GERMANY/FRANCE - It was reported by Progressive Railroading that German industrial group Siemens and French competitor Alstom announced on September 26th, that they had agreed to merge their rail operations.
Under the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), Siemens would receive newly issued shares in the combined company representing 50 percent of Alstom's share capital on a fully diluted basis, according to a jointly issued press release.
The merged company will be called SIEMENS ALSTOM, with headquarters based in Germany and rolling stock based in France. Alstom Chief Executive Office Henri Poupart-LaFarge will be CEO of the new entity.
"Thanks to the global reach a cross all continents, its scale, its technological know-how and its unique positioning on digital transportation, the combination of Alstom and Siemens Mobility will bring to its customers and ultimately to all citizens smarter and more efficient systems to meet mobility challenges of cities and countries," said Poupart-LaFarge.
Former France President, Francois Hollande, inspecting one of Alstom's high-speed TGV trains in February 2017!
The two companies have combined sales of 13.5 billion euros ( about 18 billion U.S. Dollars) before interest and tax of 1.3 billion euros (about 1.4 billion U.S. Dollars).
"This [merger] will give our customers around the world a more innovative and more competitive portfolio", said Siemens AG President and Chief Executive Joe Kaeser. " The global marketplace has changed significantly over the last few years. A dominant player is Asia has challenged global market dynamics and digitalization will impact the future of mobility".
The new company will benefit from an order backlog of 61.2 billion euros (about 72 billion U.S. Dollars) and will target synergies of 470 million euros ( about $551.5 U.S. Dollars) four years at the latest after this deal is closed, which is expected at the end of 2018. Siemens Alstom will employ 62,300 people.
It is felt that the new Siemens-Alstom rail merger will eventually absorb Canadian rival Bombardier and a Spanish competitor in the face of emerging Chinese rail car builders, according to French Minister Bruno Le Maire.
BOLINGBROOK, IL - In addition to the major merger activity reported earlier, Progressive Railroading reported on October 9th that Siemens and Wi-Tronix are launching a partnership to expand digital predictive maintenance for rail services.
Shown left to right are:
Duane Hong, Wi-Tronix Vice-President, Customer Success:
Larry Jordan, Wi-Tronix President and Chief Officer;
Johannes Emmelheinz, Siemens Mobility Division CEO Customer Services;
Mike Hellmann, Wi-Tronix Executive Vice-President; and
Lisa Matta, Wi-Tronix Vice-President, Produce Development.
As part of the deal, Siemens has made a "significant equity investment" in Wi-Tronix, the companies announced today in separate press releases. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Based in Bolingbrook, Illinois, Wi-Tronix provides remote monitoring, video analysis and predictive diagnostic systems for rolling stock and rail infrastructure, making critical data available to operators in real time through its "Software as a Service" (SaaS) solution.
Siemens will have a minority stake in Wi-Tronix, as well as a seat on the firm's board.
"Wi-Tronix will continue to operate as an independent legal entity under the control and leadership of our founders," Wi-Tronix officials said in their press release. Having access to Siemens global reach and resources, Wi-Tronix will accelerate development of its products to serve customers across platforms around the world, said Larry Jordan, president and chief technology officer of Wi-Tronix.
"Siemens shares our commitment to improving the world by making the transportation of people and goods safer, more reliable, and more efficient," Jordan said. "This requires rail operators to have access to critical data which supports both real-time decisions and predictive maintenance."
About 12,000 locomotives — primarily in North America and Australia — are equipped with Wi-Tronix technology. "The company [Wi-Tronix] has profound expertise in key technologies such as video analysis, providing unique information for both real-time and predictive applications," said Johannes Emmelheinz, chief executive officer of customer services at Siemens Mobility Division. "Partnering with developers of exceptional technologies is a key part of our strategy to deliver expansive digital services for predictive maintenance."
LOS ANGELES, CA - The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) has begun considering a series of public-private partnerships to deliver new transportation projects faster than expected. The partnerships, which will be established through competitive bids, could help accelerate three projects funded by the Measure M sales tax, Metro officials said in a press release.
Partnerships will be established through a competitive bid process.
LA Metro Gold Line train!
Two of these identified projects are:
1. The Sepulveda Transit Corridor, where the agency is considering building light-rail, subway or bus rapid transit; The agency issued requested for proposals (RFP) on this project last April. This line would connect with the Metro Expo Line (Santa Monica to Los Angeles) and would serve the 11-mile corridor connecting the orange Line bus route in the San Fernando Valley with the future extended the Purple Line subway.
