SOUTH AFRICA: Outline plans to extend Gautrain to serve more of the Gauteng region have been drawn up as part of an assessment of the project’s economic and social impact. About R110bn could be allocated for construction of extensions and 19 new stations, plus R24∙4bn on improvements to the existing

EUROPE: Deutsche Bahn has signed an agreement to acquire Austrian open access operator Westbahn’s fleet of 17 Stadler Kiss double-deck electric multiple-units. Announcing the deal on July 22, the German national railway said Westbahn’s four-car and six-car units had ‘achieved the highest levels of customer satisfaction’; some of the vehicles are

UK: Touax Rail UK has signed a contract to supply 55 Greenbrier Europe JNA open wagons and 40 HOA hoppers to Mendip Rail for use on aggregates traffic. Announcing the order on July 22, the leasing company said this was its first order for new wagons for the UK market and

WEST Midlands Metro has marked 20 years of operation by unveiling a specially designed livery on tram No. 19. Services were officially launched between Wolverhampton St George’s and Birmingham Snow Hill on May 30, 1999 with an extension through to Grand Central (Birmingham New Street) opening in 2016. Today,

SWITZERLAND: Landesbank Baden-Württemberg subsidiary SüdLeasing has awarded Siemens Mobility a contract to supply 20 Vectron multisystem electric locomotives which will be operated by SBB Cargo International under a long-term leasing plan with a flexible term. The order announced on July 22 includes a full-serve maintenance agreement with Siemens Mobility and an

THE Royal Arsenal Narrow Gauge Railway (RANG) launched the first section of its new 2ft-gauge railway at Crossness Pumping Station in South London on March 28. Track-laying for the new 2ft-gauge Royal Arsenal Narrow Gauge Railway is progressing rapidly, as illustrated by this April 30 image. RANG At the

THE 2ft-gauge vertical boiler steam loco constructed by Noel Donnelly (RM July 2018) and subsequently donated to Westonzoyland Engine Trust (RM Feb) arrived at the Somerset site on May 10 from its previous Purbeck Mineral & Mining Museum base. Initially described as an 0-4-0VBT, it has a chain drive

ISRAEL: National railway ISR has reconfigured three of its Bombardier Transportation double-deck coaches with a revised interior layout designed to provide a 20% increase in capacity per vehicle In order to accommodate more standing passengers, the seats and tables have been removed from the lower deck and replaced with the same

Train passengers are being urged to “make their voice heard” by applying for delay compensation every time they are entitled to it. An increase in the amount of claims would “send a message” to train operators that reliability must improve, according to watchdog Transport Focus. Photo: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire A

SOUTH AFRICA: Gautrain Management Agency is planning to obtain second-hand rolling stock from the UK. This follows an abortive tender called in February 2016 for a fleet of 12 new four-car trainsets. Despite three bidders being shortlisted, none of the bids was compliant. After evaluating its options, GMA decided in May