International Railway Journal back issues from December 2004:
Rail's environmental benefits.
Dec 01, 2004; ... THE 40th anniversary of the world's first high-speed railway, the Tokaido Shinkansen, was marked in Tokyo on November 9 by a conference staged by JR Central and JR West on the environmental benefits of high-speed rail. Mr Lester Brown, president of the Earth Policy Institute in the United ...
Hitachi's European breakthrough.(World Report)
Dec 01, 2004 ... BRITAIN's Strategic Rail Authority has selected Hitachi, Japan, as its preferred manufacturer for about 30 six-car 225km/h emus to operate domestic services on the Channel Rail Link between towns in Kent and London St Pancras. The trains will be operated by the new Integrated ...
RZD and Siemens form joint venture.(World Report)
Dec 01, 2004 ... RUSSIAN Railways (RZD) and Siemens are to form a joint venture for the manufacture at a Moscow locomotive works of 230km/h electric trains. A draft agreement was thrashed out in Munich by RZD's president, Mr Gennady Fadeyev, and Mr Edward Kubasik and Mr Rudi Lamprecht, members of Siemens' ...
Airport rail link approved.(World Report)
Dec 01, 2004 ... THAILAND's government has approved a plan to build a 23km airport rail link in Bangkok which will run from Bang Sue to Phra Nangkhlao and Bang Yai, where a new international airport is under construction. The rail project will cost Baht 47 billion ($US 1.15 billion). Funding ...
More ERTMS in Spain.(World Report)
Dec 01, 2004 ... THE Spanish rail infrastructure authority, GIF, has awarded a 210 million [euro] contract to a Spanish consortium comprising Dimetronic Signals and Alcatel to supply, install and maintain signalling and related systems on the 155km high-speed standard-gauge line being built between Cordoba ...
New Brazilian freight wagon JV.(World Report)
Dec 01, 2004 ... ASINO-Japanese-Brazilian joint venture has been set up to produce freight wagons in Brazil. The agreement is between China Railway Materials & Supplies, Zhouzhou Rolling Stock Works (ZRSW), China, Mitsui, Japan, and Metalmec, Brazil. A new plant will be ...
Japanese group wins Chinese train order.(World Report)
Dec 01, 2004 ... CHINA's Ministry of Railways has awarded a Yen 140 billion ($US 1.27 billion) contract to a Japanese consortium led by Kawasaki Heavy Industries for 60 eight-car 200km/h emus. This is the third order for 200km/h emus to be placed recently. The other two went to groups led by ...
Shinkansen suffers first derailment.(World Report)
Dec 01, 2004 ... JAPAN suffered its first Shinkansen derailment in 40 years following an earthquake in the Niigata region on October 23. It was 40 years to the month since Japan opened the world's first dedicated high-speed railway (IRJ October p15). There were no serious injuries despite the fact that ...
Turkmenistan detour to be eliminated.(World Report)
Dec 01, 2004 ... A 222-km cut-off line between Tashguzar and Kumkurgan in Uzbekistan is to be built totally within Uzbekistan with the help of a Yen 16.4 billion ($US 154.7 million) loan from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation. The existing line, built in the Soviet era, passes through ...
East African transport ministers have agreed at a summit in Nairobi to support an ambitious plan to develop a 4100km standard-gauge network at a cost of $US 750 million.(Africa)
Dec 01, 2004 ... East African transport ministers have agreed at a summit in Nairobi to support an ambitious plan to develop a 4100km standard-gauge network at a cost of $US 750 million. The proposal to build new lines in Sudan, Uganda, Kenya, Democratic Republic of Congo, ...
Belgian National Railways' (SNCB) president and chief executive officer, Mr Karel Vinck, has resigned.(Belgium)
Dec 01, 2004 ... Belgian National Railways' (SNCB) president and chief executive officer, Mr Karel Vinck, has resigned. He will leave SNCB at the end of next month, even though his ...
SNCB and its subsidiary TUC Rail have pierced through the 6530m-long double-track Soumagne tunnel which will form part of the new high-speed line under construction between Liege and the German border.(Belgium)
Dec 01, 2004 ... SNCB and its subsidiary TUC Rail have pierced through the 6530m-long double-track Soumagne tunnel which will form ...
