Railway Gazette International articles from February 2005

Railway Gazette International archives from February 2005

AlpTransit costs rise as tracklaying starts.(COMMENT)(AlpTransit Gotthard AG)
February 1, 2005... IN THE next few weeks tunnellers working on the 34.6 km Lotschberg base tunnel are expected to achieve the final breakthrough, marking another civil engineering milestone in Switzerland's ambitious AlpTransit project. Construction teams...

DB tightens the screws.(COMMENT)
February 1, 2005... GERMAN RAILWAY has not given up its ambition for a stock market listing in 2007 or later, but turning in the necessary robust financial performance looks certain to mean a sustained policy of strict cost control for the next few years, with...

Expansion plans marred by domestic woes.(COMMENT)(Spoornet)
February 1, 2005... SPOORNET in South Africa continues to nurse ambitions for expansion elsewhere on the African continent, but these may well be hampered by trouble at home. During December, the Ministry of Public Enterprises indicated that Spoornet could be...

JR Central to go fully private.(COMMENT)(Central Japan Railway Co.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... FACED with a yawning gap in the state budget, the Japanese government is looking to sell off its remaining 39.56% stake in Central Japan Railway during the financial year starting in April. If the sale goes ahead, it will complete the...

High speed line programme.(NEWS)(railroad construction)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... PLANS TO build 3 000 km of high speed line have been unveiled by China's Ministry of Railways. The ministry is seeking bids from foreign consultants to advise on the development of lines for operation at between 200 and 300 km/h. According...

Gauge-convertible electric loco.(NEWS)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... AT THE end of December, Patentes Talgo unveiled a prototype for the series of 44 gauge-convertible electric locos that RENFE has ordered to operate through services off its AVE network. To be designated L-9202, Virgen del Buen Camino is...

Evergreen II to boost Chiltern.(NEWS)(Chiltern Railways)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... WORK STARTS this month to double peak-hour capacity at London's Marylebone station, as part of the first investment package to be funded by a UK train operating franchisee through a privately-financed special purpose vehicle. Chiltern...

Korean National Railroad.(NEWS)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... From January 1, Korean National Railroad has been transformed from a government department into a state-owned corporation, ending 105 years of direct control. KNR said the move would bring higher-quality services 'based on rational management,...

Spain opens up.(NEWS)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... AS WELL AS separating infrastructure authority ADIF from train operator RENFE Operadora with effect from January 1, three decrees approved by the cabinet on December 30 transposed EU directives 2001/12, 13 and 14 into Spanish law. Since...

Carrizo Gorge Railway.(NEWS)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... The 241 km Carrizo Gorge Railway linking San Diego and the eastern USA via northern Mexico was reopened on December 30, 28 years after the through route was severed. Regular services are expected to resume this month. A private consortium has...

Logistics terminals.(NEWS)(Public-private sector cooperation of railroads in India)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... INDIAN Railways confirmed last month that it was drawing up plans for public-private partnerships to improve and operate many of its 7 000 freight depots. Under the proposal, IR would lease its existing yards and goods sheds to private...

Nacala concession completed.(NEWS)(Nacala Corridor concessioning process)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... ON JANUARY 10 private-sector operators took over Mozambique's Northern Railway and the port of Nacala, with the start of a long-awaited 15-year concession. The handover marks the completion of the second phase of the Nacala Corridor...

Siemens signs Russian deal.(NEWS)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... DECEMBER 21 saw the signing of a formal agreement between Russian Railways, Siemens Transportation Systems and New Transport Technologies setting up a joint venture to build high speed trains for the RZD network (RG 12.04 p812). RZD...

Kenya-Uganda accord.(NEWS)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... TRANSPORT Ministry officials from Kenya and Uganda signed an agreement at the end of December to form a dedicated fleet of container trains to operate 'seamless services' between Mombasa and Kampala. The accord was signed in Kampala by the...

Scottish Executive.(NEWS)(Railroads financing by scotland government )(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... On January 18 the UK Department of Transport and Scottish Executive announced details of a [pounds sterling]325m financing agreement to support the transfer of responsibility for Scottish rail services under the forthcoming Railways Bill. The...

Work starts on trans-Andean link.(NEWS)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... THE ARGENTINIAN province of Neuquen has started work on the first 13 km of a route from Zapala that it hopes will form part of a 220 km southern rail crossing of the Andes to Lonquimay in Chile. Construction is being undertaken by Patagonia...

