All News articles – Page 96
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NewsPlzen works prepares to expand
SKODA TRANSPORTATION: Having signalled its re-emergence as a locomotive supplier with the Type 109E design for Czech Railways (RG 9.08 p719), Skoda Transportation intends to cement its position among Europe’s major rolling stock manufacturers by upgrading its main production facility in Plzen.
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NewsKnorr-Bremse acquires Hübner doors
HÜBNER: During InnoTrans Hübner announced the sale of its rail vehicle door division to Knorr-Bremse’s IFE Automatic Door Systems, with effect from January 1 2009. Knorr-Bremse will continue to offer Hüb-ner products at least for the duration of existing contracts and will meet obligations regarding servicing and spares. Most ...
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NewsPoland prepares to take the high speed plunge
POLAND: An invitation to bid for a high speed line feasibility study is due to be issued by the end of the year, kicking off a process that could see a Y–shaped route enter service in 2019.
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NewsEurostar settles into its green depot
UK: Having successfully moved its maintenance facility across London ahead of the start of services on High Speed 1 last year, Eurostar is now working to ensure its Engineering Centre Temple Mills is an environmentally-responsible member of the local community. Nick Kingsley reports.
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NewsThe great train drought
SOUTH AFRICA: A derailment near Overvaal on September 4 of 42 laden coal wagons forming part of a 200-vehicle train blocked the busy Richards Bay line for at least two days. The latest in a series of problems, the blockage sparked further concern among the country’s coal mining companies, who ...
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NewsHigh speed race is on
UK: Prospects for construction of a domestic high speed line inched closer last month, when newly-appointed Secretary of State for Transport Geoff Hoon revealed that he had asked his Minister of Transport with responsibility for networks (including rail) to take a closer look at the potential. Also newly in post, ...
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NewsGE diesels will revitalise KTZ fleet
KAZAKHSTAN: GE Transportation is working with Kazakhstan Temir Zholy to modernise the locomotive fleet, reports Murray Hughes.
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People in the news - November 2008
A dispute over seats on the CSX board (RG 7.08 p422) ended on September 16 with the rejection of the company’s legal action by a federal court. CSX had sought to invalidate the election of two nominees from The Children’s Investment Fund (TCI) and 3G Capital Partners but, following the ...
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Končar’s low-floor EMU plans
CROATIA: Rolling stock manufacturer Končar intends to complete the construction of a regional EMU prototype by the middle of next year. Following initial tests, the three-car unit will be delivered to Bosnian Railways with a view to series production of the design. Končar hopes to target the former Yugoslavia and ...
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NewsFrench independent rail regulator to be created
FRANCE: Secretary of State for Transport Dominique Bussereau presented a bill to cabinet on September 10 paving the way for the establishment of an independent rail regulator. Intended to ensure that there is no discrimination against operators wishing to gain access to the national network, the bill is due to ...
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NewsTazara hopes rise on investment plan
TANZANIA: Plans to invest US$950m to expand the country’s rail network were announced by Minister of Infrastructure Development Dr Shukuru Kawamba in August. He confirmed that consultants were working on a feasibility study in line with a strategy outlined in the East African Railway Master Plan. Kwambwa says development will ...
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NewsCP completes Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern takeover
USA: Canadian Pacific Railway marked its first day of operational control of Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad Corp and its subsidiaries Iowa, Chicago & Eastern Railroad and Cedar American Rail Holdings on October 30. This followed the end of a 30-day regulatory standstill after the Surface Transport Board finally ...
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News'We are very modest'
CZECH REPUBLIC: Meeting the requirements of EU legislation whilst continuing to develop passenger and freight operations across the Czech Republic is a tough task. Nick Kingsley met Vojtech Kocourek, Minister with responsibility for railways, in Praha to discuss railway restructuring, the future of regional lines and relations with Brussels.
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NewsGreen Cargo orders Traxx locos for steel contract
SWEDEN: Green Cargo has placed a €51m order with Bombardier for 16 Traxx F140AC electric locomotives. To be delivered between February and July 2010, they will be used on freight trains to be operated under a 10-year contract with steel sheet and plate producer SSAB. Green Cargo's SKr2·5bn transport ...
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NewsRoom on the Rails
NETHERLANDS: An ambitious vision for a massive increase in traffic on the national rail network by 2020 was unveiled by Transport Minister Camiel Eurlings on September 3. The government is projecting a 5% annual increase in rail patronage, as well as further growth in rail freight. HSL-Zuid and the Betuwe ...
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NewsEstonia to join international traffic agreement
ESTONIA: The Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail (OTIF) announced on October that 30 Estonia is to accede to the COTIF convention with effect from January 1 2009. COTIF established a uniform system of laws governing international rail freight (CIM) and passenger (CIV) transport. Estonia will be the ...
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NewsChina South awarded Kazak loco contract
KAZAKHSTAN: The Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive subsidiary of China South announced a US$100m order to supply locomotives to Kazak state railway KTZ on October 23. The Chinese firm was selected from three international bidders. The 4·8 MW locos will have AC drives and a top speed of 200 km/h. CSR ...
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NewsIarnród Éireann to order 432 DART cars
IRELAND: Despite the economic downturn and drastic cutbacks in public finances, Iarnród Éireann is going ahead with a plan to order 432 EMU cars for Dublin's DART suburban services at a cost of nearly €900m. This will be the largest order for coaches placed by the national railway, which has ...
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NewsWires down, complaints up
FRANCE: Leaving passengers stranded for hours on trains going nowhere is guaranteed to generate plenty of negative publicity, and a series of unfortunate catenary-related incidents last month in France was no exception. Trouble started during a peak holiday weekend when 400 m of overhead wires were ripped down at Aubagne ...
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Roller-coaster commute
JAPAN: An experimental light metro using roller coaster-style technology is to be built at the Chiba test site of Tokyo University’s Institute of Industrial Science. The Eco Ride metro will use equipment supplied by theme park ride manufacturers Senyo Kogyo and Senyo Kiko. Track-mounted drive units will ...