Mining giant CVRD plans to invest about $US 400 million next year.(Brazil)
Dec 01, 2004 ... Mining giant CVRD plans to invest about $US 400 million next year in the ...
MRS Logistics plans to replace signalling and telecommunications equipment that is either obsolete or for which it has been difficult to obtain spare parts.(Brazil)
Dec 01, 2004 ... MRS Logistics plans to replace signalling and telecommunications equipment that is either obsolete or for which ...
Potential bidders from the United States, Canada, India, the United Arab Emirates, and South Africa are reported to have expressed an interest in the planned privatisation of Djibouti-Ethiopian Railway (CFDE).(Ethiopia)
Dec 01, 2004 ... Potential bidders from the United States, Canada, India, the United Arab Emirates, and South Africa are reported to have expressed an interest in the planned ...
Indian Railways (IR) has drawn up a five-year freight development plan from 2005 in which it will develop dedicated freight corridors, linking key ports and facilities.(India)
Dec 01, 2004 ... Indian Railways (IR) has drawn up a five-year freight development plan from 2005 in which it will develop dedicated freight corridors, linking key ports and ...
The 185km line between Rajkot and Veraval has been converted to broad gauge.(India)
Dec 01, 2004 ... The 185km line between Rajkot and Veraval has been ...
Irish Rail (IE).(Ireland)
Dec 01, 2004 ... Irish Rail (IE) has announced a 13 million [euro] scheme to ...
The prime minister, Mr Ariel Sharon, and the minister of transport, Mr Meir Shitrit, have agreed to increase Israel Railways' budget to Shekels 4 billion ($US 902 million) in 2005.(Israel)
Dec 01, 2004 ... The prime minister, Mr Ariel Sharon, and the minister of transport, Mr Meir Shitrit, have agreed to increase Israel Railways' budget ...
Trial running has started on the new 58km Tsukuba Express Line linking Akihabara in central Tokyo to Tsukuba.(Japan)
Dec 01, 2004 ... Trial running has started on the new 58km Tsukuba Express Line linking Akihabara in central Tokyo to Tsukuba. The narrow-gauge ...
Bendery station is to be bypassed at a cost of $US 22 million.(Moldova)
Dec 01, 2004 ... Bendery station is to be bypassed at a cost of $US 22 million. The work is due to be completed by December ...
Rehabilitation has been completed of the 475km Limpopo Line from Moambo Junction, 53kin west of the port of Maputo, to Chicualacuala on the border with Zimbabwe.(Mozambique)
Dec 01, 2004 ... Rehabilitation has been completed of the 475km Limpopo Line from Moambo Junction, 53kin west of the port of Maputo, to Chicualacuala on the border with Zimbabwe. The work was ...
Slam door trains stay another year.(World Report)
Dec 01, 2004 ... THE British railway industry's lure to replace all old Mark 1 "slam door" trains on the south of England railway network by the end of this year has led to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) extending the deadline to November 30 2005. The 1999 Railway Safety Regulations ...
Fonterra makes road-to-rail switch.(World Report)
Dec 01, 2004 ... A COMPANY that generates 20% of New Zealand's exports has signed up to a 20-year road-to-rail deal with Toll NZ, the country's railfreight operator. The deal, described as "a watershed in New Zealand logistics" removes 45,000 road haulage trips a year from highways between ...
Eurostar heads for St Pancras.(World Report)
Dec 01, 2004 ... HIGH-speed Eurostar services in Britain will move from the purpose-built London Waterloo International station to the new London St Pancras International terminal in 2007 when the second stage of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CI'RE) will be completed. CTRL has been in use over 70km from ...
The transport minister, Ms Karla Peijs, has begun renegotiating performance contracts with Netherlands Railways (NS) and the national infrastructure authority, ProRail.(Netherlands)
Dec 01, 2004 ... The transport minister, Ms Karla Peijs, has begun renegotiating performance contracts with Netherlands Railways (NS) and the national infrastructure authority, ProRail. NS currently has a 10year contract to ...
