MILAN (Thomson Financial) - Ferrovie dello Stato (FS), the state-owned company that runs Italy's railway system, is set to launch a tender offer worth over 1 billion euros for trains to run on its high-speed rail network, FS CEO Mauro Moretti said.

 

'The tender for about 50 trains will be launched in July or September,' Moretti said, speaking to foreign correspondents in Milan.

 

Moretti said the tender could be interesting for groups like Finmeccanica SpA unit AnsaldoBreda and Siemens (nyse: SI - news - people ).

 

The high-speed train link between Milan and Bologna will open on December 14 this year while the Milan-Rome link will be ready in December 2009, he said.

 

'When the Milan-Rome link is ready we intend to run trains every 15 minutes,' Moretti said.

 

Analysts said the existence of a high-speed train link between Rome and Milan could alleviate concerns that a possible merger of Alitalia SpA and AirOne could create antitrust problems on the Milan-Rome route.

 

Since 1995, around 50 billion euros have been invested in building Italy's high-speed train network, Moretti said.

 

The CEO said FS intends to compete for routes in Europe when international passenger services are fully liberalised in 2010.

...snip...

http://www.forbes.com/afxnewslimited/feeds/afx/2008/07/15/afx5214362.html

 

 

From the railpictures.net website:

 

The great summer migration: this Saturday was both the first day of a long 3-day weekend (Monday July 14 is the National Day in France), and a day of vacation departures. A lot of French people take one-month vacations in July or August and the most popular location is the Mediterranean Coast. The “Gare de Lyon” station serves these locations and many other nice places like the Alps Mountains. As a result, July 12 was another "rush" day: 1 long-distance passenger train movement about every 3 minutes, many of them being double duplex TGVs with 1032 passenger capacity, announcements to passengers that all trains bound to the Mediterranean Coast are fully booked. Further south, on the High Speed Line, TGVs follow each other at 300 km/h like commuter trains at the rush hour. Quite spectacular!

 

Photo credit and caption to: Jean-Marc Frybourg

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/columnists/article4296525.ece

 

 

From The Times of London

July 9, 2008

High-speed trains seize short-haul market as fuel cost cripples the airlines

Carl Mortished

 

The lounge was thronged with bleary-eyed and grumpy suits looking in vain for seats. The endless queue for coffee snaked past whimpering children and inconsiderate backpackers. As the PA speakers announced imminent departure, the throng became a mêlée at the exit - an escalator had jammed.

It could be a typical morning at Heathrow, but in my case it was a 7am departure from the Eurostar terminal at St Pancras. Don't get me wrong, the fast train to Paris and Brussels is a brilliant success, for the time being.

 

Airlines ignore it at their peril and last week Air France threw in the towel and said it was in talks with Veolia, Europe's leading private rail-freight operator, about launching high-speed train services with Air France livery.

 

The airline industry has been crushed by the price of kerosene and deserted by passengers fed up with delays. After decades of disappointment, false dawns and virtually bankrupt Channel Tunnels, we have finally arrived at the age of the train and the evidence is in the crowd at St Pancras.

 

 

........

http://www.railjournal.com/latenews.shtml#Feature8-7-21

 

July 18, 2008

Moscow to build second ring line

 

MOSCOW is to begin construction of two new metro lines in the next three years, according to First Deputy Mayor Mr Vladimir Resin, who has announced plans to build a new line serving the south west of the city and open the first section of a second ring line within seven years.

 

The initial section of the second ring will run from an interchange with Line 3 at Park Pobedy, running through Delovoi Tsentr to Savelovskaya on Line 6. The Solntsevskaya line will also start at Park Pobedy, running south into the Solntsevo district. Both lines will be completed by 2015 and will be the first in Moscow to employ driverless operation.

 

Some sections of the metro are now operating up to 40% over capacity, and Moscow Metro says another 130km of metro lines will be needed to meet demand. Another new line is projected to run east from the city centre, and will open in 2015-16.

I'd say this falls into the category of "WOW!" I've ridden all these rail lines, and I can say the congestion relief is certainly warranted.

 

 

http://www.railjournal.com/latenews.shtml#Feature7-7-24

 

July 23, 2008

Approval for £16 billion cross-London link

 

PLANS to build a £16 billion East-West line across London have taken another step forward after the Crossrail Bill was granted Royal Assent, making it law.

 

Under the Bill approved today, the British government will provide a third of the total cost of what is expected to become Europe’s largest civil engineering project and one of the world’s most expensive rail schemes. The remaining funding will be met by the private sector and loans set against projected revenues. Construction will begin in 2010 and the line will open in 2017.

 

Crossrail entails the construction of a central tunnel under London linking the Great Western Main Line (GWML) at Paddington with the Great Eastern Main Line at Stratford. A branch will run underground from Whitechapel to the Docklands business district and under the River Thames to Abbey Wood. The project involves the construction of 41km of 6m-diameter single-track tunnels, seven underground stations and the electrification of the Heathrow Airport Junction – Maidenhead section of the GWML. The line will operate using the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS).

 

Ten-car trains will run from Maidenhead and Heathrow Airport in the west to Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the east, with up to 24 trains per hour serving the central section in peak periods. The 118km network will serve 38 stations, carrying up to 200 million passengers per year and relieving London Underground’s heavily-congested Central Line.

^Wow is right... £16 billion on a rail link in one city.  We've lost our can-do attitude in this country...

It seems the world keeps moving faster and more sustainably, and all we keep doing is trying to find blame for our own problems...

 

http://www.railwayage.com/breaking_news.shtml#Feature4-8-01

 

July 31, 2008

China readies "world's fastest" passenger rail line

 

Presaging the opening of the 2008 Summer Olympic Games by one week, China is set to open the Beijing-Tianjin Intercity Railway Aug. 1, which Deputy Railway Minister Wang Zhiguo claimed "will be the world's only rail line on which passenger trains could run at 350 kilometers per hour" [217 mph] in regularly scheduled service.

 

[in fact, the line is not the first such service; Spain's 630-kilometer (391-mile) Madrid-Barcelona line, completed in February, already has a maximum operating speed of 350km/h, and is the first line in the world to operate trains in commercial service at this speed, as reported by International Railway Journal in its March issue (page 6).]

