INNOTRANS: Hitachi Rail presented the latest version of its ETR1000 trainset for Trenitalia at the InnoTrans 2024 fair in Berlin.

FRANCE: High speed rail start-up Proxima has signed a €850m firm order for Alstom to supply 12 Avelia Horizon double-deck high-speed trains for its planned open access services between Bordeaux, Nantes, Rennes, Angers and Paris.

AUSTRALIA: Fortescue Zero and rolling stock supplier Downer have announced plans to develop what they promise will be the world’s most energy-efficient battery electric locomotive.

USA: The Federal Railroad Administration has signed a $3bn grant awarded to Nevada Department of Transportation for the Brightline West project to build a high speed line to Las Vegas. This confirms a promise made by President Joe Biden last December to provide the funds under the Federal-State Partnership for ...

UK: The annual Rail Business Awards which recognise and reward excellence across every aspect of the industry will be back in Manchester in 2025.

INNOTRANS: China’s CRRC has unveiled its prototype Cinova H2 New Energy Intelligent Intercity Train, a hydrogen fuel cell powered trainset which it believes could replace diesel trains on non-electrified railways worldwide.

INNOTRANS: Plasser & Theurer has signed a partnership agreement with Siemens Mobility to support the equipping of on-track machinery with the European Train Control System.

EUROPE: Leasing company Beacon has signed a framework agreement for Siemens Mobility to supply Vectron Multi System electric locomotives, with an initial order for 25.

UK: The Global Centre of Rail Excellence launched a rail innovation competition in partnership with Innovate UK and the Department for Business & Trade at the InnoTrans trade show in Berlin.

AFRICA: The governments of Angola and Zambia have signed concession agreements with Africa Finance Corp paving the way for construction of an 800 km rail link between the two countries.

EUROPE: ‘Competition in railways seems to trigger an increase in ridership and brings about significant benefits to society’, according to the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Mobility & Transport.

EUROPE: Alstom is to combine its DACH (Germany, Austria and Switzerland) and Nordic (Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland) regions from January 2025, and has appointed a turnaround specialist from Siemens as President of the combined business area.

UK: Lower charges for passenger trains on the high speed line from London to the Channel Tunnel and a halving of charges for freight are proposed in the Office of Rail & Road’s draft determination of the High Speed 1 concessionaire’s next five-year spending plan.

GERMANY: Saft is supplying lithium titanium oxide batteries for the hybrid fuel cell and battery traction system on seven Siemens Mobility Mireo Plus H hydrogen multiple-units.

INNOTRANS: Nevomo and Captrain plan to test linear motor technology to automate wagon movements in an industrial terminal in Germany in what promises to be the first real-world use of the MagRail Booster concept.

SWITZERLAND: Sihltal Zürich Uetliberg Bahn has awarded Stadler a contract to supply 17 three-car Flirt EMUs for use on the 13·2 km S-Bahn route S4 between Zürich HB and Sihlwald.

INNOTRANS: Romania’s Astra Vagoane Călători unveiled a prototype tram at InnoTrans 2024.

SLOVAKIA: RS Lease has awarded Siemens Mobility a contract for the ‘fast’ delivery of 30 Vectron Multi System electric locomotives, with an option for 35 more including Dual Mode variants.

UK: High speed line project promoter HS2 Ltd has awarded what it says is the largest ever archaeological post-excavation contract to the Access+ consortium.

LITHUANIA: Ribbon Communications and Telia Lithuania have deployed an FRMCS-ready critical network upgrade for national railway LTG.