SWITZERLAND’s Federal Office of Transport (BAV) confirmed on September 8 that four types of modern freight locomotive will be banned from operating through the Gotthard Base Tunnel when it opens in December due to problems with the functioning of ETCS Level 2 equipment.

HIGH-SPEED testing is underway on the Treviglio - Brescia high-speed line in preparation for the start of commercial operations in December.

BRITISH infrastructure manager Network Rail’s Thameslink Programme achieved a milestone on July 30 following the successful operation of a class 700 train through central London using European Train Control System (ETCS) Level 2.

THE first class 345 Aventra commuter EMU for London’s east-west Crossrail link was unveiled to the press by Bombardier and Transport for London (TfL) at Bombardier’s Derby plant on July 29.

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.

With ageing signalling infrastructure posing an increasing threat to operating performance, Norway has adopted a plan to roll out ERTMS across its entire national network by 2030. Sverre Kjenne, director of signalling and telecommunications for infrastructure manager Jernbaneverket, tells Keith Barrow how Norway will manage procurement and deployment of new signalling and train control technologies.

ITALY's infrastructure manager, Italian Rail Network (RFI) says ETCS Level 1 will become operational on the line from Domodossola to Isele on the Swiss border in December. The line is part of the Rhine-Alps TEN-T corridor.

ALSTOM has successfully installed and tested Australia’s first ETCS Level 2 deployment as part of a pilot covering the trackside and on-board equipment of four test trains in an area of 11km in the south of Sydney.

DUTCH infrastructure manager Prorail confirmed at this week's TEN-T Days conference in Rotterdam that it is planning to trial automated operation of freight trains on the Betuweroute dedicated freight line, which links Rotterdam with the German border near Emmerich.