 

The new service, linking two Olympic Games city venues, will more than halve travel time on the 120-kilometer (75-mile) route from 70 minutes to about 30 minutes. The $3.1 billion line will be served by six CRH-3 (China Railway High-speed) trains manufactured by a domestic concern, Sifang Locomotive and Rolling Stock Co. The CRH-3 features swivel seating and rooftop solar panels, among other items.

 

Five cities will be served: Tianjin, Wuqing, Yongle, Yizhuang, and a new facility in the nation's capital, Beijing South Railway Station.

 

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

http://www.railjournal.com/latenews.shtml#Feature5-8-01

 

July 31, 2008

Funding approved for French high-speed line

 

THE FRENCH minister for ecology, sustainable development, and planning, Mr Jean Louis Borloo, has signed an agreement to provide funding for the Euros 3.4 billion extension of TGV Atlantique from Sablé sur Sarthe, west of Le Mans, to Rennes.

 

The largest contribution to the project will be made by infrastructure manager French Railway Network (RFF), which will provide Euros 1.02 billion. The regional governments Brittany and Pays de la Loire, together with various local agencies, will contribute Euros 990 million, which will be match-funded by the national government.

 

Tendering for construction contracts is expected to begin by the end of the year and construction will start in 2010. The 164km line will allow Paris – Rennes journey times to be cut from 2h 3min to 1h 24 min when it opens in 2014.

 

The line will be built to allow 350km/h operation, although it will initially have a commercial speed of 300-320km/h.

http://www.rtands.com/breaking_news.shtml#Feature4-8-08

 

August 7, 2008

 

VIA to invest C$25 million in Ottawa- Montreal infrastructure

 

As part of the Government of Canada’s C$692-million dollar investment to improve passenger rail service, VIA Rail Canada has announced it plans to invest more than C$25 million on a multi-phase, multi-year program to modernize key parts of its rail infrastructure between Ottawa and Montréal, according to local newspapers. These improvements are part of VIA Rail’s overall capital investment plan.

 

In this first phase, upgrades to the Ottawa-Montréal line will include the addition of a .76-km (.47-mile) passing track approximately 16 kilometers (10 miles) east of Ottawa, near Carlsbad Springs, a project which will be carried out by PNR RailWorks Inc.

 

The siding will be constructed with remote-controlled power switches tied into the existing Centralized Traffic Control system and Rail Traffic Control dispatch system. The siding will also be equipped with a back track for the storage of maintenance equipment, when required.

 

VIA will also be installing new continuously-welded rail and performing other associated track work over some 40 track-miles between Coteau, Québec, and Moose Creek, Ontario. This work, which is expected to be completed within the next few months, will be carried out by Total Track. Some trains on the Montréal-Ottawa route may experience minor delays while this work is being completed.

 

Additionally, structural rehabilitation of the bridge over the South Nation River in Casselman, a project that has been awarded to SEMA Railway Structures, will also be completed.

 

Improvements to VIA’s Ottawa station are also planned. VIA will be modernizing and improving the layout of the public washrooms, ticket office, baggage operations and Panorama lounge. The lounge will also be enlarged to accommodate increased demand. As part of these renovations, VIA will be making both technological and environmental improvements to the station.

 

The general contractor chosen for the project is Terlin Construction Ltd. of Ottawa. CSV Architects Inc. and Norr Ltd., also of Ottawa, will provide design and engineering support. Work on this project, worth some $500,000, will begin shortly and is expected to be completed by this fall.

 

Yes, even the Saudis are considering plowing their oil riches into HSR....

 

 

http://www.railjournal.com/latenews.shtml#Feature6-8-12

 

August 11, 2008

Saudis delay high-speed rail project tendering

 

SAUDI Railways Organisation (SRO) has delayed, until the end of August, issuing tenders for the civil works for the 444km Mecca-Jeddah-Medina high-speed rail project to the six pre-qualified consortia. The tender documents were due to be issued in mid-July but are being delayed because some of the consortia are still waiting to be certified to bid.

 

The civil works tenders for the $US 6 billion project will be followed by tenders to build the six stations on the new line and a package to supply the trains, lay the track, and install signalling, as well as to operate and maintain the line. SRO hopes to issue all three tenders within six months.

http://www.asap.co.uk/news/air-france-to-challenge-eurostar-monopoly-with-faster-rail-5633627.html

 

Air France to challenge Eurostar monopoly with faster rail

 

Eurostar’s grip on rail service to France from St Pancras is expected to end in 2010, when the new “open access” regulations come into force. At that time, both travel times and fares could fall based on the recent announcement by Air France that it will be operating higher-speed rail service to Paris by then.

 

The London to Paris journey would take under two hours, according to the Air France plan that would use a new generation of high-speed train on the route from St Pancras. Trains would operate at maximum speeds reaching 224mph, which is 38mph faster than the top Eurostar speeds.

 

As tightened financial conditions have hurt airlines, with softened demand for seats, high-speed rail services have become increasingly popular. Eurostar passenger numbers rose by 18 per cent in the first six months of 2008.

 

Eurostar has said that it welcomes competition on the route and that interest from air carriers “had been expected.” It added, however, that airlines had “a lot to learn” about the rail business before they would be competitive.

 

“This shows that airlines now realise that high-speed rail is increasingly the natural choice for business and leisure journeys across Europe,” said a spokesperson for Eurostar.

 

www.airfrance.com

I live and work in Shanghai now after relocating from Cincinnati and although I harbor a slight dislike for Beijing, there was a pretty good article by a Canadian columnist recently that merits some reading. By the way, Shanghai is building about 200 more new stations and will have 18 lines within the next 15 years. By 2010 it will have more than 500 km of line.

 

FROM: http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=b81c1a0a-09a7-4efa-84a0-476f352e1543

 

MacMurchy column: China's building a future while Canadians bicker

 

Cam MacMurchy

Times Colonist

 

 

Sunday, September 21, 2008

 

 

BEIJING- Another phase of Beijing's new Sanlitun Village, the premier entertainment district in the city, opened last week. There are plans for more upscale restaurants and bars from around the world as the infusion of western amenities shows no signs of slowing.

