A new world record was set at Shcherbinka outside Moscow on September 7 as the world’s latest experimental gas turbine locomotives, the GT-1, hauled 170 freight cars weighing a total of 16,000 metric tons. This milestone took place at the All Russia Railway Research Institute’s experimental ring. Spectators included visitors from the III International Rail Salon EXPO 1520 that kicked off earlier in the day.

[via La Vagoneta]

Adif, Cobra, Consultrans, Copasa, Dimetronic, Imathia, Inabesa, Inecao, Indra OHL, Talgo and Renfe make part of the consortium.

33 trains (additional 23, as option) are going to be supplied from Talgo, based on S-112 for Renfe.

An additional luxury train specifically designed for the king makes part of the rolling stock offer  (see images below).

[pictures from El País and Vía Libre]

Demikhovsky Engineering Plant (Moscow region) is a part of CJSC Transmshholding. The enterprise starts to produce new models of ED4M DC electric trains with such engineering changes which substantially increase passenger comfort and safety.
The trains are ordered by OJSC Russian railways. All new engineering solutions are implemented taking into account requirements of the client. Significant part of changes was done according to results of survey questionnaire performed among representatives of operating depots and passengers. Engineers had significantly changed a saloon of electric train, introduced saloon and vestibule air conditioning systems, gang-ways, lighting, diagnostics and CCTV systems.
Saloons are being equipped with split heating and cooling air conditioning systems which allow maintaining set temperature automatically. Separate forced-air ventilating system is installed in vestibules allowing to remove stale air quickly. Windows on new electric trains had also undergone changes. Now vent windows have bigger opening angle which increases flow of fresh air in saloon.
Unified style of saloon interior is complete with a glance to the latest trends of industrial design using modern finishing materials. Designers managed to increase life of saloon interior and to simplify its maintenance as well as to improve the levels of its comfort and safety. Cars are fitted with modern chair blocks. Ceiling is equipped with continuous longitudinal illuminating line, which assures steady light without lamp “twinkling effect”. Apart from lighting sources, loudspeakers and fire and security alarm detectors are located in illuminating light modules; this significantly simplifies installation and repair of these elements.
Sliding-plug doors with automatic control block installed on EMUs assure reliable car sealing and eliminate draught when train is in motion. The doors are made of non-corrosive steel, which increases their operation life significantly. The doors can be operated from driver’s panel as well using buttons in passenger saloon. Design of the doors and control block allow to assure passenger transportation safety and also generate signal to a driver if doors are not closed.
New passenger gangways provide unobstructed and convenient pass from one car to another, full weather protection, heat and noise isolation without installation of vestibule doors. Saloon CCTV system registers current situation in real-time mode, information is shown on driver’s panel.
Electric trains are fitted with enhanced capacity auxiliary transverters (31% higher that serial analogs), which provides reliable power supply of auxiliary consumers including air conditioning. BSU-TM coupler, which from now on will be used on Demikhovo electric trains, assures slack-free, rigid car coupling, which enables to reduce impact forces and improve smoothness during train movement.
Electric trains are also equipped with KOMPAKS-EXPRESS-3 on-board monitoring system of technical state. The monitoring system quickly transmits information via wireless network to the staff of the nearest depot, responsible for EMU diagnostics. The first trains of new ED4M car version will be operated on Moscow Railway.

[video via Metroblog]

I would like to recap the most complete ones.

BBC:

The Wall Street Journal:

And The Telegraph:

[via Ingenieria en la Red]

Siemens and Cross London Trains (XLT) (a consortium consisting of finance partners Siemens Project Ventures GmbH, lnnisfree Limited and 3i Infrastructure plc), have been selected as preferred bidder for the UK Government’s Thameslink Rolling Stock Procurement Programme (TRSP), led by the Department for Transport.

Steve Scrimshaw, managing director for Siemens’ rolling stock business in the UK, said: “We are delighted to have been selected as preferred bidder for the Thameslink Rolling Stock Procurement Programme and we look forward to working with the Department for Transport to bring the programme to successful fruition. Siemens has participated in a rigorous tender process for over two years. Our selection as preferred bidder is a significant achievement not only for the rolling stock teams both in the UK and Germany but for Siemens overall. The announcement today is a credit to the hard work and dedication of those involved.”

The Siemens-led venture was selected against strict evaluation criteria with focus on deliverability, affordability and value for money. The Thameslink Rolling Stock Programme covers the delivery, maintenance and financing of around 1,200 vehicles and the construction and financing of two depots.

Scrimshaw continues: “Siemens proposals provide a highly reliable and deliverable rolling stock solution that achieves ‘best in class’ service and environmental performance on high density routes whilst minimising whole life, whole railway costs. The new and highly innovative Desiro City Train, designed specifically for the UK commuter market, will deliver significantly better reliability and energy efficiency, as well as vastly improved passenger access and comfort. We believe that the Desiro City train will transform the travelling experience of thousands of commuters in the UK. We are very pleased to have the chance to do so.”

Siemens envisages that as a direct result of the Thameslink Rolling Stock procurement project it will create up to 2,000 new jobs. Up to 600 highly skilled roles involved in the manufacture of train components will be created, including up to 300 at a Siemens’ factory in Hebburn, South Tyneside.

The remainder will be created within Siemens supply chain across the UK. These new jobs have the potential not only to leave a lasting and sustainable skills base in the UK supply chain, but should also assist in creating a critical mass to allow such businesses to compete on the world stage for projects of a similar nature. The remaining positions will be created in the construction and service industry involved in building the two new train maintenance depots and the ongoing maintenance of the fleet.

A dedicated Siemens team will now work closely with funders and the Department for Transport for several months to reach financial closure and conclusion of the multi billion pound contract, which will be the largest order in the commuter and regional market ever awarded to Siemens plc and the first for the Desiro City Platform.

Siemens has been present in the UK for 168 years and is now a major UK-wide employer, with around 16,000 UK employees, with 50% involved in UK manufacturing and engineering. In addition, 650 UK employees are involved in the service and maintenance of rolling stock. Siemens currently has 13 manufacturing sites in the UK, and is in the process of building a new factory in Hull which will manufacture wind turbines creating around 700 new jobs. In addition, Siemens announced in June that it would be establishing a new Renewable Energy Engineering Centre in Manchester opening in 2012, creating up to 340 new highly skilled electrical engineering jobs.

In a separate development, in response to the significant professional skills shortages predicted in the UK transportation industry, Siemens has committed to establishing a UK Rail Training Academy which will aim to support the National Skills Academy for Railway Engineering as part of the National Skills Academy scheme.