Argentina: UEPFP is to introduce Talgo rolling stock purchased from Renfe to the 399 km Buenos Aires - Mar del Plata route by the end of this year. Infrastructure improvements allowing a 2h 50min journey time include curve easements, welded rails and resignalling by Siemens.
Ferrocarril General Belgrano is testing a satellite-based train communications and control system supplied by Teyma Sainsel of Spain for US$3·5m. Train locations are determined by GPS, with movement orders transmitted by radio.
Australia: The Australian Transport Council is to consider creation of a land transport commission to harmonise rail regulations and operating procedures. It would also help develop road/rail investment strategies for key corridors.
Queensland Railway opened the last phase of the A$375m Gold Coast line to Robina on June 1. An extension to Coolangatta is now under consideration.
All 301 stations on Sydney’s CityRail network are to be fitted with new lighting, CCTV and public addresss under an A$55m programme for completion by July 2000. From July 1 two security guards will patrol each train after 19.00, under a A$16m contract with Chubb Security.
Austria: ÖBB is considering a plan to build a main line station at Wien Schwechat airport, possibly at a third terminal.
Brazil: Ferrovías, Metrovías and TBA of Argentina have expressed interest in a 30-year concession to run the Flumitrens commuter network serving Rio de Janeiro. The successful bidder would be required to pay US$28m in infrastructure charges and US$7m for the use of rolling stock.
Canada: BC Transit’s West Coast Express commuter operation has introduced an automatic vehicle location system combining global positioning with wireless cellular digital packaging data technology. Precise train location will allow better timetable co-ordination with BC Transit’s Skytrain, ferry and bus services.
China: Binne Consultants and Meinhardt are undertaking a feasibility study into KCRC’s proposed route from Sheung Shui to a second border crossing at Lok Ma Chau (RG 6.98 p375). KCRC hopes to have the 7 km route open by 2004.
Czech Republic: Viamont began leasing CD’s 23 km Sokolov - Kraslice route on May 24. A total of KC3·5m will be invested in upgrading and renovation.
Estonia: Estonian Railways is to seek a foreign partner to form a joint venture to operate international passenger services. Holding a minority interest, EVR will bring rolling stock and station facilities for the new venture worth 19·5m kroons.
Europe: Intercontainer-Interfrigo introduced the Brabo intermodal shuttle service between the Cirkledyck terminal in Antwerpen, Basel and Zürich on May 25. Operating five days a week, the shuttles have a capacity of 75TEU each and offer next-day delivery.
Cemat, Intercontainer-Interfrigo and Kombiverkehr launched a München - Milano shuttle service on June 1, operating overnight five days a week. The operators are purchasing the service jointly but marketing it separately.
DB Cargo, Finnish State Railways and shipping company Finnlines Ltd signed a co-operation agreement on May 20 in Helsinki, intended to boost traffic on Railship train ferry services across the Baltic currently carrying 850000 tonnes a year.
France: SNCF holding company Sceta has created Ecorail to specialise in the transport of domestic refuse and industrial waste. Annual turnover is expected to grow to Fr200m by 2002.
Germany: Transport Intermodal GmbH of Mannheim is to become an open access operator, hauling containerised waste from Hildesheim to Krefeld. A diesel loco will be leased from DB to haul two rakes of 18 ATCS wagons.
Transfracht International has restructured its services for maritime containers to and from Bremerhaven and Hamburg; the 10 trains now each serve a specific area.
Great Britain: Central Railway has revived its £3bn scheme to build a dedicated railway to the Channel Tunnel primarily for piggyback traffic. It now plans a 640 km route from Liverpool via Manchester, Sheffield and London.
Japan: Nagoya Waterfront Rapid Railway, formed by JR Central, the city of Nagoya and Aichi prefecture, is to double and electrify the existing 11 km branch to Kinjo Futo in the city’s port area, which would be extended 4 km to Kaneshiro and provided with 12 new stations. Construction is scheduled for 1999 to 2004, at a cost of ´96·5bn.
Slovakia: ZSR signed a contract with Siemens Austria on May 19 for the supply of 30 two- and three-car EMUs for Sch826m. Bodyshells will be built by Duewag, electrical equipment at Erlangen and bogies at Graz. Deliveries will run from March 2000 to November 2002.
Spain: The Ministry of Development has awarded contracts for the modernisation of signalling and communications equipment on the 190 km Casetas - Pamplona - Alsasua line. Costed at Pts4·2bn, the work will take 27 months.
Following a 50% rise in passenger traffic over the past year, Feve is to invest Pts1bn in the Oviedo - Infiesto route, including doubling from El Berrón to Pola de Siero and electrification from Pola de Siero to Nava. Elimination of level crossings and new automatic block signalling are intended to allow the introduction of a 15min service frequency.
Sweden: Under a contract worth £8·5m to equip Banverket’s Hallsberg marshalling yard, Swedish Rail System has ordered retarders with pneumatic retractors from Ultra Dynamics of the UK. Turnkey contractor SRS is supplying air compressors, tanks, valves and pipework.
Switzerland: On May 24 SBB inaugurated its new 4·7 km Emmenbrücke - Waldibrücke alignment on the Luzern - Lenzburg route. Designed for 100 km/h operation, it includes a 628m tunnel, eliminates a reversal at Emmenbrücke and replaces a roadside section.
Turkey: TCDD has re-invited tenders by August 20 for the supply of 60 electric locomotives to operate on its Ankara - Haydarpasa, Istanbul - Edirne - Kapikule and Iskenderun - Divrigi routes; an earlier invitation was cancelled after GEC Alsthom and Adtranz had submitted bids.
USA: Amtrak opened its Consolidated National Operations Centre at Wilmington, Delaware, in April. Managing crew and rolling stock deployment, the centre features a satellite-based train communication system and a real-time display of train positions across the USA.
The Surface Transportation Board ruled on May 29 in favour of Amtrak’s plans to revive passenger services between Boston and Portland, Maine, using the tracks of Guilford Rail System. Amtrak plans to invest $40m in modernising Guilford’s line from Plaistow, New Hampshire, to Portland, in conjunction with the New England Passenger Rail Authority.
BNSF undertook a $14m track and bridge maintenance project between Springfield, Missouri, and Turrell, Arkansas, from June 15 to June 27. With the line closed to all traffic, 22·5track-km of welded rail was replaced along with lining work on 169track-km and renewal of six bridges.
UP has begun a $15·2m project to install centralised traffic control on the 220 km between San Antonio and Laredo, Texas. UP and TFM of Mexico now have staff on site 24h a day to co-ordinate movements across the International Bridge at Laredo.
