I am going to try to update international news every once in awhile and will change title but leave thread intact.
1. The second bore of the Gotthard tunnel was broken thru on March 23. For some reason route will not be in full service until 2016.
2. Spain is converting Albacete - Almansa from wide guage to standard guage on previously installed dual guage sleepers (crossties).
3. A 2 track 1 wide guage (do not know if it outside standard) track being built from Alacant. Appears that Spain is going to slowly retire their wide guage equipment as it wears out.
4. ERA has almost completed approval of distributed traction train sets in the channel tunnel.
5. East London tube extension now in service.
6. MOU between China and Iran to supervise building 8 lines of over 1000 miles of rail line including a line from Iran - Azerbasian - Russia.
blue streak 1 I am going to try to update international news every once in awhile and will change title but leave thread intact. 1. The second bore of the Gotthard tunnel was broken thru on March 23. For some reason route will not be in full service until 2016.
Finish installing the tunnel lining, install track, install drainage, install cantenary, install signaling and train safety equipment, and then thoroughly test everything.
2. Spain is converting Albacete - Almansa from wide guage to standard guage on previously installed dual guage sleepers (crossties). 3. A 2 track 1 wide guage (do not know if it outside standard) track being built from Alacant. Appears that Spain is going to slowly retire their wide guage equipment as it wears out.
The above two items are part of the project to complete High-speed AVE access to the Alicante area of the Spanish Mediterranean coast. I don't expect to see the Iberian Broad-gauge disappear in my lifetime.
The ERA (European Railway Agency) has issued an official ruling that the IGC (International Government Commission) has no basis to prohibit Distributed Traction trainsets from the Channel Tunnel. It is now up to the IGC to change their rules, if they don't the ERA will likely take them to court.
5. East London tube extension now in service. 6. MOU between China and Iran to supervise building 8 lines of over 1000 miles of rail line including a line from Iran - Azerbasian - Russia.
Look for a push to extend standard gauge access along the coast from Barcelona to Valencia beginning in the next year or so. Ford has stated that Logistics costs are too high at the plant at Silla, Spain (Valencia) due to the need to tranship parts and autos because of the gauge differences, and they will be force to relocate the plant out of Spain.
Thanks for the international updates!
Regarding Iberian broad gauge, I am somewhat sorry to see Spain increasingly moving to "standard" gauge. While I understand the benefits of standardization, it seems like Spain could do more to take advantage of the natural advantages of the broader gauge (more room in both freight & passenger cars, given the much larger loading gauge, stability, etc.). Given systems for gauge-changing axles on-the-fly (such as Talgo's), the break-of gauge problem really isn't a technological one.
On the other hand, except for the early-generation Talgos, I'm not sure that Spain ever took full advantage of the broader gauge, I remember travelling there in the late '60's and throughout the '70's, and it seemed like only the Talgo II's and Talgo III's really took advantage of the extra width. Most of the rest of the equipment I saw then was standard Western European equipment on broader trucks (with axle-mounted equipment, such as axle generators, actually sticking out from under the cars!).
Dragoman Thanks for the international updates! Regarding Iberian broad gauge, I am somewhat sorry to see Spain increasingly moving to "standard" gauge. While I understand the benefits of standardization, it seems like Spain could do more to take advantage of the natural advantages of the broader gauge (more room in both freight & passenger cars, given the much larger loading gauge, stability, etc.). Given systems for gauge-changing axles on-the-fly (such as Talgo's), the break-of gauge problem really isn't a technological one. On the other hand, except for the early-generation Talgos, I'm not sure that Spain ever took full advantage of the broader gauge, I remember travelling there in the late '60's and throughout the '70's, and it seemed like only the Talgo II's and Talgo III's really took advantage of the extra width. Most of the rest of the equipment I saw then was standard Western European equipment on broader trucks (with axle-mounted equipment, such as axle generators, actually sticking out from under the cars!).
3 % of the freight tonne-km in Spain move by rail. Of that 3%, 25% moves on the meter gauge FEVE network in Northern Spain. The cost of fancy gauge changing railcars is just too high for freight service. There are three good-sized Intermodal terminals just on the French side of the border, at Hendaye, at Le Boulou, and at Perpignan. Some some of the freight that leaves Spain by road travels by rail after it leaves Spain.
Pretty remarkable facts.
But, isn't most of the upgrading to standard gauge being done on -- and for -- the major AVE passenger lines?
But, I guess it would make sense, to some typical government bureaucrat using backwards-looking instead of forward-looking analysis, to say "Heck, with only 3% of our freight going by rail, why bother focusing on improvement to freight rail routes."
