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.

May 25, 2018 | Policy

French government unveils SNCF debt relief plans

FRENCH prime minister Mr Édouard Philippe confirmed at a press conference at the Hôtel de Matignon in Paris on May 25 that the state will take on €35bn of French National Railways’ (SNCF) €47bn debt if unions allow the administration of president Emanuel Macron to move forwards with its rail reform programme.

May 25, 2018 | North America

New York to accelerate subway modernisation

NEW YORK City Transit (NYCT) president Mr Andy Byford unveiled plans for the modernisation of the city’s bus and subway networks on May 23, bringing forward major improvements to signalling and stations.

May 23, 2018 | Freight

International Contingency Management Handbook cements response to Rastatt

EUROPEAN railway infrastructure managers formalised a joint response to last summer’s Rastatt incident on May 16, when the International Contingency Management Handbook was unanimously approved at the Rail Net Europe (RNE) general assembly in Sopron, Hungary.

May 23, 2018 | North America

TexRail inaugurates Fort Worth depot

FORT Worth Trinity Metro celebrated a milestone for its TexRail commuter rail project on May 22 when the line’s train maintenance depot was inaugurated in the presence of the city’s mayor, Mrs Betsy Price, and Federal Transit Administration regional administrator, Mr Robert Patrick.

May 23, 2018 | Main line

KeolisAmey chosen for Wales & Borders franchise

THE Welsh government announced on May 23 that it intends to appoint KeolisAmey as Operator and Development Partner (ODP) for the Wales & Borders franchise and the South Wales Metro network.

May 22, 2018 | Main line

First Norwegian passenger concession to be awarded in October

THE Norwegian Railway Directorate confirmed on May 22 that the country’s first competitively-tendered concession for the operation of passenger services on the national network will be awarded in October, later than previously envisaged.

May 17, 2018 | Locomotives

RegioJet Traxx locomotives enter service

THE first Bombardier Traxx MS2E locomotive for RegioJet entered passenger service with the Czech open-access operator on May 16, working the 17.48 Prague Hlavní - Ostrava - Návsí service.

May 17, 2018 | Middle East

Gulf states eye private finance to fuel rail expansion

The oil price crash of 2014-2015 had a huge impact on government revenues of the petrostates of the Persian Gulf, forcing a rethink of ambitious rail development plans. Now private financing is gaining ground in the region as a means of pushing projects forward, as Keith Barrow reports from Dubai.

May 15, 2018 | Europe

First electric train to Blackpool

MODERNISATION of the Preston - Blackpool North line reached a milestone on May 14 when a Virgin Trains class 390 Pendolino EMU became the first electric train to operate under its own power over the 27km route.

May 15, 2018 | Rolling stock

Norwegian Stadler Flirt order to include bi-modes

NORWAY’s minister of transport Mr Ketil Solvik-Olsen confirmed on May 15 that the government will provide funding for state-owned rolling stock company Norske Tog to order 25 additional Stadler Flirt trains, including the first bi-mode sets, to meet continuing growth in passenger numbers.