Short Lines, the private railfreight operator which was formed only six years ago, has withdrawn from the business.(Netherlands)
Dec 01, 2004 ... Short Lines, the private railfreight operator which was formed only six years ago, has withdrawn from the business. Its demise followed a recent ...
The Ministry of Transport has granted an operating licence.(Netherlands)
Dec 01, 2004 ... The Ministry of Transport has granted an ...
Plans to restore services on the disused Karachi Circular Railway network have moved a step forward following a decision by a committee led by the prime minister, Mr Shaukat Aziz, to go ahead with the rehabilitation scheme next month.(Pakistan)
Dec 01, 2004 ... Plans to restore services on the disused Karachi Circular Railway network have moved a step forward following a decision by a committee led by the prime minister, Mr Shaukat ...
A new scheduled railfreight service has been launched between Lljubljana and Istanbul.(Slovenia/Turkey)
Dec 01, 2004 ... A new scheduled railfreight service has been launched between Lljubljana and Istanbul. The "East Express" ...
The government is considering a plan to upgrade the 720km line between Johannesburg and Durban.(South Africa)
Dec 01, 2004 ... The government is considering a plan to upgrade the 720km line between Johannesburg and Durban. A key aim would be to enable double-stack container trains to operate on the route, ...
The government is considering proposals for three new links.(Tanzania)
Dec 01, 2004 ... The government is considering proposals for three new links. These include a 425km extension from Arusha to Musoma on Lake Victoria, and a new 450km line from Isaka, on the Tabora-Mwanza branch line off the main line to Dar-es-Salaam, to Kigali, Rwanda. The ...
Portec Rail Products has reached an agreement to take over Kelsan Technologies, Canada, in a deal worth $US 16.4 million.(United States)
Dec 01, 2004 ... Portec Rail Products has reached an agreement to take over Kelsan Technologies, Canada, in a deal worth $US 16.4 million. Portec's president and CEO, Mr John Cooper, commented: "We've had a technical alliance with Kelsan and ...
Nebraska, Kansas & Colorado RailNet has acquired the Oxford-Franklin and Culbertson-Imperial lines.(United States)
Dec 01, 2004 ... Nebraska, Kansas & Colorado RailNet has acquired the Oxford-Franklin and ...
Northwest Rail Company (NRC) plans to build a line from Chingola to Solwezi at a cost of $US 55 million which will haul 74,000 tonnes of freight annually.(Zambia)
Dec 01, 2004 ... Northwest Rail Company (NRC) plans to build a line from Chingola to Solwezi at a cost of $US 55 million which will haul 74,000 tonnes of freight annually. The government has approved in principle ...
Debt relief grant helps RFF finances.(World Report)
Dec 01, 2004 ... THE French railway infrastructure owner, Reseau Ferr6 de France (RFF) reported an increase in investment to 1.099 billion [pounds sterling] in the first half of this year compared with 852 million [euro] in the first half of 2003. This year represents the peak year for investment in TGV ...
PR on the right financial track.(World Report)
Dec 01, 2004 ... PAKISTAN Railways earned Rs 4.69 billion ($US 77.9 million) between July and September, compared with Rs 3.71 billion in the comparable three months in 2003, and against a target of Rs 4.64 billion for the period. The increase has been attributed to better management of ...
Tibet line passes half-way mark.(World Report)
Dec 01, 2004 ... TRACKLAYING has been completed on 645km, just over half, of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, according to the railway construction headquarters based in Lhasa, the Tibetan capital. Construction of the 1142km line is moving towards Damxung County in central Tibet and is expected to reach Lhasa ...
Thales is seeking to increase its Asian market share in secure smart card ticketing systems by launching a joint venture company with Panda, one of China's largest electronics manufacturers.(Asia)
Dec 01, 2004 ... Thales is seeking to increase its Asian market share in secure smart card ticketing systems by launching a joint venture company with Panda, one of China's largest electronics manufacturers. The new ...
