All articles by Railway Gazette International – Page 871
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NewsIndian Railways faces testing times, says minister
INDIA: Presenting the Indian Railways budget for 2011-12 to Parliament on February 25, Minister of Railways Mamata Banerjee warned that IR was facing a ‘testing time’, citing a significant jump in fuel costs, and wage increases imposed following a review by the Pay Commission. With 1·4 million employees and 1·2 ...
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NewsDB completes Arriva Deutschland sale
GERMANY: Deutsche Bahn announced on February 28 that it had successfully completed the sale of the Arriva Deutschland Group to a consortium led by Italy’s Ferrovie dello Stato in partnership with Cube Infrastructure. Details of the purchase agreement are being kept confidential. DB had committed to dispose of Arriva’s German ...
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NewsTrain operator targets 10% energy saving
UK: South West Trains is installing energy meters on some of its electric multiple-units under a programme which aims to reduce annual energy consumption by up to 10%. The Train Energy Management System supplied by Italian firm FAR Systems is being fitted to 20 Class 444, 450, 455 and 458 ...
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NewsZSSK signs long-term train operating contract
SLOVAKIA: National passenger operator ZSSK and the Ministry of Transport have signed the first long-term contract for the provision of subsidised services, replacing a three-year contract covering 2008-10. The 10-year contract guarantees a fixed annual subsidy, which should help to stabilise ZSSK which made an operating loss of €78m ...
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NewsChina to build eight lines in Iran
IRAN: An agreement worth around US$13bn for China to construct eight lines was announced by the Construction & Development of Transportation Infrastructures Co after Chinese officials visited Tehran during February. A joint office has been set up to manage the project and associated technology transfer, but no dates were ...
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NewsIndustry News in Brief
Under an investment worth up to 300m yuan, China Northern intends to open a research laboratory at its plant in Dalian to support the design of new locomotives and multiple-units. Transalpine intermodal freight operator Hupac reported on February 9 a 13·7% increase in traffic volume for full-year 2010 compared ...
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NewsUnbundling of Pakistan Railways proposed
PAKISTAN: The Planning Commission published a paper in January proposing the 'unbundling' of Pakistan Railways, with the outsourcing of activities such as station management. Intermodal and suburban trains could be operated independently, and the Ministry of Railways is considering a plan for a Lahore - Karachi business train. The Ministry ...
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NewsBombardier buys PKP stake in signalling venture
POLAND: Bombardier Transportation acquired Polish national railway PKP's remaining 60% stake in the Bombardier Transportation (ZWUS) Polska joint venture on February 25, the first of a series of privatisations PKP Group is planning for this year. The joint venture produces EBI Lock interlocking, EBI Gate level crossing and EBI Track ...
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NewsBacteria to clean ballast
UK: Environmental Scientifics Group and Waste Management Total Solutions have completed a trial using bioremediation to clean ballast at First Great Western's St Philip's Marsh depot in Bristol. Bioremediation uses cultivated oil-degraded bacteria and microbes to digest waste material, releasing carbon dioxide and water. A mix of biocatalysts and nutrients ...
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NewsAlcácer cut-off opens
PORTUGAL: Trains began using the Alcácer Bypass across the Sado River in December, completing what infrastructure manager Refer describes as ‘the most important investment in the network in recent years’. The 29 km bypass cuts 6·7 km from the South Line from Lisboa towards the Algarve. It is intended to ...
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NewsTransport for London to launch contactless payment in 2012
UK: Transport for London is upgrading its smart card reader software to enable passengers to pay for travel using contactless credit and debit cards. Underground, Docklands Light Railway, tram, London Overground and bus services will be covered by the end of 2012, and discussions are underway with train operating companies. ...
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NewsAmtrak selects Nomad for on-train wi-fi programme
USA: Amtrak has selected Nomad Digital technology for the expansion of its AmtrakConnect passenger wi-fi service. Nomad supported the initial launch on Acela Express last year, and on Cascades trains in the Pacific Northwest during January. Amtrak's Ivy City and Penn Coach Yard workshops will install wi-fi equipment in more ...
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NewsDelhi Airport Express rail link opens
INDIA: The Airport Express linking Indira Gandhi International Airport with New Delhi station opened to passengers on February 23. The stations at New Delhi, Shivaji Stadium, IGI Airport and Dwarka Sector 21 are now open, with intermediate stops at Dhaula Kuan and Delhi Aerocity to follow later this year. Trains ...
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NewsTwo standard gauge main lines recommended
THAILAND: Government officials in Bangkok are expected to recommend that the Chinese-backed programme to build a network of standard gauge main lines across the country be initially restricted to two routes. The two lines promoted by the Working Committee preparing the Memorandum of Understanding would link the ...
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NewsTransnet takes delivery of GE locomotives
SOUTH AFRICA: A ceremony at Transnet Rail Engineering's Koedoespoort works in Pretoria on February 21 marked the formal delivery of the first two of 100 GE Transportation C30ACi diesel locomotives ordered by Transnet Freight Rail in December 2009. According to GE they are the first diesel locomotives with AC traction ...
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NewsTEN-T rail funding allocations announced
EUROPE: The European Commission announced the projects selected to receive €170m of trans-European transport network infrastructure co-funding grants on February 21. The grants are based on the TEN-T annual and multi-annual calls published on May 19 2010. They are intended help EU member states build missing transport links, remove bottlenecks ...
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NewsGSM-R assembly moves from China to Europe
AUSTRIA: Kapsch CarrierCom is to transfer the production of GSM and GSM-R equipment from China to Wien by the second half the year, the company announced on February 18. This is expected to improve supply chain performance and allow faster use of customer feedback.A review of production was launched after ...
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NewsCross-border construction soon
LAOS: The Laotian government has asked consultants assessing the environmental impact of the planned 481 km line to link Kunming with Vientiane to accelerate their work to allow construction to begin in April. Local reports put the cost of the railway at US$7bn, with completion planned for 2015. The new ...
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NewsMEPs create forum to promote rail
EUROPE: A discussion group created by MEPs to promote rail industry issues is to be launched in Strasbourg on March 9. Rail Forum Europe was formally established on February 16 to provide a cross-committee setting where ‘constructive dialogue can take place to improve the understanding of rail-related issues and facilitate ...
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NewsTrack Tec buys turnout manufacturer
POLAND: Concrete sleeper manufacturer Track Tec Group has purchased turnout manufacturer KolTram for €25m, the companies announced on February 22. KolTram is based at Zawadzkie in southwest Poland. It recorded sales of €16m in 2010, with export orders from countries including Germany and France. In April 2009 an agreement was ...