International Railway Journal back issues from June 2007:
Time for rail to speak up.(This month)
Jun 01, 2007; ... THE increasing financial strength of some of the world's major railways is giving them the chance to look beyond their own borders and address some of the international weaknesses of rail transport. After all, it is virtually impossible to worry about what your neighbouring railways are ...
Koreas reopen cross-border links.(News)
Jun 01, 2007; ... THE FIRST trains between North and South Korea for more than half a century ran on May 17 after the two countries reached an agreement to allow test trains across the heavily-fortified border. A train operated by South Korean operator Korail ran on the Gyeongui line from Munsan, ...
China orders Harsco grinders.(News)
Jun 01, 2007 ... CHINA'S Ministry of Railways (MOR) has awarded Harsco, United States, a contract to supply at least 40 rail grinders. The order, expected to be worth more than ...
RZD to set up two freight companies.(News)
Jun 01, 2007 ... PLANS to set up two railfreight subsidiaries of Russian Railways (RZD) and to subsequently sell shares in them have been approved by Russia's government commission on industrial development, technology and transport. Proposals by RZD to create a single railfreight company were rejected ...
SRT considers partial privatisation.(News)
Jun 01, 2007 ... STATE Railway of Thailand (SRT) says it plans to hive-off three parts of its business to create wholly-owned subsidiaries as a precursor to their privatisation. SRT announced that it would establish subsidiaries for property, commuter rail (including Bangkok's new Suvarnabhumi ...
First tubes sunk on Bosphorus Tunnel.(News)
Jun 01, 2007 ... THE first immersed tube sections for Istanbul's Marmaray tunnel have been sunk into position at the bottom of the Bosphorus Strait. The tube is the first of 11 tunnel sections, which are assembled on land before being lowered into a trench on the floor of the Bosphorus to form ...
Jilin line construction starts in China.(News)
Jun 01, 2007 ... CONSTRUCTION of a Yuan 8 billion ($US 112 million) line between the capital of Jilin Province, Changchun, and Jilin started in May, with completion expected in 2010. The 111km line will cut journey ...
Swedish ERTMS trials begin.(News)
Jun 01, 2007 ... TESTING of the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) started on Sweden's new Botnia line in April: the first time the technology has been tested in the country. A train fitted with Bombardier's Interflo ...
Full-scale testing of JR Central's production series N700 Shinkansen train is now underway pending the fleet's introduction on the Tokaido line next month.(News)
Jun 01, 2007 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: FULL-scale testing of JR Central's production series N700 Shinkansen train is now underway pending the fleet's introduction on the Tokaido line next month. The 300km/h train has been jointly developed by JR Central and JR West and ...
Ecuador plans railway revival.(News)
Jun 01, 2007 ... THE Ecuadorian government is to reconstruct the country's defunct railway at a cost of $US 280 million. It is estimated that 80% of Ecuadorian National Railways' (ENFE) 965km network will need to be rebuilt, and most locomotives are in need of rebuilding or replacement, with ...
The state government of Buenos Aires has signed an agreement to hand over Ferrobaires, its ailing long-distance passenger operator, to the national government.(Argentina)
Jun 01, 2007 ... The state government of Buenos Aires has signed an agreement to hand over Ferrobaires, its ailing long-distance passenger operator, to the national ...
The Australian government is to provide $A 45 million ($US 37 million) for Australian Rail Track Corporation's Tottenham--Dynon upgrade.(Australia)
Jun 01, 2007 ... The Australian government is to provide $A 45 million ($US 37 million) for Australian Rail Track Corporation's Tottenham--Dynon upgrade. The project involves the construction of a ...
Legislation to allow the construction of a line from Airdrie to Bathgate in Scotland has been given royal assent.(Britain)
Jun 01, 2007 ... Legislation to allow the construction of a line from Airdrie to Bathgate in Scotland has been given royal assent ....
Open-access passenger operator Grand Central has postponed the start of its new London--Sunderland service.(Britain)
Jun 01, 2007 ... Open-access passenger operator Grand Central has postponed the ...
Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR).(Canada)
Jun 01, 2007 ... Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) has appointed Ms Kathryn McQuade as executive ...
The European Commission has approved a 30 million [euro] Eurofima loan for Czech Railways (CD).(Czech Republic)
Jun 01, 2007 ... The European Commission has approved a 30 million [euro] Eurofima loan for Czech Railways ...
The Estonian government says it will not transfer a $US 203 million payment for the 66% share of Estonian Railways (ER) it bought from Baltic Rail Services (BRS) until early next year.(Estonia)
Jun 01, 2007 ... The Estonian government says it will not transfer a $US 203 million payment for the 66% share of Estonian Railways (ER) it bought from Baltic Rail Services ...
