Innovations in traction technology are set to make the next generation of Plasser & Theurer track machines quieter, more efficient, and more environmentally friendly.

IRJ at Railtex 2017: Alstom launched its CLever lightweight catenary system for the British market during the Railtex exhibition following a trial installation on the West Coast Main Line. The company also announced details of a new EMU for the British market.

THE Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved an $US 80m loan for the electrification of the Pap - Namangan - Andijan line in central Uzbekistan.

BUENOS Aires Metro (SBase) has awarded a €17m contract to Alstom to renew the power supply on Line B.

TENDERS have been invited for a €23m project to electrify the 49km Viana do Castelo - Valença section of Portugal’s Minho line which runs north from Nine via Viana do Castelo to Valença on the Spanish border.

SANTA Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) has awarded Siemens a $US 10m contract to modernise electrification systems on the oldest section of the 68km light rail network in San Jose and Silicon Valley.

BRITISH infrastructure manager Network Rail (NR) announced on February 7 that although the London Overground line between Gospel Oak and Barking will reopen to passengers on February 27, the installation of all of the overhead wires has not been completed on time and more work is required.

FRENCH infrastructure manager SNCF Network has signed a €277m contract with RC2, a consortium of TSO Caténaires, Setec Ferroviare and ETF, for the renewal of overhead electrification on Paris RER Line C.

PORTUGAL’s minister of planning and infrastructure Mr Pedro Marques has confirmed that electrification of the Algarve Line will be completed by late 2020.

ALSTOM, as leader of a consortium with Colas Rail and Thales, signed a contract on January 17 with Hanoi Metropolitan Railway Management Board (MRB) to supply electrical and mechanical systems for Hanoi metro Line 3.