Prototype News

“RAIL FAILURE DESTROYING ROADS”

News from Railways Africa - Tue, 03/09/2010 - 23:25

“A key problem on our roads is the massive migration of freight – very heavy freight – onto the road system. That’s freight that should be on rail,” Deputy Transport Minister Jeremy Cronin said at an infrastructure development cluster media briefing.  ”We’ve really got to improve, very significantly, the Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) system. We need to get much, much, much more freight back onto rail. It’s the main cause… for damage to our roads”.

According to a briefing document issued by the Department of Transport (DoT), the rail freight system is “fraught with serious performance challenges”.  The most important cause is “historical under-investment in infrastructure, rolling stock and operating equipment”.  In consequence, the railway is unable to meet current demand.

Transnet has embarked on “massive” infrastructure and operational investments to improve service levels. In the next five years, it will invest about R93.4bn in ports, rail and pipeline infrastructure and operations.  Over the past five years – between 2005/06 and 2009/10 – R75.3bn has gone into these areas.

In Cronin’s words, maintenance of South Africa’s road network poses a “major challenge”, with the main problem tending to occur “at a provincial and municipal level.” There are a number of reasons for this, including under-funding of as much as R60bn.

“That’s steep, and as you fall back from one year to another, the condition of the roads gets worse and they deteriorate quite rapidly.”

Categories: Prototype News

TRANSNET ASSETS AUCTION #11

News from Railways Africa - Tue, 03/09/2010 - 23:24

Peter Bagshawe reports – 10 lots comprising 427 wagons were sold.

9 lots comprising 173 wagons and 1 coach were closed (either no bids received or reserve price not reached).

Categories: Prototype News

Rail growth in road slump

News from Railway Gazette International - Tue, 03/09/2010 - 22:00

KNORR-BREMSE: The braking equipment maker recorded sales of €2·76bn at its Rail Vehicle Systems business during 2009, and although this was down from €3·38bn the previous year, Rail was not hit as badly as the Commercial Vehicle business. The company said it benefited from a 'strong strategic position' in a 'difficult economic environment' in which the rail and road markets developed differently.

Despite a downturn in its wagon and locomotive business, Rail Vehicle Systems reported an increase in sales from €1·43bn to €1·55bn. Under a long-term development policy the company inaugurated a door development centre at Kematen in Austria, and a braking systems plant in Budapest is nearing completion. Targeted acquisitions were made to strengthen the firm's position.

Meanwhile the Commercial Vehicle Systems division saw a drastic fall, with sales down from €1·97bn to €1·22bn. Europe was hard hit, though Rail saw an increase in sales. In the Americas both divisions were confronted by a weaker market, but sales in the Asia/Australia region were up 80%, driven by China where Knorr-Bremse won the largest order in its history to supply rail equipment worth €0·5bn.

Knorr-Bremse is expecting the overall economic situation to remain difficult in 2010, with no significant recovery in the commercial vehicle market. Rail freight business in Europe and the USA is expected to remain slow, but the passenger sector could pick up.

Categories: Prototype News

ROVOS DISCONTINUES GARDEN ROUTE

News from Railways Africa - Tue, 03/09/2010 - 09:13

Rovos Rail is discontinuing its Cape Town – George – Cape Town trips. The last run was scheduled for the weekend 5/6/7 March. The website no longer displays a Garden Route itinerary and lists no further operational dates after March. The second last run was on 5/6/7 February.

The company explains that the route was never a paying proposition and that economic reasons led to its withdrawal. The need to use diesel power was a very expensive factor.

[ It is understood from train staff that the condition of the track in some places leaves much to be desired.  - editor

Categories: Prototype News

GAUTRAIN: BUSES IF NO JUNE TRAIN

News from Railways Africa - Tue, 03/09/2010 - 09:12

While reports vary about Gautrain running to the airport when World Cup proceedings begin in June (50% of those in the know say “Yes”, the other 50% say “No”), the Gauteng government is planning alternative bus service provision in case this proves necessary. “We have received 30 tenders [for six bus routes altogether], and are evaluating 22 of these,” Gautrain Management Agency CEO Jack van der Merwe told the press. There are to be six routes, three from O R Tambo to Westgate, Pretoria, and Sandton; two from Lanseria Airport to Sandton and Pretoria, and the sixth from Sandton to Pretoria. Should Gautrain be up and running, the O R Tambo-Sandton bus service will fall away.

