environmental credentials set to drive European passenger rail recovery Environmental trends are expected to help Europe’s passenger rail sector recover from the Covid-19 downturn in the long-term, but medium-term risks still remain according to a report issued last month by Moody’s Investor Service. David Burroughs reports. S countries, regions and effects of the pandemic on the faster recovery is driven by the traffic to recover from the lows cities across Europe sector, says a report from lower exposure of passenger of 2020 in 2021 before growing restrictedA travel to stem the Moody’s Investor Service operators to international slightly above the rate of GDP spread of coronavirus in released at the end of October. traffic, which accounts for only growth from 2022, which will March of this year, the This government support is 6% of European rail passenger support long-term revenue resulting drop in travellers hit also expected to enable the traffic, and also by the growth for European the passenger rail sector hard. sector to preserve its credit increasing use of rail as a form passenger railway companies. Falls of up to 90-95% in some quality, despite the plummet of transport. While many European cases decimated the balance in railway companies’ While leisure travel will governments have required sheets of many operators earnings in 2020, the credit fully recover, Moody’s believes operators to maintain an across the continent placing rating provider notes. there is a risk that commuter almost full service to support them under immediate In general, Moody’s expects levels may not return to 2019 essential journeys during the financial pressure. passenger traffic to recover levels as it expects a pandemic, the significant drop While this has caused major more quickly in the rail sector permanent increase in people in passenger traffic has led to a concern in the short term, than in the airline sector where working from home instead of substantial decline in government intervention is a substantial recovery is commuting to an office. operators’ Ebitda, especially expected to mitigate the worst unlikely before 2023. The Overall, Moody’s expects during the first half of the

Many previously busy stations , such as London Waterloo, were left deserted as passengers stayed away from trains throughout 2020. However, Moody’s says environmental trends will drive passengers back to rail in the long-term, helping the sector to recover and potentially capture new users. 15a IRJ December 2020 Dec NA_Layout 1 30/11/2020 16:12 Page 15

year. Moody’s says this will create growth opportunities by clean energy sources. bus operators such as Flixbus, require government support, for European passenger While investments in next- which have been growing including direct or indirect railway companies in the next generation rolling stock, new faster than their respective measures, to continue over the decade, a credit positive given technologies and the sectors. Moody’s says this next 12 to 18 months. the impact of the coronavirus modernisation of the rail represents a threat for some The coronavirus pandemic on the sector,” says Mr network are needed to support incumbent operators in terms is also highlighting the Francesco Bozzano, assistant the planned growth for of increased competition and limitations of the liberalisation vice-president and analyst at passenger rail, this increasing pricing pressure. of the passenger railway sector Moody’s Investors Service. investment, coupled with Income inequality is also, to at the expense of small private “Government initiatives coronavirus disruption, will some extent, expected to slow rail operators, Moody’s says. encouraging consumers to use lead to negative free cash flow the shift of passengers to rail Unlike domestic incumbents, more sustainable transport and higher funding needs, in Europe, especially in private operators do not have alternatives to reduce CO2 Moody’s says. countries such as France the scale, the access to funding emissions should also mean a or government support to profit boost to rail traffic.” survive a prolonged severe Both the European Union decline in demand. (EU) and national Long-term, environmental governments are in the process Both the European Union (EU) and trends are expected to create of drafting regulations and growth opportunities over the measures aimed at promoting national governments are in the process next decade. Initiatives by a shift to rail, a positive sign “ European governments to for passenger operators. of drafting regulations and measures tackle air pollution and cut Moody’s expects the CO2 greenhouse gas emissions will emissions gap between trains aimed at promoting a shift to rail, a provide a boost to rail traffic and aircraft to widen as more positive sign for passenger operators. due to lower CO2 emissions lines are electrified, diesel compared with other forms of trains are replaced by transport. hydrogen trains and electrified “Environmental trends will lines are increasingly powered This will in turn keep where ticket prices are high. operators’ debt/Ebitda ratios However, Moody’s says this high. Moody’s expects a large could also be an opportunity portion of these funds to be to diversify passenger subsidised by governments or railways’ service offerings. local authorities, but a residual Domestic operators that have portion will be paid by created their own low-cost passenger operators. offers such as French National Among the European Railways’ (SNCF) Ouigo in railway companies Moody’s France and Renfe’s Avlo rates, German Rail (DB) service in Spain are well exhibits the highest increase in equipped to face competition capital spending in 2021 as the in the next 10 years. railway plans investments in Passenger operators are also rolling stock and infrastructure increasingly moving to dynamic improvements. ticket pricing systems, similar Czech Railways’ (CD) to those used by airlines, capital spending is also rising which will enable them to rapidly as a percentage of its extend offers to customers of revenue to around 30%-40% in different income levels, 2021 from around 15%-25% in thereby increasing traffic. 2018 as the company plans to Moody’s adds that as people modernise its relatively old continue to move to fast- rolling stock and steps up its growing areas in search of investment projects following work, particularly large cities, Covid-related delays in 2020. the use of some regional rail networks has decreased thus making several regional lines Social risks uneconomical to run. While Moody’s considers the cost of maintaining passenger operators to have minimum public services are medium credit exposure to generally borne by governments social risks, due to the sector’s rather than operators, Moody’s labour-intensive and highly says services could be unionised nature which indirectly affected as funding increases the probability of minimum services in social actions and pressure on unprofitable regions diverts labour costs. government funds away from Income inequality supports potential investment in other the value proposition of low- parts of the network or in

Photo: Photo: Shutterstock.com/Sandor Smutzko cost airlines like EasyJet and technological improvements. IRJ

IRJ December 2020 15b Dec SNCF_Layout 1 17/11/2020 16:29 Page 16

France | SNCF SNCF at a crossroads Passenger market liberalisation, freight reform and growing company debt were all major challenges facing French National Railways (SNCF) president and CEO Jean-Pierre Farandou when he took the job in November 2019. Covid-19 has added a new dynamic to the role. In an exclusive interview, Farandou speaks to David Haydock about SNCF’s prospects for the decade ahead.

R Jean-Pierre Farandou took to say the least. A national strike over government-financed scheme and over as president and CEO of pension reforms was immediately delaying or abandoning some investments. French National Railways followed by the Covid-19 pandemic and Following the end of lockdown, (SNCF)M in November 2019, replacing lockdown which led to a collapse in rail services returned to near normal in Mr Guillaume Pepy who had held the traffic. After a relative recovery, a new Paris, 87% in the regions and 70% on post for 12 years. Unlike his predecessor, lockdown started on October 30 and TGVs. Rail freight returned to 85% of Farandou has spent his whole career SNCF has again responded by limiting pre-pandemic levels. with SNCF, moving through a variety of services as passengers are encouraged A normal passenger service was posts, including eight years at the helm to stay away from its trains. announced for the summer holidays, of Keolis, SNCF’s operator of urban The impact of Covid was reflected in but SNCF was forced to cut some TGV transport in France and abroad. SNCF’s first half results. Total revenue services due to poor reservations. In the Farandou arrives at a crucial time. The fell by 21%, contributing to a É2.4bn loss. end TGVs carried 2 million passengers national incumbent, which has 270,000 Intercity passenger operator, SNCF during July and August, 85% of the 2019 figure, but in order to achieve this, some fares were significantly discounted. Following the return to work and education, TGV revenue in October SNCF will continue to invest at a very high level, 2020 was only 50% of the 2019 level, while TER traffic was down 25% and particularly in renewing the network. Transilien services by 35%. Business “ traffic was much reduced due to the Jean-Pierre Farandou cancellations of trade fairs and a continuation of home working. International passenger services were staff worldwide and an annual turnover Mobility, which is normally responsible for very badly hit - Eurostar from London of É33bn, will shortly face competition 20% of total turnover, was worst hit, to Paris and Amsterdam, for example, for operation of long-distance, regional with revenue down by 57.5%. At the carried only 11% of 2019 traffic in and suburban passenger services (p24), height of the mid-March to mid-May September. while a new mobility law will allow lockdown, SNCF was operating only The impact of the new lockdown, regional government to take over 7% of TGVs, 16% of regional passenger starting October 30, is likely to be ownership of rail infrastructure. At the trains, and 34% of Transilien Paris slightly less drastic as great efforts have same time, SNCF’s rail freight subsidiaries suburban services. Freight traffic was been made to maintain industrial are being reorganised to eliminate down by 30%, mainly because building activity, while schools have remained chronic losses and an ambitious plan has work was halted and the automotive open; on the other hand commuting been launched to double rail freight’s industry stopped, both of which hit will be hit by the government’s market share by 2030 (p20). steel producers. SNCF reacted by message to work from home. Farandou’s first year has been turbulent furloughing some staff under a There will be little or no leisure traffic with journeys between regions banned. Jean-Pierre Farandou Farandou says SNCF is arandou was previously executive general manager between 1993 and 1998. finding it very difficult to chairman of Keolis before taking Farandou led the SNCF Rhône Alpes forecast results for 2021. He says over as president and CEO of SNCF region between 2002 and the end of the recent “second wave” of on January 1. A graduate of engineering 2004, when he joined Keolis, initially as F Covid has taken everyone by from Mines ParisTech, Farandou began head of Keolis Lyon, which operates surprise and the number of his career with US mining company bus, metro and tram services in the passengers travelling in 2021 Amax before joining SNCF in 1981. French city. will depend on the rate of In 1993 he was appointed project In 2006 he was appointed director of infections and decisions taken manager for the launch of the Paris - SNCF Proximités, before becoming by the government to limit its Lille high-speed line, before going on deputy managing director of SNCF impact on the health system. to create the legal structure for Thalys Epic in June 2012. He was appointed Farandou hopes that a International, where he was also chairman of Keolis in August 2012. vaccine will be available by 16 Dec SNCF_Layout 1 17/11/2020 16:29 Page 17

