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.

December 16, 2016 | Rolling stock

DSB to withdraw troubled IC4 fleet

DANISH State Railways (DSB) announced on December 15 that it will phase out the fleet of AnsaldoBreda IC4 trains in 2024 as electrification enables the introduction of new EMUs to replace the troubled DMUs.

December 16, 2016 | Metros

Malaysian PM inaugurates Klang Valley MRT

MALAYSIA’s first heavy metro line was inaugurated on December 15, when prime minister Mr Najib Razak officially opened the first Phase 1 of the Klang Valley MRT Sungai Buloh – Kajang Line (Line MRT1) in a ceremony at Kwasa Damansara station.

December 15, 2016 | High-speed

First NTV Pendolino car revealed

THE first completed driving car for NTV’s new fleet of Pendolino tilting trains was unveiled at Alstom’s Savigliano plant in northern Italy on December 15.

December 15, 2016 | High-speed

Iran appoints high-speed rail consultant

IRANIAN Islamic Republic Railways (RAI) has awarded Italferr, the engineering subsidiary of Italian State Railways (FS), a contract worth around €12m to provide project management consultancy (PMC) services for the development of Iran’s first high-speed line.

December 15, 2016 | Africa

Work begins on Dakar TER project

THE president of Senegal Mr Macky Sall attended a ceremony on December 14 to mark the official start of works on the Dakar Express Regional Rail (TER) project.

December 14, 2016 | Policy

European Parliament adopts Fourth Railway Package market pillar

THE European Parliament voted to adopt the market pillar of the Fourth Railway Package at a plenary session in Strasbourg on December 14 in the final stage of a legislative process which will open Europe’s railway sector to greater competition.

December 14, 2016 | Freight

DB Cargo cuts 300 jobs in French restructuring

EURO Cargo Rail (ECR), the French subsidiary of DB Cargo, announced on December 8 that it plans to shed around 300 jobs as it seeks to restore profitability in the face of challenging market conditions.

December 13, 2016 | North America

More CRRC trains for Boston Red Line

MASSACHUSETTS Bay Transportation Authority’s (MBTA) Fiscal and Management Control Board voted on December 12 to order 120 additional metro cars from CRRC Corporation subsidiary CRRC MA at a cost of $US 280m.

December 13, 2016 | High-speed

Singapore and Malaysia sign high-speed rail accord

MALAYSIAN prime minister Mr Najib Razak and his Singaporean counterpart Mr Lee Hsien Loong witnessed the signing of a bilateral agreement at the Malayisan prime minister’s retreat in Putrajaya on December 13, which commits the two countries to complete the Kuala Lumpur - Singapore high-speed line within a decade.