The Gauteng government and the Bombela Concession Company, responsible for building and operating the Gautrain line, have been negotiating for several months over the feasibility of accelerating phase one of the project – the Sandton-OR Tambo branch. In terms of the originally agreed schedule, trains were only required to start operating at the end of June.

Should Gautrain’s phase one be operational for the World Cup, it will cost around R100 a ticket, van der Merwe says. Ticket prices are envisaged as being cheaper than running a car, but more expensive than existing public transport. The airport trains are to be more luxurious and spacious than those that will start running between Johannesburg and Pretoria in 2011.

Categories: Prototype News

SA INTERCITY TRAINS MAY DISAPPEAR

News from Railways Africa - Tue, 03/09/2010 - 09:10

According to Shosholoza Meyl (SM) staff members quoted in the SA Railway Society Natal Newsletter, an internal SM newsletter has reported “massive Iosses”. Unless “very substantial” government financial assistance is forthcoming, long distance passenger trains may have to be discontinued before 2012.

Categories: Prototype News

Israel Railways orders second batch of Siemens coaches

News from Railway Gazette International - Tue, 03/09/2010 - 08:38

ISRAEL: On March 9 Siemens Mobility signed a €47m contract to supply Israel Railways with a further 31 Viaggio Light coaches, as a follow-on to the initial 2006 order for 87 cars which included options for a further 585. The latest cars will delivered from Wien in 2011 for use on the Tel Aviv - Rishon Le-Zion route.

The Viaggio Light low-floor cars are designed for operation at up to 160 km/h on regional and inter-city services in Israel. The latest order comprises 27 intermediate and four push-pull driving trailer cars. The intermediate vehicles have 2+2 facing seating for 82 passengers, a wheelchair space and an accessible toilet. The driving trailers have 27 passenger seats plus the cab and equipment compartment.

The first batch of coaches were delivered in 2008-09 and are used on services to Nahariyya, Modi'in and Be'er Sheva.

Categories: Prototype News

First contracts awarded for Shatin - Central Link

News from Railway Gazette International - Tue, 03/09/2010 - 08:30

CHINA: Hong Kong’s MTR Corp has awarded two contracts to Halcrow and Aecom for design work on phase one of its 17 km Shatin - Central Link project.

The first phase of SCL involves an 11 km extension of the Ma On Shan Line from Tai Wai station via Diamond Hill to join up with West Rail at Hung Hom. This will ultimately create a 57 km East-West corridor to be worked by eight-car West Rail Line trains.

Phase II will extend East Rail Line by 6 km from Hung Hom to Admiralty station on Hong Kong Island, to form a North-South corridor operated by nine-car East Rail trains.

Halcrow will design a section of the route known as Lion Rock and Diamond Hill approach tunnels, which comprises 4·7 km twin tunnels to be built in two sections using drill and blast and tunnel boring machines. The tunnels have to fit within a narrow road corridor owing to constraints imposed by the foundations of nearby high-rise buildings.

Aecom’s design contract includes a new interchange station at Diamond Hill, a train stabling facility, the upgrade of an existing rail depot and an extensive network of footbridges. Once completed, Diamond Hill is expected to become one of the busiest stations on the East-West corridor, providing an interchange with the Kwun Tong Line and handling around 47 000 daily passengers during morning peak hours.

Construction of the Shatin - Central Link is expected to start in 2010. Completion of Phase I between Tai Wai to Hung Hom is envisaged in 2015 whilst Phase II from Hung Hom to Admiralty should be finished in 2019.

Categories: Prototype News

KZN BRANCHLINES

News from Railways Africa - Tue, 03/09/2010 - 06:25

Although, for practical purposes, the railway south of Pietermaritzburg together with its branches has been closed, the Creighton enthusiast group hopes to run a series of excursions to Underberg behind its class 19D 4-8-2 during winter. The class GMA, too, may see some running, the SA Railway Society Natal Newsletter reports. Together with other interested locals, talks were held with Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) which has agreed to maintain the line for one more year.

