Category: Electric Vehicle News (Page 2 of 23)

Alstom to supply DB Regio with new high capacity trains

January 19, 2024 / WIL BALDWIN

18 January 2024 – Alstom, global leader in smart and sustainable mobility, is supplying 18 modern Coradia Max electric multiple-unit trains to DB Regio AG. The order[2] comprises 9 three-car and 9 five-car trains, which will initially start operating on the highly popular regional express line RE1 between Hamburg and Rostock, in the Baltic Sea-Alster sub-network (OSTA) at the timetable change in December 2027. Following the electrification of the line between Bad Kleinen and Lubeck and the construction of a connecting curve, the trains will also run as far as Lubeck.

Compared to the vehicles currently in use in Schleswig-Holstein and Hamburg, the new trains offer passengers up to 50% more seating capacity between Buchen and Hamburg at peak times. In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the new lines from Rostock and Schwerin to Lubeck will benefit from the three-car multiple-unit train with a total of 265 seats. The five-car multiple-unit train with two additional double-decker centre cars will have a total of 462 seats. The trains will be produced at the Alstom site in Salzgitter.

The vehicles have a maximum authorised speed of 160 km/h and are equipped for the European Train Control System (ETCS) ex works as well as a combination of high capacity and comfort. Two different access heights allow comfortable and ramp-free access for travellers with reduced mobility at almost all stations on the RE1, RE2 and RE4 lines. Thanks to the wide carriage profile on the upper floor, the vehicles also offer a generous feeling of space and more freedom of movement. In addition, free Wi-Fi provides fast internet and specially treated windows ensure better mobile phone reception while travelling.

The combination of single and double-decker carriages is the hallmark of the Coradia Max. This optimises capacity, flexibility, and accessibility. Passengers benefit from an impressive travelling experience on the Coradia Max, whether on short or long journeys. Over 500 trains of this type have been ordered across Europe.

[2] Order booked during third quarter of fiscal year 2023/24

Interior of the new Coradia Max trains – Non-contractual design for illustration purposes (©Alstom Advanced & Creative Design)

Alstom to build two infrastructure sections on Florence tramway Line 4

January 12, 2024 / WIL BALDWIN

January 12, 2024 – Alstom SA (Paris: ALSO), a global leader in smart and sustainable mobility, has been awarded a contract by the Municipality of Florence, valued at € 50 million for the construction of track, catenary, substations, and lighting system for Line 4.2 of the city’s tram system, with an option for Line 4.1, worth €49 million.

The tender was awarded to a temporary consortium of companies composed by the mandated company CMB together with Alstom, Hitachi Rail and ComNet, and covers operations spanning across a distance of 5.3 kilometres (11 stops) of Line 4.2 Campi Bisenzio-Piagge. The Line 4.2 will connect Le Piagge station to San Donnino and from there to the centre of Campi Bisenzio.

The contract includes an option, for the second lot, which will cover the 6.3 kilometres of Line 4.1 Piagge-Leopolda (13 stops) will connect Line 4.2 with the city centre.

The project is financed by National Recovery and Resilience Plan funds.

The works will be carried out by the System & Infrastructure team in Rome and the components for the electric traction will be designed and supplied by the Alstom site in Valmadrera, Lecco.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including expected delivery dates. Such statements are based on current expectations and projections about our future results, prospects and opportunities and are not guarantees of future performance. Such statements will not be updated unless required by law. Actual results and performance may differ materially from those expressed or forecasted in forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including those discussed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Sierra Space on Built In’s 100 Best Large Places to Work in Colorado

January 9, 2024 / WIL BALDWIN

Louisville, Colorado, January 9, 2024 – Sierra Space, a leading commercial space company building the first end-to-end business and technology platform in space to benefit life on Earth, announced today that it was honored in Built In’s 2024 Best Places to Work Awards, earning a place on 100 Best Large Places to Work in Colorado. The annual awards program evaluates companies of all sizes, from startups to established enterprises, and honors a wide range of companies in large tech markets across the United States.

Built In determines the winners of Best Places to Work by using company data about compensation packages, total rewards and culture programs. Sierra Space won this industry accolade not only for its commitment to providing competitive salaries and comprehensive benefits packages, but also for fostering an engaging work environment and culture that is embraced by its 2,000 team members across seven states.

If you are excited about venturing into uncharted territories and are driven to being exceptional, Sierra Space has a place for you. We offer a broad range of diverse career opportunities across various corporate sectors. Join our team and collaborate with like-minded individuals who share a common goal: shaping the future of space exploration while advancing the greater good. Dare to dream at SierraSpace.com/Careers.

