Main line rail industry news – Page 1040
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NewsEurostar settles into its green depot
UK: Having successfully moved its maintenance facility across London ahead of the start of services on High Speed 1 last year, Eurostar is now working to ensure its Engineering Centre Temple Mills is an environmentally-responsible member of the local community. Nick Kingsley reports.
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NewsPoland prepares to take the high speed plunge
POLAND: An invitation to bid for a high speed line feasibility study is due to be issued by the end of the year, kicking off a process that could see a Y–shaped route enter service in 2019.
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NewsThe great train drought
SOUTH AFRICA: A derailment near Overvaal on September 4 of 42 laden coal wagons forming part of a 200-vehicle train blocked the busy Richards Bay line for at least two days. The latest in a series of problems, the blockage sparked further concern among the country’s coal mining companies, who ...
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NewsHigh speed race is on
UK: Prospects for construction of a domestic high speed line inched closer last month, when newly-appointed Secretary of State for Transport Geoff Hoon revealed that he had asked his Minister of Transport with responsibility for networks (including rail) to take a closer look at the potential. Also newly in post, ...
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Salt Lake City airport link underway
USA: A ceremony in Salt Lake City on October 22 marked the start of construction on the $300m Airport TRAX light rail line. The 9·7 km five-stop branch will diverge from the main north-south line at Arena, heading west to Terminal One. It is expected to carry 14 000 daily ...
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NewsWarszawa Line 1 finished
POLAND: The final section of Warszawa’s first metro line between Slodowiec and Mlociny was completed on October 25, an event celebrated with an afternoon of free travel on November 1. The 20 km line with 21 stations has taken 25 years to build. Although construction of Line 2 has been ...
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People in the news - November 2008
A dispute over seats on the CSX board (RG 7.08 p422) ended on September 16 with the rejection of the company’s legal action by a federal court. CSX had sought to invalidate the election of two nominees from The Children’s Investment Fund (TCI) and 3G Capital Partners but, following the ...
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NewsGE diesels will revitalise KTZ fleet
KAZAKHSTAN: GE Transportation is working with Kazakhstan Temir Zholy to modernise the locomotive fleet, reports Murray Hughes.
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Končar’s low-floor EMU plans
CROATIA: Rolling stock manufacturer Končar intends to complete the construction of a regional EMU prototype by the middle of next year. Following initial tests, the three-car unit will be delivered to Bosnian Railways with a view to series production of the design. Končar hopes to target the former Yugoslavia and ...
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NewsDubai ruler's trial run
UAE: Dubai's ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum officially launched test running on the Dubai Metro during a visit to the test track on September 20. Sheikh Mohammed took a ride on one of the Kinki Sharyo-built trains, accompanied by Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al ...
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Shenzhen prepares for Line 5 construction
CHINA: Shenzhen Metro has awarded a contract worth 9·3bn yuan to China Railway Group to construct Line 5 on a build and transfer basis. Linking Shenzen West with Longhua, Line 5 will be 41 km long with 27 stations and a rolling stock depot. It is due to open to ...
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NewsFrench independent rail regulator to be created
FRANCE: Secretary of State for Transport Dominique Bussereau presented a bill to cabinet on September 10 paving the way for the establishment of an independent rail regulator. Intended to ensure that there is no discrimination against operators wishing to gain access to the national network, the bill is due to ...
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NewsTazara hopes rise on investment plan
TANZANIA: Plans to invest US$950m to expand the country’s rail network were announced by Minister of Infrastructure Development Dr Shukuru Kawamba in August. He confirmed that consultants were working on a feasibility study in line with a strategy outlined in the East African Railway Master Plan. Kwambwa says development will ...
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NewsSydney metro project 'deferred'
AUSTRALIA: New South Wales Transport Minister David Campbell has announced that the proposed North West metro in Sydney is to be deferred because of 'the size of capital required and the current economic climate'. 'The Government is facing tough decisions as part of the mini-budget process', Campbell said on ...
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NewsCP completes Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern takeover
USA: Canadian Pacific Railway marked its first day of operational control of Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad Corp and its subsidiaries Iowa, Chicago & Eastern Railroad and Cedar American Rail Holdings on October 30. This followed the end of a 30-day regulatory standstill after the Surface Transport Board finally ...
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News'We are very modest'
CZECH REPUBLIC: Meeting the requirements of EU legislation whilst continuing to develop passenger and freight operations across the Czech Republic is a tough task. Nick Kingsley met Vojtech Kocourek, Minister with responsibility for railways, in Praha to discuss railway restructuring, the future of regional lines and relations with Brussels.
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NewsGreen Cargo orders Traxx locos for steel contract
SWEDEN: Green Cargo has placed a €51m order with Bombardier for 16 Traxx F140AC electric locomotives. To be delivered between February and July 2010, they will be used on freight trains to be operated under a 10-year contract with steel sheet and plate producer SSAB. Green Cargo's SKr2·5bn transport ...
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NewsRoom on the Rails
NETHERLANDS: An ambitious vision for a massive increase in traffic on the national rail network by 2020 was unveiled by Transport Minister Camiel Eurlings on September 3. The government is projecting a 5% annual increase in rail patronage, as well as further growth in rail freight. HSL-Zuid and the Betuwe ...