 

Beijing is also set to open several new subway lines, the most important of which will link the city to its new train station in the south. And it was just announced that a new bullet train will be built linking Beijing and Shanghai, allowing people to make the trip in only four hours.

 

Obviously none of this is being done in anticipation of hordes of Olympic visitors. It's China continuing to do what it's been doing for 20 years -- progress at breakneck speed.

 

.........

http://www.railjournal.com/latenews.shtml#Feature8-9-22

 

September 19, 2008

Angel Trains orders more Pendolinos for West Coast

 

LEASING company Angel Trains has signed a contract worth £1.5 billion for 106 coaches to strengthen the fleet of Pendolino tilting emus used on Britain’s West Coast Main Line. The order will allow 31 trains to be lengthened from nine to 11 coaches, and includes four complete 11-car trains. The contract also includes a 10-year extension of Alstom’s maintenance agreement, which will now run until 2022, and options to extend the remaining 21 nine-car trains.

 

Production of the additional vehicles will begin at Alstom’s Savigliano plant in Italy in January, and commissioning will be carried out at Alstom’s Liverpool Edge Hill depot, where facilities will be upgraded to accommodate the longer trains. Alstom will also upgrade its other four West Coast depots.

http://www.railjournal.com/latenews.shtml#Feature8-9-29

 

September 25, 2008

Stadler celebrates 500th Flirt order

 

STADLER celebrated its 500th Flirt emu order at InnoTrans today with the signing of a Euros 70 million contract to supply 19 trains to German regional operator Vias. Vias will receive seven three-car and 12 four-car Flirts by December 2010, when it begins its concession to operate regional services on the Frankfurt-Wiesbaden-Rüdesheim-Koblenz line. The 160km/h trains will be assembled at Stadler’s Pankow site near Berlin.

 

Since unveiling its first Flirt emu at InnoTrans in 2002, Stadler has received orders for more than 500 of the trains from operators in nine countries, including Switzerland, Norway, Germany, Hungary, and Algeria.

 

 

 

http://www.railwayage.com/breaking_news.shtml#Feature4-9-29

 

September 26, 2008

New Mazdas will travel by Trans-Siberian Rail

 

Mazda Motor Car announced at its plant in Hiroshima, Japan, that starting in October, it will begin the large-scale shipment of Mazda automobiles to Russia via the Trans-Siberian railroad, at passenger-train speeds.

 

"Mazda is one of Russia's most popular brands with double-digit growth every month," said Jorden Olseen at Mazda Motor Europe. "Rail transport is intended to supplement existing delivery, which will continue to come by ship and road from the west."

 

The vehicles will be transported over the 5,565-mile Trans-Siberian from a point near Vladivostok to Moscow in unit trains of 30 railcars. Delivery time to Moscow will be 10 days, the same as by passenger train.

They sure are busy overseas....

 

http://www.railjournal.com/latenews.shtml#Feature7-11-12

 

High Speed Rail News

 

Construction set to start on Chinese HS line

 

China's Ministry of Railways says construction will begin on a 145-kilometer (90-mile) high speed line from Tianjin to Baoding in Hubei province in the first half of next year. The $3.5 billion project is intended to provide a fast rail link between Tianjin, the largest port in northern China, and central and eastern China. At present all traffic on this route must travel north via Beijing or south via Cangzhou. The line will be constructed for 250km/h (150 mph) operation.

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

November 10, 2008

Construction starts on Irish commuter line

 

IRISH Transport Minister Mr Noel Dempsey was among the dignities attending a ceremony at Dublin Connolly station today to mark the start of preliminary construction works on the 7.5km Clonsilla-Pace line. The Euros 160 million double-track line will run from a junction with the Dublin-Maynooth line at Clonsilla to new stations at Hansfield and Dunboyne before terminating at a Pace, where a park and ride station will be constructed adjacent to the M3 motorway.

 

Irish Rail (IE) has confirmed Siac Construction, Ireland, has been awarded the contract to build the line, which will open in 2010. Dmus will operate a 30-minute interval service between Pace and Dublin Docklands during peak periods, increasing to 15-minute intervals as passenger numbers rise. Off peak services will be hourly.

 

The line will use the alignment of the former Clonsilla-Navan line which closed in 1963.

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

November 7, 2008

Singapore awards Downtown Line contracts

 

THE LAND Transport Authority of Singapore (LTA) has awarded two major contracts to equip the Downtown Line, as part of its plan to double the size of the metro network by 2020.

 

Bombardier has received a $S 571 million ($US 380 million) contract to supply 219 Movia driverless metro cars. Deliveries will begin in the final quarter of 2012 and will be completed in mid 2016.

 

Meanwhile LTA has awarded Westinghouse a $S 288 million contract to install signalling and platform screen doors, including automatic train operation and automatic train supervision (ATS). The system will include Westinghouse’s Sirius communications-based train control (CBTC) and Westrace interlocking.

 

The 40km Downtown Line is being constructed in three phases, with the first section due to open in 2013.

When it is completed in 2016, the Downtown Line will link Bukit Panjang in the north-west of the island with the city centre, Marina Bay, and Tanah Merah in the east. It is expected to carry around 500,000 passengers per day.

 

The LTA’s transport masterplan will expand the rail network to 278km by 2020, when the average walk to a metro station in the city centre will be reduced to just 400m. The density of the rail network will be increased 60% from 31km/million inhabitants to 51km/million, a similar ratio to New York and London.

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

November 3, 2008

DB IPO on hold until next year

 

GERMAN Transport Minister Mr Wolfgang Tiefensee has confirmed that the IPO of a 24.9% stake in German Rail’s Mobility and Logistics division, which was scheduled for October 27, will not go ahead until next year. The federal government had hoped to raise up to Euros 8 billion from the sale, but halted the sale last month amid fears the IPO would raise less than Euros 4 billion.

 

The IPO must go ahead by mid-February to fall within the current legislative period. If the IPO takes place after mid-February, DB will only be allowed to use its 2008 annual accounts to promote itself to investors, and these are unlikely to be published before April. With a general election due in September, the government has indicated that this may be too late. Tiefensee refused to be drawn on whether the government intends the IPO to take place before or after the election.

