News
Showing stories from November 2004
Kuranda train runs out of steam
JUST eight months after its launch, the Cairns to Kuranda steam train service in far north Queensland has reached the end of the line.
NSW: Committee stalls on making rail crossings safer
A NSW safety committee has stopped short of calling for a single agency to take responsibility for railway road crossings despite an average of five deaths a year in crashes between trains and motor vehicles.
Vic: Submissions on rail access regime released
Submissions on the reform of Victoria's rail access regime have been made publicly available, the Minister for Transport, Peter Batchelor said today [ Vic Govt Media Release 29/10/04]
Looking forward to 2018 - TransAdelaide's Strategy
Very interesting website on Transadelaide plans for the rail network in 2018.
Qld: Coal port draft ruling flawed, say analysts
A recent Queensland Competition Authority draft ruling could deter further private-sector investment in state infrastructure and erode crucial returns from government-owned businesses like Energex and Queensland Rail, analysts have warned.
Steam and steel fire this train driver's desire
A SHIRT and tie was exchanged for overalls yesterday afternoon as veteran engine driver Graeme Jennings guided an impressive restored R-class locomotive from Warrnambool to Melbourne.
Train disaster report delayed
THE final report into the Waterfall train disaster will not be released until the second anniversary of the accident, the NSW Opposition said toda
Gheringhap Sightings w/e 30/10/2004.
This weeks sightings of 105 have dropped by twelve trains on last weeks
sightings. The total sightings for the year to date are 5239 (3520 on day 304 last year).
Railpage Australia reaches 3000 registered users
Today at approximately 17:15 Railpage Australia reached yet another milestone. Today, we now have 3000 registered users, where a large percentage are active, regular users connecting on a daily if not weekly basis. Further, we have a high number of users posting in the forums on an hourly basis. Last week we reached over 700 posts in a single day.
Congratulations Railpage!
Girl killed in train accident, boy dies after falling from forklift
A young girl has been killed after being hit by a train at Boronia, in Melbourne's east.
NSW: Rail service 'basic right'
A spokeswoman for a local retirees' lobby group said cutting the Dubbo to Sydney rail service would be tantamount to depriving central western citizens of their basic human rights.
NSW: Rail cut rumours have no substance
Rail services across the Blue Mountains; they're an essential part of life for the region that over the years have been subject to more 'informed' rumour and speculation than probably any other Government facility.
Old Prospector dusted off to stand in for high-tech trains
The WA State Government is taking legal advice on whether to penalise the maker of Kalgoorlie's two new multi-million-dollar Prospector trains over a string of mechanical and electrical problems since they were launched in June.
(Article from The West Australian Newspaper - 2/11/04)
NSW: Train workers' union denies causing delays
Sydney rail passengers face further delays while unions, RailCorp and politicians argue about the cause of today's problems.
Melbourne Central station fire
Fire broke out in a cinema on the fourth floor of the Melbourne Central shopping complex in the heart of the city this morning.
Call to streamline bidding
The Victorian Property Council of Australia has called on the State Government to establish a "one-stop shop" to streamline the management of the growing number of public-private partnerships in the state.
In September, Leighton Holdings chief executive Wal King accused the State Government of imposing "expensive, onerous and unwarranted requirements" on private companies in PPP ventures. Mr King was reported as saying the Government had treated a partnership with Leighton to build the Spencer Street railway station as a "master-slave relationship".
News Flash! Ispwich Line Delays
News just in from Citytrain.
Good column from ARC Transport Committee chair pro public transport
Whether this quango has the power to force the issue in favour of rail against the NZ road lobby is moot. It looks like ARC is a 'coordinating' agency rather than a 'spending' one. But better than nothing, I suppose
Rail deal provides job security for Maryborough workers
Maryborough Mayor Barbara Hovard says a contract to build 72 new train carriages for the south-east Queensland rail network is very significant for the city.
NSW: Armidale/Moree trains saved - for now
CountryLink Xplorer passengers in Moree and Armidale were yesterday assured rail services would continue to run to Sydney for another four months.
NSW: Train rage grips state's worst line
The Daily Telegraph believes it has found the worst peak-hour train ride in NSW – one that is constantly late and on which regulars are now turning on one another like participants in a twisted reality TV show.
TV documentary shows rail 'flaws'
Britain's railway lines have been heavily criticised by experts in a BBC documentary being shown this week.
V/line losing passengers
V/Line passengers drop
The number of trips taken on rural train service V/Line slumped significantly last year.
Qld: Chaos, As Signal Failures Cause Delays On The Beenleigh Line
Signal failures on the Beenleigh line this morning caused delays of 90 minutes for rail commuters.
NSW: No 'quick fix' evident in rail dispute
New South Wales Transport Minister Michael Costa says commuters have an unrealistic expectation about how quickly the problems with late-running trains can be ironed out.