Trenitalia.(NEWS)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Trenitalia has started test running with the first of 60 dual-system 25 kV 50 Hz/3 kV DC power cars for its latest build of ETR500 trainsets. Ansaldobreda is supplying 24 of the Class E404.6 power cars, and 36 are coming from Firema in...

More gauge conversion in Spain.(NEWS)(Strategic Infrastructure & Transport Plan )(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... SPANISH Development Minister Magdalena Alvarez has unveiled a Strategic Infrastructure & Transport Plan (PEIT) for the period from 2005 to 2020. The plan anticipates total investment of [euro]241.4bn, of which [euro]103.4bn would be spent...

UK refranchising progresses.(NEWS)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... THE STRATEGIC Rail Authority is pushing ahead with awarding of new franchises for passenger train operations in the UK. On January 17 SRA issued an invitation to tender for the Integrated Kent Franchise to the four bidders who were...

Israel Railways.(NEWS)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Israel Railways expects to start work in April on reconstruction of the Jezreel valley railway between Haifa and Beit She'an, due to be completed by 2007 at a cost of US$229m. The former branch of the Hedjaz Railway from Damascus to Haifa...

FGC plans [euro]602.9m spend.(NEWS)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... CATALAN regional operator FGC has unveiled a 2005-07 investment plan costed at [euro]602.9m. On its main network serving Barcelona, [euro]387m is to be spent on infrastructure by the regional government's public works department, while...

ETS.(NEWS)(Electronic Trading System)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... The Basque regional government has set up ETS to assume the infrastructure functions of EuskoTren and take forward new construction on the metre-gauge network. The new company already has a staff of 45 but is not expected to be up to its full...

ProRail.(NEWS)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Dutch infrastructure manager ProRail introduced a new management structure on January 1, reflecting the legal merger of its three constituents into a single company. Railinfrabeheer BV, Railverkeersleiding BV and Railned BV have been working...

Barcelona prepares for AVE arrival.(NEWS)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... THE SPANISH Ministry of Development has given its approval for tenders to be called for three contracts to undertake civil works on 8.9 km of the Madrid--Barcelona high speed line on the western approach to Barcelona. A budget of...

Korail.(NEWS)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... On December 30 Korail inaugurated a 48.2 km double-track electric suburban railway linking Pyonjom with Chonan. Extending a 7.2 km line from Suwon to Pyonjom opened in 2003, the new route carries express commuter services linking Chonan and...

Line 2 expands.(CITY NEWS)(rail road construction from Pep Ventura to Badalona Centre)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... CATALUNYA REGIONAL government's construction authority GISA has awarded a contract worth [euro]31m for civil works, tracklaying and electrification on the extension of Barcelona metro Line 2 from Pep Ventura to Badalona Centre. Work is due...

Ile de France.(CITY NEWS)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Ile de France region is holding a public enquiry from January 17 to February 19 into RATP's plans for an orbital light rail line between Chatillon, Velizy and Viroflay in the southwest suburbs of Paris. Costed at [euro]282m, the 14 km line...

Trams to Lancy.(CITY NEWS)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... DECEMBER 12 saw the opening of a further extension of the Geneve tram network and the introduction of a new route. Serving six stops, the 2.1 km branch diverges from the existing network at Plainpalais and runs along the Route des Acacias...

Shenzhen opens two lines.(CITY NEWS)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... CONFETTI-GUN salutes and loud cheers greeted the opening of China's latest metro on December 28, when Guangdong Party Secretary Zhang Dejiang inaugurated the first two lines in Shenzhen. Under construction since March 2001, the 21-8 km...

Lyon awards T4 and Lea contracts.(CITY NEWS)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... FRENCH engineering consultancy Systra announced on January 14 that it had been awarded a contract for project management on the first two sections of Lyon tram line T4. Totalling 9.5 km, these sections are expected to cost [euro]177m. The...

Line 5 goes further.(CITY NEWS)(FGV metro network)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... UNDER AN agreement signed on December 28 with the Ministry of Development and the regional government, RENFE's suburban route between Valencia and Riba-roja de Turia is to become part of the FGV metro network. Involving the removal of 16...

Delhi goes underground.(CITY NEWS)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... INDIAN Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh formally opened the first section of Delhi Metro's underground Line 2 on December 19, when he was presented with the first copy of a new book commemorating construction of the network over the past six...