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

October 31, 2008

British regulator reigns in Network Rail spending

 

BRITAIN’S Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) has decided Network Rail (NR) will require £26.7 billion over the next five years to operate, maintain and renew the railway, £2.4 billion less than the infrastructure manager says it will need for the period to 2014.

 

The ORR describes the measures it has approved as the biggest programme of improvements seen on Britain’s railways for decades, but has also challenged NR to improve its efficiency by 21% over the five year period under review.

 

By 2014, NR will be required to increase punctuality to at least 93% for commuter services in the south-east, and 92% in all other areas, cut freight train delays by 25%, and reduce disruption to passengers caused by engineering work by a third. NR must also increase capacity to accommodate a projected 20% increase in passenger numbers and a 30% rise in freight volumes.

 

“NR has delivered significant improvements in reliability, asset condition and efficiency over the last five years against a backdrop of strong passenger and freight growth,” says Mr Bill Emery, chief executive of ORR. “Our determination provides the funding necessary for NR to build on this to deliver further improvements.”

 

Mr Paul Plummer, NR director of planning and regulation said “We must satisfy ourselves that what is proposed can be delivered, and that it will be enough to solve the issues of capacity.”

 

The ORR must now complete a charges review by the end of the year, which will determine where NR’s funding will come from (track access charges, grants, debt, or other sources). NR has until February to accept or reject the ORR’s determination, which will come into effect in April.

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

October 30, 2008

Australia approves open access in the Pilbara

 

THE latest twist in the battle led by Fortescue Mining to gain access to the heavy-haul railways owned by Rio Tinto and BHP in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, has gone against the railway owners. The treasurer of the Australian government, Mr Wayne Swan, has ruled that other operators must be given access to these railways for the next 20 years. The ruling applies to Rio Tinto’s Robe River and Hammersley lines and to BHP’s Goldsworthy railway and could pave the way for several companies with mining rights but no means to transport the minerals to the coastal ports.

 

“Some parties raised concerns regarding the potential costs arising from third party access,” Swan said. “However, on balance I consider that these are outweighed by a range of benefits, including increased competition and avoiding inefficient duplication of facilities.”

 

Rio Tinto says it is likely to seek a review of the decision, and BHP is expected to appeal.

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

October 29, 2008

RFF awards three high-speed signalling contracts

 

FRENCH Rail Network (RFF) has awarded three signalling contracts for the 140km Dijon-Mulhouse eastern branch of the 425km Rhine-Rhone high-speed line in eastern France. The line has a design speed of 350km/h, but will be operated at 320km/h.

 

A consortium led by Alstom and including Inexia and Legrand has won a Euros 53 million contract for preliminary studies, cabling and control systems, as well as the supply, installation and testing of in-track equipment including ERTMS balises.

 

In addition, Alstom will supply a new-generation computerised interlocking control unit called PAI-NG at Dijon Perrigny station at a cost of Euros 4.3 million.

 

The third contract, worth Euros 23 million, has gone to Ansaldo STS for wayside signalling equipment, including SEI TVM equipment, track circuits, and hot box detectors.

Remarkable...

 

http://www.railjournal.com/latenews.shtml#Feature8-11-19

 

November 18, 2008

Construction starts on Nanning – Ghuangzhou line

 

CONSTRUCTION work on a 577km railway between Nanning and Guangzhou started this week – and journey times between the two cities will be cut from the present 12 hours between the cities to three.

 

The 200km/h railway will be completed in under five years, and will cost Yuan 41 billion ($US 6 billion), according to the Ministry of Railways. A ceremony was held in Wuzhou, in the province of Guangxi to mark the start of works, and was attended by the minister of railways, Mr Liu Zhijun.

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

November 17, 2008

Trenitalia announces big rail speed-up

 

THE opening of the Milan – Bologna high-speed line on December 14 will enable Trenitalia to cut journey times and increase train frequency between northern and southern Italy. For the first time it will be possible to travel from Milan to Rome by non-stop train in 3h 30min, a saving of 35 minutes on the current fastest service.

 

There will be nine so-called AV Fast non-stop trains a day in each direction between Milan and Rome, plus another 14 per day with intermediate stops in Bologna and Florence.

 

Further journey time reductions will be made in December 2009 when the final sections of the Turin – Naples high-speed line open between Novara and Milan and Bologna and Florence. The Milan – Rome journey time will then be reduced to 3 hours. Trenitalia is looking at further reductions to 2h 45min for the future.

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

November 14, 2008

Jena confident about Indian Railways targets

 

THE chairman of Indian Railways (IR), Mr K C Jena, says that he is confident IR will meet its traffic targets during the current 11th five-year plan, despite the global economic crisis. Jena also said that IR will meet the bulk of its investment needs from its own resources. Jena was speaking at the first investment forum organised by the International Union of Railways of which he is chairman.

 

IR expects freight traffic to reach 1.1 billion tonnes and passenger traffic 8.4 billion journeys by the end of the 11th plan in 2011-12. Jena says IR needs to invest Rs 1500 billion ($US 30 billion) to upgrade infrastructure during the plan, and will generate Rs 900 billion internally while the government will provide the rest.

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

November 13, 2008

Bombardier opens Indian plant

 

BOMBARDIER has opened a new $US 41.4 million rolling stock plant at Salvi in the Indian state of Gujarat. The site has facilities to manufacture stainless steel coach bodies and bogies as well as final vehicle assembly. Production will begin in March and the first vehicles to roll out of the factory will be Movia metro cars for Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, 388 of which will be manufactured at Savli.

 

The plant was designed and built from scratch, with production technology based on Bombardier’s coach manufacturing plant in Görlitz, Germany.

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

November 12, 2008

China steps up railway investment

 

CHINA’S Ministry of Railways (MoR) has promised to invest quickly and aggressively as part of a government plan to stimulate the slowing economy. MoR says it will increase investment by Yuan 50 billion ($US 7.3 billion) to Yuan 150 billion in the fourth quarter of 2008, taking its investments for this year to around Yuan 350 billion.

