Prototype News

Toronto airport rail link negotiations collapse

News from Railway Gazette International - Tue, 08/03/2010 - 02:09

CANADA: Toronto regional transport agency Metrolinx has taken over the project to provide a 'premium express rail shuttle' to Pearson International Airport, following the failure to finalise a contract with the Union Pearson Air -Link Group subsidiary of SNC-Lavalin which was selected for a finance, build and operate concession in 2003.

On July 30 Metrolinx released a statement saying 'financial market conditions prevented acceptable terms' being agreed. SNC-Lavalin said it was 'disappointed', but lenders are reluctant to finance projects where the concessionaire carries the full revenue risk and 'an agreement that met our own standards of risk tolerance could not be reached with interested lenders'.

As a result the provincial government has asked Metrolinx to design, build and own the link, which would be operated by its GO Transit commuter train division. The province will work with UPAG to build on the design work that has been completed.

Progress was delayed by a lack of consensus on route options and the choice of diesel or electric traction; a new electrification study will be released this December. The latest version of the scheme had been unveiled in January 2009, and would see 25 km of GO Transit's Georgetown route from Union Station doubled and 3·3 km of new alignment built into the airport. The spur and diesel trains are estimated to cost C$300m, with premium fares charged so the service covers its costs.

Construction has begun along the Georgetown South Corridor, with the aim of opening for the 2015 Pan American Games. More than 5 million people a year travel between the city centre and the airport, and this is predicted to reach 9 million by 2020.

• Metrolinx has placed a C$54m order for four Lovat tunnel boring machines for the Eglinton Crosstown light rail project. The initial Kennedy metro station - Jane Street section of the two-phase 31 km light rail link to Pearson airport includes an 11 km tunnel.

Categories: Prototype News

News in Brief

News from Railway Gazette International - Mon, 08/02/2010 - 21:00

Mongolia's parliament has approved construction of a 1100 km railway linking the Tavan Tolgoi coal deposits with Saynshand and the existing line from Russia to Bayantumen. This 1520 mm gauge option was chosen in preference to a shorter standard gauge line to China in the hope of developing new coal export markets via Russia.

The Austrian Land of Tirol has awarded Zillertalbahn a contract for operation of the 760 mm gauge line until 2034. The Land will pay €730000 a year, and investment plans include new stock.

China's Ministry of Railways held a ceremony in Xuzhou on July 19 to mark the start of tracklaying on the 1318 km Beijing - Shanghai high speed line, which is scheduled to open in 2012.

Over the next two years DB AG is to concentrate the management of its DB Schenker freight and logistics division near Frankfurt Airport. Mainz and Essen will remain as the headquarters of DB Schenker Rail Deutschland and Schenker AG, and DB Chairman Dr Rüdiger Grube stressed that the corporate headquarters would remain in Berlin.

The Dutch Transport Ministry has allocated €18m for fitting 350 signals on the core network used by hazardous freight with an improved form of ATB in an effort to cut the number of signals passed at danger.

On July 7 Afghanistan and Pakistan signed a memorandum of understanding to undertake feasibility studies for extension of Pakistan Railways lines from Chaman to Kandahar and from the Khyber Pass to Torkham and Jalalabad.

Czech Export Bank is lending Azerbaijan €215m towards modernisation of the Baku - Boyuk Kesik line.

The UK government has delayed its decision on whether to proceed with the DfT-led Intercity Express Programme until the national comprehensive spending review is published in October. The Hitachi-led Agility Trains consortium is preferred bidder to supply a fleet of long-distance trains, but a government-commissioned review questioned the 'wisdom and practicality' of IEP 'in its present form', suggesting 'further reflection and analysis' of credible alternatives is needed.