Vic: Heavy rain hits rail network
Melbourne's trains experienced delays this morning when heavy rain penetrated a junction box between Spencer Street and North Melbourne stations.
NT: Martin highlights Ghan shortcomings
The Northern Territory's Chief Minister says some people have had "pretty good reasons" to be unhappy with the Ghan passenger train running between Adelaide and Darwin.
Death toll rises from UK train derailment
A British high-speed passenger train has crashed into a car at a level crossing and flown off the rails, killing six people and injuring scores.
Gheringhap Sightings w/e 6/11/2004
Another drop in the number of sightings this week with 92 trains, which is 13 sightings down on last week. The total number of sightings for the year to date is 5239 (we had 3603 up to day 311 in 2003). A few trains may have been missing due to the Melbourne Cup holiday in Melbourne on Tuesday?
Six confirmed dead in train crash
Six people have died and 11 are seriously injured after a train hit a car on a level crossing in Berkshire, emergency services have confirmed.
Train barriers 'extremely safe'
The Berkshire fatal train collision happened at an automatic level crossing with half barriers on each side of the road, Network Rail said.
MAN RUN OVER BY TRAIN
AN ORMAND MAN 26, SUFFERED SEVERE ARM INJURIES AFTER BEING RUN OVER BY A TRAIN WHILE ON THE TRACKS AT GLEN HUNTLY RAILWAY STATION AT ABOUT 12:35AM YESTERDAY. IT IS BELIEVED HE MAY HAVE FALLAN FROM THE PLATFORM.
EMERGENCY SERVICES FREED THE MAN FROM UNDER THE TRAIN AND TOOK HIM TO THE ALFRED HOSPITAL.
THE MAN WAS IN A SERIOUS, BUT STABLE CONDITION.
South rail on track
The State Government has awarded a $32 million contract to John Holland Pty Ltd to build stations at Canning Bridge, Bull Creek and Murdoch.
Railcorp to train workers to deal with passenger abuse
New South Wales's Railcorp says training programs have been introduced to help staff cope with abuse from passengers who are angry about trains running late.
Palin on top
TV's favourite adventurer heads off through some of the most remote and rugged terrain on Earth en route to the Himalayas. Brian Courtis reports.
Michael Palin is pretty sure now it is an addiction. Television's best-known world traveller says his insatiable curiosity, the places on the map he still wants to visit, and his very real interest in other people's lives all suggest he will keep coming back for adventure.
Cop tried to prevent fatal train crash
AN off-duty police officer tried in vain to prevent yesterday's deadly crash of a 300-passenger train that hit a car at a rail crossing in southern England, police said toda
Auckland Council veers Left - Avondale-Southdown rail line to reopen?
Auckland City Deputy Mayor Dr Bruce Hucker will today point the council in a strongly left direction with a raft of social programmes spanning low-cost rental housing, educational help for immigrants and working closely with gay, lesbian and transgender communities.
Anti-nuclear protester run over by train in France
An anti-nuclear protester has died in north-eastern France after being run over by a train carrying nuclear waste from France to Germany, regional authorities said.
Candidate puts campaign to retain XPT service on track
Travellers had a chance to share concerns about rail services with The Nationals' Dubbo candidate Jen Cowley and Opposition transport services spokesman Mike Gallacher yesterday.
QR taxi bill hits taxpayer pockets
TAXPAYERS are meeting the cost of cab fares for Queensland Rail passengers stranded by cancelled and delayed train services.
Freight train crashes into abandoned car
Northern Territory Police say the freight train on the Adelaide to Darwin railway hit an abandoned car over the weekend.
No strike this week: train boss
RAILCORP chief executive Vince Graham today downplayed the prospect of a New South Wales rail strike this week over stalled negotiations for a new pay agreement.
NZ consider new locos
Toll NZ wants to build more rail equipment in New Zealand, including new locomotives. In his first interview since becoming Toll NZ's rail chief, Gary Taylor said yesterday the company was now considering options for new locomotives.
Vic: Late trains cost Connex $4.6 million
Train operator Connex has been hit with a record $4.6 million fine for again failing to meet service standards. It is the largest penalty dished out to a private train company in Victoria.
NSW: Rail staff hit $61m jackpot
Train drivers will earn more than police, teachers and nurses after the Carr Government rewarded days of commuter chaos with a $61 million bribe.
Development institute backs infrastructure calls
The Urban Development Institute of Australia has echoed calls for governments to act now to avert a future infrastructure crisis. A report has found there has been a lack of planning and money spent on rail, roads, water treatment and electricity.
NSW: Student exams avert rail action
Rail unions were to meet today to discuss the NSW government's pay offer as they ruled out strike action this week while HSC exams continue.
