All Railway Gazette International articles in November 2008 – Page 4
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NewsLiefkenshoek PPP reaches financial close
BELGIUM: Work is to start on November 12 on construction of the Liefkenshoek Connection serving the port of Antwerpen, following the signing of a PPP concession for the project. Infrastructure manager Infrabel confirmed on November 5 that it had reached financial close on the deal, under which LocoRail NV will ...
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NewsEBRD to boost loco production
SINARA: The European Bank for Reconstruction & Development is advancing a seven-year loan of US$65m to Russian freight locomotive manufacturer Sinara Transport Machines. This will enable the company to create a modern production plant capable of building over 500 locomotives a year, set up a service centre and continue development ...
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NewsPlastic track installed in Germany
SLEEPERS: A service life of at least 50 years is expected from the Eslon Neo Lumber FFU Polyurethane sleepers which Voestalpine has installed on private sidings serving a chemical plant at Leverkusen in Germany. The 74 m turnout has 136 sleepers between 2 200 and 4 500 mm long. They ...
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NewsIranian links make progress
ARMENIA: Construction of a rail link to Iran is likely to be pushed forward with Russian backing, following the recent conflict between Russia and Georgia. At a meeting in Sochi in September, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev discussed the project with his Armenian counterpart Serch Sarkissjan as part of a co-operation ...
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NewsLightweight Turbostars to get MTU drives
UK: Three batches of Class 172 Turbostar diesel multiple-units being built at Bombardier’s Derby plant for train operators London Midland, Chiltern and London Overground are to be equipped with MTU underfloor engines. MTU’s parent group, Togum, announced on November 5 that the Friedrichshafen-based company had won a contract from Bombardier ...
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NewsExploiting synergies in the wheelset market
EUROPE: The takeover of Valdunes by GHH Radsatz International this year has reshaped the competitive global market for wheels and axles, reports Dr Harry Hondius.
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NewsITSO to phase out vulnerable smart card
UK: Smart card specification body ITSO announced on November 4 that it is to 'phase out Mifare Classic 1k and 4k customer media from the ITSO environment' as a precautionary measure in response to the 'theoretical risk posed by Mifare Classic security issues'. Last month Radboud University Nijmegen published ...
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NewsPlzen works prepares to expand
SKODA TRANSPORTATION: Having signalled its re-emergence as a locomotive supplier with the Type 109E design for Czech Railways (RG 9.08 p719), Skoda Transportation intends to cement its position among Europe’s major rolling stock manufacturers by upgrading its main production facility in Plzen.
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NewsWarszawa signs 15 year operating contract
POLAND: The city of Warszawa's suburban rail subsidiary SKM has signed a 15-year operating contract with transport authority Zarzad Transpotru Miejskiego. Running from 2010 to 2024, it covers the operation of 154 million train-km on one existing and two new routes, and is worth an estimated 2·6bn zloty. SKM ...
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NewsKnorr-Bremse acquires Hübner doors
HÜBNER: During InnoTrans Hübner announced the sale of its rail vehicle door division to Knorr-Bremse’s IFE Automatic Door Systems, with effect from January 1 2009. Knorr-Bremse will continue to offer Hüb-ner products at least for the duration of existing contracts and will meet obligations regarding servicing and spares. Most ...
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Chennai funding agreed
INDIA: Work was due to start last month on the first phase of the Chennai metro, following the confirmation of an initial loan of Rs49·9bn by the Japanese government on October 22. JBIC has agreed to lend Rs8bn towards the Rs111bn cost of Phase 1, comprising two lines totalling ...
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Shanghai Line 11 contracts
CHINA: A consortium comprising Alcatel Shanghai Bell, Thales Rail Signalling Solutions and Shanghai Automation Instrumentation Co has signed two contracts worth €50m with Shanghai Shentong Group Co. Alcatel Shanghai Bell will provide an integrated communications package on a turnkey basis, including project management, network integration and maintenance, whilst Thales will ...
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NewsMetrolinx unveils 'The Big Move'
CANADA: Toronto regional transport authority Metrolinx has published a draft version of ‘The Big Move', its C$50bn long-range transport plan (RG 5.08 p277), but admits that the required funding sources are still unidentified. One potential revenue stream that had been unofficially discussed - road tolls and congestion pricing - ...
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NewsRevenue services begin on Orange Line
TAIWAN: Revenue services on Kaohsiung Rapid Transit Corp's 14·4 km Orange Line began on September 22, following eight days of free rides after the inauguration ceremony on September 14. During October the MRT Bureau will submit proposals to the Ministry of Transport & Communications for extensions to the Red and ...
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NewsCrotram on tour
EUROPE: The Crotram partnership of TZV Gredelj and Koncar expects to begin demonstrating a Zagreb TMK 2200 tram in Sofia shortly, having determined that the metre-gauge car will require minimal adaptation for use on the Bulgarian city's 1 009 mm gauge lines. Trials in Helsinki earlier this year found ...
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NewsPoland prepares to take the high speed plunge
POLAND: An invitation to bid for a high speed line feasibility study is due to be issued by the end of the year, kicking off a process that could see a Y–shaped route enter service in 2019.
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NewsEurostar settles into its green depot
UK: Having successfully moved its maintenance facility across London ahead of the start of services on High Speed 1 last year, Eurostar is now working to ensure its Engineering Centre Temple Mills is an environmentally-responsible member of the local community. Nick Kingsley reports.
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NewsThe great train drought
SOUTH AFRICA: A derailment near Overvaal on September 4 of 42 laden coal wagons forming part of a 200-vehicle train blocked the busy Richards Bay line for at least two days. The latest in a series of problems, the blockage sparked further concern among the country’s coal mining companies, who ...
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NewsHigh speed race is on
UK: Prospects for construction of a domestic high speed line inched closer last month, when newly-appointed Secretary of State for Transport Geoff Hoon revealed that he had asked his Minister of Transport with responsibility for networks (including rail) to take a closer look at the potential. Also newly in post, ...
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Salt Lake City airport link underway
USA: A ceremony in Salt Lake City on October 22 marked the start of construction on the $300m Airport TRAX light rail line. The 9·7 km five-stop branch will diverge from the main north-south line at Arena, heading west to Terminal One. It is expected to carry 14 000 daily ...