All articles by Railway Gazette International – Page 1018
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NewsBritain announces tram-train trials
UK: Five tram-trains are to be procured for trials on the Penistone line in Yorkshire, Britain's Department for Transport confirmed on March 18. The two-year trial starting in 2010 will 'establish whether tram-trains similar to those operating successfully in Europe are suitable for Britain’s railway network.' The project is a ...
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On the path to competition
FRANCE: Open access freight services are now operating in every region of the French rail network, according to RFF President Hubert du Mesnil. He told the sixth national train paths conference on February 6 that private companies are now running an average of 80 trains a day, and a quarter ...
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SuperCap tests complete
GERMANY: Mannheim tram operator MVV and Bombardier have completed four years of trials with a Mitrac Energy Saver which uses double-layer capacitors to store regenerated braking energy (RG 7.06 p405). Long-term results showed that the tram's traction power consumption was reduced by 30%. Overall power needs including doors, air-conditioning and ...
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Industry News in Brief
Moscow-based European Bearing Corp and Chicago firm Amsted Rail have agreed to form a joint venture which will produce cartridge tapered roller bearings in Russia for the CIS rolling stock market. Miscor Group has expanded its loco repair and remanufacturing capabilities with the purchase of privately-held American Motive Power Inc ...
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Running faster in the Netherlands
NETHERLANDS: Transport Minister Camiel Eurlings published on January 21 a discussion paper on reducing journey times for inter-regional passenger services. He has reserved €70m for this, budgeting €40m for infrastructure improvements and €30m for increasing the maximum speed from 140 to 160 km/h. Four routes have been upgraded in the ...
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NewsAn idea on the move
The Golden State's proposed 1 100 km high speed rail network would be the most expensive and ambitious public works project in California's history. If voters endorse the project in November, the initial phase could open in 2019.
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Djibouti-Ethopien concession talks
ETHIOPIA: Chemin de fer Djibouti-Ethopien has begun talks with Kuwait-based Fuad Algarim Group with a view to awarding a 20-year concession to operate the 781 km metre gauge line linking Addis Abeba and the port of Djibouti. A previous concessioning proposal by the governments of Ethiopia and Djibouti attracted nine ...
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NewsPointers March 2008
Azerbaijan has applied for US$450m from the World Bank to support a railway rehabilitation programme, expected to cost US$673m. US$55m is expected to come from EBRD. Rehabilitation of infrastructure and renewal of the rolling stock fleet form an integral part of the tri-national South Caucasus Railway Project agreed with Georgia ...
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People in the News - March 2008
Randall Chrisman has replaced Lynn Flint Shaw as Chairman of Dallas Area Rapid Transit. Julian Drury has been confirmed as Managing Director of UK train operator c2c, joining from parent company National Express Group. Raviprakash Karcherlahas been appointed Managing Director of Invensys Rail Group’s Indian operations and Alok K Sinha ...
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KTZ announces wiring plan
KYRGYZSTAN: Work is to begin this year on the US$100m electrification of the 154 km main line linking the capital Bishkek with Lugovoy in Kazakhstan, KTZ Chief Executive Nariman Tuleev announced on January 31. Logovoy is on the route from Toshkent in Uzbekistan to Almaty in Kazakhstan, and the line ...
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NewsFirst Dubai metro train arrives
UAE: The first vehicles for the two-line automatic metro which is under construction in Dubai have arrived in the emirate from Japan. Manufacturer Kinki Sharyo will deliver the remaining trainsets for the Red Line by the end of this year, ready for the planned opening on September 9 2009. The ...
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Urban Rail News in Brief
Melbourne's Yarra Trams has leased five low-floor light rail vehicles from the French city of Mulhouse to increase capacity on its East Brunswick - St Kilda route. The first of the Alstom Citadis cars arrived at the Port of Melbourne on February 15, and all five are due to be ...
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NewsMetro network to double in S$20bn expansion
SINGAPORE: Transport Minister Raymond Lim has unveiled plans to double the size of the city-state's metro network over the next 12 years. The announcement follows a year-long review of Singapore's transport needs. Two new metro lines are to be built, in addition to the Circle Line, Downtown Line and Boon ...
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Majors join forces for Mar del Plata bidding
ARGENTINA: Alstom and Siemens have joined forces to bid for the project to build a high speed line between Buenos Aires and Mar del Plata, where expressions of interest to prequalify for a turnkey contract were opened in the presence of President Cristina Fernández of Argentina on February 8. As ...
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NewsDocklands Light Railway car unveiled
UK: Mayor of London Ken Livingstone is due to formally unveil the first of a new design of trainset for the Docklands Light Railway on March 13. Transport for London placed a £50m order with Bombardier Transportation for 31 articulated vehicles in June 2006, a continuation of a £45m ...
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Market March 2008
Brazil: IBRD has granted a US$44m loan to improve suburban rail services in Rio de Janeiro and encourage private-sector participation in operations and management. Czech Republic: CD has inaugurated a train washing and toilet emptying plant at Praha-Odstavné depot. The KC296m facility built by Tchas Ostrava includes a 93 m ...
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Smart card difficulties
AUSTRALIA: Sydney's plans to introduce contactless ticketing have been dealt a severe blow after the New South Wales government terminated its contract with supplier ERG. The NSW government had pledged to deliver smart card ticketing by the start of the 2000 Olympic Games, but a series of delays and technical ...
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News'A change of mindset'
California has embarked on an ambitious drive to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, through better planning of transport investment and economic development. Chris Jackson reports from Sacramento.
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UIC Highspeed 2008 looks to the future
Under the patronage of European Commission Vice-President Jacques Barrot and the Mayor of Amsterdam Job Cohen, and with the support of the United Nations, UIC is organising the sixth world congress on high speed rail. UIC Highspeed 2008 is being jointly hosted by the main players in the Netherlands rail ...