All Railway Gazette International articles in December 2009 – Page 3

  • Inaugural ETR500 at Firenze. Photo: Andrea Bracciali
    News

    Italian north-south high speed line completed

    2009-12-09T09:51:00Z

    ITALY: Celebrations were held in Milano on December 5 to mark the completion of the final sections of the north-south high speed rail corridor, which opens for revenue service with the timetable change on December 13. Completion of the Novara – Milano, Bologna – Firenze and Napoli – Salerno links ...

  • Money.
    News

    ADB loan for rail efficiency programme

    2009-12-09T05:00:00Z

    CHINA: Asian Development Bank approved loans of up to US$1bn towards the Chinese government's US$3·24bn Railway Energy Efficiency & Safety Enhancement Investment Programme on December 8. Announced as part of an economic stimulus package in October 2008, the programme is funding the installation of train fault detection equipment and ...

  • QR train.
    News

    QR National to be floated in 2010

    2009-12-08T14:05:00Z

    AUSTRALIA: Detailed plans for the break-up and partial privatisation of QR were announced on December 8 by Queenland's state Premier Anna Bligh. The coal and general freight business, including some network infrastructure, is to be floated on the Australian stock market at the end of 2010. The new company ...

  • Alstom Series 9000 Metropolis car and five-section version of CAF's Edinburgh tram design on display at BcnRail 2009.
    News

    BcnRail 2009 highlights urban rail technology

    2009-12-08T13:00:00Z

    SPAIN: The BcnRail trade fair held in Barcelona between November 30 and December 3 focused attention on the city’s automatic metro lines 9 and 10, including one of the Alstom Series 9000 Metropolis cars. CAF also used the event to unveil its tram for Edinburgh.Organised by Fira de Barcelona, BcnRail ...

  • Stadler Variobahn tram for Bergen Bybanen light rail line.
    News

    First Variobahn tram arrives in Bergen

    2009-12-08T10:54:00Z

    NORWAY: The first of 12 low-floor Variobahn trams for the Bybanen light rail line was delivered to Bergen on December 8.Stadler was awarded a supply and eight-year maintenance contract on January 5 2008. The five-module bi-directional tram is 32·2 m long and 2 650 mm wide with a floor height ...

  • Windtunnel testing at Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt.
    News

    High speed train research agreement signed

    2009-12-08T05:00:00Z

    GERMANY: Bombardier Transportation and the Göttingen-based aerospace research centre Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt have signed an agreement to co-operate in the development of high speed trains. The framework agreement initially runs to the end of 2014, and covers joint research into aerodynamics, dynamic stability, interior airflows and acoustics, ...

  • tn_us-newyork-subway-siemens_03.jpg
    News

    LaHood launches transit safety committee

    2009-12-07T18:36:00Z

    USA: Following a series of high-profile accidents, federal Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has established a new advisory committee on urban rail safety, with effect from December 8. With up to 25 voting members, the Transit Rail Advisory Committee for Safety will provide recommendations to the Secretary through the Federal Transit ...

  • tn_eu-euro-bank-notes_55.jpg
    News

    EuroMaint Rail expands into Germany

    2009-12-07T14:32:00Z

    GERMANY: EuroMaint Rail announced its acquisition of Rail Service Management Group on December 7. Subject to regulatory approval the deal is expected to be completed in January 2010. Swedish rolling stock maintenance firm EuroMaint Rail said the acquisition is 'the first large step' in a programme of international expansion ...

  • New Orleans streetcars.
    News

    US releases tram cash

    2009-12-07T14:03:00Z

    USA: New funding totalling $280m is being made available for tram and bus urban circulator projects, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced during a visit to New Orleans on December 1. It is the first tranche of money from the Livability Initiative, a joint venture of Department of Transportation, the ...

  • Suvarnabhumi Airport Express Rail Link Desiro train
    News

    Thai Prime Minister rides new airport link

    2009-12-07T13:33:00Z

    THAILAND: On December 4 Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva presided over the launch of trial running on the Suvarnabhumi Airport rail link. The Prime Minister and other cabinet members, including Transport Minister Sophon Zarum, travelled from Makkasan to the airport. Following the special run, free rides were offered to the public ...

