International Railway Journal back issues from March 2007:
A time for optimism.(This Month)
Mar 01, 2007; ... IT is not often that we publish in one issue of IRJ so many positive indicators about the health of the global railway industry, but this is certainly the case this month. We must not let such good news lead us down the path of complacency, but rather recognise it as something to build on ....
2006 results show surging demand for railfreight.(News)
Mar 01, 2007 ... RECORD volumes and revenues are being reported by many operators as 2006 emerges as a bountiful year for European railfreight operators. German Rail's (DB) provisional results show Railion increased its freight volume by nearly 10% to 97 billion tonne-km. According to the German ...
DB orders 321 modular Talent 2 trains.(News)
Mar 01, 2007 ... GERMAN Rail (DB) has signed a framework contract with Bombardier for 321 regional trains a cost of 1.2 billion [euro]. The contract is one of the biggest in DB's history. The fleet of emus will be a new-generation modular variant of Bombardier's Talent design and the trains will ...
RZD sets out 6.1 billion [euro] investment plan.(News)
Mar 01, 2007 ... RUSSIAN Railways (RZD) is set to benefit from 6.1 billion [euro] investment in 2007, according to the railway's president Mr Vladimir Yakunin. Investment from RZD's internal funds will include 3.3 billion [euro] for infrastructure projects, 1 billion [euro] for new trains and ...
China to extend Tibet Railway.(News)
Mar 01, 2007 ... THE Chinese government says construction of a 253km extension to the Tibet Railway will begin this year following the completion of surveys on the new alignment. A feasibility study by the First Survey and Design Institute of China (FSDI) was approved last year and detailed ...
Construction begins on Hanze Line.(News)
Mar 01, 2007 ... DUTCH Transport Minister Mrs Karla Peijs inaugurated construction of the 50km Hanze Line on January 30. The line from Lelystad to Zwolle will provide a new, shorter rail link between Amsterdam and the north, and has been designed for operation at speeds of up to 200km/h ....
Iran builds first HS line.(News)
Mar 01, 2007 ... IRAN started construction of its first high-speed line on February 3. The 240km double-track line will link Qom with Esfahan and is due to open in 2011. It will connect with the existing 174km line from Qom to Tehran which will be upgraded for 200km/h operation. The new line ...
Tours-Bordeaux TGV line approved.(News)
Mar 01, 2007 ... THE construction of a high-speed line from Tours to Bordeaux moved a step closer in January when the French Ministry of Transport and French Rail Network (RFF) signed a declaration of intent to build the 303km line. The project will be one of the first three high-speed lines in ...
KCS plans $US 380 million Mexican investment.(News)
Mar 01, 2007 ... KANSAS City Southern (KCS), United States, is planning to invest up to $US 380 million in new terminals, locomotives and infrastructure enhancement for its Mexican subsidiary, Kansas City Southern de Mexico (formerly TFM). The investment will include SUS 80 million to be spent ...
OBB to buy 5100 wagons.(News)
Mar 01, 2007 ... RAIL Cargo Austria (RCA), the freight arm of Austrian Federal Railways (OBB), has revealed plans to invest up to 400 million [euro] in its wagon fleet over the next four years. The largest ...
Unife names new director general.(News)
Mar 01, 2007 ... THE Association of European Railway Industries (Unife) has appointed Mr Michael Clausecker (right) to succeed Mr Drewin Nieuwenhuis as director general. ...
Freightliner prepares for Polish launch.(News)
Mar 01, 2007 ... BRITISH railfreight operator Freightliner has come a step closer to launching operations in Poland with the delivery of the first locomotives (pictured right) for its Polish subsidiary, Freightliner PL. Five of the seven class 66 diesel-electric locomotives on order from EMD, ...
Misery continues for Channel Tunnel Railfreight.(News)
Mar 01, 2007 ... THE FUTURE of freight services through the Channel Tunnel has been dealt another severe blow after two major customers abandoned their services due to rising costs. Unilog, Belgium, withdrew all of its intermodal services from Muizen, Belgium, to Daventry and Manchester, ...
Bombardier has "best ever" year.(News)
Mar 01, 2007 ... BOMBARDIER's CEO Mr Laurent Beaudoin has hailed 2006 as the "best year ever" for its rail unit. Bombardier Transportation had an order backlog of more than $US 25 billion by the end of January, and has received more than $US 6.5 billion in railway business in the last four months. ...