Raja Passenger Train Company has ordered two train washing systems from Bingham Rail, Britain, at a cost of 1.1 million [euro], with an option to purchase a further 10 of the flail systems, which the manufacturer claims are more effective than traditional brush systems.(Iran)
Dec 01, 2004 ... Raja Passenger Train Company has ordered two train washing systems from Bingham Rail, Britain, at a cost of 1.1 million [euro], with an option to purchase a further 10 of the flail systems, which the manufacturer claims are more effective than ...
Latin America Logistics (ALL) has signed a 23-year railfreight transport contract with Bunge, a global agribusiness and food company.(Brazil)
Dec 01, 2004 ... Latin America Logistics (ALL) has signed a 23-year railfreight transport contract with Bunge, a global agribusiness and food company. All expects to carry 283 ...
National Grid Transco.(Britain)
Dec 01, 2004 ... National Grid Transco has awarded a $US 31 million contract to ABB for equipment and ...
The Ministry of Railways has ordered 78 diesel-electric locomotives from GE Transportation, United States.(China)
Dec 01, 2004 ... The Ministry of Railways has ordered 78 diesel-electric locomotives ...
French National Railways (SNCF).(France)
Dec 01, 2004 ... French National Railways (SNCF) has awarded a 500 million [euro] contract to Compagnie des Wagons-Lits, a ...
The German government plans to provide 52 million [euro] in loans and grants for the improvement of commuter services in greater Jakarta.(Indonesia)
Dec 01, 2004 ... The German government plans to provide 52 million [euro] in loans and grants for the improvement of commuter services in ...
Kazakhstan State Railways (KTZ) is to purchase 200 locomotive upgrading kits from General Electric, United States, to enable it to refurbish 100 of its 18-year-old type 2TE10 locomotives which will have their life extended as a result by a further 15 to 20 years.(Kazakhstan)
Dec 01, 2004 ... Kazakhstan State Railways (KTZ) is to purchase 200 locomotive upgrading kits from General Electric, United States, to enable it to refurbish 100 of its 18-year-old type 2TE10 locomotives which will have their life ...
The first civil engineering contracts have been awarded for the Citytunnel Project in Malmo.(Sweden)
Dec 01, 2004 ... The first civil engineering contracts have been awarded for the Citytunnel Project in Malmo. The contracts have been awarded to Malmo Citytunnel Group, comprising Bilfinger Berger, Per Aarsleff, and E Pihl & Son. Contract E201, worth SKr 2.3 billion ($US 327 million), comprises two ...
Taiwan Railway Administration (TRA) has ordered six tilting A-Train concept emus from Hitachi, Japan, at a cost of about Yen 9 billion ($US 85 million).(Taiwan)
Dec 01, 2004 ... Taiwan Railway Administration (TRA) has ordered six tilting A-Train concept emus from Hitachi, Japan, at a cost of about Yen 9 billion ($US 85 million). The eight-car trains will operate 130km/h services between Taipei and Hualien, ...
Uruguayan State Railways (AFE) has purchased 25 new freight wagons from the Czech Republic for transporting timber and containers at a cost of $US 1.3 million.(Uruguay)
Dec 01, 2004 ... Uruguayan State Railways (AFE) has purchased 25 new freight wagons from the Czech Republic for transporting timber and containers at a cost ...
Siemens threatens Tel Aviv pull-out.(Transit News)
Dec 01, 2004 ... THE Israeli press reported on November 7 that Siemens is threatening to withdraw from the Tel Aviv light railway project over its dissatisfaction with the terms of the tender. The city's Red Line project is considered to be the most expensive ($US 1.8 billion), complex, and ...
Glasgow Airport rail link consultations.(Transit News)
Dec 01, 2004 ... THE preferred route for a 140 million [pounds sterling] rail link serving Glasgow Airport would lead to the loss of playing fields in the Scottish city's St James Park. Four other options, one underground and three on the surface, were rejected mainly on grounds of cost and/or the impact ...
Brisbane Orders 24 EMUs.(Transit News)
Dec 01, 2004 ... A JOINT venture between EDI Rail, Australia, and Bombardier Transportation has been awarded a contract worth $A 212 million ($US 161.2 million) from the government of Queensland for 24 three-car emus. The 1067mm-gauge stainless steel trains are due for delivery between November 2006 and ...