  • Map of Shanghai metro Line 7.
    News

    Shanghai Metro Line 7 opens

    2009-12-07T13:07:00Z

    CHINA: Passenger services on the first section of Shanghai Metro Line 7 were launched at 09.00 on December 5. The line is also known as the Expo Line, as five stations will serve the 2010 World Expo north and south sites and the Expo Centre at Huamu Road. The initial ...

  • tn_ch-zuerich-double-deck-sbb_02.jpg
    News

    SBB approves Zürich S-Bahn expansion

    2009-12-07T11:06:00Z

    SWITZERLAND: Meeting on December 2, the SBB board of directors approved a fourth phase of expansion for the Zürich S-Bahn network over the next decade. Developed by SBB in co-operation with Zürcher Verkehrsverbund, and representatives from the surrounding cantons, the latest programme includes both the launch of new routes and ...

  • tn_fr-sncf-freight-train_05.jpg
    News

    First French port operator formed

    2009-12-07T08:59:00Z

    FRANCE: Transport Minister Dominique Bussereau announced on December 4 the launch of the first local rail operator to be formed as part of the national rail freight revitalisation strategy. NaviRail Atlantique will take over responsibility for the operation of the port rail network at La Rochelle, including the assembling and ...

  • tn_generic-tracks-cz_31.jpg
    News

    Southern states seek a new model

    2009-12-07T05:00:00Z

    BRAZIL: Meeting in Florianópolis on November 6 and 7, representatives from the state legislatures of Rio Grande Do Sul, Santa Catarina, Paraná and Mato Grosso, which form the Parliament of the South (Parlasul), backed proposals to establish a public sector company to co-ordinate railway development in the region. A formal ...

  • tn_generic-tracks-electric_59.jpg
    News

    Pointers December 2009

    2009-12-06T05:00:00Z

    According to its legislative programme presented to parliament on November 2, the new government of Portugal hopes to have the high speed line between Lisboa and Madrid in service by the end of 2013. Three bids have been received for the PPP concession to build the 34 km section between ...

  • A desert.
    News

    Cool in the desert

    2009-12-05T05:00:00Z

    SAUDI ARABIA: To cope with desert temperatures of up to 55°C, the eight 200 km/h trainsets which Saudi Railways Organisation ordered from Spanish rolling stock manufacturer CAF in July 2008 are to be fitted with a comprehensive cooling system from Voith Turbo. The push-pull trainsets will have five coaches ...

  • Impression of CAF metro train for Medellín.
    News

    Medellín orders CAF metro trains

    2009-12-04T15:50:00Z

    COLOMBIA: Spanish train builder CAF has been awarded a contract to supply 12 three-car trains for the Medellín metro. The 211bn peso order announced on December 2 is being funded by the metro together with loans from the Bogotá, Occidente and AV Villas banks. A further 57bn pesos will ...

  • Stadler Rail Tango tram for BLT in Basel.
    News

    Basel goes firm with Tango tram order

    2009-12-04T15:20:00Z

    SWITZERLAND: Baselland Transport has placed a SFr74m firm order for 15 Tango trams for delivery in 2011-12, Stadler Rail announced on December 4. A SFr276m framework contract for up to 60 trams was agreed by Basel city transport company BVB (20 vehicles) and regional operator BLT (40) in May ...

  • Impression of Crossrail train.
    News

    Crossrail announces tunnelling shortlist

    2009-12-04T13:49:00Z

    UK: On December 4 Crossrail Ltd named the five bidders shortlisted to tender for two of the three contracts to bore tunnels for the cross-London Rail link. The bidders are: Balfour Beatty Civil Engineering Ltd, Morgan Est plc, Vinci Construction Grand Projects and Beton -und Monierbau Gesellschaft; BAM ...

  • tn_eu-euro-bank-notes_54.jpg
    News

    GE announces Brazilian locomotive contract

    2009-12-04T12:38:00Z

    BRAZIL: GE Transportation has signed an agreement to supply América Latina Logística with 10 AC44i diesel-electric locomotives by the end of 2009, the manufacturer announced on December 3. The 1 600 mm gauge locomotives be built at GE Transportation South America's plant in Contagem, Brazil, with engines from Grove ...