Olympic Champion Rio’S New Light Railway Set to Expand

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December 2016 I Volume 56 Issue 12 www.railjournal.com | @railjournal

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Points of the future Open for competition New-generation of turnouts NTV and the benefits of open- reduces maintenance costs access high-speed in Italy Olympic champion Rio’s new light railway set to expand

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December 2016 I Volume 56 Issue 12 www.railjournal.com | @railjournal

IRJInternational Railway Journal

Mobility for Tomorrow

In an increasingly dynamic world, bearings and system solutions from Schaeffler not only help railways prepare for the challenges of the future, but also improve their safety. • Thanks to the cost-efficiency of our application solutions, you can make lasting savings in terms of your overall costs. • We constantly test the reliability of our components in our independent Schaeffler Railway Testing Facility for rolling bearings. • We manage the entire lifecycle of our products, right up to railway bearing reconditioning with certification. We have been a development partner for the sector for more than 100 years. Use our engineering expertise! Dec Contents:Layout 1 21/11/2016 17:01 Page 3 Contents Contact us December 2016 Volume 56 issue 12 Editorial offices News Post 46 Killigrew Street 4 This month Falmouth Cornwall, TR11 3PP 6 News headlines UK 12 Transit Tel +44 1326 313945 14 Financial Fax +44 1326 211576 Web www.railjournal.com 16 Technology

Editor-in-Chief David Briginshaw South America 18 [email protected] Associate Editor 18 Argentina’s roadmap for rail revival Keith Barrow Government embarks on $US 16.6bn railway investment [email protected] programme following years of neglect Features Editor Kevin Smith 22 Light rail transforms Rio’s city centre [email protected] Porto Maravilha light rail line already proving a successful Features & News Reporter legacy project of the 2016 Rio Olympics Dan Templeton [email protected] 26 Peru’s capital backs metro to beat congestion Market Researcher Work on network expansion projects now well underway Jonny Deardon as Lima strives to improve mobility 26 [email protected] 30 EFE’s suburban projects run into trouble Sales Executive Chloe Pickering Cost overruns and delays hampering progress on Chilean [email protected] State Railways’ improvement programme Production Manager Sue Morant [email protected] High-speed 32 Competition delivering benefits to passengers Advertising sales offices NTV reflects on its first four years of operation Post 19 John De Mierre House Bridge Road Haywards Heath Track 36 West Sussex, RH16 1UA UK 36 High-speed grinding now includes turnouts Tel +44 1444 849123 Vossloh looks to expand across German network in 2017 International area sales manager 40 Voestalpine unveils new-generation turnout Louise Cooper [email protected] Solutions aim to increase reliability while cutting costs Tel +44 1444 849123 International area sales manager Julie Richardson [email protected] Tel +44 1444 849318 Operations management International Railway Journal (Print ISSN 2161-7376, 42 Vietnam Railways streamlines control systems Digital ISSN 2161-7368), is published monthly by Simmons-Boardman Publishing Corp, 55 Broad Upgrades improve staff efficiency and passenger services Street, 26th Fl, New York, NY 10004-2580, USA. 42 Printed in Great Britain by Buxton Press and distributed in the USA by Mail Right International, 1637 Stelton Road B4, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA. Periodicals postage paid at Piscataway, NJ and

December 2016 I Volume 56 Issue 12 additional mailing offices. COPYRIGHT © Simmons- Also in this issue www.railjournal.com | @railjournal Boardman Publishing Corporation 2016. All rights Front cover IRJ reserved. Contents may not be reproduced without 44 Rendezvous Rio de Janeiro’s new light International Railway Journal Points of the future Open for competition permission. For reprint information please contact New-generation of turnouts NTV and the benefits of open- rail network was a major reduces maintenance costs access high-speed in Italy Editor-in-Chief. For subscriptions & address changes, 45 Full contact list part of the investments in Olympic champion please call +1 402 346-4740, Fax +1 402 346-3670, Rio’s new light railway set to expand Email: [email protected] or 45 Advertisers index the city’s transport system write to: International Railway Journal, Simmons- for the 2016 Olympics. Boardman Publishing Corp, 46 The last word Following the success of 555 Huehl Rd, Northbrook, IL the initial phase, the 60062 USA. network is set to expand POSTMASTER: Send address changes to International Rail- over the next few months. way Journal, 555 Huehl Rd, Northbrook, IL 60062 USA.

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This month | David Briginshaw Britain needs the sparks to fly again

combination of poor entire fleet is bi-mode rather avoided. Unfortunately there secretary of state for transport A project management and than the original plan for a is a tendency to dismiss in 2009 that electrification was overengineering which had mixture of electric and bi-mode former British Rail engineers taken seriously again, and he led to delays and soaring costs trains. Doubts have also been on the grounds that the world managed to push through the on a major British raised as to whether the trains has changed and things have GWML project and electrification project will will be powerful enough in to be done differently today. electrification of the Liverpool seriously undermine the diesel mode to match the Even now, insufficient - Manchester - Preston triangle. prospects for future main line timings of the 40-year diesel thought appears to be given to NR and the DfT need to electrification in Britain, unless trains they will replace, let alone trying to understand exactly launch an in-depth investigation urgent action is taken to tackle improve on them. what mistakes have been into what has gone wrong in these deficiencies. The delays and deferrals made, how they can be order to understand clearly how The project in question is the mean that the fleet of EMUs corrected, how costs can be electrification can be electrification and already being supplied by reduced, and how the project implemented in a timely and modernisation of the Great Bombardier for shorter- can be brought back on track, cost-effective manner, and help Western Main Line (GWML) distance services to Oxford rather than simply deferring should be enlisted from other from Maidenhead, west of and Newbury are currently key elements of the project, railways to discover best London Paddington, to sitting in sidings for most of which will only achieve practice. Oxford, Newbury, Bristol and NR also urgently needs to Cardiff. Electrification from rediscover its project the junction with the spur to management skills. In 2014, Heathrow Airport and Network Rail also urgently needs to NR completed the £895m Maidenhead is part of the project to rebuild and expand Crossrail project, although rediscover its project management skills. Reading station, a major Britain’s infrastructure “ bottleneck on the GWML, on manager Network Rail (NR) is budget and one year ahead of responsible for both schemes. schedule. If it can manage one A damning report by the the day with little to do, and relatively small savings large and complex project so National Audit Office (NAO) on their deployment will need to anyway. well, why has it failed to November 9 revealed that the be rethought as they will not Failure to reduce the cost of manage the modernisation of cost of the project has soared by be able to run to Windsor, electrifying and modernising the rest of the GWML? 73% from £3.48bn as originally Henley or Oxford. This in turn main lines and accelerate their The future of electrification planned in 2013 to £5.58bn will have consequences for the implementation will seriously in Britain is at stake, so there is today and it will take between redeployment of DMUs to jeopardise the chances of any no time to waste in rebuilding 18 and 36 months longer to other routes. further electrification in Britain’s electrification skills. complete. The electrification The NAO lists several Britain. Delays with the element has increased from reasons for the delays and cost GWML, northwestern, and £1.6bn to £2.8bn. overruns by both NR and the Scottish electrification The government’s reaction is Department for Transport schemes, have already resulted to defer some of the more (DfT). According to the NAO, in work being halted to challenging elements of the NR underestimated the cost of electrify the London - Sheffield [email protected] electrification project to save the project, the number of Midland Main Line and the £146m - £165m. These include bridges which would require deferral of electrification west both routes into Bristol Temple upgrading or reconstruction, of Cardiff to Swansea. Meads station where major the duration of the project, the It took a huge effort to track remodelling is planned cost of obtaining planning get electrification back on and the section through the permission for the works, and the agenda in Britain. historic city of Bath Spa where it failed to plan and deliver the Railway privatisation in special measures are required infrastructure programme. The the 1990s followed by to lessen the impact of DfT is criticised for failing to strong opposition from the electrification. Other sections manage and plan the DfT to even the idea of being deferred are Didcot to programme cohesively, and electrifying railways in the Oxford where track and station both organisations are accused vain hope that some new reconstruction is needed and of not integrating crucial form of powering trains the single-track Windsor and elements into one programme. would emerge caused a hiatus Henley branch lines. The NAO says the for nearly two decades. It To date, only electrification electrification timetable was was only when Lord has only been completed on one not based on a bottom-up Andrew Adonis was section of the GWML: the four- understanding of what the appointed track route from the west of works would involve. Had NR Reading to the east of Didcot taken the trouble to consult which is being used to test the with engineers involved in new class 800 trains. Already the previous main line production of these trains has electrification projects, a lot of had to be modified to ensure the the mistakes could have been 4 IRJDECXX (Hasler):Layout 1 07/11/2016 09:52 Page 1

ETCS TCMS Energy Metering DC Sensor AC Sensor Antenna Data Recording / Safety

HMI Data Management ETH Switch Traction Protection Mobile Gateway SPEEDO

Voice ECO Drive Assistant WTB / MVB / ETH Gateway Energy-Fuel Meter SIL Functions

Cold Movement Detection Vehicle Control Unit TELOC/JRU Video

Fuel Sensor

Pulse Generator CORRAIL

Hasler® CORRAIL1000 Since today’s Radar-based ETCS distance measuring devices have revealed their weaknesses in service, e.g. in harsh weather conditions or on iron bridges, HaslerRail has developed the Hasler® CORRAIL1000 sensor which offers a contactless, track-bed independent, direct measurement of a rail vehicle’s speed and operating direction, using the railhead as a reference. In order to work in even the harshest environments, particular care was taken to ensure robustness as well as easy maintenance and care. Due to its special construction which will avoid soiling of the LEDs as well as optical dirt detection and its installation on the bogie frame in the wheels’ lee, the Hasler® CORRAIL1000 sensor is insensitive to almost any kind of dirt, e.g. ballast dust, snow, rust, etc.

Hasler® CORRAIL1000 as a high precision speed source for ETCS on a ICE 1 / BR401 High Speed Train After several years invested in R&D, HaslerRail has launched a new and innovative speed measuring sensor onto the market. With the generous help and support of SBB, ÖBB, Alstom and other OEMs it was possible to run long term trials for 4 years covering more than 7 million kilometres. In this period data was collected from Hasler® CORRAIL1000 sensors installed on trains running in Austria, Germany and Switzerland. In addition HaslerRail invested in simulations and tested the products in wind tunnels as well as in extreme climatic conditions. The result is a product with the following characteristics: – Track independent, highly dynamic direct measurement – Reliable data acquisition during braking and coasting to a standstill – Direction detection – Extremely robust design for installation on the bogie – Low maintenance and service costs

– Very high measuring reliability 67HUÀRWK The results of the measurement and analysis convinced Alstom as well as DB to use the Hasler® CORRAIL1000 as a primary speed source for their sophisticated ETCS system on the ICE High Speed trains of DB.

[email protected] [email protected] Dec News:Layout 1 21/11/2016 19:32 Page 6

News | headlines High Speed 2 Phase 2b route finalised Korea plans first RITAIN’s secretary of state Yorkshire leg of the line, which branches of Phase 2b are due LTE-R deployment B for transport Mr Chris was published by the project’s to open in 2033. OKIA has been selected Grayling announced on developer HS2 Ltd in July. Grayling also confirmed on N by Korea Rail Network November 15 that the A public consultation will be November 15 that HS2 Ltd has Authority (KRNA) to supply government has finalised its carried out on the proposed awarded three contracts with a the world’s first LTE-R mobile preferred route for most of alterations to the South total value of up to £900m for broadband network to support Phase 2b of High-Speed 2 Yorkshire alignment before a enabling works on Phase 1. main line railway operations (HS2), which will extend the final decision is made on the The joint ventures selected and employee services. The line to the East Midlands and routing of this section of the for the three contracts are: system will be deployed on Northern England in the early line next year. Area South - CS JV (Costain the 250km/h Wonju - 2030s. The 190km first phase of Group, Skanska Construction Gangneung line in preparation Phase 2b comprises the HS2 from London Euston to UK) for the PyeongChang 2018 82km section of the western Birmingham Curzon Street and Area Central - Fusion JV Winter Olympics. branch from Crewe to a junction with the West Coast (Morgan Sindall, BAM Nuttall, The communications Manchester Piccadilly and a Main Line near Lichfield is due Ferrovial Agroman (UK)), and network will be based on LTE- junction with the West Coast to be completed in 2026, while Area North: LM JV (Laing R technology, a version of 4G Main Line (WCML) near the 69km Phase 2a from O’Rourke Construction, J LTE technology that is being Wigan, together with the Lichfield to Crewe is Murphy & Sons). developed to meet the 198km eastern branch from scheduled to open in 2027. Construction will begin on mission-critical service Lichfield (north of Both the eastern and western Phase 1 next year. requirements of railway Birmingham) to Leeds and a operators, and the network junction with the East Coast West Coast franchise to include HS2 services will support both operational Main Line (ECML) near York. HE Department for Scotland via the West Coast and maintenance service on Several amendments have Transport (DfT) confirmed Main Line as well as shadow the high-speed line. been made to both branches of T on November 4 that services operations on the southern KRNA’s LTE-R network aims the route following public on Phase 1 of HS2 will be section of HS2. to provide secure, reliable, consultation. The most included in the forthcoming The DfT anticipates that high-speed connectivity significant change to the route Inter City West Coast (ICWC) ICWC services will operate between trains, stations and will be in South Yorkshire, franchise, which is due to until the opening of HS2 on a other railway facilities on the where the government has start in April 2019. partial revenue risk basis. After 120km line between Wonju and abandoned proposals for a park- The combined franchise - the high-speed line becomes Gangneung. and-ride station near Sheffield’s dubbed the West Coast operational in 2026, it is Nokia will supply radio Meadowhall shopping centre in Partnership (WCP) anticipated that the franchisee access network (RAN) base favour of routing services encompasses ICWC services will operate integrated ICWC stations (eNodeBs) along with through Sheffield Midland from London Euston to the and HS2 services for 3-5 years Nokia NetAct, the first major station. This is in line with West Midlands, North Wales, on an incentivised virtualised network recommendations of a report northwest England and management basis. management software for into route options for the South mobile networks. Chinese to build Zambia - Malawi link contract to construct a rail A link between central Zambia and the Malawian border was signed in the Zambian capital Lusaka on November 2 by minister of transport and communications Mr Brian Mushimba and representatives of China Railway Construction Corporation. The 389km line will run east from a junction with the 1067mm-gauge Lusaka - Mpika - Nakonde line at Serenje to Petauke and Chipata, where it will meet the existing line to Lilongwe in ICE 4 enters passenger service: Trial passenger operation of German Rail’s (DB) new ICE 4 high- Malawi and the port of Nacala speed trains began on October 31, when two class 412 sets were introduced on Hamburg - in Mozambique. Würzburg - Munich services. Trial passenger operation with the pre-series trains was planned The $US 2.3bn railway will from the outset when the trains were ordered in 2011. Subject to successful completion of the trial reduce the distance by rail programme, the ICE 4s will enter full service on the Hamburg - Munich route from December from Kapiri M’poshi, Zambia, 2017, replacing ICE 1 trains dating from the late 1980s. Photo: DB AG/Uwe Miethe to the Indian Ocean to 1500km. 6 IRJ December 2016 Dec News:Layout 1 21/11/2016 19:32 Page 7