mid-2021 and that life - and rail traffic - and all trains are being disinfected once or group’s historic debt - that related to can return to normal. twice a day. Face masks are obligatory infrastructure building - SNCF is still Although current polls suggest that on all of our trains and in stations.” weighed down by other debts, such as some people are avoiding trains due to the É5bn built up by Fret SNCF’s concerns about Covid, and using their chronic losses over the last 15 years. cars, which add to congestion and Relaunch France “SNCF will continue to invest at a very pollution, there is significant evidence On September 3, the French high level, particularly in renewing the that the public is even more afraid of government announced the “Relaunch network,” Farandou says. “But the using air transport, which is helping France” package of aid to boost the Covid crisis has had an inevitable effect rail. “We do not think passengers will economy, which included É4.7bn for on less urgent projects – we have be put off using the train - travelling by SNCF. Of this no less than É4.1bn will agreed a slowing in the delivery of new train presents very little risk of catching go to infrastructure manager SNCF TGV sets with Alstom, postponed the virus,” Farandou says. “Cleaning of Network to support continuing refurbishment of maintenance depots and trains has been network modernisation projects. The put off less urgent training programmes. stepped up remaining É600m is for future service “TGV services may also face a relaunches. The government is also ‘structural reduction’ in business traffic helping rail freight by waiving due to an increase in home working track access charges completely and the increased use of video in 2020 and halving them in conferencing. This has already been an 2021. effect of Covid and SNCF has had to SNCF has not yet requested adjust fares and marketing to fill seats direct financial aid from the with more private and leisure traffic.” government to support The government bailout for Air France operation, unlike national was conditioned on the abandonment airline Air France, which of all domestic flights taking less than received a promise of É7bn 2h 30min where there is an alternative in April. In the meantime, by rail such as Paris - Nantes and Paris SNCF will reduce TGV and - Bordeaux. Although a welcome benefit Intercités services to match for SNCF, the numbers of passengers demand, while regional concerned is relatively small compared councils, including Île-de- with the capacity of trains on these France will decide whether routes - a pair of TGV Duplex sets can to reduce TER and Transilien carry over 1000 passengers - five times services. or more the capacity of equivalent Farandou did not comment planes. on a recent report that SNCF Farandou confirmed that he wished has started the process of to see SNCF go back to its core activities selling off its freight wagon of running trains in France. “What the business Ermewa and the public want is trains which run on time, possibility of more asset are comfortable and well maintained, sales. While central stations are comfortable, and it is our government has job to provide this,” he says. promised to take However, he flatly rejected the idea on part of that the group might sell its road the haulage subsidiary Geodis, which accounts for about a quarter of group revenue, arguing that diversifying activities also diversifies risks. One new international enterprise that is proceeding as planned is the introduction of low-cost TGVs in Spain, which will run as Ouigo as in France. “Our market research showed clearly that the Spanish market wants low cost, low price trains,” Farandou says. Although Covid throws some doubts over the launch of services, Farandou believes that a relatively quiet start 17 Dec SNCF_Layout 1 17/11/2020 16:29 Page 18

France | SNCF

SNCF plans to introduce its low-cost Ouigo brand on the Madrid - Barcelona route in 2021. Photo: David Haydock

on the Madrid - Barcelona route will agreed with passengers that there = digitalisation - 5000 staff and É2b in allow experience to be gained during should be more staff at ticket windows; turnover, with investment in training 2021, thus helping later launches on the this comes after years of stress on the for everyone, especially in data collection. Madrid - Valencia and Seville routes. importance of the internet, and Farandou emphasises the importance SNCF is expecting 60-70% occupation unpopular station destaffing. of decentralisation. “SNCF is too initially, rising to 85-90% as services In July 2020 Farandou presented the centralised at present,” he says. build up. “Everyone is SNCF” plan, the stated “Everyone is SNCF will bring the aim of which is to make SNCF a company closer to the regions and their “champion of sustainable mobility” by policies.” Clearly SNCF will only win Strikes 2030. The plan concentrates on four TER operating contracts if it sees eye-to- On his arrival in the post of CEO in themes: eye with regional councils. November 2019, Farandou made a = people - making people want to work SNCF and successive French series of speeches in which he said that for SNCF, with an accent on lifetime governments have argued for delays to he wished to renew contacts with staff retraining competitive bidding to operate and bring back “social peace.” At the = decentralisation - 11 regional passenger services, and French trade same time, he condemned wildcat strikes coordinators have been appointed to unions are openly hostile to the idea. as “unacceptable.” In the difficult liaise with regional government, However, in the interests of fair atmosphere of the time, he said that he industry and other organisations, then competition and the competitiveness of wished to improve everyday conditions produce regional development strategies railways, the EU has pushed through for railway personnel, saying that some = the environment - including reducing the process. In 2019 non-subsidised of the buildings currently in use were energy bills by 25% within five years, long-distance services were opened up “unfit for purpose.” He also said that he and emissions, and to competition and Trenitalia intends to 18 IRJ December 2020 Dec SNCF_Layout 1 17/11/2020 16:29 Page 19

start Paris - Milan high-speed services years-old, one priority is to order avoid plane travel and do not own cars in 2021. The Railcoop cooperative common rolling stock. Farandou also to use these trains,” Farandou says. intends to run domestic intercity confirmed that a new direct service Questioned on SNCF’s research into services on routes SNCF no longer between London and Germany would new technology such as automatic train operates in 2022. be an idea for the merged company. operation (ATO), Farandou says ATO is According to EU rules, subsidised On July 14 2020, French president, Mr likely to initially be used to move public service obligation (PSO) services - Emanuel Macron, acknowledged rail’s empty stock and for shunting in freight regional and city suburban services - must be tendered from 2023, although the French government has encouraged trial opening before this date. However, fewer than half the French regions have We do not think passengers will be put off using the train started this process. These regions have stated that they expect to see cost - travelling by train presents very little risk of catching reductions of up to 30% and improvements “ to services. the virus. Jean-Pierre Farandou French companies, including SNCF subsidiary Keolis, have wide experience of bidding for contracts and operating trains outside of France and Farandou contribution to reducing pollution and yards. “ATO on main lines is likely to says SNCF’s strategy will be to bid for global warming, and called for the be linked to the development of geo- all of the contracts, starting with the relaunch of overnight trains, most of localisation of trains and the installation central government’s tender for Intercités which were withdrawn in 2017 for of ERTMS,” Farandou says. “ERTMS is services from Nantes to Bordeaux and financial reasons, to safeguard minor extremely important for the solution of Lyon. “The terms of the contract as far branch lines, and the relaunch of rail capacity problems.” as rolling stock and timetables will be freight. The government has since asked The first major use of ERTMS will be quite restrictive,” he says. “But SNCF SNCF to restore night trains to the on the Paris - Lyon high speed line, which will be able to innovate in several fields. Paris-Tarbes/Hendaye and Paris-Nice will support an increase in capacity However, it is not possible to give any routes by 2022. This will initially from 13 to 16 trains per direction per details.” Farandou also believes that the involve reviving and modernising 40- hour with work on this project already summer 2021 limit for bids may slip year-old Corail coaches. underway. due to Covid-19. SNCF is already planning to launch a Overall Farandou has said that he is As far as regional services go, tenders market study into routes and pricing and is very optimistic for the SNCF group have already been issued by the Sud- investigating both second-hand and over the next 10 years, in spite of the Paca, Grand Est and Hauts-de-France new rolling stock. The company will Covid-19 pandemic. He has described regions. Farandou rejects the many also explore relaunching international Covid-19 as a “meteorite” which has hit comparisons between SNCF’s operating services such as Paris - Berlin with partners the SNCF planet, and which may affect costs for regional services with those in such as DB. “We will be targeting a new SNCF for two years, but which has not Germany. generation of travellers who wish to blown the planet off course. IRJ “Germany has denser populations than in France and services are therefore less frequent and resources used less intensively,” he says. “SNCF can reduce its costs and win contracts - many of the recent contracts signed with the French regions involve cost reductions over a period of several years. Improving services will above all depend on improving the state of the network, something which is being carried out at present.”

Green Speed SNCF holds majority stakes in both Eurostar, which operates high-speed trains from London to Paris and Amsterdam, and Thalys which serves Paris, Amsterdam and Cologne. Incidentally Farandou was behind the creation of Thalys in 1997. In 2019 it was announced that Eurostar and Thalys would be merged in 2021 under the new brand, Green Speed. Farandou confirmed that the merger would go ahead as soon as possible in order to benefit from synergies and economies of scale. Farandou wants to see SNCF get back to its core activities of running trains that are on time, With Thalys’ fleet approaching 30- comfortable and well maintained. Photo: Keith Fender IRJ December 2020 19 Dec French Freight_Layout 1 17/11/2020 16:37 Page 20

France | freight

Can France double rail freight volumes in 10 years?

This summer an alliance of French rail freight operators presented an ambitious plan to double rail freight volumes over the next 10 years. David Haydock examines the plan and asks whether it can succeed.

N June 23 2020 the French Rail The plan has been produced at a Some of the remainder will support Freight Future (4F) alliance of promising time for French rail freight. measures outlined in the 4F plan. private operators and Fret SNCF Although the Covid crisis has hurt traffic, The coordinator of the 4F plan, Mr presentedO a 22-page report to the French the public and government have at last Franck Tuffereau, who also leads the government detailing 10 priorities to noticed the essential role played by the Arfa rail lobbying body and has help rail freight double its market share sector. Concerns over road transport’s experience of working for French by 2030. contribution to pollution and global National Railways (SNCF), Transdev Of the É15.7bn plan, the majority of warming also favour a relaunch for rail and Euro Cargo Rail, envisages a two- actions focus on modernisation, freight. Indeed, the 4F report sets out stage implementation programme. enlargement and construction of the massive externalities caused by road Firstly, safeguarding and improving infrastructure at a cost of É13.3bn. The transport and points out savings available existing services and prioritising second main measure, which will cost by expanding rail freight’s market share. customer service improvements while just over É2bn, will provide temporary The government’s Relaunching France planning takes place for the second support for intermodal and wagonload package announced on September 3 phase, which will emphasise significant traffic. Further measures propose included a promise of É4.7bn for traffic growth. investment in new technology, “greening” railways, É4.1bn of which will go to Doubling of freight traffic will put traction and updating the wagon fleet. infrastructure manager SNCF Network. pressure on the rail network and it is 20 IRJ December 2020 Dec French Freight_Layout 1 17/11/2020 16:37 Page 21

Fret SNCF, which has a 55% market share in France, has lost money for the past 15 years but is slated to break even by 2023. Photo: David Haydock

therefore not surprising that 85% of the crossings, and provision of diversionary routes. A further É400m is required to total budget for the 4F plan is slated for routes around Lyon, Lille and Paris. To support an increase in train lengths infrastructure improvements. avoid additional expenses and planning initially to 850m and later to 1500-1700m. SNCF’s head of rail freight, Mr Frédéric delays, this work will focus on improving For Tuffereau, Action 24 of this section, Delorme, says the key to doubling rail existing lines where possible. Tuffereau which calls for short-term improvement freight is improving infrastructure - hopes to see electrification of the Amiens to customer service, is essential. SNCF decongesting busy junctions and - Laon - Reims - Chalons route to create Network will receive É210m up to 2024 increasing the loading gauge and train part of an outer ring line avoiding Paris to revise its maintenance practises, lengths. However, he says it is equally from the port of Le Havre. effectively ending line closures of more important to consider the external costs Priority 7 concerns upgrading than six hours a day and banning of road transport, and to move to much existing freight terminals and port blockades of double-track lines unless greener logistics. networks by 2024 at a cost of É100m, there is a reasonable diversionary route. Priority 6 of the plan includes Action and calls for a further É500m to 18, which would gobble up É10.5bn improve access to ports and a network between 2025 and 2030. This work of freight terminals up to 2030. Delorme Branch lines includes adding tracks and introducing estimates that France will need eight to The 2018 Spinetta report on the state bi-directional signalling where trains 10 new large terminals by 2030. of the rail network questioned the need need to overtake, new chords at Saint Under Priority 8 É600m is earmarked for 9000km of branch lines out of a Fons (Lyon), Conflans-Jarny (near Metz) to increase the loading gauge to P400 network totalling 28,000km. A year and Le Boulou (near the Spanish standards, which will support the later, the Philizot report recommended border), the elimination of some level transport of semitrailers on all strategic giving powers to the regions or other IRJ December 2020 21 Dec French Freight_Layout 1 17/11/2020 16:37 Page 22

