International Railway Journal back issues from October 2005:
Hatfield still relevant.(This Month)
Oct 01, 2005; ... WHEN will politicians or shareholders realise that failure to maintain infrastructure adequately will ultimately result in catastrophic failure? Reducing infrastructure maintenance spending, or worse still taking a maintenance holiday, will certainly save money in the short term, and the ...
Katrina hits US railways.(World Report)
Oct 01, 2005 ... RAILWAYS operating around New Orleans, United States, are being severely disrupted by damage caused by Hurricane Katrina. Passenger and freight operators have had to alter services to avoid the heavily-damaged city. As IRJ went to press, Hurricane Rita was expected to hit the Louisiana and ...
Network rail guilty over Hatfield derailment.(World Report)
Oct 01, 2005 ... NETWORK Rail, the owner of Britain's railway infrastructure, has been found guilty of health and safety offences associated with a fatal derailment at Hatfield in which four people died and more than 100 were injured in October 2000. Sentence will be passed this month. Four ...
Equipping Belgian tunnel starts.(World Report)
Oct 01, 2005 ... FITTING out of the 6.53km Soumagne Tunnel, Belgium's longest, will start this month after civil engineering was completed in September. The tunnel is on ...
Toll NZ reports profit in first year.(World Report)
Oct 01, 2005 ... TOLL NZ, New Zealand's private railfreight operator, has reported a profit of $NZ 41.41 million ($US 28.5 million) in its first full year of trading. The results are a marked improvement on 2003-04's loss of $NZ 365.6 million. Business should also be boosted by the opening of a ...
EMD signs 300-locomotive deal with China.(World Report)
Oct 01, 2005 ... ELECTRO-Motive Diesel, United States, is to supply 300 4.47MV diesel locomotives to China. The value of the contract has not been disclosed. The locomotives are being jointly designed and built with Chinese rolling stock builder DLoco under a technology transfer licence. ...
Thailand plans 200km/h line.(World Report)
Oct 01, 2005 ... A NEW 200km/h line from Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima in Thailand will cut journey times by almost three hours--at a cost of Baht 115.9 billion ($US 2.8 billion). The line, which will be more direct than the existing 264km metre-gauge route, could open in 2010, and could be ...
US&S wins UP train dispatching contract.(World Report)
Oct 01, 2005 ... ANSALDO Signal's United States subsidiary, Union Switch & Signal, is to install a computer-aided dispatch system for Union Pacific's entire 52,660km network. The value of the contract has not been disclosed. The Optimising Traffic ...
First cross-border ETCS.(World Report)
Oct 01, 2005 ... THE European Transport Commissioner, Mr Jacques Barrot, and the transport ministers of Austria and Hungary were due to attend the inauguration on September 22 of Europe's first cross-border application of the European Train Control System (ETCS), which has been installed on the 245km ...
$A 500 million upgrade deal.(World Report)
Oct 01, 2005 ... A CONSORTIUM led by John Holland Group has been selected for a $A 500 million ($US 384 million) contract from Australian Rail Track Corporation to upgrade part of the 961km South Main Line from Sydney to Melbourne. The work includes installing 220km of new track, extensive ...
12-month delay for Taiwan HS line.(World Report)
Oct 01, 2005 ... TAIWAN High-Speed Rail Corporation (THSRC) has confirmed that the country's first high-speed line will open in October 2006, a year behind schedule. The announcement follows widespread speculation of delays in constructing core electrical and mechanical systems on ...
China to buy more HS trains.(World Report)
Oct 01, 2005 ... CHINA's Ministry of Railways (MOR) is to buy more high-speed emus from Bombardier following the signing of a cooperation agreement on September 9 in Ottawa, Canada, in the presence of Canadian Prime Minister, Mr Paul Martin, and People's Republic of China President, Mr Hu Jintao. ...
Committee against German separation.(World Report)
Oct 01, 2005 ... THE strategy committee of Germany's Railway Advisory Council, an independent body consisting of leaders in science and industry, recommends that the current structure of German Rail (DB) as an integrated railway be maintained, without splitting the infrastructure from the operations. They ...
Fuel cell train to be developed.(World Report)
Oct 01, 2005 ... THE use of fuel cells in rail vehicles could be moving closer with the signing of an agreement to develop an "advanced rail vehicle" powered by the technology. Vehicle Projects, United States, will work with Nuvera Fuel Cells, United States and Italy, to develop a 150kW power ...
