International Railway Journal back issues from August 2004:
British plan lacks vision.(This Month)
Aug 01, 2004; ... BRITAIN's railways are to be reorganised again to try to simplify still further the complex structure inherited when British Rail was broken up into about 100 units and privatised i0 years ago. The main objective of the latest change is to give the government much greater control over cost ...
Britain plans new rail structure.(World Report)
Aug 01, 2004 ... BRITAIN's secretary of state for transport, Mr Alistair Darling, has published plans to give the government greater control of what is left of Britain's privatised railway. Darling says he wants to streamline the structure to provide passengers with reliable and efficient services. Some of ...
The first train ran on July 14 on Swiss Federal Railways' (SBB) 45km new line from Mattstetten to Rothrist.(World Report)
Aug 01, 2004 ... THE first train ran on July 14 on Swiss Federal Railways' (SBB) 45km new line from Mattstetten to Rothrist. The new line is a key element in SBB's ...
China has 2020 vision.(World Report)
Aug 01, 2004 ... CHINA's railway network will reach 100,000km in length by 2020, according to Mr Hu Yadong, vice-minister of railways, when he addressed the international Service industries Convention and Expo in Beijing recently. At the moment, the network is 73,000km long, but in the next 16 ...
10% market growth in Europe.(World Report)
Aug 01, 2004 ... THE European market for railway infrastructure equipment is set to rise by about 10% from a current level of just under 13 billion [euro] to more than 14 billion [euro] by 2008, according to the latest study by the consultancy group, SCI Verkehr, Germany. ...
BDZ announces plans to restructure.(World Report)
Aug 01, 2004 ... BULGARIAN Stale Railways (BDZ) is to be reformed trader a plan which will create a holding company with subsidiaries responsible for infrastructure, passenger services, and railfreight. BDZ has presented the plan to trades unions for consideration. However, the railway ...
Alstom deal finalised.(World Report)
Aug 01, 2004 ... DIVESTMENTS and measures to open up the French railway market are part of the price that Alstom will have to pay for the approval last month by the European Commission (EC) of the bale-out aid granted by the French government to the company in support of its industrial and financial ...
A new demu has been developed by Integral Coach Factory (ICF), India.(World Report)
Aug 01, 2004 ... A NEW demu has been developed by Integral Coach Factory (ICF), India. The new train comprises two power cars and six trailers, and has an aerodynamic nose for faster acceleration and speed, as well ...
Amtrak publishes five-year strategic plan.(World Report)
Aug 01, 2004 ... AMTRAK, United States, has updated its five year strategic plan. In addition to spelling out in detail the passenger operator's own capital needs, the plan addresses capacity issues faced by freight railways. The plan from next year has three components dealing with operations, ...
Indian rail budget presented.(World Report)
Aug 01, 2004 ... THE budget for Indian Railways (IR) for the coming year has been presented to parliament. Major expenditure proposed for the 2004-05 period amounts to a total of Rs 144.98 billion ($US 3.16 billion) including Rs 29.33 billion from the government's special ...
First S102 power cars delivered.(World Report)
Aug 01, 2004 ... BOMBARDIER Transportation has delivered 32 4MW power cars for the 16 new Spanish high-speed trains, AVE S102, being built in conjunction with Talgo. The trains, designed to operate at a maximum speed of 330km/h, are due in service between Madrid and Lerida later this year. A ...
NZ tracks back in state hands.(World Report)
Aug 01, 2004 ... PRIVATE ownership of New Zealand's railway infrastructure came to an end after 15 years when the government bought it back last month from Toll Rail. However, Toll Rail will continue to maintain the network until a new track authority called TrackCo is in place in September. New ...
New line planned in Brazil.(World Report)
Aug 01, 2004 ... BRAZIL's Northeastern Railway (CFN) and the state of Pernambuco have put forward a radically different proposal for a new Trans-Northeastern Railway. The original plan for a line from Crato south via Salgueiro to Petrolina has been dropped in favour of a 500km 1600mm-gauge line from Crato ...
Croatian tilting trains arrive.(World Report)
Aug 01, 2004 ... CROATIAN Railways (HZ) has taken delivery of the first six of eight two-car diesel tilting trains (right) ordered from Bombardier Transportation at a cost of 32.5 million [euro]. The trains are almost identical to class 612 Regio-Swingers which have been built for German Rail (DB). They ...
German treasury cuts DB budget.(World Report)
Aug 01, 2004 ... THE German Treasury has announced plans for a gradual reduction in the railway budget in the next few years. The draft budget for 2005 proposes about 3.7 billion [euro] for railways, compared with 4 billion [euro] this year, and dropping to 3.2 billion [euro] in 2007 and 2.2 billion [euro] ...
