Ab sofort ist die Firmware Version 4.2.14 für alle ESU Zentralen zum kostenlosen Download verfügbar. Für das ESU CabControl ist ab der Version 4.2.14 erstmalig ein WiThrottle Server implementiert. Dies ermöglicht es kompatiblen Handreglern oder Smartphone-Apps (vor allem dem bekannten JMRI Enginedriver, sich direkt via WLAN mit der ICU Zentrale zu verbinden und Loks sowie Weichen steuern zu können. Es werden keine weiteren Hardwarekomponenten benötigt. Die Firmware für das CabControl kann kostenfrei heruntergeladen werden. Der WiThrottle-Server ist für die ECoS Zentralen 50220, 50210 bzw. 50020 mit Farbdisplay ab der Firmware 4.2.14 ebenfalls verfügbar. Auch auf diese Zentralen kann ab sofort mit kompatiblen Apps oder Handreglern direkt zugegriffen werden. Aber auch die älteren ECoS Zentralen bzw. Central Station Reloaded Geräte profitieren von der neuen Firmware 4.2.14: Es ist nun möglich, Fahrwege zu kopieren. Dies erleichtert die Einrichtung komplexerer Anlagensteuerungen ungemein. Alle mit ihrer ECOS-Seriennummer registrierten Benutzer des ESU-Forums können die neue Firmware hier kostenfrei herunterladen.

INNOTRANS: Lankhorst Engineered Products will be showing what it says is the world’s first composite sleeper with integral moulded baseplate connections at InnoTrans 2024.

FRANCE: Surveillance of the rail network has been stepped up using human and technical resources on the ground and in the air following the large-scale disruption caused by carefully targeted sabotage on July 26, the opening day of the Paris Olympic Games.

POLAND: The CPK project has called tenders for the construction of 4·6 km tunnel in Łódź which will be a key element of the Y-shaped high speed line between Warszawa, the future national hub airport, Wrocław and Poznań.

FRANCE: A €450m agreement for Vossloh to acquire concrete sleeper manufacturer Sateba Group from TowerBrook Capital Partners was signed on July 30.

This week’s news from the global railway supply chain.

InnoTrans: Railway maintenance tool specialist Enerpac will be making its first appearance at InnoTrans this year, as the company sets its sights on the global market.

UK: A Rail Skills Academy programme is being launched to help to combat the skills shortage and lack of diversity in the rail industry as part of the legacy programme for the East Kilbride Enhancement Project.

FRANCE: Another step towards restoration of commercial services over the 89 km route from Nancy to Contrexéville was taken at the end of June with signature by the Grand Est région and the Nova 14 consortium of the 22-year concession announced on May 24 for rehabilitation and operation of the ...

GERMANY: Alstom has confirmed that it is in ‘constructive’ discussions with an unnamed industrial partner regarding the future of the rolling stock factory at Görlitz in Sachsen.

KAZAKHSTAN: Stadler has awarded Liebherr Transportation Systems (China) Co a contract to supply 550 heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems by 2030 for installation on sleeping and couchette cars ordered by national railway KTZ.

SPAIN: The country’s first rolling motorway service for moving lorry semitrailers by rail was formally launched on July 22 following several weeks of tests.

GUINEA: The SimFer mining joint venture has awarded Wabtec a US$277m contract to supply Evolution Series ES43ACmi diesel locomotives for the Simandou iron ore project.

USA: The 3i-backed short line group Regional Rail has acquired the Cincinnati Eastern Railroad, which operates on 110 km of track owned by Norfolk Southern between Clare and Plumb Run in Ohio.

GERMANY: The Digital Inspection by Machine Intelligence project has been launched to automate and accelerate the manual wagon inspection process which need to be undertaken before an intermodal train can leave a terminal.

UK: Network Rail’s Wales & Western region and Dutch manufacturer Lankhorst Engineered Products have developed a composite sleeper made of made of 90% recycled materials which they say involves 90% less embedded carbon in production than wooden equivalents and 78% less than concrete.

USA: The Short Line Safety Institute has identified five areas of strength and five areas of opportunity through an analysis of the 20 railway Safety Culture Assessments it conducted last year.

UK: Young people want to travel more by rail, but train operators need to provide reliable services, value for money and consistent amenities if they are to attract the next generation of travellers and retain them as customers for the next 20 years, First Rail Managing Director Steve Montgomery said ...

EUROPE: Environmental campaigning organisation Greenpeace has produced a comprehensive study of rail services between major European cities, highlighting the ‘untapped potential’ for new direct trains which could replace flights.

SPAIN: It was ‘incomprehensible’ that a high speed line equipped with ERTMS would not have it installed at a location where a speed restriction meant it was so obviously required, the judge said when a criminal court reached its verdict on the July 24 2013 derailment of a Class 730 ...