Switzerland’s Federal Office of Transport has given its approval to a SFr50m project to convert TPF’s 5·5 km Bulle - Broc-Fabrique branch from 1000 mm to 1435 mm gauge, to enable Fribourg RER services to be extended to Broc. Due to be executed in 2016-21, the project would be entirely funded by the Swiss Confederation.
DB Regio has been awarded a contract to operate Main-Neckar-Bahn passenger services from Frankfurt to Heidelberg and Mannheim for 15 years from December 2017, using three and four-car Bombardier Twindexx EMUs.
The World Bank is to provide US$300m for upgrading Tanzania’s Dar es Salaam – Isaka line.
Transport Canada is to provide C$9·29m during 2014-15 towards 641 level crossing improvement projects including installation of gates and audible alarms and replacing bulbs with LEDs. The federal transport agency is to meet up to 50% of project costs, with the balance provided by the railway and/or road authority.
Built at an altitude of up to 3607·4m, the 16·3 km tunnel that will carry the Lanzhou - Urumqi route in China through the Qilian Mountains was holed through on May 1. The 1776 km line will cut the fastest journey time from 20 h to 8 h when it opens at the end of this year.
With operating support from the government reduced by €17·3m in 2014 compared to 2013, on April 24 passenger services operated by Croatia's HŽ PP were reduced by around 10%, expected to produce a saving of €10·5m. Many evening and weekend services have been withdrawn, with buses replacing trains on some routes.
California High Speed Rail Authority has approved the alignment for the 182 km Fresno – Bakersfield section of the route, as well as the environmental impact report and statement for this segment. The Federal Railroad Administration was expected to issue its Record of Decision on the Fresno – Bakersfield section in June.
CFM of Mozambique has awarded a consortium led by Refer Engineering and including local company ECM and Proman a US$1·65m contract for studies into upgrading the 89 km Maputo – Ressano Garcia route.