Alstom signs contract for Saudi Arabia Tramway Project

January 9, 2024 / WIL BALDWIN

January, 2024 – Alstom, a global leader in smart and sustainable mobility, signed a contract of more than €500 million with The Royal Commission for AlUla’s pioneering battery-powered tramway, the world’s longest catenary-free line.

The fully integrated Alstom tramway system will feature 20 state-of-the-art Citadis B battery-trams. The 22.4km line will encapsulate richness, history, and green mobility like no other, linking 17 strategically located stations, offering unmatched access to AlUla’s five core historical districts, including UNESCO World Heritage sites such as AlUla Old Town (District 1), Dadan (District 2), Jabal Ikmah (District 3), Nabataean Horizon (District 4), and Hegra Historical City (District 5).

This ambitious project aims to deliver unique transit options for residents and tourists, with innovative, climate-adapted trams.

Alstom plays a pivotal role in this project, from comprehensive system design to integration, installation and testing and commissioning of the catenary-free and battery-powered tramway. Alstom will also deliver power supply, signalling, communication, and depot equipment and provide full maintenance for the trams for 10 years, using HealthHub, Alstom’s tool for predictive maintenance and fleet management to deliver the highest availability. The services teams will also use an itinerant workshop for all types of overhauls to be more flexible and reduce capital expenditure, and provide robust training programmes for tram personnel, ensuring operational efficiency. The project will draw on Alstom’s global in-house expertise in integrated railway systems. The trams will be manufactured across Alstom’s French production sites, including La Rochelle for both design and construction.

Denmark announces alliance on green fuels in India

January 8, 2024 / WIL BALDWIN

Chennai, India, January 8, 2024 – Denmark has announced its Green Fuels Alliance India (GFAI) initiative in a bid to boost collaborative efforts between the two countries in the sustainable energy solutions sector and advance their joint global goal towards carbon neutrality.

Led by the Danish Embassy and the Consulate General of Denmark in India, the new alliance is a strategic initiative poised to play a pivotal role in advancing the Green Fuels sector, including Green Hydrogen, by fostering innovation, collaboration, and partnerships between Danish industries and their counterparts in India.

GFAI’s primary objective is to promote sustainable energy growth in India by establishing an ecosystem that encourages collaboration among businesses, government entities, research institutions, and financial stakeholders from both the Indian and Danish sectors.

Nine pioneering Danish organisations have already committed to the GFAI initiative as founding members including Maersk, Topsoe, Umwelt Energy, Mash Makes, European Sustainable Solutions, Novozymes, Danfoss, Brdr. Christensen and Hydrogen Denmark. Meanwhile, the GFAI advisory board members include India Hydrogen Alliance, Energy Consortium at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras, the Danish Energy Agency and State of Green.

SBB takes skiers from around the world to the Swiss Alps

January 4, 2024 / WIL BALDWIN

In order to meet the demand for sustainable and comfortable travel to winter sports areas, SBB offers direct trains, some of which run seasonally. With Snow’n’Rail, travelers also benefit from attractive discounts.

As soon as the first snow falls, snow enthusiasts from all over the world head to the Swiss slopes. According to Presence Switzerland, around a third of the Swiss population skis regularly. Many tourists also want to explore the Swiss slopes. Switzerland takes sixth place in the ranking of the most popular ski destinations. Many winter sports fans are placing more and more value on sustainable and comfortable travel by public transport. The SBB is also feeling this increasing demand and is therefore offering additional direct trains to the winter sports areas during the winter months. Other direct trains run to popular tourist destinations throughout the year. In addition to direct trains, which have already proven themselves in previous years, new offers will be added in the 2024 winter season.

New direct train to Einsiedeln

From January 13th to March 3rd, 2024, there will be two fast and direct connections from Zurich HB (departures at 8:27 a.m. and 9:40 a.m.) to Einsiedeln (arrivals at 9:19 a.m. and 10:24 a.m.) on the weekends in the morning and back again in the afternoon (departures at 3:32 p.m. and 4:38 p.m.). This RegioExpress takes cross-country skiers and sun-seekers directly to the trail without having to change.

New direct train Zurich HB–Brig

From Christmas to Easter (and on Ascension Day, Pentecost and from June to October) a new, fast direct train runs on Saturdays from Zurich HB (from 7.38 a.m.) with stops in Lenzburg, Thun, Spiez, Frutigen and Visp to Brig (at 9.38 a.m.) . On Sundays the train runs in the opposite direction from Brig at 4:18 p.m., arriving in Zurich HB at 6:32 p.m. The train takes skiers to the ski areas of the Bernese Oberland with a change in Spiez or Frutigen and to the slopes of the Valais ski areas from Visp or Brig. The train runs without stopping in Bern.

