Railway Gazette International articles from June 2008

Railway Gazette International archives from June 2008

Private railways and the public good.(COMMENT)
June 1, 2008... The long-awaited decision by the German government to push ahead with a partial flotation of Deutsche Bahn, followed by confirmation that its 1 counterpart in New Zealand has decided to buy back the railway operations sold off a decade ago...

Commission clarifies rules on state aid.(INTELLIGENCE)
June 1, 2008... EUROPE: The European Commission adopted guidelines clarifying the rules on state aid for railways on April 30. Drawn up to replace inconsistent national 'custom and practice', the guidelines set out how the particular requirements of the rail...

Pendolino go-ahead.(INTELLIGENCE)
June 1, 2008... UK:Alstom has been given notice to proceed with the production of 106 Class 390 Pendolino vehicles worth [euro]318m for the West Coast Main Line, the Department for Transport announced on May 6. A [euro]l*8bn firm contract including maintenance...

Modi'in Merkaz opens.(INTELLIGENCE)
June 1, 2008... ISRAEL: ISR began revenue services to Modi'in Merkaz station using the final 6 km of the line from Ben Gurion Airport on April 1. The line had opened as far as Modi'in Outskirts station last September. The US$42*5m Merkaz station accounted...

Million tonnes of mud.(INTELLIGENCE)
June 1, 2008... USA: Freight and passenger traffic began flowing along Union Pacific's main line through Oregon on May 6 after basic repairs were completed to three sections of track wiped out by a massive mudslide near Oakridge in the Cascade mountains. ...

ETCS level 2 on test.(INTELLIGENCE)
June 1, 2008... SPAIN: Infrastructure authority ADIF has begun functional trials of ETCS Level 2 signalling on the Madrid--Lleida section of the high speed line to Barcelona. The trials involve the use of a Talgo BT test train to verify the correct functioning...

New Zealand nationalises.(INTELLIGENCE)
June 1, 2008... NEW ZEALAND: The government is to buy the New Zealand rail and ferry business of Toll Holdings, Prime Minister Helen Clark and Finance Minister Michael Cullen confirmed on May 5. The price had been a sticking point in negotiations (RG 4.08...

Regions to own local services.(INTELLIGENCE)
June 1, 2008... POLAND: Ownership of the state railway's regional passenger business PKP PR is to be transferred from the national to provincial governments under a restructuring programme which was approved by parliament on May 15. Railway holding...

Stabilisation starts.(INTELLIGENCE)
June 1, 2008... DR CONGO: A programme to stabilise' the operations of national railway SNCC is due to start on June 16, when Belgian concessionaire Vecturis begins a two-year contract to manage the business and put in place measures to prevent further...

CAF class 121 on test.(INTELLIGENCE)
June 1, 2008... SPAIN: With the aim of placing the first four sets into service this October, Renfe has begun dynamic trials of the Class 121 EMU on the Mirando de Ebro--Irun route. The national operator is taking delivery of 29 Class 121s, similar to the...

Buenos Aires--Cordoba signed.(INTELLIGENCE)
June 1, 2008... ARGENTINA: On April 29 President Cristina Fernandez signed the contract with the Veloxia consortium to build the country's first high speed line, running for 710 km from Buenos Aires to Rosario and Cordoba. Veloxia is led by Alstom, and also...

Long-term TGV plans.(INTELLIGENCE)
June 1, 2008... FRANCE: Legislation being drawn up following the national environmental summit at the end of 2007 (RG 12.07 p743) confirms that another 2000 km of high speed lines will be launched by 2020. New lines listed in the first of three draft laws...

Free rides to celebrate FrontRunner inauguration.(INTELLIGENCE)
June 1, 2008... USA: A day of free travel inaugurated Utah Transit Authority's 71 km FrontRunner commuter service between Salt Lake City and Ogden on April 26. The free rides continued until April 30, after which fares of $2*50 per trip plus $0*50 per...