NZ: Te Rapa site for massive road and rail hub
Toll NZ is expected to confirm within days the timetable for work on a $25 million freight centre at Te Rapa in Hamilton.
CountryLink reservations to go online
NSW rail services provider CountryLink's adoption of online reservations will flow into a new ticketing system, a significant new outsourcing deal and an upgrade of its desktop systems.
Last stand for station
Historic Rupertswood station due to be demolished. One of rupertswood's train platforms will be demolished and the other decommissioned to make way for the regional fast rail project, cutting off salesian college from rail services.
Nuclear waste train reaches dump
A TRAIN carrying highly radioactive nuclear waste reached a German dump today at the end of a 600-kilometre odyssey from northern France clouded by the death of an environmentalist.
Innocent victims of train stupidity
COMMUTERS will be stranded at railway stations as early as next week as the Carr Government and rail unions refuse to give an inch in the wages standoff.
Bid to limit speed gauge
AUSTRALIAN-made cars would have speedos capped at 130km/h under a State Government plan to tackle the road toll.
Seymour (SRHC) Video
Having recently been on my first trip with SRHC, the Benalla trip, and also finding myself in the position where I actually ran out of DV video tape, I decided to my camera phone.
Fischer wants cameras on Stuart Highway
Former deputy prime minister Tim Fischer says safety cameras should be installed along the Stuart Highway between Port Augusta and Darwin.
Student exams avert rail action
Rail unions were to meet today to discuss the NSW government's pay offer as they ruled out strike action this week while HSC exams continue.
Unions NSW secretary John Robertson convened a meeting of union officials this morning to discuss the pay offer and a possible strike.
WA: Fortescue signs state rail deal
Iron ore start-up Fortescue Metals today said it had entered into a deal with the Western Australia state government for its planned open access rail line in the state's north-west.
Qld: Truckie dies in crash with freight train
Emergency crews are at the scene of a fatal accident involving a freight train and semi-trailer near Bowen in north Queensland.
US: Tentative map of California high speed rail route reviewed
California High Speed Rail Authority officials unveiled a tentative map of routes for the proposed statewide bullet train on Wednesday – a plan that includes a 120-mile, nonstop stretch between Bakersfield and Fresno.
UK: A more ambitious rail link to Glasgow Airport
The proposed rail link to Glasgow Airport will fail to accomplish its intentions as presently conceived. Certainly, it will be attractive to those living south of the river but its appeal will be small for the many on the north bank. Connections through Central low level station for any particular route are too infrequent and indirect.
Man dies in rail mishap
A man who fell asleep on the railway tracks just outside Alice Springs has died after being hit by a freight train overnight. Police say the 38-year-old was from a nearby community.
India to introduce highspeed train
The Indian Railways has announced plans to introduce bullet trains between Bangalore-Chennai and Mumbai-Ahmedabad. Minister of State for Railways, R Velu, said that a Japanese firm had been asked to prepare a feasibility study for the project by the end of the current financial year.
Alstom wins Valencia Metro order
Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat Valenciana (FGV), the public company that manages and operates the railway, metro and tram lines of Valencia region, has ordered 10 four-car trains for the Valencia metro from Alstom.
Eurostar 10 years old!
High-speed Channel Tunnel train company Eurostar celebrated its 10th birthday by announcing record passenger levels. Eurostar carried 641,957 passengers in October - a record figure for the month.
India Minister fare-evasion!!
state and his personal security guard were for travelling ticketless on a train. Awadh Bihari Choudhry, a member of federal railways minister Laloo Prasad Yadav's regional RJD party and a minister in Bihar's government, had to pay 1,412 rupees to avoid arrest.
NSW: Rail crisis latest: boss gets $15,000 pay rise
NSW Transport Minister Michael Costa today defended a $15,000 pay rise for RailCorp chief Vince Graham, saying he had a difficult job.
NSW: Train debate continues in AIRC
The NSW Government will today identify what issues it is prepared to negotiate in an attempt to halt a proposed one-day rail strike. The battle between train drivers and the Carr Government spilled into the Australian Industrial Relations Commission (AIRC) this week where conciliatory talks are continuing.
Rail chief says trucks must pay
The rail industry has reignited the transport funding debate, accusing big trucks of not paying their way. Stephen O'Donnell, chairman of the Australasian Railway Association, said car owners were effectively paying 40 per cent more than they should to subsidise the impact of long-haul trucks on Australia's highways.
Philippines: 10 dead as train falls into ravine
A speeding passenger train derailed and fell into a ravine in the northern Philippines early today, overturning several times and killing at least 10 people and injuring more than 118 others, officials said.
NSW: Rail chief not getting pay rise
Railcorp chief Vince Graham would not get a 4-per-cent pay rise awarded to senior NSW public servants, a government spokesman said today.