Vos Alpes Express

The “VosAlpes Express” has been running between Freiburg and Le Châble on weekends and public holidays from December 16, 2023 to April 14, 2024 (except March 16 and 17, 2024) for three years. The train leaves Friborg at 7:22 a.m. and arrives in Le Châble at 9:15 a.m. From Aigle there is a connection to Champéry to the Les Portes du Soleil ski area and from Bex to the Villars-Bretaye ski area. For the return journey, travelers use the “Verbier Express” at 5:27 p.m. from Le Châble and change in Bex (on the same platform) to the waiting “VosAlpes Express,” which arrives in Freiburg at 7:37 p.m. Supersaver tickets for the train are available in advance. Travelers also benefit from a 30 percent discount on their ski pass in Verbier and a 20 percent discount on the ski pass in Les Portes du Soleil when traveling with the “VosAlpes Express”. Further information can be found on the SBB website “VosAlpes Express”

Verbier Express

The Verbier Express runs between Geneva Airport and Le Châble on weekends and public holidays between December 16, 2023 and April 14, 2024 (except March 16 and 17, 2024). The train leaves Geneva Airport at 7:18 a.m. and Geneva at 7:29 a.m. and reaches Le Châble at 9:39 a.m. Conversely, it departs Le Châble at 5:27 p.m. and arrives in Genève at 7:40 p.m. and Genève-Aéroport at 7:47 p.m. When purchased in advance, travelers benefit from super saver tickets and, when traveling with the “Verbier Express”, a 30 percent discount on the 1-day ski pass for the Verbier sector. Further information can be found on the SBB website “Verbier Express”

Additional direct trains from Geneva to Chur

Since the timetable change in December 2022, two trains have been running directly from Geneva via Bern and Zurich to Chur and vice versa on weekends. Due to high demand, two additional direct trains were introduced on this line with the 2024 timetable. There are now four attractive direct connections in each direction spread throughout the day on weekends. Chur is an ideal starting point for onward travel to the well-known ski areas of Arosa Lenzerheide, Flims-Laax or Davos Klosters, as well as to smaller areas.

Direct train from Zurich Airport to Interlaken

Since the 2023 timetable, leisure travelers and tourists have been taking the IC81 directly and without changing trains from Zurich Airport and eastern Switzerland via Bern to Interlaken East. Direct trains also run with the IC61 from Basel SBB via Bern to Interlaken Ost. From there, the Jungfrau Railway takes snow enthusiasts to the Jungfrau Ski Region, which combines the three areas of Grindelwald-Wengen, Grindelwald-First and Mürren-Schilthorn. The Zentralbahn also runs from Interlaken Ost to Meiringen for an onward journey to the Meiringen-Hasliberg ski area.

More winter sports trains and extensions

As in previous years, the SBB is also running additional winter sports trains to Chur and Brig this winter, which will run on weekends with particularly high demand. Furthermore, existing trains will be extended where possible and necessary in order to be able to offer more seats.

Snow’n’Rail and winter excursions: Travelers benefit from a discount of up to 30 percent

In the 2023/2024 season, over 25 ski areas are offering public transport travelers up to 30 percent discount on single or multi-day tickets. In addition, when purchasing a leisure offer from Snow’n’Rail, travelers benefit from up to 30 percent discount on the ticket for the arrival and return journey. In addition to ski offers, there are also various winter trip ideas with mountains and views to choose from.

With a Snow’n’Rail ski pass, Intersport Rent gives customers a 15 percent discount on the rental of ski or snowboard equipment. The discount can be obtained both in the shop upon presentation of the ski pass and online.

Luggage transport

For a relaxed journey without heavy luggage, SBB offers luggage transport with which travelers can have their suitcases and ski equipment transported directly from door to door or train station to train station. You can find more information about luggage transport on the SBB website “Baggage check-in”

SBB reports temporary failure will cancel Brig–Domodossola connections

December 29, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Due to a lack of approval from the responsible Italian authorities, certain SBB trains will no longer be able to operate on the Brig-Domodossola (I) route from January 1, 2024 until further notice. The corresponding trains are therefore canceled in both directions between Brig and Domodossola (I). This means that 38 of a total of 316 connections between Brig and Domodossola will be canceled every week. The EC trains to/from Milan and Venice as well as the BLS trains are not affected. These have appropriate approval in Italy.