Dragoman Pretty remarkable facts.
I would have said Dismal.
€ 337 million was spent to create the standard gauge link from Figueres (current end of HSL) to the Port of Barcelona. Only use is by freight.
Couple of factoids to chew on; Much of Spanish railfreight is limited to train lengths of 450 meters because of short passing loops. The new Barcelona to France link allows 750 meter long freights.
Estimated cost to ship freight by rail from Port of Barcelona to French border and then transfer containers to standard gauge € 4700 for a 16 car Intermodal freight (about 450 meters worth). Estimated cost to ship the same amount of freight via the new standard gauge route as part of a 750 meter long freight € 684.
Also I mentioned Ford's threat to move out of Valencia without a standard gauge freight connection to France. The loss of about 2,000 jobs will get politicos attention.
Beaulieu: Correct my memory if I am wrong but isn't the plan to dual guage the present wide guage line for standard guage freight to/from France - Barcelona? Is it planned to do this after the HSR line is in service from France to Barcelona?
blue streak 1 Beaulieu: Correct my memory if I am wrong but isn't the plan to dual guage the present wide guage line for standard guage freight to/from France - Barcelona? Is it planned to do this after the HSR line is in service from France to Barcelona?
No, there is no such plan. In my opinion it is the sensible thing to do, or just convert the classic line to standard gauge when the current passenger stock needs replacing.
7. China and Vietnam RR anounced the start of several items. A resignaling project including almost 1000 miles will take place in Vietnam. More importantly 2 routes Hanoi - Lao Cai meter guage (china border) and Hanoi Deng Dang mixed guages (also china border) as part of resignaling project will be converted to standard guage. Also resignaling includes CTC, increased speeds (of course), double tracking, and electrification. This project will complete about 2016 and certainly extend China's influence further south beyond their border.
Also there is preliminary MOU to extend standard guage in Cambodia to Vietnam. Cambodia has engaged in talks with China to standard guage its tracks to Vietnam as they retire the Bamboo expresses.
8. BHP Billiton has completed 126Km of its 285 Km heavy haul iron ore line to double track. (don't know if is doing this linearly or at various locations. Expects full double track by end of 2012. Part of the double tracking is installing cab signaling with removal of CTC signaling.
9.Findland RRs (VR) is buying 12 Power double deck coachs. These will be added to each end of their present double deck intercity trains to allow for push pull operation and removal of locos (motors?) from these trains. As well 15 double deck dinning cars are being purchased to add to these trains to provide full meal service verses cart only service. 13 additional power cars and 11 additional dinning cars are on option. With this order and not counting the options that will give VR a total of 219 double deck coaches, 15 dinning cars, and 20 DD sleeper cars.
10 Netherlands (NS rail) has equipped 100 out of 360 intercity trains with WiFi. They expect to complete all routes and trains by Dec 2013.,
11. Japan RRs (mainly Japan East) reported the other day that about 55% of the Shinkasen (bullet trains) trackage was in service and about 50% of conventional main lines are back in service ( mostly narrow guage). No figure on secondary lines. Have said that this out of service track is hindering getting supplies to the earthquake victims. Evidently not too many pipelines for petroleum products.
12. German Rail (DB) has suspended awarding of contracts and suspended construction where feasible for the Stuttgard HSR from STU -- Stuttgard airport- Wendling - ULM. This include a new 12 meter below ground thru station that was to be built under the present Stuttgard HFB stub end station. This is a result of the election returns throwing out present government of the region. /There was much debate over the whole cost that has rising to double first estimates.
blue streak 1 8. BHP Billiton has completed 126Km of its 285 Km heavy haul iron ore line to double track. (don't know if is doing this linearly or at various locations. Expects full double track by end of 2012. Part of the double tracking is installing cab signaling with removal of CTC signaling.
Not sure you got this right.... Do you mean they are putting in cab signalling and removing wayside intermediate block signals? Or, maybe the distant and home signals, too? - although I don't know anywhere in the US where this is done. Or are they replacing the CTC with computer based train control (super - PTC)?
-Don (Random stuff, mostly about trains - what else? http://blerfblog.blogspot.com/)
oltmannd blue streak 1: 8. BHP Billiton has completed 126Km of its 285 Km heavy haul iron ore line to double track. (don't know if is doing this linearly or at various locations. Expects full double track by end of 2012. Part of the double tracking is installing cab signaling with removal of CTC signaling. Not sure you got this right.... Do you mean they are putting in cab signalling and removing wayside intermediate block signals? Or, maybe the distant and home signals, too? - although I don't know anywhere in the US where this is done. Or are they replacing the CTC with computer based train control (super - PTC)?
blue streak 1: 8. BHP Billiton has completed 126Km of its 285 Km heavy haul iron ore line to double track. (don't know if is doing this linearly or at various locations. Expects full double track by end of 2012. Part of the double tracking is installing cab signaling with removal of CTC signaling.