France | freight

bodies for many of these lines. Tuffereau welcomes the new regime. “While minor lines form just 20% of the network, they generate 50% of all French rail freight,” he says. Priority 3 aims to improve rail’s competitive advantage by favouring rail over road, increasing intermodal traffic and subsidising existing and future traffic where necessary. A variety of measures costing government about É120m a year - including an extension of the existing intermodal subsidy - are intended to encourage modal shift. 4F is also soliciting support for wagonload traffic to the tune of É75m a year. Both subsidies would be temporary and would cost the government É2bn over the 10-year period. This total is modest compared with the subsidy offered for TER regional passenger services - the Hauts-de-France region for example pays SNCF a É500m annual subsidy. There are signs that the French state is beginning to move in this direction. Fret SNCF confirmed that the government will provide an exceptional payment of É170m in mid- December, which includes É70m to support wagonload traffic, a halving of SNCF reorganises TFMM traffic access charges in 2021 at a cost of OLLOWING the appointment of of traffic, will be renamed Captrain É65m, an intermodal load subsidy Mr Jean-Pierre Farandou as France in January 2021. The move will expected to cost É20m, and É15m for president of SNCF, Mr Frédéric improve integration with the other the development of three new DelormeF replaced Ms Sylvie Charles as Captrain subsidiaries, with the aim of Autoroute Ferroviares piggyback head of Multimodal Freight Rail offering customers end-to-end service services: Barcelona - Perpignan - Rungis Transport (TFMM), a cluster of European across borders. - Antwerp; Cherbourg - Bayonne; and rail and multimodal freight transport Ecorail Transport was created in 2010 Calais - Sète. companies owned by SNCF. to operate trains carrying aggregates Fret SNCF: Responsible for around from western France and became a half of TFMM’s turnover and with a subsidiary of VFLI in 2019. In early 2020 Technology 55% market share in France, Fret SNCF Ecorail started to provide drivers for A total spend of É670m on new operates the national wagonload VFLI in western France, and cooperation technology from central government network, a range of block trains and is expected to increase in future. and the EU is proposed in Priority 5. provides traction for intermodal Captrain was created in 2009 after The majority of this would go on services under contract to Novatrans, SNCF acquired Veolia Cargo’s developing driverless trains, automatic VIIA and others. Fret SNCF has lost activities and the German private coupling and a computerised tool to money for the past 15 years but is operator ITL. It has since set up evaluate the environmental impact of slated to break even by 2023. Delorme subsidiaries in Benelux, Italy, Spain transport in real-time. Other proposed says the company expects to benefit and Poland. developments include the use of rail- from wagonload traffic growth thanks to Naviland Cargo is SNCF’s road vehicles for local wagon recently joining the Xrail partnership intermodal operator specialising in distribution and collection, low cost which covers most of Europe. Fret container services from France’s ports. electrification and automation for SNCF will also seek productivity gains The subsidiary has been given a brief terminals. by running longer and heavier trains. to expand into other ports on the Priority 4 proposes allocating É490m The company has built up debts of North Sea coast where Captrain owns to modernise operations. É320m would É5bn which the government is subsidiary Railtraxx. support retrofitting of locomotives, unwilling (and unable under EU rules) VIIA operates Autoroute Ferroviaire including with ERTMS, renewal of the to write off. French media reported piggyback services. The company has wagon fleet to reduce noise, increase recently that SNCF is now starting to suffered poor growth due to successive modularity and improve coupling sell assets in order to reduce the debts strikes and also a lack of quality paths. strength, and optical identification for and hopes to obtain É2.5 billion for Delorme says traffic growth is wagons and containers. Proposals for wagon lessor Ermewa. dependent on freight being considered locomotives include elimination of VFLI, created as a “low cost” freight as important as passenger traffic and diesel traction within 10-15 years. subsidiary, and operating a wide range the allocation of quality paths. One of the most eye-catching measures - and by no means the most expensive at 22 IRJ December 2020 Dec French Freight_Layout 1 17/11/2020 16:37 Page 23

É30m - is Priority 1, Action 1, which British port of Felixstowe with the 12 trains partly attributable to the massive calls for the creation of a digital platform a week which currently operate out of nationwide strikes. Indeed, the idea that to monitor trains operating in France Le Havre, France’s busiest container port. Fret SNCF might cooperate with private allowing customers to track wagons. Mr Louis-Félix Touron, Euro Cargo operators on last mile services, rather The platform will also identify spare Rail’s head of business development, than use its own resources, might not capacity on trains enabling companies agrees that intermodal has massive go down well; job losses, especially in to purchase space on each other’s trains, potential. “France is a long way behind non-core personnel, are almost certain saving resources and reducing the number other European countries, particularly over the next couple of years to make of paths needed. It is hoped that this Germany, but with government aid, the company more efficient. can be introduced by 2024. “This should save operators a considerable amount of money, especially for ‘last mile’ pick up and set down of wagons,” Tuffereau says. Several operators currently run their own wagonload services in addition to Improved service should bring about a doubling of Fret SNCF’s national network. “ wagonload traffic and block trains, but intermodal traffic Although traditional traffic is set to grow, operators agree that the greatest is expected to triple or even quadruple. Franck Tuffereau growth will come from intermodal. “Improved service should bring about a doubling of wagonload traffic and block trains, but intermodal traffic is expected to triple or even quadruple,” Tuffereau wagonload traffic can not only be However, Tuffereau believes that this says. stabilised but also has potential for time things might be different. “The volumes to grow,” Touron says. unions realise that Fret SNCF is in Delorme would even like to see road danger of disappearing completely and Intermodal tolls introduced for transiting lorry are ready to behave responsibly,” he Mr Paul Hodgson, director of traffic and restrictions on traffic where says. If growth does happen at the 5- international activity at CFL Cargo, there is an alternative container or 10% annual rate envisaged, jobs will be Luxembourg, sees little growth in piggyback rail service. created and Fret SNCF, as well as its wagonload and block trains, but great It remains to be seen how the rail competitors, will be able to prosper, potential for intermodal, comparing the unions will respond to the new plan. reversing the culture of decline that has 120-150 trains a week flooding out of the The past 10 years of stagnant traffic is dogged the sector for decades. IRJ

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France | liberalisation Passenger liberalisation stumbles towar

France is slowly gearing up to open up Public Service Obligation (PSO) passenger contracts to competition from 2023, in line with European legislation. David Haydock reviews the current situation.

UCCESSIVE French governments passenger services to competition, between 2023 and 2029 and it is not have done everything in their France is finally poised to follow suit. clear yet what will happen when these power to slow down the EU’s In France, regional governments are deadlines pass. As well as operating openingS up of railways to competition responsible for defining PSO services, and services, SNCF maintains rolling stock over the past 20 years. Arguments have the French government permitted the owned by the regions. The regions have varied from deeming the measures as regions to begin experimental tendering also gradually been pushed to finance unnecessary, that liberalisation has not for packages of services from 2019. new or reopened lines, new depots and, been effective elsewhere, and French However, take up has been slow. Less more recently, even to renew track. National Railways (SNCF) was not ready. than half of the regions are taking steps However, relations between SNCF Of course, French companies have to tender a proportion of PSO Train and the regions are often tetchy. The been successful in neighbouring Express Régional (TER) services, and the need to obtain a great deal of data on all liberalised markets - notably Transdev Court of Audit, which monitors public aspects of traffic and operation is a and French National Railways’ (SNCF) spending, has criticised several regions particular source of friction - for example, subsidiary, Keolis. But with the EU for not preparing for liberalisation. Hauts-de-France’s appealed to the rail confirming that 2023 is the deadline for In the regions that have not regulator to clarify what data should be all countries to open-up subsidised proceeded with tendering, existing made available. Communication is also public service obligation (PSO) contracts with SNCF are due to expire poor, emphasised by SNCF not always 24 IRJ December 2020 Dec French Pax Lib_Layout 1 19/11/2020 18:02 Page 25

