All News articles – Page 185

  • News

    Scunthorpe gets ready to roll

    2006-01-01T11:00:00Z

    WORK is underway on a £130m project to build a mill at the Scunthorpe site of steelmaker Corus, capable of producing rails up 120m long. The company’s existing 40m mill at Workington will close in July, with production at Scunthorpe underway by the end of 2006.Existing Medium Section Mill buildings ...

  • News

    Valparaíso gets a metro

    2006-01-01T11:00:00Z

    ON NOVEMBER 23 Metro Valparaíso was formally inaugurated by President Ricardo Lagos of Chile, marking the completion of a US$332m programme to upgrade the Puerto - Limache suburban route operated by EFE subsidiary Merval. As part of the upgrade, Alstom Transport has supplied a fleet of two-car X’Trapolis EMUs, each ...

  • News

    Fleet renewal plans

    2006-01-01T11:00:00Z

    SWISS FEDERAL Railways unveiled its first RABe514 EMU at Zürich on December 2 (RG 12.05 p770), presaging the launch of the 35 Siemens-built double-deck sets on the city’s growing S-Bahn network.Following commissioning trials, the units are expected to start entering service in April. SBB is planning to exercise an option ...

  • News

    Finance

    2006-01-01T11:00:00Z

    Argentina: Neuquén provincial legislature has approved a programme to issue up to US$250m of bonds to finance infrastructure projects, including the southern rail crossing of the Andes (RG 2.05 p61) where the first 7 km from Zapala towards the Chilean border has been completed.Brazil: President Lula has authorised the release ...

  • News

    Loco event recorder

    2006-01-01T11:00:00Z

    CUSTOMISED digital event recorders are now available as an option on Cattron remote controls for industrial locomotives.Derived from main line data recorders, they have reporting formats more suitable for operators of industrial locos. The event recorders monitor up to 200 channels for 96 h, synchronising information from the radio controls ...

  • News

    Talgo ends Finnish wagon production

    2006-01-01T11:00:00Z

    K INDUSTRIER has reached an agreement to take over Talgo Oy’s freight rolling stock products. Financial details were not disclosed for the deal, under which wagon sales and production will be moved from Finland to Malm

  • News

    Emirates rail study

    2006-01-01T11:00:00Z

    A 700 km line connecting the United Arab Emirates will form a key element in the planned Gulf rail network, according to the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi General Shaikh Mohammad bin Zayed al Nahyan. Speaking at the UAE’s 34th anniversary celebrations on December 6, the Crown Prince sanctioned funding ...

  • News

    Government to fund EDSA upgrade

    2006-01-01T11:00:00Z

    SEVERE OVERCROWDING on Manila’s privately-operated light rail Line 3 is to be relieved under a proposal being drawn up by the Philippines Department of Transportation & Communications. Built under a 25-year BOT concession, Line 3 from Taft Avenue to North Avenue follows the EDSA orbital ring road on the east ...

  • News

    Faster by design

    2006-01-01T11:00:00Z

    FRENCH consultancy Systra announced on December 12 that it had won a contract to assist with the construction of the Beijing - Tianjin high speed line.Working in partnership with the China Academy of Railway Sciences, Systra will review the design of the 117 km route, which is the first line ...

  • News

    North-South Railway project management deal

    2006-01-01T11:00:00Z

    AN INTERNATIONAL consortium led by the US-based Louis Berger Group is to undertake detailed design and manage the construction of a 1800 km heavy haul network serving mineral reserves in northern Saudi Arabia. Other members of the consortium are Systra, Canarail and the Saudi Consolidated Engineering Co. Worth 512m riyals ...

  • News

    DB expansion under fire

    2006-01-01T11:00:00Z

    THERECENT change in government looks certain to revive pressure to privatise all or part of German Railway. With DB forecasting a 2005 operating profit of €400m on December 7, there are suggestions that steps may be taken this year.DB continues to expand aggressively. On November 16 it announced the acquisition ...

  • News

    Cross-city line will transform Praha

    2006-01-01T11:00:00Z

    Now in full swing, construction of a high-capacity line joining the main stations in Praha promises major improvements for local and long-distance services

  • News

    Safely covered

    2006-01-01T11:00:00Z

    CURVED covers have been custom designed to match subfloor platform ducting and services at London Paddington station. The stainless steel covers mirror the curve of the platform edge, providing access to services beneath without creating a trip hazard.They are 110mm deep, ensuring studded anti-slip slabs remain flush with the platform ...

  • News

    Córdoba - Málaga contracts

    2006-01-01T11:00:00Z

    SPANISH construction authority GIF has awarded a consortium of Alcatel España, Alcatel Integración y Servicios and Dimetronic a €210m contract to install and maintain signalling and telecommunications on the Córdoba - Málaga high speed line. Including provision of GSM-R, the contract has been divided into three route sections, the largest ...

  • News

    Contracts renegotiated

    2006-01-01T11:00:00Z

    ON NOVEMBER 29 the Renfe board approved the last three of six contracts for new rolling stock that have been renegotiated since they were awarded in 2004. Renegotiation of the first three contracts was completed in July 2005 (RG 8.05 p461), and Renfe will now acquire a total of 126 ...

  • News

    Plant contracts

    2006-01-01T11:00:00Z

    AS PART of its cost-reduction programme, Network Rail has revised its policy on leasing on-track plant.At present NR leases on-track machines such as tampers for maintenance, and its renewals contractors either own or hire their machines separately. Awarding common contracts is expected to boost productivity by 50% and bring major ...

  • News

    ETCS waltz continues to play

    2006-01-01T11:00:00Z

    GERMAN Railway and its suppliers Siemens and Alcatel proudly announced on December 6 that commercial services with trains controlled by Level 2 ETCS had begun on the 100 km Jüterbog - Leipzig section of the Berlin - Leipzig main line. Setting aside the pilot scheme which saw commercial service under ...

  • News

    Concessions may not be enough

    2006-01-01T11:00:00Z

    The bitter row between Toll Holdings and Patrick Corp, equal joint owners of rail freight operator Pacific National, shows no sign of abating.Toll is pressing ahead with its A$4·6bn hostile bid to take over Patrick, but this is stalled by the intervention of Australia’s competition regulator (RG 12.05 p747). ACCC’s ...

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    News

    Late deliveries justify compensation

    2006-01-01T11:00:00Z

    DANISH State Railways ordered a fleet of 83 IC4 diesel multiple-units from AnsaldoBreda in December 2000 at a cost of DKr5bn. Intended to work inter-city services between København and cities in Jutland, the four-car 200 km/h articulated trainsets are notable for their absence from Danish tracks. Although two trains are ...

  • News

    Rail Freight: A Guide for Community Groups and Rail Partnerships

    2006-01-01T11:00:00Z

    INTRO: PublicationsTHIS ’beginner’s guide to rail freight’ from the Association of Community Rail Partnerships is intended to offer a guide to ways in which communities can help to get freight traffic onto rail, translating a ’vague idea into a practical project’.The 48-page booklet is aimed at non-specialist readers, particularly those ...