 

MoR intends to invest around Yuan 600 million next year, around double the figure previously envisaged. “The scale of construction and size of investment will be unprecedented in China's railway history,” Mr Yang Zhongming, head of MoR’s planning department, told the government-owned People’s Daily newspaper.

Blueprint of railways development

By Xin Dingding (China Daily)

Updated: 2008-11-17 13:50

 

In September and October, the Ministry of Railways announced eight new railway projects in various parts of the country. Their investment has added up to 405 billion yuan, equaling 78 percent of the total investment that China poured into railway construction from 2003 to 2007.

In the past five years, the total investment for the railway infrastructure was 522 billion yuan, Minister Liu Zhijun told a working conference in January...

 

 

 

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2008-11/17/content_7211104.htm

^ that's just amazing. so much better than throwing bailout money away by giving it to the banks like we are doing and does not seem to be working (ncb for example....and now citibank?).

 

i saw something in the nytimes about chinese infrastructure investment and posted it here:

 

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,6079.msg342068.html#msg342068

 

 

I missed this one!!

 

http://www.daytondailynews.com/search/content/shared-gen/ap/Finance_General/AS_China_Railway_Construction.html

 

December 31, 2008 - 6:56 a.m. EST

 

China to boost railway spending by 80 percent

 

BEIJING — China will raise its spending on railway construction by 80 percent in 2009 to $87.9 billion as part of a stimulus plan to boost domestic demand, state media said Wednesday.

 

The official Xinhua News Agency said the figure of 600 billion yuan ($87.9 billion) for railway infrastructure projects was announced at a national railway meeting. The country spent $48.35 billion (330 billion yuan) on railway construction in 2008, it said.

.....

The Train in Spain Replaces the Plane

By Dave Demerjian January 15, 2009 | 2:30:00 PMCategories: Rail  

http://blog.wired.com/cars/2009/01/passengers-floc.html

 

The trains in Spain are doing better than planes as a growing web of high-speed lines carrying sleek bullet trains steal hundreds of thousands of passengers from airlines and cut emissions in the process.

 

As the government pumps more money into the system, Spaniards are abandoning commercial airlines so quickly that domestic flights carried 20 percent fewer people last year. That's big news in a country that has long depended upon commercial aviation to connect its major population centers.

 

Spain has been late to the train game in part because it is larger than other European countries and its major cities are typically 300 miles apart. For that reason, Spain has long favored air travel, and it has been a boon for the nation's airlines.

 

........

Click on the link to see all 38 pages of the latest issue. Lots of good stuff in here describing all the amazing rail projects happening worldwide. Two items of interest appear below....

 

http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/sb/irj0209/#/9/OnePage

 

International Railway Journal February 2009

 

Germany

 

German Rail (DB) has submitted a planning application to the Federal Railway Office (EBA) for the first section of the Frankfurt-Mannheim high-speed line. Construction is expected to begin on the 13km Frankfurt-Darmstadt section next year.

 

Siemens and Thyssen Krupp have announced their intention to close the 31.8km Emsland Transrapid maglev test track in June, as both companies say they no longer have interest in the project. China will continue to develop Transrapid through a technology-sharing programme.

Let's see... The economic juggernaut that is Portugal is proposing to invest more for one rail line than the U.S. House of Representatives is for passenger rail across our entire country in the federal stimulus:

 

http://www.railjournal.com/latenews.shtml#Feature7-2-6

 

February 5, 2009

EIB funding boost for Portuguese high-speed

 

THE European Investment Bank is to provide the Portuguese government with a loan of at least Euros 500 million for the first section of the Lisbon-Madrid high-speed line, according to Secretary of State for Transport Mrs Ana Paula Vitorino. The European Union itself is providing Euros 1.3 billion towards the final cost of the work.

 

The first section of the line, between Poceirão and Caia, which will require investment of Euros 1.4 billion, has received bids from two consortia led by Mota-Engil and Brisa respectively. A second tender, covering the section of line between Poceirão and Lisbon, will be issued soon. The entire Lisbon-Madrid line will be completed by 2015.

The improvements to the Hamilton junction *might* be of benefit to the Ohio Hub's Cleveland - Buffalo - Toronto corridor....

 

http://www.rtands.com/breaking_news.shtml#Feature6-2-19

 

February 18, 2009

 

 

Ottawa, Ontario pledge $500-million for GO Transit

 

The GO Transit commuter system is getting a much-needed boost, with the federal and Ontario governments unveiling C$500-million in spending to improve service and create construction jobs, local newspapers report.

 

Prime Minister Stephen Harper said yesterday that 200,000 Ontarians rely on GO Transit to commute to work every day.

 

"The system is essential to the economy and to the people who depend on it," he said at a GO maintenance yard in Toronto.

 

...........

http://cnbceb.com/rail-transport/tunnel-visionaries/883/

 

Published Sunday, March 1, 2009, by CNBC European Business

 

Rail transport

Tunnel Visionaries

 

As Italy upgrades its latest route, a Europe-wide high-speed rail network is getting closer, says Lee Marshall

 

In 1831, after his first journey on the fledgling Liverpool to Manchester railway, celebrated engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel wrote:

 

"The time is not far off when we shall be able to take our coffee and write while going noiselessly and smoothly at 45 miles per hour". As many short-haul commuters know to their cost, there are times when Brunel's prediction can seem optimistic, even today. But over longer distances we can now sip cappuccinos and surf the net while travelling (relatively) noiselessly and smoothly at well over 150mph (240km/h).

 

The latest link in a European high-speed network that aims to cross the continent from Edinburgh to Naples and from Lisbon to Moscow by 2020 is the Italian line from Bologna to Milan. On 13 December, the first Frecciarossa train completed the journey between the two cities in 65 minutes, shaving 40 minutes off the previous fastest time, and reaching a top speed of 300km/h. This brings the station-to-station time between Italy's two main business cities, Rome and Milan, down to just three and a half hours.

 

........

http://www.railjournal.com/latenews.shtml#Feature8-2-20

 

February 19, 2009

French start work on Spanish link facilities

 

FRENCH Rail Network (RFF) has launched a Euros 210 million ($266 million) project, funded by the French government, to expand the rail facilities in Perpignan in readiness for the opening of the high-speed link to Spain. The work will take three years to complete and will benefit both passenger and freight services.

