UK: The Black Country Innovative Manufacturing Organisation, which operated purpose-built rail research facilities including the Very Light Rail National Innovation Centre, has entered administration.

Ab sofort ist die LokProgrammer Software 5.2.13 zum Download verfügbar. Diese beinhaltet die Firmware 5.12.178 für alle LokSound 5 und LokPilot 5 Decoder: Die Überstromschutzfunktion wurde überarbeitet, um beim Anfahren mehr "Kraft" zuzulassen. Weiterhin werden neue Decoder with die ESU Digital Innenraumbeleuchtung 2.0, der LokPilot 5 micro DCC Direct Atlas Legacy oder der Lenz LenS5 L Decoder unterstützt. Eine Anzeige der tatsächlich im Decoder berechneten Geschwindigkeitstabellen-Werte erlaubt eine präzisere Abstimmung der Fahreigenschaften.

HUNGARY: Austro-Hungarian cross-border railway GySEV has taken over the management of more than 750 route-km of secondary lines in Hungary from national infrastructure manager MÁV Pályamüködtetési.

EUROPE: Retrack Slovakia and Retrack Czech have filed for insolvency, with parent company VTG citing persistent challenges in the eastern European traction market.

UK: Network Rail and the Digital Reach Partners consortium of telecoms companies Neos Networks and Freshwave have signed the Project Reach public-private partnership deal which aims to enhance digital connectivity on the rail network.

This week’s news from the global railway supply chain.

UK: Transport for London has awarded EDF Renewables UK a 15-year power purchase agreement to provide solar energy to cover part of the London Underground’s electricity needs.

USA: Tickets are now available for the twice-daily Mardi Gras Service inter-city service between Mobile and New Orleans which Amtrak is to launch on August 18.

DENMARK: National passenger operator DSB is to place a firm order for a further 50 Alstom Coradia Stream IC5 electric multiple-units.

USA: New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Finance Committee has approved the $2·3bn purchase of 316 Alstom M-9A electric multiple-unit cars.

UK: Would-be operators have responded with disappointment to the rail regulator’s decision that there is insufficient capacity to launch three open access passenger train services on the West Coast Main Line.

NETHERLANDS: Incumbent operator Arriva has won the next Vechtdal Lines contract to provide regional passenger services in the northeast of the country.

USA: Stadler Rail has opened an office in Atlanta focused on its signalling and train control activities.

Tasked to operate two light rail and one metro line with one more metro and light rail under construction, New Taipei Metro Corp President Kuo-Chi Wu explains to Benjámin Zelki why he sees the key for success as a very lean organisation and keeping fares down.

Ab sofort ist die Firmware Version 4.3.1 für alle ESU Zentralen zum kostenlosen Download verfügbar. Neben einigen Fehlerbereinigungen bei der Benutzung der Pendelzugfunktion ist die wichtigste Ergänzung die Booster-Verwaltung: Jeder Booster kann seinen Abschaltgrund anzeigen und separat ein- und ausgeschaltet werden. Zudem werden die Leistungsdaten jedes Boosters über das Computer-Interface zugänglich gemacht. Sie können nun den aktuellen Strom oder die Gleisspannung direkt am PC anzeigen lassen. Alle mit ihrer ECOS-Seriennummer registrierten Benutzer des ESU-Forums können die neue Firmware hier kostenfrei herunterladen.

USA: Siemens Mobility is to supply 13 Charger B+AC battery-electric locomotives for New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Metro-North Railroad commuter services.

EUROPE: Spanish infrastructure manager ADIF is to take responsibility for reconstruction of the Somport tunnel between Spain and France following agreement with the Nouvelle-Aquitaine région.

UK: Hitachi Rail has selected Turntide Technologies to supply lithium iron phosphate batteries for use on electric-diesel-battery hybrid inter-city trainsets it is to build for open access operator Grand Central.

FRANCE: New entrant Proxima has unveiled Velvet as the brand name for its future open access high speed train services in France.

CROATIA: National passenger operator HŽPP has awarded Končar KEV a contract to supply four battery, four battery-electric and five electro-diesel trainsets in 2027-28.