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TOP NEWS FROM THE SCI RAILDATA
The city of London and the board of local public transport authority Transport for London (TfL) have named Andy Byford as London’s transport commissioner and thus the new head of TfL. Byford will take up his new role with TfL on 29th June 2020 where he will succeed Mike Brown, who will stay on until 10th July 2020 in order to support the transition. Brown will then move to his new position overseeing the renovation of London’s historic Houses of Parliament. Byford was President and CEO of New York City Transit (NYCT) until he resigned unexpectedly on 23rd January 2020, two years after his appointment (((05/2020-76391))).
Source: TfL press release 27.05.2020
The Board of Directors for Ukrainian state railway UZ has decided to establish a separate subsidiary for the operation of railway stations as of 1st July 2020. Its main objective is to make the stations more efficient and reach the break-even point. The reorganisation of the station facilities is to take place in two stages. First, the stations currently assigned to the passenger transport company will be transferred to the branch office. In the second phase, the class 1-3 stations will be transferred. Then, in order to optimise the management structure, it is planned to identify 14 base stations, which will allow the centralisation of financial, human, legal and other functions. The staff for the new branch will be transferred from other departments. According to the information provided by UZ, a similar concept to that used by DB Station & Service in Germany will be applied.
Source: UZ press release 27.05.2020
The Hübner Group has bundled its railway industry business units. The company based in Kassel has re-bundled its business with transition systems for rolling stock, drive system components, boarding systems for light rail vehicles (LRV) and cockpit displays for vehicle driver cabs. In addition to transition systems, the rail business also includes the Hübner companies HTG, Hemscheidt and Gersys. All companies are to be more strongly combined under the reorganisation, especially in terms of sales. As the new global head of the Rail division, Huschke Diekmann has assumed responsibility for the division. The second major business unit of the Hübner Group, Material Solutions, is also under new management. Hübner\'s managing director Ingolf Cedra has now additionally assumed the function of Business Unit Manager for the division. The position was previously held by Tobias Lexhaller, who has left the company.
Source: Hübner press release 25.05.2020
US passenger rail transport operator Amtrak will need further financial assistance of EUR 1.34 billion (USD 1.46 billion) to maintain a basic service in passenger rail transport. In addition, the grants will support 26 government partners on the national network and the North-East Corridor. Amtrak expects the impact of the coronavirus pandemic to continue to reduce passenger numbers to about 50% in 2021. As a result, Amtrak will reduce operating costs by approximately EUR 450 million, including reductions in service capacities, staff restructuring and a review of discretionary spending.
Source: Amtrak press release 26.05.2020
Public transport operator MPK Poznan has ordered 37 electric buses from Polish manufacturer Solaris. The zero-emission vehicles will be delivered to Poznan in the second half of 2021 (H2/2021). The contract signed on 28th May 2020 includes the delivery of vehicles of the type Urbino. Of these vehicles, 31 will be 12 m long, whereas the remaining articulated six vehicles will be 18 m long. The contract is worth over EUR 20.3 million (PLN 90 million). Pursuant to the agreement, deliveries of the Solaris buses will begin in autumn 2021. The procurement is part of the strategy for the development of electromobility for the city of Poznan that is to be implemented by 2035. All 37 vehicles will be equipped with batteries of the Solaris High Power series designed for fast charging. The Urbino 12 vehicles will feature four packs with a capacity of over 120 kWh, whereas the articulated units will be fitted with six packs boasting a capacity of over 180 kWh. Throughout the day the batteries will be recharged by means of one of a few fast pantograph chargers.
Source: Solaris press release 28.05.2020