International Railway Journal back issues from February 2007:
Light at the end of the tunnel for Amtrak?(This Month)
Feb 01, 2007; ... THE prospects for passenger rail in the United States are looking decidedly brighter thanks to a boost in investment in urban rail and a change in the political climate regarding Amtrak. While it will take a huge effort for Americans to enjoy the level of service that Europeans and Asians ...
Parting shots as Estonia renationalises.(News)
Feb 01, 2007 ... THE Estonian government completed its renationalisation of a 66% stake in Estonian Railways (ER) in January as a shareholder in the former incumbent, Baltic Rail Services (BRS), described its presence in the country as a mistake. ER immediately set about reorganising its ...
DB privatisation law unlikely in 2007.(News)
Feb 01, 2007 ... THE German government is unlikely to reach a decision this year on legislation to privatise German Rail (DB), according to an internal document from the Ministry of Transport. The document says the government expects to bring the bill before parliament in November. This will ...
Taiwan high-speed finally goes live.(News)
Feb 01, 2007 ... TAIWAN's high-speed line finally opened to the public on January 20--15 months behind the original schedule. The $US 15 billion project means the 345km journey between the cities of Taipei and Kaohsiung has been cut from around four hours to 90 minutes. Problems integrating the ...
Netherlands orders more inter-city emus.(News)
Feb 01, 2007 ... NETHERLANDS Railways (NS) is to strengthen its fleet of VIRM double-deck intercity emus with a 433 million [euro] order for another 50 trains from Bombardier. The first of the new trains will be delivered to NS in June 2008, supplementing the existing fleet of 378 VIRM cars. The ...
SNCB buys 60 Siemens multi-system electrics.(News)
Feb 01, 2007 ... BELGIAN National Railways (SNCB) has awarded Siemens a 211 million [euro] contract to supply 60 multi-system electric locomotives. The 6MW, four-axle ES60U3 locomotives will be based on the Class 1216 Taurus locomotives already in ...
1 billion [euro] funding for HS freight?(News)
Feb 01, 2007 ... PLANS to create a high-speed railfreight network based on a hub at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport could get a major boost if a funding application for 1 billion [euro] to the European Investment Bank by lobby group Carex proves successful. Carex, which includes FedEx, TNT and ...
Kars-Tbilisi-Baku deal imminent.(News)
Feb 01, 2007 ... THE Transport Ministers of Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan is due to sign an agreement on February 5 to begin construction of the $US 420 million Kars-Tbilisi-Baku railway. The Turkish Ministry of Transport says the tendering process will begin immediately for the line, which ...
Guangzhou-Zhuhai works resume.(News)
Feb 01, 2007 ... CONSTRUCTION of the 186km Guangzhou-Zhuhai line in China was due to start this month after a hiatus of almost a decade. Work started in 1997 ...
Argentine HS faces delays.(News)
Feb 01, 2007 ... OPENING of bids for a planned high-speed line in Argentina have been delayed amid concerns about rescheduling the country's $US 6 billion debts. ...
SA builds new freight line.(News)
Feb 01, 2007 ... CONSTRUCTION of a new 69km, Rand 1.8 billion ($US 250 million) heavy haul freight line from Ermelo on the Richards Bay coal line ...
Record year for Eurostar: Eurotunnel yields rise.(News)
Feb 01, 2007 ... REVENUES and passenger numbers for Channel Tunnel passenger train operator Eurostar soared in 2006, with business travellers in particular switching from the airlines. More than 7.85 million passengers were carried in 2006, up 5.4% on 2005, while revenue rose by 11.7% to 513.8 ...
ARTC considers Liverpool Range deviation.(News)
Feb 01, 2007 ... AUSTRALIAN Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) has released a study into a new rail alignment across the Liverpool Range in northwest New South Wales. The study identified six alignment options, including a new, longer tunnel to replace the existing Ardglen tunnel, which has steep gradients on ...
Czechs prepare for freight separation.(News)
Feb 01, 2007 ... THE hiving off of Czech Railways' (CD) freight arm will take place on July 1, subject to approval by the government. A new company called CD Cargo will be established, and it is set to take on ...
Rhine-Ruhr Express gets go-ahead.(News)
Feb 01, 2007 ... GERMAN transport minister Mr Wolfgang Tiefensee has signed an agreement paving the way for a 1.3 billion [euro] investment in regional services for the Rhine-Ruhr area. The plan, which involves major infrastructure investment, ...