Ireland invites DMU fleet bids.(World Report)
Aug 01, 2004 ... IRISH Rail (IE) has issued a call for tenders for the supply of 120 dmu cars. The contract will be worth more than 300 million [euro] and will be funded by the Irish government through its 2000-06 National Development Plan. ...
Major changes in Georgia.(World Report)
Aug 01, 2004 ... THE Georgian government has appointed Mr David Onoprishvili as managing director of Georgian Railway. Onoprishvili is a former finance minister and chairman of the Economic Reforms Committee. Onoprishvili's first task will be to draw up a strategic plan for the railway ....
The Angolan government has approved a $US 40 million project to rehabilitate.(Angola)
Aug 01, 2004 ... The Angolan government has approved a $US 40 million project to rehabilitate the 246km Namibe-Lubango section of the Namibe ...
Railion has applied for a licence to operate its railfreight services on the Belgian network.(Belgium)
Aug 01, 2004 ... Railion has applied for a licence to operate its railfreight services on the Belgian network. At the moment, cross-border ...
The Strategic Rail Authority has selected a joint venture of the Serco Group and NedRailways.(Britain)
Aug 01, 2004 ... The Strategic Rail Authority has selected a joint venture of the Serco Group and NedRailways (a ...
The port of Lom could be connected by rail to the Greek port of Thessaloniki under a proposal put forward by the deputy foreign ministers of both countries.(Bulgaria)
Aug 01, 2004 ... The port of Lom could be connected by rail to the Greek port of Thessaloniki under a proposal put forward by the deputy foreign ministers of both countries. The ...
Tracklaying has begun on the 1142km railway link being built between Golmud in Qinghai province and Lhasa, the capital of Tibet.(China)
Aug 01, 2004 ... Tracklaying has begun on the 1142km railway link being built between Golmud in Qinghai province and ...
Czech Railways (CD).(Czech Republic)
Aug 01, 2004 ... Czech Railways (CD) says it is unlikely to be able to introduce new class 680 Pendolino tilting high-speed trains into international services as planned later this year. Initially, the tri-voltage trains were due to operate on the Dresden--Prague--Vienna/Bratislava ...
DB pulls out of UK franchise bid.(World Report)
Aug 01, 2004 ... GERMAN Rail (DB) has pulled out of a consortium formed with Stagecoach and Virgin Group to bid for the lucrative InterCity East Coast passenger franchise in Britain. Stagecoach and Virgin Group are already partners in Virgin Trains which holds the West Coast Main Line and Cross Country ...
The first of 30 repaired and refurbished class 441 electric locomotives for Serbian Railways (ZS) has Been rolled out by Koncar, Croatia.(World Report)
Aug 01, 2004 ... THE first of 30 repaired and refurbished class 441 electric locomotives for Serbian Railways (ZS) has Been rolled out by Koncar, Croatia. The locomotives, which are being rehabilitated at a cost of 18.9 ...
Brenner Rail Freight Action Strategy.(Europe)
Aug 01, 2004 ... An international project, Brenner Rail Freight Action Strategy (Bravo), has been created to try to increase freight traffic via the Brenner route by 50%. Kombiconsult, Germany, ...
French Rail Network.(France)
Aug 01, 2004 ... French Rail Network (RFF) has released funding of 12.8 million [euro] to enable work to start on track doubling, electrifying, and ...
Transport Ministry.(Germany)
Aug 01, 2004 ... The Transport Ministry has promised that sufficient funds will be released to German Rail (DB) to ensure that upgrading of the ...
DB Regio.(Germany)
Aug 01, 2004 ... DB Regio has been awarded the concession to operate Flensburg Express passenger services from December 2005, ...
Burgeland railway has had its concession to operate passenger services on the 157km Sachsen-Anhalt South network extended by a further 12 years from December 2006.(Germany)
Aug 01, 2004 ... Burgenland Railway has had its concession to operate passenger services on the 157km Sachsen-Anhalt South network ...
MTU.(Germany)
Aug 01, 2004 ... MTU has appointed Mr Volker Heuer as its new chief executive officer. He takes over ...
Work on the construction of the Qazigund-Baramulla rail link in the Kashmir Valley has been suspended following the kidnapping and murder of Mr Sudhir Kuinar.(India)
Aug 01, 2004 ... Work on the construction of the Qazigund-Baramulla rail link in the Kashmir Valley has been suspended ...
