International Railway Journal back issues from March 2004:
Eurotunnel plans again to restructure its finances.(This Month)
Mar 01, 2004; ... THIS year marks the 10th anniversary of the opening of the Channel Tunnel linking Britain to France. Despite Eurotunnel and Eurostar becoming leaders in the markets in which they operate, the original traffic forecasts have never been met, and all Channel Tunnel rail users continue to make ...
JR East to build prototype HSTs.(World Report)
Mar 01, 2004 ... EAST Japan Railway has decided to build two prototype high-speed trains. Both trains will have a maximum design speed of 400km/h to permit safe operation at 360km/h and they will have body tilting using air suspension. JR East's decision follows results from test running of series E2 and ...
Brazil to upgrade railway infrastructure.(World Report)
Mar 01, 2004 ... BRAZIL's minister of transport, Mr Anderson Adauto, said that the government plans to invest Reais 7.47 billion ($US 2.6 billion) in railway infrastructure improvements during the next four years. Adauto says that under the terms of the existing concession contracts, these improvements are ...
China plans new 1350km line.(World Report)
Mar 01, 2004 ... PLANS have been unveiled to build a new 1350km railway in northeastern China. The line would run from the port of Dalian, via Dandong, along the border with North Korea, to Tumen and Suifenhe, where it would connect with the ...
NR accepts spending plan.(World Report)
Mar 01, 2004 ... NETWORK Rail (NR), Britain, has accepted the Rail Regulator's interim review of track access charges which will allow NR to spend up to 22.2 billion [pounds sterling] on operations, maintenance, and renewals during the next five years. However, the Rail Regulator has set NR a ...
IRJ team launches European Rail Outlook.(World Report)
Mar 01, 2004 ... SIMMONS-Boardman Publishing, the publisher of IRJ, is to launch a new high-quality magazine for the European railway market. The new publication, European Rail Outlook, will precisely target and address the issues that face operators and suppliers throughout Europe, with a clear emphasis ...
SNCF orders 460 locomotives worth 1 bn [euro].(World Report)
Mar 01, 2004 ... FRENCH National Railways (SNCF) has placed orders for 460 locomotives worth more than 1 billion [euro]. The total order could reach 1.2 billion [euro] with options for an additional 100 diesel-electric locomotives. The first order, announced on February 9, was for 60 electric ...
Conflict over rail package.(World Report)
Mar 01, 2004 ... THE European Parliament and Council of Ministers are still in conflict over the adoption of the Second Railway Package which will bring about further reform of railways in Europe. Another conciliation committee meeting will be held on March 16 to resolve the points of dispute, ...
Spoornet plans new heavy-haul line.(World Report)
Mar 01, 2004 ... SPOORNET, South Africa, has launched a study into the provision of a second heavy haul line from Sishen to supplement the existing Orex iron-ore line which runs to the Atlantic Ocean port of Saldanha. The new heavy-haul line would run to Coega near Port Elizabeth where the port of Ngqura ...
Swiss rail tunnels to cost more.(World Report)
Mar 01, 2004 ... SWITZERLAND's new base tunnels currently being built as part of the New Rail Alpine Transit (Neat) project are likely to cost considerably more than planned because of unforeseen geological problems. The entire Neat project was budgeted at SFr 14.7 billion ($US 11.9 billion), ...
India approves rail budget.(World Report)
Mar 01, 2004 ... INDIAN Railways' (IR) interim budget for 2004-05 has been approved by parliament. The budget includes state subsidies for passenger and freight traffic of Rupees 444.8 billion ($US 9.8 billion), and capital investment in new and existing projects worth Rupees 134.2 billion. ...
Dutch study noise reduction.(World Report)
Mar 01, 2004 ... THE Netherlands Ministry of Transport, Railion Netherlands, and Nedtrain Consulting have begun a joint research project to reduce train noise. Trials are being carried out on a block train operating three times-weekly between Veendam, Netherlands, and Hermalle sous Huy, ...
The first high-speed train for Taiwan rolled out of Kawasaki Heavy Industry's factory in Hyogo, Japan, on January 30 (IRJ February p5).(World Report)
Mar 01, 2004 ... THE first high-speed train for Taiwan rolled out of Kawasaki Heavy Industry's factory in Hyogo, Japan, on January 30 (IRJ February p5). The ...