U-turn on Stockholm City tunnel?(News)
Feb 01, 2007 ... THE SWEDISH government is reportedly planning to back the construction of a new tunnel to ease congestion on Stockholm's network, despite rejecting the proposal last year. A financial negotiator has been ...
Queensland orders emus.(News)
Feb 01, 2007 ... THE Queensland government in Australia is buying 20 three-car emus from a consortium including Bombardier and EDI Rail, Australia, in a deal worth around 70 million [pounds sterling]. Six of the 1067mm-gauge, 130km/h trains will operate on inter-urban services, and will be ...
Europe prepares for more competition.(News)
Feb 01, 2007 ... MEMBERS of the European Parliament are calling for rail networks in the European Union (EU) to be opened up to competition for international passenger services by 2010, and for all passenger services by 2017. Member states who joined after May 2004 will be given the right to ...
Arriva takes control of East Hannover Railway.(News)
Feb 01, 2007 ... BRITISH transport group Arriva is to take control of East Hannover Railway (OHE), Germany, at a cost of 30 million [euro] in partnership with regional transport company Bachstein Transport Authority. The Lower Saxony regional government, and German Rail (DB) decided ...
THE new CEO of Swiss Federal Railways (SBB), Mr Andreas Meyer, has formally taken the helm from his predecessor Mr Benedikt Weibel, who retired in December after 13 years in the role.(News)
Feb 01, 2007 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: THE new CEO of Swiss Federal Railways (SBB), Mr Andreas Meyer (pictured left), has formally taken the helm from his predecessor Mr Benedikt Weibel (right), who retired in December ...
Victoria orders more Vlocitys.(News)
Feb 01, 2007 ... CONFIRMING an election promise, the recently reelected state government of Victoria, Australia, has signed a $A 56 million ($US 44.3 million) deal with Bombardier for a further 14 Vlocity dmu cars. The order consists of 10 non-driving intermediate cars, which will allow V/Line ...
British train operator First Great Western unveiled the newlook interiors of its 200km/h High Speed Train fleet last month.(News)
Feb 01, 2007 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: BRITISH train operator First Great Western unveiled the newlook interiors of its 200km/h High Speed ...
Storms hit Berlin main station.(News)
Feb 01, 2007 ... QUESTIONS are being asked about how a two-tonne steel beam collapsed onto an outdoor staircase at Berlin's newly-opened main station in January following high winds. The winds forced German Rail (DB) to close the whole station, and engineers had to check whether further parts of ...
Pakistan tackles loco shortage.(News)
Feb 01, 2007 ... THE government of Pakistan has revealed it is to float international tenders to import 75 locomotives to alleviate a chronic shortage on the Pakistan Railways (PR) network and cope with increasing demand. ...
PKP Cargo struggles with demand.(News)
Feb 01, 2007 ... A SHORTAGE of locomotives and rolling stock is hitting the ability of Polish State Railways' (PKP) freight arm, PKP Cargo, to meet demand, according to new figures. In 2006, 2.5 million tonnes of coal were undelivered while up to a ...
Australian Rail Track Corporation replaced the 1879-built Wagga Wagga bridge on the Sydney--Melbourne line during a four-day engineering possession in January.(Australia)
Feb 01, 2007 ... Australian Rail Track Corporation replaced the 1879-built Wagga Wagga bridge on the Sydney--Melbourne line during a four-day ...
Latin American Logistics (ALL) is to replace all the rails on its 302km line from Araraquara to Votuopranga.(Brazil)
Feb 01, 2007 ... Latin American Logistics (ALL) is to replace all the rails on its 302km line from Araraquara ...
Freight operator EWS launched a dedicated intermodal and logistics arm called EWS Network last month.(Britain)
Feb 01, 2007 ... Freight operator EWS launched a dedicated intermodal and logistics arm called EWS Network last month. It will offer ...
Siemens installed the first of 23 25kV sub-stations in January for Network Rail.(Britain)
Feb 01, 2007 ... Siemens installed the first of 23 25kV sub-stations in January ...
Power on the final section of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link was switched on in January in preparation for the start of testing.(Britain)
Feb 01, 2007 ... Power on the final section of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link was switched on in January in preparation ...
Open-access freight operator Rail4Chem has restructured its management team.(Germany)
Feb 01, 2007 ... Open-access freight operator Rail4Chem has restructured its management team. The original managing director, Mr Matthias Raith, retains his ...