The 58.3km Tsukuba Express linking Akihabara in Tokyo and Tsukuba City opened on August 24.(World Report)
Oct 01, 2005 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: THE 58.3km Tsukuba Express linking Akihabara in Tokyo and Tsukuba City opened on August 24. The 1067mm-gauge line is ...
New Shinkansen alarm system.(World Report)
Oct 01, 2005 ... JR CENTRAL has installed a new earthquake alarm system to protect its Tokaido Shinkansen high-speed trains. It replaces an earlier design installed in 1992, and cost Yen 690 million ($US 6.3 million). Known as Terra-S, the new system analyses the rate of increase of an ...
CN faces safety review.(World Report)
Oct 01, 2005 ... CANADIAN transport minister, Mr Jean Lapierre, has ordered a safety review of CN Rail's operations following a series of accidents in August. The latest occurred when nine wagons derailed in late-August, prompting a hurried assessment of environmental damage. At the start of ...
First new MRS locomotives.(World Report)
Oct 01, 2005 ... TWENTY new GE Dash 9 freight locomotives are destined for MRS Logistics, Brazil--the first time a former Brazilian Federal Railways company has opted for new traction. MRS has an option for a further 30 locomotives, which will have to be modified ...
Transandine line a step closer.(World Report)
Oct 01, 2005 ... TENDERS for the reconstruction of the Transandine Railway, from Argentina to Chile, will open in the last quarter of 2005, according to the Chile's Ministry of Public Works. Previous announcements have been made about the project in recent years, but now, Tecnicagua, Argentina, ...
Intermodal terminal opens.(World Report)
Oct 01, 2005 ... HUPAC, Switzerland, has extended its intermodal terminal at Busto Arsizio-Gallarate, Italy, at a cost of SFr 75 million ($US 58 million), doubling capacity. The new facility is equipped with five new gantry cranes, and is ...
Federal minister for transport, Mr Warren Truss, has confirmed that a study on the North-South Rail Corridor would start shortly.(Australia)
Oct 01, 2005 ... Federal minister for transport, Mr Warren Truss, has confirmed that a study on the North-South Rail Corridor would start shortly. It will examine future ...
A 14km section of Queensland's North Coast Line between Caboolture and Beerburrum is to be doubled at a cost of $A 262 million ($US 201 million).(Australia)
Oct 01, 2005 ... A 14km section of Queensland's North Coast Line between Caboolture and Beerburrum is to be doubled at a cost ...
Austrak.(Australia)
Oct 01, 2005 ... Austrak, which makes concrete sleepers, has appointed Mr Piers Brogan as general manager. He ...
Work started on the new 13.35km Wienerwald Tunnel, on the Vienna-St Polten line last month, which is being upgraded to increase capacity.(Austria)
Oct 01, 2005 ... Work started on the new 13.35km Wienerwald Tunnel, on the Vienna-St Polten line last month, which ...
The Brazilian National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES) has loaned Northeastern Railway Reais 144 million ($US 61 million) to improve its permanent way and signalling systems.(Brazil)
Oct 01, 2005 ... The Brazilian National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES) has loaned Northeastern Railway Reais 144 million ...
A study paid for by Spain says that a fast train service linking Sao Paulo and Campinas would cost Reais 2.7 billion, and would be economically viable.(Brazil)
Oct 01, 2005 ... A study paid for by Spain says that a fast train service linking Sao Paulo and Campinas would cost Reais 2.7 billion, and ...
Bus and rail operator Arriva saw profits in the first half of 2005 fall 2% to 50.3 million [pounds sterling], due to the loss of the Regional Railways North East passenger franchise last December.(Britain)
Oct 01, 2005 ... Bus and rail operator Arriva saw profits in the first half of 2005 fall 2% to 50.3 million [pounds sterling], due to the loss of the Regional Railways North East passenger ...
Channel Tunnel Rail Link builder, Union Railways (North).(Britain)
Oct 01, 2005 ... Channel Tunnel Rail Link builder, Union Railways (North), has appointed Mr David Pointon (above) as ...
Transport secretary Mr Alistair Darling opened a 20 million [pounds sterling] maintenance depot for Chiltern Railways in September.(Britain)
Oct 01, 2005 ... Transport secretary Mr Alistair Darling opened a 20 million [pounds sterling] maintenance depot for Chiltern Railways in ...