In brief

Chinese piggyback wagons on test France approves Azerbaijan Azerbaijan Railways (ADY) CDG Express announced on November 7 HE French Senate approved that it has completed the T draft legislation on 8.3km line from Astara to the November 7 authorising the Iranian border on the western implementation of the CDG shore of the Caspian Sea. Express airport rail link to Paris Construction is also nearing Charles de Gaulle Airport. completion on the bridge CDG Express trains will across the Astarachay river, operate at 15-minute intervals which forms the border with a maximum journey time between the two countries. of 20 minutes. The 32km route Britain will use the existing line Production of the first of 66 between Paris Est and bodyshells for the new fleet of Villeparisis, where it will turn Mk 5A locomotive-hauled northwards onto a new 8km coaches for TransPennine branch which will follow the Express (TPE) began at CAF’s alignment of TGV plant at Bessain in northern Interconnexion to the airport. HINA Railway Corporation without the need for uncoupling. Spain on October 27. The A one-way fare is expected to C (CRC) has begun testing CRRC says this means very little vehicles will be formed into cost É24. piggyback wagons built by investment is required in 13-five car push-pull sets, The draft bill provides a CRRC Qiqihar Rolling Stock as terminal facilities, enhancing the which will operate with class legal basis for the construction part of a joint initiative to flexibility of the system. 68 locomotives leased to TPE of infrastructure, designation evaluate the viability of The project was launched in by Direct Rail Services. Both of an operator, and an transporting articulated lorries 2010 with the support of China the locomotives and coaches exemption from the so-called and semitrailers on the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences will be owned by Beacon Rail “golden rule” governing SNCF rail network. (Cass) Highway Research Leasing. The articulated wagons are Institute, the Ministry of Network debt management. equipped with a rotating deck Transport, China Academy of Secretary of state for Germany transport Mr Alain Vidalies which enables lateral loading Railway Sciences, and China DB Network is planning to says it is “imperative” the and unloading of the train Railway Special Cargo. extend its remote point É1.4bn project is completed by condition monitoring 2024 because of Paris’s bid to Ankara high-speed station opens programme, connecting more host the Olympic Games and 35m high, will be operated by than 12,500 point machines to URKISH State Railways Paralympics in 2024, and the TCDD Transport, and is built the Diana monitoring and T (TCDD) inaugurated World Expo in 2025. next to Ankara’s existing main analysis platform, for which Ankara’s new $US 235m high- The project will be financed station which is still in use by Strukton will deliver another speed station on October 29 in part through tax on airline conventional main line and 800 data loggers. The data with a celebration that was fares, although the commuter trains. loggers were developed by attended by president Mr Recep introduction of this tax has The station has an area of Strukton in cooperation with Tayyip Erdogan and prime been deferred from next year 194,460m2, and has eight DB Network and will be minister Mr Binali Yildilrim. until 2024. Vidalies says a floors which consist of rolled-out at locations across Over 50,000 people are “supplementary budgetary commercial areas, cafes, Germany. expected to use the station resource” will be found to restaurants, offices, multi- Open-access operator every day by 2023, with three make up for the shortfall in purpose halls, mosques, a Hamburg Cologne Express island platforms serving six revenue the tax would have 1910-space car park, and a (HKX) will only offer services tracks. generated during the The station is 395m long and five-star hotel with 134 rooms. on Friday, Saturday and construction phase. Sunday from the timetable change on December 11 with Green bonds to finance French infrastructure investment the withdrawal of all Monday trains. HKX blames a lack of NCF Network has become the first European resources. weekday demand for the S infrastructure manager to finance rail An annual report, certified by an external reductions. investment through green bonds, confirming on auditor, will enable green investors to monitor October 27 that it has raised É900m through a the usage of funds and their environmental International green bond issue. impact. The SNCF Network green bond has also Russia’s Federal Passenger The bonds have a maturity of 15 years at a been awarded Green Bond Principles Company will introduce rate of 1.104%. accreditation by Oekom Research and Climate variable-gauge Talgo trains on The funds raised through the issue will Bond Initiative certification. Moscow - Berlin overnight primarily support investment in the existing “The success of this initial programme services on December 17, network, although it will also be used to confirms the level of interest among investors in when journey times between develop new projects and strengthen SNCF companies that put sustainable development at the Russian and German Network’s sustainability strategy. the heart of their industrial strategy,” says SNCF capitals will be reduced by SNCF Network says it has developed a Network president Mr Partick Jeantet. around four-and-a-half hours. methodology to measure the impact of SNCF says it makes É1.5-1.8bn in green bond- Operating under the brand modernisation of the rail network in terms of eligable investment each year, and therefore name Strizh (Swift), the CO2 emissions and the consumption of natural plans at least one green bond issue annually. services will link Moscow IRJ December 2016 7 Dec News:Layout 1 21/11/2016 19:32 Page 8

News | headlines Israel opens Valley Line ceremony was held at A Afula station in Israel on November 8 to mark the start of commercial services on the 60km Valley Line linking Haifa Lev Hamifratz with Beit Shee’an following three months of trial operation. The ceremony was attended by Israel’s prime minister Mr Benjamin Netanyahu, transport minister Mr Israel Katz, the acting general manager of Israel Railways Mr Benny Lavie, as well as mayors of the towns served by the Valley Line. Katz says trials demonstrated the value of the new line as it has already carried more than 100,000 passengers. However,

Photo: Shutterstock/Dmitrijs Mihejevs passengers can travel free-of- charge until February 6 2017, Latvia unveils €1.3bn electrification programme after which tickets will be sold ATVIAN Railways (LDZ) Phase 1 will be implemented Phase 3 will be implemented at half price for the following L and the Latvian Ports between 2019 and 2023 and between 2025 and 2030 and two years. Transport and Logistics Council involves electrification of the involves conversion of the Freight services started on have unveiled a plan to expand Rezekne - Krustpils - Ventspils remaining dc electrification the Valley Line on November 6 the electrified network from and Daugavpils - Krustpils around Riga to ac. between the ports of Ashdod 257km to 839km and replace all lines, creating an east-west The business plan for the and Haifa and Beit-She’an existing dc electrification with electrified corridor through the programme, which was where a temporary freight ac equipment. centre of the country. developed by Ernst & Young terminal has been built until a The É1.3bn programme will Between 2020 and 2025 phase Baltic, is based on a 30-year permanent terminal is ready. be funded with the aid of 2 will extend the wires from asset life-cycle with a 2023 Katz has instructed his staff É347m from the European Daugavpils to Indra on the commissioning date. With the to promote the construction of Union Cohesion Fund, with border with Belarus, and from rising cost of diesel, increasing a rail link to Jordan, and he implementation spread across Krustpils to Aizkraukle, while freight traffic, and a siginficant says that a revival of the line three phases. the Aizkraukle - Škirotava line number of diesel locomotives between Afula and Jenin in the At present just 14% of the will be converted from dc to ac. due for replacement after 2020, Palestinian Authority is also Latvian railway network is This will enable electrically- electrification is deemed a cost- on the agenda. electrified, well below the EU hauled freight trains from effective option for core routes. average of 55%. The programme Belarus to reach the standard- LDZ anticipates the cost of Second rail link will increase this figure to 59% by gauge Rail Baltica freight freight transport will fall by É1 for Jakarta airport the mid-2020s. terminal at Salaspils near Riga. per tonne on electrified lines. HE government of T Indonesia has announced European Commission launches Czech competition probe plans to build a second line to HE European Commission (EC) has opened quality up,” says Ms Margrethe Vestager, EU Soekarno-Hatta International T an investigation into Czech Railways (CD) Commissioner in charge of competition policy. Airport, this time from Jakarta following allegations that the railway breached “This is what we need in rail passenger Kota station in West Jakarta, a EU antitrust laws by charging for services below transport, especially when we’re serious about hub of commuter services in their cost with the aim of shutting out cutting our carbon emissions. We need to take a the capital. competition from the market. close look at CD’s business practices to make The proposed 29.5km route The allegations centre on CD’s services on the sure they do not push out competitors to the would complement the 38km Prague - Ostrava line and the sharp reduction in detriment of passengers.” airport branch from its ticket prices which followed the start of Following a complaint, the Commission Manggarai station, which is operations on the same route by open-access carried out an inspection of CD premises in expected to open in July 2017. operators RegioJet in 2011 and Leo Express in April. It says that the opening of proceedings State-owned railway PT Kereta 2012. does not prejudge the outcome of the Api Indonesia (KAI) is The Commission says it welcomes “vigorous investigation, but that it will now treat the case currently studying the route price competition to the benefit of passengers.” as a matter of priority. The length of the and president-director Mr Edi However, it says it has concerns that CD may be investigation is currently unknown and depends Sukmoro says the intention is pricing tickets below cost, hindering competitors on several factors, including the complexity of to relieve pressure at to the extent that they may not be able to remain the case, the extent to which CD cooperates with Manggarai, with both lines in the market. the Commission and the exercise of the rights of expected to carry 33,700 “Competition drives prices down and service defence. people per day. 8 IRJ December 2016 Dec News:Layout 1 21/11/2016 19:33 Page 9

In brief

SBB Cargo restructures wagonload network Kursk and Berlin East with China approves intermediate stops at WISS Federal Railways’ of only at night, and customers five new lines Smolensk, Orsha, Minsk, Brest, S freight subsidiary SBB will be offered the possibility Terespol, Warsaw, Poznan, HINA’s top economic Cargo plans to introduce a of more overnight express Rzepin and Frankfurt (Oder). planner the National synchronised timetable for its services. C The westbound train will take Development and Reform single wagonload traffic sector The timetable is designed to 20h 14min, and the eastbound Commission (NDRC) has at the timetable change on have minimal impact on peak 20h 35min. December 11, with up to three passenger traffic. Regular approved plans for five more daily shifts at its main connections will be made new lines representing a total Ireland investment of Yuan 187bn marshalling yards instead of between the main shunting Irish Rail introduced a new ($US 27.3bn) as the just one. yards at Limmattal, Lausanne cross-city passenger service in government seeks to revive Customers will be able to Triage, Basle, Buchs and Dublin on November 21 flagging economic growth reserve slots for collection and Chiasso. following the completion of a through infrastructure delivery at specific times and The new scheme was É13.7m project to upgrade an spending. locations. The aim is to developed over a two-year existing line which was The projects include: modernise its single period in cooperation with formerly used by freight trains Ganzhou - Shenzhen high- wagonload operations to keep major customers. and empty passenger trains. speed line (432km, Yuan pace with current practices in As well as offering The work involved upgrading 60.8bn) the logistics market. improved services, SBB Cargo the 692m-long Phoenix Park Beijing - Tangshan high- With the new schedule, expects to improve rolling tunnel and Drumcondra and speed line (148.7km, Yuan handling operations will be stock utilisation and reduce the Tara Street stations, track 44.9bn) spread over 24 hours instead number of drivers required. renewal, and resignalling. Mudanjiang - Jiamusi high- speed line (375km, Yuan Israel 36.8bn) Transport minister Mr Yisrael Zhangjiajie - Jishou - Katz announced on November Huaihua high-speed line 1 that the government is (246.6km, Yuan 35.5bn), and planning to extend the Shenmu North (Hongliulin) Jerusalem - Tel Aviv A1 high- - Fengjiachun (84.4km, Yuan speed rail link, which is 8.64bn). currently under construction In October the NDRC gave to the Western Wall in the go-ahead to two new Jerusalem. The aim of the railways in western extension project is to improve China representing a total access to the Western Wall for investment of Yuan 79.5bn (IRJ tourists, students and others, November p7). while relieving pressure on the Tracklaying main Jerusalem station. begins on Danish Italy A new contract for the HS line operation of regional services ANISH infrastructure in the region around Rome D manager Banedanmark was signed on October 28 by marked the start of tracklaying the president of the region of on the Copenhagen - Køge - Lazio Mr Nicola Zingareti and Ringsted high-speed line on Trenitalia CEO Mrs Barbara October 28, when the first 10 Morgante. Under the contract, sleepers were lowered into which runs until 2020, position by Denmark’s Trenitalia will receive 225m a transport minister Mr Hans- year to operate the network, Christian Schmidt. which includes Leonardo Banedanmark says most of Express services from Rome the major earthworks and Termini to Leonardo da Vinci structures are now complete International Airport in on the 60km, 250km/h line Fiumicino. and ballasting is underway. New Zealand CRRC diesel locomotives shipped to Argentina: The first two Over the coming months The South Island Main Trunk CRRC diesel locomotives for Argentina’s metre-gauge Belgrano Strukton Rail will lay nearly railway between Christchurch Cargas network were loaded onto a ship at Lujong port in 2km of track per day and and Picton could be closed for Shanghai on October 15 in readiness for the start of their sea tracklaying is due to be several months following the voyage to Buenos Aires. CRRC is supplying 107 diesel completed by May 2017. This devastating 7.5-magnitude locomotives, and 3509 wagons to Argentina under contracts will be followed by the earthquake which struck near signed in December 2014. CRRC Ziyang is building 20 six-axle installation of 25kV ac the coastal town of Kaikoura, metre-gauge units for Belgrano Cargas as part of this order. The electrification, which is due to 170km north of Christchurch, 80km/h ac traction locomotives are equipped with 2.2MW MTU be completed by February on November 14. The Series 4000 engines and Knorr-Bremse braking equipment. 2018, with the line scheduled to open on December 9 2018. earthquake has caused IRJ December 2016 9 Dec News:Layout 1 21/11/2016 19:33 Page 10

News | headlines US associations set out priorities for Trump presidency Vienna South OLLOWING the election of further cement the United Transportation Board. intermodal F Donald Trump as US States as a global leader. The American Short Line president-elect and Mike Pence “As a business leader, Mr and Regional Railroad terminal opens as vice-president-elect together Trump understands many of Association (ASLRRA) says the HE new Vienna South with the new Congress, three the economic challenges facing issues of critical importance to T intermodal terminal at railway associations have set this country,” Hamberger says. its members range from Inzersdorf has started out their priorities for the new “As such, we hope he will balanced regulation to two operation with a few container administration. move quickly on issues such as stated priorities of the trains per day and should be Mr Edward Hamberger, comprehensive tax reform that incoming Administration and in full service from this month. president and CEO of the reduces the corporate rate, a Congress: infrastructure and The terminal is located Association of American review and reform of the tax reform. “By making the south of Vienna Blumental Railroads (AAR), says the broken regulatory system and 45G railroad rehabilitation tax station with road access from railway industry, including the embrace fair and open trade.” credit permanent, we will the S1 highway. It will replace freight rail sector, is “eager to The AAR called on leaders promote jobs and invest in a the existing Vienna Nordwest work with a new of both parties in Congress, strong and sustainable rail terminal. administration and Congress, particularly the Senate infrastructure reaching rural Vienna South terminal is helping advance policies that Commerce Committee, to stop communities and small town owned by Austrian Federal will spur economic growth, unfounded regulatory efforts America,” says Ms Linda Railways (ÖBB) and is support quality jobs and at the US Surface Bauer Darr, ASLRRA President. operated by Terminal Services Austria, a subsidiary of ÖBB New South Wales brings forward XPT replacement Infrastructure. Construction started in August 2013 and HE deputy premier of the intermediate trailers will now from 1982 onwards. The fleet phase 1 has now been T Australian state of New begin in the first half of 2017, still covers around 3.5 completed. As the terminal has South Wales Mr Troy Grant two years earlier than million-km annually, carrying logistics facilities, it could and minister for transport Mr previously envisaged. around 1 million passengers a replace several minor freight Andrew Constance “We want this to be a great year on long-distance services loading points around Vienna. announced on October 28 that outcome and for that to from Sydney to Melbourne, The terminal has two the state government has happen, we need to start Brisbane, and Dubbo. gantry cranes serving four allocated $A 50m ($US 37.9m) talking to the industry about In addition to the 700m-long electrified tracks, to accelerate the renewal of the options available and how replacement of the XPTs, the with three loading tracks for NSW TrainLink’s medium we get new trains on the track state government says it will conventional freight trains and long-distance diesel fleet, quickly,” says Constance. look at options for new under construction and set to starting with the XPT trains. A development of the trains to supersede the fleet popen in 2017. The procurement of new British High Speed Train, the of 51 Endeavour and trains to supersede the fleet of XPTs were built by Comeng Xplorer DMU cars built by Algeria opens Birtouta 19 XPT power cars and 60 and ABB and entered service ABB in the 1990s. - Zéralda RER line HE latest phase of the T Algiers RER network was inaugurated on November 1 with the official opening of a Dinars 35bn ($US 319m) link to the western suburb of Zéralda. The 21km line branches off the Algiers - Bilda line at Birtouta, serving five stations, two of them in the new town of Sidi Abdallah. The double- track line is electrified at 25kV Belgrade - Budapest upgrade moves forward ac 50Hz and designed for Chinese-Hungarian joint International Corporation total costs up to Forints 700bn. 140km/h operation. A venture has been formed (CRIC) and China Railway On November 5 the Serbian Services will operate at 30- to manage the reconstruction International Group (CRIG), government signed a $US 319m minute intervals with a of the Hungarian section of the with Hungarian State Railways agreement with China Railway journey time of around 40 Budapest - Belgrade line. (MÁV) holding the remaining International and China minutes between Zéralda and Kínai-Magyar Vasúti 15% stake. Communications Construction Algiers. Nonprofit will be responsible According to the plans, Company for the upgrading of Two extensions beyond for organising procurement, China’s Exim Bank of China the 34.5km Belgrade - Stara Zéralda are currently being letting contracts and will lend the Hungarian Pazova section of the route. studied to serve coastal towns overseeing construction of the government Forints 467.5bn Upgrading of the Budapest - west of Algiers. One of these project to modernise the 163km ($US 1.6bn) to finance 85% of Belgrade corridor will enable will run northeast to Chéraga line from Budapest to Kelebia the cost of rebuilding the operation at speeds of up to and Ain Benain, while the on the Serbian border. largely single-track line. The 200km/h, reducing journey second will serve Bousmail, The new company is 85% bank loan will need to be times between the two capitals Gouraya and Tipasa to the owned by China Railway repaid in 20 years, bringing to less than three hours. south west. 10 IRJ December 2016 Dec News:Layout 1 21/11/2016 19:33 Page 11