UK: Rail chiefs to demand payout over Edinburgh tram
Rail chiefs are set to demand compensation from Edinburgh City Council amid claims a tram project will threaten plans to build over Haymarket Station’s car park.
India: Train boss caught without ticket
THE transport minister of India's eastern Bihar state and his personal security guard were fined $41 each for travelling ticketless on a train, a report said.
Road jams: a $3bn bill
Tens of thousands of Melburnians will be telephoned at home and urged to adopt public transport as part of a new State Government effort to unblock the city's congested roads.
New Hitachi A train for channel tunnel
Hitachi announces that it has been selected as preferred supplier to deliver around 30 high-speed "A-trains" to operate domestic services on the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL) and local lines in Kent as part of the new Integrated Kent Franchise. Each train will consist of 6 coaches and will have the ability to rapidly couple to operate as 12 coach trains. Hitachi will also maintain the new trains, initially for the duration of the new Integrated Kent Franchise.
Swedish Railway record profit
Swedish passenger rail operator SJ has increased its quarterly profit by reducing costs 10%. Jobs have been cut and catering and cleaning have been insourced. Though revenue fell 2%, profit increased to SEK67m.
Train slams into water tanker
A PASSENGER train smashed into a water tanker at a level crossing in an Istanbul suburb today, killing the truck driver.
Bombardier news release of the new QRtrain
Bombardier Transportation and joint venture partner Australian train manufacturer EDI Rail have been awarded an order by the Queensland Government in Australia to build 24 three-car electric commuter trains. The contract is valued at approximately US$158 million (AU$212 million). Bombardier’s share of the contract will be US$74 million (AU$99 million).
Five die in stampede for train
FOUR women and a 12-year-old girl died and at least 10 people were injured in a stampede at the Indian capital's main railway station today as hordes of people tried to board a train, officials said.
Not all on board for Polar Express
Yesterday the year-long secret was revealed: this Christmas the Myer windows feature the theme of Chris Van Allsburg's children's book, The Polar Express, the story of a boy who boards a train bound for the North Pole.
Germany Railway DBAG result improves Slightly
German DB AG has improved its earnings after tax to -€54m, and revenue grew 4% in the first nine months of the year. Passenger-kilometers were flat at 52,1bn. Also, Chancellor Gerhard Schröder thinks it's a bad idea to break out the rail infrastructure from DB.
Gheringhap Sightings w/e 13/11/2004
This weeks sightings are up by six trains to 98 sightings for the week, the total sightings for the year to date is 5429 (3685 on day 318 last year). There were only 17 sightings on the B/G which included three visits from 9140 mixed goods from Mildura.
Train workers' strike fails to disrupt pageant services
TransAdelaide says it is pleased it was able to provide extra train services for Adelaide's Christmas pageant yesterday despite an ongoing strike by outsourced maintenance workers.
Spencer St shutdown
LATE-night train passengers will be hit by severe disruptions to speed up work on the troubled Spencer St station redevelopment
60 train services bypass stations
CITYRAIL is forcing more than 60 train services to bypass scheduled stops every day, leaving passengers stranded on platforms and trapping others helplessly on the train.
Thieves steal 10-tonne bridge
Thieves steal 10-tonne bridge
15nov04
A HUGE 10-tonne steel railway bridge has been stolen from near Darwin.
Fines for commuters who fail to buy tickets
NSW commuters were today warned they would be hit with $200 fines if they failed to buy train tickets as part of a "no pay day" to protest against poor service levels.
NSW: 60 train services bypass stations
CityRail is forcing more than 60 train services to bypass scheduled stops every day, leaving passengers stranded on platforms and trapping others helplessly on the train.
NSW: 'Don't pay day' causes headache for RailCorp
New South Wales's Labor Council says rail workers will support a commuter organised "don't pay day" on Cityrail trains planned for later this month for safety reasons.
Train hits level crossing barrier
A train with about 50 schoolchildren on board has crashed through a level crossing barrier in Lincolnshire.
Eurostar moves base to St Pancras
Eurostar services to London will stop at St Pancras, instead of Waterloo, when the Channel Tunnel Rail Link is finished in 2007, it has been revealed.
Qld: Tilt train derailment injures at least 79
At least 79 people were injured, one seriously, when seven carriages of a high speed train derailed in southern Queensland. Police said the Tilt Train came off the tracks about 12.15am (AEST, 1.15am AEDT) about 400km north of Brisbane, near the Queensland coastal city of Bundaberg.
Qld: Tilt train a 'twisted wreck', say ambos
The passenger train that crashed near the Queensland town of Bundaberg overnight was a "twisted wreck", a Queensland Ambulance Service spokesman said today.