Victorian network back in state hands.(News)
Jun 01, 2007 ... RESPONSIBILITY for the regional rail network of the Australian state of Victoria was formally transferred to the state government on May 7. Regional passenger rail operator V/Line will take responsibility for the 4000km network, which was previously controlled by Pacific National (PN) ...
RZD evaluates Likhaya--Bataysk options.(News)
Jun 01, 2007 ... RUSSIAN Railways (RZD) is considering building a new 350km/h line on the Likhaya--Rostov--Bataysk route to increase capacity and cut journey times. It is one of two options being considered on the corridor. The high-speed plans envisage a line bypassing Novocherkassk, and ...
Hitachi reveals 200km/h hybrid HST.(News)
Jun 01, 2007 ... HITACHI, Japan, leasing company Porterbrook, and British track authority Network Rail has revealed the world's most powerful diesel / battery hybrid train. The vehicles, a modified Intercity 125 power car and trailer coach, have a top speed of 200km/h, and will be tested in ...
China completes 10km tunnel.(News)
Jun 01, 2007 ... CHINA has completed a 10km tunnel in Fujian Province on the Wenzhou--Fuzhou high-speed line, which is under construction. The 300km line has 53 tunnels, of which around 80% have so far been completed. Services are ...
Zambia plans heavy-haul line.(News)
Jun 01, 2007 ... ZAMBIA is planning a $US 230 million heavy-haul line from Solwezi to Chngola to ease pressure on roads carrying copper from mines in the northwest of the country. ...
Leasing companies face investigation.(News)
Jun 01, 2007 ... BRITAIN's rolling stock market is to be investigated by the country's Competition Commission following an initial investigation by regulatory authorities. The prices charged for rolling stock acquired from British Rail at privatisation in the mid-1990s ...
High-speed testing starts in Turkey.(News)
Jun 01, 2007 ... TURKISH State Railways (TCDD) has started test running on the first section of the Ankara--Istanbul high-speed line, using two ETR 500 trainsets hired from Trenitalia. The test programme is concentrated on the 251km section from Sincan, west of Ankara, to Inonu, with trains ...
Crossrail faces funding doubts.(News)
Jun 01, 2007 ... THE British Department for Transport (DfT) has admitted that winning funding for London's east-west Crossrail project remains a challenge. Rising costs of materials have pushed the cost of the route to more ...
Hungarian National Railways (MAV) and Gyor-Sopron-Ebenfurth Railway (GySEV) are to install GSM-R on up to 4000km of lines at a cost of Forints 86 billion ($US 463 million).(Hungary)
Jun 01, 2007 ... Hungarian National Railways (MAV) and Gyor-Sopron-Ebenfurth Railway (GySEV) are to install GSM-R on up to 4000km of lines at a cost ...
Stadler, Switzerland, has opened its 9.6 million [euro] maintenance depot at Pusztaszabolcs, 40km from Budapest.(Hungary)
Jun 01, 2007 ... Stadler, Switzerland, has opened its 9.6 million [euro] maintenance depot at Pusztaszabolcs, 40km from ...
The construction of a new line from Harmuty in the state of Asom to Itanagar in Arunachal Pradesh has been approved by the national government.(India)
Jun 01, 2007 ... The construction of a new line from Harmuty in the state of Asom to Itanagar in Arunachal Pradesh has been approved by the national ...
Revised estimates for the reconstruction of the 250km Transandean Railway between Argentina and Chile has put the cost of the project at $US 436.7 million.(International)
Jun 01, 2007 ... Revised estimates for the reconstruction of the 250km Transandean Railway between Argentina and Chile has put the cost of ...
Bulgaria and Macedonia are to seek loans worth around 200 million [euro] from international banks to upgrade their sections of TEN Corridor 8, which runs from the Adriatic coast of Albania to the Black Sea port of Varna in Bulgaria.(International)
Jun 01, 2007 ... Bulgaria and Macedonia are to seek loans worth around 200 million [euro] from international banks to upgrade their sections of TEN Corridor 8, ...
SCT Europe has unveiled a 32.5-tonne axleload bogie primary suspension bogie as part of the Barber Easy Ride Range.(International)
Jun 01, 2007 ... SCT Europe has unveiled a 32.5-tonne axleload bogie primary suspension bogie as part of the Barber ...
Railion, the freight arm of German Rail (DB) is to invest 1.9 billion [euro] to expand capacity, 1 billion [euro] of which will be spent on new wagons.(News)
Jun 01, 2007 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: RAILION, the freight arm of German Rail (DB) is to invest 1.9 billion [euro] to expand capacity, 1 billion [euro] of which will be spent on ...
HSL South faces even more delays.(News)
Jun 01, 2007 ... PLANS to start services on the Amsterdam--Rotterdam--Antwerp highspeed line have been dealt another blow after Dutch transport minister Mr Camiel Eurlings announced only the northern section of the line will open on December 10. Operator NS Hispeed had planned to inaugurate an ...