Categories: Prototype News

The coolest ride in London

News from Railway Gazette International - Mon, 08/02/2010 - 04:38

UK: London Underground’s first air-conditioned S-Stock train departed Wembley Park shortly after 10.30 on August 2 bound for Watford. Joining passengers on board the Metropolitan Line train were Mayor of London Boris Johnson, Transport Commissioner Peter Hendy and Howard Collins, Chief Operating Officer of LU.

Boris Johnson described the train as the ‘coolest ride in town’ while Howard Collins hailed the event as ‘a great day for LU staff and a proud moment for the project team’.

London Underground placed a £1·5bn order with Bombardier Transportation in 2003 to supply 191 through-gangway trains to replace its ageing Sub-Surface Line fleets. The first 58 trains will replace the 1960s A60 stock currently working the Metropolitan Line. Originally due to enter service in October, the eight-car train completed trial passenger runs on July 31 and got the all-clear to start operating three daily return trips between Wembley Park and Watford from August 2. According to Collins, the number of trips will gradually be increased over the next few weeks.

The next trainset is due to arrive in September, and the entire Metropolitan Line fleet should be deployed by the end of 2011. Following completion of enabling works, the eight-car trains, designated S8, will start running as far as Baker Street by October and eventually to Aldgate.

A further 53 trainsets for the Circle and Hammersmith & City lines will be rolled out from 2012. Delivery of the final 80 trains for the District Line is expected to start in 2013. All trains are due to be operational from 2015. However, the full capacity increases anticipated by LU will not be achieved until the existing SSL signalling has been replaced, in 2018 at the earliest. Two bidders have now been short-listed for the resignalling contract.

The Sub-Surface network comprises 300 route-km and carries one-third of LU’s 1 billion-plus annual ridership.

Read more about London Underground's upgrade programme in our interview with LU COO Howard Collins and Director of Line Upgrades David Waboso in the September issue of Metro Report International.

Categories: Prototype News

FUNDING FOR RIFT VALLEY RAILWAYS

News from Railways Africa - Mon, 08/02/2010 - 02:06

Rift Valley Railways (RVR), holders of a 25-year concession to operate some 2,200km of track linking the port of Mombasa in
Kenya with the interior of both Kenya and Uganda, is to receive about $US250 million to fund its capital expenditure programme. The financing structure for the funding is still under negotiation with various institutions, but is likely to comprise a 2:1 debt to equity ratio, according to the Financial Times. In February 2010, Citadel Capital of Egypt acquired a 51% holding in RVR through its subsidiary Ambience Ventures Ltd. The Trans-Century group has a 34% stake and
a Ugandan investor owns the remaining 15%.

Categories: Prototype News

HIGH-SPEED JBG-DURBAN “NO PRIORITY”

News from Railways Africa - Mon, 08/02/2010 - 02:02

Alstom says it is interested in a proposed new rail link from Durban to the King Shaka International Airport, for which pre-feasibility studies are in progress, but doubts any early justification for high-speed trains between Johannesburg and Durban. Alstom director for business development in SA Philippe Roch suggests focusing on metropolitan commuter needs first. “It is absolutely possible in South Africa, not as a first priority, but as a second priority,” Roch was quoted saying. During June, Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) CEO Lucky Montana said such a line would have to be a combined freight and passenger rail operation to be viable. According to Roch, combining freight and passenger rail would result in slower journey times. Passenger trains would not be able to travel at high speeds of up to 275km/h if they were to share the track with freight. Freight trains carry much heavier loads, which result in differing maintenance and operational requirements.

According to lecturer in politics at the University of the Witwatersrand Anthony Butler, “there are three reasons why enthusiasts are so keen to proclaim the World Cup an economic success right now. First, the national general council of the African National Congress (ANC) is only weeks away, and the future of presidential white elephant Jacob Zuma still hangs in the balance. A successful tournament boosts his chances of survival … Second, SA’s construction industry and its embedded ANC cronies are lobbying
hard for more easy money.