Baffin Island ore line advances.(INTELLIGENCE)
June 1, 2008... CANADA: On April 24 Montreal-based consultancy Canarail announced that it had been awarded a contract from Baffinland Iron Mines Corp to undertake detailed design of a heavy-haul railway on Baffin Island, approximately 520 km north of the...

DB restructures in run-up to sale.(INTELLIGENCE)
June 1, 2008... GERMANY: Details of Deutsche Bahn's future structure were agreed at an extraordinary meeting of the company's supervisory board held on May 15. To permit sale to the private sector of an initial 24.9% stake, the transport businesses are...

Thalys adds wi-fi and smart tickets.(INTELLIGENCE)
June 1, 2008... EUROPE' Passengers travelling on 300 km/h Thalys services between Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam and Koln have been able to use on-board wi-fi since May 14. A quarter of the Thalys fleet had been fitted by that date, and all sets will be equipped...

Local routes go private.(INTELLIGENCE)
June 1, 2008... GERMANY: Veolia Verkehr has won a contract to provide about 40% of local rail services in the Leipzig region for two years from December 2009. The private company will take over 12 routes totalling 219 km from DB Regio and operate around 3...

Rajin port accord.(INTELLIGENCE)
June 1, 2008... NORTH KOREA: Minister of Railway Transport Kim Yong Sam signed an agreement with Russian Railways President Vladimir Yakunin in Moscow on April 24 clearing the way for the start of work to reconstruct the 54 km line from the Russian border...

Dubai tram consortium selected.(INTELLIGENCE)
June 1, 2008... UAE: Dubai's Roads & Transport Authority has selected the ABS consortium of Alstom, Besix and Serco to build and operate the Al Safouh tram, also known as the Yellow Line. The announcement was made on April 29, and negotiations are now underway...

Bangkok purple line tenders called.(INTELLIGENCE)
June 1, 2008... THAILAND: A 2013 opening is now envisaged for Bangkok's Purple Line, after Japan Bank for International Co-operation signed a 25-year loan agreement worth [yen]62*4bn following months of negotiations. A total of 27 companies bought tender...

Siemens wins biggest US light rail order.(INTELLIGENCE)
June 1, 2008... USA: Utah Transit Authority gave Siemens notice to proceed with the production of 77 Avanto S70 light rail vehicles for Salt Lake City on May 15. The $277m order is the fourth UTA has placed with Siemens, and the manufacturer's largest US light...

St Petersburg to buy low-floor cars.(INTELLIGENCE)
June 1, 2008... RUSSIA: Petersburg Tram Mechanical Factory is to supply 45 trams to St Petersburg Tramways under a contract won following a competitive tender. The contract, which was expected to be formally signed during May, is worth 645m roubles, under...

Tianjin metro car order.(INTELLIGENCE)
June 1, 2008... CHINA: CNR Dalian has won an 7bn yuan order to supply 23 six-car stainless steel bodied trainsets for the 27 km east-west metro Line 2 now under construction in the city of Tianjin. The trains will be formed of three motor and three trailer...

U-Bahn to the football.(INTELLIGENCE)
June 1, 2008... AUSTRIA: A 4 km extension of Wien metro line U2 from Schottenring to Praterstern, Messegelande and the Ernst-Happel stadium was opened in May 10, a month before the city hosts the first match of the 2008 UEFA European football championship. ...

Santiago trackwork.(INTELLIGENCE)
June 1, 2008... CHILE: Balfour Beatty plc announced on May 14 that its Chilean subsidiary had been awarded contracts worth a total of [pounds sterling]37m to undertake tracklaying on two extensions to the Santiago metro. Under a contact worth [pounds...

Dulles deal back on.(INTELLIGENCE)
June 1, 2008... USA: The Department of Transportation on April 30 reversed its rejection of the 18*7 km first phase of the $5bn metro extension to Washington's Dulles Airport, allowing the state of Virginia to begin final design of the project (RG 3.08 pl26)....

'Little bang' preferred bidder.(INTELLIGENCE)
June 1, 2008... UK: Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive has select ed the M-Pact Thales consortium of Thales UK, Laing O'Rourke and GrantRail as preferred bidder for a three-line expansion of the Metro-link light rail network (RG 10.07 p649). On...

