ROLLINGSTOCK

New hoppers for salt transportation enter operation in Europe The salt wagons run from Koper (Slovenia) and Ebensee am Traunsee (Austria) to the chemical company Donau Chemie Group's site in Brückl (Austria). Since the beginning of the year, the first three railcars have been deployed on the plant’s in-house tracks. The hoppers for Donau Chemie have been specially designed by the freight operator Rail Cargo Group (part of ÖBB, Austria). With a payload of 60 t and a body volume of 69 m3, each Talns hopper features a special inside and outer coating, which is reported to reduce the negative impact of salt and extend the wagon’s service life. The four-axle hopper is fitted with a retractable roof for easier loading. Its unloading is fulfilled through four side hatches that can be operated both mechanically and semi-automatically, using pneumatics. The Talns-type freight wagons are widespread, being produced by a number of European car builders. Video: ÖBB #rollingstock #rail #railway #freightcar #hopper

Uzbekistan receives Russian-made EMU for first time The Acting Chair of the national operator Uzbekistan Railways (Oʻzbekiston temir yoʻllari) - UTY Zufar Narzullayev has told in an interview with the Uzbekistan 24 TV channel that the Russian-made train had been delivered. The published images show the six-car AC electric train EP3D arriving in the country. This model is manufactured by the Demikhovo Engineering Works (part of TMH). Uzbekistan didn’t receive suburban trains since the 1980s, when they were supplied by the Riga Car Building plant. According to Mr. Narzullayev, the new train will serve the suburbs of Tashkent, but he hasn’t disclosed further deliveries and their conditions. In 2023, Uzbekistan ordered 30 EMUs from Škoda Group, however the implementation of the contract wasn’t given publicity, and Škoda Group left unaddressed enquiries from ROLLINGSTOCK. In March 2024, a project to establish electric train production in Tashkent was unveiled, and interest in trains from Stadler was reported in autumn (see https://lnkd.in/evZQvTkB for details). Images: tashkentuzb1/VK, Maxim/railgallery #rollingstock #rail #railway #EMU

Krasnoyarsk metro-tram design unveiled   The concept was developed by ART-UP Studio, Russia, in technical cooperation with Krasnoyarsk Machine-building Components, KMK. The latter focuses on interior solutions, most of which are supplied to PK Transport Systems, a tram manufacturer. The rendering of a three-car vehicle was recently unveiled at the Russian Creativity Week — Siberia forum, organised by the Siberian Institute for the Development of Creative Industries.   The concept lays a cornerstone for the technical specifications of the Krasnoyarsk metro-tram. As part of the project, the regional government announced plans to acquire 15 three-car trams in 2027.   As KMK informed ROLLINGSTOCK, the concept combines both tram and metro technologies, such as wide doors and an emergency exit in the driver’s cab for evacuation in tunnels and on overpasses. The design is also based on the passive safety and compliance with the metro technical regulation, TR EAEU 052/2021.   Rendering: ART-UP STUDIO #rollingstock #rail #LRV #metrotram

31 Alstom's Talent 3 Pluses finally sold   The trains were built by Bombardier Transportation, which was acquired by Alstom three years ago. Their new owners are Rock Rail and ABRDN Core Infrastructure of the UK, for whom Alstom will equip the vehicles with ETCS Level 2.   These 31 six-car trains are part of a fleet of 46 units ordered from Bombardier by the Austrian national operator ÖBB between 2016 and 2018. The contract, however, was cancelled due to delays in certification. In 2022, CAF acquired the intellectual rights for the Talent, but an undisclosed number of trains have not been sold (see https://lnkd.in/dC-Qr5v9 for details).   Three of the trains finally sold will be leased by Abellio Rail and 28 units by SWEG for operation on a line between Halle and Saalfeld and on the Stuttgart rail hub. The same model has been in service on these networks since 2023, having previously been leased to operators by Alstom.   Image: Lothar Stöckmann/Bahnbilder #rollingstock #rail #railway #EMU

Latest urban rail transport procurements: Slovakia, Georgia, Netherlands, Italy Two new orders for CAF (Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles) included.   Read more at the link: https://lnkd.in/e6m24NSF #rollingstock #rail #railway