An express passenger train travelling from Mangalore to Mumbai on the Konkan Railway crashed into boulders on a section of track between Roha and Vir, killing 20 people and injuring another 60.(India)
Aug 01, 2004 ... An express passenger train travelling from Mangalore to Mumbai on the Konkan Railway crashed into boulders on a section of track between Roha and Vir, killing 20 people and injuring another 60. The boulders fell onto the track after being loosened ...
Regional and municipal authorities have reached an agreement of intent with Prorail, the rail infrastructure authority, on the planning and construction of a new line from Lelystad to Zwolle, via Kampen.(Netherlands)
Aug 01, 2004 ... Regional and municipal authorities have reached an agreement of intent with Prorail, the rail infrastructure authority, on the planning ...
Prignitzer Railway.(Netherlands)
Aug 01, 2004 ... Prignitzer Railway has won a concession to operate cross-border services between Enschede and ...
A safety study carried out for the Land Transport Safety Authority on the Midland Line, which links Lyttelton to the west coast, says the line is unlikely to remain sate beyond the next two years without major work.(New Zealand)
Aug 01, 2004 ... A safety study carried out for the Land Transport Safety Authority on the Midland Line, which links Lyttelton to the west coast, says the line is unlikely to remain sate beyond the next two years without ...
The government has decided to privatise the freight division of Slovak Republic Railways (ZSR).(Slovakia)
Aug 01, 2004 ... The government has decided to privatise the freight division of Slovak Republic Railways (ZSR). Initially, it will split ZSR into separate independent passenger and ...
The government has announced plans.(Swaziland)
Aug 01, 2004 ... The government has announced ...
The government aims to introduce a draft law on railway interoperability by mid-October.(Switzerland)
Aug 01, 2004 ... The government aims to introduce a draft law on railway interoperability by mid-October. Although ...
A feasibility study has been prepared for an S-Bahn line that will enable passengers to travel between Basle's two main stations (SBB and DB) in six minutes.(Switzerland)
Aug 01, 2004 ... A feasibility study has been prepared for an S-Bahn line that will enable passengers to travel between Basle's two main stations (SBB and DB) in six minutes. A decision on ...
Syrian Railways.(Syria)
Aug 01, 2004 ... Syrian Railways plans to establish a concrete sleeper manufacturing plant which will be able to supply it ...
The 74km line between Tororo and Soroti has been reopened seven years after it was closed.(Uganda)
Aug 01, 2004 ... The 74km line between Tororo and Soroti has been reopened seven years after it was closed. Uganda's works minister, Mr John Nasasira, who led the reopening ceremonies, added that the government was discussing with Sudanese authorities the possibility of linking the ...
Crossrail approved--sort of!(Transit News)
Aug 01, 2004 ... THE British government plans to introduce in parliament powers to construct the trans-London Crossrail link, a 10 billion [pounds sterling] RER-type railway running from Heathrow airport and Kingston in the west to Shenfield and Ebbsfleet in the east with a core central section between ...
Madrid Metro orders new trains.(Transit News)
Aug 01, 2004 ... MADRID Metro is investing heavily in new trains and recently placed orders worth more than 360 million [euro] with Ansaldo Breda and Bomhardier Transportation. AnsaldoBreda has won a contract worth more than 300 million [euro] for 52 series 9000 trains comprising a total of 252 ...
Commuters subjected to searches.(Transit News)
Aug 01, 2004 ... MASSACHUSETTS Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), which is responsible for the metro and commuter rail networks in Boston, United States, imposed stringent anti-terrorist measures during the national convention of the Democratic party in the city from July 26 to 29. Random ...
Las Vegas Monorail opens.(Transit News)
Aug 01, 2004 ... THE 6.4km Las Vegas Monorail was officially opened on July 14. It is the first fully automated, line-haul urban monorail as well as the first major urban transit system in modern times constructed in the United States without using any tax dollars. The double-guideway line with ...
DLR plans to upgrade light metro.(Transit News)
Aug 01, 2004 ... DOCKLANDS Light Railway (DLR), which operates an automatic light metro serving the Docklands area of eastern London, is seeking government approval for a 125 million [pounds sterling] project to increase capacity on the core Bank-Canary Wharf--Lewisham section. DLR is currently carrying 50 ...
Le Mans chooses Citadis LRVs.(Transit News)
Aug 01, 2004 ... LE Mans Metropole, which groups municipalities in the metropolitan area of Le Mans, France, has decided to buy 23 customised Citadis LRVs for a 14km line that is expected to open in 2007. A 55 million [euro] contract ...
