Renfe confirms new business units S
PANISH national train operator Renfe has
approved the establishment of four new subsidiaries that will assume responsibility for its passenger and freight operations, rolling stock maintenance, and a new rolling stock leasing unit. The holding company will
remain state-owned, but foreign or private investment could be permitted in the new subsidiaries, namely the freight division, where the government is reportedly seeking to form a strategic alliance with German Rail. Renfe Travellers will continue to operate all of
ERMAN federal transport minister Dr Peter Ramsauer, the first minister of the German state of North Rhine Westphalia Mrs Hannelore Kraft, and German Rail (DB) CEO Dr Rüdiger Grube signed a ƒ1.5bn agreement in Bonn on July 24 to fund a major upgrade of the 73km line between the Dutch border at Emmerich and Oberhausen. The existing line has become a major bottleneck due to the
RENCH National Railways (SNCF) says a detached switch fishplate is likely to be the cause of the derailment of an inter- city train on July 12 at Brétigny-sur-Orge south of Paris in which six people died and 62 were injured. The derailment
Renfe’s passenger services, including the metre-gauge network formerly operated by Feve. Separate accounts for the loss-making services declared public service obligations and profitable long-distance and high-speed business will be established. A new rolling stock leasing company, Renfe Railway Equipment Rental, will also be set up with an initial fleet comprising 19 high-speed trains, along with conventional rolling stock including 22 dmus, 10 emus, and two Talgo-IV sets. It will also be allocated 49 locomotives and 1173 wagons.
growth in freight traffic between the Dutch port and the Ruhr area of Germany. The first stage of the project, which involved the installation of electronic interlockings at Emmerich, was completed last month. The section of 1.5kV dc electrification between Zevenaar East and Emmerich will be converted to the 25kV ac system used on the Betuweroute, bridging the gap for ac traction, and a third track will be constructed
In brief Australia
Renfe Travellers and Renfe
Freight will be obliged to lease Renfe Railway Equipment Rental rolling stock at market prices, and future open-access operators will also be able to lease any of its stock. Renfe Freight is made up of Renfe’s three previous freight subsidiaries, Irion, Contren and Multi. A fourth branch will be
responsible for maintenance activities. This was previously carried out by the Integria division after Renfe sold its stake in maintenance partnerships with rolling stock manufacturers as part of efforts to reduce its ƒ5bn debt.
Deal reached on €1.5bn Emmerich - Oberhausen upgrade G
between Emmerich and Oberhausen This will run parallel to the existing line for 46km, although 22km of the existing line will be completely rebuilt. The final 3km into Oberhausen will be expanded from three to four tracks, and the line will be resignalled with ETCS to shorten block sections. Existing loops will be extended to accommodate 750m-long trains and 55 level crossings will be eliminated.
Detached fishplate cited as likely cause of French derailment F
the coaches were last maintained on June 29. Similarly no mechanical defects were discovered on the two trains which passed through Brétigny-sur-Orge ahead of the derailed train.
occurred as the 17.14 Paris Austerlitz - Limoges with 385 passengers on board approached Brétigny-sur-Orge at 137km/h, below the 150km/h limit for the section of track. The rear part of the train derailed, mounted the platform and came to rest on parallel tracks.
SNCF says the detached fishplate was discovered in a switch 200m north of the
IRJ August 2013
SNCF carried out a national inspection of around 5000 switches over a two-week period following the accident. These
station. Damage to the rear wheelset of the third coach of the train appears to confirm the hypothesis that the fishplate (above) caused the rear part of the train to derail. Examination of the
locomotive and the derailed coaches did not find any mechanical abnormalities, and
include double diamond crossings with slip points, single diamond crossings with slips, and diamond crossings. President François Hollande
has ordered three enquiries into the accident: one by the Ministry of Justice, one by SNCF, and the third by the Ministry of Transport.
Mining company Brockman Australia has entered into an exclusive three-year agreement with railfreight operator Aurizon, which will develop and operate the rail infrastructure for the Marillana and Ophthalmia iron-ore projects in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. The agreement complements previous studies undertaken by Aurizon, Brockman and Atlas Mining into a proposed East Pilbara Independent Railway, and supports Brockman’s application for access to part of the Fortescue
Metals network. Liquidators have been appointed to wind up railfreight operator El Zorro Transport after the company incurred debts reportedly exceeding $A 10m ($US 9.2m). Most of El Zorro’s rail operations had already ceased following a financial dispute with major customer Cargill, for which it moved grain in the states of Victoria and New South Wales.
Austria
The total number of passengers carried on Austria’s railways increased from 244 million journeys in 2011 to 262 million last year, according to figures published last month by rail regulator Schienen-Control. However freight volumes fell to 112.5 million tonnes, compared with 118.6 million tonnes in 2011.
Britain
Passenger services have begun using the new £47m Hitchin flyover, which will carry London - Cambridge services across the busy East Coast Main Line (ECML) and eliminate conflicting movements through the flat junction. First Capital Connect is operating up to three services per day over the 2km single-track link in preparation for the start of full commercial
services in December. Transport for London (TfL) is to take over the operation of a number of suburban services from London Liverpool Street to Enfield Town, Cheshunt (via Seven Sisters), and
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