Infrastructure news – Page 12
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NewsTransport authority opts for battery rather than hydrogen trains
GERMANY: Niedersachsen transport authority LNVG has chosen to call tenders for battery-electric rather than hydrogen trains to replace diesel traction on non-electrified lines from 2029.
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NewsÖBB confirms southeastern link to Wien airport
AUSTRIA: ÖBB Infrastruktur presented a final set of plans on July 15 for a 26 km long link from Bruck an der Leitha southeast of the capital to Wien airport. This would enable more long-distance and regional trains to serve the air hub.
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NewsPhilippines to study 1 024 km of rail projects
PHILIPPINES: The Department of Transportation has begun the process of appointing consultants to undertake feasibility studies for four railway projects totalling 1 024 km. The lines would ’provide access and passage to vital and bustling economic markets, such as agriculture hubs, tourism sites and key business ...
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In depthColombia: Turning round a dilapidated network
The Colombian government is taking steps to rehabilitate key parts of the national rail network. It also has ambitions to develop an inter-ocean corridor to rival the Panamá Canal. Christian Scasso explains.
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In depthChile: EFE invests to triple ridership by 2030
The Chilean government is investing US$8bn in the country’s railways with the aim of increasing passenger numbers threefold and boosting regional development outside the Santiago conurbation. Chief Executive of national operator EFE José Solorza Estévez explains the strategy to Benjámin Zelki.
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In depthComment: Green credentials on the line
The European Commission’s Greening Freight proposals reiterate the EU’s commitment to growing rail’s share of the logistics chain, but they also set out the challenge the sector will face amid the complexity and cost of building new infrastructure, and as measures are adopted to aid the decarbonisation of competing modes.
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NewsStandard gauge railway ‘backbone’ proposed for Ukraine and Moldova
EUROPE: The construction of a 1 435 mm gauge railway ‘backbone’ has been proposed as part of a strategy for closer integration of the rail networks in Ukraine and Moldova with those of the European Union.
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NewsRFI makes progress with procuring €1·7bn infrastructure enhancement package
ITALY: Infrastructure manager Rete Ferroviaria Italiana awarded three civil works contacts on July 18 totalling €836m, having called tenders for a further six work packages at the end of June with a total value of €904m. The procurement covers a raft of infrastructure enhancements all funded ...
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NewsDedicated ARTC subsidiary to lead Inland Rail project
AUSTRALIA: Infrastructure manager Australian Rail Track Corp has established a dedicated subsidiary to take responsibility for the 1 700 km Inland Rail freight corridor linking Melbourne and Brisbane, following a highly critical review of the project. Announcing the restructuring on July 7, federal Minister for Infrastructure, ...
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NewsWork restarts on FIOL 1
BRAZIL: Construction of the 537 km first phase of the Ferrovia de Integração Oeste-Leste project between the port of Ilhéus and Caetité was restarted on July 3.
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NewsAll-Island Strategic Rail Review makes 30 proposals to develop railways in Ireland
EUROPE: The draft All-Island Strategic Rail Review has been published, making 30 recommendations for development of the railways in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. These include expanding the total network from 2 300 to 2 950 km, along with electrification, higher speeds and more ...
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NewsVitória a Minas branch planned
BRAZIL: Construction of an 80 km branch off the 1 000 mm gauge Estrado de Ferro Vitória a Minas to serve Anchieta is expected to start within two years. Detailed plans for the R$6bn project were unveiled by the state government of Espírito Santo and mining ...
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Rail Business UKTunnel drilling rig increases output and safety
UK: AmcoGiffen has developed a drill rig to assist Transport for Wales and principal contractor Amey Infrastructure Wales with the installation of two high voltage 60 mm² cable routes in the crown of the Caerphilly tunnel. The rig can be operated remotely from a trailer to ...
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NewsWork starts on next phase of Turkey – Bulgaria railway reconstruction
TURKEY: Work has started on construction of an 8·4 km alignment between Halkalı and Ispartakule as part of the rebuilding of TCDD’s main line between Istanbul and the Bulgarian border.
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NewsThree qualify for Canada’s High Frequency Rail project
CANADA: Three consortia have been invited to move to the request for proposals stage of the High Frequency Rail programme.
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NewsGuarantee creates more UK export opportunities in Turkey
TURKEY: The UK government’s export credit agency has underwritten €781m of financing to support the renovation and full electrification of the 286 km Mersin – Adana – Gaziantep line for 200 km/h operation, in return for a commitment to provide export opportunities for British suppliers. Loan ...
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NewsTrans-Afghanistan Railway agreement signed
ASIA: Officials from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Uzbekistan have agreed the route for the proposed Trans-Afghanistan Railway, which is being planned as joint initiative between the three countries to promote regional connectivity and provide Central Asia with access to Pakistan’s seaports. The protocol was signed at a ...
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NewsDeloitte to develop Spanish track access charging regime
SPAIN: Infrastructure manager ADIF has awarded Deloitte a contract to develop a scale of access charges which will apply to RENFE, Iryo and Ouigo in 2024 and 2025. Responsibility for access charges was transferred from the state budget to ADIF in December 2022, and they can ...
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In depthInternational expertise sought to support Poland’s CPK rail programme
With the first construction contracts to be let shortly and orders for more than 100 high speed trains to follow, Marcin Horała, Secretary of State at Poland’s Ministry of Infrastructure, explains how international expertise will be needed to support the CPK programme.
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NewsGateway Programme back on course as Hudson tunnel gets federal grant
USA: The project to build another rail tunnel beneath the Hudson River linking New York City with New Jersey is to be allocated a further $6·9bn of federal funding.