LATVIAN Railways (LDZ) signed a memorandum of understanding with CZ Loko, Czech Republic, and Ballard Power Systems, Canada, on August 11 on the development of hydrogen fuel cell-powered locomotives.

ZIYANG Iran Rail Pardaz Group, a subsidiary of Iran’s Rail Pardaz Seir, signed a contract with CRRC Ziyang, China, on August 9 for 30 main line diesel locomotives.

FRENCH leasing firm Akiem ordered 44 type DE 18 locomotives on July 29 from Vossloh Locomotives in Kiel, and delivery of the €140m order will start in 2018.

VOSSLOH says Ebit for the first half of 2016 increased by 57.3% from €12.3m in 2015 to €19.3m this year despite a drop in sales.

CUBAN import agency Tradex signed a contract with Sinara Transport Machines, Russia, on July 23 for 75 diesel-hydraulic locomotives for Cuban Union Railways (UFC).

THE first of two Alstom H3 hybrid shunting locomotives for Metrans, the open-access rail freight subsidiary of Hamburg Ports and Logistics (HHLA), has entered service in the Port of Hamburg.

HECTOR Rail, a Swedish open access operator, has signed an agreement with Siemens for the delivery of five new electric Vectron locomotives with an option for 15 more, which is valid until 2021.

SOUTHERN California locomotive commuter rail operator Metrolink unveiled its first EMD F125 diesel locomotive at Los Angeles Union Station on July 18. The F125 is compliant with the latest US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Tier 4 emissions standards and will reduce particulate matter and nitrogen oxide emissions by up to 85%.

UKRAINIAN Railways (UZ) and Bombardier have pledged to explore the possibility of jointly producing locomotives in Ukraine under a memorandum of understanding which was signed in Kiev on July 11 by UZ chairman Mr Wojciech Balczun, Bombardier director of business development Mr Flavio Canetti, and Mr Erwin Gerber, head of the company's locomotives business unit, in the presence of Canadian minister of international trade Mrs Chrystia Freeland, and Ukrainian infrastrcuture minister Mr Volodymyr Omelyan.

THE board of KiwiRail has approved the acquisition of 15 additional DL class locomotives from CRRC Corporation subsidiary Dalian Locomotive and Rolling Stock for delivery in 2018, despite ongoing issues with asbestos contamination with the fleet of 48 units already delivered to New Zealand.