SAPPI supports the line in principle, but it is understood that service delivery has been poor, added to which the cost of moving timber by rail is now higher than road transport – and slower. On the other side of Pietermaritzburg, while the Greytown-Kranskop branch is still operating, there have been similar complaints about service and cost. The possibility of closure within six months seems not unlikely.

Categories: Prototype News

GAUTRAIN TESTS SANDTON LINE

News from Railways Africa - Tue, 03/09/2010 - 06:23

Gautrain test running is now in progress every day between 06:00 and 02:00 the following morning, Mondays to Sundays.

Due to the tight schedule, testing and commissioning requirements are very demanding. Noise levels are being evaluated to ensure that prescribed limits are not exceeded. Train hooting is being minimised during the night and early hours to avoid any unnecessary disturbance.

Sandton Station is underground beneath Rivonia Road, between West Street and Fifth Avenue. It will border the Sandton Library and Nelson Mandela Square. At Sandton, passengers will be able to choose between the airport and commuter services.

Travellers whose journeys originate at other stations will need to change platforms in order to use the airport service. It will be possible to do this without having to leave the station or pass through ticket gates in the station concourse.

Categories: Prototype News

Hamburg unveils first DT5 trainset

News from Railway Gazette International - Tue, 03/09/2010 - 05:47

GERMANY: Hamburger Hochbahn unveiled its first DT5 metro train in Salzgitter on March 4. It will now undergo 12 months of testing and commissioning before making its first appearance in Hamburg in March 2011.

Hamburg’s public transport operator ordered 67 trains costing €240m from a consortium of Alstom and Bombardier in December 2006. The vehicles are intended to replace the ageing DT3 fleet by 2015, and will also provide increased capacity to meet growing demand. They will run on Line U3 and the new Line U4 to HafenCity, which is due to open in spring 2012.

Each three-car articulated trainset is 39·6 m long and 2 600 mm wide, weighs 54·6 tonnes and is powered by six motors rated at 135 kW. Maximum speed is 80 km/h. The units will be run in pairs on Line U3, where the older platforms in the city centre are only 90 m long, and in sets of three on other lines with 125 m platforms.

With a lightweight stainless-steel car body, four air-sprung bogies and regenerative braking, the vehicle is designed to be energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly; 95% of the material can be recycled. Maximum noise level is 77 dB (A) at 60 km/h.

The air-conditioned walk-through interiors have 96 seats plus room for 128 standing passengers and two wheelchair spaces, and are fitted with modern safety and security equipment including CCTV monitoring, passenger information and a sprinkler system.

Categories: Prototype News

Work in progress on Lima metro

News from Railway Gazette International - Tue, 03/09/2010 - 04:00

PERU: Construction of a 12·3 km extension of Lima metro Line 1 started  in the Santiago de Surco district on March 2. The event was marked by a ceremony attended by the mayors of Villa María del Triunfo, Suco, La Victoria and Surquillo.

The Tren Eléctrico Lima consortium, comprising Graña y Montero SA and Norberto Odebrecht SA, was awarded a US$410·2m contract in December 2009 to extend the line from the existing terminus at Atocongo to Hospital Dos de Mayo in Avenida Grau, build nine new stations and supply new E&M equipment for the entire route. Completion is currently envisaged in June 2011.

On March 8 Bombardier announced that it had been awarded a €16m contract to supply Cityflo 350 signalling for Line 1. The company will install interlockings, track circuits and control equipment on the entire 21·4 km route between Villa El Salvador and Hospital Dos de Mayo, together with ATP and ATO on the 15 trains that will operate the line.

The Corporación Andina de Fomento has agreed to fund feasibility studies for phase II of the project, which would see the line extended further north from Avenida Grau to San Juan de Lurigancho.

Categories: Prototype News

Talgos on test for Moscow - Europe services

News from Railway Gazette International - Tue, 03/09/2010 - 03:00

RUSSIA: By the end of April the Shcherbinka research centre near Moscow will complete tests which aim to assess whether Talgo automatic gauge-changing technology could be used under Russian conditions. Coaches supplied by the Spanish firm will also undergo running trials on the Moscow - St Petersburg and Moscow - Brest routes.

RZD is interested in using 'Talgo-type rolling stock' to operate faster passenger services from Moscow to Warszawa, Berlin and Praha, eliminating the need to swap bogies at the break between 1 520 mm and standard gauge. Talgo gauge-changing systems are currently used in Spain to allow trains to run through from 1 668 mm to standard gauge without stopping.