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numerous large landslips to the north and south of the town smothering the railway and parallel state highway with hundreds of thousands of tonnes of debris. Up to 14km of the line has been destroyed or badly damaged. Norway Jernbaneverket is evaluating the use of synthetic sleepers on bridges and in tunnels as an alternative to traditional creosoted-wood sleepers. Sleepers of several types have been installed on a 28m-long steel truss bridge at Fidjetun on the Drammen - Stavanger Sørlandet Line to evaluate their durability and noise and vibrational performance. Slovenia The Slovenian and Austrian governments have signed an agreement to work together Korea to develop double-deck high-speed train towards the construction of a OREA Railroad Research Institute (KRRI) operations on the Korean high-speed network. second track on the 15.6km K signed a memorandum of understanding KRRI will be responsible for measuring and line between Maribor and the (MoU) with Hyundai Rotem and Korail in Seoul evaluating performance. border station of Spielfeld- on November 10 pledging to collaborate on a Under the MoU, the development and Strass. The 192m project is project to develop Korea’s first double-deck production of two prototype cars is due to be due to be completed in 2021 high-speed train. completed by the end of next year. The MoU and will increase capacity on Hyundai Rotem will be responsible for envisages that the articulated train will be this section of the Ljubljana - design, production and maintenance of the available for commercial operation by 2023. Korail Graz - Vienna corridor from 63 300km/h train, while Korail will manage test says the train will seat up to 1404 passengers. to 84 trains per day while reducing the Maribor - Graz journey time from 1h 10min to Underfunding puts Irish Rail at risk of insolvency around 45 minutes. significant and growing In 2011, Aecom estimated increase passenger revenues. Switzerland A backlog of maintenance that IE would need to spend The report notes that É Passengers can now exchange and renewals is threatening 247m per year to maintain the underfunding has resulted in Swiss Francs for the Bitcoin Irish Rail’s (IE) ability to network in a steady state, but spending running ahead of digital currency at station sustain operations, according following six years of revenue for several years, and ticket machines under a two- to a report released for public underinvestment, this figure is IE is expected to have retained É É year pilot project launched last consultation by the National now calculated to be 276m losses of 161m by the end of month by Swiss Federal Transport Authority on per year. Aecom calculated that this year. “This has been Railways (SBB). Bitcoin will be November 15, which warns IE IE would need additional facilitated by debt borrowing available at all ticket machines, has only a small window of funding to the tune of É102.9m through the parent company,” É but will not be accepted as a opportunity to repair its in 2017, 116.7m in 2018, and the report states. “The net method of payment. balance sheet. É113.1m in 2019 to address the result of this practice has been The report follows a review backlog in infrastructure to weaken the balance sheet to Vietnam of the railway’s activities, spending, fleet heavy the point where it is not A final batch of three CRRC which was carried out by IE maintenance, fleet capacity, and possible to incur loses in the Dalian type CKD0B diesel and the NTA with the support reductions in public service future without crystallising a shunting locomotives for of an independent assessment obligation (PSO) payments. solvency problem. The balance Formosa Plastics’ steel mill at by Aecom. The report notes that IE sheet cannot sustain any Ha Tinh in Vietnam was This found that IE has been cannot continue to subsidise unexpected financial shock.” shipped from the port of spending significantly less on PSO through commercial To address the legacy of Dalian on November 14. infrastructure maintenance and activities and fleet heavy accumulated losses since 2009, CRRC Dalian is supplying renewal since 2011, and while maintenance costs are being IE needs an estimated eight of the four-axle metre- it has been able to maintain the funded by the exchequer. IE additional investment of gauge twin-cab locomotives, É operational performance of the returned to growth in all 41.7m per year in 2017-19. which are equipped with network through short-term business areas in 2014, but is The report suggests that this remote control and a 735kW fixes, the failure to renew life- approaching fleet capacity and could come from increased 4240 ZJ diesel engine expired assets is a rapidly- is “close to exhausting all exchequer grants, closure of developed in cooperation with mounting problem for the avenues for additional loss-making lines, or a Ricardo Rail, Britain. IRJ company. capacity,” limiting potential to combination of the two. IRJ December 2016 11 Dec TN:Layout 1 21/11/2016 14:38 Page 12

News | transit NSW plans Sydney - Parramatta Metro West Tampere approves HE government of the population, which is expected 40,000 people in the morning light rail project T Australian state of New to exceed 6 million within 20 peak and operating at 135% South Wales (NSW) has years. seated capacity. OUNCILLORS in the announced a new metro line An extra 420,000 people are Metro West will serve C Finnish city of Tampere will be built between forecast to move into the 35km around 40,000 passengers per voted by a majority of 41-25 Parramatta and the Sydney corridor between Greater hour per direction. on November 7 to approve business district, with Parramatta and central Sydney Transport for NSW will construction of the city’s first construction expected to over that time, with more than begin engaging with light rail line. commence within the next five 300,000 jobs expected to be community, industry and key The 23-station line will run years. created by 2036. stakeholders in early 2017. A from Tampere city centre to The government says the The existing western Sydney request for proposals will go Sampola, where it will split Sydney Metro West project Trains heavy-rail line serving out to the industry in late 2017 into two branches to serve the addresses the city’s rapid Parramatta will become with a view to starting University of Tampere and the growth, responding to the severely overcrowded by the construction commencing in Hervanta area. needs of the increasing early 2030s, moving around 2020. The first phase from Hervanta to the University Funding agreed for second Munich S-Bahn tunnel Hospital will open in 2021. In June 2015 the council Municipal Transport Financing selected the Tralli Act (GVFG), with É1.4bn consortium of Pöyry, VR Track coming from the state of and Yit to build the line, and Bavaria, É155m from the city last month Škoda of Munich, and É150m from Transportation’s Finnish German Rail (DB). Any subsidiary Transtech was additional costs will be divided chosen to supply the fleet of on a 60:40 basis between the low-floor LRVs. federal and state governments. In April the Finnish The project involves government agreed to fund constructing a 14km line from 70% of the É250m cost of Laim in the west to infrastructure. Leuchtenbergring in the east running parallel with the existing line, which carries up to Lyon orders Alstom 60 trains an hour and has metro trains reached its capacity limit. A 7km ERMANY’s federal president of the state of twin-bore tunnel is planned YON public transport G government is set to Bavaria Mr Horst Seehofer. between Donnersbergerbrücke L authority Sytral has provide 60% of the funding Following recent cost and Munich East Station with awarded a É140m contract to required for a second east-west increases, the project now has three new stations at Munich Alstom to supply 30 two-car S-Bahn tunnel beneath Munich an estimated pricetag of Main Station, Marienhof, and rubber-tyred trains with an city centre under an agreement around É3.84bn, including a Munich East. option for another 18 trains. signed in the city on October É640m contingency. The Groundbreaking is due to The first four trains are due 25 by federal transport German federal government take place in April 2017 and to enter service in 2019 on Line minister Mr Alexander will contribute around É1.5bn the tunnel is expected to open B. The order is part of Sytral’s Dobrindt and minister to the project through the in December 2026. Future Metro 2020 project which seeks to increase BVG approves De Lijn selects CAF to supply 146 LRVs capacity on lines A, B and D to €3.1bn fleet renewal cope with growing ridership, ELGIAN light rail operator which was issued in March which is forecast to increase by HE supervisory board of De Lijn has selected CAF 2014, De Lijn requires 62 LRVs 30% over the next few years. Berlin Transport (BVG) B T as preferred bidder for a for the West Flanders coastal Each 36m-long train will approved a É3.1bn contract to supply 146 low- line linking Knokke, Ostend accommodate 325 passengers investment in the floor LRVs for Antwerp, Ghent and De Panne, including five at 4 passengers/m2. The sets modernisation of Berlin’s U- and the West Flanders coastal vehicles for a proposed will be equipped with an Bahn and tram fleets by 2035 line. extension to Veurne. Antwerp entirely electrical braking on November 1. The deal has an estimated will receive 66 LRVs and system, LED lighting and In the first phase of the value of around É320m and is Ghent 18 units. other innovations which programme, BVG will De Lijn’s largest-ever CAF’s competitor in the Alstom says will reduce procure at least 182 small- investment in new vehicles. tender, Bombardier, has lodged energy consumption by 25% profile and 264 large-profile The order will enable the an appeal against De Lijn’s compared with the trains they U-Bahn cars and a minimum replacement of the coastal fleet decision, which is due to be will replace. of 80 bidirectional low-floor and PCC trams in Antwerp heard by the Council of State Lyon is currently extending LRVs. and Ghent, as well as on November 22. Line B by 2.3km from Oullins In July BVG exercised a increasing fleet capacity for The ACV union says it is station to Lyon’s South É140m option with Stadler operation on new lines. concerned the decision to Hospital at a cost of É394m. Pankow for 27 type IK small- Delivery of the metre-gauge award the contract to CAF The extension is due to open profile U-Bahn trains, taking LRVs is due to start in 2018. could jeopardise the future of in 2023. Sytral also intends to the total on order to 38. According to the tender, Bombardier’s plant at Bruges. automate Line B. 12 IRJ December 2016 Dec TN:Layout 1 21/11/2016 14:38 Page 13

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Caen Overground orbital suburban Alstom has secured a É52m rail network on November 13 contract to supply 23 Citadis with the start of a new 7.5 year X05 low-floor LRVs as part of operating concession. Arriva the Tramway 2019 project to took over from London convert the city’s guided Overground Rail Operations trolleybus line to light rail. The (Lorol), a 50:50 joint venture of first vehicles will enter service Arriva and MTR, which ran in September 2018. the network since 2007. Gotha Lucknow The future of tram operations Alstom presented the first of in the German city appears 20 four-car Metropolis metro assured after a proposal to trains for the Indian city in a replace the network with ceremony at its plant in Sri buses was rejected by the City, Andhra Pradesh, on Thuringia state government on November 4. The initial 8.4km economic grounds. Gotha section of the north-south line Tramways (TWSB) and is due to open next year. Thüringerwaldbahn have now been granted permits to Nanjing continue operation of lines in Nanjing Metro Operation US cities order Siemens S76 LRVs the city as well as the 21.7km Company has awarded CRRC inter-urban line to Tabarz. Nanjing Puzhen Rail Transport IEMENS has secured orders network in the Twin Cities. a Yuan 650m ($US 94.6m) S to supply a total of 72 S70 The vehicles will be Hamburg contract to supply additional LRVs to two cities in the manufactured at Siemens’ The city has instructed German trains for metro Line 2. United States. Sacramento plant and deliveries Rail (DB) subsidiary S-Bahn Delivery is due to take place San Diego Metropolitan are due to start in 2019. Hamburg to exercise an option between August 2017 and Transit System has ordered 45 Metro Transit is enlarging its for 12 additional Bombardier October 2018. LRVs to expand its fleet in fleet in readiness for the class 490 EMUs for lines S3 and readiness for the opening of the extension of the Green Line S11. Six extra trains are Paris 17.7km extension of the Blue from Target Field to SouthWest required for six-car operation Ile-de-France transport Line and provide additional Station. Construction is due to on Line S11, while four sets authority Stif has awarded capacity on existing lines. begin on the $US 1.86bn will extend nine-car operation Alstom a É70m contract to The order brings the total project next year and the on the core Neugraben - supply 22 Citadis X05 LRVs number of vehicles supplied by 23.3km 15-station extension Elbgaustrasse section of Line for light rail Line T9. The deal Siemens to MTS since the first will open in 2020. S3. The remaining two sets will is part of a framework contract line opened in 1981 to 244, Charlotte Area Rapid Transit increase fleet flexibility. for up to 68 LRVs for lines T9 making MTS the largest light System (Cats) has selected and T10. rail customer for Siemens light Siemens as preferred supplier Helsinki rail vehicles in the United States. for a contract to supply six The executive board of Samsun Minneapolis St Paul LRVs for the second phase of Helsinki City Transport (HKL) The first of eight LRVs being Metropolitan Council has the Lynx light rail Gold Line. has exercised an option with supplied by Durmazlar, awarded Siemens a $US 118m Siemens’ $US 41m bid will Škoda Transportation’s Finnish Turkey, to Samsun arrived in contract to supply 27 LRVs for now be submitted to Charlotte subsidiary Transtech for 29 the Turkish city on October 26. the expansion of the light rail City Council for approval. Artic low-floor LRVs for the The 31.8m-long vehicles are Raide-Jokeri light rail line from a É12m order placed by Shenzhen opens two metro lines between Helsinki and Espoo. Samsun Metropolitan RIAL passenger operation interchanges, with an end-to- The option is from a contract Municipality last October. for 40 vehicles awarded to T began on two new metro end journey time of 45 minutes. Seoul lines in Shenzhen on October In 2014 Shenzhen Metro Transtech in December 2011 É Seoul Metropolitan 28, adding 55.6km to the Group awarded CNR and is worth 100.5m. Infrastructure has invited bids network, which at 285km is Changchun Railway Vehicles Isfahan for a contract to supply 32 now the third largest metro in (now part of CRRC The Iranian city extended four-car trains for metro Line China after Beijing and Corporation) a contract to services on its first metro line 9. Delivery must be completed Shanghai. supply 70 type A metro trains on November 2 with the by the end of 2018. The 30.3km east-west Line 7 for the two lines. The order opening of the 800m section links Tai’an in Luohu with Xili comprised 41 sets for Line 7 between Shohada and Takhti Stockholm Lake in the district of and 29 for Line 9. Each six-car in the city centre, and new Swedish infrastructure Nanshan, serving 28 stations train will accommodate up to stations at Baharestan, manager Trafikverket including 10 interchanges with 2502 passengers. Golestan and Shahid confirmed on November 3 that other metro lines. The journey Shenzhen Metro Group Chamranon on the initial the SKr 16.8bn ($US 1.88bn) time between the two termini forecasts the two lines will 11km phase of the line. 6km underground Stockholm is 55 minutes. increase ridership on the City Line will open at 05.00 on Line 9 runs for 25.3km from network by 700,000 to 4.5 London July 10 2017, doubling main Hongshuwan in Nanshan to million passengers per day Arriva Rail London took sole line rail capacity through the Wenjin in Luohu and serves 22 when they are fully charge of the London centre of the city. IRJ stations, including 10 operational. IRJ December 2016 13 Dec FN:Layout 1 21/11/2016 14:29 Page 14

News | financial Faiveley to sell US brakes business to Amsted AIVELEY Transport F announced on October 26 that it will sell its US freight wagon braking business to Amsted Rail as a condition of the company’s planned $US 1.8bn acquisition by braking manufacturer Wabtec. The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a proposed consent decree with the US District Court in Washington DC approving the sale of Faiveley, conditional upon the disposal of certain US assets. Faiveley says terms JR Kyushu IPO raises $US 4bn Photo: John Hoyle of the sale have already been HARES in Japan’s Kyushu Three-quarters of shares 433bn in the 2015 financial agreed with the buyer and S Railway Company (JR were sold domestically with year due to a one-off Yen approved by the DOJ. Kyushu) climbed 15% on the the remainder going to 479bn depreciation in the value Faiveley’s US subsidiary first day of trading following international investors. of its railway assets. Ellcon National formed a joint the company’s IPO on the The flotation of JR Kyushu Around 60% of JR Kyushu’s subsidiary in September 2010 Tokyo stock exchange on was the third biggest IPO of revenues and all of its profits to supply equipment for the October 24. 2016 after the Postal Savings come from non-rail activities freight wagon market in North All 160 million shares held Bank of China ($US 7.4bn) and including property America. by the Japan Railway German energy company development, hotels, and Earlier this month the Construction, Transport and Innogy ($US 5.1bn). restaurants. European Commission (EC) Technology Agency, which In the current financial year, JR Kyushu operates 22 approved the planned owns JR Kyushu, were sold for which ends on March 31, net routes serving 566 stations and acquisition on the condition Yen 2600 ($US 24.94) each, income is forecast to reach Yen carries around 315 million that Faiveley divest itself of its valuing the company at Yen 38.2bn with sales projected to passengers per year. The sintered brake material 416bn, and reached Yen 2990 increase 0.2% to Yen 379bn. JR company employs around 9300 supplier Faiveley Transport by the close of trading. Kyushu made a net loss of Yen staff. Gennevilliers (FTG). Alstom reports strong first-half performance Touax secures LSTOM recorded an 8% É3.9bn the previous year, an income fell to É700m due to a loan for wagon A increase in sales, a 20% increase of 59%, while drop in the value of the pound jump in adjusted Ebit, and Alstom’s order backlog grew against the euro regarding a purchase É turned a 2015-16 first-half loss by 21% from 27.7bn to British maintenance contract. X Rail Finance 4, a Dublin- É of É57m into a profit of 33.57bn, which the company Revenue from selling trains based single-purpose É T É128m during the first half of says is a new record. totalled 1.6bn. company owned by wagon É its 2016-17 financial year which Signalling, systems and Alstom spent 62m on leasing company Touax Rail, started on April 1. The services represented 54% of research and development has secured a É54m loan from company also turned a first-half sales which Alstom during the first half of 2016-17 DVB Bank and KfW Ipex to negative free cash flow of says is in line with its objective which it says is 1.7% of total finance the acquisition of 1335 É1.3bn into a positive É333m to reach 60% by 2020. Signalling sales. Capital investment freight wagons. É during the same period. sales increased by 33% partly amounted to 43m. Each bank is providing half Orders booked during the due to the integration of GE’s Alstom’s first-half adjusted of the funds for the transaction, É first half of 2016-17 amounted signalling division. Systems Ebit increased from 167m in which is composed of two É to É6.2bn compared with sales grew by 20%, but services 2015-16 to 200m in 2016-17. facilities: a 5.5-year loan and a VAT facility worth more than Providence & Worcester approve sale to GWI É18m. DVB Bank has acted as both agent and lender, while HAREHOLDERS of the terms of the agreement, Transportation Board (STB), KfW IPEX Bank has operated S Providence & Worcester P&W will merge with Pullman P&W will be managed as part exclusively as a lender. Railroad (P&W) have voted to Acquisition Sub. of GWI’s Northeast Region. Luxembourg-based approve the proposed The merger is due to be GWI says the addition of investment fund Touax acquisition of the railway by completed on or around P&W to the company’s Investments SCA will provide Genesee & Wyoming (GWI). November 1, subject to the portfolio strengthens its ability equity for the transaction. GWI announced in August satisfaction of the remaining to serve Class 1 partners and Touax Group subsidiary, that it was planning to closing conditions. customers in New England, Touax Rail, will be responsible purchase P&W for $US 126m Following approval from the which GWI says is a highly for managing the wagons as at $US 25 per share. Subject to United States Surface competitive rail market. part of its lease portfolio. 14 IRJ December 2016 Dec FN:Layout 1 21/11/2016 14:29 Page 15

