International Railway Journal back issues from June 2009:
Technology pushes rail's boundaries.(This month)
Jun 01, 2009; ... TWO important events in the railway calendar are scheduled this month: the International Association of Public Transport's (UITP) world congress in Vienna, Austria, and the International Heavy Haul Association's (IHHA) conference in Shanghai, China. These events provide an ...
IRJ launches new-look website.(This month)(Website overview)
Jun 01, 2009 ... THIS month we unveil a new-look website for the magazine, with enhanced content and a cleaner design that we hope will make it more appealing and easier navigate. The content of the new website has also been adapted to take account of the online edition of IRJ as well as the magazine ...
DB ushers in Grube era as resignations continue.(News)
Jun 01, 2009 ... GERMAN RAIL has formally appointed Dr Rudiger Grube as its new CEO as two more senior managers resigned in the wake of the scandal that claimed his predecessor Mr Hartmut Mehdorn. Dr Norbert Bensel (pictured) has stepped down from his position as management board member for DB ...
China to study Cambodia--Vietnam link.(News)
Jun 01, 2009 ... A CHINESE company has been awarded a contract to conduct a feasibility study into a line between the Cambodian capital Phnom Perth and the Vietnamese border, which will fill one of the key missing sections of the Singapore--Kunming Trans Asian Rail Link. The Cambodian Ministry ...
Israel promises passenger rail investment.(News)
Jun 01, 2009 ... ISRAEL's minister of transport, Mr Israel Katz, presented a major plan for a Shekels 40 billion ($US 9.59 billion) expansion of the country's rail network on May 9. The plan calls for new railways to Eilat in the south and Kiryat Shmona in the north, as well as the Jezreel ...
New Zealand plans first ERTMS installation.(News)
Jun 01, 2009 ... NEW ZEALAND infrastructure manager Ontrack is to install European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) on the Auckland area commuter rail network in the first such application in New Zealand. Ontrack has awarded a $US 49 million contract to Westinghouse Rail Systems ...
Flying start for Milan--Bologna high-speed.(News)
Jun 01, 2009 ... PASSENGER traffic on the Milan--Rome route has soared by 32% since the opening of the Milan Bologna high-speed line last December, according to Trenitalia. Rail now has a modal share of 48% between Milan and Rome, up from 32% in 2007-08, while air's share of the market has dipped from 54% ...
PKP Cargo sell-off in doubt again.(News)
Jun 01, 2009 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A SECOND attempt to privatise the freight arm of Polish State Railways (PKP) could be postponed unless the economic situation begins to improve within the next two or three months, according to the Polish government. Deputy infrastructure minister Mr ...
European freight operators call for state support.(News)
Jun 01, 2009 ... FREIGHT operators across Europe called for the European Union and national governments to support their own efforts to beat the economic downturn. The call was made at a joint Community of European Railways (CER) and International Union of Railways (UIC) meeting in Vienna on ...
Australian infrastructure and transport minister Mr Anthony Albanese officially opened the Dynon--Tottenham upgrade in Melbourne in April.(Australia)
Jun 01, 2009 ... Australian infrastructure and transport minister Mr Anthony Albanese officially opened the Dynon-Tottenham upgrade in Melbourne in April. The project includes 7km of bi-directionally signalled double track ...
A 25 million [euro] initiative to improve level crossing safety has been started by the Austrian government, federal states, and Austrian Federal Railways (OBB).(Austria)
Jun 01, 2009 ... A 25 million [euro] initiative to improve level crossing safety has been started by the Austrian government, federal states, and Austrian ...
Belgian track authority Infrabel has started training staff on new operations and interlocking simulators from Funkwerk IT, Germany.(Belgium)
Jun 01, 2009 ... Belgian track authority Infrabel has started training staff on new operations and interlocking simulators from Funkwerk IT, ...
Latin American Logistics (ALL) plans to increase the number of containers it carries from 47,000 in 2008 to 117,000 this year despite the recession.(Brazil)
Jun 01, 2009 ... Latin American Logistics (ALL) plans to increase the number of containers it carries from 47,000 in 2008 to 117,000 this year despite the recession. New container terminals and a drive to ...
Redevelopment of the Shields emu depot in Glasgow started last month in a 24 million [pounds sterling] project.(Britain)
Jun 01, 2009 ... Redevelopment of the Shields emu depot in Glasgow started last month in a 24 million [pounds sterling] ...
The chief executive of Network Rail, Mr Iain Coucher, is to forgo his annual bonus in response to public concerns about executive remuneration.(Britain)
Jun 01, 2009 ... The chief executive of Network Rail, Mr Iain Coucher, is to forgo his annual bonus in response to public concerns about ...
Federal approval for DesertXpress plan.(News)
Jun 01, 2009 ... PUBLIC consultation has Ix, gun on a plans to build a high-speed line between Las Vegas and Southern California after the environmental impact statement for the $US 3.5 billion project was approved by the United States Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). DesertXpress will be ...
