World Railway News Digest.... 28th March 2012

World Railway News Digest...
From these respected sources.....

International Railway Journal

SNCF to launch six-point travel guarantee FRENCH National Railways (SNCF) is to introduce on March 31 a six-point guarantee for passengers using its TGV and Intercity services. The travel guarantee is designed to meet SNCF's ambition to be "the reference" for customer relations and the first European transport operator to guarantee its services. The six commitments are based on recommendations by France's National Consumers Association.

Green to launch counterattack in battle for CP THE president and CEO of Canadian Pacific Railway (CP), Mr Fred Green, will today mount a counterattack against a campaign to oust him by Mr Bill Ackman, CEO of a US hedge fund called Pershing Square Capital Management which has a 14.2% shareholding in CP. Ackman believes CP is under-performing - its operating ratio of 81.3% is the worst of the six North American Class 1 railways - and he wants to replace Green with former Canadian National CEO, Mr Hunter Harrison. Network Rail selects four ETCS development partners BRITAIN's infrastructure manager, Network Rail (NR), has agreed framework deals with Ansaldo STS, Infrasig, Invensys Rail, and Signalling Solutions to develop and design ETCS Level 2 signalling and train control for use in Britain. Knorr-Bremse reports strong growth in 2011 BRAKE and component supplier Knorr-Bremse increased turnover by 14% in fiscal 2011 to Euros 4.24bn due to its "strong global position in the rail vehicle systems and commercial vehicles sectors."  www.railway-technology.com CN sells two Toronto region rail lines to Metrolinx Canadian National Railway (CN) has sold two rail line segments in the Toronto region to Metrolinx, the provincial agency that operates GO Transit for C$310.5m ($311.7m).                            Deutsche Bahn awards Bad Cannstatt tunnel contract to AlpineDeutsche Bahn has awarded a €290m contract to Alpine and its partners Hochtief and Wayss & Freytag to build the Bad Cannstatt tunnel as part of the Stuttgart 21 project in Germany.                            Crossrail's Canary Wharf station box completedCanary Wharf Group (CWG) has completed construction work on Crossrail's Canary Wharf station box in the UK five months ahead of schedule allowing tunnelling work to begin in 2013.                            Crossrail shortlists five firms for major tunnel fit-out contract Crossrail has shortlisted five companies for the £400m contract to design and provide track installation and equipment for London's new Crossrail network tunnels.        www.progressiverailroading.com (US Railroad news) FTA enables TEX Rail project to enter preliminary engineering stage Value of surface-transported trade between NAFTA partners jumped in January, BTS says Metrolinx acquires two CN track segments LIRR expands quiet-car program UTA to increase fares on April 1 Glen Ellyn joins UP's 'train town' registry Coalition promotes rail safety in California city March 28: Updates from FreightCar America, Axion, STV and Parsons Brinckerhoff