International Railway Journal - May 2008 - (Page 12)

News DB and Green Cargo launch freight JV Israel In brief Israel Railways general manager Mr Yitzhak Harel has met Siemens Transportation bosses to discuss the late delivery of 87 passenger coaches and driving trailers. Delivery has been delayed from June to August, and only 20 are expected to arrive then, with the balance due in October or November. G ERMAN Rail (DB), and Green Cargo, Sweden, have won approval to form a new joint-venture company called Railion Scandinavia. It follows Green Cargo’s successful acquisition of a stake in Railion Denmark from DB. The new company hopes to operate freight trains more efficiently between the Nordic countries and Central Europe, boosting railfreight’s competiveness. A high-frequency wagonload service between Malmö, Sweden, and Hamburg-Maschen, Germany, will operate, along with a range of bulk and intermodal services. Railion Scandinavia will operate the cross-border freight services on behalf of DB and Green Cargo, and has ordered 23 multi-system class 185 locomotives equipped with train control systems for operation in Germany, Denmark, and Sweden. Netherlands The Dutch government is to invest €600 million on capacity enhancements on the Schiphol Airport – Amsterdam – Lelystad corridor. The line between Duivendrecht, Amsterdam South and Reiekerpolder junction is to be doubled to four tracks, as will two stretches of the Weesp – Lelystad line. US plans 480km ‘nuclear’ railway T HE United States Surface Transportation Board (STB) has filed for approval to build a 480km railway to haul nuclear waste to a proposed geologic repository at Yucca Mountain, Nevada. The railway will be known as the Caliente Line and will extend an existing Union Pacific railway from Caliente, Nevada, to the site. It will also provide common-carrier services to communities on the route. The STB expects a huge public response to the proposal and the state of Nevada has asked the STB to reject it. In an announcement on April 11, the STB said: “Our issuing this notice does not constitute determination as to whether the Department of the Environment’s application is complete or otherwise prejudges the state’s motion.” The STB is not participating in environmental assessments for the proposed nuclear site. India to launch high-speed study I Finland and Estonia propose tunnel NDIAN Railways (IR) has invited global tenders for a pre-feasibility study into the construction of a high-speed line from Delhi to Chandigarh and Amritsar. Japanese, Chinese, French and German companies have expressed an interest in taking part in the construction of the line, which will be built for operation at speeds of up to 300km/h. IR is planning to carry out further studies into high-speed services on other routes. Poland PKP Cargo launched its first multi-system Bombardier Traxx locomotive in April. PKP Cargo has signed an agreement for six locomotives with Angel Trains. Polish State Railways’ longdistance passenter operation, PKP Intercity, is set to list on the Warsaw stock exchange, according to its president, Mr Czelaw Warsewicz. F INLAND and Estonia are to launch feasibility studies into the construction of a railway tunnel about 50km long between the two countries. Helsinki Mayor Mr Jussi Pajunen and Tallinn Mayor Mr Edgar Savisaar have signed an agreement to apply for European Union funding for the studies, and if the application is successful, these could be completed by the end of 2009. Pajunen said the tunnel is unlikely to open before 2024, although Savisaar added he was certain that the project would go ahead. The study will consider other options, including a new train ferry between Estonia and Finland. Russian freight operator reveals IPO Slovakia Mr Stefan Hinka became the new director-general of Slovakian State Railways (ZSR) on April 9, succeeding Mr Dalibor Zeleny. R ussia’s largest private railfreight operator, Globaltrans, is to list on the London Stock Exchange, Britain, and is seeking to raise between $US 390 million and $US 509 million. It will offer global depositary receipts, which each represent an interest in one share. The global coordinator for the IPO is Deutsche Bank, and Deutsche Bank and Morgan Stanley are joint bookrunners for the offering. Spain The acquisition of logistics company Transfesa by German Rail (DB) has been cleared by the European Union. The EU says the companies’ activities overlap, but that there is significant competition from other modes. T HE £70 million, 21km Stirling-AlloaKincardine line reopened to freight trains on April 5, and passenger services are due to start on May 19. The route will allow freight trains to serve Longannet power station without having to cross the congested Forth Bridge, while passenger services between Stirling and Alloa will run for the first time in 40 years. Photo: Ciaran Donnelly United States Union Pacific tracks in the centre of Sacramento are set to be realigned to make room for the expansion of Sacramento Valley station. The realignment of the existing lines is set to cost $US 51.5 million, of which the California Transportation Commission will contribute $US 20 million. IRJ IRJ May 2008

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of International Railway Journal - May 2008

International Railway Journal - May 2008 Contents This Month News Transit News Market News Technology News News Analysis Italian Railways on the Road to Recovery High-Speed: On the Home Straight Korea Develops High-Speed Ambitions Setting New Standards for New Rolling Stock India Solves Traction Motor Conundrum Weathering the Storm with Climatic Testing Technology Drives US Train Inspections Rendezvous Full Contact List Advertisers Index The Last Word

International Railway Journal - May 2008

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