Today, Siemens and Alstom have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to combine Siemens' mobility business including its rail traction drives business, with Alstom. The transaction brings together two innovative players of the railway market with unique customer value and operational potential. The two businesses are largely complementary in terms of activities and geographies. Siemens will receive newly issued shares in the combined company representing 50 percent of Alstom's share capital on a fully diluted basis.

"This Franco-German merger of equals sends a strong signal in many ways. We put the European idea to work and together with our friends at Alstom, we are creating a new European champion in the rail industry for the long term. This will give our customers around the world a more innovative and more competitive portfolio", said Joe Kaeser, President and CEO of Siemens AG. "The global market-place has changed significantly over the last few years. A dominant player in Asia has changed global market dynamics and digitalization will impact the future of mobility. Together, we can offer more choices and will be driving this transformation for our customers, employees and shareholders in a responsible and sustainable way", Kaeser added.

"Today is a key moment in Alstom's history, confirming its position as the platform for the rail sector consolidation. Mobility is at the heart of today's world challenges. Future modes of transportation are bound to be clean and competitive. Thanks to its global reach across all continents, its scale, its technological know-how and its unique positioning on digital transportation, the combination of Alstom and Siemens Mobility will bring to its customers and ultimately to all citizens smarter and more efficient systems to meet mobility challenges of cities and countries. By combining Siemens Mobility's experienced teams, complementary geographies and innovative expertise with ours, the new entity will create value for customers, employees and shareholders," said Henri Poupart-Lafarge, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Alstom SA. "I am particularly proud to lead the creation of such a group which will undoubtedly shape the future of mobility."

Global headquarters as well as the management team for rolling stock will be located in Paris area and the combined entity will remain listed in France. Headquarters for the Mobility Solutions business will be located in Berlin, Germany. In total, the new entity will have 62,300 employees in over 60 countries.

The businesses of the two companies are largely complementary. The combined entity will offer a significantly increased range of diversified product and solution offerings to meet multi-facetted, customer-specific needs, from cost-efficient mass-market platforms to high-end technologies. The global footprint enables the merged company to access growth markets in Middle East and Africa, India, and Middle and South America where Alstom is present, and China, United States and Russia where Siemens is present. Customers will significantly benefit from a well-balanced larger geographic footprint, a comprehensive portfolio offering and significant investment into digital services. The combination of know-how and innovation power of both companies will drive crucial innovations, cost efficiency and faster response, which will allow the combined entity to better address customer needs.

Akiem > LINEAS France 75025 still in OSR France pink, but with LINEAS logos, at Tergnier on 28 August 2017. Picture by Antoine Morval.

Unlike Prima locos 75036 and 75110, which carry the full LINEAS company colour scheme, 75025 has not been given such an extensive restyling. The loco still sports the pink details reminding of the now defunct OSR France brand, but has seen the OSR France logos replaced by LINEAS logos. Electric Prima 27156 was given the same treatment and now also features LINEAS logos. It is expected more locos will follow soon.

Freshly stickered in full LINEAS livery: Akiem 75110 at Hazebrouck on 10 July 2017. Picture by Nicolas Beyaert.

Earlier, we reported about LINEAS France having restyled its 75036 into full company colours. Now, also loco 75110 has been given the new livery.

Freshly stickered in full LINEAS livery: Akiem 75110 at Morbecque on 10 July 2017. Picture by Nicolas Beyaert.

LINEAS France 75036 in its new livery at Hazebrouck on 3 July 2017. Picture by Nicolas Beyaert.

LINEAS France 75036 in its new livery at Hazebrouck on 3 July 2017. Picture by Nicolas Beyaert.

An unknown Prima DE43 C AC / AD43C diesel locomotive awaits delivery to Iran at Belfort, France on June 21, 2002. Picture by Vincent Torterotot.

Anglo Belgian Corporation (ABC) has been awarded a contract by Islamic Republic of Iran Railways that will see two AD43C (also known as Prima DE43 C AC) diesel locomotives re-powered with ABC 12DZC diesel engines. The two locomotives will serve as prototype for a larger re-powering programme covering the entire fleet of 100 AD43C locomotives. Part of the programme are not only the supply of the engines, but also fitting them into the locomotives, installing modern air filters and monitoring the re-entry into service of the locos.

The 100 locomotives, of which 20 have been built by Alstom in Belfort, are currently powered Ruston 16K215 diesel engines. Where Ruston produced the first 20 diesel engines itself, the remaining 80 were produced in Iran by Desa under a technology transfer deal which also included the local production of a similar number of AD43C locomotives by Mapna. However, the locomotives, and especially the engines, are subjected to high temperatures and dust, which causes poor availability levels.