2. The West Santa Ana Branch light-rail project; The 20-mile line would connect Downtown Los Angeles to southeast Los Angeles County.
The announcement followed an evaluation process by Metro staff on separate unsolicited proposals. "The voters of Los Angeles County have given us a mandate to build new public transportation projects as quickly as possible — now, it's our turn to deliver on that promise," said Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, who also serves as Metro's chair. The next step is to issue requests for proposals that give firms a chance to offer proposals on how to accelerate the projects.
NASHVILLE, TN - Nashville Mayor Megan Barry on Tuesday unveiled a $5.2 billion infrastructure proposal that would include a new 26-mile light-rail system.
The plan would be funded by four tax increases that Davidson County residents would need to approve in a May 2018 vote.
Nashville Mayor Megan Barry (At the microphone).
The light-rail system would be built on Nashville's busiest corridors, which include Gallatin Road, Nolensville Road, Charlotte Avenue and Murfreesboro Road. The plan also calls for using existing track to provide light-rail service to Buchanan Street near Tennessee State University. "This comprehensive transportation solution will connect more neighborhoods with each other and open the door even wider to the city's job, education and entertainment centers," Barry said in a press release.
Barry's proposal also includes new rapid bus routes, as well as an increase in existing bus service. Beginning October 26th, Barry's office will hold a series of public meetings about the plan in neighborhoods along the proposed light-rail corridors. After the meetings, the Nashville Metro Council will consider an ordinance to authorize putting the proposed tax increases on a ballot. In April, Barry announced her support for a light-rail system in the city.
NEW YORK CITY, NY - Progressive Railroading reported on October 4th that the New York City's Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) had returned to service the first round of rail cars that were refurbished as part of the agency's recent subway improvement plan.
Before the R-160 cars re-entered service on the E line, crews replaced each trainset's "master controller," which is the system responsible for braking and accelerating the trains. The master controllers were identified as a leading cause of failure on the R-160s, MTA officials said in a press release.
One of the 100 refurbished R-160s with the exterior markings on the E line!
Workers also removed seats at the ends of each car to increase capacity and reduce passengers' time for boarding and disembarking. The seat removal is expected to boost capacity in each train by 80 to 100 passengers.
The R-160 subway car class consists of 1,662 cars built by Alstom Transportation and Kawasaki Heavy Industries that entered service in 2006. These cars replaced all the R38, R40, R40A and R44s. Some of the R32s and R42 class were also replaced by these cars. The R-160 class consists of the R160A subclass built by Alstom (series 8313 to 8372; 9233 to 9802; and 9943 to 9974, and the R-160B subclass built by Kawasaki (series 8713 to 9232; 9803 to 9942. 372 R160A of these cars are configured in 93 four-car sets (8313-8652; 9943-9974). The remaining R160A and all R160B are arranged in five-car sets. These cars are very similar to the earlier R-143 (Kawasaki, series 8101-8312), built 2001 to 2003; and later R-179 (Bombardier, series 3010 to 3309), built 2016 to date. But they can not be "trained" together due to electrical differences.
R160B 1888 leads two five-car sets on the N line.
R143 8152 with 8-car train!
R179b 3010 with 10-car train!
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - The Utah Transit Authority (UTA) has launched its "UTA GoRide" mobile ticketing app, which enables riders to purchase light-rail, streetcar and bus fares on their smart phones. The app enables riders to buy single-ride fares or day passes for themselves or other passengers.
The new GoRide app can be used to purchase mobile tickets for light-rail, streetcar and bus trips!
GoRide isn't yet available on UTA's FrontRunner commuter-rail routes. Fares can be purchased in advance or activated once riders are ready to board their bus or train, UTA officials said in a press release.
On September 28th, the agency held a kickoff event for the app at its Murray Central TRAX light-rail station. UTA is just one of the latest agencies to roll out a mobile ticketing app.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - The "Inside Track , the official newsletter of the Market Street Railway reported in their 2017, No. 3 issue that Muni will be stressing restoration of double-ended streetcars in their next contract for renovations. The E-line currently requires double-ended cars due to the lack of a wye or loop to turn single-ended cars at the southern terminal of the line, Sixth & King Streets. There are seven such cars scheduled for full renovation, which may include modern propulsion systems to reduce maintenance concerns and increase reliability. The seven cars are Muni 130 (1914); Market Street Railway 798 (1924); New Orleans Public Service Inc. 913 (1922); Johnstown Traction Co 351 (1926); Melbourne 496 (1929), Osaka 151 (1927) and Oporto 189 (1929). Modifications will be required of several of the cars to confrom to the American with Disabilities Act (ADA).