bid for contracts and create ad hoc Vincent to Xeuilley. The contract is subsidiaries if they win in Île-de-France. expected to start in 2024. Transdev welcomed the publication The second tender is for DMU services ard 2023 start of a tender in January by the Ministry between Strasbourg, Molsheim, Saint- of Transport to operate Intercities Dié and Epinal and Strasbourg - services between Nantes and Bordeaux Molsheim - Sélestat. This will be limited and Nantes and Lyon on the Balance of to train operation. The contract is Territory (TET) inter-city network, expected to start on March 1 2022, will currently operated by SNCF Mobility, cover 1.5 million train-km a year and from the beginning of 2022. The will last between eight and 15 years. company has also used examples from Existing DMUs will be used. its activities in Germany to suggest that Grand Est is also working with the liberalisation can mean reopening of neighbouring German authorities in lines and increases in passenger Saarland, Baden-Württemberg and numbers rather than closures as French Rheinland-Pfalz to tender improved trade unions suggest. services on seven lines for launch in “Transdev will bid for most of the 2024. Grand Est expects to see a 30% contracts for regional services to be drop in costs by tendering operation on tendered, and is also looking closely at these lines. opportunities in Île-de-France,” says The Hauts-de-France region put three Transdev spokesman, Mr Olivier le sets of services on lines currently being Friec. “We are most advanced with the renewed out to tender in September Marseille - Nice service in Sud 2020: Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur (Paca). The = an 11-year contract worth É228m to company will base its offers on its operate the Paris Nord - Beauvais experience in Germany, Sweden and suburban line, which accounts for New Zealand, for example, on a wide 900,000 train-km per year variety of services from S-Bahn city = a 12.5-year contract worth É820m to stopping trains in Hannover to overnight operate services around Amiens, which services from Sweden to Berlin.” accounts for 3.4 million train-km a year, The RégioNéo joint venture of RATP and Dev (55%), a subsidiary of Paris = an 11-year, É155m contract to operate Transport Authority (RATP), and services around St Pol-sur-Ternoise, Getlink (45%), operator of the Channel which accounts for 600,000 train-km a Tunnel, was formed with the intention year. of entering the regional market in The Pays-de-la-Loire region intends November 2019. “Our initial aim will be to start the tendering process in July to bid for contracts in the Grand Est and 2021 on two networks accounting for Hauts-de-France regions where the two 30% of TER services: tram-train services companies are already well established,” from Nantes to Châteaubriant and Mr Romain Dufour, Getlink spokesman Clisson, and Sud Loire covering Nantes confirmed to IRJ. - Pornic - Saint Gilles - Croix-de-Vie, Les The slow move to begin tendering TER services Italian State Railways (FS) subsidiary Sables-d’Olonne - La Rochelle - Cholet, in some French regions has been criticised by Trenitalia has made friends in the Paca and Cholet - Angers. Operation will the Court of Audit. Photo: Keith Fender region in recent years, operating Thello start in December 2023 at the latest. informing the regions of traffic disruption. services from Marseille and Nice to The Sud-Paca region is tendering two One of the major problems facing the Milan, and is likely to bid for contracts service groups. The first is Marseille - opening up of PSO services to competitive there. Another possible competitor in Toulon - Cannes - Nice, which accounts bidding is the relatively low cost Paca is RDT13, which is owned by the 2.45 million train-km a year and is coverage from fare box revenue. TER Bouches-du-Rhône department which currently operated with vintage service revenue covers on average 27- covers Marseille and Aix-en-Provence. locomotive-hauled Corail stock. This 30% of costs, with this figure only RDT13 currently only operates rail will start in summer 2025 after exceeded in two regions. Some rural freight services and buses in the area. construction of a new depot in Nice and regions do not even reach 20%. In the procurement of new trains. The addition, the cost per train-km in France contract will last 10 years and is worth is at least double that in Germany and Tenders underway É870m. The second contract will cover many routes are not helped by the very Grand Est is one of the pioneers of services around Nice: Les Arcs - Cannes few or no off-peak services available, early tendering, offering two contracts. - Nice - Monaco - Ventimiglia, Italy; meaning the majority of revenue comes The first is for services on the non- Cannes - Grasse; and Nice - Tende. This from heavily discounted season tickets. electrified Nancy - Vittel - Contrexéville will start in December 2024 and will Despite the obvious challenges, line. However, the contract is offered in total 4.3 million train-km a year. several companies have confirmed their an unusual format with the winner both Other regions have announced intention to bid for contracts. managing infrastructure and running provisional plans. Ile-de-France (greater SNCF says it will bid to retain all the train service. At present this line is Paris) will open non-RER lines to contracts and that its local operating closed completely between Xeuilley and competition from 2023, RER Line E, subsidiary Transilien plus Keolis will Vittel and is freight only from Pont St which is operated by SNCF and currently IRJ December 2020 25 Dec French Pax Lib_Layout 1 19/11/2020 18:02 Page 26

France | liberalisation

being extended westwards, in 2025, also resulted in the withdrawal of FS service from Bordeaux to Lyon via RER lines C and D (SNCF) from 2033 subsidiary, Thello’s Paris - Venice central France by the end of 2022. and RER lines A and B (joint operation overnight service, and a reduction in The company announced in June that by SNCF and RATP) from 2039. the frequency of its Milan - Nice trains. it is planning to offer three trains per The Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region German company FlixMobilty, an day via Libourne, Périgueux, Limoges, has talked of starting tendering with operator of long-distance buses in Guéret, Montluçon, Saint-Germain-des- two small networks: tram-train services France, similarly postponed plans to Fossés and Roanne and is proposing a on the West Lyon three-line network launch FlixTrain services on three 6h 47min journey time. It submitted a and the Saint Gervais - Vallorcine line, routes, including Paris - St Quentin - proposal to France’s Regulatory which is metre gauge. No date has yet Brussels, in April. The company said Transport Authority (ART) and is been announced. Finally, Nouvelle Aquitaine has already divided its offer into five lots covering services centred on Bayonne, Bordeaux, Limoges, Périgueux and Poitiers, but has not yet Transdev will bid for most of the contracts for regional announced a timetable for tendering. “ services to be tendered, and is also looking closely at Open-access opportunities in Île-de-France. Olivier le Friec Almost all other passenger services in France are currently operated by SNCF Mobility. The majority is high-speed TGV along with six Intercités daytime the situation was more complicated expected to learn whether it will secure routes and two overnight trains. The than foreseen and that track usage the necessary train paths by September French government decided to charges were too high, a claim that has 2021. reintroduce two overnight services also been made by Thello. Opening up of passenger services in earlier this year while the remaining Other companies which are monitoring France is now well on its way. However, Intercity services have transferred to TER. the situation include RegioRail, which the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on A number of companies are on the currently operates freight trains in tendering remains to be seen. verge of or are exploring the possibility France and is 50% owned by Railroad Some commentators fear that lasting of introducing main line services to Development Corporation. German Rail damage to company finances and the compete with SNCF on an open-access (DB) has regularly said that it intends to high cost of operating in France may for basis. compete with SNCF, most likely by now discourage potential bidders from Italian State Railways (FS) was set to extending its Frankfurt - Cologne - branching out into France - Flixmobility launch two daily high-speed trains on Brussels service to Paris. However, any being a case in point. Transdev, at least, the Paris - Milan route in competition plans have been shelved for several believes than any delay will be short with SNCF from June 2020. The Covid years. DB currently cooperates with and that the process is essential to the pandemic has delayed the launch to SNCF on the Paris - Frankfurt and Paris future of French passenger services. 2021 with the trains set to operate the - Stuttgart - Munich high-speed routes. Regional governments also increasingly service still undergoing testing. The Railcoop is a cooperative venture seem convinced that the process will Italian operator is also exploring the founded in 2019 with the objective of bring better and less expensive rail possibility of offering Paris - Brussels and restoring services to areas deserted by services. If all goes well, this will Paris - Bordeaux services in competition SNCF. While exploring rail freight and provide a timely boost to the country’s with SNCF although the pandemic is night trains, the company’s main project under-utilised regional network and likely to delay these plans. Covid-19 has is to restore the “direct” passenger efforts to curb climate change. IRJ Photo: Photo: Keith Fender

SNCF has a monopoly over inter-city services in France, but this could be set to change with open-access operators eyeing entry into the market. 26 IRJ December 2020 Project2_Layout 1 23/10/2020 19:00 Page 1

Dec TTCI_Layout 1 20/11/2020 10:54 Page 28

Track | geometry

Adjustable track verifies measurement systems Dingqing Li and Nicholas Wilson, with TTCI, Brian Marquis, from the Volpe Center, Boston, and Ali Tajaddini ,

with the FRA, explain how test results from the High-Speed Adjustable Perturbation Slab Track testing facility

are being used to verify and improve track geometry measurement systems and vehicle/track interaction. ESTING on the US Federal Railroad For the second critical function, vehicle Administration’s (FRA) High-Speed performance specifications require analysis Adjustable Perturbation Slab (HS- and/or testing of a vehicle’s dynamic APS)T test facility at the Transportation response to specific track geometry Technology Center (TTC) near Pueblo, perturbations, such as the Minimally Colorado started in 2015. This 152m- Compliant Analytical Track (MCAT) long section of tangent slab track was federal regulation, and the perturbations designed to allow installation and specified in the Association of American removal of precisely controlled vertical Railroads’ (AAR) Manual of Standards and lateral track geometry deviations. and Recommend Practices for testing There are two main objectives for the new freight vehicles. HS-APS involving the evaluation and Although these specifications may testing of: not always require testing over track Figure 1: HS-APS on the test track. = track geometry measurement systems geometry perturbations, vehicle designers Older rails used in this section of the to verify their accuracy and repeatability and analysts often want to perform track were replaced with new rails, as under a range of controlled operational such tests on controlled track geometry the wear and deformation at the welded conditions, especially for high-speed perturbations to benchmark analyses joints of the older rails affected the inspection, and and validate computer simulation models. accuracy of the installed track = the dynamic response of rail vehicles To address these needs, the HS-APS perturbations. To facilitate the creation to specific vertical and lateral track was designed and built with precisely and adjustment of track geometry geometry deviations. adjustable track geometry and track perturbations with various amplitudes Validation of track geometry property - stiffness and damping - and wavelengths, expansion joints were measurement systems and vehicle/track variations. It is part of the existing high- installed outside but adjacent to the test interaction testing are two critical functions speed Railroad Test Track (RTT), a 21.7km section. for the safe operation of railways, especially loop with a maximum speed of 266km/h Wayside instrumentation was installed for high-speed passenger operation. For the in tangent sections and a limiting speed of to measure vertical and lateral wheel-rail first, FRA is developing a comprehensive 212km/h in a 1400m-radius reverse curve. forces along the test section and to quantify test procedure to evaluate the accuracy The tangent portion of the RTT high- vertical and lateral track component of vehicle-borne track geometry speed test loop includes a slab track deflections under train operation. measurement systems, especially for with specially designed sleeper plates For the wheel-rail force measurement, high-speed track geometry inspection. that are adjustable so that a maximum 10 locations were selected along the test To date, track geometry measurements vertical perturbation of 44.5mm can be section to capture their variations made from a moving platform are often installed while a lateral adjustment of corresponding with various perturbations assessed by comparing limited 38.1mm is possible on either rail. under different testing speeds. All the measurement parameters such as gauge Specially designed plates and shims circuits and transducers were calibrated and cross level at discrete locations with allow track geometry deviations of prior to testing with a portable calibration static measurements made with a hand 3.2mm (Figure 1). By using rail seat fixture or a test vehicle that can apply measurement tool, or by conducting pads or vertical shims with different and measure vertical and lateral wheel repeatability analyses of track geometry rubber pads, various track stiffness and loads to the rails. measured at different speeds and damping properties can be achieved. Ground truth measurements are directions of travel. This practice, albeit This test track can be used to create intended to capture the true shapes of helpful, does not give a sufficiently different types of track geometry track geometry perturbations under accurate assessment of vehicle borne perturbations at different wavelengths, unloaded conditions. TTCI used several measurements. In addition, track geometry including surface, gauge, alignment, survey methods for the ground truth measurements can be repeatable and cross level deviations, and their measurements, including: reproducible but not necessarily accurate. combinations. = lateral track alignments using a total

Figure 2: Vertical and lateral design perturbations installed, tested and removed.