Deal struck on Betuwe extension.(News)
Mar 01, 2007 ... THE transport ministers of The Netherlands and Germany have signed an agreement paving the way for the extension of the Betuwe dedicated freight route on the German side of the border. Mrs Karla Peijs and Mr Wolfgang Tiefensee signed the statement promising to extend the line ...
Mehdorn gets UIC position.(News)
Mar 01, 2007 ... THE CEO of German Rail Mr Hartmut Mehdorn has been elected chairman of the new European Regional Assembly of the International Union of Railways (UIC). Mehdorn was elected unanimously by the Assembly, which has been set up by the UIC to organise collaborative projects between its 104 ...
Beijing-Shanghai HS line construction imminent.(News)
Mar 01, 2007 ... CHINESE Minister of Railways Mr Liu Zhijun says construction of a high-speed line between Beijing and Shanghai will begin this year to ensure the line opens in 2010. The Ministry of Railways (MOR) had intended to begin building the line last year, but this was delayed because ...
Bomb kills 67 on India--Pakistan train.(News)
Mar 01, 2007 ... AT LEAST 67 people have been killed after a bomb attack on a train travelling from India to Pakistan. Passengers reported hearing two explosions aboard the Delhi-Lahore Friendship Express near Panipat, around 80km north of Delhi on February 18. The explosions caused a fire, ...
China orders more electric freight locos.(News)
Mar 01, 2007 ... THE CHINESE Ministry of Railways (MOR) has awarded Bombardier and Dalian Locomotive and Rolling Stock Works a 1.1 billion [euro] contract to supply 500 electric freight locomotives. Bombardier's share of the contract is worth around 370 million [euro]. Delivery of the 9.6MW ...
Helsinki bypass to start in 2008?(News)
Mar 01, 2007 ... CONSTRUCTION of a northern bypass line in the Finnish capital could begin as early as next year, if the national government accepts the recommendations of the Transport and Communications Ministry. ...
Double French win for Alstom.(News)
Mar 01, 2007 ... ALSTOM has been awarded two contracts to supply emus and electric locomotives to operators in France. French National Railways (SNCF) has ordered 39 three-car trains and 12 four-car TER 2N NG double-deck regional trains for the regions of Nord Pas-de-Calais, Picardy, ...
The first of an order for 150 intercity dmu cars, being built by Rotem, Korea, for Irish Rail, has been shipped from Masan, Korea, to Dublin.(News)
Mar 01, 2007 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: THE first of an order for 150 intercity dmu cars, being built by Rotem, Korea, for Irish Rail, ...
CVRD plans to invest $US 748 million in expanding the Carajas Railway and the port of Ponta da Madeira.(Brazil)
Mar 01, 2007 ... CVRD plans to invest $US 748 million in expanding the Carajas Railway and the port of Ponta da Madeira. The ...
Another CVRD expansion plan is to build a new line from the limestone quarries at Cachoeiro do Itapemirim to the steel mills at Vitoria.
Mar 01, 2007 ... Another CVRD expansion plan is to build a new line from the limestone quarries at Cachoeiro ...
Freight operator GB Railfreight unveiled the first of a new fleet of coal hopper wagons in February.(Britain)
Mar 01, 2007 ... Freight operator GB Railfreight unveiled the first of a new fleet of coal hopper wagons in ...
Deliveries of class 450 Desiro commuter emus were completed in early February for South West Trains.(Britain)
Mar 01, 2007 ... Deliveries of class 450 Desiro commuter emus were completed in early February for South West Trains ....
The first motion picture videowall advert in Europe has been installed on the Heathrow Express airport link.(Britain)
Mar 01, 2007 ... The first motion picture videowall advert in Europe has been installed on the Heathrow Express airport link. The ...
Preparatory works have started for the reopening of the line from Edinburgh to Tweedbank, which was closed in 1969.(Britain)
Mar 01, 2007 ... Preparatory works have started for the reopening of the line from Edinburgh to Tweedbank, which ...
SZ to be vertically-integrated?(News)
Mar 01, 2007 ... SLOVENIAN Railways (SZ) may once more become a vertically-integrated railway after the Slovenian parliament's transport committee endorsed a number of long-delayed amendments to the railways act. Under the proposals, SZ will retain its status as an operator but will also take ...
Chirac to open TGV Est Europeen.(News)
Mar 01, 2007 ... PRESIDENT Jacques Chirac of France is to inaugurate the country's latest high-speed line: the 300km TGV Est Europeen linking Paris and cities in eastern France. French Rail Network (RFF) has completed the civil works and equipped the line, but revenue services will not start until June. ...