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Cuba orders Russian coaches Britain contract to electrify four lines ESG Rail has won a contract totalling 761 route-km as part The order comes under the HE director of Cuban from London Midland to of a programme to electrify umbrella of a broader T foreign trade agency supply CCTV systems on 26 24,000km of IR’s network over agreement between Russia and Tradex Mr José Antonio Arias class 323 and 40 class 350 trains. the next five years. signed a contract with Mr Cuba to modernise the railway Andrei Solovey, CEO of network on the Caribbean Bulgaria Italy island. Transmashholding subsidiary Bulgaria’s Transport Ministry The European Investment Bank The coaches will replace É Tver Carriage Works (TVZ), on has launched a project for the has granted a 950m loan to ageing vehicles from Germany November 10 for 68 passenger construction of a 23km double- the Italian minister of economy and Mexico on long-distance coaches for Cuban Union track railway connecting its and finance to support services. The poor condition of Railways (UFC). capital Sofia with Ellin Pelin. upgrades of Italian Rail these coaches means that many The agreement was signed The European Union’s (EU) Network’s (RFI) infrastructure. long-distance services have during the visit of Cuban Connecting Europe Facility been cut back to operate only transport minister Mr Eduardo (CEF) has allocated Levs 120m South Africa every three days. Rodríguez Dávila to Russia. ($US 67.8m) to finance part of Rolls-Royce reopened its MTU the project. plant in Cape Town following Bombardier improves financial performance the completion of a Rand 50m RAIN and aircraft and its book-to-bill ratio France ($US 3.6m) upgrade project T manufacturer Bombardier improved slightly from 1.1 to Thales has entered into which will enable the facility has reduced its net loss from 1.6. exclusive negotiations with to produce over 200 engines $US 4.9bn in the third quarter Bombardier Transportation Latour Capital, a private for locomotives that CRRC is of 2015 to $US 94m thanks achieved a 15% improvement equity firm, with a view to supplying to Transnet Freight largely to a turnaround in the in third-quarter Ebit from $US selling its transport ticketing Rail (TFR). performance of its two aircraft 109m in 2015 to $US 125m in and revenue collection, road divisions, while its year-to- 2016, while third-quarter tolling and car park Sri Lanka date loss has fallen from $US Ebitda before special items management business. Sri Lanka has awarded a $US 4.66bn in 2015 to $US 722m in improved by 25% from $US 58m contract for six DMUs to 131m to $US 164m. Germany Rites, the sole bidder for the 2016. É Rail division Bombardier During the three-month Alstom has received a 130m contract which was funded by Transportation suffered a 10% period ending September 30 order from DB Regio for 24 an Indian credit line. drop in third-quarter revenue 2016, Bombardier Coradia Continental EMUs, from $US 1.985bn in 2015 to Transportation says its margin which will be used on the Sweden $US 1.78bn this year, although before special items improved Breisgau S-Bahn network in Stockholm-based investment order intake jumped by 32% to 7.9%, on an Ebit margin southwest Germany and built company Ratos has sold its from $US 2.2bn to $US 2.9bn before special items of 6.7%. in Salzgitter. Deliveries will be 100% stake in rolling stock completed in 2019. maintenance specialist Berlin-Brandenburg Euromaint to private equity Transport Association (VBB), fund SSVP in a deal worth SKr on behalf of the German states 650m ($US 73m). of Brandenburg, Sachsen- Eltel has signed an É18m Anhalt, Meckenburg- one-year extension of its Vorpommern and Berlin, has agreement with Trafikverket to revealed details of an provide installation and upcoming concession for maintenance services for rail regional train services on the and road IT facilities across Elbre-Spree network. The Sweden. The new contract contract will cover 20 routes expires at the end of 2018. and 23 million train-km per year, and will start in Ukraine December 2022. Ukrainian industrial company Interpipe is investing Hull Trains orders Hitachi bi-mode trains India $US 16.2m in its railway manufacturing facilities. ITACHI Rail Europe The 225km/h trains will be Alstom has selected ABB to Interpipe says the upgrade announced on November assembled at Hitachi’s Newton supply 1600 traction H will help the company to boost 2 that it has concluded a £60m Aycliffe plant in northeast transformers for 800 double- export volumes and enter new contract with First Group and England and are due to enter unit Prima electric freight market segments such as rolling stock leasing company service in 2019. The fleet will locomotives for Indian wheels for high-speed rail and Angel Trains for five bi-mode be maintained by Hitachi at Railways. ABB will supply wheelsets for freight wagons. (diesel and electric) AT300 Bounds Green depot in 50Hz underframe traction transformers, which are trains, which will be used by London. Uruguay Hull Trains on services from The trains will operate designed to withstand extreme Uruguayan State Railways London King’s Cross to Hull under 25kV 50Hz ac temperatures and voltage (AFE) has acquired seven Y1 and Beverley. electrification on the East fluctuations. Deliveries will single-car DMUs from Each five-car train will seat Coast Main Line between take place from 2018 to 2028. Swedish rolling stock leasing 327 passengers, 61 more than London and Doncaster, where India’s Ministry of Railways company NetRail to improve the Alstom class 180 DMUs they will switch to diesel mode has awarded Power Grid services on the Montevideo - currently used on these for the remainder of the Corporation of India (PGCIL) 25 de Agosto line. IRJ services. journey to Hull and Beverley. a Rs 8.89bn ($US 133m) IRJ December 2016 15 Dec Technology:Layout 1 21/11/2016 19:31 Page 16

News | technology

ICE predictive maintenance trial launched ERMAN Rail (DB) and G Siemens are launching a one-year pilot project to predict servicing and maintenance requirements for DB’s class 407 ICE 3 trains supplied by Siemens. Data from the fleet’s onboard diagnostics system will be transmitted while the trains are in service to a purpose-built data analysis centre in Munich where it will be analysed to predict component or system failures. These predictions will be used by specialists to Onboard track monitoring system launched in Singapore recommend what actions need N onboard optical-fibre sensors to monitor the tracks SMRT in Singapore signed to be taken to correct the faults A track monitoring system continuously. PolyU says this an agreement with PolyU in which will then be transmitted developed by the Hong Kong should enable defects to be February and testing of the to DB workshop maintenance Polytechnic University (PolyU) identified rapidly so that they system was completed in June. staff for either acute or is being installed on the two can be rectified as quickly as Six groups of sensors are now planned maintenance. original lines of the Singapore possible thereby improving being installed in tracks and All diagnostic data will be metro. reliability. trains of the East West Line available to DB and its PolyU claims its system is The sensors can also be and North South Line, which maintenance staff during train the first in the world to use installed on the track to are the two busiest metro lines operation and is presented in revenue-earning rolling stock monitor trains allowing faults in Singapore. The work will be what Siemens describes as an equipped with fibre optic to be detected quickly. completed in early 2017. easily-understandable, user- friendly display. The current condition of a vehicle can University of Huddersfield bogie test rig opens thereby be monitored and HE Institute of Railway enable in-depth investigation Installation of the rig appropriate action taken, T Research (IRR) at Britain’s of many issues surrounding required 95 piles to be sunk 5m which should reduce vehicle University of Huddersfield has the wheel-rail contact area. deep and a system of air downtime due to faults. unveiled a new 150-tonne “We do a lot of research by springs to prevent excessive Siemens says the data bogie test rig, which it says is computer modelling, but this vibration. analyses made at its Mobility the only one of its type in needs to be supported by The Centre for Innovation in Data Services Centre are based Europe, and inaugurated the testing and that is why what Rail will help to accelerate on algorithms and models that Centre for Innovation in Rail. we are showing you today is innovations in railway can make highly reliable The £4.5m test rig, which so important to us,” said technology and products and predictions about the future was financed by the EU’s Professor Simon Iwnicki, act as a conduit for research behaviour of vehicles and Regional Growth Fund, will director of the IRR. within the IRR. components. German Rail hopes tech startup unit will foster digital innovation ERMAN Rail (DB) startups that have significant high degree of freedom and an funding. After four rounds of G announced on November potential for growth and appropriate support network funding, more than 400 15 that it has established a new innovation in addition to a to transform their ideas into domestic and international wholly-owned subsidiary to strong startup team,” says Mr market-ready prototypes,” says startups are now involved in intensify co-operation with Boris Kühn, managing director Mr Manuel Gerres, DB’s head the DB Accelerator. tech startups and develop of DB Digital Ventures. of new digital business. The programme will now be data-driven business models. In addition to its work with “Under the umbrella of DB expanded as part of a DB says the creation of DB external partners, DB Digital Digital Ventures, external and partnership with a new Digital Ventures will simplify the Ventures will seek to support internal startups will find a sponsor. DB says the aim of participation of external so-called “intrapraneuers” - new home at DB.” this collaboration is to speed companies in the implementation employees within DB with DB is also planning to up the implementation of new of its digitisation strategy. ideas that may benefit the expand the DB Accelerator, technologies, strengthen the The new company has been business. which supports startups and programme financially, expand allocated around É50m in “Startups, as well as DB new companies with three- its range of competencies, and venture capital over the next colleagues with a strong month workshops, mentoring, widen DB’s startup and two years. “We will invest in entrepreneurial spirit, need a and É25,000 in startup mentoring network. IRJ 16 IRJ December 2016 A world of railway market intelligence at your ﬁngerps

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With connually updated and searchable content, IRJ PRO gives you a unique and up-to-date perspecve on investment in new railways and rolling stock IRJ To ﬁnd out more visit irjpro.com or email [email protected] P R O Dec Argentina:Layout 1 21/11/2016 14:30 Page 18

South America | Argentina Argentina’s roadmap to a rail revival

After decades of decline, the government of Argentina has drawn up plans to invest $US 16.6bn in the country’s railway network by 2023. Keith Barrow explains how international expertise - and finance - will play a vital role in realising this bold vision.

RGENTINA’s railways are woven between 1994 and 1997. The freight into the country’s national fabric. operations of FA were privatised A Carrying European immigrants through long-term operate-and- into the country’s interior, and maintain concessions. exporting agricultural produce the However, concessioning failed to other way, the system helped Argentina stem the decline on much of the to become the seventh-wealthiest network. On the metre-gauge Belgrano developed country in the world by Cargas network, which spans much of 1908. After a period of rapid expansion, central and northern Argentina, freight the network peaked at around traffic plunged from 3.3 million tonnes 47,000km, making it the largest in South in 1998 to 500,000 tonnes in 2006 as America, but political instability, infrastructure, which was already in a economic crisis and improvements to critical condition when the concession the road network triggered a decline began, continued to deteriorate. With from which the railways never really chronic shortages of serviceable recovered. locomotives and wagons, and declining After decades of underinvestment reliability, many customers abandoned and decay, Argentinean Railways (FA) the railway. The government revoked was broken up and sold off in the 1990s Belgrano Cargas’ concession in 2008, as the government of president Mr and after five years under state control, Carlos Menem implemented a the company was formally nationalised sweeping programme of privatisation. in 2013. Commuter operations in Buenos Aires Privatisation also failed to bring came under the control of Metropolitan improvements to the Buenos Aires Railways (Femesa) in 1991, which in suburban network. The poor condition turn granted operating concessions to of the system was thrown into sharp private companies for all seven lines focus on February 22 2012, when a Sarmiento Line service operated by Buenos Aires suburban network Buenos Aires Trains (TBA) ran into the suburban network. In 2013, 709 EMU Lines: 7 buffers at Buenos Aires Once station, cars were ordered from CSR Qingdao Total length: 851 track-km killing 51 and injuring 703. Sifang to replace life-expired rolling stock Stations: 278 Following the accident, the on the San Martin, Sarmiento, Mitre and Daily services: 2166 government rescinded TBA’s concession Roca lines. CNR Tianjin supplied 27 Daily system capacity: 2.7 million to operate the Mitre and Sarmiento lines three-car DMUs for the modernisation of and by 2015, control of all seven Belgrano Sur suburban services in 2015, Suburban investment 2016-23 suburban lines had passed to state- while domestic manufacturer Emepa has owned train operator Sofse (now built 20 two-car DMUs for the Belgrano Project Budget ($US m) known as Argentinean Trains Norte. Resignalling and ATS 816 Operations). Renationalisation was China has also financed the Track renewal 570 formalised in May 2015, when president modernisation of freight lines. In July Electrification Mrs Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner 2014 Argentina signed a $US 2.1bn loan upgrades 100 signed a bill reviving Argentinean agreement with the Chinese Stations 731 Railways (FA) as a state company, government to finance the revival of the New rolling stock 3240 bringing infrastructure and operations Belgrano Cargas metre-gauge network. RER 3244 together under the Argentinean Trains CSR Corporation was subsequently Depots 193 brand. awarded a contract to supply 100 Sarmiento Line tunnel 3000 With the backing of Chinese loans, the locomotives and 3500 wagons, which Grade separation programme 1360 Kirchner administration began the are now being delivered as part of the Electrification 933 modernisation of infrastructure and modernisation programme. Total 14187 rolling stock on the Buenos Aires Chinese locomotives and coaches 18 IRJ December 2016 Dec Argentina:Layout 1 21/11/2016 14:30 Page 19

have also been procured for long- construction of a north-south tunnel the RER network, including distance services from Buenos Aires to beneath the centre of Buenos Aires interchanges with the Buenos Aires provincial centres including Cordoba, connecting the Mitre and San Martin metro network. Rosaria, and Mar del Plata. lines into Retiro with the Roca and The RER project will enable a step- Investment looks set to continue Belgrano Sur lines, which link Buenos change in frequencies on the suburban under the government of president Mr Aires and Constitución stations with the rail network, reducing headways from Mauricio Macri, which was elected in southern suburbs. 10-15 minutes to just three minutes at December 2015, and the Ministry of In the second stage of the project, an peak times. Transport plans to invest $US 16.6bn underground link will be constructed Level crossings have long been a between 2016 and 2023 including $US between Retiro and Once station, which major obstacle to higher frequencies on 14.2bn for the Buenos Aires suburban will connect the Mitre and Sarmiento the suburban network and there are still network and $US 4.4bn for freight lines. lines. In the longer-term, the government more than 120 level crossings in the also proposes linking the metre-gauge Buenos Aires area. The response to this Belgrano Sur and Belgrano Norte lines problem involves major civil RER and incorporating them into the RER engineering, particularly on the The Ministry of Transport’s $US network. Sarmiento Line, where a 22.4km tunnel 14.2bn Comprehensive Plan of Works Tendering began recently for is being built to replace the surface for the Metropolitan Rail Network aims contracts to build the underground alignment and eliminate 49 level to triple urban rail capacity in Buenos station at Constitución and construction crossings. Aires through the development of the is due to start in the first half of next This $US 3.8bn project involves Regional Express Rail (RER) network. year. Five other underground stations constructing two 10.46m-diameter This key strategic project involves the are also planned on the core section of single-bore tunnels running up to 22m IRJ December 2016 19 Dec Argentina:Layout 1 21/11/2016 14:30 Page 20

