FRENCH infrastructure manager SNCF Network unveiled its new ETCS test train at Nevers Technicentre on June 25.

FRENCH infrastructure manager SNCF Network has launched a €1bn innovation partnership called Argos to develop a new generation of computer-controlled interlockings, with Alstom, Ansaldo STS, Siemens and Thales taking part.

STADLER is entering the signalling business through a joint venture with Mermec, Italy, with the Swiss company saying it is already running field tests and has started the approval process in Switzerland.

PORTERBROOK Leasing Company has awarded Siemens a First-in-Class (FiC) design and fitment contract to install ETCS Level 2, Baseline 3 on-board equipment on a Great Western Railways class 387 Bombardier Electrostar EMU.

DHAKA Mass Transit Company (DMTCL) has awarded a $US 500m lump-sum contract to a joint venture of Marubeni, Japan, and Larsen & Toubro, India for the electro-mechanical contract for Line 6, which is the first metro line to be built in the Bangladesh capital.

NORWAY’s infrastructure manager Bane Nor has awarded contracts worth a total of NKr 1.8bn ($US 222m) to Alstom to equip the country’s entire mainline train fleet of 467 trains of 55 different types with ERTMS and maintain it for up to 25 years.

NIPPON Signal, Japan, has awarded Thales a sub-contract to install ETCS Level 1 on rolling stock and the two sections of the Red Line commuter rail line in Bangkok which will be operated by State Railway of Thailand (SRT).

ACCORDING to the International Association of Public Transport’s (UITP) Observatory of Automated Metros the total length of fully-automated driverless metro lines globally has topped 1000km for the first time. The milestone was reached at the end of March with the opening of the Pujiang Line in Shanghai.

INFRABEL issued a statement on May 8 urging Siemens to act swiftly to resolve a spate of axle-counter malfunctions, which according to the Belgian infrastructure manager caused 9000 minutes of delays in the first quarter of 2018.

IRJ at Infrarail 2018 London: British infrastructure manager Network Rail (NR) says it is planning to adopt a new approach to the procurement of ERTMS, with a focus on the whole life of the assets.