The Hungarian government is to close 14 lines in a bid to save Forints 4 billion ($US 20 million).(Hungary)
Feb 01, 2007 ... The Hungarian government is to close 14 lines in a bid to save Forints 4 billion ($US 20 ...
Indian Railways and 14 other operators have signed an agreement to develop intermodal traffic.(India)
Feb 01, 2007 ... Indian Railways and 14 other operators have signed an agreement to develop ...
Mr Michael Clausecker will take over from Mr Drewin Nieuwenhuis as director general of the Association of the European Railway Industry (Unife).(International)
Feb 01, 2007 ... Mr Michael Clausecker will take over from Mr Drewin Nieuwenhuis as director general of the Association of the European ...
Israel Railways' new timetable, launched at the end of December.(Israel)
Feb 01, 2007 ... Israel Railways' new timetable, launched at the end of December, sees a major increase in ...
Freight volumes carried by Latvian Railways fell by more than 11% last year, to 48.7 million tonnes.(Latvia)
Feb 01, 2007 ... Freight volumes carried by Latvian Railways fell by more than 11% last year, to 48.7 million ...
Traffic on 128km of the Sena railway between Beira and Muanza is set to resume after a 20-year absence following rehabilitation and clearance of landmines.(Mozambique)
Feb 01, 2007 ... Traffic on 128km of the Sena railway between Beira and Muanza is set to resume after a 20-year absence following ...
The number of passengers carried by Netherlands Railways' (NS) international division rose by 4% in 2006.(Netherlands)
Feb 01, 2007 ... The number of passengers carried by Netherlands Railways' (NS) international ...
The 327km Itakpe-Ajaokuta-Ovu line was handed over to Global Infrastructure Nigeria Limited.(Nigeria)
Feb 01, 2007 ... The 327km Itakpe-Ajaokuta-Ovu line was handed over to Global ...
The World Bank has linked future support to Pakistan Railways with conversion of the railway to a state corporation.(Pakistan)
Feb 01, 2007 ... The World Bank has linked future support to Pakistan Railways with conversion of the railway to a state ...
Tel Aviv contract signed amid legal disputes.(Transit News)
Feb 01, 2007 ... THE construction of Tel Aviv's first light metro line came a step closer on December 31 when the Israeli government and Metropolitan Mass Transit System (NTA) announced MTS as the winning consortium for the $US 1.82 billion project. The group, which includes Siemens, Israeli bus ...
Hyderabad metro gets go-ahead.(Transit News)
Feb 01, 2007 ... ONE of India's biggest metro projects has been given approval by the regional government of Andhra Pradesh. The 56km Hyderabad metro will be constructed as a public private partnership on a build-operate-transfer ...
Funding boost for New York projects.(Transit News)
Feb 01, 2007 ... UNITED States transportation secretary Mrs Mary Peters has signed an agreement pledging $US 2.6 billion of federal funds towards New York's East Side Access project. Described by the Department of Transportation (DOT) as "the largest ever federal investment in a single transit ...
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has revealed capital spending plans of $US 225.2 million for its metro subsidiary, Path.(Transit News)
Feb 01, 2007 ... * The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has revealed capital spending plans of $US 225.2 million for its metro subsidiary, Path. This ...
Government backing for Rio plans.(Transit News)
Feb 01, 2007 ... JUST days after coming to power on January 1, the new government of Brazil announced ambitious plans to extend two of Rio de Janeiro's metro lines and start construction of a third. Brazil's National Development Bank (BNDES) says it is willing to contribute to a public-private ...
Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) has awarded Bombardier a $C 499 million ($US 446 million) contract to supply 39 six-car metro trains.(Transit News)
Feb 01, 2007 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: TORONTO Transit Commission (TTC) has awarded Bombardier a $C 499 million ($US 446 million) contract to supply 39 six-car metro trains. TTC has also ordered spare parts and additional equipment worth $C 49 million ....
MF2000 enters service in Paris.(Transit News)
Feb 01, 2007 ... AFTER a year of testing, Paris Transport Authority (RATP) has put the prototype of the city's next generation metro train into service on Line 2. The fleet of 45 five-car production-series MF2000 trains is being built by a consortium of Alstom, Bombardier, and Areva TA, with the ...
Cairo awards two metro contracts.(Transit News)
Feb 01, 2007 ... EGYPT'S National Authority For Tunnels has awarded two contracts worth a total of 144.8 million [euro] for the first phase of Metro Line 3. Two consortia led by Alstom have been awarded contracts for signalling and telecommunications, and electromechanical equipment valued at ...