“Third, KwaZulu-Natal interests are hoping to replicate the remunerative elements of the World Cup bid, but on an altogether bigger scale. Instead of a Gauteng-style toy train, they propose a high-speed rail link between Johannesburg and Durban. Sceptical citizens are told not to count the costs because it is all needed for the Olympics.

“The multipurpose Moses Mabhida Stadium was conceived all along as the plausible centrepiece of an Olympic bid. According to the adherents of Blatternomics, even bidding for a mega-event brings economic benefits – albeit ones of the so-called ‘intangible’ kind beloved of event entrepreneurs.

Categories: Prototype News

CASTLES IN THE AIR

News from Railways Africa - Mon, 08/02/2010 - 02:00

From the Daily Searchlight:
“Sometime in 2006, Mr B K Asamoah….having recently and unceremoniously dumped his job as the official photographer in the retinue of the Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, started buzzing certain leading figures in the then New Patriotic Party (NPP) government about some rich international investors he had discovered.

“According to him, his investors were prepared to invest two billion dollars in Ghana’s railway networks to bring them up to international standards! Thus began several months of high level governmental and industrial agitation to open the floodgates to the two billion dollar investment that ultimately did not yield a pesewa, and ended up with one of the ‘investors’ screaming that she had been bilked out of $400, 000.00!

“Then, as now, government and industry players were highly interested in his promises, with a great deal of media coverage!

“(Below, unedited, is a publication that appeared on Ghanaweb on Wednesday, 30 August 2006).

Korean rail engineers head to Ghana“A 30-strong delegation of Korean railway executives and engineers will arrive in Ghana this coming weekend at the start of a 12-day visit to conduct a feasibility study on the re-development of the Ghana Eastern Railway. Led by Jamila Kwen and B K Asamoah, the president and CEO respectively of GK Holding Company, the developer of the railway project, the delegation includes high-ranking officials from Korail, Moody’s affiliate Korea Investors Service Inc, Yooshin Engineering Corporation, and Moon Engineering. Also on the trip will be the Ghanaian Ambassador to Korea,
K A Sarpong.

“The trip begins with a courtesy call on the Korean ambassador to Ghana, Lee San-pal, followed by discussions with the government of Ghana. The main purpose of the trip will be top level discussions with the ministry of harbours and railways, the ministry of finance and economic planning, the Bank of Ghana, Stanbic Bank, Ghana shippers council, Ghana port and harbours authority and the other end users of the eastern railway line from other countries in the region such as Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. The regional administrations of Greater Accra, Eastern and Ashanti regions, and local engineers will participate in the discussions on the planning principles related to the railway redevelopment project.

“Korean engineers will be conducting field studies along the proposed route from Tema through Accra to Kumasi. The proposed redevelopment will cover a total distance of 250km and pass through 47 cities. The route which also crosses the Densu and Ayensu rivers, poses a significant challenge for the developers.

“We decided to work with Korean Rail and Korean engineers because their technology is proven to be the best worldwide. We are confident that this trip will achieve a major technological transfer between Ghana and Korea which has already been recognised by the Ghana government during the recent visit of Sophia Horner-Sam, Ghana’s deputy minister for Railways, to Korea, and also build confidence in our investors,” B K Asamoah told The Korea Herald.

“The original 304km Eastern Railway was built in 1923 by the British purposely for the hauling of minerals and cocoa. It has a narrow gauge with a speed of 40km/h and is now virtually unusable in many locations. The government of Ghana has launched a far-reaching programme of trade and investment promotion designed to make Ghana a gateway into the Western African sub-region. Ghana’s railway sector is expected to play an important role in this initiative.

“The Ghana Railway Company Limited currently has a very small share of the national transport market, with 4% of freight and 1% of passengers. Over 90% of the freight traffic is bulk minerals – bauxite and manganese – transported from the mines at Awaso and Nsuta to Takoradi port for export.

