In brief
the Japanese government, which is also expected to provide loans for the project.
New Zealand
The board of national railway KiwiRail announced on June 7 that CEO Mr Jim Quinn is to stand down when his current five-year contract expires next February. Quinn was the first CEO of KiwiRail after the country’s railway infrastructure and rolling stock was bought back from Toll Holdings in 2008.
Oman
LA Metrolink orders Tier 4 diesels: Southern California Regional Rail Authority (Metrolink) has become the first US operator to place an order for diesels meeting the latest US EPA Tier 4 emissions standards, after awarding Electro-Motive Diesel (EMD) a contract to supply 20 F125 Spirit Locomotives. EMD says the 200km/h ac traction F125 is compliant with the US Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act’s 305-005 Next Generation Locomotive specifications and reduces emissions by 85%, compared with older Tier 0 locomotives. This is achieved through the use of a selective catalytic converter-only aftertreatment system and electronic fuel injection.
European operators back simplified ticketing D
URING a meeting in Spiez, Switzerland, last month, the CEOs of Europe’s major passenger operators agreed to back a joint project entitled “Full Service Model” which is intended to enhance journey information and simplify the booking process for European train and intermodal journeys. The CEOs agreed to run
the project jointly with ticket vendors associations, the European Technology and
ERBIAN Railways (ZS) president Mr Dragoljub Simonovic and Mr Sergey Pavlov, CEO of Russian Railways (RZD) subsidiary RZD International, have signed a $US 800m loan agreement which will finance the renewal of rolling stock and infrastructure in what is described as the largest investment in the Serbian network for decades. Under the agreement with RZD, ZS will contribute a further $US 100m towards the programme, which will be used to acquire an additional 27 class 711 dmus from Metrovagonmash, Russia, which will replace life-expired
IRJ July 2013
Travel Services Association (ETTSA), the European Travel Agents’ and Tour Operators Association (ECTAA) and the Guild of European Business Travel Agents (Gebta). The Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies (CER) will support the project in an advisory role. The project aims to make it easier for railways and third- party ticket vendors to display accurate and transparent data about available rail products
The Ministry of Transport and Communications has invited bids for a contract to provide project management services for the first phase of the 1061km railway network. In addition, 12 companies have submitted bids for the preliminary design contract.
Uganda
while respecting distributors’ commercial freedom. It will focus on identifying requirements for IT infrastructure to provide interoperable distribution of information to passengers with the intention of offering easier and faster access to travel information services from a wider range of sources. The project is expected to start in the autumn and is due to be completed by the end of 2014.
Russia to finance Serbian rail investment S
trains on secondary lines. The infrastructure projects funded by the loan will be implemented over the next five years and at least half of the work will be carried out by Serbian companies. Construction is expected to start in September on a 15km second electrified track on the Belgrade Vrsac - Romanian border line in the Pancevo area. The $US 65m project will include modernisation of the existing line and stations and a new bridge over the Tamiš river.
The Stara Pazova - Novi Sad line will be upgraded for 160km/h operation at a cost of around $US 392m. Feasibility
Rift Valley Railways (RVR) expects to begin test operation on the 330km line from Tororo near the Kenyan border to Pakwach on the northern shore of Lake Albert by the end of this month, 18 years after services were suspended. The $US 2m rehabilitation project has been carried out by Kato Contractors, Uganda.
United States
and environmental impact studies are currently underway and tender documents are due to be issued in the first half of next year. The average speed for passenger trains on the Belgrade - Novi Sad - Subotica line is currently 71km/h, although there are speed restrictions at seven locations varying from 20km/h to 50km/h. The upgrade is expected to reduce Belgrade - Novi Sad journey times by 40 minutes. To the south, $US 327m will be invested in the upgrading of the Belgrade - Bar line, and design work is due to begin shortly on this project.
Plans to extend Amtrak California Capitol Corridor services south from San Jose have received a boost after California Transport Commission approved an $US 18.1m investment in track improvements on the line to Salinas. The funding will support the initial phase of the $US 135.7m project, which involves extending services to Gilroy in 2018.
Correction
In the “Putting the brakes on hump yard noise” article (IRJ June p43) we should have stated that Elpa’s anti noise system Bremex Annsys Basic applies an environmentally- friendly composite material to the wagon wheel flange which comes into contact with the rail brake as the wagon passes the applicator. We regret the error. IRJ
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