Work starts on LA extension.(Transit News)
Aug 01, 2004 ... A GROUNDBREAKING ceremony took place at Los Angeles' Union Station on July 17 to mark the start of construction of the long-awaited 9.6km Eastside metro extension connecting the Gold Line with Little Tokyo, Boyle Heights, and East Los Angeles. The $US 898.8 million extension, which ...
Third time lucky in Vancouver.(Transit News)
Aug 01, 2004 ... THE board of directors of TransLink in Vancouver, Canada, has now voted 8:4 in favour of building a 19.5km light metro line from Vancouver via the airport to Richmond. The board had previously voted twice against the plan because the $C 1.5 billion ($US 1.1 billion) project was deemed too ...
Royals open Bangkok blue line.(Transit News)
Aug 01, 2004 ... KING Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit of Thailand presided over the inauguration ceremony of the Bangkok Metro Blue Line on July 3 (IRJ May p9). The 20km line, which runs from Hua Lamphong to Bang Sue, has 18 stations including three providing interchange with Skytrain ....
The first 13km section of the Hiawatha Line between Minneapolis Warehouse District and Fort Snelling in the Minneapolis/St Paul area of the United States, opened on June 26.(Transit News)
Aug 01, 2004 ... THE first 13km section of the Hiawatha Line between Minneapolis Warehouse District and Fort Snelling in the Minneapolis/St Paul area of the United States, opened on June 26. Bombardier Transportation is supplying 24 Flexity light ...
DB signs Rhine-Ruhr S-Bahn deal.(Transit News)
Aug 01, 2004 ... GERMAN Rail (DB) has signed a 15-year 6 billion [euro] transport contract focusing on S-Bahn operation with the Rhine-Ruhr Transport Association (VRR) and the Lower Rhine Local Transport Association (NVN). The contract calls for DB to in vest ...
Malaga metro contract award.(Transit News)
Aug 01, 2004 ... SPAIN's Andalusian Regional Government has awarded a 35-year concession to build and operate a 13.6km metro in Malaga. The winner is a Spanish consortium of ...
Computer image shows an Alstom Transport Citadis LRV in the Tunisian capital, Tunis.(Transit News)
Aug 01, 2004 ... COMPUTER image shows an Alstom Transport Citadis LRV in the Tunisian capital, Tunis. Alstom has a provisional 80 million [euro] order for 30 vehicles from the Tunis Light Metro ...
Delhi Metro Rail Corporation.(Ahmedabad)
Aug 01, 2004 ... Delhi Metro Rail Corporation has presented to the Gujarat state government a feasibility ...
Intercontinental Commerce Corporation.(Almaty)
Aug 01, 2004 ... Intercontinental Commerce Corporation (ICC), United States, has announced that it is ready to start construction of monorail and metro lines in the former capital of Kazakhstan--so long as ...
China Construction First Group.(Beijing)
Aug 01, 2004 ... China Construction First Group has ordered two 6.14m-diameter earth pressure balance shield tunnelling machines from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Japan. They will be used ...
Refurbishment of the north-south tunnel of the S-Bahn will continue between Yorckstrasse and Humboldthain stations from October.(Berlin)
Aug 01, 2004 ... Refurbishment of the north-south tunnel of the S-Bahn will continue between Yorckstrasse and Humboldthain stations from October. Work will include modernising ...
Kanzler U-Bahn.(Berlin)
Aug 01, 2004 ... The Kanzler U-Bahn line is on schedule to open in time for the football World Cup in June 2006. The 28 million [euro] line ...
Bids have been called by August 23 for a 1.6km extension of Line B of the metro from Los Incas station.(Buenos Aires)
Aug 01, 2004 ... Bids have been called by August 23 for a 1.6km extension of Line B of the ...
District Committee.(Jerusalem)
Aug 01, 2004 ... The city's District Committee has approved the impressive yet controversial cable-stayed bridge to be built at the city's western entrance as part of a ...
The 50 million [euro] Light Rail East project got underway on June 17.(Mannheim)
Aug 01, 2004 ... The 50 million [euro] Light Rail East project got underway on June 17. The extension will ...
SAB-Wabco.(Porto Alegre)
Aug 01, 2004 ... After 10 months of testing, the metro has decided to adopt a new ...
The Polish city's 150 light rail vehicles and 240 buses have been equipped with BON vehicle monitoring equipment and i.box onboard computers.(Poznan)
Aug 01, 2004 ... The Polish city's 150 light rail vehicles and 240 buses have been equipped with BON vehicle ...