“Under the new Ghana government policy, project developers and investors will redevelop and modernise the railway line into a standard gauge with a maximum speed of 160km/h. From finally signing agreements, we expect the first phase of the redevelopment from November 2006 to be completed by November 2007. The entire project is expected to be completed in two years,” Asamoah said.

“The total cost of the redevelopment is expected after the financial feasibility study by Moody’s with the bulk of the contract going to Korean companies. Funding for the project is mainly expected to come from the African Development Bank, Korea Exim Bank, Shinhan Bank, Woori Bank, and Stanbic Bank from South Africa.

“It goes without saying that this deal never saw fruition”

Categories: Prototype News

GAUTRAIN COMPANY “HIJACKED”

News from Railways Africa - Mon, 08/02/2010 - 01:46

From the Johannesburg Sunday Times:
“Politically well-connected ‘entrepreneurs’, including a senior ANC official, have ‘hijacked’ a company that landed a R220 million deal to build the Gautrain electrical system, by exploiting cracks in the Companies and Intellectual Property Registration Office (Cipro).

“This comes as a red-faced Cipro introduced new measures last week to prevent people registering as directors with fake identity numbers and no documents – as Sunday Times did two weeks ago. Since then, many people have come forward, claiming loopholes at Cipro allowed fraud to be perpetrated against them, citing instances of tender fraud and empowerment fronting.

“In one case, the 28-year-old Roodepoort engineering company Tension Overhead, which landed the lucrative Gautrain contract, said Cipro loopholes allowed it to be ‘hijacked’.

“Advocate Matane Mphahlele simply appointed himself director and managing director of Tension Overhead at Cipro and ‘suspended’ the existing bosses. Then he went to Absa and tried to take over the company’s bank accounts, based on his claim that he owns 60% of the shares – a claim the company is disputing in court proceedings.

“Mphahlele also simply ‘deregistered’ two of the company’s existing directors at Cipro without providing any board resolution or resignation letters, and appointed three of his associates as directors. Both sides have laid criminal charges.

“The ‘hijackers’ are politically well connected. Mphahlele served as a legal director in the Department of Public Enterprises, while his new directors include ANC member and National African Federated Chamber of Commerce (Nafcoc) deputy secretary-general Kentse Makgae, and Limpopo treasury official Thomas Mphahlele. Makgae confirmed she was a new director, but referred questions to Mphahlele.

“Directors whom Mphahlele bumped from the board include BEE heavyweights Buhle Mthethwa, a former Nafcoc president, and Parmanathan Mariemuthu.

“Mariemuthu says minister of trade and industry Rob Davies should take responsibility for this. ‘You can go to bed knowing you own something, and wake up having been
dispossessed,’ he says. ‘How can you have Davies telling people to invest in this country when this kind of thing can happen?’

“Tension Overhead director Coenraad Boschoff is astounded that ‘it can be that easy’ to hijack a company. ‘(Mphahlele) no longer has any shares in the company, yet he convinced Cipro to register him as a director. On this basis, I could simply go to Cipro and register myself as a director of Sasol tomorrow,’ he said.

“Alarmingly, Cipro confirmed as much. Cipro’s acting registrar Joey Mathekga admitted that anyone can register as a director of any company today, and Cipro only then launches an investigation. ‘There is no existing legal framework that says you can’t do this,’ he says.

“After Cipro registered Mphahlele as a director, he called a ‘shareholders meeting’ on June 22 where, according to the minutes, he ‘appointed himself the chairman of the board of directors, and also joint managing director’.

“Though Boschoff arrived and objected to the meeting taking place, Mphahlele brushed him off. Instead, Mphahlele’s minutes say it ‘was resolved’ that he and his directors
get access to Tension Overhead’s bank account. Armed with the Cipro registration documents, Mphahlele and Makgae went to Absa’s Horizon branch and demanded access to the account – which was denied.

“But Mphahlele claims it is ‘very unfair’ to portray him as a company ‘hijacker’. ‘I have the right to the 60% … those directors were appointed in a general meeting, where the rule of the majority prevailed,’ he says. ‘I appointed myself chairman of the board because I am representing the majority interest.’

