Australasia
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NewsRio Tinto battery locomotive
AUSTRALIA: Mining company Rio Tinto has ordered four Wabtec FLXdrive battery locomotives for use in the Pilbara region of Western Australia from 2023. The locos will be used for multiple purposes, initially focused on yard shunting and then main line service. Rio Tinto currently uses three ...
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News
Bendigo regional upgrading makes progress
AUSTRALIA: The first of three new stations being built on the lines from Bendigo to Echuca and Swan Hill as part of Victoria’s A$4bn Regional Rail Revival programme has opened for revenue service. The stations at Goornong and Huntley on the Echuca line and Raywood on ...
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News
Hydrogen freight train study
AUSTRALIA: The feasibility of using hydrogen fuel cell locomotives to haul bulk freight trains is to be investigated by operator Aurizon and mining company Anglo American. Anglo American has developed proprietary hydrogen fuel cell and battery hybrid power units for heavy mining vehicles with a view ...
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News
Inland Rail trackwork contractor selected
AUSTRALIA: Australian Rail Track Corp has selected Martinus for the Rail Corridor Programme contract, which covers tracklaying and level crossing works on 574∙5 km of the Inland Rail corridor in New South Wales and southern Queensland. The agreement announced on December 7 covers the route between ...
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In depth
Australia: ARA targets modal shift
The Australasian Railway Association has launched a new strategy that it hopes will bring a greater share of Australia’s expanding freight market on to the country’s railway network.
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News
Western Australia studies faster Perth – Bunbury link
AUSTRALIA: Work has started on the development of a strategic business case for a ‘Fast Rail’ link between Perth and Bunbury.
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News
KiwiRail Group Chief Executive Greg Miller resigns
NEW ZEALAND: Greg Miller resigned as Group Chief Executive of KiwiRail with immediate effect on November 24, saying that recent media allegations — which he rejects — had become a distraction and it was in the best interest of him, his family and the company to ...
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News
Melbourne tenders airport station package
AUSTRALIA: Victoria’s Major Transport Infrastructure Authority has invited expressions of interest in construction of a station at Tullamarine international airport as part of the Melbourne Airport Rail project. The national and state governments have each committed A$5bn to fund the airport rail link, as part of ...
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Metro Report International
Cracking sidelines Sydney’s Inner West trams
AUSTRALIA: Services on Sydney’s Inner West light rail line have been suspended following the discovery of cracks on the low-floor tram fleet. A temporary bus service has been put in place to carry around 5 000 passengers/day. Cracks were discovered on all 12 of the route’s ...
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In depth
New Zealand: Funding boost drives rail revitalisation
Climate change concerns and a desire to encourage modal shift have unlocked government funding for rail, enabling KiwiRail to address a legacy of under-investment and build a stronger future.
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Metro Report International
Western Sydney Airport metro line shortlist announced
AUSTRALIA: Three consortia have been shortlisted for the Stations, Systems, Trains, Operations & Maintenance contract package for the Western Sydney Airport automated metro project. This is the third major contract for the project, and includes the construction of the six stations and their surroundings, the stabling ...
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News
Cross River Rail train contract tendered
AUSTRALIA: The Queensland government has called tenders for the supply of 65 electric multiple-units to expand Brisbane’s suburban fleet and operate the Cross River Rail link which is now under construction for opening in 2025. Bids are due by early 2022, with the winning bidder expected ...
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News
QR awards concrete sleeper contract
AUSTRALIA: Queensland Rail has awarded Vossloh’s Austrak subsidiary a framework contract for the supply of concrete sleepers worth around A$25m over three years. Sleepers will be supplied from the Austrak plant in Rockhampton for use in modernisation and renewal works across the state’s 6 600 route-km ...
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News
Aurizon agrees to buy OneRail Australia
AUSTRALIA: Queensland based rail freight operator Aurizon has reached agreement to acquire One Rail Australia from funds managed by Macquarie Asset Management.
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News
Pacific National orders UGL Evolution diesel locomotives
AUSTRALIA: Pacific National has awarded UGL a framework contract to design, manufacture and supply up to 123 C44 Evolution diesel locomotives, with a firm order for 50 in the first tranche.
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News
KiwiRail orders 57 Stadler diesel locomotives
NEW ZEALAND: KiwiRail has selected Stadler to supply its next generation of main-line diesel locomotives, placing a framework contract with an NZ$403m firm order for an initial 57 to be deployed on freight and passenger services on the South Island’s ‘challenging’ routes. Announcing the order on ...
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News
ARTC awards Inland Rail missing link contract
AUSTRALIA: Contracts have been awarded for a further section of the Inland Rail corridor, with project promoter ARTC selecting a Laing O’Rourke-led consortium to deliver civil works on the so-called ‘missing link’ between northern New South Wales and southern Queensland.
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Metro Report International
Western Sydney airport metro clears final planning hurdle
AUSTRALIA: The national government has given final planning approval for the 23 km Western Sydney Airport automated metro scheme, following a similar decision by the state of New South Wales in July.
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News
Bowen Rail’s Queensland coal locomotives delivered
AUSTRALIA: Adani Group’s Bowen Rail Co has taken delivery of the first of 10 locomotives ordered to haul coal from Bravus Mining & Resources’ Carmichael Mine in Queensland’s Galilee Basin, which is to begin operations this year. ‘We launched the Bowen Rail Company in August 2020 ...
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News
More emu EMUs ordered
AUSTRALIA: Transport for NSW has awarded the RailConnect joint venture a contract to supply a further 56 Mariyung double-deck electric multiple-unit cars, increasing the New Intercity Fleet to a total of 610 vehicles. The RailConnect consortium of Hyundai Rotem, Mitsubishi Electric Australia and UGL Rail was ...
