All Railway Gazette International articles in June 2009
All articles published this month.
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NewsFreight crisis is biting hard
EUROPE: Just how seriously the economic downturn is hurting Europe’s rail freight emerges from a Declaration issued at a joint CER-UIC High-Level Freight Meeting in Wien on April 24. That the 20 or so chief executives attending the event felt the need to send out a formal cry for help ...
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NewsA rolling programme optimises wiring
UK: Two financially-viable main line schemes plus strategic infills offering the best value for money would initiate the rolling programme of electrification set out in a draft strategy published for consultation by Network Rail on May 15. For its core strategy, the infrastructure manager proposes electrification of around ...
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NewsPesa signs its tram 'contract of the century'
POLAND: Preferred bidder Pesa Bydgoszcz signed the contract to supply the city of Warszawa with 186 type 120N low-floor trams on May 29. The 1·5bn zloty contract was signed at Tramwaje Warszawskie's Zoliborz depot after the public procurement office approved the tendering process which had selected Pesa as the winner. ...
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NewsLight rail returns to the agenda in England
UK: Light rail is returning to the agenda in England, following a period when national policy has favoured bus-based projects. Contracts are expected to be signed this month for a major revitalisation of Britain’s only traditional tramway, agreement has been reached to revive Manchester’s ‘Big Bang’, and new vehicles are ...
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NewsBuilding on foundations of foam
USA: Utah Transit Authority is using Geofoam foundations at four bridges on the West Valley City light rail project in Salt Lake City. The lightweight fill and ground stabiliser was developed by Utah-based ACH Foam Technologies. ‘Using Geofoam instead of other types of fill, such as soil, could save ...
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NewsAn international transfer
EUROPE: We reported briefly in April that SNCF intended to increase its stake in contract operator Keolis from 45·5% to 57% by transferring its Effia subsidiary into the business. On the face of it, the restructuring appears not to be of major significance - Effia specialises in car park operation ...
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NewsWireless alliance targets Indian rail market
INDIA: Zylog Systems has formed a strategic alliance with Nomad Digital to develop wireless telecoms products for the Indian rail market. Nomad hopes to expand into Asia based on its experience of installing WiMax technology in the UK and supplying wireless internet services for railways and transit operators in ...
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NewsMRS launches CBTC operation
BRAZIL: The pilot section of MRS Logística's broad-gauge network equipped with SIACO communications-based train control was officially released for full commercial operation on June 1, two months later than planned following a period of intensive field testing. The 35 km section of the busy Pombal - Guaíba branch, together ...
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NewsWroclaw suburban vision
POLAND: Dolnoslaskie voivodship has presented plans to develop an intensive suburban network in Wroclaw. Implementation should start this year, although the date has still not been set, and tenders for new rolling stock are expected shortly. The proposed 701 km Dolnoslaskie Kolej Dojazdowa network will encompass 43 local authorities with ...
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NewsPrima II prototype rolled out by Alstom
FRANCE: The prototype Prima II locomotive was unveiled in a ceremony at Alstom Transport's Belfort plant on June 3. The locomotive will shortly be sent for testing at the Wildenrath circuit in Germany, and once certification is obtained commissioning is planned for 2011. The development of Prima II has ...
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NewsCeramic insulating insert
NETHERLANDS: Movares and Corus are testing a ceramic insulation insert for rail joints which promises the electrical insulating properties of plastic components with the lifespan of the adjoining rails. If the tests are successful, a commercial launch is expected within a year. There are around 5000 insulated joints on ...
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NewsHyder Consulting wins Express Rail Link contract
CHINA: MTR has awarded Hyder Consulting a contract covering the detailed design of lineside electrical and mechanical services for the HK$39·5bn Express Rail Link in Hong Kong. Starting at an underground terminus in West Kowloon, the link will run underground for 26 km to the boundary with mainland China ...
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NewsBombardier opens Zürich Powerlab
SWITZERLAND: Bombardier Transportation formally opened a 1 200 m2 development and test laboratory at its Zurich-Oerlikon site in June 4. MITRAC Powerlab Zürich is the company's core competence centre for high power traction propulsion technology, with two test benches for transformers, traction and auxiliary converters, motors and related electronics. ...
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NewsPremier announces QR privatisation plan
AUSTRALIA: Queensland Rail's freight businesses are among the assets included in a A$15bn privatisation plan announced by state Premier Anna Bligh on June 2. QR's coal business will be sold, and the government is to examine the potential to sell the bulk and regional freight, retail and intermodal businesses. Regional ...
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NewsMaking the right choices
MOBILITY: Investment in public transport provides the opportunity to tackle the global economic downturn, addressing environmental concerns and building a sustainable urban framework for the longer term.
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NewsOMERS acquires Nordco
NORDCO: Ontario pension fund investor OMERS Private Equity has acquired Nordco from The Riverside Company, which has owned the track maintenance equipment manufacture since 2003. Financing has been provided by GE Capital, Allied Capital and OMERS Administration Corp, but terms of the deal announced on June 1 have not been ...
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NewsNew Polish locomotive speed record
POLAND: Siemens has claimed a Polish speed record for a locomotive-hauled train, with a pair of Eurosprinter locomotives reaching 235 km/h between Psary and Góra Wlodowska during trials on the CMK fast line on May 29. The test train comprised two ES64U4 multi-system electric locomotives which Siemens has sent to ...
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NewsBombardier unveils Indian-built metro car
INDIA: The Chief Minister of Gujarat and the Managing Director of Delhi Metro Rail Corp were among the 250 guests who celebrated the roll out of the first Movia metro car to be built in India on June 5. Bombardier Transportation has invested €33m constructing a factory at Savli ...
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NewsPointers June 2009
Australian Rail Track Corp has released the first stage of a federally-funded study into the proposed Inland Railway between Melbourne and Brisbane. The 1 900 km route would follow existing lines via Albury to North Star, from where new track would be laid to Toowoomba and Brisbane. Capital cost would ...