About the author

Keith Barrow

Keith Barrow joined IRJ as News Editor in 2006 and was promoted to Associate Editor in 2008. He was previously editor of employee publications for the Welsh Assembly Government, G4S, and Thomsonfly, and has written for a range of other publications including the Derby Telegraph. He graduated from Lincoln University in 2002 with a degree in journalism.

October 3, 2017 | Europe

Tyrol and Bavaria to electrify cross-border line

A joint declaration of intent to electrify the 16km cross-border line from Reutte in Austria to Pfronten-Steinach in Germany was signed on September 29 by Mrs Ingrid Felipe, second deputy of the province of Tyrol, and Bavaria’s interior and transport minister Mr Joachim Hermann.

October 3, 2017 | High-speed

JR Central previews N700S Shinkansen train

CENTRAL Japan Railway Company (JR Central) previewed its next generation Shinkansen train, the N700S, on October 1, when journalists were invited to view a driving car bodyshell and interior mock-ups at the Nippon Sharyo plant in Toyokawa in Aichi prefecture.

October 2, 2017 | Freight

Network Rail to boost Ipswich - Felixstowe freight capacity

BRITAIN’s secretary of state for transport Mr Chris Grayling has approved a £60.4m project to construct a second track on part of the congested 19.5km branch linking the Great Eastern Main Line at Ipswich with the port of Felixstowe.

October 2, 2017 | Light Rail

Stockholm Tvärbanan reaches Sickla station

SERVICES on Stockholm’s light rail Tvärbanan were extended to the east on October 2 with the opening of a 600m extension from Sickla Udde to an interchange with the commuter rail Saltsjöbanan and local bus services at Sickla station.

October 2, 2017 | Freight

Lithuanian Railways fined €28m for obstructing competition

THE European Commission (EC) has fined Lithuanian Railways (LG) €27.87m for breaching EU competition law by removing a section of track on a cross-border link with Latvia to force a customer to continue using a more circuitous route.

October 2, 2017 | Light Rail

Seattle and Kansas City order CAF Urbos LRVs

SEATTLE Department of Transportation has awarded CAF a contract worth more than $US 50m to supply 10 three-section Urbos LRVs for the Seattle Streetcar network.

October 2, 2017 | Tony Berkeley

Rastatt was a disaster for rail freight. Let’s learn the lessons

The closure of a small stretch of railway line must never again lead to the chaos and wide-reaching economic damage of Rastatt, an incident which has directly exposed rail as the weak link within the integrated logistics chain. A strong transport supply system underpins vital trade relations between European countries and beyond, as well as local, national and European economies. Customer confidence in rail transport has also been damaged, jeopardising modal shift in the coming months and beyond. This must be rapidly restored if rail is to continue playing a key role in Europe’s sustainable transport system.

October 2, 2017 | Europe

Rhine Valley Line reopens after Rastatt repairs

GERMAN infrastructure manager DB Network restored through operation on the Karlsruhe - Basle Rhine Valley Line in the early hours of October 2 following the reconstruction of a section of the line at Rastatt, which was seriously damaged by a landslip on August 12.

October 1, 2017 | Africa

Cross-border rail links: the spark to ignite intra-African trade?

Trade between African nations is considered one of the continent’s great untapped economic opportunities, but poor cross-border connectivity continues to hinder growth. Keith Barrow reports from Cape Town on the potential role for rail in unleashing intra-African trade.

October 1, 2017 | Freight

French rail freight policy: that sinking feeling

In recent years SNCF’s rail freight activities have struggled against a tide of weak demand and strong competition. France’s Court of Auditors fears the time for action is running out, as Keith Barrow reports.