Brief overview of key events and news in the rail rolling stock markets.
🇮🇶 Iraq’s National Investment Commission has announced a tender for the construction of seven metro lines totalling 148 km and the supply of unmanned trains to operate on these lines. The number of trains is not specified. According to local media, the project could cost around $10 bln. Previously, Alstom and Hyundai Engineering & Construction signed a memorandum of understanding with the Iraqi Ministry of Transport for the Baghdad elevated train project in 2020.
The future metro train for Baghdad. Source: Alstom
🇷🇴 Romania’s Court of Appeal has ordered the country’s railway reform authority ARF to re-evaluate the bids in a tender for up to 29 trains. Last November, the National Council for Complaints rejected Alstom’s appeal and ordered that the contract be awarded to Pesa. After a new appeal, the court sided with Alstom. According to Rynek Kolejowy, Pesa’s spokesperson said that the parties have not yet received a written explanation of the court’s decision.
🇺🇸 The freight operator CSX has ordered Wabtec to refurbish more than 200 AC400 diesel locomotives to extend their service life. The vehicles were manufactured between 1994 and 2002 by American GE, which joined Wabtec in 2019. The manufacturer plans that the refurbishment will improve reliability of power plants by 35%, increase energy efficiency and tractive effort by 14%, and reduce fuel consumption by 8%.
The AC400 diesel locomotive in the CSX fleet. Source: Wabtec
🇨🇭 The Swiss national operator SBB has exercised another option for five more Stadler SMILE high-speed trains. The vehicles will be manufactured at the Bussnang plant in Switzerland. The eleven-car trains are scheduled for delivery by the end of 2025. The framework contract for the order was signed in 2014 for 121 trains, with a firm part for 29. The first option for seven trains was exercised in 2022.
🇦🇹 The Austrian urban transport operator Holding Graz has signed a contract with Alstom for the delivery of 15 five-section Flexity trams. Production is expected to start at Alstom’s plant in Vienna at the end of 2024, with the first tram due to enter service by November 2025.