South America | Argentina

track between Embarcación in Salta and Buenos Aires viaduct programme El Chalicán in neighbouring Jujuy. Both Line Section Estimated cost ($US m) Completion of these projects are being financed by Belgrano Sur Constitución - Saenz 135 October 2018 China National Machinery and San Martin Palermo - La Paternal 140 July 2019 Equipment Import and Export Mitre L de la Torre - Belgrano C 110 September 2019 Corporation (CMEC). Work is due to begin on Stage 2 in February. below the existing alignment between Alongside investment in Tendering is due to start in April 2017 Caballito and Castelar. The first phase infrastructure, the rolling stock fleet will for Stage 3, which covers a total of of the project involves constructing a be expanded to operate the intensive 558km in Tucumán, Salta, and Jujuy tunnel between Caballito and Haedo, timetable planned under the RER provinces and has an estimated value of with Phase 2 extending the tunnel to programme. According to the Ministry $US 421m. This phase encompasses Castelar. Originally scheduled for of Transport, “100% of the fleet will be renewals on the 359km Joaquin V completion in 2011, the project has completely new” by 2023. By 2019, the Gonzales - Metán - Tucumán line and suffered numerous delays due to number of new vehicles in operation the 197km Metán - El Chalicán line. difficulties in obtaining financing, and will reach 1748, increasing to 2798 by Contracts are due to be awarded in the the first TBM lay dormant in a shaft at 2023, and the fleet will be maintained in third quarter of next year and work will Haedo for four years until October, “modern workshops with local labour.” begin in early 2018. when tunnelling finally resumed. The Two tenders for new trains are planned, Argentinean Trains Infrastructure has government now expects the first the first of which was due to be issued begun tendering for the first stage of section of the tunnel to open in 2020. this month with the second scheduled the renewal of the 486km Mitre Line In addition to the Sarmiento Line for mid-2017. from Rosario to Córdoba. Tendering for tunnel, there are also three projects to the three remaining stages of the project replace surface alignments with is due to start in March 2017, with work viaducts in a $US 500m programme Freight lines scheduled for completion in 2019. which will eliminate numerous level Only 4% of inland freight volumes Modernisation of the San Martin Line crossings. Tendering for the first of are transported by rail and transit from Pilar near Buenos Aires to these projects is now underway (see speeds compare poorly with road, Mendoza, together with the 240km line panel p18.) averaging just 12-15 km/h. With a $US from Rufino to Soldini on the Mitre Track renewals are required on 4.4bn investment in the network, the Line, has an estimated pricetag of $US around half of the suburban network government hopes to more than double 1.6bn and is expected to take three to and $US 570m has been allocated for rail freight volumes from 18 million four years to complete. Argentinean this purpose in 2016-23. tonnes to 40 million tonnes per year. Trains Infrastructure says it expects to Safety is another key focus of the plan, The revival of the Belgrano Line seeks finalise the executive project in the which envisages spending $US 816m to provide an efficient corridor for fourth quarter of this year and over the next eight years on resignalling, freight traffic from northwest Argentina implementation will be divided into including $US 250m for the continued to the ports of Santa Fe and Rosario. three phases. Stage 1 covers the eastern rollout of Automatic Train Stop (ATS) The project is divided into three phases. section from Cabred to Safocarda, and technology, which is currently only Stage 1 is worth $US 345m and covers track-doubling is planned on this installed on around 10% of the network. the rehabilitation of three sections of the 391km stretch. The rollout is due to be completed across line totalling 535km in Santa Fe, Chaco, Upgrading of the Roca Line from all seven lines by 2019. and Santiago del Estero provinces. Buenos Aires to Bahia Blanca, Cipolletti, The plan envisages the elimination of Tendering began in September for the Añelo Rincón de los Sauces is diesel operation by 2023, when the $US 380m Stage 2, which involves track considered vital to the exploitation of entire network will be electrified. renewals on two sections of the route. the shale oil and gas reserves of the Electrification of the 23.8km Berazategui In the south, 84km of track will be Vaca Muerta deposit in the Neuquén - La Plata section of the Roca Line is renewed on the Coronda - Laguna Basin, which has proven oil reserves of around 927 million barrels. The four- year project is forecast to cost around $US 1.2bn. Track renewals are required on around half of the Argentinean Trains Infrastructure is currently looking at funding options for suburban network and $US 570m has been allocated for a four-year project to upgrade around “ 800km of track on the standard-gauge this purpose in 2016-23. Urquiza Line, which connects the northeastern Mesopotámica region with Buenos Aires port. This line includes an due to be completed in the first quarter Paiva - Naré section in Santa Fe international link to Encarnación in of 2017 and electric operation will also province. The $US 65m project will be Paraguay, and serves provinces begin on the Claypole – Bosques section financed by the Development Bank of bordering Brazil and Uruguay. The of the Roca Line next year. The Belgrano Latin America (CAF). At the northern project is expected to cost around $US Norte (54km), Begrano Sur (64km) and end of the line, 277km of track will be 1bn and will not be completed until San Martin (73km) lines, together with renewed on the Talavera - Pichanal after 2023. the remaining diesel-operated sections section in Salta province at a cost of In the longer-term, the government is of the Mitre line, are also earmarked for around $US 210m, while $US 105m will aiming to achieve a “complete recovery” electrification by 2023. be invested in the renewal of 139km of of the freight network by 2035 with the 20 IRJ December 2016 Dec Argentina:Layout 1 21/11/2016 14:30 Page 21

renewal of 20,000km of track. the support of international Despite the recent partners will be crucial to Argentina renationalisation of realising the government’s Argentina’s railways, the plans for the network. BOLIVIA

new government is taking a “None of these initiatives Embarcacion much looser approach to will be possible without private sector investment help,” he says. “Years of CHILE than its predecessor. poor investment means we Jujuy PARAGUAY Speaking at a seminar at the need skills and capacity InnoTrans exhibition in from outside Argentina and J V Gonzalez

Berlin in September, we are determined to Rosaro de la F Argentinean Trains remove barriers for Infrastructure president Mr international companies. Tucuman Guillermo Fiad explained However, we also want to Posadas that public-private create jobs in Argentina, and

Line upgrading project Cfmhsbop Santo Tomé partnerships (PPPs) could that means we have to come Completion dates play a key role in reviving to a combined solution with Gauge 2019 2027 Beyond Njusf the network. local benefits. We need to 1435mm 1676mm BRAZIL “All projects could be support our own 1000mm Vsrvj{b implemented sooner with professionals in the rail private investment,” Fiad sector, but we want Concordia Cordoba says. “There will be competition and we want an URUGUAY San Juan opportunities for companies open and transparent Njusf Santa Fe to bid to finance, upgrade procurement environment.” Rosario and maintain lines under a With such a bold Rio Cuarto Mendoza PPP structure and PPP will programme and a limited Njusf Tbo!Nbsujo Njusf be paramount to making all timescale for Tbo!Nbsujo initiatives happen. The implementation, securing Buenos Aires Rufino president and the transport international finance and minister are very committed expertise from abroad will Spdb to making these projects be key to achieving all of the Spdb

happen, and happen soon. government’s objectives. N Catrilo Maipu The country needs them.” However, with international 0 100 With such a huge uplift in lenders seemingly willing to km Spdb the scale of rail investment back rail investment and a after a long period of commitment to transparent Bahia Blanca relative inactivity, Argentina procurement, Argentina’s Nequen Spdb is not well equipped to take long-suffering railways Bumboujd!!Pdfbo on a programme of such could be on the brink of Zapala IRJ magnitude, and Fiad stresses rebirth. IRJ Dec Rio:Layout 1 21/11/2016 14:06 Page 22

South America | Rio de Janeiro Light rail transforms transport in Rio city centre

Rio de Janeiro was set to open the next phase of the Porto Maravilha light rail network as IRJ went to press, and as Kevin Smith reports, it is already proving a successful legacy project of the 2016 Olympic Games.

The new light rail line was the backbone of transport along Olympic Boulevard during the 2016 Rio games.

22 IRJ December 2016 Dec Rio:Layout 1 21/11/2016 14:06 Page 23

SAIN Bolt, Simone Biles and rolled around, eight LRVs were in with the complete journey time falling Jason Kenny might have been service. from 50 minutes at the start of U some of the stars of the 2016 Rio As the primary form of transport to operation to 30 minutes today, an Olympic Games, but there was also a Olympic Boulevard, which hosted live increase in efficiency of 40%. The starring role for the city’s new light rail music, street artists, big screens system is currently carrying 25,000 - network during the two-week sporting showing the sporting action, and 35,000 passengers per day who pay bonanza. nightly firework displays, the light Reais 3.80 to travel on the tram, the The new 14km line, the first phase of railway carried more than a million same as municipal buses. Interestingly a 28km project serving the Porto passengers during the Olympics, with it is an open system, with no turnstiles Maravilha area of the city, began initial trams packed with people from the start or ticket collectors on the tram, and operation on June 5, two months before of daily operations at 06.00 until their passengers are required to validate their the Games. Rides were free for the first conclusion at 00.00. ticket once they are onboard. five weeks as operations were steadily As well as a key project that was “It integrates all of the transport ramped, and by the time the Olympics delivered in time for the Olympics, the modes, starting at the airport and light rail line is a major element of the connecting with the metro and regeneration of Rio’s Porto Maravilha, a suburban lines,” says Mr Michel landmark policy of the city’s mayor, Mr Boccacio, Alstom’s senior vice-president Eduardo Paez’s, administration. for Latin America. “All of the large Demolition of the Elevado da Brazilian companies have offices in Rio, Perimeteral elevated highway in 2013- so when people arrive at the airport, 14 heralded the start of the port’s they can get straight on the tram and redevelopment, which as well as new within 15 minutes they can get to their express highways and the light rail line, office. It is faster than a taxi and is has included the construction of new having a huge impact on mobility in the office and residential buildings, retail centre of Rio.” outlets, a new science museum, and That the line opened in time for the leisure areas including bike paths. Games was a major achievement in The PPP consortium, led by Invepar itself according to Boccacio, who says and CCR, and also including Odebrecht following the contract award in Transport, Riopar, BenittoRoggio September 2013 there was a running Transporte and RATP, was appointed in joke that the Olympics may have to April 2013 by Rio city hall to implement, move to accommodate the tram line. operate and maintain the 28km light rail He says that the deadline was system. The project is budgeted at Reais particularly strict for Alstom as the 1.2bn ($US 351m), with VLT Carioca rolling stock supplier. The company securing a Reais 746.5m loan from was required to build 27 of the line’s 32 Brazil’s National Bank for Economic 44m-long seven-section Citadis LRVs in Development (BNDES) as well as a Reais Brazil in order to access Brazilian 532m grant from the government’s finance for the project. It subsequently Growth Acceleration Programme (PAC) established a new É15m 16,000m2 plant to meet the cost of construction. The at Taubaté in São Paulo state with the BNDES funding includes Reais 35.3m first five vehicles built in La Rochelle, from its climate fund, with the line France, and delivered to Brazil in expected to avoid emitting 410,000 October 2015. Taubaté completed its tonnes of CO2 over the course of the 25- first vehicle the same month. year concession. Other technical challenges include the

All of the large Brazilian companies have offices in Rio, so “ when people arrive at the airport, they can get straight on the tram and within 15 minutes they can get to their office. Michel Boccacio

Running from Santos Dumont deployment of Alstom’s APS ground Airport, the line currently terminates at power supply system on the entire Novo Rio Bus station, or Rodoviário, system. This is only the second time with the stretch to Praia Formosa used that APS, pioneered in Bordeaux, has for operational manoeuvres. The rolling been used in such a manner after stock depot is located at Gamboa. The Dubai’s 10.6km Al Sufouh light rail line, line has 20 stops and trams operate at which opened in November 2014. As a headways ranging from eight to 20 result, VLT Carioca introduced a minutes depending on the time of day, vigorous six-month testing programme. IRJ December 2016 23 Dec Rio:Layout 1 21/11/2016 14:07 Page 24

South America | Rio de Janeiro

Rolling stock using Rio’s light rail network is powered by a combination of Alstom’s APS ground system and onboard supercapacitors. In areas where APS is deemed too posed by the project, and a particular their daily business. difficult to install, such as in turnouts, priority for VLT Carioca, according to “Three months before starting and sharp curves, Alstom’s Ecopack its operations director, Mr Augusto operations, during the testing period, supercapacitor system is in use. This is Schein. Drivers consequently went we started a safety campaign on the described by Alstom as a major through around 2000 hours of intensive streets and social media to explain how innovation of the Rio light rail system training encompassing theoretical, the VLT will coexist with people, cars as it can provide autonomous energy simulation and practical exercises ahead and other elements,” Schein says. “The supply, guaranteeing continuous of the start of operations. concept, “Keep your sight on VLT,” operations, which is reflected in strong The lack of experience extends to warned people not only that the tram was circulating, but that it is a silent vehicle, so they have to take particular care when using cell phones, listening In agreement with Rio’s town hall, we didn’t open too to loud music and other things which might distract the attention of many “fronts” of the network at once due to the pedestrians and drivers.” “ The cautious approach to introducing potential impact on traffic. Augusto Schein the light rail service is also reflected in the deployment of motorbikes to accompany the tram during operations. performance figures for the light rail line: Rio’s public. Schein says as the line Nicknamed “beaters” by locals, the riders in its first five months of operation it operates both in mixed traffic and its operate at the front of the tram and they achieved availability of more than 95%. own dedicated right-of-way, it initially are there to warn traffic that the vehicle is Given the lack of any previous light operated at slower speeds and there approaching. The effect again has been rail infrastructure in Rio, particularly was an emphasis on educating the reduced speed of operations. However, for dispatchers and drivers, staff public on how to use and, critically, to according to Schein the beaters are now training was another major challenge be aware of the tram when going about gradually being withdrawn from service, 24 IRJ December 2016 Dec Rio:Layout 1 21/11/2016 14:07 Page 25

allowing the light rail line to realise its full operating potential. Rio de Janeiro “This was one of the safety steps to Utopia IRJ Samba City help people get used to the system,” Parada dos Navios Harmonia Schein says. “At this moment, we are Santo Cristo already operating without them outside Providência Parada dos Museos of rush hour. However, it probably Dbcmf!dbs N Gamboa won’t be until early 2017 until they are Rodoviária Vila Olímpica 0 1 Camerino Km no longer operating on the Rodoviária - Central do Brasil Santos Dumont line.” Praia Formosa Uruguiana Praça XV While Schein says the light rail service Presidente Vargas is operating well in mixed traffic, with Central Sete de Setembro São Diogo Saara no major problems, it is already having a Carioca major impact on relieving traffic VLT Carioca LRT open Cidade Nova Largo do Cinelândia congestion and improving the quality of LRT under construction Carioca life in certain areas previously swamped Praça Onze LRT planned Metro Santos Dumont with cars. This is particularly noticeable Lines open along a 600m section of Avendia Rio Estácio SuperVia Usbn!mjof Branco between Carioca and Cinelândia Line open where cars and buses are now banned tunnel south of Vila Olimpica, and the The grim outlook was emphasised and have been replaced with pedestrians 3km extension along Avenida Marechal further by the announcement in the and cyclists. Floriano, are on course to open in early Brazilian press in November that 2017. Alstom is set to close its Taubate plant Extensions “In agreement with Rio’s town hall, following the completion of delivery to we didn’t open too many “fronts” of the Rio due to a lack of follow-up orders. It is hoped these benefits will extend network at once due to the potential However, speaking to IRJ before the to two subsequent extensions to the impact on traffic,” Schein says. “This is announcement, Boccacio was optimistic project: the 7km Rodoviária - Central do a complimentary stretch that will allow that as the new government finds its Brasil - Praça XV section, and the 3km us to reduce headways on the Central - feet, certain projects will progress in the Avenida Marechal Floriano extension. Rio Branco section.” next two years. Testing of the main stretch of the As for additional planned projects For example, he anticipates Central - Praça XV line from Saara to beyond the initial first phase of Rio’s movement on further Rio projects in Praça XV is now well underway. VLT light rail network, which could total up 2018, and is also hopeful that work on Carioca was expected to open a reduced to six lines and 52km, and were Cuiaba’s 22km two-line system will service to the public as IRJ went to announced when the project was restart. There are also positive signs in press, and gradually step up operations initially proposed in 2013, Boccacio says Santiago and the company is studying so they complement the existing section that for now these remain on hold. potential developments in Argentina within two to three months. This Indeed, this situation is reflective of and Peru. After all, cities across the addition is particularly important as it the current picture for light rail region will continue to demand will cross the Rodoviária - Santos development in Brazil. While the 2014 solutions to their congestion issues, and Dumont section and provide a direct football World Cup and the Olympics with Rio and other recent developments link to ferry services. It will also serve promised major investments in public in Santos as a benchmark, they could important commercial and cultural city transport infrastructure, many of these conceivably choose light rail. centre locations, including Saara and projects have yet to come to fruition “Rio for us is a very important Praça Tirandentes. and remain victims of the political reference for tram projects in Brazil and Beyond this, the Rodoviária - Central turmoil that has swept the country in Latin America, and we hope it will give do Brasil section, which includes a recent years. us a boost in this area,” Boccacio says. IRJ

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IRJ December 2016 25 Dec Lima:Layout 1 18/11/2016 11:21 Page 30

South America | Lima Peru’s capital backs metro to beat congestion

Following a few false starts, Lima’s metro network is gradually taking shape. Ian Thomson-Newman visits the Peruvian capital where he traces the Lima metro story.

