EuropeTrain’s twelfth run started with the Scandinavian winter loop for the second time, passing through Denmark and possibly a short trip to Norway.

The “Europe Train” test train, which has been travelling across Europe since December 2010 to test low-noise brakes – equipped with composite “LL” brake blocks” – before it goes into series production to retrofit the existing European freight wagon fleet, recently completed its eleventh run through Switzerland and Germany.

“Europe Train” is a project managed by UIC on behalf of the international railway community. To date, 29 railway companies, four industry suppliers and the sector organisations UIC, CER and EIM have signed the resolution for the preparation of “Europe Train”. This UIC project is managed by Mr Johannes Gräber from Deutsche Bahn.

Thanks to the great effort and additional contributions of Trafikverket, GREEN CARGO, VR, JBV, Banedanmark and UIC, the second run to Scandinavia finally became a reality. After intensive activities at the DB Systemtechnik test centre, the train started out again on 2 March from Minden, travelling through Denmark on its way to the North.

After crossing the border in to Sweden, the train started its operation on 3 March, travelling from Malmö up north to Vassijaure, on the Norwegian border via Boden and Kiruna. After that it will shuttle several times between Vassijaure and Gävle in the same way as for the first run (with perhaps one short side trip to Narvik) before returning to Germany on the weekend of 17 March 2012.

Pictures and current information on the EuropeTrain project can be found under http://EuropeTrain.uic.org.