“But Tension Overhead’s bosses say he doesn’t own those shares. Mphahlele’s claim is based on a 2003 deal that gave him 30% of the company. But Boschoff said Mphahlele sold this stake to African Heritage Investments in 2004 and resigned as a director. Boschoff said Mphahlele was ‘double-counting’ by claiming the initial sale agreement gave him the first 30%, and the share certificate he got as part of that deal gave him another 30%. ‘The fact is, there was only ever one deal to sell him 30%, and these shares were ultimately taken over by African Heritage, as that sale contract clearly shows,’ he says.

“Mphahlele also did not part with a cent for that 30%, but he was due to pay R1.5 million for those shares out of dividends that the company would declare. However, it is surprising that Cipro allowed Mphahlele to register new directors, and ‘resign’ others, while the shareholding dispute has yet to be decided in court. The Companies Act does not allow someone to be ‘removed’ as a director without resigning, or after a proper board process.

“Asked how he was able to do this, Mphahlele said ‘those people were disqualified because they don’t have qualification shares as required by the Companies Act, so we don’t have to use those procedures’.

“But the Companies Act says this only applies if the company’s articles of association requires directors to hold shares – and Tension Overhead’s do not. While Cipro could not explain how this incident happened, it said it was ‘ investigating’ the matter.

Categories: Prototype News

TRAINS REVERT TO PRE-WORLD CUP TIMETABLES

News from Railways Africa - Mon, 08/02/2010 - 01:45

Metrorail trains have returned to their pre-World Cup schedules. In Cape Town, minor timetable changes involved including the new Century City station on the line to Bellville via Monte Vista.

In late July, a string of problems affected services in the mother city, with numerous complaints aired in the press and radio.

The Cape Argus reported:
“Improving the city’s deteriorating railway service, which came under the spotlight this week, has become the top priority for the provincial department of transport and public works. On Wednesday [21 July], the Cape Argus reported that the unreliable service was having a serious impact on the city’s productivity and economy. ‘I have undertaken to put maximum pressure on national government,’ said transport and public works MEC Robin Carlisle, who has raised the severity of Metrorail’s crisis with rail authorities Prasa and the national transport ministry.

“Carlisle said a sustainable funding model and one central authority to govern the metro’s public transport network were the keys to effect change. He estimated a need for 40 new coaches to replace existing ones that are already past their lifespan. The department however stated that the large-scale subsidy needed to rescue Metrorail from its declining quality of service remained a matter for the national treasury.

“Central co-ordination of the various branches of public transport would ensure better services, save money and reduce the burden on trains, Carlisle said. ‘During peak hour on the Khayelitsha line over 4,000 people commute on coaches restricted to only about 2,200 passengers. Transport needs to be reliable and safe, that’s all that people want.’”

Categories: Prototype News

ANGOLAN TEST TRAIN LUANDA-MALANJE

News from Railways Africa - Mon, 08/02/2010 - 01:44

At about 21:00 on 25 July, a test train arrived in Malanje, endpoint of the 424km line from Luanda, conveying a party including Caminhos de ferro de Luanda (CFL) president Osvaldo Lobo do Nascimento. Extensive rehabilitation of the line began in 2005, following 13 years out of operation following the start of the civil war.

During the trial trip, the delegation visited the CFL stations at Catete, Zenza do Itombe, Ndalahui (ex-Bela Alta) Luinha, Canhoca, Lucala and Ndalatando (Kwanza Norte), Kizenga, Cambuze, Cacuso and Lombe as well as Malange. Destroyed during the years of armed conflict, all were rebuilt in terms of the programme of infrastructure modernisation.

The stations, all with two floors, have an administrative area, restaurant, medical clinic, offices, residences for officials, area traffic control and waiting rooms with capacity from 200 to 500 passengers.

