All News articles – Page 75
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NewsZSSK orders 12 DMUs
SLOVAKIA: ZOS Vrútky has won a €53m contract to supply 12 Class 860 three-car inter-regional DMUs to national passenger operator ZSSK. The first tender, announced in September 2008, was withdrawn after a lack of interest from suppliers. The Class 860 will be partly based on six Class 840 two-car ...
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NewsParis Saint Lazare station works launched
FRANCE: On May 13 Sophie Boissard, head of SNCF's stations department, launched the third and most substantial phases of the Cœur Saint Lazare project to refurbish the Paris terminus. The main concourse floor will be opened up in a number of places, with 20 escalators installed to improve the ...
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NewsStrong commercial activity at Alstom
ALSTOM: 'A solid performance in both Power and Transport' saw overall orders up 5% to €24·6bn and sales up 11% to €18·7bn for the year to March 31 2009, according to Alstom Chairman & CEO Patrick Kron. Power orders were up 3%, but Transport grew 9% with a record ...
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NewsGE to supply locomotives to Nigeria
NIGERIA: GE Transportation and the Federal Ministry of Transportation announced the signing of a letter of intent covering the supply of 25 diesel locomotives on May 12. The C25 EMPD six-axle locomotives will be built by GE Transportation South America at Contagem in Brazil, with 12-cylinder 7FDL 2 500 ...
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NewsHigh speed trains with a local flavour
SOUTH KOREA: The first of 19 KTX-II high speed trainsets built for national operator Korail by Hyundai Rotem is currently undergoing a six-month testing programme before entering service on the Seoul – Daegu line.
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NewsLyon TGV depot inaugurated
FRANCE: Transport Minister Dominique Bussereau and SNCF President Guillaume Pépy attended the opening of the Gerland TGV depot in Lyon on March 31. Built at a total cost of €247m of which SNCF contributed €145m, it is the first TGV maintenance facilit y outside the Ile-de-France region. Its ...
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NewsRegional lifeline gets refurbished coaches
SOUTH AFRICA: Two refurbished eleven-car trainsets have been introduced on Kei Rail services between Ambele and Mthatha. The two sets are intended to act as prototypes to gauge customer reaction - a total of five refurbished sets would be introduced if the vehicles prove successful. Each air-conditioned set is formed ...
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NewsElectric services launched in Alger
ALGERIA: President Abdelaziz Bouteflika inaugurated electric outer-suburban passenger services from Alger on May 2, following a month of testing. Regular operations began the next day. From Alger the 25 kV 50 Hz wiring runs 54 km east to Thénia and 68 km west to El Affroun. Electrification of the ...
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NewsCoal project gets the go-ahead
INDONESIA: The Regency of East Kutai granted approval in late March for a 150 km railway linking coal mines at Muara Wahau in East Kalimantan to the coast. It is promoted by Trans Kutai Kencana, a special purpose vehicle formed by the regional authority’s investment body and companies owned by ...
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NewsEuropean Commission allows aid for London & Continental reform
UK: On May 13 the European Commission approved £5·169bn of 'one time last time' state aid for London & Continental Railways, which will result in the unbundling of High Speed 1 infrastructure and Eurostar's transport operations. Debt cancellation and a sustainable financial structure will lead to a significant reduction ...
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NewsGE plant to commercialise hybrid loco batteries
USA: GE Transportation has announced plans for a $100m plant to produce batteries for hybrid locomotives and heavy-load applications in the marine, mining, telecoms and utilities sectors. Production is planned to start by mid-2011, with the capacity to produce 10 million cells a year, equivalent to 900 MWh, or 1 ...
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NewsGrube announces new start at DB
GERMANY: In a bid to draw a line under the data abuse saga at Deutsche Bahn, the railway has decided to implement sweeping changes to the organisational structure. Four members of the Executive Board will be leaving with effect from May 31. Following an extraordinary meeting of the Supervisory ...
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NewsRJ Corman to buy Railpower assets
RAILPOWER TECHNOLOGIES: A binding agreement for the sale of the assets of Québec-based hybrid and genset locomotive maker Railpower Technologies Corp to RJ Corman Railroad Group was announced on May 1. Subject to court approval, the deal is expected to be closed by May 20. 'It is not anticipated ...
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NewsCosta del Sol corridor
SPAIN: As part of project to build a 532 km route between Fuengirola and Estepona that is expected to carry 100 million passengers a year, the Andalucía regional government has awarded two contracts to build the 4 km section in tunnel between Las Lagunas and La Cala de Mijas. ...
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NewsHusa buys into German freight market
GERMANY: Netherlands-based Husa Transportation Group has taken over two freight companies under a plan to acquire a strategic position in the German rail market through acquisitions and co-operation with regional players. Based in southern Germany, Rent-a-Rail focuses on 'last mile' transport, rolling stock leasing and work for construction contractors. ...
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NewsNetwork to be opened to private operators
PAKISTAN: The Ministry of Railways has invited private companies to express interest in operating passenger and freight services. It is hoping to reach 20-year access agreements with private firms, which would be able to use the Pakistan Railways network, yards and other facilities but would be required to source their ...
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NewsIRSI awarded VIA Rail refurbishment contracts
CANADA: Industrial Rail Services Inc has been awarded contracts for the overhaul of VIA Rail Canada's 98 LRC coaches and accessibility improvements to 12 Renaissance cars. The work will be undertaken at IRSI's plant in Moncton, New Brunswick, supported through the government's Economic Action Plan to create skilled jobs and ...
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NewsOKD Doprava buys freight forwarder
CZECH REPUBLIC: Private rail freight operator OKD Doprava has bought 100% of freight forwarding and logistics company Cechofracht from Cyprus-based Hattisburg Enterprises for an undisclosed price. OKD-Doprava is owned by owned by Netherlands-based New World Resources. The company embarked on an expansion strategy in 2008, buying the Czech Republic's ...
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NewsInterfleet Technology opens second New Zealand office
NEW ZEALAND: International rail consultancy Interfleet Technology has opened a second office in New Zealand, serving clients in the Auckland area. The office is headed by Principal Consultant and rail systems integration specialist Tom Salt, who has transferred from the consultancy's head office in the British city of Derby. ...
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NewsThree bidders for Nîmes - Montpellier
FRANCE: On May 11 RFF Presidert Hubert du Mesnil announced that three consortia had been shortlisted for construction of the Contournement Nîmes - Montpellier, which will form the first stage of the connection between TGV Méditerranée and the Perpignan - Figueras cross-border link into Spain. Prequalification bids were invited ...