All News articles – Page 174
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News
Display area sets new record
INTRO: Four extra halls will be needed to accommodate all the exhibitorsFive months before the start of InnoTrans 2006, the Berlin show is on course to be bigger than ever. The international trade fair has been expanding steadily since the first event 10 years ago, and this year it will ...
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Comfortable cars approved
TVER Carriage Works completed acceptance testing of three models of ’high comfort’ coaches at the end of March. Series production is to begin shortly, with the first of the 160 km/h vehicles to be used on Red Arrow expresses between Moscow and St Petersburg.The 61-4452 sleeping car has eight two-berth ...
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Ansaldo IPO
FINMECCANICA SpA’s initial public offering of the Ansaldo STS SpA business was fully exercised in March, with the sale of 60 million shares at €7·80 each. Trading on the Milano exchange began on March 29. The IPO comprised 52·17 million shares, representing a 52·17% stake in the rail unit, plus ...
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Anchors don’t weigh
DEBRIS control netting on embankments and cuttings requires anchoring on thrust blocks. These are conventionally made from heavy pre-cast concrete, but are difficult to install when steep slopes and inaccessible locations make the use of appropriate plant difficult. Expanded polystyrene maker Cordek and specialist access contractor CAN Geotechnical have developed ...
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Stadler wins Alger contract
ALGERIAN national railway SNTF announced on March 18 that Stadler Bussnang AG had won an international tender called last summer for the supply of EMUs to operate suburban services around the capital. The Swiss manufacturer is to supply 64 four-car Flirt electric multiple-units between the second half of 2008 ...
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More suburban spend in Buenos Aires
THE GOVERNMENT of Argentina was expected to begin tendering last month for a programme of electrification, resignalling, track renewals and station refurbishment on the Roca suburban network in Buenos Aires.Due to take two years to complete at a cost of 1·42bn pesos, the work will be funded by the state. ...
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Merger agreed in Hong Kong
MTR Corp signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding with the government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on April 11, setting out terms for the proposed merger with Kowloon-Canton Railway Corp.The deal provides for MTR to make an upfront payment of HK$4·25bn for a Service Concession ’to acquire certain ...
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African concessions make progress
ETHIOPIAN Transport Minister Juneidi Sado confirmed on March 29 that Comazar of South Africa had been selected as preferred bidder for a concession to operate the Ethio-Djibouti Railway, ahead of a rival tender from Rites of India. Following discussions with his counterpart from Djibouti Esmael Ibrahim, the minister ...
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NewsRisks inherent in open access
TO MARK the opening up of the domestic rail freight market on March 31, six French transport unions declared a 'day of action' on May 5 to protest against 'the European project to deregulate passenger transport by road and rail'. Experience since the Trans-European Rail Freight Network was opened up ...
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Delhi aims for 400route-km
ON APRIL 1 Delhi Metro Rail Corp began commercial operation on the 6·5 km extension of Line 3 to Dwarka Sub-City, completing the 62 km Phase I network. Built in just 22 months at a cost of Rs3·2bn, the extension adds six stations to Line 3. The metro viaduct was ...
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Fastech 360 twins herald speed-up to the north
JR East's six-car small-profile Fastech 360 Z began dynamic tests on March 26 at the Shinkansen General Rolling Stock Centre in northern Japan. Murray Hughes reports from Sendai
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Series E331 takes ACT concept forward
INTRO: Building upon experience with its Advanced Commuter Train prototype, East Japan Railway has decided to adopt articulation for its latest Tokyo suburban EMUsWHEN the cherry blossom blooms in Tokyo, local residents flock to the parks and green spaces to hold hanami parties under the cherry trees. This year the ...
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Intelligence May 2006
Argentina: ALL Mesopotamica has received the first of four General Motors GT18MC locomotives which will be put into service this year. The ex-Spoornet locos are being transferred from ALL's 1000mm gauge operation in Brazil. Canada: RailAmerica transferred ownership of the right of way of the Esquimalt & Nanaimo Railway to ...
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NewsBahn 2000 follow-on programme agreed
SWISS Federal Railways and the Federal Transport Ministry have agreed a further programme of enhancements to the national rail network (RG 12.05 p771). Details were announced by a government-SBB planning committee on April 7. Known as ZEB (Zukünftige Entwicklung der Bahnprojekte - Future Development of Rail Projects), the plan envisages ...
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SNCF to order 120 TGV Duplex sets
FRENCH National Railways has called tenders for 120 double-deck TGV sets. Bids for the contract, which covers a firm order for 40 trainsets and options for 80 more, are due to be submitted by the end of this month.SNCF confirmed on April 19 that the order could be placed this ...
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Underneath Taiwan
TAIWAN High Speed Rail Corp has ordered eight ride-on underframe inspection vehicles (RG 3.05 p160) for use in the maintenance of its Series 700T trainsets.Powered by 24V batteries, the trolleys will run on tracks within THSRC’s 320m long inspection pits. They will be equipped with lights, tool storage and a ...
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Snow service
WELL, it turns out that we were wrong about the Winter Olympics train service from Milano Malpensa Airport to Torino. We said last month (RG 3.06 p109) that passengers were obliged to resort to buses for the trip between Malpensa and the high speed line at Novara. Not so.Here is ...
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Renfe restructures
THE BOARD of Spanish national operator Renfe has approved a new management structure that will see six business units replaced by four areas broken down into 26 smaller units. Responsible for commercial passenger services, the High-Speed/Long-Distance Area is divided into five geographical business units, whilst the Suburban & Medium-Distance Area ...
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U-Bahn renewal
A MAJOR renewal of the U-Bahn fleet in Frankfurt-am-Main was announced on March 15. Mayor Petra Roth said the city was investing in the future.VGF has ordered 146 Flexity Swift high-floor LRVs from Bombardier for €300m, with options for 24 more. Due for delivery between 2008 and 2015, the Series ...
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Pointers
AFE has appointed Andean Development Corp to assist with structuring the tender process that will see a public-private partnership established to upgrade the national network in Uruguay (RG 12.05 p750). Minister of Transport & Public Works Victor Rossi has said that at least US$35m will be required for rolling stock ...