Renfe awards 1.4 bn [euro] contracts.(World Report)
Mar 01, 2004 ... SPANISH National Railways (Renfe) has awarded three contracts worth 1.4 billion [euro] for 101 250km/h trains and 10 overnight trains. Alstom and CAF, Spain, will supply 30 class S 104 standard-gauge shuttle trains, and 45 variable-gauge regional trains at a cost of 937 million ...
Swiss push on with HS links.(World Report)
Mar 01, 2004 ... SWITZERLAND's federal council bas instructed the Department for Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (UVEK) to draw up legislation to contribute towards the cost of improving links to the European high-speed rail network as soon as possible. A total credit of SFr 1.3 billion ...
First new-style franchise signed.(World Report)
Mar 01, 2004 ... BRITAIN's Strategic Rail Authority (SPA) has signed the first of its so-called "new-style" franchise contracts. National Express Group has won a seven-year contract to run the new Greater Anglia franchise starting in April (IRJ February p4). There is an option to extend the contract for ...
Plans are being drawn up to extend the railway that links Abidjan in Ivory Coast to Ougadougou in Burkina Faso.(Africa)
Mar 01, 2004 ... Plans are being drawn up to extend the railway that links Abidjan in Ivory Coast to Ougadougou in Burkina Faso. One extension would run from Ougadougou ...
An Association of East African Railways and Marine Services is to be set up by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda to foster better cooperation.(Africa)
Mar 01, 2004 ... An Association of East African Railways and Marine Services is to be set up by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda to foster better cooperation. The metre-gauge network serving the three ...
At least $US 80 million is to be used to complete the laborious and risky job of removing land mines from the 1347km Benguela Railway (CFB).(Angola)
Mar 01, 2004 ... At least $US 80 million is to be used to complete the laborious and risky job of removing land mines from the 1347km Benguela Railway (CFB). The work started two ...
Voestalpine, the steel producer, has decided to become a train operator.(Austria)
Mar 01, 2004 ... Voestalpine, the steel producer, has decided to become a train operator. Voestalpine will use Logserv, its logistics subsidiary which has six locomotives and 400 ...
All 16 defendants have been acquitted in a trial into a fire in a train on a mountain railway at Kaprun which killed 155 people in November 2000.(Austria)
Mar 01, 2004 ... All 16 defendants have been acquitted in a trial into a fire in a train on a mountain railway at Kaprun which killed 155 people in November 2000. The judge found that the train met all safety requirements, and that ...
A fibre-optic-based communications system is being installed this year.(Belarussia)
Mar 01, 2004 ... A fibre-optic-based communications system is being installed this year on the 590km main line ...
The Strategic Rail Authority will launch a three-year scheme on April 1.(Britain)
Mar 01, 2004 ... The Strategic Rail Authority will launch a three-year scheme on April 1, with a budget of 22 ...
First Great Western.(Britain)
Mar 01, 2004 ... Ms Alison Forster has been appointed managing director of First Great Western. Forster started her railway ...
There are four bidders for the privatisation of the 797km.(Congo)
Mar 01, 2004 ... There are four bidders for the privatisation of the 797km Congo-Ocean Railway (CFCO): Rites, India; a consortium of Bollore, ...
Czech Railways (CD) has started electrifying at 25kV.(Czech Republic)
Mar 01, 2004 ... Czech Railways (CD) has started electrifying at ...
The Bavarian government plans to sell its 76.9% stake in Regentalbahn.(Germany)
Mar 01, 2004 ... The Bavarian government plans to sell its 76.9% stake in Regentalbahn, which operates services in northeastern ...
Intermodal operator Kombiverkehr recorded a 7.9% increase in traffic.(Germany)
Mar 01, 2004 ... Intermodal operator Kombiverkehr recorded a 7.9% increase in ...
Navari to head Bombardier Transportation.(World Report)
Mar 01, 2004 ... MR Andre Navarri has been named president of Bombardier Transportation with effect from February 22. Navarri was president, operations, with Alcatel. Prior to this he was chairman and chief executive officer of Valet, an automotive component supplier. Navarri spent 20 years with ...
Amec Spie Rail goes for growth.(World Report)
Mar 01, 2004 ... THE Anglo-France infrastructure company, Amec Spie Rail, has reorganised its business in Britain. Amec Spie Rail, along with all other maintenance contractors in Britain, is handing back infrastructure maintenance to Network Rail (NR). This represents 30% of Amec Spie Rail's turnover in ...