Moscow sets out development plan.(INTELLIGENCE)
June 1, 2008... RUSSIA: Moscow Metro General Manager Dmitry Gaev has revealed plans for further expansion of the network over the period from 2010 to 2015. Gaev hopes to see a further 130 km built by 2015, of which 60 km is already included in the city's...

Edinburgh awards.(INTELLIGENCE)
June 1, 2008... UK: City of Edinburgh council and tram project promoter Transport Initiatives Edinburgh announced on May 14 that contracts worth [pounds sterling]512m had been placed for the 18.5 km tram network being developed in the Scottish capital. ...

Dallas assembles kit cars.(URBAN RAIL)
June 1, 2008... USA: Dallas Area Rapid Transit has begun adding low-floor sections to its 115 KinkiSharyo light rail vehicles under a programme to be completed in 2010. The number of seats is increased from 75 to 100 on the 'Super Light Rail Vehicles', the...

Madrid metro.(CITY NEWS IN BRIEF)
June 1, 2008... Madrid Metro has unveiled the first of 36 Series 9000 trainsets that are to be introduced on Line 6 by 2011, part of an order for 52 units placed with AnsaldoBreda for [euro]450m. The upgrade of Line 6 has included the construction of new...

Houston.(CITY NEWS IN BRIEF)(Author abstract)
June 1, 2008... The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County has appointed Parsons Transportation Group as lead contractor for a design-build-operate-maintain project for four planned light rail lines around Houston. Parsons replaces Washington Group...

Rabat.(CITY NEWS IN BRIEF)
June 1, 2008... Alstom has signed an agreement with the Bouregreg Valley Development Agency to supply an initial batch of 22 Citadis trams for the 19 km two-route Rabat light rail network, which is scheduled to open in 2010. The [euro]90m contract includes the...

Murcia.(CITY NEWS IN BRIEF)
June 1, 2008... The Tramivur light rail demonstrator route in the Spanish city of Murcia (RG 7.07 P412) has carried over 1 million passengers in its first year of operations, with free travel attracting an average of 4 200 passengers/ day. Serving four stops...

London.(CITY NEWS IN BRIEF)
June 1, 2008... Thales is to equip Metronet's Neasden maintenance depot in London with its LockTrac 6172 modular interlocking system under a contract worth [pounds sterling]10*4m.

Mlnneapolis-St Paul.(CITY NEWS IN BRIEF)
June 1, 2008... Station construction at Coon Rapids began with a ground-breaking ceremony on April 23. Work on the other stations that will be served by the 65 km Northstar commuter rail service to Mlnneapolis-St Paul was expected to follow shortly afterwards,...

Toronto.(CITY NEWS IN BRIEF)
June 1, 2008... A consortium of Hatch Mott MacDonaid, Delcan and MMM Group has been awarded a seven-year project management contract for the planned Spadina metro extension in Toronto. The Toronto Transit commission hopes the 8-6 km line from Downsview station...

Dijon.(CITY NEWS IN BRIEF)
June 1, 2008... A public consultation process was due to start on June 2 ahead of a decision by the Greater Dijon authority on whether to build a busway or light rail network in the city. TWo corridors of 19 km have been identified as suitable for transport...

Los angeles.(CITY NEWS IN BRIEF)
June 1, 2008... The board of directors of the Los Angeles MTA has approved a proposal to establish a public-private partnership to fund 23 transport projects, including an extension to the Purple Line from Wilshire Boulevard and Western Avenue to Santa Monica....

Madrid.(CITY NEWS IN BRIEF)
June 1, 2008... As part of the project to extend Madrid suburban route C5 from Humanes to lllescas, the Spanish Ministry of Development has begun public consultation on a [euro]112-Im package of works to place 3-76 km of the route through Illescas in tunnel....