NTIL the start of operations on the southerly, low-income, suburb of its metro Line 1 in January 2012, Villa El Salvador to Atocongo which U Lima was the largest city in the was nearer but not absolutely close to world with no passenger train service the city centre, or any other area of of any kind. attraction. Hence, the stretch was of With a population currently soaring little use to the travelling public and beyond 8.5 million, by the turn of the was not placed into normal commercial century metropolitan Lima’s roads had service. become clogged with unregulated buses With the available financing used up, and minibuses, and imported second- and succeeding governments more hand cars sold at knocked-down prices. laissez-faire orientated, the operable During the 2000s, Peru’s average stretch of line remained stuck at GDP growth rate was 6% annually Atocongo. Only in 2010 did which, in spite of the steady construction restart and by January reorganisation and regulation of bus 2012, the line was opened as far as services and restrictions on used car Miguel Grau, a station within easy imports, meant that determined action reach of the city centre. By July 2014, was needed to keep journey times at the complete 35km line was in service, acceptable levels. At the same time, running from its northern terminus at Lima’s international airport, which was Bayóvar in San Juan de Lurigancho, by then managed privately and brought another low-income suburb. up to international standards, had AATE was originally, and is now, a become a bludgeoning regional hub, central government agency, although it enabling the city to compete with spent most of the 2000s in the hands of Santiago, Buenos Aires and São Paulo the Metropolitan Lima municipal as a business centre for South America. government. However, the government Yet with each of these cities boasting decided that Line 1 should be privately several metro lines, the time had come operated. In 2011 a 30-year renewable for Lima to install its own rail-based concession was granted to a consortium mass transit services on high demand of Graña y Montero, a Peruvian corridors. engineering company, and Ferrovías, Plans for a Lima metro network had concessionaire of suburban rail services been around since the mid-1960s, and in Buenos Aires. construction of the south-to-north Under GyM Ferrovías management, Line 1 started in 1986, during Mr Alan Line 1 has been running at its effective services that passenger access to García´s first spell as the country´s capacity of 320,000 passengers every platforms has to be filtered at certain president. weekday, while securing 80%+ approval stations to avoid overcrowding at peak The Autonomous Authority for ratings. hours. To alleviate the shortage of Electric Mass Transport for Lima and GyM Ferrovías is contracted by AATE rolling stock, 20 additional six-car El Callao (AATE) was created to to supply a minimum amount of train- Metrópolis sets were ordered in July in administer the metro project, and five kilometres each month, which requires a contract worth É200m, together with six-car AnsaldoBreda trains were use of both the five original Italian- 19 extra cars to bring all up to a six-car delivered and, under the aegis of AATE, made trains and 19 five-car Alstom formation. The new trains will also cut they commenced trial running. This Metrópolis sets delivered in 2011. the current six-minute peak headway in was over a 9km stretch, starting from However, such is the demand for half, increasing current capacity from 20,000 passengers per hour to 48,000. Delivery is scheduled for completion by 2019. Under GyM Ferrovías management, Line 1 has been The fare charged for adults is a relatively modest Soles 1.50 ($US 0.44). “ running at its effective capacity of 320,000 passengers Passengers pay by smartcard, with revenues going to AATE. Despite the every weekday, while securing 80%+ approval ratings. cheap rides, general manager of 26 IRJ December 2016 Dec Lima:Layout 1 18/11/2016 11:21 Page 31

Line 1 is almost entirely elevated; here a Metrópolis train from Villa El Salvador draws into Cabitos station. GyM Ferrovías Mr Manuel Wu Rocha little need to interchange with the from the municipality of Ate in the east, says that revenue covers some 75% of Metropolitano, there is clearly a to Callao, host to Perú’s principal operating costs, rolling stock depreciation growing need for an integration of fares seaport, in the west, together with an included, and almost 100% excluding it. and fare payment systems in Lima. 8km stretch of Line 4 from Line 2´s In comparison, the Municipal- Ms Jéssica Gonzales, AATE´s executive Carmen de la Legua station north to sponsored Metropolitano, whose buses director, says that talks are ongoing to Nestor Gambeta, with an intermediate run over Lima´s Vía Expresa dedicated do this, but no agreement has so far station at Lima’s international airport. busway, charge Soles 2.50, which been reached. Whereas Line 1 is entirely elevated or at includes free transfers to or from feeder grade, Line 2 is planned as an entirely routes, which the Line 1 concessionaire is underground. It has a price tag of not allowed to participate in, thereby Six-line network $US 5.7bn, with 72% coming from putting it at a competitive disadvantage. In 2010, the national government, government sources and the rest The fare on regular privately-operated which was once again headed by provided by the concessionaire. buses is Soles 1.00. On regular buses García, approved a plan for a five-line In March 2014, a 35-year contract was passengers pay by coin to a roaming fare metro network for Lima. A sixth line awarded to the Nuevo Metro de Lima collector and by smartcard on the was added in 2013, bringing the total (NML) consortium, encompassing the Metropolitano, but using different planned length of 168km. design, financing, construction, delivery technology from that adopted for Line 1. As Line 1 runs north-south, priority of rolling stock, operation and Although Line 1 passengers have was given to the 27km Line 2, running maintenance of Line 2 and the section of IRJ December 2016 27 Dec Lima:Layout 1 18/11/2016 11:21 Page 32

South America | Lima

Line 4. NML consists of Peruvian, more use to the travelling public Spanish and Italian companies, than the Villa El Salvador - Lima including Cosapi, Impregilo, Iridium Atocongo stretch of Line 1. Concesiones de Infraestructura, Vialia Instead, it is proposed to Sociedad Gestora de Concesiones de inaugurate, the section from Santa Infraestructura, AnsaldoBreda (now Anita to 28 de Julio, which will be Hitachi Rail Italy) and Ansaldo STS. Two the interchange station with other consortia prequalified but only Line 1, in a single package during NML made an offer considered valid. 2019. The first of 42 Hitachi Rail The government has obtained loans Italy six-car trains have already from the IDB, Andean Development been delivered. Corporation and, interestingly, the It was planned for the World Bank (IBRD) to cover 18% of its complete Line 2 to enter service part of the cost. The IBRD contribution by 2020, but IRJ infers that this is is notable since it initially opposed the now unlikely to happen. government´s plans for Line 1 in the Construction delays often go late 1980s, recommending BRT instead. hand-in-hand with cost overruns IBRD has carried out its own and, given the hefty budget evaluation of the Line 2 project, estimate for the project, ways to estimating that it has an internal reduce costs are under socioeconomic rate of return of 8.9%, consideration. These include even with a projected daily ridership of elevating Line 4, and elevating 361,000, which is considerably less than or building the western sections the 660,000 estimated by the of Line 2 at grade. government´s previous study. When Line 2 and the northern However, construction is behind section of Line 4 does enter schedule and the project is being revised service, Lima will have a 70km with the aim of avoiding cost overruns. metro network, crossing the city, Gonzales explains that a change has been from south to north and east to made to the original idea to open the west, with a probable weekday short 4.5km section between the stations ridership of at least a million benefit from a metro connection, of Mercado Santa Anita and Evitamiento users. Lima’s international airport helping its case to become a leading by 2016-17. This, in itself, would be of no will also be the first in South America to regional business centre. IRJ

Line 2´s Los Ingenieros station starts to take shape in October 2016 Photo: AATE 28 IRJ December 2016 IRJDECXX (Schaeffler2):Layout 1 16/11/2016 09:06 Page 1

Groundbreaking technology: Bearings with MPAX cages

The new MPAX solid brass cage makes FAG cylindrical roller bearings even more robust and durable than ever before – increasing reliability, safety, and cost-effectiveness in railway applications. Or as our engineers put it: “The bearings are best in class in terms of technology. They have a high radial and tangential load carrying capacity – and can be used for significantly longer periods even when subjected to heavy dynamic loads.”

www.schaeffler.de/Railway Dec Chile:Layout 1 21/11/2016 14:15 Page 30

South America | Chile EFE’s suburban projects facing delays and cost overruns

Despite making bold promises for its commuter network in a series of projects, Chilean State Railways’ (EFE) plans are failing to live up to expectations, as regional editor Ian Thomson-Newman explains.

HILEAN State Railways’ (EFE) Since the early 1990s, EFE has entered firm support for the project, particularly ambitious plans for boosting rail into three-year development plans with for the greater accessibility it will C travel for commuters into the government, which effectively provide. But closer to the city centre, a Santiago (IRJ December 2013 p20) were oblige the former to implement projects suburban rail service with widely praised for their vision and scope just a and the latter to provide financial spaced stations, adds relatively little to few years ago. However, with support. This can come from a variety existing accessibility indices; hence implementation seriously behind of sources, including guaranteed loans opposition grows, because of what it schedule and the cost of the flagship and subsidies for transport projects in entails in terms of acoustic Rancagua Express project soaring to the provinces equal in value to those contamination and greater physical more than twice its original budget, they budgeted for TranSantiago, the capital´s separation of communities on one side are now increasingly considered to have deficit-ridden public transport system. of the line from those on the other. been overly ambitious and unrealistic. However, important components of the The Rancagua Express is not the only The country’s difficult economic 2014-2016 Plan, and even the 2011-2013 Santiago commuter project that is environment partly explains the one, are yet to be delivered. running behind schedule. The slowdown, and the situation is such that This includes the Rancagua Express inauguration of the 25km line between government enthusiasm for other projects, project, which is a new intensive service Alameda and the south-western suburb such as the Santiago Alameda - Malloco between Santiago Alameda and Nos, of Malloco, included in the 2014-2016 line and the link to Batuco may be 21km to the south, and a less frequent Plan, was fixed for 2017, but jeopardised by the cost overruns. It could one as far as Rancagua, 82km away. construction has yet to start. This is the potentially lead to the use of a Build The project was budgeted in the 2011- first stage of the line to Melipilla, a town Operate Transfer model, as was originally 13 Plan at $US 286m and was set to be some 61km from Alameda on the current proposed for the Melipilla Project way inaugurated in 2014 but delays meant freight line to the port of San Antonio. back in the 1990s, as opposed to leaving that it was carried over into the current According to EFE´s 2014-16 Triennial financing and operations all up to EFE. plan’s period. It is now expected to cost Plan, the target was to carry 53 million The funds available for such projects $US 635m and not to come on stream passengers in 2016 and 69 million in might also be limited by the until March 2017 and, even then, trains 2017. As it is turning out, the 2016 government´s commitment to social will still take 1h 20min to reach figure will probably not exceed programmes, such as the provision of Rancagua, instead of the projected 25 million, although it would be around free education, and by the fallout from 55 minutes, since certain bridges, needed 29 million were the existing suburban lower copper prices, which continues to to avoid level crossings, will not be ready service south from Santiago not have be a lynchpin of the Chilean economy, in time. Delivery of Alstom Xtrápolis been severely cut-back while Rancagua and is currently at $US 5425 per tonne; trains for the new service began in late Express works continue. Over 80% of when EFE’s 2011-2013 plan was 2013, although they are yet to be needed. the 25 million travel between Valparaíso approved, it was at almost $US 8818 and Limache where EFE’s generally- and was at over $US 6614 at the time of Causes successful Valparaíso Regional Metro the 2014-2016 revision. (Merval) subsidiary has maintained EFE’s situation is of obvious concern to The delays and cost overruns have strong ridership. the government and since early August, had various causes, both infrastructural, For 2017, given that the Rancagua both EFE’s president and general such as the original project involving Express is expected to enter service in manager have been removed from their the laying of just one extra track as far March, total ridership is projected at posts. The new president is Mr Germán as Nos, instead of the two required, and around 46 million. EFE had forecast Corréa, a respected politician whose administrative, such as environmental carrying almost 100 million passengers public-sector career in transport spans objections being lodged and upheld by annually by 2020 but that now seems several decades, including a 2.5-year stint the courts. out of reach since, even if the Malloco as transport minister. In outlying municipalities, there is service is in operation, the suburban 30 Dec Chile:Layout 1 21/11/2016 14:15 Page 31 Photo: Shutterstock//Sergio74

line to Batuco, a suburb to the north- mark but EFE aimed for it to climb to trains have run over the FCALP since west, almost certainly will not be. 16.7 million by 2015 and 22.2 million by 2005, an infrastructure rehabilitation Freight is also missing targets with 2020. The 2015 output was only programme, started in 2010, has returned EFE suspending its freight operations. 10.4 million, and has suffered slight the line to an operable status, although Instead private concessionaires, declines in recent years. There is commercial operation is yet to restart. Ferrocarril del Pacífico and Transporte potential for freight traffic to grow, for It is hoped that the recent high level Ferroviario Andrés Pirazzoli, operate instance to and from comprehensive personnel changes will get EFE onto the services on its tracks on the Santiago - port developments in San Antonio, right path, with the company’s new La Calera - Valparaíso axis, and further although freight trains have only very president and general manager expected south. Hence, EFE can facilitate freight limited access to the port of Valparaíso, to turn the company around. There have traffic through infrastructure due in large part to line occupancy by been no proposals to modify the improvements, but has no direct control Merval’s frequent suburban trains. company’s structure as such, but with over what is operated even though it The only stretch of the EFE network BOT an option for forthcoming projects, sets tonnage targets. over which it is able to run freight trains is the government is actively looking for Since 2003, total freight tonnage has the Chilean section of the Arica to La Paz ways to avoid cost overruns and miss fluctuated around the 10 million tonne Railway (FCALP). While no commercial delivery dates in the future. IRJ 31 Dec NTV:Layout 1 18/11/2016 10:52 Page 32

High-Speed | NTV High-speed competition delivers passenger benefits and market growth

Italy is still the only country in the world where a private open-access operator competes with the state-owned incumbent on its high-speed network. As Andrea Giuricin, CEO of TRA Consulting and strategic advisor to NTV explains, competition has given passengers more choice and high-quality services, even if it hasn’t been plain sailing for the newcomer.

UOVO Trasporto Viaggiatori European Union (EU) member states The first four years of operation has (NTV) ran its first Italo trains on the opportunity to open the market to proved quite challenging for NTV. Italy N the Italian high-speed network competition. The Italian government plunged into a deep recession just on April 28 2012 in direct competition issued a decree in 2003 implementing before NTV launched its first services. with the incumbent Trenitalia. European rail liberalisation but it was Italy’s gross domestic product dropped Competition has benefited not only not until December 2006 that NTV was by about 4% between 2011 and 2015, consumers, but it also forced Trenitalia incorporated. which played havoc with NTV’s to raise its game dramatically following In February 2008 NTV placed an financial forecasts. the arrival of Italo with the result that order with Alstom for 25 AGV high- Italy’s independent Transport Italy now has some of the highest speed trains. This was Alstom’s first Regulation Authority (ART) was quality high-speed services in Europe. and to date only order for its new set up in January 2012, but it did The liberalisation process took a long single-deck train. After a long period of not start functioning until the time in Italy and has not yet been testing, AGV was finally certified by end of 2013. The lack of an completed. In 2001 the liberalisation Italy’s National Safety Authority in effective regulator allowed directives of the European Parliament March 2012 and a month later the first Italian State Railways (FS), and the European Council gave Italo train entered service. which owns both Italian Rail

32 Dec NTV:Layout 1 18/11/2016 10:52 Page 33

Network (RFI), the infrastructure Cattaneo, NTV reached the breakeven have a higher seating density than AGV manager, and Trenitalia, the train point in 2015. It expects to make its first but a lower maximum speed of operator, a free hand to exploit its profit this year while the number of 250km/h (compared with 300km/h for competitive advantage. passengers is forecast to increase to AGV). Last summer NTV decided to Nevertheless, in the first year of more than 10 million. buy four more Evo trains to increase its operation Italo carried 2.05 million total fleet to 37 trains by 2018. passengers and earned 83m in revenue. During the discussions for the The new entrant was still in a ramp-up Impressive purchase of the 12 new trains, NTV was phase during 2012 and the first part of The effect of Italo on the market has able to persuade Alstom, which is 2013, because delivery of the AGV fleet been impressive: the total number of responsible for maintaining the AGV was still underway. passenger-km on Italy’s high-speed fleet, to increase train availability. This In 2014 the total number of network increased by 65% between 2011 allowed services to be stepped up from passengers increased to 6.6 million, and 2015, while the yield decreased by 48 to 56 trains per day, which in turn while a big jump was achieved last year about 40% during the same period. enabled NTV to increase the frequency when Italo carried more than 9.1 million NTV conducted a recapitalisation at of the Rome - Milan service and add of passengers. Annual revenue had the end of 2015 which changed the Verona to its network. risen to É308m by 2015 compared with shareholder structure. This means that NTV has also introduced connecting costs of É258m, and in the same year French National Railways (SNCF) has Italobus services in Milan, Reggio NTV achieved a positive Ebitda for the reduced its holding from 20% to just Emilia and Salerno. The bus services are first time at ar58m. 1.4% while Cattaneo has increased his totally integrated into the Italo sales This important turnaround was equity share. MDP Holding, owned by and yield management system and achieved through an aggressive pricing the three founding entrepreneurs Mr allow NTV to expand the catchment policy designed to increase market Luca Cordero di Montezemolo, Mr area of its rail services. share and a new business model. This Diego Della Valle and Mr Gianni Punzo, There has also been an important allowed NTV to capture 26% of the remains the largest shareholder with decision by the Transport Regulation Italian high-speed rail market in 2015 36.8%, followed by Intesa SanPaolo Authority to reduce the access charges with a load factor of 71.5% compared bank with 24.5%. for operation on the high-speed rail with 51.7% in 2014. NTV’s cost reduction programme has network. This is possible due to the At the same time NTV launched a achieved important savings which is terms of the 2007 Financial Law, which cost control campaign and sought to allowing it to expand. During the last granted RFI state funding to repay improve its asset utilisation. Thanks to quarter of 2015, NTV ordered eight new nearly all of the cost of building the the actions of the former CEO Mr Flavio Evo trains from Alstom. These trains high-speed lines.