Speaking to the press, CFL technical head VictorGeraldo said public service along the entire line from Luanda via Ndalatando to Malanje is scheduled for December this year.

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (DRC)

Categories: Prototype News

ON ELEPHANTS, WHITE & OTHERWISE

News from Railways Africa - Mon, 08/02/2010 - 01:43

According to Anthony Butler, lecturer in politics at the University of the Witwatersrand:
“The Gautrain is a ‘white economic empowerment’ elephant that has brought riches to the established construction industry. The Gautrain was conceived before the World Cup was secured, so its cost of perhaps R30bn – about the same as the stadiums -is never accounted a tournament expense. Subsidies that could amount to R1bn a year to keep the system running are also ignored, because the government includes the Gautrain only on the positive side of its ledger of World Cup legacies.”

“The event has left behind a large number of elephants, some of which are white. Transport systems introduced specifically for the cup supported 1.4 million journeys, but most passengers were international visitors and middle-class South Africans. It is hard to see how these systems can be made affordable to ordinary citizens.

“The stadiums themselves are beautiful works of art. At a Soccer City event hosted by the International Marketing Council and the Financial Times, however, panellists fell silent when asked to list possible uses for the venue. It was left to Johannesburg mayor Amos Masondo to suggest that the giant arena could be used for large weddings.”

Categories: Prototype News

TRANSNET AUCTION

News from Railways Africa - Mon, 08/02/2010 - 01:43

The latest Transnet online auction closed on 29 July. According to the pre-sale announcement, it comprised “Railway scrap wagons (quantity more than 400) and various size fibre optic cables, compressors, transformers, electrical panels.”

Peter Bagshawe advises that all wagons on offer were sold.

Footnote: According to the American monthly TRAINS, freight wagons in the USA which reach the age of 40 have to be retired, regardless of condition. Apparently most go to scrap dealers on auction. – editor

Categories: Prototype News

PROGRESS WITH CFB (BENGUELA)

News from Railways Africa - Mon, 08/02/2010 - 01:30

According to Angola’s deputy minister of transport Jose Joao Kuvingwa, speaking in Huambo on 26 July, Caminhos de ferro de Benguela (CFB) may be able to resume full operation during the first half of 2011, one year earlier than the schedule previously set. The government is investing some $US200 million in rehabilitating the line, he said. “The period of implementation of this project is 2012, but taking into account the benefits that the train will bring to the development of this region we have been suggesting that even before the commencement of regular operations, a train should be made available to the population exclusively for transportation of goods.”

The ministry of transport, he said, is aware of and intendss to alleviate difficulties facing the population of Angola’s central and eastern regions in the transporting of cargo.

Categories: Prototype News

JOHANNESBURG-RANDFONTEIN STILL SUSPENDED

News from Railways Africa - Mon, 08/02/2010 - 01:30

On 4 June, commuters angry over a service delay set fire to and destroyed two coaches at Randfontein on the West Rand. Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) CEO Lucky Montana had an instant response: “In line with Prasa’s zero tolerance towards train burning, we have terminated services on the Randfontein/Johannesburg line. These commuters are now forced to use other modes of transportation, which are significantly more expensive than rail.”

No services ran on this important line throughout the period of the Soccer World Cup. At the end of August – almost two months after the fire – passenger trains beyond Langlaagte (6km west of Johannesburg’s Park station) remained suspended. This means that 40km of a key suburban route are still without passenger service.

Categories: Prototype News

Sapsan reaches Nizhny Novgorod

News from Railway Gazette International - Sun, 08/01/2010 - 21:00

RUSSIA: Sapsan services were extended from Moscow to Nizhny Novgorod with a ceremonial launch on July 30. 'Now this city, with its population of over a million, will be linked to Moscow and St Petersburg by a high speed, reliable, and comfortable means of transport', said RZD President Vladimir Yakunin at the city's Moskovsky station.

