All Railway Gazette International articles in November 2007
All articles published this month.
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News
Inner Mongolia coal link starts
NOVEMBER 10 saw the formal start of construction of a new line in northeast China which will eventually form a second trans-Mongolian link with Russia. Dubbed the 'energy line', the project is being promoted by the Liaoning Chuncheng Industry & Trade Group. It will initially be used to carry coal ...
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News
Condition monitoring agreement
A JOINT project to develop automated rolling stock condition monitoring integrated with braking systems has been established by bearing and lubrication specialist SKF and brake manufacturer Knorr-Bremse. Signed in Göteborg on October 31 by SKF Service Division President Phil Knights and Knorr-Bremse Director Wolfgang Schlosser, the agreement covers the development ...
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Bern order signals Combino comeback
SIEMENS has won an order for 21 Combino Classic 100% low-floor trams to run in the Swiss capital. Transport authority Bernmobil will use the vehicles on Line 9 to Wabern and on the 6·8 km Tram Bern West project that was approved in August after extensive revision of earlier proposals. ...
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NewsNigeria's grand plan back on hold
FOR MANY years we have been tracking plans to develop a standard gauge network in Nigeria. Earlier this year it looked as if progress was imminent, with the signing of an agreement for China Civil Engineering & Construction Co to build a double-track line from Lagos to Abuja and Kano ...
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NewsTaiwan's high speed line takes off
A celebration on October 24 marked the formal completion of the high speed line between Taipei and Kaohsiung. THSRC Chairman Nita Ing talks to Chris Jackson about the challenges of transforming the company from a builder to an operator and paying off the US$16bn cost of the world's biggest BOT ...
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News
An international partnership
THE TAIWAN high speed line has been a truly international project, according to THSRC Chief Executive Dr Ou Chin-Der. Over the past decade engineers, contractors and consultants of more than 40 nationalities were involved in the design, construction and commissioning of the railway. 'We have enjoyed more than a contractual ...
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News
First Italian region calls bids to run local transport
TENDERS will be called early in 2008 for a concession to run transport services in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region of northern Italy from January 2011 to December 2019. The region is the first in Italy to call open tenders for public transport services, according to Regional Councillor for ...
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News
Civia IV ordered for suburban growth
SPANISH national operator RENFE announced on October 30 that it had awarded contracts for the supply of 60 Civia EMUs, taking to 237 the number of these commuter trains ordered since 2000. Under a contract worth €233·1m including maintenance over 14 years, CAF and Siemens are to supply 30 five-car ...
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NewsMÁV Cargo tender won by RCA-GySEV
HUNGARY'S Ministry of Economy & Transport announced on November 27 that a consortium of Rail Cargo Austria and GySEV had submitted the best bid for the privatisation of MÁV Cargo. The Ministry's statement said negotiations with the winning consortium would start 'as soon as possible, so the contract might ...
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News
Battle for Oakajee
COMPETITION to build rail and port infrastructure serving iron ore mines in the Mid West region of Western Australia is hotting up as rival groups vie for the right to develop the planned deep-water port at Oakajee north of Geraldton. After WestNet Rail unveiled proposals for a single dual-gauge route ...
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News
CD Cargo leaves the nest
THE ESTABLISHMENT of CD Cargo as an independent freight train operator will take effect on December 1, according to Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek. Separation of Czech Railways' freight business into a wholly-owned subsidiary was finally approved by the government on October 22. The cabinet had approved the plans in ...
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News
Train drivers look into head-up displays
AIRCRAFT head-up displays are being tested in a railway environment using a cab simulator developed by BAE Systems for research into the human factors of train driving. Speed, braking and signalling data are projected onto a small glass screen in front of the driver's face, providing constant access to information ...
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News
Wellington EMU order
PLANS FOR the renewal and expansion of Tranz Metro suburban rail services in the New Zealand capital reached a key milestone on November 13, when Greater Wellington Regional Council confirmed an order for new EMUs. GWRC has signed a contract with Rotem of South Korea and Mitsui of Japan covering ...
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News
High speed opening in a hole
DECEMBER was due to see the opening of three new sections of high speed line in Spain, with the final section of Madrid - Barcelona, the Madrid - Valladolid line and the Antequera - Málaga route to be inaugurated on December 21, 22 and 23 respectively. But the plans have ...
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News
GE enters UK loco market
GE TRANSPORTATION is to develop its first diesel locomotive design for the UK market, following an order for 30 units announced by Freightliner Group Ltd on November 26. Freightliner currently operates a fleet of 127 EMD Class 66 locomotives to haul intermodal and bulk freight in the UK, and ...
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News
Rail industry moves into top gear
Passenger and freight operations in Australia are undergoing massive revitalisation, with billions of dollars in public and private funding being invested in new and upgraded lines and rolling stock
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News
Only TfL bids for Metronet
LONDON Underground Managing Director Tim O'Toole confirmed on November 6 that Transport for London has submitted the only bid to acquire the failed PPP infrastructure concessionaire Metronet. Metronet BCV and SSL had been put into administration by Mayor of London Ken Livingstone on July 18 (RG 8.07 p461). Administrator Alan ...
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News
Focus on France as Commission approves EWS takeover
CONDITIONAL APPROVAL for Deutsche Bahn to acquire 100% of EWS Holdings was announced by the European Commission on November 7. Welcoming the decision, EWS said 'both companies look forward to working together to develop freight in Europe', stressing that 'the business strategy of EWS remains the same: to continue ...
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News
Brush buys Hunslet-Barclay
BRUSH Barclay is the new name adopted for the former Hunslet-Barclay Ltd, after FKI announced on November 12 that it was paying £2·1m to acquire the assets of the rolling stock engineering business on behalf of Brush Traction. On October 26 KPMG Restructuring had announced the appointment of joint administrators ...
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News
Paris RER contract
A CONTRACT worth €103m for the supply of components for the mid-life refurbishment of 119 four-car RATP Class MI79 and SNCF Class Z8100 suburban EMUs used on Paris RER Line B was awarded to Alstom last month. The vehicles were delivered by Alstom from 1980, and the manufacturer will now ...