Photo: Marco Stellini 33 Dec NTV:Layout 1 18/11/2016 10:52 Page 34

High-speed | NTV

An important element of the revised NTV has since adapted the Competition has been very good for business model was the introduction of configuration of its AGV fleet to consumers, but there are still some greater flexibility in terms of the provide one Club coach, two or three weak points. Vertical integration services provided. Traditionally, the Prima coaches, one or two coaches restricts fair competition because the interiors of trains are only changed offering Comfort accommodation which fact that RFI and Trenitalia are owned during a major overhaul or is an evolution of Smart XL, and six by FS leads to strategic and operational refurbishment programme. However, Smart coaches. The trains are now problems for new entrants. Examples include disputes over the positioning of NTV ticket machines at Rome Tiburtina and Bologna stations, and difficulty in In Italy there is not yet a tendering process for the finding good locations for NTV’s Casa provision of regional services, which can lead to the risk Italo lounges and paths for its trains at main stations. NTV only gained access “ to the main stations of Rome Termini of cross subsidies. and Milan Central some years after the start of the operation, and in Venice it has been unable to obtain attractive NTV has broken the mould with Italo. designed so that the number of coaches departure times. Access to essential When services started in 2012, each offering Prima or Comfort can be facilities was unclear from the AGV had one Club coach, four Prima adapted to meet demand. beginning and NTV was forced to build coaches one of which was a Prima Relax To make these changes possible, it was its own maintenance depot. quiet coach, and six Smart (economy) important to have a very flexible and The last critical point is that in Italy coaches. All the seats were covered in integrated IT architecture. All the front- there is not yet a tendering process for leather and free Wi-Fi and entertainment end and back-end subsystems are the provision of regional services, which was offered throughout the entire train. integrated and outsourced to a specialist. can lead to the risk of cross subsidies. In 2013, one year after the start of NTV outsourced not only the IT Nevertheless, NTV has survived the operation, NTV realised that the profile systems and train cleaning but also the deep economic recession and the of its customers differed from its initial maintenance with a 30-year global challenges of trying to compete against a expectations. The severe economic service agreement with Alstom. much larger operator with greater recession had forced business customers So what is the future for Italo and the resources at its disposal, and is now to change their travelling habits as Italian high-speed market? Increased looking to expand. But perhaps the companies tried to reduce their travel competition will continue to stimulate greatest achievement of the liberalisation expenses. In response, NTV decided to passenger growth both for the overall of the Italian high-speed market is the convert the Prima Relax coaches into market and Italo. The arrival of the new increase in choice for consumers, which Smart XL which offered the same seat Evo trains in 2017 coupled with NTV’s has resulted in lower-price tickets, pitch as in Prima Class but without on positive Ebitda will allow it to enter higher train frequencies, and better board service. new markets such as Milan - Venice. service quality. IRJ

NTV expects to report its first profit this year as it carries more than 10 million passengers for the first time. Photo: Marco Stellini

34 IRJ December 2016 Project3:Layout 1 15/11/2016 14:24 Page 1

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Participant enquiries Speaker enquiries 9LVLWRXUZHEVLWH Jules Omura 'DYLG%ULJLQVKDZ irits.org 0DQDJLQJ'LUHFWRU,5,76(YHQWV (GLWRULQ&KLHI,QWHUQDWLRQDO5DLOZD\-RXUQDO )ROORZXVRQ7ZLWWHU _MR#LULWVRUJ _GE#UDLOMRXUQDOFRXN @railsummit Dec Vossloh:Layout 1 17/11/2016 16:13 Page 36

Track | maintenance German turnouts get the high-speed grinding treatment

DB Networks has successfully carried out tests of Vossloh’s High Speed Grinding technology on turnouts and is expected to expand deployment across the German network in 2017. Dr Konstantin von Diest, head of preventive maintenance at Vossloh Rail Services, and Mr Rainer Meyer, head of turnout maintenance and Flexis at Vossloh Mobile Rail Services, reveal the work that has taken place over the last three years.

36 I Dec Vossloh:Layout 1 17/11/2016 16:13 Page 37

ROMISES of improved lifecycle In early 2013, DB Networks point movement with identical material and reduced capital costs, as well approached Vossloh with a view to removal. The tests showed that there P as reductions in the time that a developing the HSG system to include was no need to change the conventional specific track section is out of service, is turnout grinding within the regular HSG grinding process apart from convincing infrastructure managers to timetable. The infrastructure manager raising the dust extraction system increasingly adopt preventative rail had the following three objectives in slightly above the top of rail in the same maintenance techniques. mind: manner as at level crossings. Indeed, For example, results from various achieve a sustainable reduction in the straight track section of the turnout projects show that corrugation, slip maintenance costs is fully machined by the lowered waves and rolling contact fatigue can be reduce planning and time spent on grinding wheels without any reduction sustainably kept in check by regular operating and assembly instructions, in speed and this results in a continuous treatment with Vossloh’s High Speed and transverse profile. Grinding (HSG) technology (IRJ exploit the benefits of HSG technology. The tests carried out early in 2015 December 2011 p33.) In order to benefit from these were designed to examine grinding The process removes defects at an advantages in the medium term, a pattern, transverse profile, and potential early stage, preventing their series of tests were carried out on contamination with grinding residue development into something serious. In various DB Networks’ lines between following the elevation of the dust the long-term, preventive grinding also 2013 and 2015. The first turnout extraction system along with possible results in significantly lower “artificial grinding tests were performed at cleaning options. For these tests, DB wear” compared with the substantial Allersberg station on the Nuremberg - Network made two turnouts available: material removal associated with the Ingolstadt line from July to December turnout 903 on the Bremen - Hamburg conventional grinding process which is carried out less frequently. DB Networks has used HSG on high- The Flexis system has been deployed in several European speed and some mixed traffic lines since 2007. The machine operates at 80km/h, countries for more than three years and has been preventing the need for track possessions “ within the regular timetable. approved by DB Network for all lines and speeds. However, HSG has previously been limited to grinding only conventional rails including level crossings, with 2013. Tests were performed at various line at Oberneuland station, which was grinding units retracted from the rail speeds, and the fundamental criteria for ground on February 2 2015; and turnout around 50m either side of the turnout to HSG deployment on turnouts was 6761 on the Halle - Lutherstadt avoid potential damage to the grinding defined. Wittenberg line at Bitterfeld station on wheels in the frog gap. This left an For the tests, only turnouts with a March 31 2015. The transverse profiles untreated section of at least 180m moveable-point frog were selected since of both turnouts were in good (depending on the size of the turnout), these have neither guard rails nor a frog condition. the grinding of which had to be gap. Turnouts were passed both in In each case, three passes were made planned and coordinated separately. trailing-point movement and in facing- during regular traffic and in dry

Figure 1: Comparison of the transverse profile of the left (top) and right (bottom) track of the Bitterfield turnout at three locations before (blue) and after HSG (green). The template 60E2 is shown in red.

IRJ December 2016 37 Dec Vossloh:Layout 1 17/11/2016 16:13 Page 38

Track | maintenance

conditions. Two of the passes were conventional HSG. As a result, Vossloh instance, Flexis allows full reprofiling of made with coarse grinding wheels and developed the Flexis system which the frog, and, where required, specially- one was made with fine grinding meets the special requirements of any trained superstructure welders join the wheels to arrive at a surface finish turnout while not imposing limits on team to take care of any welding proven to prevent rolling contact the availability of the rail network. rework required. fatigue. On both turnouts, it was possible to completely grind the straight track section including its connections with the frog and switch The air draft from regular trains passing over the turnout blade. Approximately 0.1mm of in either direction between the grinding passes has a material was removed after three passes “ and the transverse profile was retained substantial cleaning effect. or even improved (Figure 1.) The tests also showed that the air draft from regular trains passing over the turnout in either direction between the Each of the system’s devices are hand- Both the number of machines and the grinding passes has a substantial cleaning guided and can be removed and re-railed number of operators are adaptable to effect to the extent that hardly any by two operators within the specified the desired scope of work, and the grinding dust was found in the turnout. clearing time. Moreover, no switching deployment can be planned ahead. After completion of all work, a functional and signalling equipment needs be Depending on the assigned manpower, test was performed in agreement with the removed during maintenance, and in the time needed to grind a turnout can traffic controller which did not indicate contrast to the deployment of large be reduced by as much as 40%. any functional trouble. machinery, Flexis can be used during Forward-planning is achieved To rule out the possibility of traffic track possessions lasting 10 minutes. through Flexis’ digital transverse profile interruptions occurring if no cleaning gauge for the exact identification and work is performed after turnout recording of the transverse profile of the grinding, a long-term test in Goddelau is Peculiarities rail and a corrugation system for the underway. Since October 2013, the Flexis is designed to accommodate precise measurement of the longitudinal accumulation of dirt has been observed the peculiarities of any turnout when profile. A rail height system developed both over several grinding cycles and performing maintenance. For example, by Vossloh measures the loss in the rail during changing weather conditions with it can treat components that are out of height, while the depth and distribution no interruptions in switch operation or reach of larger machines, such as the of cracks are identified with an eddy train services reported thus far. stock rail in case of an open point or the current tester. Turnout-specific Following these positive results, since frog with lowered point and super- templates and gauges are used. early 2016 Vossloh has been grinding elevated wing rails. Based on the recorded data, engineers both normal track and a total of 28 Similarly, the maintenance team is calculate the required and economically turnouts in several sections on both able to examine each part of the turnout expedient material removal. The rail tracks on the Kassel - Fulda line. enabling them to treat individual grinding trolleys have a movable wheel Approximately 300km will be ground components in line with specific base, so each device is adjustable to the three times each year. requirements. Even in case of the more existing track gauge. This ensures a However, successfully grinding the sensitive turnout components, the uniform machining of the longitudinal diverging track requires additional amount of material removed is and transverse profiles over the entire measures not available in the adaptable to specific needs. For turnout. The Flexis system has been deployed in several European countries for more than three years and has been approved by DB Networks for all lines and speeds. And in light of the results of the tests in Germany, Vossloh expects to obtain an unlimited user clearance for its HSG train according to DB Network’s operating regulations by the middle of next year. This update will mean that the HSG train can be commissioned without any special permits for the preventive grinding of turnouts with spring moveable frogs. In 2017, the HSG train will also perform preventive grinding on turnouts on the Cologne Rhine - Frankurt high-speed line in the Cologne area. On this line, the rails of the tracks in both directions were replaced in 2015. Included in the plans for 2017 are the turnouts on the Erfurt - Leipzig/ Flexis’ hand-guided systems improve the flexibility of turnout grinding and maintenance. Halle high-speed line. IRJ 38 IRJ December 2016 IRJDECXX (Voestalpine):Layout 1 15/11/2016 14:07 Page 1

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Track | turnouts New generation of turnouts promises to improve reliability and reduce costs

Voestalpine Signaling Sainerholz has developed a range of modular and compact point machines which can be laid on top of concrete sleepers or slab track and in the centre of the track gauge. CEO Holger Puetz explains how the new machines should be more reliable and need less maintenance than traditional point motors.

AILWAYS around the world are temperature cause switch points to even weight distribution. Machine responding to growing demand expand or contract, which means that a tamping of the system is also possible, R for their services by increasing periodic summer and winter adjustment resulting in a better quality track bed. capacity. This often means reducing is normally inevitable for the continuing To increase operating speeds and headways to provide a more frequent reliability of the system. Furthermore, passenger comfort, larger turnouts and service, which in turn reduces the time environmental factors such as rain, snow turnouts with swing nose crossings can available for infrastructure inspections or dust increase wear and thereby the be used. and maintenance. maintenance effort. Maintenance of traditional turnout Providing reliable infrastructure with To meet these challenges, Voestalpine rodding systems demands a large low demand for maintenance is Signaling developed a series of point amount of time for readjusting, greasing therefore crucial for system availability setting systems called Unistar HR, CSV and cleaning. There is also a strong risk and reliability. 24 and CSV 34. Each point machine is of hydraulic linkage from these systems. Point machines and locking devices characterised by its modular and As a result, Voestalpine Signaling in particular must be able to meet these compact design, which offers increased avoids using a large rodding system in demands as they represent a complex flexibility when mounting the units in its products. Instead the drive, locking link between the signalling and the the track and in the centre of the gauge. and detecting (DLD) units are track. Indeed their availability demands A particular feature is the ability to hydraulically connected in parallel, are extremely high, since failures cause mount the equipment on top of concrete which still offers strong performance immediate delays to train services. slab track or concrete sleepers. There is but without the use of maintenance- A new generation of turnout is no need to provide cut outs in the intensive rodding systems. therefore required which will reduce the concrete slab, which reduces the Even in large turnouts where multiple demand for maintenance and increase complexity of civil works thereby cutting setting levels are required, the motor inspection cycles. A reliable diagnostic costs. Instead the concrete can be poured unit of the Unistar HR point setting system is also needed to monitor continuously and the switch machine is system is capable of operating multiple heavily-used systems between subsequently installed on top of the setting systems in a turnout including inspection cycles and to detect concrete surface. With ballasted track, the swing nose crossing. irregularities at an early stage which the ability to install the equipment on The system’s centre gauge installation will prevent failures. top of a concrete sleeper avoids the need means the drive and detector Moreover, turnout systems have to be for a hollow steel sleeper. connecting rods are very short and can reliable even in extreme environmental This system makes the track more compensate for thermal length changes conditions. Wide variations in homogeneous and stable due to the with the switch points without affecting

The Unistar HR with three settings installed for Etihad Rail. 40 Dec Voestalpine:Layout 1 18/11/2016 11:17 Page 41

the signalling-related settings. Periodic high quality, strength and availability, prism lock with adjustable point summer/winter adjustment of the rods but is designed for installation in an opening, a hydraulic actuating cylinder - is unnecessary, again reducing even more compact enclosure. or an electro-mechanic drive - and maintenance costs and improving the Narrow-gauge railways can therefore detector rods. The locking device is availability and reliability of the system. benefit from the ability to install the visible through windows in the lid, enabling visual checks when operating under manual control. Narrow-gauge railways can benefit from the ability to With watertight enclosures, a robust design and the use of high-quality install the point setting systems within the limited track materials for all components, it is “ possible to extend inspection intervals by gauge. up to 24 months. The use of visual inspections also helps to avoid disruptions to train operations. Until now, centre gauge installations point setting systems within their In addition, it is possible to record and for point setting systems for narrow- limited track gauge. For larger turnouts, evaluate performance of the Unistar HR gauge turnouts were limited to light rail either an individual drive or a low- system by deploying the Roadmaster standards with a point opening of maintenance torsion-driven back drive Series monitoring and diagnostic system. typically up to 100mm. This is a far cry system is suitable. This detects deviations before the system from the 160mm required to operate In addition, all the point machine malfunctions, which means maintenance turnouts with appropriate wheel modules are available for installation in becomes condition-based rather than dimensions and rail types such as 60E1 a watertight enclosure which will help following a fixed time-frame. for mass transit and main line railway to increase availability and reduce wear This innovative approach to applications. Of course the safety even under extreme environmental designing a modern point setting expectations and locking force conditions. system is producing a new generation requirements are much higher on main For example, the Unistar HR consists of point machines that take advantage line railways and mass transit systems of two main groups: the DLD unit and of built-in diagnostics and are than for light rail lines. the motor unit in the case of an electro- characterised by low maintenance costs To meet these needs, we developed hydraulic drive. Each has water and and extended inspection cycles. These the Unistar HR NG, which is based on dustproof enclosures, and is certified developments should help railways to the Unistar HR EM with electro- according to IP 67. increase performance while driving mechanic drive. This offers the same The DLD unit consists of an integrated down costs. IRJ

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P.O. Box 11 20 FFB – Slab Track Bögl . FFB TS – Slab Track Bögl for Turnouts and Switches 92301 Neumarkt i. d. OPf., Germany LRB – Light Rail Bögl . LRB TS – Slab Track Bögl for Turnouts and Switches Phone +49 9181 909-0 BÜB – Level Crossing Bögl . BSB – Concrete Sleeper Bögl Fax +49 9181 905061 MGB – Maglev Guideway Bögl [email protected] Dec IVU:Layout 1 17/11/2016 17:11 Page 42

Operations management | Vietnam Vietnam Railways streamlines operational control systems

Vietnam Railways is undergoing a process of modernisation of its largely manual operation control systems. Dr Sebastian Wahle, IVU Traffic Technologies, explains how this is helping the railway improve staff and system efficiency and ultimately its service offering for passengers.