More than 250 people were killed and 350 injured in northeastern Iran.(World Report)
Mar 01, 2004 ... MORE than 250 people were killed and 350 injured in northeastern Iran when a train comprising a mixture of petroleum, sulphur, and chemical fertiliser wagons broke loose and exploded close to the town of Neyshabur, on the main line between Tehran and Mashhad. The damage to ...
Voith Turbo.(Germany)
Mar 01, 2004 ... Mr Peter Edelmann has been appointed chairman of Voith Turbo. He succeeds Dr Gunther ...
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved nine new projects costing about Rs 25 billion ($US 551.5 million).(India)
Mar 01, 2004 ... The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved nine new projects costing about Rs 25 billion ($US ...
Konkan Railway has started to install its Anti Collision Device ATP system on 1736km of broad-gauge lines belonging to North East Frontier Railway.(India)
Mar 01, 2004 ... Konkan Railway has started to install its Anti Collision Device ATP system on 1736km of broad-gauge ...
The prime minister, Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee, inaugurated on February 8 an 18km-long rail link over the River Sarayu connecting Faizabad with Katra.(India)
Mar 01, 2004 ... The prime minister, Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee, inaugurated on February 8 an 18km-long rail link over the River ...
$US 500 million has been allocated by the administration to repair war damage to the rail network.(Iraq)
Mar 01, 2004 ... $US 500 million has been allocated by the administration to repair war damage to the rail ...
Israel Railways'.(Israel)
Mar 01, 2004 ... Mr Yssi Mot, manager of Israel Railways' infrastructure department, ...
Work has started on the construction of two new stations in Modi'in on a new 6km line from Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Airport.(Israel)
Mar 01, 2004 ... Work has started on the construction of two new stations in Modi'in on a new 6km line from Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Airport. Modi'in ...
Korean National Railroad (KNR) is to set up the Korean Railway Development Foundation.(Korea)
Mar 01, 2004 ... Korean National Railroad (KNR) is to set up the Korean Railway Development Foundation to promote rail transport and set up profitable ...
The World Bank is to contribute $US 85 million towards the $US 240 million.(Mozambique)
Mar 01, 2004 ... The World Bank is to contribute $US 85 million towards the $US 240 million needed to rehabilitate the 575km line linking Beira ...
The first batch of rails, supplied by Lucchini, Italy, has arrived for the 248km line.(Namibia)
Mar 01, 2004 ... The first batch of rails, supplied by Lucchini, Italy, has arrived for the ...
Netherlands Railways (NS) has started a multi-tasking experiment to improve the flexibility of its workforce and job satisfaction.(Netherlands)
Mar 01, 2004 ... Netherlands Railways (NS) has started a multi-tasking experiment to improve the flexibility of its workforce and job satisfaction. However, NS plans to ...
The government has allocated 340 million [euro] to develop facilities.(Netherlands)
Mar 01, 2004 ... The government has allocated 340 million [euro] to develop facilities at major ...
The Ministry of Railways plans to complete the construction of an 800km line.(Russia)
Mar 01, 2004 ... The Ministry of Railways plans to complete the construction of an ...
Roubles 3 billion ($US 105 million) is to be allocated to convert the 1065mm-gauge railway on Sakhalin island to 1520mm gauge in common with the rail network on the mainland.(Russia)
Mar 01, 2004 ... Roubles 3 billion ($US 105 million) is to be allocated to convert the 1065mm-gauge railway on Sakhalin island to 1520mm ...
The Swiss Arbitration Commission is to play a role in the allocation of train paths.(Switzerland)
Mar 01, 2004 ... The Swiss Arbitration Commission is to play a role in the allocation of train paths to ...
Madrid Metro seeks up to 808 new cars.(Transit News)
Mar 01, 2004 ... MADRID Metro has called bids by March 18 for between 549 and 808 new metro cars. Ten cars are to add an intermediate car to existing three-car trains, while the remainder are for new three, four, or six car trains. This represents an investment of up to 900 million [euro]. The ...
Consortium wins suburban rail contract.(Transit News)
Mar 01, 2004 ... WORK is due to start this month on construction of the city section of the new Perth-Mandurah suburban line in Western Australia. The Leighton-Kumagi consortium has won a SA 324.5 million ($US 251.9 million) order to build the section and has accepted responsibility for all design and ...
