Features & Analysis – Page 50
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Mehdorn awaits the politicians' verdict
The debate about privatising Deutsche Bahn AG will reach a climax in the next few weeks. In the run-up to a decision on a stock market listing, Chris Jackson sought the views of Chairman Hartmut MehdornJackson: Herr Mehdorn, why do you want to float Deutsche Bahn AG on the stock ...
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Sendai airport line nears completion
EAST JAPAN Railway plans to open the 7·1 km rail link to Sendai airport early in 2007 - before the end of the current financial year. Seen as a key element in plans to open up the Tohoku region, the scheme takes the form of a public-private partnership which is ...
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France's biggest renewals project
RELAYING the 80 km of double-track main line between Les Aubrais and Vierzon constitutes 'the biggest regeneration worksite ever undertaken in France', according to RFF.When Transport Minister Dominique Perben visited Saint-Jean-le-Blanc on May 22, the work was nearly finished. Completion was planned for June, and a programme of improvements along ...
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Higher productivity to help fund rising renewals spend
French Transport Minister Dominique Perben has authorised higher government spending on track renewals, and is putting in place a performance contract with RFF to ensure the money is spent effectively. Murray Hughes reports from OrléansHISTORY was made in 1967 on the Les Aubrais - Vierzon section of the Paris - ...
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Reinventing Greater København's local railways
Tom Noach Project ManagerGreater København Authority Greater København Authority has started modernising six regional lines in Sjæland. Speeds and frequencies are being increased and new trains ordered to provide a more attractive service and grow passenger traffic RESPONSIBILITY for six run-down independent railways in the Danish capital's hinterland was ...
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Overcoming Spoornet's maintenance backlog
Spoornet has budgeted to spend R514m on infrastructure maintenance projects in the 2006-07 financial year. Much of this will be invested in the primary freight corridors used by the General Freight Business.R103m will be spent on tamping, screening and ballast renewal to improve the lateral stability of the track, reduce ...
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Master Plan will transform Nord-Pas de Calais network
AT LEAST €1535m is to be spent on improvements and modernisation of the rail network in Nord-Pas de Calais.Projects include a €650m regional high speed line stretching for around 70 km between Lille, Valenciennes and Aulnoye, for which a pre-feasibility study is currently in hand. Other short sections of new ...
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Spoornet focuses on improving its core freight operations
South Africa's state-owned railway Spoornet has embarked on a five-year programme to improve performance and profitability, which will help to support the government's Accelerated & Shared Growth Initiative. Chris Jackson asked Vice-President Molotwane Likhethe how this will be achieved 'OUR OBJECTIVE is to build a freight railway that meets the ...
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Series E331 takes ACT concept forward
Building upon experience with its Advanced Commuter Train prototype, East Japan Railway has decided to adopt articulation for its latest Tokyo suburban EMUsWHEN the cherry blossom blooms in Tokyo, local residents flock to the parks and green spaces to hold hanami parties under the cherry trees. This year the blossom ...
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Strasbourg light rail expansion resumes
With a series of legal challenges successfully resolved last year, preliminary works are now underway for the next phase of light rail development in Strasbourg. The 2007-08 programme will add 13·5 km to the CTS network, including Line E that will provide a new north-south link across the cityON NOVEMBER ...
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Contractors poised to hand over first section of HSL-Zuid
This month Infraspeed should receive a Certificate of Availability following completion of the southern section of HSL-Zuid. Trials at the line speed of 300 km/h were due to be completed last month, while testing on the northern section will finish in the autumnSWEEPING across the flat Dutch landscape between the ...
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Metro consulting in Shanghai and Shenzhen
DESPITE MORE than 100 years of railway construction, the rapid growth of China's rail and metro sectors means that the market is still in need of professionals to support the development of the industry in terms of a systems approach.Parsons Brinckerhoff has been actively involved in the Chinese metro sector, ...
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Integrating ETCS Level 2 with TVM430 on TGV Est
The Paris - Strasbourg TGV line is the first in France to be equipped with ETCS Level 2 for trains running through to Germany, but will also have the domestic TVM430 train control. Richard Hope explains how some complex system interface issues are being resolvedJUNE 2007 has been set for ...
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Pilot ERTMS project on course
DUE TO open in stages this year and next year, the Córdoba - Málaga high speed line will be equipped to operate with ETCS Levels 1 and 2. Contractor for the train control systems is Dimetronic Signals, sister company of Westinghouse Rail Systems. Both companies are members of the Invensys ...
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Comboios do Portugal embraces best practice
‘WE ARE putting Portugal on the European railway map’, insists António Ramalho, President of the country’s state-owned train operator Comboios do Portugal. Recently elected to the board of the Community of European Railways, Ramalho wants to take advantage of his position to bring best practice to his distant corner of ...
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Premium rail and suspension changes could cut rolling contact fatigue
Two methods of achieving economic benefits in the management of rolling contact fatigue were examined in studies carried out by TTCI for the UK railway industry during 2005. Both the use of premium rail steels and changes to vehicle suspensions have the potential to deliver cost savings AMONG Network Rail's ...
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Major milestones mark ADIF's first year
Administrador de Infraestructuras Ferroviarias started life on January 1 2005 with responsibility for the management of the Spanish national network and the construction of new lines formally assigned to it by the Ministry of Development. Robert Preston asked President Antonio González about ADIF's achievements and plans Preston: What ...
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'Investment will be of historic proportions'
Unprecedented levels of investment are transforming Spain's national railway with new high speed lines and a huge rolling stock acquisition programme. Robert Preston put the questions to Renfe Operadora President José Salgueiro Preston: What were Renfe's results for 2005 and what are its financial targets for 2006?Salgueiro: One key fact ...
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Modular common rail fuel system
TO MEET the latest emissions limits for railcars in Europe, British diesel engine supplier Cummins has announced plans to modify its QSK19-R design with a modular common rail fuel system. The QSK19-R, rated at 650 to 750 hp, is being fitted to the 51 three-car TransPennine Express DMUs being built ...
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Mixed signals on access charges
INFRASTRUCTURE separation is a key plank of the European Commission's strategy to restructure the railways in the member states and make them more market-responsive by opening up the national networks to competition.When the Commission convinced EU Transport Ministers that the rail sector needed restructuring to keep it from falling into ...