Don I agree but found a reference that you can read yourself and you tell me??/? Look at about Pg 4 -6/.
http://www.westernrails.com/West_Aust_Railscene_e-Mag_issue_number_129.pdf
blue streak 1 9.Findland RRs (VR) is buying 12 Power double deck coachs. These will be added to each end of their present double deck intercity trains to allow for push pull operation and removal of locos (motors?) from these trains. As well 15 double deck dinning cars are being purchased to add to these trains to provide full meal service verses cart only service. 13 additional power cars and 11 additional dinning cars are on option. With this order and not counting the options that will give VR a total of 219 double deck coaches, 15 dinning cars, and 20 DD sleeper cars.
The twelve Doubledeck cars for VR in Finland are cab cars so that certain Intercity passenger trains can be push-pull. They are not powered.
13. JR East announced all lines would be repaired by the end of this month. (we will see). Regular service is another matter with the shortage of 50 Hz electricity. JR east's franchise covers Tokyo west to the west coast and then the complete island north and northeast of Tokyo .
JR East announced that all west coast and mid island lines to the north end of the island has been repaired (says a lot about how robust those lines were built. Service is curtailed due to the above power shortage.
14. Australia --- We are aware of the North East area of Australia that has had severe flooding and shutdown of most rail service helping cause a world wide shortage of met coal.. Not as well known is the flooding on ARTC route that the Indian Pacific travels from Adelaide - Perth. Feb 23 the line was flooded out from Cook - Kalgoorlie in many places. That land is very flat with ballast washed out with the eastbound Indian Pacific stopped somewhere east of Kalgoorlie and then returned to Perth.
From what I read many freight trains were stabled (held) at many locations. This line uses off duty crews that ride on crew cars on many of the trains. For many reasons crews were out of place and many had to be flown or dead headed in crew car trains to various locations to pick up trains after ROW repaired and the line put back in service sometime after March 3rd.
Adelaide surburban service has ordered 22- 3 car EMUs (110Km/hr [70 MPH] top speed) that will seat 240 passengers with 300 standees.The surburban service is having 25 Kv 50 Hz CAT installed with first line Noarlunga - Seaford to be completed by 2013 at the time for first EMUs to be delivered. 3 Other lines will follow with total CAT 120 Km by 2016. Additionally they are going to convert 54 DMUs to EMUs ( That shoud be interesting!!). 16 DMUs left will not be converted to operate on non electrified line(s).
15. EU trust busters raided the German DB offices looking for anti-trust violations of their near freight monopoly. Caused stock market prices to drop somewhat.
blue streak 1 15. EU trust busters raided the German DB offices looking for anti-trust violations of their near freight monopoly. Caused stock market prices to drop somewhat.
A little clarification of this item, the EU anti-trust people were looking for evidence that DB Netze Energy was selling electricity to DB Schenker cheaper than to the Open Access operators. The three largest open access freight operators, SBB Cargo, Captrain (SNCF), and ERS Railways formed a Coop to buy electricity on the open market, and so they no longer buy traction power from DB Netze, however there are many smaller operators who have no choice. In 2010 19% of all trains operated over DB lines where operated by someone other than DB.
Beaulieu: Thanks for the clarification. What I read did not mention the electric anti trust items. The instant nature of electric generation and consumption makes it ripe for mischief. Remember Enron?
Here are some of the 2010 results for European railways;
Deutsche Bahn Group
Revenue was up 17.3% to €34.4 billion EBIT was up 10.7% to €1.9 billion
Passengers were up 2.2% to 1.95 billion passenger-km were up 2.4% to 78.6 billion
Freight was 21.8% to 415.4 million tonnes while tonne-km were up 12.6% to 105.8 billion
Schweizer Bundesbahn Group
Revenue was up 5% to 3.5 billion CHF- EBIT was down to 509.3 million CHF
Passengers were up 6% to 347.1 million passenger-km were up 5% to 17.5 billion
Freight was up to 73 million tonnes while tonne-km were up 12.3% to 13 billion
Interesting facts; the average kilometer of SBB track will see 95.4 trains per day, this is the highest regular railroad utilization rate in the world (not counting urban transit). SBB provides 25.4% of all transportation service in Switzerland. One in three Swiss workers will use the SBB or BLS to get to work.
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