 

For passenger services, two new platform tracks will be built at Perpignan station, the Perpignan-Villfranche line will be converted from single to double track and upgraded to allow TGVs to access the new line, and extra tracks will be provided to stable TGV and TER trains. Freight improvements include the creation of a large international freight facility.

Spain's High Speed Trains Faster Than Planes

 

A very good story from NPR's "Morning Edition":

 

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=101408073

http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=169523

 

14 March 2009, Saturday

 

TODAY'S ZAMAN  ANKARA 

Business National

 

Turkey’s first high-speed train line begins operation 

 

Turkey's first high-speed train, running between Ankara and Eskişehir, has started to carry passengers. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan took an inaugural ride at 9:40 a.m. on Friday with a host of other officials and journalists following a ceremony at the Ankara train station. 

 

........

Getting caught up on my overseas action.......

 

http://www.railjournal.com/latenews.shtml#Feature6-4-16

 

Dubai metro tunnelling complete

 

THE $US 4 billion first phase of Dubai’s metro network has reached a milestone with the completion of tunnelling works on both of the first two lines. The 52.1km Red Line from Jebel Ali Free Zone to Rashidiya includes 4.7km of bored tunnels between Port Saeed and Jujurman stations. The Roads and Transit Authority (RTA) says around 90% of construction is now complete, with most remaining work focussing on depots, stations, emergency exits, and access roads. More than 40 trains supplied by Kinki Sharyo, Japan, have been delivered to Jebel Ali depot, and testing is already underway on some sections of the line, which will open on September 9.

 

The 23km Green Line from Health Care City to Al Nahda Street includes 7.9km of tunnels. Construction work is currently around 55% complete according to the RTA and the project is on schedule for a March 2010 opening.

 

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April 14, 2009

Test operation starts on the Algiers metro

 

TRIAL operation has begun on the initial section of the Algerian capital’s first metro line. Siemens Mobility, which is leading the consortium of CAF, Spain, and Vinci Construction Grands Projets, France, building the metro, hosted a group of Algerian ministers for a ride on the first test train. The next milestone will be to run a train over the entire 9km line this summer.

 

The consortium was awarded the Euros 380 million contract to build the line in January 2006. Siemens is responsible for project management as well installing a communications-based train control system, telecommunications, electrification, rails, and the fare collection system. CAF is supplying a fleet of 14 six-car trains, while Vinci is building the 10 stations on the line, installing tunnel ventilation, and constructing the depot and offices.

 

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April 9, 2009

RATP buys double-deck trains for RER Line A

 

PARIS Transport Authority (RATP) has selected a consortium of Alstom and Bombardier to supply 60 double-deck MI09 trains for RER Line A. Alstom’s share of the Euros 917 million deal is worth Euros 640 million. The MI09 is a high-capacity development of the MI2N emu supplied by the same consortium during the 1990s. Each 110m-long train will have capacity for up to 1725 passengers, and each vehicle will be equipped with six large doors to facilitate rapid loading and unloading. Alstom says the improved acceleration and braking performance of the MI09 will allow frequencies to be increased on Line A.

 

Alstom will produce equipment for the trains at various sites in France. Tarbes will supply electrical equipment and traction controls, traction motors and alternators will come from Ornans, bogies will be manufactured at Le Creusot and command and control electronics will be produced at Villeurbanne. The driving cars will be assembled at Alstom’s Valenciennes site, while Bombardier will design and assemble the three inner cars of each five-car train at its nearby Crespin works.

 

The first train will be delivered in December 2010 and the trains will enter service in 2011.

 

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April 7, 2009

RZD invests in international coaches

 

RUSSIAN Railways (RZD) is to spend Roubles 2 billion ($US 55.7 million) on developing new coaches for international routes. RZD’s current fleet stands at 232 coaches but is now in need of replacement.

 

The new coaches will be developed at Tver Coach Works and will be built to UIC standards. They will have a maximum speed of 200km/h, with provision to upgrade this to 250km/h in the future.

 

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April 7, 2009

Thales wins Saudi ETCS contract

 

A CONSORTIUM of Thales and Saudi BinLadin Group has won a Euros 340 million contract to supply the European Train Control System (ETCS) on the 2400km North-South Railway, the biggest single installation of ETCS in the world. It will also be the first implementation of ETCS Level 2 in the Middle East, and will be operational – along with the rest of the line – in 2013.

 

Thales will supply signalling, telecommunication, supervision, security and fare collection systems, while Saudi BinLadin Group will be responsible for construction works and support services. The railway will run from the Saudi capital Riyadh to the Jordanian border, and from Al Jalamid to the Arabian Gulf.

 

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April 6, 2009

CSR wins Tunisian dmu order

 

CSR Nanjing Puzhen Rolling Stock Company has won a contract to supply 40 Pacemaker dmu cars to Tunisian National Railways (SNCFT) for delivery by 2011.

 

While the value of the contract has not been disclosed, the cars will be formed into two-car trains with seats for 144 passengers. They will be powered by 588kW MAN diesel engines and will have a maximum speed of 160km/h. Digital traction control and transmission braking will also be fitted.

 

CSR reputedly beat CAF, Spain, and Stadler, Switzerland amongst other manufacturers to win the order.

 

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April 2, 2009

Daimler’s Grube nominated to succeed Mehdorn

 

THE German government says it will nominate Mr Rüdiger Grube, a member of the board of automotive giant Daimler, to succeed Mr Hartmut Mehdorn as the CEO of German Rail.

 

Grube has the backing of a several senior government figures, including the Chancellor Mrs Angela Merkel, Vice-Chancellor Mr Frank-Walter Steinmeier, and Transport Minister Mr Wolfgang Tiefensee. In addition to his responsibilities for corporate development at Daimler, Grube is non-executive chairman of European Aeronautic and Space Company (EADS), the parent company of Airbus.

 

After a decade at the helm of DB, Mehdorn tendered his resignation earlier this week following allegations that DB had used private investigators to spy on thousands of its employees.