RZD President Vladimir Yakunin met Spanish Development Minister José Blanco in Madrid on March 4 to discuss progress with the project, which was agreed by RZD and Patentes Talgo in October 2008.

Categories: Prototype News

China South exports are up

News from Railway Gazette International - Mon, 03/08/2010 - 22:00

CHINA: Rolling stock manufacturer CSR has announced export sales of more than US$1·2bn for 2009, up 60% on the previous year and vastly more than the US$59m recorded in 2001.

During the past year contracts were signed with customers in countries including Australia, Guinea, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. CSR said the orders were dominated by high value products including electric multiple-units and metro vehicles, emphasising that the company is now a global player on a par with the major western suppliers.

The company has used the wider financial crisis as an opportunity to acquire stakes in foreign suppliers, including an expansion of its capabilities in the field of high-power semiconductors.

Categories: Prototype News

Capital Metro finally achieves FRA approval

News from Railway Gazette International - Mon, 03/08/2010 - 05:50

USA: Capital Metro’s nine-station commuter Red Line will begin revenue service between downtown Austin and Leander on March 22. Federal Railroad Administration inspectors gave their approval for commercial operation on March 5, following final testing on the 52 km route during February and early March.

The line was within days of opening in late March 2009 when officials announced an indefinite delay owing to a number of safety and operational issues. These related primarily to the signalling and level crossing equipment and software, some of which had to be replaced. During the setback, Cap Metro replaced operating contractor Veolia with Herzog and the agency’s general manager resigned.

The initial service will provide 19 trains on weekdays, running at 35 min headways — six southbound and three northbound trains in the morning, and six northbound and four southbound during evening commute hours — with some runs terminating short of Leander. These will be operated using six Stadler GTW 2/6 diesel LRVs. Freight service will continue but only during overnight hours. A regular weekend service is not envisaged for the foreseeable future.

The Red Line will be fare-free for at least the first week, after which $2 or $3 will be charged, depending on the distance travelled. Passes will cost $6 for a day, $20 for a week and $70 for a month. The 52 km trip will take around 60 min.

Completion of the project, whose final price tag has risen by $15m to $105m, comes two years later than originally anticipated.

Categories: Prototype News

GAUTRAIN TESTS SANDTON LINE

News from Railways Africa - Mon, 03/08/2010 - 05:44

Gautrain test running is now in progress every day between 06:00 and 02:00 the following morning, Mondays to Sundays.

Due to the tight schedule, testing and commissioning requirements are very demanding. Noise levels are being evaluated to ensure that prescribed limits
are not exceeded. Train hooting is being minimised during the night and early hours to avoid any unnecessary disturbance.

Sandton Station is underground beneath Rivonia Road, between West Street and Fifth Avenue. It will border the Sandton Library and Nelson Mandela Square. At Sandton, passengers will be able to choose between the airport and commuter services.

Travellers whose journeys originate at other stations will need to change platforms in order to use the airport service. It will be possible to do this without having to leave the station or pass through ticket gates in the station concourse.

Categories: Prototype News

GAUTRAIN: BUSES IF NO JUNE TRAIN

News from Railways Africa - Mon, 03/08/2010 - 05:42

While reports vary about Gautrain running to the airport when World Cup proceedings begin in June (50% of those in the know say “Yes”, the other 50% say “No”), the Gauteng government is planning alternative bus service provision in case this proves necessary. “We have received 30 tenders [for six bus routes altogether], and are evaluating 22 of these,” Gautrain Management Agency CEO Jack van der Merwe told the press. There are to be six routes, three from O R Tambo to Westgate, Pretoria, and Sandton; two from Lanseria Airport to Sandton and Pretoria, and the sixth from Sandton to Pretoria. Should Gautrain be up and running, the  O R Tambo-Sandton bus service will fall away.

The Gauteng government and the Bombela Concession Company, responsible for building and operating the Gautrain line, have been negotiating for several months over the feasibility of accelerating phase one of the project – the Sandton-OR Tambo branch. In terms of the originally agreed schedule, trains were only required to start operating at the end of June.

