IRJ - May 2010 - (Page 8) News Siemens poised to launch fourth-generation Velaro IEMENS is putting the finishing touches to the first of its fourth-generation Velaro high-speed trains ahead of a handover to launch customer German Rail (DB) later this year. The eight-car Velaro-D, which is classified class 407 by DB has capacity for 460 passengers, 30 more than the previous generation of class 406 ICE3 trains. The class 407 will be capable of operating in multiple with ICE3s. DB issued an invitation to tender for a fleet of 15 of the multi-system high-speed trains at the end of 2007, specifying more than 6000 individual requirements in the bid documents. Siemens was awarded the ƒ500 million contract in December 2008 and assembly of the first train S began at the company’s Krefeld site in Germany in October. Commissioning will begin on the first train in August and the Velaro D will initially be certified for operation in Germany, France and Belgium. The trains will be delivered to DB from the third quarter of next year and will enter service on routes between Frankfurt and various cities in France at the winter timetable change in December 2011. The first train will be displayed at InnoTrans in Berlin on September 21-24. Dr Volker Kefer, DB board member for technology and infrastructure (left), and Dr Hans-Jörg Grundmann, CEO of Siemens Mobility at Krefeld on April 28. Photo: Keith Fender German open-access plans delayed or shelved K EOLIS says it has abandoned plans to run open-access long-distance passenger services in Germany. The operator, which is majority-owned by French National Railways, had carried out initial planning work on a Mulhouse - Strasbourg - Cologne - Hamburg service, but has decided not to pursue the venture. Keolis was due to submit a track access application to DB Network by April 8. Meanwhile HamburgCologne Express (HKX) has postponed the launch of its services until April 2011. HKX says DB Network had given Keolis priority on the paths it wants to use for its three daily return services between Hamburg and Cologne, and it has decided to reapply for these paths now they are available again. government of the pitfalls of a virtual private monopoly where QR National, the dominant coal haulier, would also have control of the track. In light of these comments, reports suggest that the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) has held talks with coal companies about launching a bid to own Queensland’s coal network, while a group comprising the 14 companies that use the tracks, headed by former New South Wales premier Mr Nick Greiner, have met premier Ms Anna Bligh with an offer to buy the network. The miners are said to want an independent owner of the tracks to prevent a monopoly. Bligh and treasurer Mr Andrew Fraser have expressed scepticism at the miners’ offer and confirmed that the government plans to push ahead with the QR flotation. KiwiRail raises prices to tackle deficit R QR privatisation questioned as rival bids loom LANS to privatise Queensland Rail (QR) have been questioned by two leading Australian federal government ministers. Federal resources minister Mr Martin Ferguson, describes the proposed privatisation model as “a recipe for P disaster” because he believes a vertically-integrated privatelyowned rail network would not necessarily deliver the level of investment needed to stay ahead of coal output. Federal transport minister Mr Anthony Albanese has also warned the Queensland AILFREIGHT customers and commuters in New Zealand will face increased prices this year as KiwiRail attempts to eliminate its $NZ 90 million ($US 63.6 million) annual deficit. Speaking at the NZ Rail conference in Wellington on April 21, transport minister Mr Steven Joyce said raising revenue from customers is a key component in making KiwiRail a viable business. Joyce claims many large railfreight customers are benefiting from rates that are below costs. He also wants to eliminate the $NZ 20 million subsidy paid to regional councils in Auckland and Wellington for supporting commuter services. The details of a plan to turnaround the financiallytroubled state-owned railway will be announced next month. It is expected to highlight the need for significant extra spending on infrastructure and rolling stock, although the government says Kiwirail will need to demonstrate a strong business case for any additional state funding. 8 Photo: John Hoyle IRJ May 2010 Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of IRJ - May 2010 IRJ - May 2010 Contents This Month News Transit News Financial News News Analysis Gautrain Shoots for the World Cup Zero Tolerance of Derailments EMC Testing Remains On-Track Building NS’s Railway Interstate Breaking Down Barriers to Safer Crossings Increasing Capacity: A Track-Friendly Solution Rendezvous Full Contact List Advertisers Index The Last Word IRJ - May 2010 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/sb/irj0712 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/sb/irj0612 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/sb/irj0512 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/sb/irj0412 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/sb/irj0312 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/sb/irj0212 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/sb/irj0112 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/sb/irj1211 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/sb/irj1111 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/sb/irj1011 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/sb/irj0911 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/sb/irj0811 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/sb/irj0711 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/sb/irj0611 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/sb/irj0511 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/sb/irj0411 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/sb/irj0311 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/sb/irj0211 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/sb/irj0111 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/sb/irj1210 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/sb/irj1110 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/sb/irj1010 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/sb/irj0910 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/sb/irj0810 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/sb/irj0710 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/sb/irj0610 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/sb/irj0510 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/sb/irj0410 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/sb/irj0310 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/sb/irj0210 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/sb/irj0110 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/sb/irj1209 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/sb/irj1109 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/sb/irj1009 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/sb/irj0909 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/sb/irj0809 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/sb/irj0709 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/sb/irj0609 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/sb/irj0509 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/sb/irj0409 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/sb/irj0309 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/sb/irj0209 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/sb/irj0109 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/sb/irj1208 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/sb/irj1108 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/sb/irj1008 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/sb/irj0908 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/sb/irj0808 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/sb/irj0708 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/sb/irj0608 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/sb/irj0508 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/sb/irj0408 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/sb/irj0308 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/sb/irj0208 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/sb/irj0108 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/sb/irj1207 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/sb/irj1107 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/sb/irj1007 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/sb/irj0807 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/sb/irj0707 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/sb/irj0607 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/sb/irj0507 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/sb/irj0407 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/sb/irj0307 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/sb/irj0207 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/sb/irj0107 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/sb/irj0706 http://www.nxtbookMEDIA.com
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