San Francisco values their historic fleet and oftens pulls the historic electric and cable cars off the streets when there is the possibility of damage from the "sludge" contingent. Such a possibility existed on August 26, 2017 due to some downtown protest so Rick Laubscher, Market Street Railway President, took the above photo of the ex-Minneapolis, ex-Newark F-line cars at Metro East during their "Summer Vacation". From left to right are: 1076 (Washington, D.C), 1074 (Toronto), 1079 (Detroit), 1080 (Los Angeles) and 1075 (Cleveland)!
It is also planned to renovate six of the current group of Milan Cars, perhaps with updated propulsion systems. San Francisco has committed to making the historic trolleys an integral part of their excellent transit system.
San Francisco held what many claimed was the best Heritage Weekend ever on September 9-10, 2017. This year, the celebration centered around the oldest Muni streetcar line, J-Church. Original Muni Streetcars, car 1 (1912) and car 130 (1914) made runs to 30th and Church (the original terminal of the line) all day long on both days and they were joined by PCC 1051 (Harvey Milk Car) and 1060 (Philadelphia 1938 "Cream Cheese"). Melbourne tram 496 operated along the Waterfront on the E-line from the Caltrain terminal to Fisherman's Wharf and the 1896 "Dinky" ran along with the Boat tram between the museum and Pier 39 on both days. 1907-built O'Farrell, Jones & Hyde Cable car 42 ran on the California Cable Car line. All the rail cars were full all day long. Several buses including 1956 "Mack" 2230 were on statid display along with a new bybrid electric coach.
Car #1's crew, Emma Gonzalez and Melvin Clark pose in front of #1 with new Siemens #2006 to the right!
San Francisco affords many photo opportunities and some are just too good not to bring to you. On October 25, 2017, as the second game of the World Series was getting underway in Los Angeles, the scene below at Metro East wa recorded, with Siemens 2006 (2017), Saint Louis PCC 1015 (1948) and Holman Car Co #1 (1912) all being readied for service. Three vehicles spanning 105 years of urban rail transit represented in one photo!
TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA - Bombardier continues to deliver new "Flexity" trans to Toronto, although at a much closer pace than originaly envisioned when the oroginal contract for 204 vehicles was inked. The first 60 cars wee scheduled to be equippedwith both pantographs and trolley poles since it was estimated that it would take some time to convert the entire OCS to pantograph use. Finally, in September 2017, cars on the Harbourfront route began to operate with pantographs. The next photo by Steve Munro, published in Tramways & Urban Transit shows car 4434 on that line using it's pantograph on September 17th.
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has determined that two Union Pacific Railroad trains collided in Texas in September 2015 because the crew of one train was likely asleep before the accident occurred, the agency announced this week and reported by Progressive Railroading.
The Texarkana Crash Scene - November 2015!
Contributing to the incident near Texarkana, Texas, was the lack of a functioning positive train control system, according to the NTSB's accident brief.
The incident occurred at 12:34 a.m. on Sept. 8, 2015, when a westbound UP train collided into the side of a northbound UP train. The striking train had been traveling west on the Pine Bluff subdivision's main track, while the other train had been traveling north on the Little Rock subdivision.
The trains collided at a diamond crossing of the two subdivisions.
Two locomotives of the striking train derailed and seven cars of the struck train derailed. The lead locomotive of the striking train spilled about 4,000 gallons of diesel fuel.
The engineer and conductor of the striking train sustained minor injuries. Neither crew member on the other train was injured.
NTSB officials determined that the probable cause of the accident was the failure of the westbound train crew members to respond to wayside signal indications that required them to slow and stop the train before reaching the Texarkana interlocking.
The crew members could not provide NTSB investigators with detailed recollections for a period of time right before the collision, according to the NTSB report. "The NTSB believes that both UP crew members [of the striking train] experienced independent fatigue-induced disengagement that caused them to fall asleep while operating the train," the report stated
