Miami-Dade County (Fla.) Metrorail has put into service the last two Hitachi railcars from a 136-car order that was awarded in 2012. In addition, California’s Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) may resume light rail service as early as this week, and Denver Regional Transportation District (RTD) is moving forward with a northwest commuter rail study.
Hitachi Rail’s announcement on Aug. 4 that it will acquire Thales’ railway business is set to shake up the global signaling sector. International Railway Journal Editor-in-Chief Kevin Smith examines the deal and its implications for the market.
Hitachi Rail has agreed to acquire Thales’ Ground Transportation Systems business for €1.66 billon (US$1.97 billion). The deal is expected to conclude in late 2022.
Thales is seeking to divest its rail signalling business “in a potential deal worth 1.5 billion euros or more (US$1.8 billion),” according to a Reuters report based on unidentified “people close to the matter.”
The contract could be worth $2.2 billion if all options are exercised.
RAILWAY AGE, FEBRUARY 2021 ISSUE: First steam. Then Electric. Then diesel. Then batteries. Next: Hydrogen fuel cells?
Florence, Italy, considered by many academics as the birthplace of the Renaissance, and an important European cultural center, is where Hitachi Rail (previously Italy’s Ansaldo STS) has successfully tested a battery-powered Sirio light rail vehicle in revenue service. It is the Japanese company’s first venture into battery LRVs.
The Washington Post is reporting that the Washington Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) is in negotiations with Hitachi Rail to build 256 8000-Series rapid transit cars, with an option to purchase up to 800.
