National Railways of Zimbabwe is planning to establish a mineral prospecting firm which General Manager Air Commodore Michael Karakadzai said will exploit 'under-explored potential' to earn critically-needed foreign currency. 'Since colonial days NRZ and Zimbabwean railways have jointly held mineral prospecting rights in South Africa,' he said.
Reversing a cancellation by the Minister of Transport during March, the Indonesian government has revived plans for a 98 km rail link between Simpang and Tanjung Api-api port on the east coast of Sumatra. Having received backing from President Yudhoyono, work on the Rp1 540bn project is to begin later this year.
Korea International Co-operation Agency completed a two-year feasibility study into a fast rail link between Nha Trang and Ho Chi Minh City during March. The 369 km line in southern Vietnam would allow speeds of 180 km/h and could form the first section of a high speed line to Hanoi, but the cost is put at US$7?8bn.
JR-Freight is to appoint an engineering committee which will look at options for the introduction of diesel-battery hybrid shunting locomotives in Japan.
The construction of a 800?km railway between Brazzaville and the north west of the Republic of Congo has been proposed by a South Korean consortium. The scheme is subject to feasibility studies and the granting of forestry concessions.
South Africa's Kwazulu-Natal province is developing plans for a Durban - Johannesburg fast rail link, to reduce the number of lorries on the N3 national road.
Mexican firm MHFM Transport Holdings has signed a memorandum of understanding with Chinese firm Arias Asia and Japanese partners for the development of a US$2bn privately-financed electrified rail link across Mexico between the Pacific port of Salina Cruz and Coatzacoalcos on the Gulf of Mexico. A 25-year BOT concession is envisaged for the line, which would compete with the Panama Canal for traffic between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans.
INTERNATIONAL: ‘Beware of trains. Life can change in a split second’ is the slogan for the 16th International Level Crossing Awareness Day, which this year has a particular emphasis on the safety of vulnerable people. Around 50 countries take part in the annual ILCAD campaign which ...
INDIA: The AT Railway a subsidiary of Amber Enterprises India has signed a joint venture agreement with South Korea’s Yujin Machinery to design, manufacture, and develop critical components for various types of rolling stock used in India. The joint venture will focus on components such as ...
EUROPE: Austrian Federal Railways has put into service the first of its updated Railjet trainsets on services linking Germany, Austria and Italy. Toma Bačić rode on a preview run between München and Verona on April 5.