$A 4.6 billion for Australian rail projects.(News)
Jun 01, 2009 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THE Australian federal government has included $A 4.6 billion ($US 3.6 billion) for rail investment in its 200809 budget, which aims to stimulate the economy through expanding infrastructure. The principal beneficiary of the additional funding ...
Portuguese high-speed tenders issued.(News)
Jun 01, 2009 ... TENDERS have been issued for the first phase of the Portuguese section of the Lisbon-Madrid high-speed line. Construction will begin next year on the 34km section from Lisbon to Poceirao, and will be followed by the start of works on the 169km line from Poceirao to the Spanish border near ...
JR Freight plans hybrid diesel.(News)
Jun 01, 2009 ... JAPANESE freight operator JR Freight plans to develop a new diesel-battery hybrid freight locomotive which is expected to use 40% less fuel and emit 40% less NOx. The company will build a prototype this year and test it in the next financial year to evaluate its in-service ...
Egyptian National Railways (ENR) has taken delivery of its first EMD JT43CWRM diesel locomotive, of which 40 are due to be delivered by the end of the third quarter.(News)
Jun 01, 2009 ... Caption: EGYPTIAN National Railways (ENR) has taken delivery of its first EMD JT43CWRM diesel locomotive, of which 40 are due to be delivered by the end of the third quarter. The ...
Trenitalia poised to enter France.(News)
Jun 01, 2009 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ITALY'S state-owned train operator Trenitalia is preparing to enter the French market on two fronts after declaring its intent to bid for Veolia Cargo and applying for paths to operate international passenger trains. Italian Railways (FS) CEO Mr Mauro ...
CPR seeks a new route south.(News)
Jun 01, 2009 ... CANADIAN Pacific Railway (CPR) is negotiating a reciprocal access agreement with Kansas City Southern Railway (KCS), United States. CPR will gain a more direct route to the Gulf of Mexico, while KCS will gain improved access to Chicago. The deal follows CPR's ...
EC approves UK Eurostar state aid.(News)
Jun 01, 2009 ... THE European Commission (EC) has approved plans to provide the British arm of cross-Channel passenger operator Eurostar and London & Continental Railways--the owner of Britain's only high-speed line--with up ...
Brazilian HS study completed.(News)
Jun 01, 2009 ... A NEW study into Brazil's first high-speed line has concluded that project could cost double the previous estimate and carry fewer passengers than predicted. Halcrow, Britain, says the Campinas--Sao Paulo--Rio de Janeiro line could cost more than $US 20 billion and would carry around 31 ...
Construction begins on London's Crossrail.(News)
Jun 01, 2009 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] BRITISH Prime Minister Mr Gordon Brown and London Mayor Mr Boris Johnson have laid a foundation stone at the site of Canary Wharf station (pictured) in London's Docklands business district to formally mark the start of work on the city's Crossrail project ....
Canadian Pacific Railway is seeking government funding to help build a new tunnel under the Detroit River in Montreal to accommodate double-stack trains.(Canada)
Jun 01, 2009 ... Canadian Pacific Railway is seeking government funding to help build a new tunnel under the Detroit River in Montreal ...
Construction of the 401km Baoji--Lanzhou high-speed line will start later this year.(China)
Jun 01, 2009 ... Construction of the 401km Baoji-Lanzhou high-speed line will start later this year ....
Tracklaying started on the Xi'an--Zhengzhou high-speed line last month.(China)
Jun 01, 2009 ... Tracklaying started on the Xi'an-Zhengzhou high-speed line last month. The 500km, ...
The electrification system of the 47km Wuxi--Ahlashan line.(China)
Jun 01, 2009 ... The electrification system of the 47km Wuxi-Ahlashan ...
Upgrading of the 1422km Beijing--Kowloon line has been completed, with line speeds having been raised from 160km/h to 200km/h.(China)
Jun 01, 2009 ... Upgrading of the 1422km Beijing-Kowloon line has been completed, with line speeds having ...
Danish State Railway (DSB) recorded its highest increase in passenger numbers in five years with 3% more tickets sold in 2008 than 2007.(Denmark)
Jun 01, 2009 ... Danish State Railway (DSB) recorded its highest increase in passenger numbers in five years with 3% more tickets sold ...
German Rail (DB) is to invest more than 300 million [euro] from the government's economic stimulus package on improvements to small and medium stations across the country.(Germany)
Jun 01, 2009 ... German Rail (DB) is to invest more than 300 million [euro] from the government's economic stimulus package on improvements to small and medium ...
Russian freight operator Freight One and Finnish Railways (VR) signed a cooperation agreement.(International)
Jun 01, 2009 ... Russian freight operator Freight One and Finnish Railways (VR) signed a cooperation agreement to boost ...
