International Railway Journal - January 2008 - (Page 6) News Study calls for massive investment in US passenger services operators, attacked the report’s recommendations as a threat to the United States’ buoyant railfreight industry. “Piggybacking on privatelyowned and operated railway assets will give America a third-rate passenger rail system, one that is not attractive to passengers or competitive with car and air travel,” says AAR CEO Mr Edward R Hamberger. “The report does not adequately emphasise the fact that freight railways need more capacity. We hope changes will be made that do not hinder the operation of America’s highly-productive, world class railfreight industry.” The study is similar in approach to the National Rail Freight Infrastructure Capacity and Investment Study, released in September, which said $US 148 billion is required to handle growing railfreight capacity needs. Both studies are part of an effort by the Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission to present a comprehensive package of recommendations to Congress. Photo: Philip Wormald STUDY by the United States Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission is calling for $US 357.2 billion investment in passenger services over the next 40 years (around $US 8.9 billion per year), with federal matched funding to aid states to develop rail routes. The report says the federal A government should pay 80% of the cost, while the states would pay 20% - the same ratio currently in place for most highway construction. It adds that part of the additional funding required could come from existing fuel taxes on road vehicles. The Association of American Railroads (AAR), which is dominated by freight Indian Railways battles for freight corridor approval LANS to build 2700km of dedicated freight corridors in India have stalled after the national government failed to give final approval to the first phase of the project. Indian Railways (IR) wants to begin construction this year on the first two lines of what it hopes will eventually become a 5000km dedicated freight network connecting the country’s major industrial centres and ports. The government gave its ‘in-principle’ go-ahead to the project almost two years ago but declined to give it the expected final approval at a meeting of the cabinet committee on economic affairs on November 27. The committee is reportedly P unhappy about the absence of a business plan, and wants more information on revenues and loan repayments. The electrified line from Ludhiana and Delhi to Kolkata will cost Rs 118.59 billion ($US 3 billion) and is expected to cater primarily for heavy-haul traffic such as coal, iron-ore and steel. The second corridor will run southwest from Delhi to Ahmadabad and Mumbai. It will cost Rs 165.92 billion and will be designed for the operation of diesel-hauled double-stack container trains, which are expected to be the principle traffic on the route. The two lines will be designed to accommodate 30-tonne axleloads and will take about five years to build. VTG expands US leasing Jena becomes UIC chairman G ERMAN wagon leasing giant VTG plans to acquire Texas Railcar Leasing Company, United States, in order to expand its business in the lucrative US market. Texas Railcar Leasing Company has a fleet of 1000 covered and open wagons, as well as some tank wagons for customers in the chemicals, energy, and construction sectors. It recorded revenues of $US 4 million in 2006. While neither party was willing to disclose the value of the acquisition, VTG says it hopes to complete the deal early this year. T Bids soon for Barcelona cross-city line PAIN’s infrastructure manager, Adif, plans to invite bids soon for the eastern section of a new standardgauge line across Barcelona to connect the lines entering the city from France and Madrid. The section concerned involves tracks to avoid construction works for the planned new station at Sagrada and a 3.6km line from there to link up with the new line under construction to Girona and the French border. S Construction of the tunnel from Sagrada to Sants station is delayed by opposition to tunnelling near Gaudi’s famous Sagrada Familia cathedral. Adif says it has taken every precaution to safeguard the cathedral, but has yet to convince opponents. The new Sagrada station will be built on five levels consisting of eight broadgauge tracks for suburban trains at the deepest level, two levels for car parking, 10 standard-gauge high-speed tracks, and a commercial development. It will be a challenging project because water is only 4m below ground level. High-speed trains from Madrid should start running into Barcelona in March. The final section should have opened last month, but was delayed by subsidence in the Barcelona suburbs, which also disrupted suburban services. HE new chairman of Indian Railways, Mr K C Jena (above), was appointed chairman of the International Union of Railways (UIC), at the UIC’s general assembly in Paris last month. Jena will complete the term of his predecessor, Mr J P Batra who has retired. The term runs until December 31. Mr Joachim Mayer from German Rail (DB) has been appointed chairman of the UIC’s technology and research platform, succeeding Mr Philippe Renard of French National Railways. The UIC also announced that 10 more railway organisations have joined the UIC, bringing the total membership to 191. 6 IRJ January 2008
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