28 IRJ December 2020 Dec TTCI_Layout 1 20/11/2020 09:56 Page 29

Outside Rail (mm) 25.4 25.4 Outside Rail Inside Rail 19.05 12.7

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-19.05 -25.4 Gauge (mm) -25.4 1448 1443 0 15.2 30.5 45.7 61 76.2 91.4 106.7 121.9 137.2 152.4 0 1438 Distance (m) 1433 1427 1422 015.230.545.7 61 76.2 91.4 106.7 121.9 137.2 152.4 Figure 3: Ground truth results for the design perturbations. Distance (m) station referenced from the established Since 2015, several on-track testing 1 - no perturbations HS-APS centreline programmes have been conducted on 2 - single 9.5m, 19mm amplitude vertical = top of rail (TOR) elevation (vertical HS-APS with various perturbations, perturbations installed at the ends of profile) surveys using an optical level including activities for the first and the HS-APS outside the central test zone referenced to a benchmark, and second objectives and critical functions. 3 - combined vertical profile and cross- = a portable track geometry The main objective of a testing level perturbations: two sets of 18.9m, measurement system. programme conducted by a project 22mm amplitude, sinusoidal profile All three methods required the team including TTCI, Volpe, Ensco, and perturbations, in the central test zone installation of permanent survey FRA was to obtain test results to support 4 - combined 37.8m, 22mm amplitude, benchmark monuments. A portable track the FRA in developing and evaluating profile and cross-level perturbations in geometry measurement system can the track geometry measurement system the central test zone provide alignment, surface, gauge, cross (TGMS) evaluation procedure. The project 5 - combined 9.5m, 16mm amplitude, level and curvature measurement. The team used the FRA’s DOTX-216 TGMS profile and cross-level perturbations in first two measurements are performed by over the HS-APS with various introduced the central test zone hand from one sleeper to the next and track geometry perturbations. As the TGMS 6 - blind test - combined profile and are time-consuming. The third method evaluation procedure remains under cross-level perturbations installed at the requires post processing/filtering to development, test results obtained so ends of the HS-APS produce the ground truth data. FRA is far illustrate how the HS-APS was used. 7 - single 9.5m, 13mm amplitude, currently developing an improved and Under the programme, nine track alignment perturbations installed at the automated method for ground truth geometry perturbations were installed, ends of the HS-APS measurement. tested and removed: 8 - combined 18.9m, 10mm amplitude, in

25.4 25.4

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-19.05 -19.05 Ground truth Ground truth -25.4 -25.4 015.230.5 45.7 61 76.2 91.4 106.7 121.9 137.2 152.4 015.230.5 45.7 61 76.2 91.4 106.7 121.9 137.2 152.4

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-6.35 -6.35 18.9m MCO (mm) 37.8m MCO (mm) -12.7 -12.7 -19.05 Ground truth -19.05 -25.4 Ground truth -25.4 015.230.5 45.7 61 76.2 91.4 106.7 121.9 137.2 152.4 015.230.545.761 76.2 91.4 106.7 121.9 137.2 152.4

Figure 4: Example comparisons Track location (m) TGMS and ground truth results 32km/h - Run 1 48km/h - Run 1 64km/h - Run 1 97km/h - Run 1 129km/h - Run 1 161km/h - Run 1 32km/h - Run 2 48km/h - Run 2 64km/h - Run 2 97km/h - Run 2 129km/h - Run 2 161km/h - Run 2 (space curve and MCO). 32km/h - Run 3 48km/h - Run 3 64km/h - Run 3 97km/h - Run 3 129km/h - Run 3 161km/h - Run 3

IRJ December 2020 29 Dec TTCI_Layout 1 20/11/2020 09:56 Page 30

Track | geometry

and out of phase alignment perturbations show the actual lateral alignment Test results and findings from HS-APS in the central test zone, and results of both rails and the resulting are being used to develop the procedure 9 - blind test - alignment perturbations gauge result for the design perturbation for verifying and improving track geometry installed in the middle of the HS-APS in Figure 2 (right). Although both rails measurement systems and vehicle/track test zone. were not perfectly straight, the designed interaction. The test facility has great For the blind tests 6 and 9, the operators alignment perturbations were indeed potential to improve the measurement of the TGMS were not informed what introduced, and the gauge variation accuracy of track geometry inspection the wavelengths and amplitudes of the also reflected these changes. vehicles and improve passenger vehicle perturbations were until after the Figure 4 shows example vertical profile designs based on their responses to measurements were completed. For the results (inside rail) from DOTX-216 for various track geometry perturbations other perturbations, the TGMS operators the design perturbation test 5 obtained and track properties. were informed of the intended track under various testing speeds, including Lessons learned and recommendations geometry in advance. space curve results, mid-chord offset include: for testing on the HS-APS, blind Figure 2 shows two examples of (MCO) results based on three chord tests should be included to evaluate any vertical and lateral track geometry lengths of 9.5m, 18.9m and 37.8m. Ground TGMS to ensure impartiality of the test and perturbations installed, tested and then truth data were also included for evaluation process; design perturbations removed. The plot on the left was the comparisons with TGMS results, processed should include wavelengths that are not design perturbations as listed in test 3; in terms of space curve and MCO formats. standard FRA chord lengths; and heat and the plot on the right was the design Vertical profile results can appear waves and wind can affect accuracy and perturbation in test 8. differently depending on whether they repeatability of survey measurements For each design perturbation, the were processed in terms of space curve significantly for ground truth. unloaded track geometry was measured or MCO, while chord length can also For the design and construction of the using the survey equipment and the affect the results significantly. HS-APS, lateral adjustment should portable track geometry car to establish During all test runs, the research team allow the correction of initial alignment the ground truth reference. DOTX-216 monitored vehicle dynamic response of not perfectly centred; finer adjustment was then tested over each perturbation the DOTX-216 and the locomotive (DOT- smaller than 3mm is needed to accurately at different speeds from 32 to 169km/h. 203), as well as the track component install exact lateral sinusoidal shapes; The testing speed was limited by the deformation, using onboard transducers designs that minimise bolts used are maximum speed of the locomotive and wayside instrumentation. For all better for long-term use due to less available. Each testing speed was repeated the design perturbations tested, vertical wear on bolts and fewer broken bolts; three times over the same test zone. The and lateral wheel-rail forces, and lateral and variations in ambient temperature same number of tests at different speeds to vertical force ratios (L/V or Y/Q) were can affect perturbations - expansion were also conducted in the opposite all well within FRA CFR and AAR Chapter track joints are needed to allow the rails direction. 11 limits, with the maximum L/V ratio to breathe. For the two design perturbations in below 0.3. Figure 5 shows L/V ratio results FRA plans to design and install another Figure 2, the actual ground truth results recorded under the locomotive and HS-APS in a section of curved track on obtained using the survey equipment TGMS at various speeds over design the RTT. The design of this new curved are shown in Figure 3. The plot on the perturbation test 4. HS-APS is underway and will consider left shows vertical profile results of the For all test runs conducted, the the lessons learned from the HS-APS two rails that had removed the actual maximum lateral rail displacement was installed on tangent track. IRJ grade of the test section (0.3%). The 1.3mm, and the maximum rail roll angle o This article is based on a submission to the World actual perturbation installed was close was 0.5 . The maximum slab deflections Congress on Railway Research 2019, which won the to the design perturbation shown in were insignificant - less than 0.6mm best paper award in the Railway System Interface Figure 2 (left). The plots on the right vertically and 0.6mm laterally. category.

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0.15 0.15

0.10 0.10

0.05 0.05 Max Lat/Vert Force Rao (L/V) ForceRao Max Lat/Vert (L/V) ForceRao Max Lat/Vert 0.00 0.00 0 32 64 97 129 161 193 0 32 64 97 129 161 193 Speed (km/h) Speed (km/h)

Loco A-Lead CW Loco A-Lead CCW Loco B-Lead CW Loco B-Lead CCW TG- A-Lead CW TG- A-Lead CCW TG- B-Lead CW TG- B-Lead CCW

Figure 5: Lateral/vertical force ratios recorded by wayside instrumentation.

30 IRJ December 2020 IRJDECXX (Speno)_Layout 1 24/08/2020 11:29 Page 1

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Education | remote learning Pandemic presents new opportunities through digital and remote learning

SMRT PGCert students undergoing a leadership exercise as part of railway management lectures provided by BCRRE. The centre has had to rethink its offer during the pandemic. Photo: BCRRE The Birmingham Centre for Railway Research and Education (BCRRE) at the University of Birmingham is the largest centre of its type in Europe. Zena Green, international teaching fellow, and Dr Holly Foss, director of education, at BCRRE, explain how the centre adapted to offering online teaching and learning during the pandemic to satisfy a growing appetite for personal development. HE global Covid-19 pandemic has of its type in Europe and is playing a Urban Railway Engineering programme had an enormous impact on all big role in the change taking place. developed by BCRRE for Singapore aspects of 21st-century living. BCRRE has two main flagship Mass Rapid Transit (SMRT) involves PhysicallyT constrained and limited to our programmes: Railway Systems bringing the teaching to the customer homes or to front-line work, mobility and Engineering and Integration (RSEI) and a using the BCRRE ‘Flying Faculty’ education have never been so important, relative newcomer, Railway Safety and whereby, twice a year, BCRRE and or so disrupted. Indeed, higher education Control Systems (RSCS), which are both guest lecturers converge on Singapore as a sector shifted almost overnight to offered at MSc level with optional exit to deliver the courses to multiple cohorts. embrace digital learning and hybrid points at PGCert and PGDip. Although However, the pandemic presented a models of teaching. offering differing academic learning fresh set of challenges to the provision With the railway industry being pathways, both programmes have the of railway education, and especially in- pushed into a period of massive change, same overall aim: to provide the learning person instruction. This has resulted in it is unsurprising that so many railway experience that will produce a more BCRRE adjusting our courses to a new professionals see this as a good time to rounded railway engineer or railway blended learning provision. pursue personal development professional who is knowledgeable of In the eight months since Britain first opportunities. the engineering, operational, leadership went into lockdown, closing university The Birmingham Centre for Railway and management challenges campuses for the first time in living Research and Education (BCRRE) is particularly when operating across the memory, a lot of lessons have been part of the University of Birmingham. interfaces of a railway system. learnt - and not just by the students. We And with over 150 academics, researchers BCRRE is also increasingly working all value the ease and normality of face- and professional support staff delivering overseas, partnering with professional to-face contact, but the challenge of research and thought leadership, institutions to deliver courses directly to moving to online study has also pushed BCRRE is comfortably the largest centre personnel. For example, the PGCert us to innovate our courses and helped 32 IRJ December 2020 Dec Uni Bham_Layout 1 19/11/2020 18:10 Page 33