IETNAM is on the way up. The functions are currently implemented on The NOCC data centre hosts the V country’s economy has been a national scale, with one national IVU.rail productive and test systems growing rapidly for several years operation control centre in Hanoi and which serve the core planning and with GDP growth rates of 5-7% between three regional centres in Hanoi, Da operation control teams. One of the key 2013 and 2015. However, rail’s share of Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City. applications used by the section the overall transport market in Vietnam This ambitious project required controllers is a graphical timetable that remains low, lagging behind industry substantial investment in VNR’s IT and allows them to monitor and control demand and hindering further network infrastructure. The system train paths in real-time by displaying economic development. To increase the deployment includes more than 12 planned and running trains as a time- importance and overall capacity of rail, central server machines, 145 path graph of a sequence of links. Vietnam Railways (VNR) kicked off the workstations at different locations In addition, several VNR subsidiaries, largest software project in the history of across the country, and 390 onboard stations, depots, and maintenance the state railway in 2012. units mounted on VNR locomotives as facilities connect to the data centre via Vietnam Railways intends to increase well as large displays at major stations the internet using a remote desktop its efficiency by simplifying and serving as the front end for a passenger protocol. IVU.rail provides access to a streamlining its operational business. information solution. Both mobile and wide range of features such as Modernising planning and control fixed networks are used for data and infrastructure and rolling stock processes is one key step towards voice communication between the management, vehicle dispatch, efficient railway operations. VNR different system entities. passenger information management, as awarded the contract for implementing As shown in Figure 1, the system well as personnel planning and dispatch. an integrated software and hardware relies on a central data centre hosted by With regards to real-time information solution to German IT provider IVU VNR in Hanoi that is part of the and train monitoring, IVU.box on-board Traffic Technologies, specifically for its National Operation Control Centre units have been mounted on all main line IVU.rail software and hardware suite. (NOCC). A dedicated failover solution locomotives. They consist of a resilient The solution provides a self-contained ensures the high availability of all core ARM-based on-board computer running computerised system, which supports all services. To deal with regional specifics, Windows CE and a wide VGA anti-glare of VNR’s central planning and operating train operation supervision is further TFT display. Running the IVU.cockpit procedures. This includes timetable distributed across two Regional operating software, these units constitute conception and creation, long and short- Operation Control Centres (ROCC) in the central communications device term planning, real-time dispatch, rolling Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City, which between the control centre and train stock management, freight supervision, are connected to the NOCC via the operating staff. and staff administration. The system national internet backbone. For the onboard units to function,

VNR is investing in new systems that are streamlining and modernising its operations and increasinging the efficiency of its network.

42 IRJ December 2016 Dec IVU:Layout 1 17/11/2016 17:12 Page 43

specifically-designed training courses Figure 1: System Network Overview during the transition. The new system will enable VNR to overcome many of the restrictions that the current rail infrastructure imposes on train operation and thus improve efficiency considerably. Single-track lines, steep gradients, and unsupervised level crossings characterise VNR’s network and reacting to incidents or abnormal traffic scenarios takes some time due to slow manual processes. The computerised OCC system will not only allow VNR to react to traffic disruptions more quickly but also make better use of the existing infrastructure by optimising resource planning, and offering advanced dispatching and conflict resolution, as well as real-time monitoring and operation control. Further modernisation could help to increase rail’s modal share in Vietnam, VNR needed to upgrade its fleet with VNR’s operations division relied on for example, by offering enhanced additional antennae for standard manual processes for many years. passenger information. Mounted communication systems such as GPS Today, it maintains a graphical displays at all stations and mobile real- and GSM. The operating software timetable that is fully drawn up and time passenger information including processes all location data and informs updated manually (including delays smartphone applications and web- drivers about the current speed, as well and short-term timetable changes) by based offers would increase acceptance as establishing and managing the section control shift staff. The entire of rail as an additional and reliable communication between the trains and network is monitored by 12 control mode of transport. Such a solution the control centre. sections that communicate with could easily be integrated with the new Equipped with handsets and stationmasters and drivers to supervise OCC, which already provides actual Universal Integrated Circuit Cards and manage train operations. arrival and departure times as well as (UICCs), the units support GSM-based Introduction of the new system will the current positions of trains. There are voice calls and secure communication reduce the number of section controls also opportunities to add electronic between the driver and the section from 12 to nine desks, with automatic ticketing systems as well as tools for control staff. At the same time, all units system functions replacing most of the staff information and duty management continuously send their GPS coordinates manual processes. While this will using portable devices such as tablets to the central system to allow section increase efficiency, and improve the and smartphones. controllers and stationmasters to overall system operation, it will also Given its scope and ambition, the monitor and manage train paths. introduce numerous changes to the OCC project is of high value for VNR daily work of VNR staff, who will need operations increasing both operational Data communication to be trained to understand and adapt efficiency as well as long-term to the new system. With more than 3000 profitability. However, it only marks the Data communication between the staff members, this is a major challenge first step in realising VNR’s innovation central system and the train is based on and IVU will support VNR with potential. IRJ General Packet Radio Service (GPRS). This updates the information stored on the units, such as the operating system and the timetable, in a timely manner without the need for servicing trains at a depot. A dedicated access point name (APN) gateway service between the mobile network and the backend as well as a virtual private network (VPN), which acts as an internet overlay, guarantees secure communications between the trains and the central system. Deploying a centralised architecture with a single core system that handles all the data, and with several remote locations seamlessly accessing its services will be beneficial to VNR as it ensures smooth and secure operations and enables the railway to manage organisational changes flexibly and efficiently. The computerised control system is improving VNR’s operators’ response to incidents. IRJ December 2016 43 Dec Rendezvous:Febrrend 17/11/2016 12:05 Page 47

Rendezvous

January 2017 21-22—London, Britain 5-6—Amsterdam, Netherlands Exhibition NEW: ERTMS and ETCS 2017: NEW: SmartRail Europe Congress UITP, Brussels, Belgium. 24-25—Berlin, Germany The Future of Railway Signalling Global Transport Forum, Tel: +32 2663 6658 NEW: Global Track Maintenance in the UK Conference London, Britain. Fax: +32 2660 1072 & Asset Management Congress Waterfront Conferences, Tel: +44 20 7045 0916 [email protected] London Business Conferences, London, Britain. stephen.scott@globaltransportfor www.northamerica.uitp.org/mon London, Britain. Tel: +44 207 067 1597 um.com treal-host-62nd-uitp-world-congr Tel: +44 800 098 8489 [email protected] www.SmartRailEurope.com ess-exhibition Fax: +44 845 867 8109 www.waterfrontconferencecompa [email protected] ny.com 5-7—Berlin, Germany 23-24—Hanoi, Vietnam www.rail-track-maintenance.com NEW: UIC Conference on Rail NEW: Rail Infrastructure Summit February 2017 21-23—Lille, France Training ABE, Paris, France. NEW: Sifer 2017 Exhibition UIC, Paris, France. Tel: +33 1 4186 4170 15-17—Paris, France Mack Brooks, St Albans, Tel: +33 1 4449 2020 Fax: +33 1 4604 5761 NEW: International Railway Britain. Fax: +33 1 4449 2029 [email protected] Summit – a joint IRJ/IRITS event Tel: +44 1727 814 400 [email protected] www.railmeetings.com/accueil/ Jules Omura, IRITS Events Ltd, Fax: +44 1727 814 401 http://events.uic.org/4th-uic-wo railway-infrastructure-summit- London, Britain. [email protected] rld-congress-on-rail-training vietnam.html Tel: +44 20 7112 5397 www.sifer2017.com/ [email protected] 11-12—Washington DC, USA 30-1 Jun—Münster, Germany www.irits.org 22-24—Prague, Czech Republic NEW: SafeRail Congress NEW: IAF International NEW: International Rail Forum & Global Transport Forum, Exhibition for Track Technology 21-22—Surfers Paradise, Australia Conference London, Britain. VDEI, Berlin, Germany NEW: Light Rail Conference & Oltis Group, Olomouc, Czech Tel: +44 20 7045 0916 Tel: +49 30 2260 5790 Exhibition Republic. stephen.scott@globaltransportfor Fax: +49 30 2260 5791 Informa, Sydney, Australia. Tel: +420 588 208 555 um.com [email protected] Tel: +61 2 9080 4300 Fax: +420 588 208 583 www.SafeRailCongress.com www.iaf-messe.com/en-index.html Fax: +61 2 9290 2577 [email protected] [email protected] www.IRFC.eu 12-14—London, Britain June 2017 www.informa.com.au/conference NEW: Infrarail Exhibition 13-14—Johannesburg, South s/transport-conference/infrastruc 28-30—Utrecht, Netherlands Mack Brooks, St Albans, Africa ture-conference/light-rail NEW: RailTech 2017 Conference Britain. NEW: Africa Rail Conference & March 2017 & Exhibition Tel: +44 1727 814 400 Exhibition Call for papers. Fax: +44 1727 814 401 Terrapinn, Bryanston, South 2-4—Istanbul, Turkey Promedia Europoint, Utrecht, [email protected] Africa. NEW: Eurasia Rail Exhibition Netherlands. www.infrarail.com/ Tel: +27 11 516 4044 ITE, Istanbul, Turkey. Tel: +31 30 698 1802 Fax: +27 11 463 6000 Tel: +90 212 291 8310 [email protected] 25-26—London, Britain tarryn.theunissen@terrapinn [email protected] www.railtech.com/railtech-2017/ NEW: World Metrorail Congress www.terrapinn.com/exhibition/ www.eurasiarail.eu/ & Exhibition africa-rail/index.stm 29-April 1—Jakarta, Indonesia Terrapinn, London, Britain. 7-8—Dubai, UAE NEW: RailwayTech 2017 Tel: +44 20 7092 1237 14-17—Busan, South Korea NEW: Middle East Rail Conference & Exhibition Fax: +44 20 7242 1508 NEW: RailLog Korea Conference & Exhibition Global Expo Management, [email protected] Messe Frankfurt Korea, Seoul, Terrapinn, Dubai, UAE. Jakarta, Indonesia. www.terrapinn.com/conference/ Korea. Tel: +971 4440 2535 Tel: +62 21 5435 8118 metrorail/index.stm Tel: +82 2775 2280 Fax: +971 4445 8475 [email protected] Fax: +82 2776 5113 [email protected] www.railwaytech-indonesia.com May 2017 [email protected]. www.terrapinn.com/exhibition/ 9-11—Birmingham, Britain com middle-east-rail/index.stm April 2017 NEW: Railtex Exhibition www.raillogkorea.com 4-5—Brisbane, Australia Natalie Parker, Mack Brooks, www.trakofair.com/ 21-22—Hong Kong, China NEW: RISSB Rail Safety St Albans, Britain. NEW: Asia Pacific Rail Conference Tel: +44 1727 814 400 27-28—Philadelphia PA, USA Conference & Exhibition Informa, Sydney, Australia. Fax: +44 1727 814 401 NEW: World Metro Rail Congress Terrapinn, Singapore. Tel: +61 2 9080 4300 [email protected] Terrapinn, New York, USA. Tel: +65 6322 2720 [email protected] www.railtex.co.uk/ Tel: +1 212 379 6322 [email protected] www.informa.com.au/conference Fax: +1 212 379 6319 www.terrapinn.com/exhibition/ s/transport-conference/rail-conf 13-17—Montreal, Canada [email protected] asia-pacific-rail/index.stm erence/rail-safety NEW: UITP World Congress & www.terrapinn.com/conference/

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Contacts | editorial Classified

46 Killigrew Street, Falmouth, Cornwall TR11 3PP, UK Tel +44 1326 313945 Fax +44 1326 211576 Editor-in-Chief/Associate Publisher To advertise products or services in the David Briginshaw CMILT [email protected] Associate Editor Keith Barrow BA (Hons) [email protected] classified section of IRJ, please contact Features Editor Kevin Smith MA [email protected] Features & News Reporter Dan Templeton [email protected] Louise Cooper on +44 1444 416368 Market Researcher Jonny Dearden [email protected] Sales Executive Chloe Pickering [email protected] or email [email protected] Production Manager Sue Morant [email protected] For US companies contact: Jeanine Acquart on +1 212 620 7211 Regional editors Australia Mark Carter Tel +61 8 8367 8572 [email protected] or email [email protected] Chile Ian Thomson Newman [email protected] Germany Keith Fender [email protected] Italy Marco Chiandoni [email protected] Japan Yoshihiko Sato Tel +81 3 5721 6616 [email protected] New Zealand Richard Worrall [email protected] Southern Africa John Batwell [email protected] Spain Fernando Puente [email protected] Expressions of Interest? Tenders? Switzerland Anitra Green Tel +41 61 461 4536 USA/Canada William C Vantuono Tel +1 212 620 7240 Requests for Proposals? [email protected] Correspondents If you are planning one of these for your project then advertise it in the Argentina Jorge Waddell Israel Jeremaya Goldberg next issue of IRJ. Austria Erwin Reidinger Korea Andy Tebay Denmark Denis Bowers Netherlands Quintus Vosman Take advantage of the attractive packages East & West Africa Shem Oirere Pakistan Naeem Qureshi/Rashid Ali Hungary Ferenc Joo Poland Mykola Zasiadko available, combining our printed and India Raghav Thakur Ukraine Alexander Kava electronic versions with the IRJ website.

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AL, IL, KY, WI IRITS 35 & 47 Jon Chalon, 55 Broad Street, 26th Floor, New York, NY 10004-2580 Tel 212 620 7224 [email protected] Max Bögl Stiftung 41 AK, AZ, CA, CO, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, LA, MI, MN, MO, MT, ND, NE, NM, NV, OH, OR, SD, TN, TX, UT, WA, WI, WY, Canada (Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Mitsui 44 Saskatchewan) Heather Disabato (Chicago Office) Tel 312 683 5026 hdisabato@sbpub- Plasser & Theurer BC Chicago.com Railshine 21 CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, MA, MD, ME, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, SC, VA, VT, WV, Canada (Quebec & East Ontario) Jerome Marullo, 55 Broad Street, 26th Floor, New York, NY 10004-2580 Schaeffler MPAX 29 Tel 212 620 7260 [email protected] Schaeffler Railway IFC Classified Advertising Sales Jeanine Acquart (New York Office) Tel 212 620 7211 [email protected] Voestalpine Schienen 39 IRJ December 2016 45 Dec TLW:Layout 1 17/11/2016 16:07 Page 46

The last word | Suicide prevention Swiss adopt collaborative approach to suicide prevention

Disruptions to railway operations are always bad news, but when caused by suicide, it literally stops you in your tracks. What can be done? Anitra Green reports on recent developments in Switzerland.

UICIDE is a difficult and talking about it can bring railway workers union and investigating is the installation S delicate subject in all relief. Target groups are railway company BLS. The of high-resolution cameras on respects, causing not only a lot obviously those, who are synergic effect is expected to locomotives, which would of suffering for all concerned, encouraged to be open about be considerable, offering a detect trackside movement but also considerable their suicidal thoughts and great deal more scope than the and automatically apply the inconvenience and expense for take advantage of help where previous, independent efforts emergency brakes. both railway companies and offered. The programme also initiated by the canton of One can only hope it has the customers. targets others in their Zürich and SBB. required effect, and perhaps Rail companies all over the environment. The message is SBB held its first national influences others to follow world face this distressing mainly being delivered online, symposium on this theme in suit. But publicity is a sticky problem to a greater or lesser with a new website and May last year, and also issue - journalists must be extent, but reports on what they banner advertising on the installed helpline placards at extremely careful when are doing about it are few and internet, as this is where most various points. By the end of writing about suicide because far between. In Switzerland, people at risk can be reached. this year SBB will have sent of the well-documented which has one of the world’s The three-year nationwide over 10,000 staff on training copycat effect. That is why the most heavily-used networks, campaign is part of a courses on how to identify main emphasis of this there is now a concerted cooperative effort involving people at risk and what action prevention campaign in attempt to reduce the number the Swiss helpline for such to take. SBB is also working Switzerland lies in offering of suicide attempts with a new cases, the federal office of with institutes and specialists help. In line with this, SBB, campaign under the motto public health (which is on developing new which prides itself on its “Reden kann retten” - talking efficient passenger information can save lives. service in the case of Launched by Swiss Federal Publicity is a sticky issue - journalists disruptions, will in future only Railways (SBB) in partnership use the word “Personenunfall” with the canton of Zürich, the must be extremely careful when (personal accident, the local main focus of the new suicide euphemism for a suicide) on prevention strategy is to “ the train or station affected, writing about suicide because of the improve communication, raise not the rest of the network. awareness of its workforce, well-documented copycat effect. And is the problem in and examine new technical Switzerland really so acute? and construction measures. currently working out an technologies and approaches Well, SBB describes itself as One of the basic aims is to action plan for suicide for early recognition of “hard hit” by the effect of break the taboo of talking prevention), the Swiss potential suicides. One suicide, not to mention the about this subject - for just psychologists federation, the possibility SBB is currently many suicide attempts, and in every case trains have to be delayed, re-routed, replaced, re-staffed, whatever is necessary to get back to normal as fast as possible. According to SBB’s internal statistics the trend has been slowly rising, with 126 cases in 2015 against an average of 112 over the last 10 years. This compares with a general, nationwide decrease in the last 30 years, in a population of around 8 million. This is not a lot, perhaps, but any at all is too many. Obviously, this issue will never be completely resolved, but measures like this can at least help to alleviate the problem - saving lives, and reducing the suffering of those touched by the tragedy of SBB has installed helpline placards at various points to publicise the support available to vulnerable people. suicide on the railway. IRJ 46 IRJ December 2016 IRJDECXX (IRITS2):Layout 1 15/11/2016 14:25 Page 1

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