WITH the United States' high-speed rail plans progressing, US secretary of transportation, Mr Ray LaHood, visited Italy today to learn more about the intricacies of the country's high-speed rail network.

SBB Cargo and the Swiss intermodal operator Hupac are forming a new traction company called SBB Cargo International for transalpine transit railfreight between Germany, Switzerland and Italy which will start operations at the beginning of 2011. SBB Cargo will have a 75% stake and Hupac the remaining 25%, with the possibility of other partners joining later.

ARRIVA Netherlands is set to expand its fleet of Stadler multiple units to 99 with the announcement that it has placed a Euros 140 million order for an additional 38 trains from the Swiss supplier.

STATE Railway of Thailand (SRT) says it will invite international bids to establish a locomotive assembly plant in Thailand as part of plans to renew its ageing fleet.

DELHI Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has awarded Bombardier a second contract to supply Movia metro cars for the rapidly-expanding network in the Indian capital. The $US 101 million order for 74 vehicles includes options for a further 40 cars.

PLANS for a cross-city rail tunnel under Dublin took a major step forward today when Irish Transport System (CIÉ), the holding company for Irish Rail (IÉ), filed a formal application for a railway order with the country's Planning Board.

RUSSIAN Railways (RZD) CEO Mr Vladimir Yakunin has approved the initial tranche of funding for Russia's first high-speed line. The Euros 10 million package will allow feasibility studies to begin on the 660km line from Moscow to St Petersburg, which will have a design speed of 400km/h and will reduce journey times from the 3h 45min achieved by today's Sapsan services to just 2h 30min.

RESHAPING Europe's railways to meet the economic challenges of the next decade, a greater role for the European Railway Agency, and the continuation of the Innotrack project were central themes at the 10th summit of European railway CEOs, which was held in Rome on June 26.

Three years after it was launched, the results and recommendations of Ferrmed’s global study detailing its great axis railfreight network are ready for consideration by the European Commission. Kevin Smith was at the 3rd Ferrmed Conference in Barcelona to hear insights into the project’s potential impact on future European freight transport.

 

A DELEGATION from the Mayoralty of Baghdad visited the head office of engineering consultancy Systra in Paris this week to discuss plans for the first two metro lines in the Iraqi capital. The delegation was lead by vice-mayor Mr Ibrahim Hussein, who was received by Systra managing director Mr Philippe Citroën for three days of talks on the project.