Qld: Five seriously injured in Tilt Train derailment
At least five people have serious injuries after a high-speed train derailment in south-east Queensland. A Tilt Train service with 157 passengers and seven staff on board came off the tracks north of Bundaberg just after midnight.
Qld: 128 hurt in crash; five serious
More than 100 people were injured, five seriously, when seven carriages of a high speed passenger train derailed in Queensland early today.
ATSB Investigates Tilt Train Derailment Near Bundaberg
MEDIA RELEASE
2004/39
Tilt Train Derailment Near Bundaberg Queensland
16 November, 2004
At the request of the Queensland Government, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau has dispatched a team of Transport Safety Investigators to conduct an investigation into the Tilt Train Accident near Bundaberg which occurred in the early hours of 16 November 2004.
QR maintenance cut questioned
Queensland Rail should halt plans to reduce rail maintenance staff following today's train crash near Bundaberg, the state Opposition said.
Qld train accident investigation under way
Queensland Rail and the Australian Safety Transport Bureau (ATSB) have begun investigating the cause of a high-speed train derailment in south-east Queensland that injured 120 people.
Qld crash sparks Vic fast rail fears
The Victorian Opposition says the overnight train crash in Queensland should be a wake-up call for the Victorian Government's regional fast rail project.
Qld: QR track inspected hours before the crash
The track where a passenger train crashed in south-east Queensland today, injuring more than 100 people, was inspected just hours beforehand, rail authorities said.
US: Lionel Bankrupt!!
CHESTERFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. - Model train maker Lionel LLC filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Monday, citing a jury's ruling that it must pay a rival for misappropriating designs.
NSW: Talks hold off rail strike
NSW commuters appear to have escaped a strike by rail workers this week after the industrial court ordered unions and RailCorp back to the negotiating table in a last ditch effort to resolve the rail crisis.
Qld: Investigators comb train wreckage
The Queensland Government says there is no need to suspend the Tilt Train service at this stage, despite a derailment in central Queensland in which 120 people were hurt this morning.
WA strike hits Mandurah rail project
A strike by more than 280 workers has brought construction work on the Perth-to-Mandurah rail line to a standstill.
UK: London’s mayor to take over rail project
Mayor Ken Livingstone will today announce that he is to take control of the East London Line Project from the Strategic Rail Authority.
Qld: Union surprised by crash
The union for rail workers aboard Queensland's derailed Tilt Train said today the train had boasted one of the nation's highest safety standards.
Qld: Three investigations probe train crash
Three separate investigations are under way into yesterday's tilt train accident in central Queensland. The accident is being investigated by police, Queensland Rail and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB).
Qld: Opposition calls for freeze on QR cuts
Opposition leader Lawrence Springborg has called on Queensland Rail (QR) to freeze plans to cut 700 jobs until an investigation into the Tilt Train derailment is complete.
CA: CN, CP Rail have deal to improve network operations
Canada's two leading freight railways have taken more steps to share tracks and equipment to make them both more efficient.
US: Public invited to discuss study on high speed rail
The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation will host the first of three regional meetings in Newport News today to discuss a study on high speed rail between Hampton Roads and Richmond.
Indian Railways to to set up cyber cafes at 51 stations
The Railways have decided to set up Internet Cyber Cafes at 51 stations across the country in the current financial year under the aegis of the RailTel Corporation of India Ltd.
NSW: Audit slams rail system
The NSW rail system has been criticised for a $670-million line maintenance backlog and a rapid deterioration in trains running on time.
Vic: Rail crash miracle
A young girl and her mother walked away without a scratch after their car clipped a Melbourne to Warrnambool passenger train yesterday at Garvoc.
Fast rail system to link 8 Chinese cities
A plan to link eight cities in East China's Jiangsu Province with a fast railway network is under way, sources with the Jiangsu Provincial Construction Bureau say.
Qld: Rail accident report 'months' away
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) says it will probably take months to complete a report on yesterday's tilt train derailment in central Queensland.
UK: Orient Express to buy Royal Scotsman
Orient Express Hotels is buying the UK’s Royal Scotsman deluxe tourist train from L&R Group.
SA: Train spills flammable glue
Local ambulance and police officers, and about 25 firefighters, attended the scene of a leaking container on board a train at Port Augusta's Spencer Junction on Friday.
Tilt Train was speeding, QR says
Police and Queensland Rail (QR) have confirmed that the Tilt Train involved in a derailment in central Queensland this week was travelling more than 50 kilometres per hour above the speed limit when the accident happened.
NSW: The bitter stand-off ruining the railways
The father and grandfather of Bob Carr were train drivers. His Transport Services Minister, Michael Costa, the son of a train guard, once trained to be a train driver and was president of the train drivers' union. Costa's hand-picked rail boss, Vince Graham, is the son of a train driver, and started as an apprentice on the railways.
