Posted on 30 August 2010 by Railways Africa Editor
A recently completed cost-benefit study on the $4.7 billion proposed Melbourne-Brisbane line found the project would have a negative net worth, even if construction were delayed until 2040 to allow for freight traffic demand to grow. “Inland Rail will not generate sufficient access revenue relative to costs to make it financially viable. The total nominal [...] [...more]
Posted on 20 August 2010 by Railways Africa Editor
A consortium of 13 coal companies has increased its bid for Queensland state railway assets by A$500 million to A$5.35 billion ($US4.8 billion), forcing the state government to rethink its planned floatation of Queensland Rail’s (QR) coal line network. The revised offer was delivered with a caveat – the government has two weeks to accept. [...] [...more]
Posted on 20 August 2010 by Railways Africa Editor
Iarnród Éireann (IE – the Irish state railway) has announced the four consortiums shortlisted for the €2.5 billion DART underground project – a 7.6km tunnel under Dublin city centre linking Docklands station with Heuston via Pearse with new stations at St Stephen’s Green and Inchicore. Listed by the Irish Times, the four are: BBI consortium [...] [...more]
Posted on 13 August 2010 by Railways Africa Editor
The first of 48 new trains for Wellington has arrived in the capital from South Korea. Manufactured by Hyundai they are the first new trains in 30 years. Wellington City Council says the investment will mean much improved reliability and comfort for travellers. “We’ve spent many, many months working on the design,” Greater Wellington transport [...] [...more]
Posted on 10 August 2010 by Railways Africa Editor
Australia’s Competition & Consumer Commission (ACC) has approved the sale of Freightlink’s Darwin to Adelaide railway business. It said the takeover by Genesee & Wyoming of the USA is unlikely to lead to a lessening of competition in the industry. The American firm will pay $334 million for Freightlink, whose main asset is the 2,250km [...] [...more]
Posted on 10 August 2010 by Railways Africa Editor
The first of an order for 1,067mm gauge DK class diesel locomotives made in China have arrived in New Zealand. See more on the website of the Forum of the Campaign for Better Transport: www.bettertransport.org.nz [...more]
Posted on 02 August 2010 by Railways Africa Editor
New Zealand transport minister Steven Joyce recently ridiculed attempts to introduce a commuter rail service from Hamilton to Auckland, suggesting helicopter transfers would offer a cheaper alternative. The issue arose when Hamilton-based MP Sue Moroney referred to a meeting in Te Kauwhata which attracted 65 rail-link supporters. Joyce responded by criticising the cost of the [...] [...more]
Posted on 25 July 2010 by Railways Africa Editor
The pending closure of Tasmania’s Bell Bay line has been averted. Cadbury Kraft is to use the line after it reopens from the end of September to transport imported cocoa from the port to its Hobart factory and to get block chocolate back to Bell Bay for shipping interstate, to New Zealand and Asia. Initially [...] [...more]
Posted on 25 July 2010 by Railways Africa Editor
Melbourne’s train concessionaire Metro has agreed that A$4 million in revenue be withheld in recognition of continued poor punctuality. The company is to implement a number of initiatives to boost performance, to better meet passengers’ expectations. Public transport minister Martin Pakula explains that the franchise agreement between Metro and the state enables the Victorian Government [...] [...more]
Posted on 12 July 2010 by Railways Africa Editor
Coinciding with International Level Crossing Awareness Day on 23 June, the final set of crossing booms was installed in South Australia in terms of an extensive upgrading project. Funding of A$150m came from a federal government programme. [...more]
Posted on 01 July 2010 by Railways Africa Editor
Up to 45 road deaths could be saved every year in Australia if 15% of “contestable” road freight were transferred to rail, with a potential saving to the nation of more than A$1bn. This is according to an article in the latest issue of the Journal of the Australasian College of Road Safety. Independent transport [...] [...more]
Posted on 01 July 2010 by Railways Africa Editor
The Western Australian (WA) state government has given approval for South Korean steel group Posco and Australia’s Hancock Prospecting to construct a 300km railway to haul across the West Australian outback for export to north Asia. The A$7.2 billion plan will connect the Roy Hill mine, about 110km north of Newman, with port infrastructure. In [...] [...more]