A joint venture between Danish State Railways (DSB) and English Welsh & Scottish Railway has submitted what it calls a "passengers" bid for the forthcoming Thameslink/Great Northern passenger franchise.(Britain)
Oct 01, 2005 ... A joint venture between Danish State Railways (DSB) and English Welsh & Scottish Railway has submitted what it calls a "passengers" bid for the forthcoming ...
Bulgarian State Railways (BDZ) is losing up to Lev 50,000 ($US 31,000) per day because of the poor condition of its track.(Bulgaria)
Oct 01, 2005 ... Bulgarian State Railways (BDZ) is losing up to Lev 50,000 ($US 31,000) per day ...
The government says that separation of operations and infrastructure was a mistake.(Bulgaria)
Oct 01, 2005 ... The government says that separation of operations and infrastructure was a mistake. Transport minister, Mr Peter Mutafchiev, says it has ...
French Rail Network (RFF) officially started work on September 22 on a 107 million [euro] project to electrify the 103km Tours-Vierzon line.(France)
Oct 01, 2005 ... French Rail Network (RFF) officially started work on September 22 on a 107 million [euro] ...
Electrification of the Hamburg-Lubeck-Travemunde line will start in 2006 after a 154 million [euro] contract was signed.(Germany)
Oct 01, 2005 ... Electrification of the Hamburg-Lubeck-Travemunde line will start in 2006 after a 154 million [euro] contract was signed. The deal also includes doubling the single-track sections between Schwartau and Waldhalle, and ...
The first part of the line linking Munich with Muhldorf and Freilassing will be upgraded to double-track, with work starting in 2006.(Germany)
Oct 01, 2005 ... The first part of the line linking Munich with Muhldorf and Freilassing will be upgraded to double-track, ...
DB says it will focus on structural changes to its railfreight division, and internationalising traffic in a bid to return it to profit.(Germany)
Oct 01, 2005 ... DB says it will focus on structural changes to its railfreight division, and internationalising traffic in a bid to return it ...
A contract signed to expand Berlin's Brandenburg International airport.(Germany)
Oct 01, 2005 ... A contract signed to expand Berlin's Brandenburg International airport also ...
The Indian government is examining railway links to major ports and future demand in a bid to handle growth.(India)
Oct 01, 2005 ... The Indian government is examining railway links to major ports and future demand in a bid to ...
RZD and DB sign agreement.(World Report)
Oct 01, 2005 ... THE President of Russian Railways (RZD), Mr Vladimir Yakunin, and the CEO of German Rail (DB), Mr Hartmut Mehdorn, signed an agreement in St Petersburg to set up representative agencies of the two railways in Moscow and Berlin. The agencies will be non-profit organisations. The ...
SBB doubles first-half loss.(World Report)
Oct 01, 2005 ... SWISS Federal Railways (SBB) has doubled its losses in the first half of 2005 to SFr 36.6 million ($US 28.4 million) and blames the performance on its freight division. Hundreds of freight jobs are set to be cut, but other factors in the poor results are inadequacies in its ...
New Dutch line approved.(World Report)
Oct 01, 2005 ... CONSTRUCTION of the Hanzelijn, between Zwolle and Lelystad, Netherlands, has been approved by the Dutch transport minister, Mrs Karla Peijs. The 50km line is due to be completed in 2012, with the first work, a tunnel ...
Nigeria faces huge rehab bill.(World Report)
Oct 01, 2005 ... NIGERIA's railways need $US 5 billion for complete rehabilitation, according to the Ministry of Transport. The estimate includes the cost of repairing damaged tracks across the whole country, and of new lines to link the 36 state capitals. The first stage, the rehabilitation of ...
Passengers should be able to buy rail tickets using prepaid "cash cards", according to a Parliamentary committee.(India)
Oct 01, 2005 ... Passengers should be able to buy rail tickets using prepaid "cash cards", according to a ...
Production capacity at the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) is to rise to 1250 vehicles.(India)
Oct 01, 2005 ... Production capacity at the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) is to rise ...
Turkey, Georgia, and Azerbaijan are expected to discuss a new line linking the three countries shortly.(International)
Oct 01, 2005 ... Turkey, Georgia, and Azerbaijan are expected to discuss a new line linking ...
The transport ministers of the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, and France have agreed an action plan for developing a freight corridor between Rotterdam and Lyon.(International)
Oct 01, 2005 ... The transport ministers of the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, and France have agreed an action plan for developing a ...