So why, with such impeccable pedigrees at the top, is our rail system in such a mess and the Government's relationship with train drivers at an all-time low? Perhaps some complex Freudian drama is playing out every time the 7.20 from Bankstown runs late.
NSW: Backlog of rail maintenance work balloons out to $680m
The backlog of maintenance spending on the state's creaking rail network has ballooned to almost $680 million. Most is in country NSW, where $596 million of maintenance work had banked up by June - $57 million more than last year, according to the NSW Auditor-General, Bob Sendt.
QR rejects call for tilt train speed limiters
Queensland Rail has rejected claims it should have equipped the state's tilt trains with a speed limiting device known as Automatic Train Protection.
UK: London rail plan delay deals blow to Olympic bid
Ken Livingstone, the Mayor of London, has had to abandon plans to build a rail line circling the capital in time for the 2012 Olympic Games.
UK: Snag to airport rail link
Glasgow's airport rail link could be held up by unexpected planning red tape.
Qld: Train strike threat in Tilt row
Train drivers were threatening strike action today, angry Queensland Rail had revealed details of the high speed a Tilt Train was travelling when it derailed on Tuesday.
Vic: Train and car collide in Melbourne
Several people have been injured in a collision between a train and a car near the Hampton railway station in Melbourne's south.
Vic: Train drags truck along tracks after collision
Ambulance paramedics are at the scene of an accident involving a train and a truck near the Hampton Railway station in Melbourne's south.
3 more Shinkasen lines near approval
New bullet train lines near green light
Prefectural haggling may delay 1.16 trillion yen three-way shinkansen project
Prospects look good for a ruling coalition proposal to begin constructing three shinkansen lines in fiscal 2005.
Canada: VIA dome car for sell
VIA Rail Canada Inc. is soliciting offers for the purchase of retired passenger railway rolling stock on an `as is and where is' basis including,
Philippines push for railway modernisation
Three lawmakers from Central Luzon said yesterday that the construction of a "modern, efficient and safe" railways system has "become absolutely necessary."
Vic: Spencer St Station rebuild two years behind
The passenger hub of the new Spencer St station will open to the public 753 days late. Work will not be finished on the project dubbed "Treasure Island" until December 22 next year, the Auditor-General said.
Qld: First train travels over crash site
The first train since Tuesday's Tilt Train crash in south-east Queensland has travelled over the accident site.
Qld: Possible law changes for rail investigation
Queensland Cabinet will consider on Monday whether state laws have to be changed to help the investigation into the cause of this week's Tilt Train derailment.
NSW: Fine day for no pay day
RAILCORP has vowed to fine tens of thousands of commuters who plan to protest by not buying a ticket on Monday.
NSW: Airport rail link settlement may run over $100m
A proposed $100 million Government settlement with the owners of the airport railway line may not be the last public money poured into the troubled link if Sydney's late-running trains are not brought up to scratch.
French rail takes on cheap flights
French railways took on low-cost, no-frills airlines yesterday with a high-speed train to shuttle internet-savvy urbanites between Paris and the Mediterranean for as little as £13 each way — plus extra for a massage.
QR meets train drivers to avert 24hr strike
Queensland Rail's (QR) chief executive officer (CEO) Bob Schueber will meet train drivers in Bundaberg today. They are threatening to hold a state-wide strike.
NSW: It's not our fault: rail workers
NSW rail workers took to the platforms today to hand out fliers explaining why they were not to blame for the city's train woes. Rail staff handed out 50,000 fliers to commuters at stations across Sydney, Wollongong and the Central Coast, claiming they were just as much victims of poor train services as the travelling public.
Vic: Girl struck at level crossing dies
A teenage schoolgirl was killed when she was hit by a train at a level crossing in suburban Melbourne this morning.
Qld: Lucas urges train drivers to stay on the job
Queensland Transport Minister Paul Lucas says industrial action by train drivers is unwarranted and unnecessary.
NSW: Rail commuters get free day
The NSW government today bowed to public and union pressure and announced a fare-free day on Sydney's train network on Monday.
NSW: Forcing Carr into giving us a fare go
One defiant woman threatening a day of civil disobedience, took on Premier Bob Carr – and won. Yesterday Rebecca Turner, The Daily Telegraph's Captain Commuter, brought the State Government to its knees, forcing Mr Carr to back her two-week campaign for a fare-free day on all Sydney trains on Monday.
Qld: Tilt Train services back on track
It is business as usual for Queensland's rail services, with Tilt Train services between Brisbane and Cairns resuming last night.
UK: Train times get worse in first month of new rail firm's reign
Trains in some parts of Scotland suffered their worst delays for years during the month after First ScotRail took over the franchise, according to figures to be published today.
NSW: Rail rebel vows to fight on
The 24-year-old legal secretary who forced the State Government into submission over tomorrow's free rail travel day has threatened more action if the situation does not improve.