 

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April 2, 2009

Bombardier signs British emu deal

 

BOMBARDIER has signed a £173 million contract with Lloyds TSB General Leasing and London Eastern Railways, a subsidiary of National Express, for the supply of 30 four-car Electrostar emus. The 160km/h trains will be delivered between March and June 2011, and will be used on Stansted Express services between London Liverpool Street and Stansted Airport. The deal includes an £18 million three-year maintenance contract, and the trains will be manufactured at Bombardier’s site in Derby.

 

The Electrostar order is a central element of the Department for Transport’s plan to boost capacity on National Express East Anglia (NEEA) services from London to eastern England, which involves increasing the train fleet by 17%. In addition to the 120 vehicles ordered from Bombardier, a further 68 emu vehicles will be transferred to NEEA from other franchises by December 2011.

 

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April 1, 2009

Ukraine prepares for soccer European Cup

 

UKRAINE Railways (UZ) has unveiled plans to invest Hryvnia 4.9 billion ($US 570 million) over the next three years in preparation for the 2012 soccer European Championships, which Ukraine is hosting jointly with Poland.

 

UZ says it intends to buy 150 coaches, five dmus, and up to 10 locomotives, and refurbish 1000 coaches in its existing fleet.

 

The additional funding will also allow HZ to upgrade infrastructure on main lines such as Kiev – Donetsk and Kiev – Odessa, and modernise signalling and communications systems.

In two weeks I will be in London (third time in three years!). In addition to seeing The London Transport Museum, Winston Churchill's Britain at War Experience and a little more of the huge British Museum, I will be taking trains out into the hinterlands. One of the places I will visit is a spot just outside of the Channel Tunnel Rail Line's 10 miles of tunnels under London to see what Eurostar and Javelin trains are like from the outside and at top speed (I rode Eurostar in 2007 to Brussels).

 

Not familiar with the Javelin? Well, it's a high-speed train made by Hitachi and will be operated by Southeast. It is named Javelin because it was sought in preparation for the 2012 Olympics which will be in London. The Javelin is undergoing testing now but will enter revenue service this year, linking London with Ebbsfleet, Stratford and Ashford. It is a 140-mph multiple-unit commuter train (notice the multiple side doors for large passenger crowds in the videos below) and will operate on six-minute headways during peak travel times.

 

At top speed:

 

Two passings at slow speed so you can get a better look at this simple but attractive train:

 

Hitachi promo video:

http://www.railjournal.com/newsflash/china-to-study-cambodia-vietnam-link.html

 

China to study Cambodia-Vietnam link       

Wednesday, May 13, 2009 

 

A CHINESE company has been awarded a contract to conduct a feasibility study into a line between the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh and the Vietnamese border, which will fill one of the key missing sections of the Singapore-Kunming Trans Asian Rail Link.

 

The Cambodian Ministry of Public Affairs has reportedly signed a deal with China Railway Group, which will begin a study later this year on the 255km line from Bat Doeng, north of Phnom Penh, to Loc Ninh, where it will connect with the Vietnam Railways network. The project will involve bridging both the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers.

 

The Cambodian and Vietnamese governments signed an agreement last November to build the line at an estimated cost of $US 700 million.

By the way, did I tell you all I was going to London this week??  :wink:

 

http://www.railjournal.com/newsflash/construction-begins-on-londons-crossrail.html

 

Construction begins on London's Crossrail       

Friday, May 15, 2009 

 

BRITISH Prime Minister Mr Gordon Brown and London Mayor Mr Boris Johnson have laid a foundation stone at the site of Canary Wharf station in London's Docklands business district to formally mark the start of construction on the city's Crossrail project. Crossrail involves the construction of a central tunnel under London linking the Great Western Main Line at Paddington with the Great Eastern Main Line at Stratford, with an underground branch from Whitechapel running under the River Thames to Abbey Wood.

 

The project involves building 41km of 6m-diameter single-bore tunnels, construction of seven underground stations, and electrification of the Airport Junction - Maidenhead line. Preparatory works will take place this year, initially at Farringdon, Tottenham Court Road and Paddington in readiness for the start of main construction works next year.

 

Ten-car trains will run over the 118km network, which will stretch from Maidenhead and Heathrow Airport in the west to Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the east, serving 38 stations and carrying up to 200 million passengers per year.

 

At £15.9 billion, Crossrail is expected to become Europe's largest civil engineering project and one of the world's most expensive railway projects. The government is contributing £5.6 billion, while £7.7 billion will come from the Mayor of London's budget via Transport for London and contributions from businesses in the city. Network Rail will also carry out £2.3 billion of infrastructure works to increase capacity on the existing lines east and west of the central tunnel.The line will open in 2017.

I railfanned (er, trainspotted) on the Channel Tunnel Rail Line today. It was invigorating and frustrating at the same time. Quite a rush with Eurostar and the new Javelin high-speed trains whooshing past at 150+ mph. I also rode from London to Southend-on-Sea which is on the North Sea. Trains average 60 mph, with a top speed of 80, and there are trains every 10 minutes at all hours. I think most Americans would be surprised at how many rail passenger services there are in Europe and how few are actually high-speed. Pictures will be posted when I return Sunday.

they have been talking up the new crossrail line over on wiredny, another site i hang out on. the londoners are really excited about it. i'd love to hear what you can see and find out about that!

 

Photographs I took of regional and high-speed trains in the UK last week are posted at:

 

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,19248.0.html

 

Here's a few samples......

 

 

 

 

The last two were extracted from my video shot at Rainham, which is of lower quality than direct digital photographs.

Now THIS is what a stimulus is. Lots of imbedded links and graphics at the following location:

 

http://seekingalpha.com:80/article/138584-china-inks-deal-with-siemens-for-world-s-largest-high-speed-rail-network

 

China Inks Deal with Siemens for World's Largest High Speed Rail Network

by: James Rickman May 20, 2009

 

China plans to create the world's largest high-speed rail network. The Chinese Ministry of Railways is planning to buy 1,000 high-speed trains within the next few years. The current order from Siemens (SI) includes the first trains to serve the new high-speed line between Bejing and Shanghai.