Sapsan services have carried over 880 000 passengers since the launch of the Moscow - St Petersburg route on December 17, with average occupancy almost 86%, according to RZD.

'Sapsan is becoming a symbol of everything new and progressive', said Yakunin. 'It is not only changing the profile of domestic rail transport. Sapsan represents our country's prudent approach to development, with an emphasis on breakthrough technology'.

Work began in 2006 to modernise infrastructure on the 460 km Moscow - Nizhny Novgorod line to accommodate the Siemens-built Velaro RUS trains. This included reconstruction of 54 platforms, upgrading 139 km of overhead line and fencing 331 km of the route. The trainsets are designed for running at up to 250 km/h, however the average speed on the Nizhny Novgorod route is around 160 km/h because of the use of existing infrastructure.

Four of the eight Sapsan trainsets are equipped for both 25 kV AC and 3 kV DC for this service. The daily through train leaves St Petersburg at 15.00, calling at Moscow at 19.20 and arriving in Nizhny Novgorod at 23.25. The return working leaves at 15.05 and arrives in St Petersburg at 23.24.

Categories: Prototype News

Jordan joins OTIF ahead of launching rail expansion plan

News from Railway Gazette International - Sat, 07/31/2010 - 21:00

JORDAN: The kingdom of Jordan became the 46th member of the Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail on August 1, and the first member to accede with associate status. When planned international rail services develop the country will seek full voting membership of OTIF, which provides a legal framework for international rail transport.

Jordan currently has no international rail traffic, but the Ministry of Transport wants to participate in efforts to develop interoperability as part of its plan to invest €2·6bn in rail during 2011-14 under the Arab Mashreq International Railway Network project adopted by Middle Eastern countries in 2003.

The ministry's long-term aim is for Jordan to become a transit point on a rail corridor between Europe, the Middle East and the Gulf, with connections from the Red Sea port of Aqaba to existing OTIF members Iraq and Syria and the North-South Railway now under construction in Saudi Arabia. This will provide onward links to the Gulf Co-operation Council countries. Key traffic is expected to include cement from Jordan to Iraq, reliving pressure on port facilities in Iraq.

Minister of Transport Alaa Batayneh said joining OTIF at an early stage shows 'a clear commitment to the future performance of carriage by rail geared to transcontinental requirements based on the contractual conditions for international passenger and freight traffic described in the Uniform Rules'.

• Montenegro became the 45th member of OTIF on July 1.

Categories: Prototype News

QR split goes ahead

News from Railway Gazette International - Fri, 07/30/2010 - 21:00

AUSTRALIA: July 1 saw the formal split of Queensland’s state-owned railway QR Ltd into two business units as part of the state’s privatisation strategy which will see coal and freight operator QR National listed on the Australian Securities Exchange later this year.

QR National takes over QR Ltd’s heavy haul coal operations in Queensland, together with the coal railway infrastructure, plus open access coal haulage in New South Wales and general freight and intermodal operations throughout Australia. Other parts of the state’s rail network, together with Brisbane suburban services plus inter-city and rural passenger operations, have been transferred to the new Queensland Rail, which has its headquarters at Ipswich.

Undertaking a roadshow last month to brief investors ahead of the flotation, QRN CEO Lance Hockridge said the company was now ‘Australia’s largest railway’ and predicted that the IPO would be ‘highly attractive’. Pointing out that freight demand in Australia is expected to double by 2050, he felt the biggest challenge would be keeping up with growth. Asked whether he expected QRN to become an international business, he said that ‘we have enough to do at home for now’.

