1. 25th February 2003, Canada, CN Rail says federal transportation 're-regulation' would be regressive

The federal government appears to be "on a path toward re-regulation" of the rail freight industry, an unnecessary step backwards that will undo the benefits of competition, Canadian National Railway says. CN argues that Canada has the lowest rail freight rates and the best service in the world as a result of industry deregulation that began in 1987.
Source: The Canadian Press

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2. 25th February 2003, UK, AMEC, RBoS sign 300 mln stg contract to extend London City Airport rail link

Amec PLC said it and its consortium partner Royal Bank of Scotland have signed the 300 mln stg contract, previously announced last August, with Docklands Light Railways Ltd to extend the railway to City Airport. AMEC said the deal involves a 30-year concession period and covers the design and construction of a 4.4 kilometre extension to the network and its long term maintenance.
Source: AFX UK Focus

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3. 25th February 2003, East China railways register record passengers flow

A record 23.8 million passengers have traveled by trains in east China in the last 40 days, a period covering the traditional Spring Festival or Chinese Lunar New Year, which fell on February 1. The bureau had handled a daily average of 595, 000 passengers, with the daily figure of 682,000 on the peak day.
Source: Xinhua News Agency

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4. 25th February 2003, UK, Rail authority backs Central as Virgin services are cut back

Birmingham-based Central Trains received a major boost yesterday in an overhaul of the region's rail services aimed at improving reliability and performance. The company will take over the sole running of services between Birmingham and Liverpool with an hourly 'supershuttle' service from September In the SRA's shake up, Central Trains will also run another shuttle service between Birmingham and Stansted Airport in Essex, as well as taking over a Wales and Border service running from Birmingham New Street to Cardiff.
Source: Birmingham Post

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5. 25th February 2003, UK, Passenger fears on rolling programme of rail cuts

More train services were axed yesterday by the government's Strategic Rail Authority, raising fears that a big programme of cuts is being announced in small lots. Dozens of services will change in September, some by switching to new operators, some by removing them from the timetable, and others by adding new trains. Virgin Cross Country, Central Trains in the Midlands, and South West Trains are the most affected franchises.
Source: The Financial Times

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6. 25th February 2003, Vietnam, Cross-country express railway planned

Vietnam will have the first north-south express railway in 2020 if the Government approves a master plan on building the modern train submitted by the Ministry of Communications and Transport. The master plan has been submitted and week envisages construction of the express rail west of the existing National Highway 1A, from Hanoi to HCMC. The ministry says the express 1.435-meter-wide rail will allow trains to run at the speed of between 200 to 350 kilometers per hour.
Source: The Saigon Times Daily

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7. 24th February 2003, China, KCRC to hike fares on East Rail by 2 hkd/trip over 4-yr period - Tien

Kowloon-Canton Railway Corp is looking to hike the fare for local rides on the East Rail to Lo Wu station by 2 hkd per trip, with the increase to be implemented over a four-year period. KCRC chairman Michael Tien said. On the other hand, the fare for a ride from the Lo Wu The news came two days after KCRC put out a promotional offer giving a 20 pct discount on the second ride taken on the same day by travellers using an Octopus card.
Source: AFX Asia Focus

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8. 24th February 2003, French railways faces rough ride (Les chantiers a hauts risques de la SNCF)

The board of directors of the French rail operator (SNCF) is expected to renew the appointment of its chairman, Louis Gallois, when it next meets. At the same time, however, there are rumours that Francis Rol-Tanguy, general manager of the group's troubled freight division, is to step down.
Source: Le Figaro

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9. 24th February 2003, US, Indiana Bill Tackles High-Speed Rail Funding

Euphoria surrounding the state's November decision to include Fort Wayne in its Chicago-to-Cleveland high-speed rail route was tempered by the realization no money had been provided to get the $1.12 billion project off the drawing board.

