All News articles – Page 297
-
News
Spanish reform coming
SPEAKING at a conference in Santander last month, Spanish Development Minister Francisco Álvarez-Cascos outlined the future shape of the national railway network that the government hopes to have drawn up by the end of this year. Under the new model, public and private operators including Renfe’s existing business units will ...
-
News
Lausanne metro closer
LAST MONTH the Swiss canton of Vaud confirmed its backing for a SFr590m reconstruction and extension of the Lausanne metro. This paves the way for the scheme to be put to the voters for approval next year.Plans were drawn up several years ago to convert the existing Lausanne - Ouchy ...
-
News
Light rail is the mode of choice
JUDGING by the turnout at UITP’s 6th light rail conference, the mode is in fine form. Almost 450 delegates from over 30 countries assembled in Nantes on June 12-14 to debate the latest technical, political and operational innovations.Construction continues apace. The Turkish city of Bursa has just opened its first ...
-
News
China market opens up
BEIJING Mayor Liu Qi announced on June 12 that international firms will be invited to tender for design and construction of future metro lines in the Chinese capital. He anticipates the construction of 150 route-km over the next six years, more than trebling the size of the network.At the same ...
-
News
Trams to serve central London
PLANS to build two new light rail lines in the British capital were announced by Mayor of London Ken Livingstone on May 29. Following public consultation and discussions with local authorities, he approved two light rail routes and two busways. ’People have been talking about these schemes for seven years’, ...
-
News
Camrail funding
REHABILITATION of the 622 km Trans-Cameroon main line between N’gaoundéré and Yaoundé will get under way shortly, following the announcement of a World Bank loan. Privatised operator Camrail confirmed on May 22 that it had been allocated FrCFA15·6bn, which it described as ’a breath of fresh air’. The initial package ...
-
News
FO and BVZ to merge
SWITZERLAND’S Furka Oberalp and Brig-Visp-Zermat railways announced on June 12 that their boards had agreed to merge. Subject to ratification by the shareholders on September 12, the agreement will take effect from January 1 2003.At present BVZ Zermatt-Bahn is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BVZ Holding AG, which also holds a ...
-
News
Ministry buys carriage plant
RUSSIA’S Ministry of Railways has bought 49% of the shares of the Demikhovo commuter train manufacturing plant. The ministry plans to buy a further 2%, which would give it a majority shareholding. ’We have always been trying to get the Ministry of Railways as one of the major shareholders of ...
-
News
Bursa light rail in business
REVENUE operation began on Turkey’s latest light rail line on June 16, following six weeks of trial running. The 16 km initial section of the Y-shaped BursaRay network was opened to the public on April 23, but passengers were allowed to ride free for ’public familiarisation’ during the introductory phase.According ...
-
News
Industry News in Brief
TransNamib Chairman Klaus Dierks is seeking German and South African partners to help fund and build a locomotive manufacturing plant in Usakos, first proposed in 1999. Diesel and electric locos would be built for export, generating additional revenue for the railway operator. Titan Rail has been formed by PML Group, ...
-
News
Passenger News in Brief
The Federal Transit Administration has started a review of US transit operators’ websites, looking at content and usability. Its report will be published later this year.From May 31, virtually all DB Nachtzug overnight services include a couchette compartment accessible by wheelchair passengers.The rebuilt Akko station in Israel was opened on ...
-
News
Messina bridge go-ahead
ITALIAN Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi announced on June 6 that work on the long-planned bridge across the Straits of Messina between Sicily and the mainland is to go ahead. ’This time we’re going to do it, I promise you’, he insisted. Work is expected to start within three years, and ...
-
News
BR plan boosts modernisation
THE BANGLADESH government has approved a massive development plan for Bangladesh Railways, which will build on the modernisation programme already under way in association with the Jamuna Bridge link (RG 6.02 p326). Funding has been allocated from money already owed to BR by various government and private organisations; this is ...
-
News
Bids invited
GEORGIA’S Ministry of State Property Management has invited bids for the 75% government stake in the Elmavalmshenebeli electric loco plant in Tbilisi. Bids will be opened on July 26. The successful bidder will be required to increase production by 30% and salaries by 20%, and to modernise the plant.
-
News
More trains, better tea
TRANSPORT Minister John Spellar joined ceremonies at London King’s Cross on June 5 to launch a more intensive inter-city service between London and Leeds. GNER has added 11 trains a day, equivalent to 6000 extra seats, giving 27 northbound and 26 southbound services. 18 trains have been accelerated, the fastest ...
-
News
Beating graffiti
DUPONT Performance Coatings has developed an anti-graffiti paint, distributed by Standox. The clear polyacrylic hard protective coat is applied to the vehicle, sign or other surface to be sealed for protection from chemical and mechanical damage. A biodegradable, water-based anti-graffiti cleaner is sprayed on to vandalised areas, and graffiti can ...
-
News
Point battery
DMS Technologies has received Railtrack acceptance for its Cyclon 5Ah 120VDC point switching battery. The DMS 57 cell unit can operate up to seven point switches simultaneously. It is also suitable for use as a standby back-up supply to run signalling equipment during power failures.The spiral-wound lead acid cells are ...
-
News
Mayor backs Metrorail
SIX NEW metro and light rail lines totalling 122·9 km were proposed for the Miami area on June 3, when the Mayor of Miami-Dade Alex Penelas unveiled a 22-year investment programme valued at $16·9bn. This month is due to see the package debated by the Dade County Commission, paving the ...
-
News
B&A sale
CHICAGO-BASED Rail World Inc announced on May 23 that the Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railway had signed an agreement to purchase the 1200 km Bangor & Aroostook network in Maine, Quebec and New Brunswick. As well as the B&A Railroad Corp, this includes its affiliates Quebec Southern, Canadian American, Northern ...
-
News
BA bail-out
ARGENTINA’S Minister of the Economy Roberto Lavagna approved a rescue package for public transport operators last month that should see Buenos Aires suburban concessionaires Ferrovías, Metropolitano, Metrovías and TBA receive a total of 10m pesos a month until the end of this year. Of this sum, 3·5m pesos will go ...