Qld: Tilt train drivers 'sorry'
THE two drivers of a derailed tilt train have offered their "deepest sympathy" to injured passengers but have declined to discuss revelations the train was speeding. Queensland Rail has released "black box" data showing the train was travelling at almost twice the speed limit when it crashed.
SA: Derailed freight train narrowly misses homes
A freight train has derailed near a railway crossing in South Australia's Adelaide Hills, damaging a station platform and narrowly missing homes. One freight container has come off the rails near the on Main Road crossing, and several other containers are tangled up further down the line.
Gheringhap Sightings w/e 20/11/2004.
This weeks sightings are down by five trains to 93 sightings, that makes the total for the year to date at 5522 (last years sightings on day 326 was 3777).
Freight train derails in Adelaide Hills
The derailment of a freight train today in the Adelaide Hills would disrupt passenger services for about four days, authorities said today. A Pacific National freight train derailed at Belair, east of Adelaide, about 10am (CDT) today, causing damage to a train station and blocking a road but causing no injuries.
NSW: All stops out to fix rail chaos, says Carr
With free train travel today in Sydney, fixing the "atrocious" rail system would help revive the popularity of the State Government, says the Premier, Bob Carr.
SA: Derailment prompts calls to move rail line
There are calls to move a key rail line out of the Adelaide Hills after yesterday's train derailment.
UK: Regulator silenced over rail success
The British Government is putting pressure on the Strategic Rail Authority to keep quiet about the success of South Eastern Trains - the only rail franchise in state hands since Connex lost the licence a year ago.
United Goninan on track with China rail contract
United Group Limited (UGL) today said it has signed a $30 million deal to design and manufacture rail trains and platforms in China.
NSW: Illawarra high speed rail link vital
The best way to reduce unemployment and help the Illawarra job market would be to introduce a high-speed rail service to Sydney that would chop 10 to 20 minutes off the journey.
Czech pendolino record speed but late start
The Czech train operating company CD took delivery of the first two of seven tilting Pendolino trains last year, but they will not be put into service until next year due to problems the trains cause with the Czech signalling system.
Sweden/Norway international train to continue
The unprofitable trains between Norway and Sweden will continue to be run by Norwegian NSB after Linx is liquidated December 31st.
Succesful train services made airports close
Swedish airport authority Luftfartsverket wants to get out of two unprofitable airports because the towns they serve are well served by road and rail,
Chemicals in train cargo
A COCKTAIL of dangerous chemicals was among the freight on a train which derailed in the Adelaide Hill
Beattie to fast-track rail law
QUEENSLAND Premier Peter Beattie wants to fast-track new laws to protect anyone involved in an inquiry into last week's Tilt Train derailment.
Long fight ahead for NSW south coast residents
The South Coast Labour Council says today's rail free day on the CityRail network is only part of a campaign to fix the problems on the trains.
Rail passengers' anger remains
A FARE-free day on Sydney's troubled rail network today failed to ease the frustrations of long-suffering commuters.
Vic: All night public transport for Melbourne on NYE
TRAINS will run all night this New Year's Eve to avoid last year's shambles, when thousands of revellers were stranded.
NSW: Freeday in Sydney failed to placate commuters
A fare-free day on Sydney's troubled rail network failed to ease the frustrations of long-suffering commuters. Angry passengers said they would still rather pay for a punctual train than have the aggravation of waiting for a free one that's still running late.
Parents urge upgrade for killer crossing
The parents of two teenagers killed when struck by express trains on the same level crossing in Melbourne want an urgent safety upgrade at the site. David Bramwells, whose daughter Alana Nobbs, 15, was killed on the Centre Road level crossing near Bentleigh railway station on Friday morning, and Maureen Rainey, whose son Troy, 18, was killed six years earlier, spoke out today on the crossing's safety.
WA: Company urged to discuss dispute with rail construction workers
The company building the Perth to Mandurah railway expects more of its striking workers to return to the job today after issuing orders against them.
Vic: Rail smoke ban first
TRAIN travellers will breathe easier from March 2006 as railway stations become some of the first sites set for tough anti-smoking laws.
Vic: Melbourne trains fail safety test
An emergency braking system on Melbourne's trains that should activate if a driver loses consciousness is unreliable and should be replaced, an independent report says.
The need for a dependable safety system has also been underlined by a survey of Melbourne train drivers in which more than 60 per cent admitted having been in charge of a train while drowsy or inattentive.
Planning grant, 'Hub' approval
New South Wales Assistant Planning Minister, Diane Beamer, yesterday presented a cheque for $130,900 to Parkes Shire Council to assist in the preparation of a strategic plan for land use in the region over the next 20 to 25 years.
