n Canada’s Federal Minister of Transport David Collenette has called for bids to build a rail link between Toronto Union Station and Pearson International Airport. The privately-financed line would be completed by 2006, as part of Toronto’s bid for the 2008 Olympics, and would include a spur to Woodbine Racetrack.
n Lithuanian Railways plans to withdraw loss-making passenger services and close unprofitable routes in 2002.
n A 6 km road, rail and pipeline bridge across the Kerch strait between Ukraine and Russia is being planned by Kerchensky Most, a joint stock company specially formed by the two governments. The project is costed at US$500m.
n An 800m tunnel under the Johor Straits has been proposed under a scheme to move KTMB’s Singapore terminus from Tanjong Pagar to Kranji. The Southern International Gateway Project also includes 6·7 km of new alignment in tunnel in Johor Baru and Singapore. Meanwhile, the Malaysian government has given its approval for double-tracking of further sections of KTMB’s Johor Bahru - Padang Besar main line.
n The state government of Orissa is planning an 80 km rapid transit system to reduce traffic on the Chandikhol - Khurdha road, one of the busiest in India. Road Transport Corp Director Dilip Mohapatra said that pre-project survey work is under way, and the line would take over 20 years to build.
n Bertrand Delano
