Friday analysisTHE rejection of three franchise bids from Stagecoach and another from Arriva over pension provisions has ignited new industrial tensions (writes Sim Harris), with the RMT now threatening national action over what it sees as a risk to the rights of staff. Meanwhile, transport secretary Chris Grayling has come under

AFRICA: A committee of experts from African finance, planning and economic development ministries has endorsed the adoption of the Luxembourg Rail Protocol to encourage private investment in railway assets across the continent. Meeting in Marrakesh, under the auspices of the UN Economic Commission for Africa, the committee called on the UNECA

SWEDEN: National transport agency Trafikverket has awarded Atkins and Ramboll a five-year contract to plan the Linköping city section of the proposed Ostlänken high speed line between Stockholm and the city. This is the first of three proposed high speed routes, which would form a 440 km Y-shaped network linking the major

EUROPE: The first completed electric multiple-unit for the future Léman Express cross-border regional passenger service between Genève in Switzerland and destinations in France was unveiled at Alstom’s Reichshoffen factory on April 10. SNCF has ordered 17 EMUs from Alstom’s Coradia Polyvalent family, known as Régiolis by the operator. The order was

THE rejection of three franchise bids involving Stagecoach Group has brought a worsening railway pensions crisis into the open. It may have also deepened the divisions between the Government and franchise-holders.The Department for Transport said Stagecoach had tried to change the rules underlying bids for East Midlands, South Eastern and

LATVIA: The prototype conversion of a ČME3 diesel shunting locomotive to dual-fuel gas operation has attracted international interest, with representatives of French gas supplier GRDF and the city of Lille recently visiting Riga to see the loco in action. National railway LDz and Riga-based DiGAS launched the pilot project two years

EUROPE: Hamburger Hafen & Logistik subsidiary Metrans has awarded Siemens Mobility a contract to supply 10 Vectron MS locomotives for use on cross-border freight service in central and eastern Europe. The order announced on April 10 includes the 900th Vectron to be sold. Deliveries from Siemens Mobility’s München–Allach factory are scheduled

THE ranks of preserved operational steam locomotives increased over the weekend of March 2-3 when two former Barry Scrapyard hulks were formally welcomed back into service at different ends of the country. The launch of the 150th ex-Barry engine to return to steam – ‘Modified Hall’ No. 6989 Wightwick Hall

RESTORATION of former ‘Barry 10’ Small Prairie No. 5539 is continuing at the Barry Tourist Railway, with the 2-6-2T now back on its wheels with the inside motion fitted. The 1928-built loco is owned by Hugh Shipton (owner of Llangollen-based ‘64XX’ No. 6430) and is being restored by Mike

IT may have been largely on static display only, but the Bluebell Railway’s newly repainted Adams ‘Radial’ 4-4-2T No. 30583 still managed to steal the show at the railway’s Branch Line Weekend on March 15-17. The former Lyme Regis branch loco has been restored back to its BR lined black