On July 1 QRN announced a revised A$250m contract with Jellinbah Resources which will see 5·1 million tonnes of coal a year moved to Gladstone for export over the next 10 years. QRN expects to achieve a 30% share of the Hunter Valley coal traffic in NSW by 2012, although rival Pacific National has recently won major contracts for coal movements in Queensland and NSW worth A$320m.l

Categories: Prototype News

SNIT makes rail a priority

News from Railway Gazette International - Fri, 07/30/2010 - 04:02

FRANCE: With the aim of producing a definitive document by the end of this year, on July 12 the government published for consultation its SNIT transport infrastructure plan that should see €170bn invested over the next 20 to 30 years. Allocated 51·9% of this total, rail is the top priority with 4000 km of new construction expected to divert 2·5 billion passenger-km a year from road and 2 billion pass-km from air.

SNIT includes those high speed projects already approved under the Grenelle de l’Environnement programme, where a second package of legislation aimed at tackling climate change came into force on July 12. Projects to be launched before 2020 include LGV Sud Europe Atlantique from Tours to Bordeaux, Toulouse and the Spanish border. After 2020 work is expected to begin on a second high speed line between Paris and Lyon, running for 410 km via Orléans and Clermont-Ferrand and costing up to €12bn, as well as a second Paris – Calais route via Amiens or Rouen that would cost up to €4·8bn.

Another objective is to transfer at least 10 billion tonne-km of freight from road to rail by 2030; improving the quality and reliability of freight paths is one of the 60 specific actions identified in the SNIT programme. Freight projects include more autoroute ferroviaire services, loading gauge enhancement, electrification and work to provide capacity for longer trains.

Urban transport has been allocated 32·3% of the SNIT budget. As well as a driverless metro around Paris, projects include new light rail systems or extensions to existing networks in 18 cities.

Categories: Prototype News

CN announces plan to buy back shares through private agreements

CN News Releases - Thu, 07/29/2010 - 22:00

Latest Corporate News from CN

Categories: Prototype News

Deutsche Bahn to run ICE3 to Britain this year

News from Railway Gazette International - Thu, 07/29/2010 - 08:32

EUROPE: 'This autumn we will send an ICE3 test train through the tunnel beneath the English Channel as part of our preparations for possible train service to London', Deutsche Bahn Chairman & CEO Dr Rüdiger Grube said during his presentation of the German national rail company's half-year results on July 28.

Grube said DB is also in talks with SNCF to launch a passenger service from Frankfurt to Lyon and Marseille from 2012, and will organise a Swiss-German rail summit in the second half of this year to build on the July 9 memorandum of understanding to expand cross-border traffic in partnership with SBB.

DB has been interested in operating international passenger services to London for some time. ICE3 trainsets do not meet current rules for carrying passengers through the Channel Tunnel, however the four-system Class 407 Velaro D trainset unveiled at Siemens' Krefeld plant in April was developed specifically for international services, and includes additional fire safety measures.

Earlier this year a review by the Intergovernmental Commission which oversees Channel Tunnel safety recommended permitting the use of non-splitable trainsets, trains shorter than the current 375 m minimum length, and rolling stock complying with the fire safety requirements of the European Technical Specification for Interoperability rather than existing Channel Tunnel-specific rules.

Categories: Prototype News

NS agrees to sell Strukton

News from Railway Gazette International - Thu, 07/29/2010 - 06:28

NETHERLANDS: State railway holding company NS has reached an agreement to sell its civil engineering subsidiary Strukton to Oranjewoud, which is active in the infrastructure, water, safety and sports sectors in Europe and the USA.

NS felt there was insufficient synergy between its other activities and Strukton, which has operating businesses covering PPP, facilities management, civil engineering and property and construction, as well as Strukton Rail which provides infrastructure, rolling stock, data and consultancy services.

The Strukton board said it supports the deal announced on July 23. 'Strukton will have a shareholder with a long-term vision for the business', said Strukton Group CEO Durk ten Wolde.

The transaction is subject to approval by the Dutch, Norwegian and Belgian competition authorities, but no objections are anticipated and completion is expected in the third quarter of this year. Strukton has 6 230 staff and reported revenue of €1·37bn and profit of €13m in 2009.

Categories: Prototype News