Arup AECOM JV secures consultancy contract for Northern Link project

The Arup AECOM joint venture (JV) has secured a preliminary design consultancy contract from Hong Kong Mass Transit Railway (MTR) to conduct the planning and design for the proposed Northern Link main line project.

Work will include the development of the scheme into an engineering design, preparing the construction programme and gazette plans, as well as determining the cost estimate.

The Arup AECOM JV will work closely with MTR’s Capital Works team to deliver the works.

Patriot Rail closes Delta Southern Railroad purchase in US

US-based Patriot Rail Company has concluded the acquisition of Delta Southern Railroad (DSRR) after securing regulatory clearance.

The deal, whose financial details were not shared, was announced in September last year.

DSRR is a short line railroad that runs two line segments in Louisiana.

It operates more than 40 miles of track lines, catering to the Lake Providence Port and Madison Parish Port that are situated on the Mississippi River.

Its lines are located on the Kansas City Southern ‘Meridian Speedway’ as well as Louisiana Highway 20.

DSRR interchanges with Kansas City Southern and Union Pacific Railroad, and its addition to Patriot Rail’s network is projected to create more competitive options for rail shippers in Louisiana and across the nation.

With this purchase, Patriot expands its operational reach to 32 railroads, with a footprint across 23 states in the country.

India to get its first underwater metro service this year

India’s Kolkata Metro Rail (KMRC) is set to complete the development of the country’s first underwater metro service by December 2023.

The upcoming project, called East-West Metro Corridor, will pass through the Hoogly river and link Howrah with Kolkata, reported ANI.

The project will be developed at a cost of more than Rs80bn ($967m), according to Times Now. KMRC has used German machines and other experts to build the tunnel, work inside of which is still undergoing.

The metro tunnel construction cost is around Rs1.2bn ($1.5m) per kilometre, which goes up to around Rs1.57bn ($1.9m) per kilometre during the construction of the tunnel underwater.

Once completed, the project will allow passengers to travel under the water for a stretch of half a kilometre within less than one minute.

Hitachi Rail’s Blues train begins passenger service in Italy

The sustainable and hybrid Blues train, constructed by Hitachi Rail for Trenitalia, has entered its passenger service in Sicily, Italy.

Under the framework agreement, Hitachi Rail will supply up to 135 Blues trains to Trenitalia that are valued at €1.2bn.

Around 22 Blues trains will operate in the Sicily region.

Claimed to be Europe’s first tri-modal train, the Blues train features a next-generation hybrid technology, which enables it to operate with diesel engines on non-electrified lines.

The technology also allows to operate these trains with pantographs on the electrified line, as well as with batteries on non-electrified lines.

With an acceleration of 1.10 m/sec2, the trains can attain a maximum speed of 160 km/h. The train can accommodate up to 300 people seated in the four-cars composition.

India to offload up to 5% stake in IRCTC at a discount

The Indian Government has announced an offer for sale (OFS) for up to a 5% stake in Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation.

The floor price of the OFS is Rs680 a share, which marks a 7.4% discount from Wednesday’s close of Rs734.70 on the BSE.

The offer will be open for subscription on the NSE and BSE on 15 and 16 December.

Overall, the transaction will involve the sale of 40 million equity shares. It will start with 20 million shares being offered for sale to non-retail that constitute a 2.5% interest in the firm.

The transaction is expected to help the government earn Rs27bn (around $327bn).

Magnetic to acquire Aurizon’s East Coast Rail unit for $287m

Magnetic Rail Group has reached a binding deal worth around $287m (A$425m) with Australian freight rail transport company Aurizon for the acquisition of the East Coast Rail (ECR) business.

The transaction also includes the assumption of ECR’s existing debt facilities, which originally amounted to $338m (A$500m).

With $84.5m (A$125m) of the proceeds to be deferred for 12 months, the completion is targeted for early 2023.

The deal completion awaits clearance from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.