1/2012
LEO FLIRTs Take Shape
Siedlce, with a population of around 70,000, lies about 100 km east of Warszawa. Stadler established a factory here in 2007, and this has now become the birthplace of the first ever FLIRTs to be built for a Czech operator - notably an open access one.
LEO FLIRT 001 (the class according to the Czech designation system has not yet been defined) on the testing track in the hall No. 3, with the golden vinyl trim in place, on 3 February 2012, the day the train was handed over to LEO Express.
Photo: LEO Express
Amtrak Cities Sprinter
On 29 October 2010 Amtrak finalised an agreement with Siemens for 70 ACS64 Amtrak Cities Sprinter electric locomotives, worth 466 million USD (at that time 334 million EUR). By securing this six-year contract, Siemens succeeded in selling its locomotives to the American market for the first time. The first ACS64 is to be delivered in February 2013.
Siemens uses the company’s standard factory designation, ACS-64 for the batch of 70 ordered by Amtrak. ACS stands for Amtrak Cities Sprinter, and the number 64 indicates the locomotive’s power rating of 6,400 kW.
Photo: Siemens
A Visit To CZ LOKO
On 15 December 2011 CZ LOKO inaugurated at the company’s Česká Třebová works a new production hall for manufacturing and repairing of electric rotary machines. The inauguration offered us a chance to examine the manufacturer’s range of current activities.
CZ LOKO’s current new product is a recently built diesel, designated Class 744.0, with the prototype likely to carry the number 744.001. The photo shows the new creation on the rails, externally complete.
Photo: CZ LOKO
First Desiro RUS Ready For Delivery To Russia
On 27 January 2012 representatives from RZD, including vice-president Valentin Gapanovich, visited the first of the batch of 38 Desiro RUS EMUs at the Siemens factory in Krefeld and formally released the train for shipment in February.
Rhe photo shows RZD’s first Lastochka, ES1L-001, taken on 27 January 2012 at Krefeld works.
Photo: Siemens
A Basque Electro-Diesel For FGC’s Growing Freight Traffic
On the Catalan metre gauge network FGC (Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya) is a long established freight operator, with a healthy level of traffic.
The accompanying photo shows 255.01 (EuskoKargo’s type TD 2000) on 18 January 2012 near Cornelllà de Llobregat, descending the Barcelona Port branch under diesel power. In the background is the dual gauge (1,435 and 1,668 mm) freight branch from Castellbisbal (near Manresa) to Barcelona Port.
Photo: FGC
A Year Of Reforms For Greek Railways
A drastic programme of passenger service withdrawals, staff reductions and other austerity measures have left the Greek railway network lean and mean, facing the future with a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel. The passenger timetable has been reshaped, fares have been restructured, and railfreight is trying to make a welcome come-back in Athína.
The end of an era. This is one of the last five-car AEG DMUs still in service, forming the IC 52 Athína - Thessaloníki, at Bralos station on 13 June 2011. As from 19 June 2011 all IC trains on this route were formed of locomotive-hauled stock.
Photo: Gregory Karathanasis
And much more!
Cover of 1/2012
Poster
Features: a nine-car electric multiple unit (destined for 3 kV DC and 25 kV 50 Hz AC catenary) and a five-car metro train (for 750 V DC) presented at PJSC „Kryukovsky Railway Car Building Works“, Kremenchug of Ukraine