us to identify areas for change. together for the first time. This has made between students is just as important as Beginning last spring, the shift towards it possible to introduce our students to a between students and staff. It is true digital methods of learning has led us greater range of industry professionals that at present the online environment to several conclusions: who have been willing to give up their may not feel natural to all of us, but by = Online takes time time to discuss real world examples, encouraging students to come together It is easy to underestimate how much both in Britain and overseas. and share their ideas and experiences time it takes to operate in a fully digital = Peer engagement is as important we can ensure learning is both social - or even hybrid - space. We are quite as tutor engagement and supportive. used to digitisation as passive consumers, Education is fundamentally a social = A home is not a recording studio, for example streaming media in an activity. At its very basis, it is a two-way but this doesn’t make it less effective instant on a whim, accessing information, relationship between tutor and student When recorded materials and online or online purchasing. However, as who develop together. classes were first raised, there was a lot producers, developing this content and One of the difficulties of online of anxiety about being able to produce its interfaces is a lengthy and highly learning can be simulating the organic digital content at home amidst the skilled process. interactions between students - sharing distractions and sounds of day-to-day For online teaching and learning it is a coffee break, a quick question to check life in your own personal space. Going important that the digital materials an understanding, or a seemingly to work involves inhabiting a space, produced are not materials for passive insignificant comment on the weather, place, and persona associated with our consumption but rather require active traffic, construction or current affairs trade, that is typically rooted in engagement. A concern of students issues pertinent to the day. These expertise. The loss of this through learning online for the first time is that they will simply be left to watch hours of lectures. However, few consider the opportunity available to have a discussion between people in 10 or more countries Education is fundamentally a social activity. At its very who can immediately turn their laptop basis, it is a two-way relationship between tutor and around to illustrate an issue or solution “ where they are. Digital also gives us the student who develop together. opportunity to take students to places where otherwise it would be difficult to visit. Yes, a digital course takes time, but the possibilities make it worth it. innocuous passing remarks, instigated performing professionalism in our = Less is more by bringing people together in time and homes is naturally unsettling. It takes There has been a lot of press in recent space, serve a vital function when time to learn to function confidently in months on ‘Zoom fatigue.’ However, building community. alternative means and professionalism what has not been noted is the ease of Online, it is very difficult to catch acts as a shield or veil here. contact. A meeting which may previously someone’s eye, or comment on a shared The performative nature of teaching have taken up a whole day, once travel experience in quite the same way. At from our homes makes education a time is considered, now might only take BCRRE we have always understood that very personal, intimate experience that an hour. It has also been possible to many of our students are experienced many of us have not experienced bring people working around the world railway professionals and discussion before. While we might want to shy away from this, it also allows for a more personalised teaching and learning experience. As tutors, we can be seen and read as individuals, with our own likes, dislikes, traits, and, of course, slip ups and interruptions. Within a digital context where we are strangers, never having met before, this creates an opportunity to develop the supportive and approachable environments where teaching and learning can thrive. Of course, digital learning is not for everyone and at BCRRE we are committed to returning to face-to-face teaching when the current Covid restrictions are lifted, and encouragingly, this year’s application rates have remained in line with previous years. For those who have appreciated being able to study part-time while continuing to develop their careers at home or those who have enjoyed the flexibility online learning can bring, we will certainly be BCRRE has been expanding its overseas operations, including working with Singapore Mass Rapid looking to continue to develop our Transit to deliver its PGCert Urban Railway Engineering programme. digital output in the future. IRJ IRJ December 2020 33 Dec Unife_Layout 1 18/11/2020 18:31 Page 34

Training | up-skilling Skills for the next-generation rail industry Philippe Citroën, director general of the European Rail Industry Association (Unife), highlights work underway to boost the European rail industry’s skill base as the sector strives to become the backbone of a sustainable transport network.

020 has been a year of disruption. Forced out of communal office spaces due to the coronavirus, people across2 the planet have discovered how to carry out their professional duties from their homes and to utilise digital tools in creative ways to innovate. This spirit of innovation has long been a characteristic of the European rail supply industry. Our sector has continued its work and is looking beyond this crisis by launching active recruitment and skill training programmes designed to attract new talent and help nurture Young people are increasingly looking to enter careers that experienced colleagues’ potential. support the fight against climate change. Photo: Bombardier In an increasingly competitive global available training programmes to Swift completion of the rail sector market during a period in need of experienced rail colleagues. This blueprint will lead to a quicker roll out climate relief and economic recovery, information is being communicated of national and regional plans that will the European rail industry is committed through platforms ranging from build synergies between governments, to addressing its current skill shortage to LinkedIn to Instagram and a dedicated regional authorities, academic and remain a global leader in the field and website www.hoponrail.eu stocked with vocational training centres and rail to continue driving the development of industry testimonials and job vacancies. suppliers. Doing so is essential to sustainable mobility solutions. To do so, Unife hopes that these efforts to boost develop greener rail products that will we are working hand-in-hand with employment in the rail sector will be serve as the backbone to a sustainable, European institutions, academia, amplified by the European Union’s 2021 seamless and multimodal mobility operators and infrastructure managers. “European Year of Rail,” a Europe-wide paradigm. Recently, two significant initiatives public facing celebration of rail as the 2020 has been a year of crises, but as have commenced to present rail as a most sustainable, innovative and safest we continue to battle Covid-19, Unife is fulfilling career path and expand mode of transport, and another important committed to charting future successes. dedicated training opportunities to initiative pertaining to skills in rail: the We are similarly committed to working potential and current rail sector employees. EU’s recently approved Blueprint for with the EU to ensure a timely Covid-19 The first is “Hop on for Our Planet!,” Sectoral Cooperation on Skills for Rail. recovery and achieve key EU Green a communications initiative launched on To fill the workforce gaps, European Deal objectives such as making the October 21 by the European Rail Industry rail suppliers will require institutional continent carbon neutral by 2050. Association (Unife) in coordination with cooperation. There has already been The Green Deal is an ambitious initiative some of Europe’s largest rail supply firms. notable success between the two, that necessitates preparing the next This digital launch event was an emphasised in the Shift2Rail Joint generation of European workers to important opportunity to share how Undertaking, which brought together accomplish its goals. Similar efforts are sustainability-conscious Generation Z rail sector leaders, academia and the EU needed to achieve the objectives of the (16-25 year-olds) are seeking out green to craft innovative green mobility solutions, forthcoming Sustainable and Smart mobility options, are urging their which should be extended as Shift2Rail-2. Mobility Strategy to be presented soon governments to support such means of However, this extended programme by transport commissioner, Ms Adina transport, and are interested in careers will require more than substantial EU Valean. that are impactful in the international funding support - É1.5bn has been Unife will continue to advocate for effort against climate change. This was requested through the Multiannual these conditions while working with clearly a trend in a survey conducted by Financial Framework - to create the the EC - including research and the youth-oriented international think next-generation European rail transport innovation commissioner, Ms Mariya tank, Think Young, in support of the system. The EU will need to generate Gabriel - and the European Parliament, as initiative across the campaign’s six target and improve skilled human capital being well as the current German presidency countries - Germany, France, Italy, developed through the recently approved of the council and the Portuguese Spain, Poland and The Netherlands. Blueprint for Skills in Rail to do so. presidency, which will take office at the The Hop On campaign aims to position Following the European Commission’s beginning of next year. rail at the forefront of Europe’s green assessment of a skill gap in the rail supply Skills initiatives are not only an future by ensuring that young people, sector and its potential impact on opportunity to ensure economic but particularly women and those looking growth, innovation and competitiveness, stability for young Europeans in need of for new career paths, are aware of Science, the blueprint - co-funded by the EU in work or professional advancement, they Technology, Engineering and Mathematics the framework of the Erasmus+ are an essential step towards fortifying (Stem) professional openings in our programme - represents a commitment Europe’s ability to remain a green field. The campaign also publicises to reversing this adverse trend. mobility leader in the years to come. IRJ 34 IRJ December 2020 Dec COYO_Layout 1 20/11/2020 09:53 Page 35

Recruitment | the next generation Inspiring rail’s next wave of engineers

Since launching in 2009, British-based education consultancy, Class of Your Own, has provided real-world civil engineering, architecture and construction experience to hundreds of young people. Founder and chief executive Alison Watson tells Oliver Cuenca about the importance of inspiring the next generation.

LASS of Your Own (Coyo) is an enthusiasm surrounding careers in the approach to teaching by giving pupils educational consultancy aiming to game design industry but says that few more hands-on control of their learning. provide young people with the students know that the same skills Watson highlights a new technicalC skills and enthusiasm for the could apply to construction. collaboration with Liverpool City “built environment.” The company runs “Look at HS2, and the sorts of data Council in which students in the city the accredited learning programme visualisation they use,” Watson says. will be asked to create a ‘digital double’ Design, Engineer, Construct (DEC), “They can’t just lay a track and see of a new housing development in the which empowers students to design what it looks like, they have to visualise Stonebridge Cross area. The virtual model and engineer their own project. it. All the animation skills, and the will incorporate Internet of Things (IoT) The programme, which has now been analytical skills needed to assess impact functionality which dynamically reacts adopted in 59 schools, provides teacher on the environment, economic impact, to real-world conditions while the training, technical workshops, online social impact, they’re all great. Let’s students will design public transport resources and access to industry- give kids the opportunity to use them.” infrastructure, integrating the new standard tools, including computer- neighbourhood with existing and aided design (CAD) software such as planned rail and transport networks as Revit and Bentley. Maximise engagement well as planning the design of housing, DEC also partners schools with Watson says that a key element to her roads, utilities and other infrastructure. construction industry sponsors, which strategy is to maximise students’ The students will also learn to manage provide funding and support for engagement by encouraging them to tasks such as surveying, planning students as well as access to live see the skills they learn in school in applications and tree preservation. projects, including site visits and digital terms of real-world engineering Past results show Coyo is having an models and initiatives such as applications and offering them the impact. Many participants in DEC are shadowing days and work experience. chance to apply their skills to tasks on civil engineering degrees at The scheme is supported by 39 which mirror real industry standards. university, or degree apprenticeships for industry backers, including global Indeed, Watson says that too many civil engineering or land surveying. engineering and construction firms schools are still focused on traditionally The businesses and institutions involved Arup, Mott MacDonald and Balfour taught subjects such as maths, literature, in the programme are also benefitting. Beatty, the Royal Institution of Chartered science and languages, which prioritise Beyond just seeking publicity, these Surveyors (RICS), the Chartered theory over practical applications. institutions continue to support the Institute of Civil Engineering Surveyors “The built environment is all those programme out of a real desire to (ICES), and several universities. things and more,” she says. “It’s one encourage new talent into the “In terms of practical skills, we teach thing to learn geometry or trigonometry. infrastructure construction industry. measurement, spatial awareness, digital But unless, you’re going to use it, you skills, data management, design skills, will forget it very quickly.” engineering skills, and construction Watson also worries that efforts by Overseas expansion skills,” says Ms Alison Watson, Coyo’s governments and educational groups to Despite most DEC schools being founder and chief executive. “Students improve career guidance, though well- based in Britain, Watson says that the will finish the programme with a great meaning, don’t fully comprehend the programme is beginning to expand big wad of a portfolio to show for it.” challenges teachers and pupils face. overseas. Dubai’s Fairgreen When Watson founded the company She highlights a recent visit to one International School adopted the in 2009, the aim was to address what school in Manchester, where the British curriculum in 2019 and Coyo is in talks she saw as a failure to engage young government’s new T-Level technical with the Malaysian government to people in the world of construction. qualifications were introduced this year. partner Malaysia’s Prince of Wales “The usual thing that contractors did She found that tutors were lacking in Island International School in Penang was to show them a few assembly confidence because they were dealing with the Bayan Lepas LRT line project. charts and give a few badly delivered with concepts such as regulations, Watson says Coyo is always looking young enterprise events where the digital, and sustainability with which for new partnerships. A dream ethos was ‘let’s pretend we’re they were unfamiliar. opportunity, she says, would be to builders,’” Watson says. “I just found “I think the problem a lot of the time partner the 11 schools in Edinburgh the whole thing really frustrating and to me, is that politicians or education with the project to upgrade the city’s disappointing.” bureaus will put stuff together, and be Waverley station. Watson says that the construction very well meaning, but they don’t talk “Rail has never been more of an industry continues to suffer from a lack to parents, teachers and children often opportunity for young people, and will of exposure to young people, and a lack enough to get it right,” she says. never again,” she says. “It’s not just HS2, of knowledge about what skills the Watson says Coyo tries to avoid this there’s lots of fantastic stuff going on in industry needs. She highlights the pitfall by taking a non-traditional rail. Let’s exercise our children.” IRJ IRJ December 2020 35 Dec DB Training_Layout 1 30/11/2020 16:13 Page 34

