Swiss rolling stock manufacturer Stadler is retrofitting 17 double-deck electric multiple units (EMU) of the type Kiss on behalf of German state railway DB. In addition to extended digital services, adaptations to the interior and the train protection system to ETCS Baseline 3, the upgrade also includes obtaining approval for the vehicles to travel to Switzerland. Eight of the EMUs will also be adapted externally for use as intercity vehicles. The order has a volume of around EUR 22 million. Nine four-car Kiss EMUs from Stadler have been in service with DB Fernverkehr since April 2020, with a further eight trains to be added from the end of 2021. The vehicles were originally built for Austrian company Westbahn (((06/2020-76720))). The EMUs are now being extensively overhauled by Stadler in accordance with DB\'s requirements. The first converted EMUs are scheduled to enter service from the end of 2022.
Source: Stadler press release 22.01.2021

On 13th January 2021, Chicago-based passenger rail transport operator Metra signed a c. EUR 1.5 billion (USD 1.8 billion) framework contract with rolling stock manufacturer Alstom for the delivery of up to 500 double-deck passenge coaches of the type Coradia Multilevel. The initial order is for 200 coaches. The first coach is expected to be delivered 42 months after the contract is finalised, with the full base order complete 30 months later.
Source: Metra press release 13.01.2021

On 13th January 2021, rolling stock manufacturer CRRC, Chinese state railway CR and Southwest Jiatong Southwest University presented a jointly developed EUR 7.7 million (CNY 60 million) prototype of a magnetic-levitation (maglev) train with a 620 km/h top speed on a 165 m test track at the university campus in Chengdu. According to the developers, it is the first train with high-temperature superconducting (HTS) maglev technology.
Source: CGTN 14.01.2021

Duisburg-based port operator Duisport has acquired a stake in Leipzig-based railway technology company CargoBeamer. The two companies are jointly committed to shifting road freight transport to rail. Together, the companies are working towards the digitally-automated transshipment for semi-trailers from road to rail. Combined with robotised goods centres and the electromobile distribution of goods for the last mile, an efficient, sustainable transport network is to be created in North Rhine-Westphalia. An important element for this development will be a joint terminal project based on the CargoBeamer infrastructure. As part of this project, CargoBeamer\'s new CBoXX technology is also to be directly integrated. This is a high-volume rail container that can be loaded and unloaded completely by robot at the terminal.
Source: CargoBeamer press release 22.01.2021

Rome-based transport company Cotral has ordered 80 electric buses of the type InterUrbino from Polish manufacturer Solaris. The contract also includes maintenance services for a term of ten years. The vehicles are to be delivered in 2021. They will be put into operation on bus routes connecting the cities and towns of the province of Rome and of the whole Lazio region. The 12 m InterUrbino buses are intercity buses. Each bus has capacities for 67 passengers including 55 seats.
Source: Solaris press release 22.01.2021