2/2014

This number of Railvolution is dedicated to Strategic partnership 1520 conference in Sochi, held between 18 and 20 June. Thence much of the features cover news from the 1, 520 mm gauge network. Reconstruction of the railway for export freight traffic started in October 2008, with a track panel being formally laid at Tumangang.

Certification of the Class TE33A Evolution diesels in Russia is a prerequisite for the sale of this type to most countries with 1,520 mm gauge networks.

On 10 January 2014 twelve of KTZ’s Class KZ8A locomotives started test commercial freight operation. These were the machines KTZ received in November and December 2013, namely KZ8A 0001, 003, 005 - 010 and 013 - 016.

In January 2012 Beacon Rail Leasing placed an order worth around 49 million EUR with Vossloh Espaňa for 15 diesels with electric transmission. Apart from the two prototypes, these are among the first members of the EuroLight family to be built, and are to be branded UKLight. Designated Class 68, they are to be leased by open access operator DRS.

Schalker Eisenhütte Maschinenfabrik GmbH (Schalke) is delivering four diesel-electric Bo’Bo’ locomotives to Rhätische Bahn’s infrastructure department.

On 28 March 2014 the first 7.4 km ten-station section of Budapest’s M4 metro line was inaugurated linking Kelenföld and Keleti stations, the former in Buda, the latter in Pest. Services are operated by BKV using a fleet of 15 Metropolis trains built by Alstom.