Unlike earlier versions, however, the bill as amended and passed by the House Ways and Means Committee does not actually guarantee a continuing source of funds -- a reflection of the state's budget problems, according to Rep. Jeff Espich, R-Uniondale.
Source: Knight-Ridder / Tribune Business

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10. 24th February 2003, China, Shanghai to Have 7800 Rail Vehicles

According to the information from the inaugural meeting of Shanghai Rail Transport Equipment Development Co., Ltd., Shanghai will own 7800 rail vehicles in the future, which accounts for more than 50% of the total amount China has already planned to construct. Meanwhile, 70%of the components and parts of these vehicles will be home made.
Source: AsiaPort Daily News

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11. 24th February 2003, China, Zhangzhou-Chaozhou Railway to Be Constructed in 2006

News from Zhangzhou City Municipal Government said that Zhangzhou-Chaozhou Railway Project had been listed as the key projects that Zhangzhou would scheme in 2003. It is said that Zhangzhou-Chaozhou Railway will be a sector of national coastal railway channel. It will run through the coastal parts of Fujian and Guangdong. The total length of the railway will be 204 kilometers. The operation length will be 251 kilometers and 149 kilometers will be in Fujian Province.
Source: AsiaPort Daily News

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12. 24th February 2003, Taiwan rail workers protest over planned privatisation; threaten action

At least 2,000 slogan-chanting rail workers have staged a sit-in at Taipei's main station, threatening industrial action over a government plan to privatise part of the national railway. Angry employees of the state-run Taiwan Railway Administration (TRA) gathered at Taipei's main terminus, calling for an end to the proposed transfer of services and equipment free of charge to an under-construction private high-speed network.
Source: AFX Asia Focus

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13. 24th February 2003, China-Pakistan rail wagon contract

China is to supply 1,300 railway freight wagons to Pakistan. A contract on this was signed between the two countries recently in Beijing. The first group of 420 wagons will be produced in China and delivered to Pakistan by the end of this year, while the remaining 880 wagons will be manufactured in Pakistan under Chinese supervision over next two years in a joint venture.
Source: Business Line

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14. 23rd February 2003, UK, Land Rover scraps plans for new rail link

Land Rover has dropped its plans for a pounds 40 million rail link between its Midland factory and the West Coast Main Line. The Solihull-based company, which is owned by Ford, said it had taken the decision in view of the 'present economic environment'. The on-off project was first proposed several years ago, but appeared to be back on track last October when Land Rover submitted a planning application to Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott.
Source: Sunday Mercury

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15. 23rd February 2003, Malaysia, Flood-prone rail stretches identified

Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd has identified 20 stretches of railway tracks in low-lying areas which are prone to floods.Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ling Liong Sik said remedial work would be carried out on these stretches to prevent train derailment. Dr Ling said KTM would work closely with the Public Works Department and the Department of Irrigation and Drainage in this matter.
Source: New Straits Times

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16. 22nd February 2003, Australia, Brake parts on line don't mean poor standards: State Rail NSW

State Rail has rejected claims that the discovery of train braking equipment on a suburban rail line indicates poor safety or maintenance standards. A section of brake pad and hoses were found on the Blacktown to Richmond rail line, but CityRail chief executive Howard Lacy said today there was no safety issue.
Source: AAP News

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17. 22nd February 2003, UK, Rail firm cashes in on fines remission

A turnaround in the fortunes of struggling commuter network South Central Trains helped Go-Ahead Group deliver a 56% surge in half-year profits to pounds 33m, despite continuing frustration from travellers about the reliability of the service. Go-Ahead, which runs three rail franchises, revealed that its profits from trains leapt from pounds 4.8m to pounds 14.6m, largely because of a renegotiation over penalty payments on its South Central network.
Source: The Guardian

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18. 21st February 2003, New Zealand, Tranz Rail subsidy cut again

Tranz Rail has again been punished for failing to maintain services. Wellington Regional Council announced yesterday that it was cutting its $1.38 milliona month subsidy by $208,000 because passenger numbers had fallen as a result of poor service. It is the second consecutive month that the subsidy has been cut.
Source: The Dominion Post

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19. 21st February 2002, Japan, Railway Operator Hankyu Braces for Larger Net Loss

Japan's Hankyu Corp. said it expects to post a group net loss of 89.2 billion yen in the year ending in March, a major downward revision from the previously estimated 13.3 billion yen in loss. The sales estimate was slightly lowered to 474.3 billion yen from 474.7 billion yen, said the Osaka-based railway company serving the Kansai region of western Japan.
Source: Jiji

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20. 21st February 2002, Nigerian Railway Corporation Loses N20 Million to Rail Workers' Strike

The North-West district of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) lost more than N20 million in revenue due to the three-month industrial action embarked upon by its workers. The railway workers, who started the nationwide strike in November last year to protest the non-payment of their salaries for close to eight months, demonstrated their grievance by blocking strategic railway tracks with rail wagons.
Source: Africa News Service

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