Test operation begins on Barcelona - Figueres HSL S
PAIN’s state-owned train operating company Renfe
and infrastructure manager Adif have started passenger service tests on the high-speed line between Barcelona and the French border. Although 76km of the 130km Barcelona - Figueres corridor was opened for freight services in December 2010, passenger services will not commence until next spring. Construction is
HE World Bank is putting the finishing touches to a new railway strategy for Sub- Saharan Africa, Mr Henry des Longchamps, senior transport specialist with the World Bank’s Africa Transport Unit, revealed at the UIC’s Global Rail Freight Conference in Tangiers on October 18. “Despite large investments by both national governments and the private sector, the revival of railways in Africa is fragile and features limited capacity, poor reliability, weak financial performance, poor infrastructure density, and
currently being concluded on several sections of the line, namely in the north of Barcelona and a complex set of tunnels under the city of Girona. Track and overhead line geometry surveying is being conducted by one of Adif’s class 335 dual-gauge measurement dmus, while a Renfe class 103 high-speed train will be used for dynamic tests and ETCS operation surveys.
under-performing concessions,” des Longchamps says. He told delgates railways in Sub-Saharan Africa suffer from many deficiencies including inadequate infrastructure and poor productivity, while facing strong competition resulting in low traffic volumes.
Des Longchamps also said
there has been poor governance of concessions, a lack of regulation, inconsistent government policies, a failure to provide funding, and unrealistic expectations.”We need to adjust rail projects to reality,” he said. “We also have
In brief Bangladesh
While Renfe and French National Railways (SNCF) have not yet specified which trains will be used on the line, the former is adapting 10 of Spain’s very first high-speed trains, the Alstom class 100, for operation under 1.5kV dc electrification in France. SNCF is likely to use a fleet of 10 Duplex Dasye sets which are fitted with ETCS Level 2 and are already in use on the Figueres - Paris route.
World Bank to launch Sub-Saharan rail strategy T
to take on the challenge of maintenance, and benchmark it with American or European systems. Concessioning is not always the answer, but where it is agreements should be based on key performance indicators. Rail strategy should be progressive and sustainable, and governments should honour their commitments.” The new World Bank
approach will focus on freight, and projects will be designed around sustainability with adequate maintenance and reliable operations.
Bangladesh Railways has signed a Taka 1.55bn ($US 18.9m) contract with Max Automobile Product, Bangladesh, for the construction of a 25km line from Ishwardi to Pabna. The project will be completed in 2014.
Brazil
Vale’s logistics unit VLI has received the first unit from an order for 14 SD70ACe diesel locomotives from EMD. The 3.28MW units are being assembled in Brazil at EMD’s new Sete Lagoas plant in the state of Minas Gerais.
Britain
Transport Scotland has formally transferred responsibility for completing the 49km Borders Railway from Edinburgh to Tweedbank to Network Rail (NR). The £294m project is expected to be completed by the end of 2014, although the contract gives
NR a deadline of mid-2015. NR has launched a consultation over plans to take control of the property assets of freight operator DB Schenker Rail, which says the transfer will allow it to invest in new terminals and facilities.
Chile
Chilean State Railways (EFE) has awarded Alstom a $US 68m contract to supply and maintain a fleet of 12 Xtrapolis emus, which are being acquired as part of a $US 260m project to upgrade the 80km Santiago - Rancagua suburban line. The 120km/h emus will enter service in 2014 on Rancagua Xpress services, which will operate at 15-minute intervals in peak periods running non-stop from Santiago Central to Nós and calling at all remaining stations to Rancagua.
Germany
Railpool receives first Vectron: Siemens has handed over the first Vectron electric locomotive to German leasing company Railpool, which ordered a batch of six units in December 2010. The 200km/h four-axle locomotives will be equipped with ETCS and are intended for freight and passenger use in Germany and Austria. The 6.4MW 15/25kV ac locomotives are being assembled at Siemens’ Allach plant near Munich.
IRJ December 2012
The cost of electrifying the double-track line between Munich and Lindau is set to increase by more than a third, according to revised estimates, while the completion date of the project has also been put back from 2017 to 2019. The
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