Infrastructure news – Page 6
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NewsPort link and Trans-Siberian tunnel inaugurated
RUSSIA: A 49·7 km railway line to the port of Lavna, and a 926 m long double-track tunnel on the Trans-Siberian railway line were inaugurated on December 15. The inauguration events were attended by President Vladimir Putin via a video stream. Port link The newly built ...
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In depthResilient Infrastructure: Reducing rail noise with acoustically optimised crossings
The noise generated by trains passing over turnouts can pose problems for railways, particularly in residential areas. Laboratory trials have shown the potential benefits of high-damping polyurethane composites, and a field test is currently underway on the ÖBB network in Austria.
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In depthJapan: Rural railways struggle against a changing climate
Recent storms have caused huge damage in parts of Japan, wrecking some rural railways and forcing others to close. Mike Bent examines how local lines can be revived against the odds.
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NewsChinese task force to draw-up TAZARA revitalisation plan
AFRICA: China Civil & Engineering and Construction Corp has sent a task force to undertake a comprehensive business and technical inspection of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway, having being appointed to negotiate a potential deal for a Chinese operator to revitalise the line which was built with Chinese ...
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NewsMazowieckie orders EMUs as greenfield line makes progress
POLAND: Mazowieckie voivodship has signed a 458·5m złoty contract for Pesa to supply 16 two-car Regio 160 electric multiple-units by the end of 2026 for use by voivodship-owned operator Koleje Mazowieckie. The order announced on December 18 includes maintenance and staff training, said Marshal Adam Struzik. ...
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NewsMoldova railway rehabilitation loan signed
MOLDOVA: The government has signed a €41·2m loan agreement with the European Investment Bank’s development finance arm EIB Global to finance rehabilitation of the Vălcineț – Ungheni – Chișinău – Căinari rail corridor. Along with a €12m EU grant announced earlier this year, this will improve ...
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NewsNext stage of Skopje – Sofia rail link financed
NORTH MACEDONIA: A €560m package of support for the construction a rail link between North Macedonia and Bulgaria has been announced by the EU, European Investment Bank and European Bank for Reconstruction & Development. The future route forming part of pan-European Corridor VIII will start at ...
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Rail Business UKDeliver gauge clearance in Kent to boost northern economy, urges Channel Tunnel operator
UK: The Channel Tunnel risks remaining ‘essentially inaccessible’ to rail freight without investment to enhance the loading gauge of the conventional main line through Kent, the CEO of Eurotunnel’s parent company Getlink has warned.
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NewsAgartala – Akhaura cross-border link inaugurated
ASIA: Revenue services have started operating on the short cross-border rail link between Agartala in India and Akhaura in Bangladesh, following a virtual inauguration by Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Sheikh Hasina in November. Built at an estimated cost of Rs11bn, the 15 km link has ...
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NewsNairobi suburban railway construction launched
KENYA: President William Ruto has officially launched construction of the Riruta – Ngong commuter rail line, which is being built to relieve road congestion and lower transport costs in Nairobi. The metre-gauge line is being built by China Road & Bridge Corp under a contract awarded ...
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NewsPresident inaugurates first phase of Tren Maya
MEXICO: Revenue services have started running on the 473 km first phase of the ambitious Tren Maya project between Campeche and Cancún, following a formal inauguration by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. Unveiling a commemorative plaque at San Francisco station in Campeche ...
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NewsBurundi – Tanzania railway financing approved
AFRICA: The African Development Bank board has approved financing for the second phase of the Tanzania – Burundi – DR Congo standard gauge railway. On December 12 the bank announced that it would provide Burundi with grants worth US$98·62m, and Tanzania with US$597·79m as loans and ...
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NewsChange in safety rules opens door to more cross-Channel operators
EUROPE: Eurotunnel is working with rolling stock suppliers and safety authorities to simplify the standards that apply to cross-Channel rail traffic as part of its aim to double the number of high speed passenger trains using the Channel Tunnel by the end of 2033.
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NewsBosnian railway reopened
BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA: The 24 km branch line from Podlugovi to Vareš, north of Sarajevo, reopened after 31 years on December 14. The reopening was initiated by Adriatic Metals, a UK-based company which holds a silver mining concession in Vareš. Adriatic Metals cleared the route, ...
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Rail Business UKEast West Rail project should be aligned with wider economic strategy, says National Audit Office
UK: The government needs to align the East West Rail project and housing development plans to maximise the economic benefits of the future railway, according to a report from the National Audit Office.
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NewsWestern section of Koralmbahn opens in southern Austria
AUSTRIA: The 53 km western section of the Koralmbahn in southwest Austria opened with the timetable change on December 10.
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In depthResilient Infrastructure: Using machine learning to inspect overhead wires
Swedish infrastructure manager Trafikverket and maintenance contractor Infranord are using machine learning technology to monitor the condition of electrification equipment across the country.
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NewsAlbania to Kosovo railway study commissioned
EUROPE: Albanian national railway HSH has selected a consortium of ILF Consulting Engineers Austria and Abkons to conduct a 14-month feasibility study for the construction of a rail link to Kosovo. Two options will be considered for the Albanian part of the route, branching from the ...
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NewsUS government allocates $8·2bn to inter-city rail initiatives
USA: The Federal Railroad Administration has allocated a total of $8·2bn of Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail programme 2022-26 funding to 10 projects, and selected 69 proposals for further development. Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail funding State Project Maximum ...
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In depthResilient Infrastructure: Protecting Japan’s national network from earthquakes
The Railway Technical Research Institute is striving to find ways of making Japan’s railways safer and more secure against damage from earthquakes.