GE Transportation confirmed on December 9 that it has acquired Iders, Canada, a designer and manufacturer of electronic products for the rail industry, which GE says will enhance its sensor data and analytics offerings and accelerate its vision to offer self-aware trains.

TUNISIAN National Railways (SNCFT) has signed a Dinars 160m ($US 69.4m) contract with Progress Rail, United States, for the supply of 20 EMD series GT42AC metre-gauge diesel-electric locomotives.

WITH just weeks to go before the start of full commercial operations, Switzerland’s Federal Transport Office (BAV) has approved the use of Bombardier Traxx locomotives in the Gotthard Base Tunnel following the installation of an ETCS software update.

THE first three Traxx AC3 electric locomotives for German open-access rail freight operator RheinCargo was handed over at Bombardier’s Kassel plant on November 25.

ABB announced on November 15 that it has won an order from Alstom to supply 1600 traction transformers for 800 double-unit prima electric new freight locomotives for India.

The final batch of three CRRC Dalian type CKD0B diesel shunting locomotives for Formosa Plastics’ steel mill at Ha Tinh in Vietnam was shipped from the port of Dalian on November 14.

ROLLS-ROYCE reopened its MTU plant in Cape Town, South Africa, on October 27 following the completion of a Rand 50m ($US 3.6m) upgrading project which will enable the facility to localise the manufacturing of over 200 engines for new locomotives, which CRRC is supplying to Transnet Freight Rail (TFR).

SAUDI Railway Company (SAR) has started to take delivery of 1186 tank wagons for the transport of sulphur and phosphoric acid for operation of the 2750km North-South Railway.

THE first two CRRC diesel locomotives for Argentina’s metre-gauge Belgrano Cargas network were loaded onto a ship at Lujong port in Shanghai on October 15 in readiness for the start of their sea voyage to Buenos Aires.

NEW York City Transit (NYC Transit) is seeking expressions of interest by November 30 for the supply of dual-mode locomotives for use on the Subway network and a battery car mover/shunter.