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 17, 2013 | Africa

Algeria issues tenders for rolling stock contracts

ALGERIA's Ministry of Transport has issued a tender for a contract to supply 17 standard-gauge dmus for Algerian National Railways (SNTF).

June 14, 2013 | Europe

DB secures Channel Tunnel access

AFTER three years of studies, the Channel Tunnel Intergovernmental Commission (IGC) has granted German Rail (DB) a 'Certificate B' operating licence to run passenger trains between France and Britain.

June 14, 2013 | Europe

Romania and Bulgaria open new Danube bridge

BULGARIA and Romania celebrated the completion of a new international rail link across the Danube on June 14 with the opening of the 1.97km bridge between Calafat, Romania, and Vidin, Bulgaria.

June 14, 2013 | Light Rail

New-generation Helsinki LRV unveiled

FINNISH minister of transport Mrs Merja Kyllönen unveiled the first of a new fleet of 40 low-floor LRVs for Helsinki City Transport (HKL) at Transtech's Otanmäki facility on June 13.

June 14, 2013 | Rolling stock

Thameslink train contract reaches financial close

BRITAIN's Department for Transport (DfT) confirmed on June 14 that it has reached financial close with the Siemens/Cross London Trains consortium on a £1.6bn contract to finance, supply and maintain the train fleet for London's Thameslink commuter network.

June 13, 2013 | Metros

Chengdu opens metro Line 2 extension

THE latest addition to the metro network in the Chinese city of Chengdu was inaugurated on June 8 with the launch of commercial services on the 8.7km western extension of Line 2 from Chandianzi Bus Station to Xipu.

June 13, 2013 | Keith Barrow

International trains: a regional response to a European problem

COMPARED with the spiralling Dutch-Belgian Fyra calamity, which continues to dominate the news, the first anniversary of a cross-border service between Austria and Italy is unlikely to generate many headlines. But the Villach – Udine Micotra service is worthy of attention because it offers some valuable insights into how closer regional co-operation could help international rail travel in Europe recover from years of retrenchment and decline.

June 13, 2013 | Metros

Jakarta metro civil works contracts signed

A ceremony was held at the headquarters of Mass Rapid Transit Jakarta on June 11 to mark the signing if the first three civil works contracts for the initial 15.2km phase of the city's metro network.

June 12, 2013 | Financial

ORR targets £2bn savings for Network Rail by 2019

BRITAIN's Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) published its 2013 Periodic Review of Network Rail (NR) on June 12, which sets out how the regulator expects how the infrastructure manager to reduce costs by £2bn during Control Period 5 (CP5), the 2014-19 funding period.

June 12, 2013 | Asia

Myanmar mulls Yangon - Mandalay upgrade

A team of Japanese consultants has completed a feasibility study for the proposed $US 1.7bn reconstruction of the 640km metre-gauge line between Myanmar's largest city Yangon and the northern city of Mandalay.