Dortmund.(CITY NEWS IN BRIEF)
June 1, 2008... An east-west tram tunnel opened in Dortmund on April 28, linking unionstrasse and ostentor. Designed to permit low-floor cars to pass beneath the city centre, the link has three intermediate stations and is served by lines U43 and U44, which...

Mumbai.(CITY NEWS IN BRIEF)
June 1, 2008... On May 9 Mumbai Metro One awarded China South a contract to supply 22 three-car trainsets for the 11 km metro tine which is under construction in the Indian city. Deliveries of the 25 kv stainless steel trainsets will begin within 18 months.

Izmir.(CITY NEWS IN BRIEF)
June 1, 2008... A tender has been called for the supply of eight light metro cars for Izmir. The invitation specifies that the trainsets must have a minimum of three cars, feature igbt or IGCT drives and three-phase asynchronous motors, with a maximum speed of...

Barcelona.(CITY NEWS IN BRIEF)
June 1, 2008... The Spanish Ministry of Development has begun public consultation on a [euro]59m scheme to build a new suburban station at Sagrera-Meridiana in Barcelona. Platforms would be located between metro lines 1 and 5, and will also provide interchange...

Karachi.(CITY NEWS IN BRIEF)
June 1, 2008... The federal government of Pakistan announced plans on May 1 to revive the Karachi Circular Railway project. The Ministry of Railways said that the project would be implemented with the assistance of the Japanese government, which has agreed to...

Driverless operations start in Nurnberg.(INTELLIGENCE)
June 1, 2008... GERMANY: Nurnberg U-Bahn operator VAG quietly slipped its first driverless trains into passenger service on Line U3 on May 4. Authority to run Germany's first automated U-Bahn services with fare-paying passengers had been granted on April 30,...

Cadiz tram-train contract.(INTELLIGENCE)
June 1, 2008... SPAIN: The Andalucia regional government has awarded Sacyr and Prinur a contract worth [euro]52-8m to undertake civil and track work on the 5'8 km San Fernando--Cano Zurraque section of the tram-train route linking Cadiz with Chiclana de la...

Refurbished tram back in Sofia.(INTELLIGENCE)
June 1, 2008... BULGARIA: The first of l8 Sofia trams to be modernised under a [euro]13-6m contract with Inekon has returned to service in the Bulgarian capital. The 1 009 mm gauge three-section T8-700IT tram has been rebuilt from a twin-section T6M-700...

Melbourne to re-let Franchises.(INTELLIGENCE)
June 1, 2008... AUSTRALIA: The Victorian state government has called for expressions of interest to operate its urban rail services from 2009. The suburban trains are presently run by Connex Melbourne, and the Yarra Trams network is operated by the Metro-link...

Praha opens metro extension.(INTELLIGENCE)
June 1, 2008... CZECH REPUBLIC: Passengers in Praha began using a 4.6 km underground extension of metro Line C from Ladvi eastwards to the northern suburb of Letnany on May 8. The extension serves stations at Strizkov, Prosek and Letnany, where a bus...

Australia.(MARKET)
June 1, 2008... AUSTRALIA: Victoria's Department of Infrastructure has awarded Funk-work IT York a [pounds sterling]2*3m contract to develop timing and fleet management modules for a timetable planning and platform allocation system which will be used by...

Malaysia.(MARKET)
June 1, 2008... MALAYSIA: The government has decided not to support an 8bn ringgit proposal by YTL Corp for a standard gauge high speed line between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. A part-owner of the Kuala Lumpur airport rail link, YTL aimed to raise funding from...

South Africa.(MARKET)
June 1, 2008... SOUTH AFRICA: Transnet Freight Rail has selected Israeli firm NICE Systems to provide IP-based video security links enabling three control centres to monitor 670 sites.

Spain.(MARKET)
June 1, 2008... SPAIN: The Traccion Rail subsidiary of construction company Azvi has become the fourth open-access operator on the national network with a trial flow of palm oil from Huelva to Valdetorres near Merida on the Madrid--Badajoz route. Trains run...