Guangzhou metro orders new trains.(Transit News)
Dec 01, 2004 ... GUANGZHOU Metro Corporation, China, has awarded two contracts for new trains. A Sino-Japanese consortium of CSR Sifang Locomotive and Rolling Stock, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, and Itochu will supply 75 four-car trains at a cost of about Yen 40 billion ($US 378 million). The trains will ...
Japanese loan may extend manila LRT.(Transit News)
Dec 01, 2004 ... THE Philippines' Department of Transport and Communications is seeking Pesos 8 billion ($US 141.9 million) in long-term loans from the Japanese Bank for International Cooperation 0BIC) for an eastward extension of Light Rail Transit Line 2 from Pasig City to Antipolo City in the greater ...
Rotterdam opens new LRT line.(Transit News)
Dec 01, 2004 ... ROTTERDAM's municipal transport company, Rotterdam Electric Tram (RET) has inaugurated a new light rail line connecting Central Station with a new housing area called Carnisselande in the neighbouring municipality of Barendrecht. It is operated by new Citadis vehicles from Alstom. ...
Tianjin to resume metro operation.(Transit News)
Dec 01, 2004 ... TIANJIN Metro, which closed in late 2001, is due to reopen in November 2005 following completion of an 18.8km extension to the original 7.4km north-south line in north China's largest port. Work should be about 75% complete by the end of this year. Earlier plans to extend the ...
FERROCARRILS de la Generalitat Valenciana (FGV), which manages and operates railway, metro, and light rail lines in the Spanish region of Valencia.(Transit News)
Dec 01, 2004 ... FERROCARRILS de la Generalitat Valenciana (FGV), which manages and operates railway, metro, and light rail lines in the Spanish region of Valencia, has placed an order ...
Stadwerke Bonn (SWB) has ordered a real-time passenger information system from IVU Traffic Technologies, Germany.(Bonn)
Dec 01, 2004 ... Stadwerke Bonn (SWB) has ordered a real-time passenger information system from IVU Traffic ...
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) and its contractor, Barletta Construction, began the rehabilitation of State Street Station in November as part of the Blue Line modernisation project.(Boston)
Dec 01, 2004 ... Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) and its contractor, Barletta Construction, began the rehabilitation of State Street Station in November as ...
A new National Tramways Forum (UKTram) has been established by the Passenger Transport Executive Group, the Confederation of Passenger Transport, the Light Rapid Transit Forum, and Transport for London's London Trams.(Britain)
Dec 01, 2004 ... A new National Tramways Forum (UKTram) has been established by the Passenger Transport Executive Group, the Confederation of Passenger Transport, the Light Rapid Transit Forum, and Transport for London's London Trams. Main objectives are ...
The 10.4Mn, 15-station Glasgow Metro (known as the Clockwork Orange) last month celebrated the 25th anniversary of a comprehensive system modernisation that took two-and-a-half years to complete and cost 43 million [pounds sterling].(Glasgow)
Dec 01, 2004 ... The 10.4Mn, 15-station Glasgow Metro (known as the Clockwork Orange) last month celebrated the 25th anniversary of a comprehensive system modernisation that took ...
Wynn Rail.(Kaohsiung)
Dec 01, 2004 ... Wynn Rail, Britain, has a contract to supply the screen wiper and washer systems for new ...
Construction began in October of Switzerland's first underground metro in Lausanne, a city of 250,000 inhabitants.(Lausanne)
Dec 01, 2004 ... Construction began in October of Switzerland's first underground metro in ...
Vapor Rail, a subsidiary of Wabtec Corporation, United States, has won a contract to design and manufacture door systems for 376 cars being built by Bombardier Transportation for London Underground's Victoria Line.(London)
Dec 01, 2004 ... Vapor Rail, a subsidiary of Wabtec Corporation, United States, has won a contract to design and manufacture door systems for 376 cars being built by ...
Metronet Rail has launched a 4.5 million [pounds sterling] project to modernise the door system on 36 Bakerloo Line trains.(London)
Dec 01, 2004 ... Metronet Rail has launched a 4.5 million [pounds sterling] project to modernise the door system on 36 Bakerloo Line ...