Stadler and LTG Cargo, the rail freight transport subsidiary of Lithuanian state railway LTG, have signed a contract for the delivery of 17 electric locomotives. The contract, which includes an option for 17 additional locomotives, spare parts and a three-year maintenance period, is Stadler\'s first locomotive contract for the Lithuanian market. The locomotives, which are part of the Eurodual family, are designed for extreme weather conditions and can operate in temperatures as low as -40ºC. They are designed for rail freight transport in Lithuania and have a track gauge of 1,520 mm, a maximum tractive force of 500 kN, a tractive power of up to 6.15 MW on the rails and can reach a maximum speed of 120 km/h. The locomotives will be manufactured at the Stadler plant in Valencia, Spain. The new electric locomotives will transport goods between Vilnius and Klaipeda, a corridor that accounts for half of all rail freight transport in Lithuania each year.
Source: Stadler press release 16.12.2024

Swedish rail freight transport operator Green Cargo is testing the digital automatic couplings (DAC) in heavy freight trains. The steel shuttle between Luleå and Borlänge, with a train weight of up to 3,800 t and a line of around 1,000 km, has been partially equipped with DAC for this purpose. The two-year trial is part of the EU-funded FP5-TRANS4M-R project by Europe\'s Rail (SCI RAILDATA Issue 37/2022). Two pairs of wagons from different manufacturers are being tested under winter conditions, covering around 320,000 km. In addition to Green Cargo, Trafikverket, Rail Sweden and Svensk Maskinprovning are also involved.
Source: Lok-Report 16.12.2024

The German Rethmann Group and the French financial institution Caisse des Dépôts have entered into exclusive negotiations for the acquisition of an additional 32% stake in Transdev by Rethmann. Upon completion of the transaction in 2025, Rethmann would become the majority shareholder of Transdev with 66% of the shares, while Caisse des Dépôts would retain 34% of the shares. Rethmann, the parent company of Remondis, Rhenus and Saria, has held shares in Transdev since 2019 (SCI RAILDATA Issue 02/2019).
Source: Transdev press release 16.12.2024

Siemens Mobility has received the planning permission from the Wiltshire County Council to build a new manufacturing and research centre in Chippenham (SCI RAILDATA Issue 10/2024). The investment amounts to EUR 120 million (GBP 100 million). UK contractor Bowmer + Kirland will begin construction in early 2025, with completion of the facility scheduled for 2026. The new centre will serve as the location for the construction of conventional, digital railway signalling and control systems of the next generation. 
Source: Siemens Mobility press release 13.12.2024

BusGruppe, a purchasing association of German transport companies, has awarded bus manufacturer Iveco Bus a framework contract to supply up to 580 buses over five years. The order includes 250 electric buses, including up to 200 Crossway Low Entry Elec buses and 50 E-Way articulated buses, as well as 150 Urbanway Hybrid articulated buses and 180 Crossway Low Entry intercity buses with EUR VI engines. Deliveries will start in 2025 and continue until 2030. The contract also includes charging infrastructure and optional equipment such as air conditioning, USB ports and video surveillance.
Source: Iveco press release 18.12.2024