UK.(MARKET)
June 1, 2008... UK: The Scottish government has exercised an option to extend First-Group's ScotRail franchise by three years. It now runs to November 2014 with amended revenue sharing arrangements.

USA.(MARKET)
June 1, 2008... USA: This month Genesee & Wyoming expects to complete its $78m acquisition of CAGY Industries, parent company of the Columbus & Greenville, Chattooga & Chickamauga and Luxapalila Valley shortlines. Amtrak has selected Arinc to supply a...

Multipurpose wagon rolls out.(MARKET)
June 1, 2008... WAGON: Kockums Industrier's Malmo plant has begun deliveries of 70 twin-section wagons ordered by Norwegian factory-to-showroom car transport company Autolink. Each wagon can carry 12 cars within its weld-free aluminium body. To maximise...

Star is born.(MARKET)
June 1, 2008... SWITZERLAND: Stadler has handed over to Aare Seeland Mobil the first Schmalspur Triebzug fur Attraktiven Regionalverkehr, or 'narrow gauge railcar for attractive regional transport'. ASM placed a SFrl8*5m order for three low-floor three-car...

Bosnia.(INFRASTRUCTURE)
June 1, 2008... BOSNIA: The OPEC Fund for International Development has signed a US$12m loan agreement with Bhzjk to upgrade the 40 km Sarajevo--Bradina section of the Sarajevo--Ploce line.

China.(INFRASTRUCTURE)
June 1, 2008... CHINA: Following the suspension of work during winter, construction has restarted on a l-2bn yuan rail-served logistics and distribution centre at Naqu, 300 km north of Lhasa.

Croatia.(INFRASTRUCTURE)
June 1, 2008... CROATIA: The Sunja--Novska line has been re-electrified to permit its use as a diversionary route during a major upgrade of the Dugo Selo--Novska section of the Zagreb--Beograd main line planned for later this year. Work to reinstate...

Czech Republic.(INFRASTRUCTURE)
June 1, 2008... CZECH REPUBLIC: This month SZDC begins electrification of the 13 km line between Zabreh nad Morave and Sumperk. Work will be completed by November 2009 with EU funds meeting two-thirds of the KCl*5bn cost.

Estonia.(INFRASTRUCTURE)
June 1, 2008... ESTONIA: During May the VR-Rata subsidiary of Finland's national railway began work on a [euro]5m contract to upgrade the 66 km route between Tartu and the Latvian border near Valga.

Europe.(INFRASTRUCTURE)
June 1, 2008... EUROPE: On April 21 the Mayor of L'viv and representatives of the cities of Krakow and Wroclaw signed an agreement to construct a standard gauge line from Przemysl in Poland to L'viv. EU funding will be sought for 75% of the projected...

France.(INFRASTRUCTURE)
June 1, 2008... FRANCE: Shortlisted bidders to install GSM-R on 12 000 route-km of the RFF network are the TDF group of Vinci Energies, Vinci Concessions, SFR and AXA Investment Managers Paris; the Eiffage grouping of Eiffage and France Telecom; a group led by...

Germany.(INFRASTRUCTURE)
June 1, 2008... GERMANY: Work has begun to replace the 130-year old bridge across the River Danube between Plattling and Deggendorf, for completion by 2010.

Romania.(INFRASTRUCTURE)
June 1, 2008... ROMANIA: Bilfinger Berger and Franz Kassecker have been awarded a [euro]69m contract by CFR to upgrade 41 bridges on the Campina--Predeal section of the line from Bucuresti to Brasov.

South Africa.(INFRASTRUCTURE)
June 1, 2008... SOUTH AFRICA: R&H Railway Consultants is building a 94*km electrified rail connection to the Goedgevonden coal mine in Mpumalanga province. Transnet Freight Rail will take over ownership of the line on completion.

Spain.(INFRASTRUCTURE)
June 1, 2008... SPAIN: The Ministry of Development has awarded four contracts worth a total of [euro]3*15m to design the alignment of a 53*5 km high speed line from Plasencia de Jalon on the Madrid--Barcelona route to Tudela. It will form part of a high speed...

