International & UK Railway News Wednesday 6th February 2013

International Railway Journal

CHICAGO Transit Authority (CTA) has invited bids for a contract to supply the city's next-generation metro trains, which will supplement the 5000 series sets currently being delivered by Bombardier and reduce the average age of the fleet to less than 10 years by 2022.

GERMAN intermodal operator Kombiverkehr is launching a total of 32 new services in the first quarter of this year to meet a significant increase in demand.

RUSSIA's Ministry of Transport says construction could begin on the country's first high-speed lines within a year, allowing commercial services to start in time for the 2018 soccer World Cup.


www.progressiverailroading.com US News

 

Capex in 2013: CN budgets $1.9 billion; major roads to collectively spend $13 billion

Transit saved 865 million hours of traffic congestion in 2011, TTI report says

Ceres Global, Cogent Energy to build BNSF-served grain and crude oil facilities

BNSF, Amtrak and Sound Transit work with Washington DOT to address recurring mudslides

EIA report: Crude oil surge, coal cut-back reflected in 2012 rail traffic

Twin Cities' transit ridership continued growth trend in 2012

Honolulu agency completes archaeological survey for transit-rail project

Rail supplier updates from Ansaldo, VMV Paducahbilt, Railinc, Kelso, Parsons Brinckerhoff, Gannett Fleming and Tideworks (Feb. 6)

www.railway-technology.com Updates

Downer EDI wins Gosford Passing Loops project in Australia Australia has awarded a A$93m ($97m) contract to Downer EDI Works to design and construct Gosford Passing Loops Project as part of the A$1.1bn ($1.14bn) Northern Sydney Freight Corridor project. 
      
Nobel Fire installs Stat-X fire suppression system on Eurostar trains
Nobel Fire Systems has installed its Stat-X fire suppression system on the Power Car section of Eurostar trains to protect passengers and rolling stock from fire. 
      
CN to invest $1.9bn on railway infrastructure
Canadian National Railway Company (CN) has revealed a plan to invest C$1.9bn ($1.9bn) in 2013 to maintain and upgrade its railway network and improve services. 
      
Network Rail to refurbish Battersea Rail Bridge in UK
Network Rail is planning to start a project in February 2013 to strengthen and repair Battersea Rail Bridge, also known as Cremorne Bridge, in London, UK.



Shedmaster Railway News

railwaygazette.com reports from Italy on the opening of the Milano Metro’s first driverless line ...


World Heritage & Railway News

www­.nrm.org.uk- The National Railway Museum is proud to be taking part in Climate Week, a national event from 4 – 10 March 2013 exploring how we can combat climate change.

 

 

 

 

Railway Engineering News

www­.railwaygazette.com reports from  TUNISIA that a consortium of Colas Rail, Siemens and local partner Somatra-Get has been awarded a €145m contract to build lines D and E of the Réseau Ferroviaire Rapide suburban network in Tunis....

www.railway-technology.com UpdatesLondon Underground steps up Victoria Line frequencyTRAINS on London Underground's Victoria Line are now running at 1min 49sec headways during peak periods to provide 33 trains per hour, which Transport for London (TfL) says is the most intensive train service in Britain.

 

Construction to start soon on Russian HS lines?RUSSIA's Ministry of Transport says construction could begin on the country's first high-speed lines within a year, allowing commercial services to start in time for the 2018 soccer World Cup.

Belgrano Cargas to remain under state controlTHE Argentine government has decided to make its takeover of Belgrano Cargas permanent in an effort to revive the fortunes of the flagging railway, which has seen once-healthy freight volumes plummet in recent years.

EU to co-finance Helsinki City Rail Loop studyTHE Finnish Transport Agency has secured match-funding worth €5m from the European Union's TEN-T Programme for further studies into the proposed Helsinki City Rail Loop.

Report recommends £12bn route for London’s Crossrail 2 A task force headed by Lord Adonis, a former British transport minister, recommends the construction of Crossrail 2 in London as a heavy rail link with through running onto existing suburban lines.

Vancouver Evergreen Line contract signedMAJOR construction works on Vancouver's Skytrain Evergreen Line are set to begin by the end of the month after the provincial government of British Columbia signed a finance-design-build contract for the $C 1.4bn ($US 1.39bn) project with the EGRT consortium, which is led by SNC-Lavalin.

London Underground steps up Victoria Line frequencyTRAINS on London Underground's Victoria Line are now running at 1min 49sec headways during peak periods to provide 33 trains per hour, which Transport for London (TfL) says is the most intensive train service in Britain.