THE first of a new fleet of 234 double-deck passenger coaches for New Jersey Transit commuter rail entered service in December.(Transit News)
Feb 01, 2007 ... Caption: THE first of a new fleet of 234 double-deck passenger coaches for New Jersey Transit commuter rail entered service in December. The new coaches have ...
The Thai government says it expects bidding for the construction of the metro Red Line from Rangsit to Taling Chan to begin in March.(Bangkok)
Feb 01, 2007 ... The Thai government says it expects bidding for the construction of the metro Red line from Rangsit to Taling Chan to begin in March. Bids for the 23km Purple Line ...
ABB, Switzerland, has won a $US 4.87 million contract to supply 600 low-voltage switchgear units.(Beijing)
Feb 01, 2007 ... ABB, Switzerland, has won a $US 4.87 million contract to ...
Atkins, Britain, has been appointed to carry out a feasibility study into the construction of an LRT line.(Belfast)
Feb 01, 2007 ... Atkins, Britain, has been appointed to carry out a feasibility study into the construction of an LRT line. Two routes, one ...
Work has commenced on doubling the 2.3km Mitchelton-Keperra section of Queensland Rail's Ferny Grove line.(Brisbane)
Feb 01, 2007 ... Work has commenced on doubling the 2.3km Mitchelton-Keperra section of Queensland Rail's Ferny Grove line. The ...
Construction of the 2km Eastern Tramway LRT line.(Buenos Aires)
Feb 01, 2007 ... Construction of the 2km Eastern Tramway LRT line from ...
Dresden Transport Authority (DVB AG) has taken up an option to purchase an additional 10 Flexity Classic LRVs from Bombardier at a cost of 22 million [euro].(Dresden)
Feb 01, 2007 ... Dresden Transport Authority (DVB AG) has taken up an option to purchase an additional 10 Flexity Classic LRVs from ...
Edinburgh Tram Project.(Edinburgh)
Feb 01, 2007 ... Mr Matthew Crosse has been appointed as ...
MTR achieved record daily journeys of 2.94 million on December 22.(Hong Kong)
Feb 01, 2007 ... MTR achieved record daily journeys of 2.94 million on December 22, ...
A joint venture of GrantRail, Britain and Skanska UK has been awarded a 39 million [pounds sterling] contract to build part of the extension of the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) to Stratford International.(London)
Feb 01, 2007 ... A joint venture of GrantRail, Britain and Skanska UK has been awarded a 39 million [pounds sterling] contract to build part of the extension of the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) to Stratford International. The contract ...
Transport for London has signed bonds worth 200 million [pounds sterling].(London)
Feb 01, 2007 ... Transport for London has signed bonds worth 200 million ...
Commuter rail operator c2c has become the first heavy rail operator to introduce the Oyster smart card on its network.(London)
Feb 01, 2007 ... Commuter rail operator c2c has become the first heavy rail operator to introduce the Oyster smart card on its network. The ...
YGL Infrastructure, Britain has been awarded a 10.2 million [pounds sterling] contract for station renovation work.(London)
Feb 01, 2007 ... YGL Infrastructure, Britain has been awarded a 10.2 million [pounds ...
The United States Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has granted approval for preliminary engineering work to begin on the Central Corridor light rail line between the centres of St Paul and Minneapolis via the University of Minnesota.(Minneapolis)
Feb 01, 2007 ... The United States Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has granted approval for preliminary engineering work to begin on the Central Corridor light rail line ...
More than 100 companies have expressed an interest in bidding for contracts on the $US 527 million Airport Express and Guarulhos line projects.(Sao Paulo)
Feb 01, 2007 ... More than 100 companies have expressed an interest in bidding for contracts on the $US 527 million Airport Express and Guarulhos line ...
Argentina took delivery of rolling stock worth Pesos 42.8 million ($US 13.1 million) from Portugal last month.(Argentina)
Feb 01, 2007 ... Argentina took delivery of rolling stock worth Pesos 42.8 million ($US 13.1 million) from Portugal last month. The delivery consisted of 11 locomotives, four ...
Ansaldo has won a contract from Network Rail to design the first stage of a new European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) installation on the route between Shrewsbury and Aberystwyth.(Britain)
Feb 01, 2007 ... Ansaldo has won a contract from Network Rail to design the first stage of a new European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) ...