Switzerland.(INFRASTRUCTURE)
June 1, 2008... SWITZERLAND: The SFrl*7bn railway systems contract for the Gotthard base tunnel was signed in Luzern on April 29 by AlpTransit Gotthard and the Trans-tec Gotthard consortium of Atel Instal-lationstechnik, Alcatel-Lucent, Thales Rail Signalling...

UK.(INFRASTRUCTURE)
June 1, 2008... UK: Network Rail has begun consultation for the [pounds sterling]40m construction of a 1.6 km north chord at Nuneaton, allowing freight from Felixstowe to join the northbound West Coast Main Line after crossing it on a flyover. Work could start...

USA.(INFRASTRUCTURE)
June 1, 2008... USA: The state of Pennsylvania is providing five grants totalling $5m to sup-port rail freight infrastructure, including $0-5m for bridge repairs enabling steel traffic to switch from road to the Luzerne & Susquehanna Railroad. New Jersey...

Bangladesh.(ROLLING STOCK)
June 1, 2008... BANGLADESH: Trelleborg Industrial has won a third contract to supply rubber-metal suspension components for the refurbishment of 20-year old wagon bogies.

Brazil.(ROLLING STOCK)
June 1, 2008... BRAZIL: Timken has been awarded a long-term contract to provide an on-site bearing reconditioning service for America Latina Logistica at its Sorocaba works.

Canada.(ROLLING STOCK)
June 1, 2008... CANADA: Agricultural products firm Viterra has acquired a 1 400 hp National Railway Equipment Co NViroMotive genset locomotive for shunting at its Pacific grain terminal in Vancouver.

China.(ROLLING STOCK)
June 1, 2008... CHINA: On April 7 China Northern was awarded a contract to supply 720 type C80B(H) stainless steel coal wagons with 25 tonne axleloads for the Datong-Qinhuangdao line.

Europe.(ROLLING STOCK)
June 1, 2008... EUROPE: With effect from April 28, PKP Cargo EU43 Traxx locos began operating through freight trains between Poznan and Seddin yard in Brandenburg. Removing loco changes halves the border transit time to 1 h. Crew changes will be eliminated on...

Germany.(ROLLING STOCK)
June 1, 2008... GERMANY: DB has awarded Alstom a [euro]14m contract to install Atlas ETCS equipment on 10 ICE3 high speed train-sets for use in Germany, France, Belgium and the Netherlands. It will initially run alongside the [rains' nine existing onboard...

Hungary.(ROLLING STOCK)
June 1, 2008... HUNGARY: MAV Trakcio has signed a five-year deal to provide traction for freight trains run by private operator Central European Railway.

Japan.(ROLLING STOCK)
June 1, 2008... JAPAN: To test the movement of lorry trailers by rail, Shiga Transport Co has purchased a demonstration set of Road-Railer intermodal equipment from US firm Wabash National Corp.

Lithuania.(ROLLING STOCK)
June 1, 2008... LITHUANIA: LG has awarded Czech firm CZ Loko a [euro]6.5m contract to rebuild a further nine CME3 Co-Co locos, with new bodies and Caterpillar 3512B DI-TA engines. A [euro]3.7m contract covering five locos was completed in April. Final assembly...

Luxembourg.(ROLLING STOCK)
June 1, 2008... LUXEMBOURG: ArcelorMittal has awarded Trans Wagon of Bulgaria a contract to supply 540 flat wagons.

Mauritania.(ROLLING STOCK)
June 1, 2008... MAURITANIA: Eight 1 200 hp EMD GPL15T locos have been imported by mining firm SNIM for use on its 717 km line between iron ore mines at Zouerate and the port of Nouadhibou. Customisation for desert conditions includes air-operated ploughs to...

Spain.(ROLLING STOCK)
June 1, 2008... SPAIN: CAF is undertaking a programme of reliability improvements to Renfe's Class 594 DMU fleet, including improved engine cooling and the installation of new compressors. Interiors are being refurbished at the same time.