A new grain terminal in Latvia will provide rail access to Kazakhstani grain.(International)
Oct 01, 2005 ... A new grain terminal in Latvia will provide rail access to Kazakhstani grain. It will cost 25 million ...
Israel Railways.(Israel)
Oct 01, 2005 ... Israel Railways has appointed Mr Ofer Linchevsky as its new general manager. He has long experience in ...
The Seibu Railway says its group balance became negative to the tune of Yen 4.1 billion ($US 37 million) in the three months from June.(Japan)
Oct 01, 2005 ... The Seibu Railway says its group balance became negative to the tune of Yen 4.1 billion ($US ...
Infrastructure manager Prorail is to introduce a system in its tendering process to evaluate the performance of bidders.(Netherlands)
Oct 01, 2005 ... Infrastructure manager Prorail is to introduce a system in its tendering process to evaluate the ...
The Dutch government's shares in Connexxion, a bus company which also runs some regional and light rail services, are to be sold.(Netherlands)
Oct 01, 2005 ... The Dutch government's shares in Connexxion, a bus company which also runs some regional and light rail services, are to be ...
The first express freight train between Lahore and Karachi ran on September 5.(Pakistan)
Oct 01, 2005 ... The first express freight train between Lahore and Karachi ran on September 5. It is ...
The Railways Ministry has agreed to fully rebuild the 160km coastal railway with financial assistance from India.(Sri Lanka)
Oct 01, 2005 ... The Railways Ministry has agreed to fully rebuild the 160km coastal railway with ...
Syrian Railways has completed studies for a new 110km link between the capital, Damascus, and the southern city of Daraa on the Jordanian border.(Syria)
Oct 01, 2005 ... Syrian Railways has completed studies for a new 110km link between the capital, Damascus, and the ...
RailComm has installed a wireless control and yard automation system for the Alton & Southern Railroad.(United States)
Oct 01, 2005 ... RailComm has installed a wireless control and yard automation system for the Alton & Southern ...
The Adrian & Blissfield Railroad has announced profit rises for its automotive and fertiliser freight trains, and passenger dining train services in the second quarter of 2005.(United States)
Oct 01, 2005 ... The Adrian & Blissfield Railroad has announced profit rises for its automotive and fertiliser freight trains, and passenger dining train services in the ...
Rehabilitation of 450km of track by Railway Systems of Zambia is set to start imminently, according to its general manager, Mr Babe Botana.(Zambia)
Oct 01, 2005 ... Rehabilitation of 450km of track by Railway Systems of Zambia is set to start imminently, according to its general manager, Mr Babe Botana ....
Belgian National Railways has awarded a 3.2 million [euro] contract.(Belgium)
Oct 01, 2005 ... Belgian National Railways has awarded a 3.2 million [euro] contract to Alcatel for an integrated ...
Freight operator, Freightliner, has selected Spear 3i to help manage its 1962-vehicle fleet.(Britain)
Oct 01, 2005 ... Freight operator, Freightliner, has selected Spear 3i to help manage its ...
English, Welsh & Scottish Railway has awarded telecommunications company BT, Britain, a multi-million pound contract to deploy a voice and data network based on technology from Cisco Systems.(Britain)
Oct 01, 2005 ... English, Welsh & Scottish Railway has awarded telecommunications company BT, Britain, a multi-million pound contract to deploy a voice ...
Communications and security company, Installation Project Services (IPS), has acquired telecommunications company Postfield Systems.(Britain)
Oct 01, 2005 ... Communications and security company, Installation Project Services (IPS), has acquired telecommunications company Postfield Systems ....
First Scotrail is installing digital CCTV systems on its core fleets of dmus and emus.(Britain)
Oct 01, 2005 ... First Scotrail is installing digital CCTV systems on its core fleets of dmus and ...
Via Rail has signed a three-year contract with Allstream, Canada, to provide a range of telecommunication services.(Canada)
Oct 01, 2005 ... Via Rail has signed a three-year contract with Allstream, Canada, to provide a ...
Mitsui Rail Capital Europe has bought six Bombardier Traxx locomotives from Swiss Federal Railways.(Germany)
Oct 01, 2005 ... Mitsui Rail Capital Europe has bought six Bombardier Traxx locomotives from Swiss ...
Hungarian State Railways (MAV) has signed a Florints 108 million ($US 534,000) contract with Freesoft, Hungary.(Hungary)
Oct 01, 2005 ... Hungarian State Railways (MAV) has signed a Florints 108 million ($US 534,000) ...