Should Gautrain’s phase one be operational for the World Cup, it will cost around R100 a ticket, van der Merwe says. Ticket prices are envisaged as being cheaper than running a car, but more expensive than existing public transport. The airport trains are to be more luxurious and spacious than those that will start running between Johannesburg and Pretoria in 2011.

Categories: Prototype News

NEW WAGONS FOR BOTSWANA

News from Railways Africa - Mon, 03/08/2010 - 05:40

Botswana Railways (BR) procurement manager Mogwena Mookodi told Engineering News that it is intended to add 160 open salt wagons to its fleet for carrying bulk salt in Southern Africa. Trains will start at Botswana Ash (Botash) and continue through to the Durban harbour in South Africa, conveying export traffic destined mainly for the UK, USA and China.

Botash produces chemical grade salt and salt for human consumption as a by-product of ash, the magazine explains.

“Mookodi said that Botswana’s salt industry had been doing very well the last couple of years and predicted that the trend would continue going into the future.”

Categories: Prototype News

Ashton and Didsbury Metrolink extensions funded

News from Railway Gazette International - Mon, 03/08/2010 - 05:35

UK: Transport Minister Sadiq Khan announced the government's final approval of £121m of funding for two Phase 3b extensions to the Manchester Metrolink light rail network on March 8. Local sources will provide the remaining £49m of the antitipated £170m cost.

According to Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive, the work will be undertaken by the M-Pact Thales consortium of Laing O'Rourke, GrantRail and Thales as an option on the existing contract for Phase 3a. Main construction is expected to begin in early 2011.

The deal also includes an additional six M5000 trams from Bombardier and Vossloh Kiepe, which are supplying 40 vehicles for the existing network and the Phase 3a extensions.

The 4·5 km five-stop Chorlton-cum-Hardy – East Didsbury extension will use a segregated former railway alignment and is now expected to open in summer 2013. The 3·9 km four-stop Ashton-under-Lyne extension of a line already under construction as far as Droylsden will open in winter 2013-14. This will run on-street to Audenshaw, and then follow a segregated alignment to reach a bus-tram interchange in Ashton town centre. There will be park-and-ride sites for more than 600 cars.

The latest announcements follow the start of work on the Phase 3a extensions, which include conversion of the Oldham Loop railway between Dean Lane and Rochdale to light rail and the construction of a Metrolink branch from Trafford Bar to Chorlton-cum-Hardy using a former rail alignment (RG 8.09 p33).

Khan also announced additional funding which will allow the DMUs previously used to operate the Oldham Loop to be redeployed to lengthen 15 peak-hour services per day in the northwest and on the route between Leeds and Huddersfield.

Categories: Prototype News

CITADEL ACQUIRES 17.5% OF RVR

News from Railways Africa - Mon, 03/08/2010 - 05:09

Citadel Capital, a leading private equity firm in Africa and the Middle East, with investments totalling $US8.3 billion, confirmed on 22 February that it has acquired a 49% stake in the Sheltam company, the largest single shareholder and lead investor in the Rift Valley Railways (RVR) consortium.

Sheltam, a South African company, owns 35% of RVR, holder of a 25-year concession to operate the railway linking Kenya’s Indian Ocean port of Mombasa with the rest of the country as well as Uganda and its capital, Kampala. Effectively, Citadel Capital now holds 17.5% of RVR. “We will look to inject more than $150m in the railway over the coming five years,” managing director Karim Sadek says.

“The first of several investments we are exploring in East Africa, it is a natural extension of our interest in African transport and logistics.

“The Kenya-Uganda Railway has immense potential waiting to be unlocked through the appropriate deployment of capital and management talent,” Sadekexplains. “We intend to acquire 100% of Sheltam, and to pursue other investments in Africa’s promising transport sector.” Transport in East Africa is among the costliest the world, that between Mombasa and Kampala running at more than $0.13 per ton/km. A lack of operating capacity has resulted in rail capturing less than 10% of the region’s transport market.

“An efficient rail network could, in time, bring East African transport costs down by as much as 50% due to the inherent operational and fuel efficiency of shipping by rail,” Citadel Capital’s managing director Amr El-Barbary says, pointing out that the railway currently hauls just over 1mta of the 16mta being handled in the port of Mombasa. “New investment and a fresh approach to management could see that figure grow to 5mta within five years.”

Categories: Prototype News