CORUS Northern Engineering Services, Britain, has unveiled the first in a new range of shunting and heavy-haul diesel locomotives.(News)
Mar 01, 2007 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: CORUS Northern Engineering Services, Britain, has unveiled the first in a new range of shunting and heavy-haul diesel locomotives. The range will include two, three, four or six-axle configurations with ...
The first operational test on indigenously-developed slab track took place near Chongqing in January.(China)
Mar 01, 2007 ... The first operational test on indigenously-developed slab track took place ...
A $US 200 million loan has been granted by the World Bank to expand capacity on the 254km Liupanshui-Zhanyi line.(China)
Mar 01, 2007 ... A $US 200 million loan has been granted by the World Bank to expand capacity on the 254km ...
Danish State Railways (DSB) is considering selling its freight terminals.(Denmark)
Mar 01, 2007 ... Danish State Railways (DSB) is considering selling its freight terminals. It is envisaged that track ...
The European Conference of Ministers of Transport (ECMT) is to be transformed into the International Transport Forum.(Europe)
Mar 01, 2007 ... The European Conference of Ministers of Transport (ECMT) is to be transformed into the International Transport Forum ....
Finnish Railways (VR) has certified its double-deck InterCity 2 fleet to run at up to 200km/h, an increase of 40km/h over their previous maximum.(Finland)
Mar 01, 2007 ... Finnish Railways (VR) has certified its double-deck InterCity 2 fleet to run at up to 200km/h, an increase ...
The Federal Railway Authority (EBA) has certified new duplex copper/fibre-optic lineside cabling developed by Nexans.(Germany)
Mar 01, 2007 ... The Federal Railway Authority (EBA) has certified new duplex copper/fibre-optic lineside cabling developed by Nexans. The cable combines all the copper and ...
The director-general of Israel Railways, Mr Ofer Linczewski, could be charged with causing death by negligence following a fatal crash at a level crossing.(Israel)
Mar 01, 2007 ... The director-general of Israel Railways, Mr Ofer Linczewski, could be charged with causing death by negligence ...
A new signalling system aimed at reducing the volume of cabling needed has been installed by JR East.(Japan)
Mar 01, 2007 ... A new signalling system aimed at reducing the volume of cabling needed has been installed by JR East. It uses ...
Trials aimed at increasing capacity for coal trains on the Christchurch-Greymouth line have seen up to seven DX locomotives working in multiple to haul 2500-tonne trains.(New Zealand)
Mar 01, 2007 ... Trials aimed at increasing capacity for coal trains on the Christchurch-Greymouth line have seen up to seven DX locomotives working in multiple to haul 2500-tonne ...
A new road-rail crossing of Manukau harbour is being considered in preparation for the 2011 rugby world cup.(New Zealand)
Mar 01, 2007 ... A new road-rail crossing of Manukau harbour is being considered in preparation for the 2011 rugby world cup ....
Engine fires on Translink's new fleet of CAF-built dmus are causing rolling stock shortages.(Northern Ireland)
Mar 01, 2007 ... Engine fires on Translink's new fleet of CAF-built dmus are ...
Plans to run high-speed trains at up to 300km/h between Rawalpindi and Lahore have been announced, and a deal for a feasibility study has been signed by a Spanish/Austrian consortium.(Pakistan)
Mar 01, 2007 ... Plans to run high-speed trains at up to 300km/h between Rawalpindi and Lahore have been announced, and a deal for a ...
Russian Railways has started construction of a line to Moscow's Shermetyovo Airport serving Terminals 1 and 2.(Russia)
Mar 01, 2007 ... Russian Railways has started construction of a line to Moscow's Shermetyovo Airport serving Terminals 1 and ...
A 7.4km line between Alicante and San Vicente del Raspeigs opened in February.(Spain)
Mar 01, 2007 ... A 7.4km line between Alicante and San Vicente del Raspeigs ...
Sri Lanka plans to raise at least $US 1.2 billion from property development at its railway stations.(Sri Lanka)
Mar 01, 2007 ... Sri Lanka plans to raise at least $US 1.2 billion from property development at its railway ...
Freight operator Rail4Chem Transalpin has started operation of a new oil train in Switzerland.(Switzerland)
Mar 01, 2007 ... Freight operator Rail4Chem Transalpin has started operation of a new oil train ...
Bangkok expansion gets government approval.(Transit News)
Mar 01, 2007 ... THE Thai cabinet has approved a Baht 160 billion ($US 4.47 billion) expansion of Bangkok's metro network, paving the way for bidding to start on the first projects next month. According to the schedule approved by the government, bidding will begin in April for the construction ...