Roma metro operator Met.Ro has started test running with the first of 33 six-car EMUs being built by CAF for Line A (RG 801 p497); Series deliveries are expected to start in April.(CITY NEWS)
February 1, 2005... Roma metro operator Met.Ro has started test running with the first of 33 six-car EMUs being built by CAF for Line A (RG 801 p497); series deliveries are expected to start in April. The [euro]220m contract funded 40% by the city and 60% by the...

Still growing.(CITY NEWS)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... SHANGHAI Metro Corp opened the northern extension of Line 1 on December 28, adding 12.4 km and nine stations. Linking Shanghai Main station to Gong Fu Xin Cun, the line runs underground for the first 4.2 km serving three stations, and then...

Singapore extends.(CITY NEWS)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... ON DECEMBER 29 Singapore's Land Transit Authority announced the go-ahead for a further extension of the island's existing east-west metro line. Serving the Jurong West town area and Tuas industrial estate, the 3.8 km Boon Lay Extension...

Madrid lets light metro contracts.(CITY NEWS)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... MADRID regional government has awarded two contracts worth [euro]131m for construction of a 5.3 km 'light metro' from Pinar de Chamartin to Las Tablas. Expected to take 20 months to complete, construction will be undertaken by a consortium...

Suvarnabhumi Airport Rail Link.(City In Brief)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... On January 20, B Grimm International, Siemens Transportation Systems and Sino-Thai Engineering & Construction signed a 25.9bn baht contract with State Railway of Thailand for construction of the planned 28 km Suvarnabhumi Airport Rail Link and...

Bucuresti.(City In Brief)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Bombardier Transportation announced on January 19 that it had won a US$144m contract to supply 20 six-car Movia trainsets to Bucuresti metro operator Metrorex. Due for delivery from 2006, the trains will be assembled by Electroputere in...

Washington, DC.(City In Brief)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Washington, DC metro operator WMATA opened its 5 km Blue Line extension to Largo Town Center on December 18, adding two stations and a 36-car underground stabling depot. The US$456m extension is the first to be completed beyond the core 166 km...

Santiago.(City In Brief)(Santiago Metro)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Santiago Metro has awarded a contract to Alstom Transport for maintenance of 87 metro cars over the next six years. Alstom is currently supplying 180 cars for Line 4, and the first six Brazilian-built AS2002 vehicles arrived at Valparalso port...

Docklands.(City In Brief)(Woolwich Arsenal Rail Enterprises )(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Docklands Light Railway Ltd has selected the Woolwich Arsenal Rail Enterprises consortium of Amec and Royal Bank of Scotland as preferred bidder for a 30-year concession to finance and build the 2.5 km extension of DLR's London City Airport...

Budapest.(City In Brief)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Siemens Transportation Systems has been awarded a [euro]26m contract to install new signalling and train control equipment on Budapest metro Line 2. To be completed by June 2008, the project includes Sicas ECC electronic interlockings. Vicos...

On December 29 RENFE Operadora put into service its first Alstom-built AVE S104 high-speed trains on regional services between Sevilla and Cordoba, adding six return trains each day to give a total of 48 services.(INTELLIGENCE)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... On December 29 RENFE Operadora put into service its first Alstom-built AVE S104 high-speed trains on regional services between Sevilla and Cordoba, adding six return trains each day to give a total of 48 services. On January 4, S104 sets took...

Argentina.(INTELLIGENCE)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Argentina: On January 10 the transfer of San Martin suburban operations to a management consortium of Ferrovias, Metrovias and TBA was completed. Having revoked the concession held by Metropolitano, the government hopes to invite new private...

Bolivia.(INTELLIGENCE)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Bolivia: Eastern Railway has refurbished a third Ferrostaal diesel railcar at a cost of US$400 000, for operation on the routes from Santa Cruz de la Sierra to Yacuiba and Puerto Quijarro. Air-conditioning has been installed as well as new...

Chile.(INTELLIGENCE)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Chile: At the request of potential bidders, EFE has postponed the deadline for receipt of bids for its Central Zone infrastructure maintenance and upgrading contract (RG 10.04 p660) from January 6 to March 8. The bidding timetable for the...

China.(INTELLIGENCE)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... China: During the inauguration of the main station in Kunming on December 31 following a 430m yuan reconstruction, Vice-Director of the Yunnan Provincial Development & Reform Commission Wang Minzhen announced that 12 new railway lines are to be...

