Infrastructure news – Page 232
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NewsEtihad Rail to serve Jebel Ali Port
UAE: Proposals for the construction of an intermodal rail terminal at Dubai’s Jebel Ali Port were confirmed on May 8, when Etihad Rail signed a Memorandum of Understanding with port developer DP World. The agreement was signed by Etihad Rail Chairman Nasser Al Sowaidi and Chairman of DP World Sultan ...
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NewsVirtual reality planning
UK: Network Rail is using high-definition video and partial three-dimensional virtual reality desktop signal sighting software developed by Gioconda to plan the locations of signals and gantries for the northwest electrification project. The tool helps to ensure signals are located for maximum visibility, and electrification masts will not obstruct existing ...
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NewsHalfway there
BRAZIL: Last month Odebrecht Infraestructura was due to begin tracklaying at Serra Talhada in the state of Pernambuco, where it is upgrading the Recife – Salgueiro route as part of the Transnordestina project. With work finished between Salgueiro and Verdejantes, and nearing completion around São José do Belmonte, some ...
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NewsSemmering base tunnel ground-breaking
AUSTRIA: A ground-breaking ceremony was held at Gloggnitz on April 25 to officially launch preliminary construction works for the 27·3 km Semmering base tunnel. Opening is planned for 2024. The €3·1bn base tunnel between Gloggnitz and Mürzzuschlag is a key part of the 'new Südbahn' project. It will eliminate the ...
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NewsNetwork Rail deep alliance goes live
UK: The 'deep alliance' between infrastructure manager Network Rail and passenger operator South West Trains went live on April 29, with a 'single senior joint management team' now responsible for infrastructure and train operations on NR's Wessex Route, one of the busiest commuter networks in Europe. Planned to run until ...
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NewsNorth-South Railway on course to open in July
SAUDI ARABIA: The 2 400 km North-South Railway being developed by Saudi Railway Co is on course for a formal opening for mineral operations in July, with full operation scheduled for July 2013 and the start of passenger services in July 2014. Limited test trains have been running since ...
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NewsNetwork Rail agrees new High Speed 1 management deal
UK: Network Rail's contract to manage and maintain the high speed line between London and the Channel Tunnel on behalf of infrastructure concessionaire HS1 Ltd has been revised and will now run until at least 2025. Announcing the new agreement on April 25, Network Rail said it would align 'incentives ...
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NewsWork starts on Gilon tunnel
ISRAEL: On April 23 the joint venture of local construction company Danya Cebus and China Civil Engineering Construction Corp began work on a 4·6 km twin-bore tunnel that will carry the new ‘Akko - Karmi’el line under Gilon mountain. The ceremony was attended by the Chinese Ambassador ...
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NewsRailway could tap Québec's northern wealth
CANADA: Proposals for an 800 km railway to enable the exploitation of natural resources in the Labrador Trough are being drawn up by Canadian National and pension fund manager Caisse de Dépôt et Placement du Québec. A railway north from the port of Sept-Îles forms part of the government of ...
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NewsBordeaux to Spain high speed line route approved
FRANCE: The transport ministry has approved routes for high speed lines from Bordeaux to Toulouse and the Spanish border, RFF announced on April 6, enabling the infrastructure manager to prepare for a public enquiry which is expected to start in mid-2013. Granting of formal approval for the Grand Projet ...
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NewsJakarta - Bandung fast line study
INDONESIA: A Japanese consortium is to undertake a pre-feasibility study into a proposed 144 route-km fast passenger line between Jakarta and Bandung for opening by 2018. Following a co-operation agreement between the Indonesian government and the Japanese Ministry of Land, Transportation & Tourism, the study will be ...
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NewsFirst passengers ride Auckland's Manukau Rail Link
NEW ZEALAND: Passenger services on Auckland's first new rail route for 82 years began on April 15, following a preview day with station tours, train rides, face painting, music and celebrity sausage sizzle on April 14. An inaugural train carrying the Mayor of Auckland had broken a ribbon at Manukau ...
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NewsGySEV orders Flirts for upgraded line
HUNGARY: GySEV has ordered four Flirt electric multiple-units from Stadler Bussnang to accommodate growing ridership on the recently upgraded Sopron - Szombathely - Szentgotthárd route in western Hungary. The European Union's Cohesion Fund is meeting 85% of the €20·3m cost of the contract which was signed on April 13. The ...
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NewsBergen line resignalling moves forward
NORWAY: Infrastructure manager Jernbaneverket confirmed on April 17 that control of its Bergen - Geilo line had been successfully switched to a new control centre. This is a key step in its three-year programme to resignal the entire Bergen - Honefoss route, which is due to be completed by the ...
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NewsRZD supports Serbian Railways modernisation
SERBIA: An agreement for Russian Railways to assist Serbian Railways with the construction of a 68 km electrified line between Valjevo and Loznica and assist with the modernisation of more than 300 km of existing route was signed by RZD President Vladimir Yakunin and ZS Director General Milovan Markovic on ...
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NewsCarare Railway PPP plan
COLOMBIA: Minister of Mines & Energy Mauricio Cárdenas expects the Carare Railway to be the first project to be implemented under new legislation facilitating public-private partnerships which became law in December. The project includes the construction of 330 km of new railway and upgrading 130 km of existing line ...
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NewsCorridor X in Macedonia to be upgraded
MACEDONIA: A joint venture of Austrian firm Alpine Construction and its German partner HF Wiebe has been awarded a track renewal contract under a €17·6m programme to modernise the section of Pan-European Corridor X which runs north-south through Macedonia. The contract is worth €7m and covers the 13·3 km between ...
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NewsAdelaide upgrade underway
AUSTRALIA: Electrification of Adelaide's 1600 mm gauge suburban network is underway as part of the South Australia government's A$2·6bn Building a Better Adelaide Metro project. A seven-month shutdown of the Gawler line between Mawson Interchange and Gawler will allow a major revitalisation including track and level crossing upgrades, 25 kV ...
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NewsCoal line memorandum
INDONESIA: Having completed a feasibility study last year, Russian Railways has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Governor of East Kalimantan province to assist with the development of a proposed US$2·4bn coal railway on the island of Borneo. Construction could begin next year, with the 185 km first phase ...