All Railway Gazette International articles in May 2009
All articles published this month.
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NewsIndustry News in Brief
The ED Holding subsidiary of Slovak financial group J&T has purchased a 96% stake in Czech electrification equipment supplier Elektrizace Zeleznic for KC810m. EZ Praha recorded a pre-tax profit of KC200m on turnover of KC2·5bn in 2008. The remaining 4% is owned by Alexandr Fedorocko. UCS Civils has launched ...
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NewsProducts & Technology in Brief
Dutch infrastructure manager ProRail is developing an adjustable version of its ANAbel level crossing audible warning system for use in urban areas. Regulations require a warning 15 dB above surrounding noise, but the sound levels required to achieve this during the day bring complaints from local inhabitants at night. The ...
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NewsGE signs $500m Kazakh locomotive service deal
KAZAKHSTAN: GE Transportation announced the signing of two significant agreements in Kazakhstan on May 29. The first is a 15-year contract with the JSC Lokomotiv subsidiary of state railway KTZ which covers the servicing and overhaul of 404 2TE10 locomotives which GE Transportation has modernised. GE Transportation will work ...
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NewsSustainable urban transport funded
FRANCE: On April 30 Jean-Louis Borloo, the minister responsible for transport, announced 50 projects selected to receive a share of the €800m allocated under the Grenelle de l’Environnement initiative to finance sustainable urban transport projects between 2009 and 2011. The list includes metro extensions in Marseille and Lyon, and tram ...
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NewsRail collision test highlights crashworthiness research
UK: Automotive and defence testing organisation MIRA has staged a full-scale rail collision to showcase opportunities for technology transfer between road and rail ahead of the implementation of further EU regulations covering the crashworthiness of rolling stock. The collision aimed to replicate an impact scenario set out in EN15227. ...
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NewsGreen bottles keep falling
EUROPE: The May issue of Railway Gazette International reported suggestions that open-access operators in the European rail freight sector might not withstand the chill winds of the economic downturn, and commented that some had already been bought out by state-backed incumbent operators. The logic is unassailable. Free from costly regulations ...
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NewsReliability is more urgent than speed
USA: Incremental improvements to permit more frequent and reliable passenger services are more important in revitalising the inter-city rail sector than developing a national network of 320 km/h trains, according to Amtrak President & CEO Joseph Boardman. Testifying before the Illinois House Railroad Industry Committee on May 11, Boardman emphasised ...
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NewsGraz S-Bahn GTW order
AUSTRIA: Steiermärkischen Landesbahnen placed an €21m order for six GTW multiple-units with Stadler on May 28. They are to be delivered from October 2010 for use on the Graz S-Bahn network, which was launched at the end of 2007 using leased vehicles which STLB is due to return at the ...
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NewsSiemens and Sinara announce locomotive joint venture
RUSSIA: Siemens Mobility, freight locomotive manufacturer Sinara Transport Machines and Russian Railways signed a memorandum of understanding for the production of electric locomotives during the 1520 Strategic Partnership forum in Sochi on May 28. A joint venture of Siemens and Sinara will be based at the Russian firm's Ural ...
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NewsGO Transit electrification study announced
CANADA: Greater Toronto transport authority Metrolinx announced a study into electrifying the entire GO Transit rail network on May 26. As the first stage, an external advisory committee of independent technical experts community representatives and passengers will be established to advise on the terms of reference. 'This committee's advice ...
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NewsPastries, parties and stamps celebrate first segment of Circle Line
SINGAPORE: Passengers began using the first five Circle Line stations on May 28, after Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean ceremonially opened the first 5·7 km segment of the line the previous day. The S$6·7bn CCL is being built in five phases, which will form a 33·3 km horseshoe ...
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NewsRolling stock cable brand launched
CABLES: Nexans has launched Flamex as the brand for its range of cables for rolling stock applications, including on-train power, control, data, high voltage and optic fibre products. Conforming to a range of national and international standards, the cables resist the propagation of fire and produce low smoke emissions ...
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NewsOptimism in München
GERMANY: Despite the woes affecting the global freight market, more than 47 500 visitors attended the Transport Logistic trade fair in München. The show attracted 1 760 exhibitors from 55 countries, across the rail, road, maritime and air sectors. Amongst the rail exhibits was the first of 65 Traxx ...
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NewsPath bidding hots up
FRANCE: While private-sector entrepreneurs planning a foray into Europe’s international rail passenger business remain understandably coy about their plans once the liberalisation of international services becomes a reality next year, it is clear that activity is taking place behind the scenes. Les Echos reported last month that before RFF ...
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NewsStadler signs Texas A-Train contract
USA: Having received funding from the Texas Department of Transportation, on May 19 Denton County Transportation Authority placed a $73·8m order with Stadler for 11 GTW 2/6 diesel multiple-units for the future A-Train service between Carrollton and Denton. The DMUs will be delivered from August 2011 to April 2012, ...
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NewsKnorr-Bremse's Budapest plant topped out
HUNGARY: Minister of National Development & Economy István Varga attended the topping-out ceremony for Knorr-Bremse's expanded rail brake factory in Budapest on May 26. Construction of the building began in March, and production is due to start in spring next year. Replacing an existing plant nearby, the 30 000 ...
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NewsSpecialist orders boost Mechan turnover
UK: VolkerFitzpatrick has become the first UK customer for a sand box filling system marketed by workshop equipment supplier Mechan, which recently reached a UK and Ireland sales agreement with Italian manufacturer Bertolotti. The £250 000 order for a depot VolkerFitzpatrick is building in Liverpool for Pendolino trains includes ...
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NewsGE unveils ES44C4 locomotive
USA: GE Transportation formally unveiled its ES44C4 locomotive design with a roll-out ceremony on May 18. Part of the Evolution family, the ES44C4 is derived from the ES44AC, but with the centre axles on each bogie unpowered. The aim is to offer a replacement option for DC-motored locomotives which have ...
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NewsMamata Banerjee returns as Minister of Railways
INDIA: Following the recent general election, Mamata Banerjee took over as Minister of Railways on May 26. She succeeds Lalu Prasad. Re-elected to the Lok Sabha from the Kolkata south constituency in West Bengal, Banerjee is President of the All India Trinamool Congress, which she founded in 1997. She ...
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NewsLargest Hanze Line contract signed
NETHERLANDS: The largest contract to be awarded under the €1bn Hanze Line project was signed by infrastructure manager ProRail and the HanzaRailTeam consortium on May 12. The €164m agreement covers track, 1·5 kV DC electrification, signalling and sound mitigation measures on the 50 km line now under construction between Lelystad ...