Czech Republic.(INTELLIGENCE)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Czech Republic: Trial revenue services with an Alstom Pendolino trainset started on December 23, with a daily Praha--Decin return working. EMC problems preventing the trains being used on 25 kV lines are expected to be solved by April.

Europe.(INTELLIGENCE)(Concessionaire Prignitz Railway)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Europe: Concessionaire Prignitz Railway took over the running of Dortmund--Enschede services on December 12, using 11 three-car Bombardier Talent DMUs on the 105 km Westmunsterland route.

Germany.(INTELLIGENCE)(Metronom)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Germany: The Land of Niedersachsen and the city of Hannover have selected Metronom to operate Uelzen--Hannover--Gottingen passenger services from December 2005 to December 2013. Westfalische Almetalbahn freight subsidiary Sudharz Eisenbahn...

International.(INTELLIGENCE)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... International: On January 11 a train ferry service was started between Russia's Azov Sea port of Kavkaz and Poti in Georgia, using a 24-wagon capacity ship. Rail services between the countries have been suspended for 12 years because of unrest...

Iran.(INTELLIGENCE)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Iran: President Khatami inaugurated the 225 km Kerman--Bam line on December 22.

Italy.(INTELLIGENCE)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Italy: Work began on December 29 to install new signalling and lay a second track on the Treviglio Ovest to Verdello section of the Milano--Bergamo route.

Mozambique.(INTELLIGENCE)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Mozambique: A consortium led by CVRD of Brazil, which has a concession to develop the Moatize coalfield, is to study the feasibility of building a new power station and a deep-water port connected to Beira Railway Corp's Sena line (RG 11.04...

Pakistan.(INTELLIGENCE)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Pakistan: On December 17 Railways Minister Mian Shamim Haider told senior PR officials that the organisation will become a state corporation from July 1. An eight-member Railways Board will have five members from the private sector, including...

Peru.(INTELLIGENCE)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Peru: On December 20 regular passenger services were restored on the Tacna-Arica Railway. Management of the 62 km route has been transferred from Arica port operator ENAPU to the Tacna regional government.

Russia.(INTELLIGENCE)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Russia: Work is to begin this year on a 1.3bn rouble project funded by RZD and the Moscow city authorities to introduce suburban passenger services on the city's 54 km freight-only inner ring railway.

Slovakia.(INTELLIGENCE)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Slovakia: Automatic block signalling supplied by AZD Praha was put into use on the 68 km single track line between Kuty and Trnava on December 4.

USA.(INTELLIGENCE)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... USA: On December 8 RailAmerica completed the sale to Permian Basin Railways Inc of the 217 km Arizona Eastern Railway and the 167 km West Texas & Lubbock Railroad.

Africa.(Finance)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Africa: The World Bank has earmarked US$35m for Kenya Railways Corp and Uganda Railways Corp to fund the concessioning process (p61). US$28m is to be provided to cover staff redundancies, and US$5m to move people who have settled on railway...

Czech Republic.(Finance)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Czech Republic: The EU is to contribute [euro]100-2m to upgrade 24.1 km of route between Cervenka and Zabreh na Morave.

Egypt.(Finance)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Egypt: Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif has approved a E[pounds sterling]318m plan to improve rolling stock maintenance and increase station and warehouse utilisation.

Namibia.(Finance)(TransNamib)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Namibia: TransNamib reported a profit of N$40m for the 2003-04 financial year, compared to a loss of N$20m in the previous year. According to CEO John Shaetonhodi the company is investigating the possibility of assembling locos for use...

Poland.(Finance)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Poland: Mazowsze regional government is negotiating a 1 bn zloty EBRD loan to fund the purchase of 50 EMUs and 15 DMUs.

Taiwan.(Finance)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Taiwan: The cabinet's budget for 10 major construction projects planned for the next year includes NT$1.9m for railway modernisation and NT$-48bn for mass rapid transit schemes.

Tunisia.(Finance)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Tunisia: EIB is providing SNCFT with a [euro]20m loan to modernise the rail link to Algeria, and to build a line in Gabes which will be used to carry gypsum waste from 2010.

Zambia.(Finance)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Zambia: The EU is to provide grants totalling [euro]70m towards transport infrastructure development by 2007.