NR makes a case for electrification.(News)
Jun 01, 2009 ... BRITISH infrastructure manager Network Rail (NR) presented a comprehensive case for extending electrification last month--and claims that some schemes will save money in the long-term compared with continuing diesel operation. NR says electric trains use between 19 and 26 pence ...
OBB shake-up to tackle mounting losses.(News)
Jun 01, 2009 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THE Austrian government is planning a series of reforms for Austrian Federal Railways (OBB) in an effort to reduce the railway's losses, which reached record levels in 2008. Revenues rose 310 million [euro] last year to 5.83 billion [euro], ...
ARTC studies Inland Railway route.(News)
Jun 01, 2009 ... AUSTRALIAN Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) has released the results of the first stage of its study into the development of the 1890km Inland Railway from Melbourne to Brisbane. After examining more than 50 possible options, ARTC has concluded the line should follow existing lines ...
Confusion over transport funding.(News)
Jun 01, 2009 ... THE United States Department of Transportation (DOT) says $US 742.5 million announced in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Arra) is accelerated funding for existing projects rather than new money. It follows confusion about whether the money is in addition to previously committed ...
GE invests in battery plant.(News)
Jun 01, 2009 ... GENERAL Electric (GE) is to spend $US 100 million on a high-tech battery factory in a major step towards a new generation of hybrid locomotives. It is seeking government stimulus funding to build it. The first products to emerge from the Albany, United States, ...
Sapsan breaks Russian speed record.(News)
Jun 01, 2009 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] RUSSIAN Railways (RZD) and Siemens celebrated a new Russian rail speed record on May 2 when a Sapsan high-speed train reached 281km/h on the Okulovka Mstinskiy Most section of the Moscow--St Petersburg line. Trial running will be completed in ...
CD fined for anti-competitive behaviour.(News)
Jun 01, 2009 ... THE Czech anti-monopoly office (UOHS) has imposed a record fine of Koruna 254 million ($US 13 million) on Czech Railways (CD) for abusing its dominant position in the railfreight market. According to UOHS, CD had deliberately offered preferential deals to customers who might ...
Major staff cuts in Greek rail reform.(News)
Jun 01, 2009 ... THE Greek government has approved a package of reforms of Hellenic State Railways (OSE) in a bid to cut the railway's huge 9 billion [euro] debt. Transport Minister Mr Evripidis Stylanidis said: "Greece currently pays 2 million [euro] a day to maintain a network that is ...
Corsican Railways (CFC) has completed a project to install steel sleepers on 232km of metre-gauge lines from Bastia to Ajaccio and Ponte Leccia to Calvi.(News)
Jun 01, 2009 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: CORSICAN Railways (CFC) has completed a project to install steel sleepers on 232km of metre-gauge lines from ...
MRS tests friction management system.(News)
Jun 01, 2009 ... MRS Logistics, Brazil, has completed a programme of tests to establish the benefits of gauge face lubrication and top of rail friction control. The tests have been carried out in collaboration with the Canadian Centre for Surface Transport Technology using Portec trackside ...
Italian Railways (FS) and Slovenian Railways (SZ) are planning a 100 million [euro] commuter service.(International)
Jun 01, 2009 ... Italian Railways (FS) and Slovenian Railways (SZ) are planning a ...
Rail traffic from the port of Rotterdam reached the 1 million twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) mark for the first time last year.(Netherlands)
Jun 01, 2009 ... Rail traffic from the port of Rotterdam reached the 1 million twenty-foot ...
Central Andean Railroad (FCCA) is to modernise its Lima--Huancayo line at a cost of $US 40 million.(Peru)
Jun 01, 2009 ... Central Andean Railroad (FCCA) is to modernise its Lima--Huancayo line at a cost of $US 40 million. FCCA plans to lay ...
An appeals court has overturned a ruling by a lower court that did not allow public bids by other passenger operators to run on the Cuzco--Machu Picchu line.(Peru)
Jun 01, 2009 ... An appeals court has overturned a ruling by a lower court that did not allow public bids by other passenger operators to run on the ...
Mr P P Wijesekara is the new general manager of Sri Lanka Railways.(Sri Lanka)
Jun 01, 2009 ... Mr P P Wijesekara is the new general manager of Sri Lanka ...
State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has approached German Rail (DB) to operate the Airport Rail Link which is due to start trial operation in August.(Thailand)
Jun 01, 2009 ... State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has approached German Rail (DB) to operate the Airport Rail Link which is due to start trial operation in ...
Plans for high-speed trains between Tampa, Orlando, and Miami are to be submitted to the federal government in a bid for government funding.(United States)
Jun 01, 2009 ... Plans for high-speed trains between Tampa, Orlando, and Miami are to be submitted to the federal government in a ...
