In brief
Details revealed of Barcelona - Valencia dual-gauge project
Land acquisition starts for California high-speed project
C S
PAIN’s public works and transport minister has unveiled the first details of the country’s plan to extend standard-gauge track from Barcelona to Valencia and the southeast along the Mediterranean coast line. In a ƒ1.4bn project, the existing corridor between the two cities and their ports will be converted to dual gauge and in places converted to purely standard gauge, a first for the conventional Spanish network. A tender will be invited this year for the conversion of a
97km section of the double- track 1668mm-gauge line between Castellbisbal and the port of Tarragona, with the aim of completing this initial section by 2015. South of Tarragona, the 188km section to Castellon will be converted from broad gauge to standard gauge, although a date has not been set for the completion of this phase. On the remaining 103km
stretch between Castellon and Valencia, one of the two tracks will become standard gauge while the other will be converted to dual gauge.
ALIFORNIA’s high-speed project has taken a step
forward after the state Public Works Board gave California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) approval to begin talks on land acquisition for the 209km Initial Operating Section (IOS) Stage 1. The approval concerns the section between Fresno and Madera. “By enabling us to begin making offers we are well on our way to starting construction this summer,” says CHSRA CEO Mr Jeff Morales. Five consortia were expected to submit their bids to CHSRA last month for the first construction package, which is worth $US 1.2-1.8bn. In a separate development, CHSRA and Amtrak are considering issuing a joint tender for up to 62 high-speed trains, 30 of which would be destined for California. A request for information from prospective suppliers was issued on January 17.
Mexico set for passenger rail revival?
originally planned to introduce the full service on December 9, but teething problems with the trains delayed the launch.
France
Synerail, the PPP consortium appointed by French Rail Network (RFF) in 2010 to install, operate and maintain GSM-R across 11,000km of the network has completed its first two projects. The consortium commissioned 48 base stations in December, which cover a total of 285km of lines around Maubeuge and in the eastern department of Doubs.
Germany
Abellio Rail has awarded Bombardier a ƒ172m contract to supply 35 class 442 Talent 2 emus for use on the Saale- Thuringia-South Harz network. The order comprises 15 five-car and 20 three-car trains, the first of which will enter service when Abellio takes over the operating
concession in December 2015. DB Regio has been awarded the contract to operate regional express services from Frankfurt to Aschaffenburg and Wurzburg via the Spessart line for 12 years from December 2015. Frequencies will almost double to one train per hour, and DB will order a fleet of new double-deck emus, which will provide a 25% increase in peak seating capacity on the route.
Israel
Communications and Transport (SCT) is to invite bids this year for concessions for a series of passenger rail projects, under proposals unveiled by the country’s new president Mr Enrique Peña Nieto. Options are currently being evaluated for an inter-city service between Mexico City
M IRJ February 2013
EXICO’s federal Secretariat of
and Querétaro, which could involve upgrading the existing 245km freight line, or construction of a completely new alignment, which would cost around $US 3.6bn. This line was previously electrified, although the catenary was removed following privatisation. New services are also
proposed between Mexico City and Toluca, and a link
between the states of Yucatán and Quintana Roo. The government has allocated a budget of $US 2.3m for studies on the latter project. In addition, a number of urban rail projects are set to benefit from federal support. These include Line 3 of the Monterrey Metro, a new mass transit system in Chalco, and an extension of the Guadalajara light metro.
The government has approved a Shekels 130m ($US 34m) investment in freight equipment with the aim of increasing railfreight volumes from 7 million tonnes to 13.5 million tonnes within five years. The move will allow the acquisition of 16 new diesel locomotives, expanding the freight locomotive fleet by 30%, and 162 second-hand wagons, which will allow Israel Railways to increase intermodal capacity by around 300 containers per day.
Portugal
Former public works, transport and communications minister Mr Antonio Mendonca says he believes his country made a “colossal error” in abandoning
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Photo: Keith Fender
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