US projects net $US 1.4 billion.(Transit News)
Mar 01, 2007 ... THE United States Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is to award at least 11 "new start" capital grants totalling nearly $US 1.4 billion in the 2008 financial year. The table below shows projects with full funding grant agreements (FFGAs). Two LRT projects, Denver West ...
Light rail services in Reims are set to take on all the colours of the rainbow when the French city opens its first line in 2010.(Transit News)
Mar 01, 2007 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: LIGHT rail services in Reims are set to take on all the colours of the rainbow when the French city opens its first ...
Passenger numbers on the S-Bahn increased 5.3% in 2006 to 375.8 million journeys.(Berlin)
Mar 01, 2007 ... Passenger numbers on the S-Bahn increased 5.3% in 2006 to 375.8 million journeys. The sharpest rise was recorded on ...
The Swiss government has approved a 1.1km section of LRT Line 9 from Guisanplatz to the S-Bahn station at Wankdorf.(Bern)
Mar 01, 2007 ... The Swiss government has approved a 1.1km section of LRT Line 9 from Guisanplatz to the S-Bahn station at Wankdorf. Half of the ...
A 3.7km extension of LRT Line 1 is to be built from the existing terminus at Hutching.(Bremen)
Mar 01, 2007 ... A 3.7km extension of LRT Line 1 is to be built from the existing terminus at Hutching. The line ...
Alstom has won a contract to signal the 3.6km extension of Metro Line A from Primera Junta to Nazca.(Buenos Aires)
Mar 01, 2007 ... Alstom has won a contract to signal the 3.6km extension of Metro Line A from Primera Junta to Nazca. The ...
Metro Caracas has received the first of an order for 42 metro cars.(Caracas)
Mar 01, 2007 ... Metro Caracas has received the first of ...
Chicago Transit Authority's board has approved a $US 2.7 billion five-year capital investment programme.(Chicago)
Mar 01, 2007 ... Chicago Transit Authority's board has approved a $US 2.7 billion five-year capital investment ...
Mr Tom Mulcahy has been appointed chairman of the Railway Procurement Agency.(Dublin)
Mar 01, 2007 ... Mr Tom Mulcahy has been appointed chairman of the Railway Procurement Agency, ...
New trains for Wellington.(Transit News)
Mar 01, 2007 ... THE operator of commuter rail services in the New Zealand capital Wellington is to order a fleet of 58 emus in a bid to increase capacity and improve services. Greater Wellington Regional Council (GWRC) plans to introduce the new trains by 2010 on all four electrified routes it ...
Bucharest Metro operator Metrorex has placed a 33 million [euro] order for an additional six Movia trains, bringing its total order to more than 260 cars.(Transit News)
Mar 01, 2007 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: BUCHAREST Metro operator Metrorex has placed a 33 [euro] million order for an additional six Movia trains, bringing ...
Connex fined $a 10 million for Melbourne brake problems.(Transit News)
Mar 01, 2007 ... MELBOURNE commuter rail operator has been fined almost $A 10 million ($US 7.7 million) after brake problems on its fleet of 72 Siemens emus caused it to temporarily cancel a number of peak services. The problems follow at least 30 instances of Siemens trains overshooting platforms since ...
Docklands Light Railway (DLR) has begun public consultation for its proposed extension to Dagenham Dock.(London)
Mar 01, 2007 ... Docklands Light Railway (DLR) has begun public consultation for its proposed extension to Dagenham Dock ....
Metronet is to pay 7 million [pounds sterling] to take control of the 21km Old Dalby test track from Network Rail.(London)
Mar 01, 2007 ... Metronet is to pay 7 million [pounds sterling] to take control of the 21km Old Dalby test track from Network Rail. The line, which is Britain's only dedicated test ...
Tube Lines has awarded Thales (formerly Alcatel) a 160 million [pounds sterling] contract to install Seltrac signalling on the Piccadilly Line.(London)
Mar 01, 2007 ... Tube Lines has awarded Thales (formerly Alcatel) a 160 million [pounds sterling] contract to install Seltrac signalling on the Piccadilly Line. The system uses on-board computers, which interact ...
The 2.7km extension of Metro Line 11 from Pan Bendito to La Peseta has opened.(Madrid)
Mar 01, 2007 ... The 2.7km extension of Metro Line 11 from Pan Bendito to La Peseta has ...
Marseilles urban authority (MPM) has awarded Affiliated Computer Services.(Marsellies)
Mar 01, 2007 ... Marseilles urban authority (MPM) has awarded Affiliated Computer Services, United States, a 12 million [euro] ...