RFI.(INTELLIGENCE)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... On December 30 RFI inaugurated a new curve at Sesto Calende to connect the Milano--Domodossola and Novara--Luino lines, to provide an alternative to the Laveno--Gallarate route. The new curve is being used by seven to 10 freight trains a day,...

Croatia.(Market)(TZV Gredelj)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Croatia: TZV Gredelj is modernising six HZ Class 2132 shunting locomotives at its Zagreb plant, with the installation of Caterpillar engines and new cabs.

France.(Market)(VA Tech JST)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... France: Lyon-based VA Tech JST has been awarded a [euro]8m contract to supply Alstom with 52 transformers by mid-2007 for use on Pendolinos being built for FS and SBB. On January 4 Bombardier announced that SNCF has ordered an additional...

Germany.(Market)(DB Regio )(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Germany: DB has taken up a [euro]20m option for a further eight Bombardier Class 146.2 electric locos, to be delivered in spring 2006. Bombardier is to supply DB Regio with 12 double-deck coaches for Leipzig--Halle S-Bahn services (p93)....

Hungary.(Market)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Hungary: MAV has awarded Bombardier a [euro]14m contract to refurbish 41 Bhv suburban push-pull coaches at its Dunakeszi plant by December, extending the vehicles' lives for another 15 years.

Latvia.(Market)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Latvia: On December 13 Alcatel announced it had been awarded a [euro]47.6m contract by LDZ to equip 32 stations on the 356 km east-west corridor with LockTrac 6151 modular interlockings. Alcatel will also install NetTrac 6653 computerised...

Poland.(Market)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Poland: Zachodniopomorski regional government has taken delivery of eight surplus Class 624 DMUs supplied by German Railway for [euro]200 000. DB retains ownership. The authority also plans to purchase three new trainsets for [euro]1.1m.

Serbia.(Market)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Serbia: A consortium of MIN Oprema, MIN Mont and ZGOP Novi Sad has won contracts worth 270m dinar to modernise 15 bridges on the Nis--Dimitrovgard line. Hidrotehnika is to carry out other repair work on the route.

Spain.(Market)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Spain: ACS has been awarded a [euro]27.5m contract to build Camp de Tarragona station on the Madrid--Barcelona high speed line. Work is to take 16 months to complete, with opening scheduled for 2006.

Sweden.(Market)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Sweden: On January 18 lcomera announced that it had been awarded a [euro]11m contract by SJ to provide wireless broadband access for passengers on 85 X2000 and X40 trainsets this summer.

Turkey.(Market)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Turkey: The joint venture of Gama, Kumagai, Nurol and Taisei which is responsible for the 13.6 km Marmaray Railway Bosporus Tube Crossing has awarded a contract to lead the design work to CPG Corp, a Singapore-based subsidiary of Downer ED1...

United Kingdom.(Market)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... United Kingdom: Wabtec Rail Ltd has been awarded a US$ 14m contract to refurbish 136 Class 465 EMU cars owned by Angel Trains and leased to South Eastern Trains. The 18-month project includes the creation of first class and wheelchair areas and...

USA.(Market)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... USA: Wabtec subsidiary MotivePower has signed a $12.7m contract to build five MPXpress locos for the Mid-Regional Council of Governments. They will be used on a commuter service between Belen, Albuquerque and Bernalillo which is planned to...

On December 23 RENFE Operadora put into service its first Series 598 tilting DMUs on Nexios express services in the Vigo--Santiago--A Coruna corridor.(INTELLIGENCE)
February 1, 2005... On December 23 RENFE Operadora put into service its first Series 598 tilting DMUs on Nexios express services in the Vigo--Santiago--A Coruna corridor. A development of the Series 594 TRD, each unit seats 188 passengers. Three sets can operate...

Kazakhstan.(Pointers)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Transport Minister Kazhymurat Nagmanov said on December 30 that work is to start this year on Kazakhstan's planned standard-gauge transcontinental landbridge, now costed at around US$4bn.

Berlin's Schonefeld.(airport reconstruction)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Brandenburg's Ministry of Transport has granted planning approval for reconstruction of Berlin's Schonefeld airport as Berlin-Brandenburg International, and the construction of a high speed rail link to the city centre.

Johannesburg and Durban.(Pointers)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... South African transport holding company Transnet has commissioned a feasibility study for a fast standard-gauge line between Johannesburg and Durban, able to carry double-stack container trains. The existing double-track electrified line...