New Melbourne franchises agreed.(Transit News)
Mar 01, 2004 ... THE Australian state of Victoria has awarded two new five-year contracts starling on April 18 to operate the reunified commuter rail and tram networks in Melbourne. Connex will combine its existing franchise, formerly known as Hillside Trains, with the M>Train network. Yarra Trams, a joint ...
Florence awards LRT concession.(Transit News)
Mar 01, 2004 ... A FRANCO-ITALIAN consortium, led by RATP Development and including Ansaldo and Alstom, has been awarded a concession to build and operate a new 29.5km light rail network in Florence. The public-private partnership contract involves the construction of lines 2 and 3 and the operation for 30 ...
Funding recommended for US projects.(Transit News)
Mar 01, 2004 ... THE United States Federal Transportation Administration (FTA) has awarded "recommended" ratings for 15 rail rapid transit systems in fiscal 2005. Only the Los Angeles Metro Gold Line extension has reached the "pending full-funding grant" status. The cost of this project is estimated at $US ...
MTRC crosses the border.(Transit News)
Mar 01, 2004 ... THE highly successful rail-plus-property development model, adopted by Hong Kong Mass Transit Railway Corporation (MTRC) for many years, has been "exported" to mainland China. MTRC has signed a Yuan 6 billion ($US 725 million) contract to build and operate a mass transit line in Shenzhen, ...
Paris awards CBTC contracts.(Transit News)
Mar 01, 2004 ... PARIS Transport Authority (RATP) has awarded contracts to Siemens, CSEE, France, and Technicatome, France, for its so-called Project Hurricane. This is a 95 million [euro] scheme to modernise the train control system on metro lines 3, 5, 9, 10, and 12 initially. RATP says fills contract is ...
NY AirTrain expansion planned.(Transit News)
Mar 01, 2004 ... NEW YORK city and state officials have presented four choices to link JFK international airport and Long Island Rail Road's (LIRR) Jamaica station in Queens with Lower Manhattan. All four options would involve extending the newly-opened AirTrain automatic light metro (IRJ February p6) ....
Septa chooses train bidder.(Transit News)
Mar 01, 2004 ... UNITED Transit Systems (UTS), a consortium of Rotem, Korea, and Nissho-Iwa, Japan, is the preferred bidder for a contract for 104 cmu cars for Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (Sepia). The cars will replace ageing Budd Silverliners. UTS's bid of $US 237 million ...
Ahmedabad.(Transit Briefs)
Mar 01, 2004 ... India's transport minister, Mr Nitish Kumar, has approved the Rs 4 billion ($US 88.2 million) ...
Athens.(Transit Briefs)
Mar 01, 2004 ... Bids have been invited by Athens Metro for a 5.5km extension to Line 2 from Ilioupolis to the old airport ...
Belgrade.(Transit Briefs)
Mar 01, 2004 ... Bids have been called for consultants to draw up tender documents for a project funded by the European ...
Brussels.(Transit Briefs)
Mar 01, 2004 ... Brussels Transport (Stib) requires a simulator to train drivers, ...
Glasgow.(Transit Briefs)
Mar 01, 2004 ... The Scottish transport minister, Nicol Stephen, officially broke ground for a 35 million [pounds sterling] project to extend the commuter rail ...
Hamburg.(Transit Briefs)
Mar 01, 2004 ... Hamburger Hochbahn invites applications by March 29 for a tender to install an electronic signalbox covering 28 U-Bahn stations plus ...
Hanoi.(Transit Briefs)
Mar 01, 2004 ... Vietnam's prime minister, Mr Phan Van Khai, has approved a pre-feasibility study for the construction of a 25km elevated railway following an existing rail alignment ...
Hyderabad.(Transit Briefs)
Mar 01, 2004 ... A study is underway into a Rs 45 billion ...
London.(Transit Briefs)
Mar 01, 2004 ... London Underground says, in its final report into a derailment at Camden Town on October 19 2003 in which 19 passengers were injured, that ...
Montpellier.(Transit Briefs)
Mar 01, 2004 ... Montpellier Transport (TAM) invites bids for the design, supply, installation, and commissioning of a signalling system for the 20km light rail Line 2, ...