Training | Covid-19 DB Training adjusts offer to comply with pandemic restrictions

Following the Covid-19 outbreak, German Rail’s training service provider, DB Rail Academy, was forced to shift its training programmes online. Doreen Christmann, Rail Academy’s senior business development manager, tells Oliver Cuenca how the company continued to teach students from around the world. ERMAN Rail (DB)’s training and where the transport system is seen as a lot of roles in the transport sector which certification provider, DB Rail public service which has to be in are super crucial, or in a safety critical Academy, offers training and operation even though many, many area, and they need regular, mandatory certificationG to rail industry staff across other businesses had shut down.” training.” the world, working in partnership with In-person training on a Rail Academy Most assessments are now carried out organisations in 22 countries. course usually means five full days of online using Cisco’s WebEx online In the past, Rail Academy courses training. When the pandemic struck, DB conferencing software, except for a were usually taught in person. was forced to rapidly reassess its limited amount of on-site training. However, following the outbreak of the teaching methods. Christmann says that the switch to coronavirus pandemic, DB was forced “We needed to invent or adapt our digital teaching presented some to move its training programmes online. concepts very fast and think about challenges at first. “The pandemic was more or less a which training is absolutely necessary “You cannot just put the lessons into catapult into digitalisation,” says Ms to conduct in person, which can be a digital environment, because the Doreen Christmann, senior business conducted digitally, and which can be average attention span is more or less development manager at DB Rail shifted to another year, she says. 10 minutes,” she says. “How do you Academy. “The pandemic hit us very “Business still had to go on, and we keep up the levels of engagement and hard worldwide, especially in Germany, had to find other solutions. There are a activity in trainees? 35a IRJ December 2020 Dec DB Training_Layout 1 30/11/2020 16:13 Page 35

because you have to deal with different company which will talk about how to learning cultures and different levels of finance rail projects. infrastructure. In Europe, the IT “There will also be an expert from the infrastructure is very good, whereas in engineering faculty of a university in Latin America or in Africa it may not Colombia, and they will provide necessarily be at the same level.” something from the academic side, One initiative which Rail Academy although we have not determined the introduced was its Learning Nuggets - a specific topic and expert yet.” series of free, “short and sweet” one- In addition, Christmann says the hour courses taught by a range of nuggets have been incorporated into experts, both from DB and elsewhere. DB’s certification process for picking The nuggets were targeted at external trainers for Rail Academy’s transport workers who are furloughed longer courses. or working part-time due to the “There are a lot of people who would reduction in traffic and may be like to do training for us, but we need interested in learning new skills. to be very, very sure of the quality, and “The main objective of the learning that they bring the right competencies nuggets was to provide something not and skills,” she says. “So now one part exclusively to our clients, but also to of the process is that they have to people who want to upskill,” provide a Learning Nugget, which lets Christmann says. “We wanted to us see all the skills which you cannot provide them with something that kept test in a testing environment.” them updated in different topics.” The nuggets were a success. “It exploded,” she says. “A lot of people The future registered, a lot of people participated, Christmann says Rail Academy’s because we did not restrict the topics. rapid transition to digital learning has We covered everything which is provided a multitude of benefits, and relevant in the business of transport, online learning will continue to be used not only the technical side, but also the in future. soft skill and business related side.” “We’ve realised that digital solutions The success of the first series has are a very good alternative which we encouraged DB to make the nuggets a will definitely keep using,” she says. permanent fixture of DB’s training “And it is much more cost effective for services. A second series, titled ‘Women everyone involved because nobody in Mobility,’ is currently underway, and needs to travel, and it’s ecologically features a range of female experts friendly.”

We’ve realised that digital solutions are a very good “If you look at the teacher, how do alternative which we will definitely keep using. they deal with that situation? They’re trained to adapt to the nonverbal “ Doreen Christmann communication of the participants, and if they don’t see it, how do they engage them? Our trainers are used to being in the classroom and now need to deal with software on a laptop at home. We needed to upskill them in a digital speaking on topics as diverse as Christmann says in future, DB will environment to use the new tools.” European rail freight planning, bridge employ a mixture of formats, with Christmann says that these challenges design, crisis prevention and innovative online learning used in parallel with on- were often accentuated when working leadership. site training. with Rail Academy’s international A third series - the first nuggets to be “We see it as complementary to on- trainees - with the additional problem in Spanish, is scheduled for next year, site training, which is still super of unreliable connectivity. with a broad range of speakers signed up. important,” she says. “For people who “Our clients are worldwide, and we “For the Spanish series we have our are unfamiliar with the operational side still have projects running, like a director for America, Mr Carsten Puls, of transport, it’s good to go into programme in Brazil, which was and he will talk about integrated traffic facilities like workshops and depots and originally being taught in person,” she systems,” Christmann says. “We also discuss it with them - what this rolling says. “But now we have conducted the have a governmental institution which stock is, or how the components work, last two modules online. would like to share a little bit about and what these things actually look like “And this is more complicated water regulation, and one Mexican in reality.” IRJ IRJ December 2020 35b Dec Rendez_Febrrend 18/11/2020 12:22 Page 44

Rendezvous

NEW DATE: Railway Tech 8 Messe Frankfurt Korea, Seoul, https://railwayinterchange.org February 2021 Indonesia Korea. 23-26—Virtual Summit 8 GEM, Jakarta, Indonesia. https://raillog-korea.kr.messefran 28-30—Milan, Italy International Railway Virtual www.railwaytech-indonesia.com kfurt.com/busan/en.html NEW: Expo Ferroviaria Summit 8 Mack Brooks, St Albans, Britain. 8 IRITS, London, Britain. May 2021 21-23—Perth, Australia www.expoferroviaria.com www.irits.org 5-6—Albury Wodonga, Australia NEW: Conference on Railway Inland Rail Conference Excellence (CORE) October 2021 March 2021 8 ARA, Canberra, Australia. 8 Encanta, Nedlands, Australia. 5-7—Jonkoping, Sweden 3-5—Konya, Turkey https://ara.net.au/events-and- www.core2021.org.au NEW: Nordic Rail Exhibition Eurasia Rail Exhibition networking/inland-rail-conference 8 Elmia, Jonkoping, Sweden. 8 HYVE, Istanbul, Turkey. 23—Stockholm, Sweden www.elmia.se/en/nordicrail www.eurasiarail.eu 5-7—Munich, Germany NEW: Scandinavian Rail NEW: Transport Logistic Optimisation Conference 6—Vienna, Austria 14-17—Anaheim, USA Exhibition 8 Rotatia Media, Ashford, NEW: Alpine Rail Optimisation Apta Expo 8 Messe Munich, Munich, Britain. Conference 8 Apta, Virginia, USA. Germany. www.scandinavianrail.co.uk 8 Rotaia Media, Ashford, Britain. www.aptaexpo.com/apta2020/p www.transportlogistic.de/en http://alpinerailoptimisation.com ublic/enter.aspx 23-25—London, Britain 11-13—Birmingham, Britain NEW DATE: International 11-12—Dubai, UAE 16—Virtual Awards NEW: Railtex Exhibition Human Factors Rail Conference NEW DATE: Middle East Rail UIC Excellence in 8 Mack Brooks, St Albans, 8 RSSB, London, Britain. 8 Terrapinn, Dubai, UAE. Standardisation Awards Webinar Britain. www.eventsforce.net/rssb/fronte www.terrapinn.com/exhibition/ 8 UIC, Paris, France. www.uk-railhub.com/2021/en nd/reg/thome.csp?pageID=3856 middle-east-rail https://uic.org/events/3rd- 3&eventID=141 international-railway- 26-27—Cologne, Germany 16-21—Beijing, China standardisation-conference NEW: The Rise of IoT & Big Data September 2021 NEW: 12th International Heavy in Rail Conference 7-8—Berlin, Germany Haul Association Conference 16-18—Sao Paulo, Brazil 8 Rotaia Media, Ashford, NEW: 7th Railway Forum 8 TTCI, Pueblo, USA. NEW DATE: NT Expo Britain. 8 IPM, Hannover, Germany. http://ihha2021.com 8 Informa, Santa Monica, USA. https://iotandbigdatainrail.com https://railwayforum.de www.ntexpo.com.br/pt/home.ht 26-28—Lille, France ml June 2021 21-23—Bilbao, Spain NEW DATE: Sifer Exhibition 14-16—Porto, Portugal NEW: The Intelligent Rail Summit 8 Mack Brooks, St Albans, Britain. 29-31—Dubai, UAE NEW: European Rail Safety Days 8 Promedia, Rotterdam, www.sifer2021.com UITP/MENA Transport Congress Summit Netherlands. 8 UITP, Brussels, Belgium. 8 ERA, Valenciennes, France. https://events.railtech.com/intel November 2021 www.uitp.org/events/mena- www.era.europa.eu/content/eur ligent-rail-summit-wtms 23-24—Sydney, Australia transport-congress-exhibition opean-rail-safety-days-14-16- NEW DATE: Sydney Transport june-2021_en 21-24—Gdansk, Poland 8 Oliver Kinross, Sydney, 30-Apr 1—Utrecht, Netherlands NEW: Trako International Australia. RailTech Europe Conference & 16-18—Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Railway Fair www.sydneytransportexpo.com Exhibition NEW DATE: Rail Solutions Asia 8 MTGSA, Gdansk, Poland. 8 ProMedia, Rotterdam, Conference & Exhibition www.trakofair.com December 2021 Netherlands. 8 TDH, Cranleigh, Britain. 14-17—Melbourne, Australia https://events.railtech.com/railt www.tdhrail.co.uk/rsa 26-29—Indianapolis, USA NEW: UITP Global Public ech-europe-2021 NEW: Railway Interchange Transport Summit 16-19—Busan, Korea 8 Railway Internchange, 8 UITP, Brussels, Belgium. 30-Apr 1—Jakarta, Indonesia NEW: RailLog Korea Indianapolis, USA. https://uitpsummit.org

