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.

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.

CZECH Railways (ČD) has invited bids for contracts to equip 468 vehicles of 24 different types with ETCS.

GOVIA Thameslink Railway (GTR), in cooperation with Britain’s infrastructure manager Network Rail (NR) and Siemens, is claiming a world first by running the first train in passenger service on the central-London section of Thameslink using ATO over ETCS.

Denmark’s ambitious national signalling replacement programme hit the headlines in November 2017 when the Danish government announced plans to push back the completion of the ERTMS element from 2023 to 2030. Kevin Smith looks at the current status of the project and where it goes next.

Italy has bold plans to update its key signalling infrastructure with some of the latest available technology, including high-density ETCS and Ersat EAV satellite signalling. Maurizio Gentile, CEO of Italian Rail Network (RFI), provides an update on progress so far.

DB CARGO has launched an international project to equip 1200 of its locomotives with ETCS by 2026, with the aid of grants from the European Union (EU).

BRITAIN’s infrastructure manager Network Rail (NR) has awarded a contract to Siemens Rail Automation to start the installation of European Train Control System (ETCS) cab signalling on Britain’s freight locomotive fleet.

SWISS Federal Railways (SBB) and Stadler have been testing a new digital train driver assistance system on the Bern - Olten high-speed line and, for the first time in Switzerland, a double-deck train has been automatically braked and accelerated with the train driver in attendance.