Infrastructure news – Page 247
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NewsHigh Plateau construction contract
ALGERIA: Railway development agency Anesrif has awarded a €417m design and build contract for the Saida - Tiaret section of the High Plateau line to a joint venture in which Italian contracting firm Astaldi has a 60% stake. Work is set to begin shortly for completion within 36 months. The ...
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NewsMRS Logística awards CBTC contract
BRAZIL: MRS Logística has awarded a US$165m contract for the design and installation of communications-based train control across its 1 674 route-km network by the end of 2013. Operating in the states of Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais and São Paulo, the railway handles substantial flows of iron ore, ...
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NewsGrowth to continue
CHINA: The Ministry of Railways announced on February 15 that 850bn yuan will be invested in rail during 2011, including 700bn yuan for new construction, 126bn yuan for the purchase of rolling stock, and 24bn yuan for renovation and upgrading. This is up from 837bn yuan in 2010. Yunnan province ...
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NewsJR Central inaugurates Nagoya museum
JAPAN: JR Central Chief Executive Yoshiomi Yamada officially inaugurated the company’s new railway museum at Kinjo-futo in Nagoya on March 1. Constructed over the past two years, the SC Maglev & Railway Park is due to be opened to the public on March 14. The museum brings together 39 items ...
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NewsGreat Western electrification and IEP approved
UK: Speaking in the House of Commons on March 1, Secretary of State for Transport Philip Hammond announced the go-ahead for the second stage of the Great Western Main Line electrification, which will extend the 25 kV 50 Hz electrification from Didcot to Bristol and through the Severn Tunnel to ...
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NewsNorfolk Southern sets out 2011 spending plan
USA: Norfolk Southern is planning capital investment of $2·2bn in 2011. 'Baseline' investment of $1·74bn is up 19% on last year, and includes $300m for track and terminal expansion. Resumption of its coal wagon replacement programme will see the purchase of 1500 vehicles, a level which is expected to ...
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News30-year railway master plan
SAUDI ARABIA: Saudi Railways Organization is compiling a 30-year master plan which SRO President Abdul Aziz bin Mohammed Al-Hokail said would provide 'an integrated and clear future vision' for a 'safer, better and bigger railway'. A joint venture of Fayez Zuhair and Germany's GTZ and Dornier has been awarded a ...
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NewsHS2 consultation launched
UK: The government launched a public consultation process for construction of the proposed London – West Midlands high speed line on February 28. The consultation, which runs until July 29, will take the form of a series of public meetings and events along the planned 190 km route that is ...
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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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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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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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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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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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NewsNetwork Rail announces restructuring to devolve control
UK: Infrastructure manager Network Rail is to be restructured to create 'a number of new, powerful, devolved business units', Chief Executive David Higgins announced on February 21. The new structure is aimed at better aligning with the needs of NR's customers and passengers. Route directors will become managing directors, 'running ...
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NewsHigh speed signalling PPP
SPAIN: With the aim of opening the route to traffic next year, ADIF has called tenders for a contract to design, install and maintain signalling and telecommunications equipment on 167 km of high speed infrastructure between Albacete and Alacant. As with construction of the Olmedo - Ourense route, work ...
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News€486m contract for Torino - Padova upgrade
ITALY: A consortium led by Ansaldo STS has been awarded a €486m contract to upgrade the conventional route between Torino, Milano and Padova with the installation of ETCS Level 2 equipment, the company announced on February 15. The consortium will supply traffic control systems, signalling and telecoms, and upgrade tracks ...
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NewsMadrid tunnel complete
SPAIN: A ceremony on February 11 marked the completion of tunnelling work on the 7·3 km route that will connect high speed lines entering the Madrid from the north and south. Having driven a total of 6·8 km from Chamartín, the 2200 tonne earth pressure balance TBM broke through ...
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NewsGovernor halts Orlando - Tampa high speed rail project
USA: Florida’s recently-elected Republican Governor Rick Scott announced on February 16 that he had decided to reject any federal funding for the proposed 135 km high speed line between Tampa and Orlando, as the start of a state-wide high speed network. This effectively stops the project, which had been widely ...
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NewsHaramain High Speed Rail station construction contracts signed
SAUDI ARABIA: Contracts have been signed for construction of four of the five stations for the Haramain High Speed Rail project, Saudi Railways Organization announced on February 16. The contracts form Package 2 of Phase 1 of the HHR project. Saudi Bin Laden Group is to build the stations at ...