All News articles – Page 460

  • News

    Changchun builds high-capacity cars to carry Tehran commuters

    1997-07-01T10:00:00Z

    BYLINE: Zhang LiManager, Changcar Import & Export DepartmentChangchun Car CoTWO CAR designs are currently in production at Changchun for Tehran Urban & Suburban Railway Co. Both form part of a 217-vehicle contract worth US$138m signed in 1996 (RG 11.96 p710). A fleet of seven-car trainsets was ordered for ...

  • News

    Siemens test centre opens for business

    1997-07-01T10:00:00Z

    JUNE 16 saw the official opening of the test centre at Wildenrath-Wegberg near M

  • News

    DWA wins Finnish metro car race

    1997-07-01T10:00:00Z

    HELSINKI City Transport announced on May 30 that it had selected Deutsche Waggonbau AG to negotiate final terms for supply of 12 metro trainsets, at a cost of FM240m including VAT. The trains are needed to provide extra capacity, and to cover services on a 4 km branch to Vuosaari ...

  • News

    Russians to test smart cards

    1997-07-01T10:00:00Z

    MOSCOW Metro has awarded an A$8·4m contract to AES Prodata, part of Australia’s ERG group, for installation of advanced fare collection equipment at 153 stations. The system is intended to reduce fraud and handle rising traffic. It will be based around the V3000 ticket reader which combines magnetic stripe and ...

  • News

    China inherits a rail success story

    1997-07-01T10:00:00Z

    As China resumes sovereignty over Hong Kong on July 1 it inherits from the British a mix of profitable and efficient railways and a rolling programme of expansion. Tim Runnacles* reviews the latest position

  • News

    Sevilla circle proposed

    1997-07-01T10:00:00Z

    SPANISH National Railways’ Suburban business unit has proposed a circular service for Sevilla, calling at Santa Justa, San Bernardo, Virgen del Rocío and six new stations on an existing double-track, electrified freight line east of the city. Continente, Sevilla-Este, Palacio de Congresos, Mercasevilla-Hipercor, La Negrilla-Padre Pío and Segunda Universidad-Ecovol would ...

  • News

    Euromed cuts timings in coastal corridor

    1997-07-01T10:00:00Z

    INTRO: RENFE’s Long Distance business unit introduced Euromedservice totheBarcelona - Valencia - Alicante corridor on June 16, cuttingjourney times with a fleet of AVE high-speedtrainsets adapted for 1668mm gaugeoperation at up to 220 km/hSPANISH National Railways has launched Euromed service from Barcelona. This comprises five daily return workings to Valencia ...

  • News

    Sabre will slash maintenance costs

    1997-07-01T10:00:00Z

    LONDON UNDERGROUND expects savings of £10m a year on its maintenance budget, thanks to the development and implementation of software from ICL and Workplace Systems. Sabre, ’Site Access Booking for Railway Engineering’, offers engineers the facility to co-ordinate work to minimise clashing operations, and improve utilisation of resources.Planning work in ...

  • News

    Kyoto hub opens its doors

    1997-07-01T10:00:00Z

    RAILWAY facilities at a JR West’s rebuilt Kyoto station complex are scheduled to open on July 12, providing interchange between the Tokaido shinkansen, Nara, Kintetsu and Kyoto routes. Within the 16-storey complex, which has some 238000m2 of floor space, a 925-seat festival theatre and two cinemas are due to open ...

  • News

    States stay execution

    1997-07-01T10:00:00Z

    The Boston segment of the Lake Shore Limited has been rescued by a complex deal between Amtrak and the state of Massachusetts which is designed to expand the operator’s non-passenger revenue. The train had been scheduled to be discontinued on May 10 owing to Amtrak’s on-going financial crisis (RG 5.97 ...

  • News

    Renfe fares restructured

    1997-07-01T10:00:00Z

    June 16 saw the start of 220 km/h Euromed service on the Barcelona - Alicante corridor (p447) and the introduction of a new fares structure by Renfe’s Long Distance business unit, to be extended to sleeping car and couchette travel in September. The previous pricing regime based on a calendar ...

  • News

    Finance

    1997-07-01T10:00:00Z

    Canada: Short line operator RaiLink Ltd plans a C$25m share offering, and is due to be listed on the Toronto stock market this month.Estonia: The European Investment Bank is providing half of the estimated US$35·5m cost of track repairs on 70 km of EVR main line between Tallinn and the ...

  • News

    Swazis prepare to go west

    1997-07-01T10:00:00Z

    SWAZILAND Railways has unveiled plans to build a western link into South Africa, to provide a direct route to Johannesburg and the Gauteng region. Chief Executive Officer Gideon Mahlalela said in Mbabane on May 29 that he hoped the line would be open within five years.The new link would use ...

  • News

    Hollands Spoor refurbished

    1997-07-01T10:00:00Z

    May 23 saw the completion of a key stage in an ongoing rebuilding programme undertaken by Netherlands Railways and the city authorities at Den Haag Hollands Spoor, as the station’s main hall and passenger subway were officially re-opened following comprehensive refurbishment. This phase of the Hollands Spoor programme has cost ...

  • News

    Industry

    1997-07-01T10:00:00Z

    Australia: GE Transportation Systems and A Goninan & Co have signed a technical assistance and licensing agreement giving Goninan access to GE’s AC traction technology.China: MVA Group has set up MVA Beijing Transport Consultants Co Ltd as a joint venture with the Beijing Municipal Institute of City Planning & Design.Great ...

  • News

    Interior refurbishment sets the mood

    1997-07-01T10:00:00Z

    Switzerland’s South Eastern Railway (SOB) has taken delivery of the first of 10 coaches refurbished by Schindler Waggon AG using its Revvivo method (PP 8.96 p7). The interior assembled from prefabricated modules offers a bright and modern climate-controlled ambience, for around half the cost of a new vehicle.Vignelli Associates has ...

  • News

    Railtrack investment up

    1997-07-01T10:00:00Z

    FINANCIAL results announced on June 5 show that Railtrack is keeping its promise to boost investment following privatisation in May 1996. For the year to March 31 1997, spending on maintenance and renewal of Britain’s rail infrastructure exceeded £1·6bn, which is regarded as the ’steady-state’ figure.Operating profit rose by 15% ...

  • News

    Lakeside lines upgraded

    1997-07-01T10:00:00Z

    ON JUNE 9 Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf formally opened Banverket’s reconstructed Svealandsbanan regional main line between S

  • News

    Reserve Le Shuttle

    1997-07-01T10:00:00Z

    Eurotunnel’s Le Shuttle car-carrying service has been relaunched following the repair of fire damage to the Channel Tunnel (RG 1.97 p21), starting with several weeks of special events under the ’Happy Summer’ banner. Managing Director Bill Dix announced on June 10 that 60 to 65% of capacity would henceforth be ...

  • News

    Sydney light rail ready to start

    1997-07-01T10:00:00Z

    THIS MONTH is due to see the start of services on Sydney’s A$65m Ultimo - Pyrmont light rail line. The first Adtranz-built Variotram to reach the city arrived on May 31 and the second on June 5, enabling test running to start on the reserved alignment behind the Darling Harbour ...