Pesa diesel trains launched in Ghana Two two-car Regio160 trains started to run on the country’s first 1,435 mm gauge line. The 97.6 km route connected the port city of Tema with the Mpakadan station. In the future, the line will be extended to Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso. Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo took part in the line’s launch ceremony. Each train is reported to accommodate 220 people, with 115 of them seated, and reach peak speeds of 120 km/h. The vehicle is fitted with a Stage V engine. Two DMUs have been delivered to Ghana this year (see https://lnkd.in/eag5YSu5 for details). The tests saw the first trainset get in an accident, resulting in the head car being damaged (for more details, go to https://lnkd.in/e463nTHW). The contract, signed with the Polish manufacturer in September 2022, envisages also a three-year maintenance and an option for an additional ten units. It is the first order in PESA Bydgoszcz S.A.’s history to supply trainsets to Africa. Images: The Presidency of Ghana, John-Peter Amewu #rollingstock #rail #railway #dieseltrain

Alstom unveils first Coradia Nordic EMU for Norway The six-car train was unveiled to the customer’s delegation, the national operator Norske tog, at a plant in Saltzgitter, Germany. The delivery to Norway, where it will undergo operational testing, is to take place in winter. The low-floor single-deck Coradia Nordic can accommodate 778 passengers, 294 of them seated, and reach peak speeds of 200 km/h. The vehicles have areas for bicycles, pushchairs and wheelchairs, are fitted with heating, ventilation and AC systems, and doors by Wabtec. It is reported that the Coradia Nordic has been adapted to the country’s climate conditions. The framework contract on supply of up to 200 Coradia Nordics worth €1.8 bln was signed in 2021. To date, Norske Tog has ordered 55 six-car trains for more than €610 mln. The launch is scheduled for 2025–2027. Images: Norske Tog #rollingstock #rail #railway #EMU

KSC Group obtains first approvals for braking equipment   The approvals received at the beginning of November allow the series production of steel and cast iron brake discs for axles and wheelsets. These are the first certificates under TR CU 001/2011 and TR CU 002/2011 obtained by KSK Group after it was acquired from Knorr-Bremse in 2023. "The mandatory tests have confirmed the friction and mechanical properties of the braking equipment”, said a company representative.   The new products will replace the Knorr-Bremse disc brakes used in Lastochka and Sapsan EMUs operated by Russian Railways. The producer states that in 2024 VSM-Service, a company that provides fleet maintenance, will receive about 1,400 sets of disc brakes produced in accordance with the company’s design documentation.   In the summer of this year, Ilya Germanenko, head of KSK Group’s Division Brake Equipment , emphasised in an interview with TMH's magazine that the production of railway brakes involves solving a wide range of tasks. He noted the need to replace about 4,000 components in order to fulfil the projects in the company's order book. “Our main task for the near future is to speed up the localisation and meet the needs of numerous customers”, said Mr. Germanenko to the special project of ROLLINGSTOCK and KSC Group on the sovereignty of components used in rolling stock.   Image: ksc.rollingstockworld.ru #rollingstock #rail #railway #component  

LatAm's first hydrogen locomotive ready for operation in Chile   The private rail network FCAB has reported the successful completion of the tests for the CRRC Corporation Ltd. shunting locomotive and of staff training. The company is now completing the launch of the hydrogen generation facilities.   The operation of the vehicle will begin in the Antofagasta port. FCAB claims to be the first company on the continent to use hydrogen rolling stock.   The order for the locomotive was placed in November 2022 and the vehicle was delivered to the operator this summer (see https://lnkd.in/ew_WvS6U for details). According to CRRC, the hydrogen shunting locomotive is capable of hauling trainsets of up to 1,000 t over a distance of about 400 km. It is powered by hydrogen fuel cells with a total output of 400 kW or a battery pack totalling 600 kW. The vehicle will be deployed in an environment that includes salt fog and sandstorms.   Its delivery marks the operator's plans to cease utilising diesel traction. Now Equipo FCAB operates 83 locomotives produced by American companies EMD and GE.   Images: FCAB #rollingstock #rail #locomotive #hydrogenvehicle

PC Transport Systems prepares to produce five-car tram The Telegram channel Sheridan TV was the first to learn about the company’s development of the low-floor 71-952 model. The tram builder has confirmed to ROLLINGSTOCK that the prototype is expected to be unveiled in the summer of 2025. According to PC TS, the five-car composition will ensure that the 71-952 tram can travel curves of both new and old lines. The vehicle will be bidirectional and have four bogies, two steering and two non-steering. The tram’s length will account for 37.5 m, which is 8% more than that of the three-car 71-934 Lev, the longest in the PC TS production line. The passenger capacity will reach 404 people, meaning 8 people per m2. The model will be fitted with seven doors on each side. The 71-952 concept was developed by PC TS in the mid-2010s but didn’t see to the production then. The development of a five-car model is also carried out by another manufacturer, the Ust-Katav Car-Building Plant. Earlier, Russia hasn’t produced trams of such composition. Draft: PC TS #rollingstock #rail #LRV #tram