Written confirmation required due to adapted fire protection regulations

The trigger is a corresponding fire protection regulation from the Italian Ministry of Transport, which will apply to passage through longer tunnels from the beginning of 2024. Due to border traffic agreements between Switzerland and Italy, the affected trains (Domino and EW IV) were previously exempt from this directive. Due to the pending adaptation of the border traffic agreement to the 4th railway package, a written confirmation from the Italian Ministry of Transport and the Italian Transport Authority is required for the approval of these two vehicle types for the journey between Brig and Domodossola. As soon as written confirmation is received, SBB will resume operations. SBB hopes that this will be the case as soon as possible. She asks travelers for their understanding and recommends checking the timetable in the SBB mobile app before starting each journey. If you have any questions, the SBB Contact Center can help you on 0848 44 66 88 (CHF 0.08/minute).

Full steam ahead for ScotRail recruitment drive

December 29, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

ScotRail will steam into 2024 with scores of vacancies set to be filled as part of its biggest recruitment drive in years. The train operator has already recruited more than 200 new members of staff since August this year, with the human resources team working hard to keep the business on track to fill vacancies.

New and improved catering services have been boosted with an additional 34 catering staff hired across the network.

Almost 30 new conductors have passed through training to support service reliability, over 30 engineers recruited, and 100 new frontline staff members to offer enhanced customer service and support revenue protection.

The new year will see that activity continue, with a focus on more conductors in January, and many other exciting roles that will help to improve services and reliability for customers. ScotRail expects to recruit a further 160 people before the end of March 2024, with roles such as drivers, conductors, ticket examiners, and engineers. Those interested in a career with ScotRail are encouraged to check the company’s website as vacancies are advertised regularly.

With customer numbers on the rise, and timetable improvements delivering more journeys and newer electric trains, there has never been a better time to join Scotland’s Railway. ScotRail is recognised as a leading employer by the Top Employers Institute. Further information on job opportunities can be found on the ScotRail Careers website at www.scotrail.co.uk/careers

BVG places order for 50 Solaris Urbino 18 electric buses

December 28, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG), the Berlin public transport company, has placed an order for 50 state of the art Solaris Urbino 18 electric buses. The buses will be delivered in the years 2024 and 2025. The order can also be extended by up to an additional 650 articulated e-buses. Berlin’s public transport is already served by 140 battery-powered Solaris Urbino buses in the two most popular lengths of 12 and 18 meters.

The Urbino 18 electric buses will be equipped with a 240 kW asynchronous motor, powered by energy from the new generation Solaris High Energy batteries. These batteries are characterized by high energy density, resulting in a high operational range while maintaining low weight. Their recharging will be possible both via a classic plug-in socket and a pantograph. The buses will also be equipped with eSConnect, the manufacturer’s proprietary system, allowing to increase operational efficiency and streamline vehicle servicing.

The prestigious contract with BVG is a good opportunity to summarize the previous orders for Solaris battery buses, which have been carried out by the manufacturer for a decade. Nearly 2,300 Urbino electric buses are already operating on the streets of European cities. Orders for more than 700 further e-buses are in process with a deliveries scheduled for the years 2024-2025.

Solaris to deliver 105 more electric buses in Milan, Italy

December 28, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Solaris, a subsidarary of Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (Madrid: CAF), has concluded a new contract with the Italian transport operator ATM Milano for the supply of another 105 electric buses. The customer has in this occasion decided to purchase 18 metre long Urbino articulated units, to be delivered starting in the first half of 2025.

The relationship between Solaris and ATM in Milan began in 2014. Since then, the Italian operator has placed orders for some 500 vehicles. In fact, since 2018, Solaris has only supplied zero-emission vehicles to Milan, making the Milan-based company one of the European operators with the largest number of Solaris zero-emission vehicles. The success of this type of projects demonstrates the confidence of the Lombardy capital’s transport authorities in the CAF Group and confirms the Milanese operator’s intention to completely phase out diesel buses from its fleet by the end of 2030.

The chosen vehicle is the electric Urbino 18, a bus equipped with Solaris High Energy batteries with a total capacity of 700 kWh, which can be recharged either via pantograph or by plugging in. It should also be noted that the customer will be implementing a city infrastructure optimisation plan, which will allow the vehicles to be regularly recharged by means of chargers placed at strategic points along the route, thus guaranteeing virtually unlimited driving autonomy throughout the day.

Forward-Looking Statements

New direct train to Einsiedeln

New direct train Zurich HB–Brig

Vos Alpes Express

Verbier Express

Additional direct trains from Geneva to Chur

Direct train from Zurich Airport to Interlaken

More winter sports trains and extensions

Archives