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.

June 16, 2017 | Main line

Open tender for Jutland regional services

On June 12 the Danish parliament approved plans to issue an open tender for the operation of regional services in central and western Jutland for eight years from December 2020, with an option for a two-year extension.

June 15, 2017 | Commuter Rail

Go Transit electrification moves forward

ONTARIO Transportation Minister Mr Steve Del Duca visited Go Transit’s Willowbrook depot on June 15 to announce that the province has launched the Transit Project Assessment Process (TPAP) for the Go Rail Electrification programme.

June 15, 2017 | North America

Canada commits $C 1.28bn to Montreal REM

CANADIAN prime minister Mr Justin Trudeau announced on June 15 that the federal government will contribute $C 1.28bn ($US 960m) towards the $C 6.04bn cost of constructing Montreal’s Metropolitan Electric Network (REM).

June 15, 2017 | High-speed

Talgo train reaches 310km/h on Saudi HS line

TESTING of Saudi Arabia’s 453km Haramain high-speed line reached a milestone on June 15 when a Talgo 350 train reached 310km/h on the section between King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) and Medina, exceeding the maximum commercial operating speed of 300km/h for the first time.

June 15, 2017 | Asia

Shijiazhuang opens first metro line

SHIJIAZHUANG, a city of more than 10 million people and the capital of China’s Hebei province, opened its first metro line on June 14 with the start of trial passenger operation on the Yuan 17.3bn ($US 2.6bn) first phase of Line 1.

June 14, 2017 | Light Rail

Zhuhai opens first light rail line

COMMERCIAL operations finally began on the first light rail in the Chinese city of Zhuhai on June 13, more than two-and-a-half years after testing began on the 8.9km east-west line from Haitian Garden to Shangzhong.

June 14, 2017 | Freight

Britain - Poland intermodal service launched

P&O Ferrymasters and Polish logistics company Erontrans have launched a new intermodal service connecting Britain with Poland via Rotterdam.

June 14, 2017 | Rolling stock

Latvian government approves EMU procurement

LATVIA’s Ministry of Transport confirmed on June 13 that the cabinet has given national passenger operator Pasažieru Vilciens (PV) approval to proceed to the second stage of procurement of a new fleet of EMUs.

June 13, 2017 | Light Rail

De Lijn approves order for up to 146 LRVs

THE board of Belgian light rail operator De Lijn has approved an order for up to 146 CAF Urbos 100 low-floor LRVs following an appeal by Bombardier and subsequent re-evaluation of the bids.

June 13, 2017 | Commuter Rail

Testing begins on Mexico City - Toluca line

DYNAMIC testing began on the Mexico - Toluca interurban line on June 12, when a CAF Civity EMU ran under its own power at slow speed between Zinacantepec and Pino Suárez stations.