 

..........

wait, are any of your photos above of the new london crossrail line? i think it's partly for the olympics and i'm not sure how far along it is, did you see anything of it? thx

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/30/business/energy-environment/30trains.html?hpw=&pagewanted=print

 

May 30, 2009

New York Times

Spain’s High-Speed Rail Offers Guideposts for U.S.

By VICTORIA BURNETT

LLEIDA, Spain — When President Obama announced in April his $13 billion plan to propel the United States into the age of high-speed rail, he tipped his hat to the trains that zip between the cities of the Old Continent at up to 217 miles an hour.

 

Spain, an enthusiastic latecomer to high-speed rail, on Friday will cap six-day tour of European transit systems by the secretary of transportation, Ray H. LaHood. Officials say the Spanish experience could hold lessons in what works and what does not.

 

Spain opened its first Alta Velocidad Española, or AVE, high-speed train route in 1992, between Madrid and Seville. The network has grown to nearly 2,000 kilometers and stretches from Malaga on the south coast to Barcelona in the northeast. Supporters say the AVE has begun to transform the country, binding remote and sometimes restive regions to Madrid and prompting traditionally home-bound Spaniards to move around for work or leisure.

 

.......

http://blog.taragana.com/n/us-transportation-secretary-takes-ride-on-spanish-bullet-train-system-hailed-by-obama-67179/

 

US transport boss rides Spanish bullet train

 

MADRID - Spain showed off its bullet train system on Friday, giving the U.S. transportation secretary a firsthand glimpse of the high-speed rail grid that President Barack Obama has praised as a model for America.

 

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray Lahood boarded a train at Madrid's Atocha station along with Spanish Development Minister Jose Blanco for an hour-and-a-quarter trip to Zaragoza, a stop on the line heading to Barcelona.

 

Lahood has been touring Europe this week, riding a TGV bullet-train in France and attending a transportation conference in Germany that also featured officials from the German railway system, Deutsche Bahn.

......

http://www.railwayage.com//content/view/895/121/

 

Russia taps Bombardier for major high speed train order 

 

Russia announced Friday that it plans up to 54 Bombardier high speed trains valued at up to $770 million so part of its preparations for the 2014 Winter Olympics to be based in Kochi, on the Black Sea.

 

First Vice President Fyodor Andreyev told a news conference that the trains should be delivered by 2013. Reuters suggested that purchase of a fleet of modem trains from a foreign supplier would underline Russia's desire to host "a showcase international event."

 

Russian Railways said the cost of the trains world not come from the $12 billion Russia has set aside for the Olympics event, suggesting that financing might come instead from a syndicate of lenders.

 

Russia has already placed orders for eight Siemens (Germany) high speed trains costing $400 million, and eight Alstom (France) trains valued at $180 million.

Another story from Russia, except this one is mostly for freight traffic.....

 

http://www.railwayage.com//content/view/894/121/

 

Joint venture company planned for new Asian-European line 

 

One of the world's most ambitious railway expansion projects, a $4.5 billion line linking regions crossed by Russia's Siberian Railroad, took a step forward Thursday with the announcement that the four participating countries would form a joint venture company to continue preliminary studies initiated last year.

 

The agreement to form a joint venture was reached at a meeting of high-ranking Austrian, Russian, Ukrainian, and Slovakian railway officials in the Russian Black Sea resort city of Kochi.

 

Russia's broad-gauge will be used in the expansion from Konice in Slovakia to the Austrian capital, Vienna. Current technology enables a smooth gauge change.

 

Plans for the line were unveiled in April 2008 when the railways signed a protocol to initiate pre-project studies.

 

The goal is to make the rail systems more competitive against sea and road transport.

Bombardier, Alstom, and Siemens need to hire some high-powered lobbyists in Washington. That seems to be the only thing that gets action from Congress.

They're in Washington. But for every rail lobbyist in Washington there are 10 for the automobile- and highway-related industries.

With GM and Chrysler going down the toilet, maybe the playing field will start to level out a bit. Public opinion certainly seems to be moving in a more pro-rail direction. (Actually, public opinion has always been very pro-rail; only now the political leadership is finally starting to notice.)

I think most Americans would be surprised at how many rail passenger services there are in Europe and how few are actually high-speed.

 

I flew from Glasgow to Luton when i went to London in January, and while waiting on the platforms of Lutons train station for our train to St. Pancras it was incredible how many trains flew past us. We waited about 25 minutes for our train to come, but in that time a train was flying past at 60 to 80 mph every 2 to 3 minutes. My cousin who lives in exurbian Phoenix was amazed with the train service and subways in london and paris and kept asking why we dont have that here in the states, hmmmmm????

Because you don't want train service....At least that's what the highwaymen say, in their attempts to speak for you and I.

Because you don't want train service....At least that's what the highwaymen say, in their attempts to speak for you and I.

Well if they mean train service like what we've got, i.e. Amtrack, then they're correct, I certainly don't want that. I want a train that'll get me where I want to go at a decent speed, and a decent hour, and I suspect most Americans want the same.

With GM and Chrysler going down the toilet, maybe the playing field will start to level out a bit.

I'm not holding my breath, the oil companies and highway construction lobbies haven't gone anywhere.

Because you don't want train service....At least that's what the highwaymen say, in their attempts to speak for you and I.

 

A few select individuals speaking on behalf of millions and millions of people with billions and billions of dollars at stake and the future of our economy. Im glad they know our exact feelings on rail. 

Because you don't want train service....At least that's what the highwaymen say, in their attempts to speak for you and I.

 

A few select individuals speaking on behalf of millions and millions of people with billions and billions of dollars at stake and the future of our economy. Im glad they know our exact feelings on rail.

 

Don't worry, they already consulted the UrbanOhio rail representative, DanB. :)

Amazing. And BuckeyeB, you're favorite (the ICE3) is in there too.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8o11u67Jl18&feature=related

Wow, that's like pornography for train buffs. And the Berlin-school trance music seems like an appropriate soundtrack for German high-speed trains.

Wow, that's like pornography for train buffs. And the Berlin-school trance music seems like an appropriate soundtrack for German high-speed trains.

 

That settles it. I'm going to Europe next year.