In 2015, the worldwide rail industry was estimated at EUR 160 billion. Over the next years, this market will increase by 2.6% a year reaching EUR 185 billion in 2021, according to the new UNIFE World Rail Market Study, conducted by Roland Berger and presented at InnoTrans 2016.
Over the next 5 years, Asia Pacific market will continue to have the most significant increase of 32%, followed by Western Europe with 26%. Western Europe leads in the growth stakes with 3.1 percent, just edging ahead of Africa/Middle East with 3 percent. Asia Pacific’s growth averages 2.6 percent, with Russia/CIS bringing up the rear with 0.9 percent.
International agreements were signed at the fair, as well as contracts that will influence the development of rail transport and industry.
Polskie Linie Kolejowe and DB Netz signed an agreement for the operation and maintenance of 9 cross-border rail routes. The agreement relies on another agreement signed in 2012 with the governments of the two countries which represented the foundation of many projects, including the replacement of the bridge in Frankfurt (Oder) and the repair of a viaduct in Görlitz. “In about 10 years, cooperation between the two countries will be of significant importance for the railway infrastructure. The projects developed by the two railway companies are carried out in conformity with state policies and coordinated by the rail infrastructure managers in Germany and Poland”, said Andrzej Pawłowski, Vice President of PKP PLK Board.
DB Netz Board Member for Marketing and Timetabling Thomas Schaffer said the new agreement directly sets future actions in terms of rail traffic safety and quality. The agreement applies to several rail sections, such as Löcknitz – Szczecin, Tantow – Szczecin, Küstrin/Kietz – Kostrzyn, Frankfurt (Oder) – Rzepin, Guben – Gubin, Forst (Lausitz) – Tuplice, Horka Gbf – Węgliniec, Görlitz – Zgorzelec and Hagenwerder – Krzewina Zgorzelecka – Zittau.
Deutsche Bahn and SNCF signed a joint declaration on the development and promotion of the digitalisation concept. “In view of the progress being made by the digital revolution we must prepare ourselves as much as we can in order to be able to tackle the operational challenges and those presented by our customers,” SNCF President Guillaume Pepy said. The objective is to apply the experience and expertise in the field to support customers as efficiently as possible. Another objective of the agreement is to clarify previous conditions for the advanced transfer of data between trains, to collaborate intensely with the communications industry, not just for customers, but also for the benefit of their own applications.
“When we consider the massive opportunities that digitalisation offers companies in the mobility sector, it makes sense to exchange ideas and methods with SNCF”, CEO of DB Rüdiger Grube said at the signing ceremony. >
A Canadian-Italian JV
Varitron, based in Saint-Hubert, Québec, EMM Groupe, based in Québec City and the Italian company Mios Elettronica, have signed a MoU with the aim of jointly developing the North American market for on-board systems and products with high technology content designed for the North American railway market.
As part of this agreement, Varitron will manufacture and assemble the components, EMM Groupe will handle sales and marketing, while Mios Elettronica will be in charge of the design and development of technologies, products and applications for train automation and on-board communication.
With the combined expertise and know-how of Mios in design and of EMM Groupe in marketing, Varitron will be able to broaden its product portfolio and boost production at its Québec plants. Québec Ground Transport Cluster will support the development of this Québec-based industrial consortium in the area of on-board electronic products and systems for the railway market. Potential short-term spinoffs include the creation of about 100 jobs within five years.
Taiwan wants Germany’s involvement in rail projects
During a Taiwanese-German business meeting, Minister of Transport Ho Chen Ta invited the German industry in rail infrastructure projects with investments of billions of euro. According to the minister, “following tender processes, the selection of the contractor will not be made base only on the price, but also on the quality”. For the next 10 years, Taiwan decided to implement the rail system development strategy with projects worth EUR 17 billion.
Companies’ agreements
Russian R&D Institute of Informatisation, Automation and Communication (NIIAS) signed 7 agreements of which one with Bombardier Transportation Sweden AB and Bombardier Transportation (Signal) for joint export of technologies; according to the MoU, the parties involved will define the pilot project and will develop a feasibility study to implement the selected projects by the end of 2016. With Schweizer Electronic, the institute established cooperation until 2019 to jointly develop and implement signalling solutions between Russia and Switzerland.
SAT4M2M and NIIAS signed a MoU and a confidentiality agreement to collaborate on rolling stock, infrastructure diagnosis and monitoring systems; NIIAS signed a similar agreement with Eureka Navigation Solutions. NIIAS also signed agreements with Iskratel (for development and implementation of IP telecom solutions) and one with ČKD International.
RZD and Siemens signed a long-term cooperation agreement for scientific and technological development on the digital segment and for the development, adaptation and localisation of production in the railway system. In cooperation with the Russian industry, the two companies will work to develop and implement the automation and remote control systems.
Railway freight transport operator Railcare and Siemens signed a contract for the supply of 7 Vectron locomotives and maintenance services for a period of 8 years. The locomotives will be used in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
MTU and Vossloh Locomotives GmbH signed a letter of intent for the delivery of 44,4000 series ultra-low-emission rail engine. The emission level reached by MTU is 50% lower than the EU Stage IIIB standard. The engines will be used for 18 diesel-electric locomotives supplied by Vossloh to Akiem. The first engines will be delivered in 2017.
Germany’s Ministry of Transport, Alexander Dobrindt, delivered a financing letter to Bombardier Transportation to support the production of Talent 3 trains fitted with the Primove technology that will be put into operation on the non-electrified or partially electrified routes. Under the ‘Electro-mobility Funding Guideline Subsidy Directive’, the government is supporting the innovation initiative by offering EUR 4 million. Bombardier is carrying out the project with the Technical University of Berlin and its associated partners Südwestdeutsche Verkehrs-AG and Nahverkehrsgesellschaft Baden-Württemberg.
General Electric (GE) and DB Cargo signed an agreement for the implementation of digital locomotive diagnose systems. The pilot project supported by “RailConnect 360” system will continue to monitor DB Cargo locomotives to predict the need for repairs. “The first results of this pilot project with GE are promising,” Steffen Bobsien, Senior Vice President Asset Management & Technology from DB Cargo AG said.
This will significantly reduce maintenance time and the rapid programming of the rolling stock fleet. “With this platform, locomotives become mobile data centres,” chief executive of GE, Jamie Miller said.
In collaboration with Amsted Rail, GE Transportation introduced the Car Integrity Monitor, a system which extends the capacities of monitoring car assets. Using sensors mounted on cars, this technology will allow Amsted Rail to receive real-time notifications on the condition of components, as well as major risk events such as broken wheels, overheated bearings and use of handbrake.
President of Ukrainian Railways, Ukrzaliznytsia, Wojciech Balchun, signed memoranda of cooperation with Siemens and Pesa Bydgoszcz. The document signed with Siemens also stipulates the continuation of cooperation mostly for rolling stock ad equipment and systems for infrastructure, the implementation of technical services and the establishment of JVs. The agreement with PESA stipulates cooperation for production and modernisation of rolling stock, including locomotives, electric and diesel traction vehicles, as well as passenger vehicles.
During the fair, Alstom introduced Coradia iLint zero-emission train, being among the first manufacturers in the world of a passenger train based on such a technology. Alstom produced the train based on a letter of intent signed in 2014 with the German Landers of Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Baden-Württemberg, as well as public transport authorities in Hesse to use the zero-emission, latest generation trains.
by Pamela Luica
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