Philippines to revive South Railway.(News)
Jun 01, 2007 ... PHILIPPINE National Railways has awarded a contract to rehabilitate the Alabang--Muntinlupa--Calabama line to China National Technical Import and Export Corporation. The project is due to start this month, and could be completed in early-2009. It will extend the Caloocan ...
Police probe Israel Railways.(News)
Jun 01, 2007 ... POLICE are investigating allegations of bribery and breaches of trust at Israel Railways (IR). The allegations relate to the purchase of second-hand passenger coaches ...
The national government has unveiled plans to extend Kuala Lumpur Central--Kuala Lumpur International Airport express rail link (ERL) services.(Malaysia)
Jun 01, 2007 ... The national government has unveiled plans to extend Kuala Lumpur Central--Kuala ...
Pakistan Railways (PR) needs Rupees 30 billion ($US 493 million) to clear its infrastructure maintenance backlog, according to the Railways Ministry.(Pakistan)
Jun 01, 2007 ... Pakistan Railways (PR) needs Rupees 30 billion ($US 493 million) to clear its infrastructure maintenance backlog, ...
The president of Uruguayan State Railway Administration (AFE) Mr Antonio Galicchio says the railway is planning a public-private partnership (PPP) to fund investment in new locomotives and rolling stock.(Uruguay)
Jun 01, 2007 ... The president of Uruguayan State Railway Administration (AFE) Mr Antonio Galicchio says the railway is planning a public-private partnership (PPP) to fund ...
Danish State Railways (DSB) has commissioned its first fully-automatic depot control system, which was developed specifically for DSB by Funkwerk (formerly Vossloh IT), Germany.(News)
Jun 01, 2007 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: DANISH State Railways (DSB) has commissioned its first fully-automatic depot control system, which was developed specifically for DSB by Funkwerk (formerly Vossloh IT), Germany. The control system, called AlisterCargo, allows the train ...
Siemens to maintain Russian Velaros.(News)
Jun 01, 2007 ... RUSSIAN Railways (RZD) has awarded Siemens a 300 million [euro] contract to maintain its fleet of eight Velaro RUS high-speed trains. The 30-year contract covers the 276 million [euro] fleet of 10-car trains ordered from Siemens by RZD last year for the Moscow--St ...
Rio--Sao Paulo studies begin.(News)
Jun 01, 2007 ... STUDIES into a 405km high-speed line between Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo have been sanctioned by the national government. Subject to favourable finding, bids could be invited for the project within three months. Initial estimates put the cost of the link at $US 9 billion, but ...
Korea to launch tilting trains in 2010.(News)
Jun 01, 2007 ... SOUTH Korea's 200km/h TTX tilting train could enter service two years ahead of schedule. The ministry of construction and transportation says development of the train has been completed much earlier than expected, and that it will enter service by 2010. The prototype six-car ...
Desec, Finland, has supplied two TL70 track machines to Iraqi Republic Railways (IRR).(News)
Jun 01, 2007 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: DESEC, Finland, has supplied two TL70 track machines to Iraqi Republic Railways (IRR). The contract includes spare ...
I question the viability of Bering Strait rail project.(Letter)(Letter to the editor)
Jun 01, 2007; ... Sir--I read with interest your May 2007 editorial regarding the Bering Strait rail project linking Russia with North America. I question the viability of such a project and pose the overarching question: What commodities would be carried and in what quantities? If it is to be ...
SNCF orders 31 Alstom tram-trains.(Transit news)
Jun 01, 2007 ... FRENCH National Railways (SNCF) has awarded Alstom a 100 million [euro] contract to supply 31 Citadis Dualis tram-trains for two French regions. Seven of the tram-trains will be introduced from January 2010 in the Pays-de-la-Loire region on routes radiating from Nantes, while ...
Tube upgrade overrun to hit 1 billion [pounds sterling].(Transit news)
Jun 01, 2007 ... METRONET, the public-private partnership (PPP) contractor which has two 30-year output-based contracts to upgrade and maintain London Underground, estimates it could have a 1 billion [pounds sterling] cost overrun by the end of its first seven-and-a-half review period. London ...
Nanjing orders Metropolis trains.(Transit news)
Jun 01, 2007 ... THE CHINESE city of Nanjing has awarded Alstom and CSR Nanjing Puzhen Rolling Stock Works a 120 million [euro] contract to supply 144 Metropolis metro cars. Alstom's share of the contract is worth 36.8 million [euro]. Alstom is responsible for design, traction systems, auxiliary ...
Government go-ahead for Singapore Downtown Metro Line.(Transit news)
Jun 01, 2007 ... THE Singapore government has approved plans to build the 40km Metro Downtown Line at a cost of $US 7.9 billion. The line will be built in three stages, with construction starting on the first 3.4km section from Marina Bay to Bugis at the end of this ...