Montpellier Area Council (TaM) has selected Alstom to supply a fleet of 42m-long Citadis LRVs for the city's third light rail line.(Transit news)
Jun 01, 2009 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: MONTPELLIER Area Council (TAM) has selected Alstom to supply a fleet of 42m-long Citadis LRVs for the city's third light rail line. The initial 65 million [euro] contract covers the supply of 23 LRVs plus a full-size mock-up, although TaM has ...
French government announces massive investment in light rail and metro.(Transit news)
Jun 01, 2009 ... THE French government has unveiled ambitious plans to invest more than 20 billion [euro] in an automated metro ring line linking the outer suburbs of Paris, as well as 1 billion in grants towards 57 other light rail projects in cities across France (see table). The 130km ...
Bart to replace entire train fleet.(Transit news)
Jun 01, 2009 ... SAN FRANCISCO Bay Area Rapid Transit (Bart) is preparing to embark on a $US 3.4 billion programme to replace its entire fleet of 669 metro cars. Bart hopes to secure $US 1 billion in federal funding for the new trains, and says additional funds could be raised by increasing train fares and ...
Sao Paulo to concession Line 8.(Transit news)
Jun 01, 2009 ... STATE-OWNED Sao Paulo suburban rail operator CPTM is to invite bids for a 30-year concession to modernise, operate and maintain Line 8 from Julio Prestes to Itapevi. ...
DB orders Stuttgart S-Bahn trains.(Transit news)
Jun 01, 2009 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] GERMAN RAIL (DB) has awarded a consortium of Bombardier and Alstom a C452 million contract to supply 83 four-car class 430 emus for Stuttgart S-Bahn services, which DB will operate from 2013. The 140km/h trains will be delivered between February and ...
Lyon inaugurates light rail line.(Transit news)
Jun 01, 2009 ... COMMERCIAL services began on April 20 on light rail Line T4, which runs for 10km from an interchange with Line T2 at Jet d'eau-Mendes France to Feyzin hospital via the university district. The ...
Bombardier bags Toronto deal.(Transit news)
Jun 01, 2009 ... TORONTO Transit Commission has selected Bombardier for a massive $C 2.23 billion ($US 1.91 billion) contract to supply 204 low-floor LRVs in what is billed as North America's largest ever LRV contract. The 30m-long vehicles will have almost double the capacity of the trams they ...
The 12.5km Bergamo--Albino light rail line was officially opened on April 24, although commercial services on the section between Bergamo and Alzano were not due to start until this month.(Transit news)
Jun 01, 2009 ... Caption: THE 12.5km Bergamo-Albino light rail line was officially opened on April 24, although commercial services on the section between Bergamo and Alzano were not due to start until this ...
Consortium wins Downtown Line train contract.(Transit news)
Jun 01, 2009 ... SINGAPORE Land Transport Authority (LTA) has awarded a $S 368 million ($US 250 million) contract for 22 metro trains to a consortium of Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Japan, and CSR Qingdao Sifang Locomotive & Rolling Stock, China. The six-car emus will be delivered in 2011-12, and will ...
Cairo to extend metro Line 3.(Transit news)
Jun 01, 2009 ... CONSTRUCTION is expected to start soon on the second section of metro Line 3 in the Egyptian capital Cairo. This will extend the line by 7km from Abbasia to Heliopolis. Egypt's National Authority for Tunnels (NAT) expects to complete the extension in October 2013. [ILLUSTRATION ...
Adana light metro opens.(Transit news)
Jun 01, 2009 ... THE first light metro line in the Turkish city of Adana opened on March 18, 17 years after construction began. The 8km section from Hastane to Vilayet runs largely on viaducts and services are operated by a ...
The Department of Transport says it expects to invite bids for the city's first light rail line by the end of this month.(Abu Dhabi)
Jun 01, 2009 ... The Department of Transport says it expects to invite bids for the city's first light rail line by the end of ...
Berlin Transport Authority (BVG) CEO Mr Andreas Sturmowski says he wants to accelerate the construction of the 2km extension of U-Bahn Line 5 from Alexanderplatz to Brandenburg Gate.(Berlin)
Jun 01, 2009 ... Berlin Transport Authority (BVG) CEO Mr Andreas Sturmowski says he wants to accelerate the construction of the 2km extension of U-Bahn Line 5 from ...
Bombardier has been selected as preferred bidder to supply 16 32m-long LRVs to Blackpool Tram Services.(Blackpool)
Jun 01, 2009 ... Bombardier has been selected as preferred bidder to supply 16 32m-long LRVs to Blackpool Tram Services. Volker Fitzpatrick is expected to clinch the 20 million ...
Construction is due to start this month on light rail Line 1, which will run for 14.7km from Plouzane Technopole to Kergaradec and Froutven.(Brest)
Jun 01, 2009 ... Construction is due to start this month on light rail Line 1, which will run for 14.7km from ...