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 26, 2013 | North America

MBTA orders more MotivePower/GE locomotives

MASSACHUSETTS Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) has exercised an option worth around $US 70m with Wabtec subsidiary MotivePower for an additional 13 HSP46 diesel locomotives, which will be used on commuter rail services in the Boston area.

June 26, 2013 | Europe

First trains run over Hitchin flyover

PASSENGER services have begun using the new £47m Hitchin flyover, which will carry London – Cambridge services across the busy East Coast Main Line (ECML) and eliminate conflicting movements through the flat junction, which had become a major bottleneck.

June 25, 2013 | Commuter Rail

TfL announces shortlist for Crossrail operating contract

TRANSPORT for London (TfL) has announced the shortlist of bidders for the concession to operate the 118km Crossrail east-west link across London, which is due to open in 2018.

June 24, 2013 | Main line

Leo Express carries 400,000 passengers in first six months

CZECH open-access long-distance passenger operator Leo Express announced on June 24 that it has carried more than 400,000 passengers in the six months since the launch of its full timetable on January 18.

June 24, 2013 | Asia

E&M contract awarded for Taiwan HS extension

TAIWAN High Speed Rail Corporation (THSRC) has awarded a consortium of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) and Toshiba the contract for trackwork and electrical & mechanical (E&M) works on the 9.2km extension of the Kaohsiung – Taipei high-speed line from Taipei Railway Station to Nangang.

June 24, 2013 | Light Rail

Bergen LRT extension opens early

THE second phase of the light rail network in the Norwegian city of Bergen was inaugurated on June 21, when Hordaland county mayor Mr Tom-Christer Nilsen and Bergen mayor Mrs Trude Drevlan officially opened the 3.6km extension from Nesttun to Lagunen station in the district of Rådal.

June 21, 2013 | Australia/NZ

More X'Trapolis trains ordered for Melbourne

PUBLIC Transport Victoria (PTV) has awarded Alstom a contract worth around $A 121.5m ($US 111.8m) to supply eight additional six-car X'Trapolis emus for the Melbourne suburban network.

June 21, 2013 | Financial

TMH and Tognum to set up Russian diesel engine plant

TRANSMASHHOLDING (TMH) has signed an agreement with Tognum, the parent company of MTU, to establish a joint-venture which will manufacture diesel engines for rail vehicles at a new plant in Kolomna in Moscow Oblast.

June 21, 2013 | Freight

Bulgaria cancels BDZ freight privatisation

THE Bulgarian Privatisation and Post-Privatisation Control Agency (PPCA) announced on June 20 that it has decided to cancel the privatisation of Bulgarian State Railways' (BDZ) freight unit BDZ Tovarni Prevozi, which has been delayed by a freeze on assets sought by a creditor.

June 20, 2013 | Africa

Morocco launches Fez – Oujda upgrade

KING Mohammed VI of Morocco formally launched the modernisation of the 354km Fez – Oujda line on June 19 during a royal visit to the city of Oujda in the northeast of the country.