Research by the University of North Texas shows the economic benefits of expanding the Dallas light rail network could be almost double the cost of the $US 4.86 billion project.(Transit news)
Jun 01, 2007 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: RESEARCH by the University of North Texas shows the economic benefits of expanding the Dallas light rail network could be almost double the cost of the $US 4.86 billion project. Construction of the 44.6km, ...
Jordan awards Amman--Zarqa light rail contract.(Transit news)
Jun 01, 2007 ... INFRASTRUCTURE Development Company, a consortium of Pakistani, Chinese and Jordanian companies, has been awarded a $US 240 million contract to construct a light rail line from the Jordanian capital Amman to Zarqa. The 25km electrified line will begin at Raghadan in central Amman ...
Dubai approves Purple Line.(Transit news)
Jun 01, 2007 ... DUBAI has approved construction of the 49km Metro Purple Line, which will link Jabel Ali and Dubai International airports. The $US ...
The Roads and Transport Authority says both the Red and Green lines will now open on September 9 2009.(Transit news)
Jun 01, 2007 ... * The Roads and Transport Authority says both the Red and Green lines will ...
The last of 40 Combino Plus LRVs for Budapest was delivered by Siemens on May 4.(Transit news)
Jun 01, 2007 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: THE last of 40 Combino Plus LRVs for Budapest was delivered by Siemens on May 4. At 54m, the LRVs, which operate on Lines ...
Shanghai orders Movia cars.(Transit news)
Jun 01, 2007 ... SHANGHAI has placed a 150 million [euro] order for 32 six-car Movia metro trains from Bombardier and its Chinese joint-venture partners. The first of the order for 192 cars will be delivered in the second quarter of 2008 and will operate on Metro Line 7, which is currently under ...
The Japan Bank for International Co-operation has agreed to provide a Baht 84 billion ($US 2.56 billion) loan for the construction of the Red and Purple metro lines.(Bangkok)
Jun 01, 2007 ... The Japan Bank for International Co-operation has agreed to provide a Baht 84 billion ($US 2.56 billion) loan for the ...
Testing of Metro Line 5 is set to begin next month after the city's transport authority announced completion of tunnel construction.(Beijing)
Jun 01, 2007 ... Testing of Metro Line 5 is set to begin next month after the city's transport authority announced completion of tunnel ...
Test running has begun of the new metro trains being built by CAF, Spain, for Metro Line 1B.(Brussels)
Jun 01, 2007 ... Test running has begun of the new metro trains being built by CAF, Spain, for Metro Line 1B ....
Construction of the Metro Gold Line Eastside extension has now reached the halfway stage.(Los Angeles)
Jun 01, 2007 ... Construction of the Metro Gold Line Eastside extension has now reached the halfway stage. The 9.7km ...
The state government of Victoria has allocated $A 362 million ($US 298.1 million) in its 2007-08 budget to buy an additional 10 emus for commuter rail services.(Melbourne)
Jun 01, 2007 ... The state government of Victoria has allocated $A 362 million ($US 298.1 million) in its 2007-08 budget to buy an additional 10 emus for ...
Affiliated Computer Services, United States, has been awarded a 6.3 million [euro] contract. (Nancy).
Jun 01, 2007 ... Affiliated Computer Services, United States, has been awarded a 6.3 million [euro] contract ...
Thales has been awarded a contract by Nexus to replace traction power Scada systems on Tyne & Wear metro trains.(Newcastle (Britain))
Jun 01, 2007 ... Thales has been awarded a contract by Nexus to replace traction power Scada ...
Rio de Janeiro Opportrans, the private consortium operating Metro Rio, will be required to buy 18 trains and extend Line 2 from Estacio to Carioca.(Rio de Janeiro)
Jun 01, 2007 ... Opportrans, the private consortium operating Metro Rio, will be required to buy 18 trains and ...
Earth Tech, United States, has been awarded a $US 22 million contract to provide detailed design for the Bay Area Rapid Transit metro extension from Fremont to San Jose.(San Francisco)
Jun 01, 2007 ... Earth Tech, United States, has been awarded a $US 22 million contract to provide detailed design for the Bay ...
The state government has announced plans to extend Metro Line 2 from Alto Ipiranga to Vila Prudente.(Sao Paulo)
Jun 01, 2007 ... The state government has announced plans to extend Metro Line 2 from Alto Ipiranga to Vila Prudente. The Reais 1.4 billion ($US 722 million) project ...
Metro Sao Paulo is planning to refurbish its Line 1 and Line 3 metro trains.(Sao Paulo)
Jun 01, 2007 ... Metro Sao Paulo is planning to refurbish its Line 1 and Line 3 metro ...