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 22, 2015 | High-speed

JR Central orders more N700A Shinkansen trains

CENTRAL Japan Railway Company (JR Central) confirmed on October 22 that it will receive a further 20 N700A series Shinkansen trains between fiscal 2016 and fiscal 2019 to replace the last of its remaining 700 series sets, which will be withdrawn by the end of the decade.

October 22, 2015 | Track

Contractor chosen for Zagreb - Hungary upgrade

CROATIAN rail infrastructure manager HŽ Infrastruktura says it has selected a preferred bidder for a contract to modernise the 38.2km Dugo Selo - Križevci section of the line from Zagreb to Koprivnica and the border with Hungary near Gyékényes.

October 22, 2015 | Main line

HKX to serve Frankfurt from December

GERMAN open-access operator Hamburg-Cologne Express announced on October 20 that it will extend selected Hamburg - Cologne services to Frankfurt (Main) from the start of the 2016 timetable in December.

October 21, 2015 | Europe

Great Western electrification set to reach £2.5bn

NETWORK Rail (NR) CEO Mr Mark Carne told the British parliament's Public Accounts Committee on October 21 that the cost of completing electrification of the Great Western Main Line (GWML) has increased to at least £2.5bn and could reach £2.8bn.

October 21, 2015 | Middle East

Bombardier finalises Israeli electric locomotive contract

BOMBARDIER confirmed on October 20 that it has signed a Shekels 1bn ($US 262m) contract with Israel Railways (IR) to supply 62 four-axle Traxx ac electric locomotives with an option for 32 additional units.

October 21, 2015 | High-speed

Texas HS pre-construction contract awarded

TEXAS Central Partners has signed a $US 130m contract with Dallas to Houston Constructors (DHC), a joint venture between Archer Western Construction and Ferrovial Agroman to carry out engineering and pre-construction work on the proposed 385km Dallas - Houston high-speed line.

October 21, 2015 | Europe

Funding agreed for Oldenburg - Wilhelmshaven electrification

GERMAN federal minister for transport and digital infrastructure Mr Alexander Dobrindt announced on October 20 that the federal government has concluded a €423m financing agreement with German Rail (DB) for the upgrading and electrification of the line from Oldenburg to the North Sea port of Wilhelmshaven.