36 IRJ December 2020 Dec Ad Index_Ad Index 20/11/2020 11:54 Page 37

Contacts | editorial Fresh faces

Dr Jan Michael Mrosik has been appointed chairman 46 Killigrew Street, Falmouth, Cornwall TR11 3PP, UK of the executive board of Knorr-Bremse for three years Tel +44 1326 313945 from January 1 2021. Mrosik was most recently chief Editor-in-Chief Kevin Smith MA [email protected] operating officer of Siemens Digital Industries, which Consulting Editor/Associate Publisher had global sales of around É16bn and 76,000 David Briginshaw CMILT [email protected] employees. Mrosik studied at the RWTH Aachen News & Features Writer David Burroughs [email protected] University and holds a doctorate in engineering. News & Features Writer Oliver Cuenca [email protected] Sales Executive Chloe Pickering [email protected] Ms Debra Johnson was appointed CEO and general Market Analyst Oscar Sinclair [email protected] manager of Denver Regional Transportation District Production Manager Sue Morant [email protected] (RTD) in November. She is the first woman to take on the role in the agency’s 51-year history, and will be Regional editors responsible for budget, capital projects and delivery of Australia Tony Duboudin [email protected] commuter rail, light rail and bus services across the Chile Ian Thomson Newman [email protected] Denver metro region. Germany Keith Fender [email protected] Italy Marco Chiandoni [email protected] DB Cargo UK has appointed Ms Deb Hardy as chief Japan Yoshihiko Sato Tel +81 3 5721 6616 [email protected] financial officer (CFO). Hardy, who is currently New Zealand Richard Worrall [email protected] finance director at logistics and warehousing company Spain Ferran Torga [email protected] Moran Logistics, will join DB Cargo UK in January USA/Canada William C Vantuono Tel +1 212 620 7240 2021. Prior to joining Moran Logistics, she was finance [email protected] director at the Japanese-owned, British-based logistics Correspondents and freight-forwarding company, Yusen Logistics Argentina Jorge Waddell Israel Jeremaya Goldberg Austria Erwin Reidinger Korea Andy Tebay Mr Alexander Sergeevich Poprugin has been appointed Brazil Renata Passos Netherlands Quintus Vosman as general director of Transmashholding (TMH) Denmark Denis Bowers Pakistan Naeem Qureshi/Rashid Ali subsidiary Penzadieselmash (PDM). The 34-year-old France David Haydock Poland Mykola Zasiadko graduated from the Novocherkassk Polytechnic Hungary Ferenc Joo Ukraine Alexander Kava Institute in 2009 with a degree in management, and India Srinand Jha joined PDM in 2018 as a commercial director. Executive offices Simmons-Boardman Publishing Corp Mr Heinz Bähr took over as CEO of Hübner subsidiary 88 Pine Street, 23rd Floor, New York, NY 10005, USA Gersys on November 1. Bähr joined the locomotive Tel +1 212 620 7200 Fax +1 212 633 1165 instrumentation supplier from Aircraft Philipp Group, where as managing director he was responsible for President & Chairman A J McGinnis business development. Prior to this, Bähr held various Publisher, Rail Group Jonathan Chalon management positions within Siemens. Circulation Director Maureen Cooney [email protected] Book review Contacts | advertising Germany’s Railways: 30 years after reunification For all areas except those listed below contact: IRJ’s regional editor for Germany, Keith Fender, tracks the Jerome Marullo, Business Development Manager development of Germany’s Tel +1 732 887 5562 [email protected] railways and the national 88 Pine Street, 23rd Floor, New York, NY 10005, USA operator German Rail (DB) since Austria, Germany, German-speaking Switzerland, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, reunification on October 3 1990. Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia and Serbia. The book documents how the Michael Boyle, Dorfstrasse 70, 6393 St Ulrich, Austria network has changed and Tel +43 676 708 9872 and +49 163 830 8088 [email protected] adapted in the past 30 years, and includes more than 130 images, ITALY & Italian-speaking SWITZERLAND Dr Fabio Potestà, Elda Guidi some of which have never been Mediapoint & Communications srl, Corte Lambruschini, published before. There are Corso Buenos Aires 8, Vo Piano, Int 7, 16129 Genova, Italy chapters on traction evolution Tel +39 010 570 4948 Fax +39 010 553 0088 [email protected] and market reform, which has network, including new high- resulted in one of Europe’s most speed lines and a national regular JAPAN dynamic markets, with 440 interval timetable from 2030. Katsuhiro Ishii, Ace Media Service Inc operators and 170 companies 12-6, 4-chome, Nishiiko Adachi-ku, Tokyo 121-0824, Japan Published by Key Books, the book is now managing parts of the Tel +81 3 5691 3335 Fax +81 3 5691 3336 [email protected] available from www.keypublishing.com network. Fender also reflects on and is priced at £14.99. CHINA and AL, KY, TN the future of the German Jonathan Chalon, 88 Pine Street, 23rd Floor, New York, NY 10005, USA Tel 212 620 7224 [email protected] Advertisers Index AR, AK, AZ, CA, CO, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, LA, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, ND, NE, NM, NV, OH, OK, OR, SD, TX, UT, WA, WI, WY, Canada (Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan) Device Technologies 36 Heather Disabato (Chicago Office) Tel 312 683 5026 hdisabato@sbpub- Chicago.com IRJ Pro 23 Linsinger IBC CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, MA, MD, ME, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, SC, VA, VT, WV, Canada (Ontario, Quebec, & Eastern Canada) Plasser & Theurer 5 Jerome Marullo, 88 Pine Street, 23rd Floor, New York, NY 10005, USA Tel 212 620 7260/732 887 5562 [email protected] PMC Rail International Academy BC

Classified Advertising Sales Speno 31 Jennifer Izzo (New York) Tel 212 779 7172 [email protected] Transmashholding (TMH) IFC IRJ December 2020 37 Dec TLW_Layout 1 19/11/2020 17:31 Page 38

The last word | Transmashholding TMH embarks on European expansion Transmashholding’s acquisition of the Dunakeszi Vehicle Repair site in Hungary in June has established a foothold for the Russian manufacturer in Europe. Terence Watson, TMH’s senior vice-president Europe, outlines the company’s European growth strategy to Kevin Smith.

GYPTIAN National optimised in a process Watson which Watson says have not operator or a partner in Europe Railways’ (ENR) says involved TMH International typically been served is interested in doing something, procurementE of 1300 coaches experts from Germany and particularly well by established we will take a fresh look at it of five different types from Switzerland as well as specialist players, are within reach. with a fresh pair of eyes. We TMH Hungary under a É1bn consultancy firms. “Together “We want to turn Dunakeszi won’t be blocked by corporate contract in September 2018 we have accelerated the plan,” into our leading facility for constraints.” was not just a landmark order he says. “Normally this would Europe” he says. “We know it’s for the railway, it was a major take a company a year to 18 a wrong strategy to go head on coup for the supplier. months to complete, but we against all the big competitors. Rethink Initial manufacturing of the managed it in six months.” That’s not in our interest at all. The coronavirus crisis is coaches has taken place at TMH’s support for the facility We’re looking for the niches clouding the immediate future Tver Carriage Works (TVZ), a was ratified by long-term that work for us. There are for many manufacturers as subsidiary of Transmashholding Dunakeszi customer, MAV- more now than there were one they wait to see what market (TMH), with production steadily Start. The operator agreed a year ago and certainly more emerges in 2021 and 2022. shifting to the Dunakeszi É92m three-year maintenance than two or three years ago.” However, Watson believes the Vehicle Repair site in Hungary, and modernisation contract for A selling point for TMH, likely result is a rethink of which was acquired by TMH 403 inter-city coaches used on according to Watson, is the how Europe operates its and its Hungarian partner domestic and cross-border company’s versatility. Unlike railway, including the provision Magyar Vagon in June. services in August, which other European manufacturers, of more cross-border services While meeting the contract’s Watson says will satisfy it is not tied to the fortunes of at the expense of cheap short- localisation requirements, the Dunakeszi’s service activity base. a state-owned railway, which he haul flights. This could offer a move to Dunakeszi is also says leaves it well placed to meet potential boom for some establishing a base for TMH in the needs of all customers, manufacturers according to the lucrative European market. German contract including private operators Watson. TMH and Dunakeszi, Dunakeszi is set to manufacture But TMH is not standing seeking affordable rolling stock it seems, are well placed to 680 of the Egyptian coaches still. The company has just or repair and maintenance benefit. and work is underway on signed its first contract in services. “We think that railways and assembling and fitting out Germany to maintain two Watson emphasises his point operators generally in Europe bodyshells manufactured at large new fleets of regional by highlighting TMH’s work are open for newcomers to TVZ ahead of shipping the EMUs for GoAhead in in South Africa and Argentina. come up with new ideas about first vehicles to Egypt by the Bavaria, which will be In the case of Argentina, he says what risks the supply industry end of the year. maintained at a new facility. TMH created a business by could take and should be Mr Terence Watson, TMH’s Watson says the company is returning a fleet of inoperable taking right now,” Watson senior vice-president Europe, also bidding for other service Chinese locomotives to service, says. “It is time for new says that while Dunakeszi is and rolling stock contracts, which has since grown to further investment in new places. And an established and reputable which will be awarded in the service and supply contracts. that’s an area we’re looking at renovation and maintenance first half of 2021. “We made a huge inroad by quite specifically in Western facility, this process is very Watson adds that the simply doing what the customer Europe, and I think it will different from manufacturing - company has been working asked us to do,” he says. “If an bring us opportunities.” IRJ it is generally a lot slower, carefully to see how the more static and takes up a lot market develops and there are more space. encouraging signs. TMH has therefore invested After decades of EU and significant capital to update national investment to the facility through an extensive improve infrastructure, he We made a technology transfer process, says demand is shifting to helping the plant to become purchasing rolling stock. For huge inroad by increasingly self-sufficient. At example, there are ample “ peak production, Dunakeszi opportunities in Hungary to simply doing will manufacture 25 coaches supply EMUs to MAV-HEV, per month for ENR. However, which operates the 1.5kV dc what the the company’s business plan is suburban network around targeting production of up to Budapest, as well as coaches customer asked 50 coaches per month at the for long-distance domestic and site with capacity to expand cross-border services for both us to do. MAV and private operators. facilities if necessary. Terence Watson Work so far has focused on The location of the site also renovating the biggest hall to means that upcoming contracts serve the ENR contract while in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, the other areas have been Poland, Austria and Slovenia, 38 IRJ December 2020 IRJDECXX (Linsinger)_Layout 1 16/11/2020 10:57 Page 1 IRJDECXX (PMC)_Layout 1 16/11/2020 11:02 Page 1

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