Derailment prompts calls to move rail line
There are calls to move a key rail line out of the Adelaide Hills after yesterday's train derailment.
A life's artful gamble
Veteran artist Robert Dickerson, 80, has had a life as rich as his paintings. The old Antipodean granted Louise Bellamy a rare interview.
Tourism awards aplenty for Limestone Coast
The Limestone Coast has collected a swag of accolades at the South Australian Tourism Awards, announced in Adelaide on Friday night.
Vic: Deaths haunt driver
"ROB" wanted to be a train driver from the time he was six. He joined the railways as a junior clerk at 15. His father was a railwayman, a shift electrician in the old manual sub-stations.
Vic: Forced to live with gruesome reality
WHEN the moment comes, the man in the driver's seat is not much more than a spectator. It takes time to stop a six-carriage train weighing more than 300 tonnes.
Vic: Train drivers battle for trauma compo
TRAUMATISED train drivers being used by suicide victims as unwitting executioners are being denied compensation for pain and suffering.
Vic: Friends, relatives farewell train accident victim
Distraught relatives and friends have farewelled a 15-year-old Melbourne schoolgirl, who was killed when she was struck by a train at Bentleigh last week.
NSW: Rail network key challenge
SYDNEY'S defective rail system was the NSW Government's main challenge, Premier Bob Carr said today.
NSW: Work starts on $6m rail crossing bridge
Construction has begun on a bridge at a rail crossing near Gerogery, in southern NSW, where five young men were killed in a traffic accident nearly four years ago.
NSW: Rail cuts report out today
The findings of a New South Wales parliamentary report into rail cuts on the NSW north coast will be released today.
Work starts on $6m rail crossing bridge
Construction has begun on a bridge at a rail crossing near Gerogery, in southern NSW, where five young men were killed in a traffic accident nearly four years ago. The $6 million bridge on the Olympic Highway is the next phase of the Five Mates Crossing project.
Mayor sets rail plan in motion
Dubbo City Council will call on local governments along the Western XPT rail line to join forces and fight for better passenger services in the bush.
Two arrested at schoolies gathering
Two youths have been arrested in the Western Australian seaside town of Dunsborough after windows and a surveillance camera at the local police station were smashed.
Slab thrown through police window
A MAN and a youth have been charged following an overnight incident in which rocks and a concrete slab were thrown through a police station window in the West Australian holiday town of Dunsborough.
Ballarat rail line to be renamed
THE Ballarat rail line will be renamed the Eureka Line to mark the 150th anniversary of the Eureka uprising. Premier Steve Bracks announced the name change at the Ballarat Railway Station yesterday as part of a visit by the State Cabinet.
New deal could fix ailing rail network
AFTER months of strife for NSW rail commuters, the Carr Government is close to a breakthrough deal with unions aimed at averting threatened statewide strikes and putting chronically delayed services back on track. Four days of intense negotiations between senior union officials and a specially appointed government troubleshooter have led to a two-stage agreement on pay and work practices that both sides hope can fix the state's beleaguered rail network.
Another train, another country
The adventure has already started and I haven't even reached Central Station. "The country platforms?" the cab driver asks. "Yes," I reply, trying to hide the excitement in my voice. "The country platforms."
Major rail accidents in Australia
A chronology of some of the major railway accidents in Australia:
Our state tourism award winners
REGION - The Fleurieu Peninsula has fared extremely well after the 2004 SA Tourism Awards were held at the Adelaide Convention Centre on Friday.
Study shows rail suicides on rise
A STUDY of rail-related fatalities has found the suicide rate has dramatically increased in the past decade while the number of accidental deaths was down.
Train drivers battle
for trauma compo
Living with gruesome reality
Deaths haunt driver
Wambo rail link gets green light
COMMISSIONED in 1998 the Jerry's Plain rail line extension from Wambo Coal to the Warkworth Development Project rail loop has finally been given the green light to proceed.
NSW Rail cuts report released today
The findings of a New South Wales parliamentary report into rail cuts on the NSW north coast will be released today.
United Kingdom. State-run rail more punctual
Britain's only publicly run train franchise is outperforming its private competitors in both punctuality and customer satisfaction, putting pressure on the Government to keep it in the public sector
Ireland. New station for Dublin docklands
Work is due to commence new year on a new railway station in Dublin's Docklands. The station, which will be located between the IFSC and the Point Depot, will be used by trains from lines to the west of the city.
Hong Kong metro set to expand
Hong Kong's underground rail operator, MTR Corporation, has made its fourth attempt to expand into Britain by taking a 29 per cent stake in a joint venture to bid for a commuter and high-speed train franchise.
USA. Alstom secures contract for Washington Metro
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) has awarded Alstom an order worth US$187 million (€150 million) for the supply of 120 heavy rail subway cars.
Kenya. World Bank supports rail privatisation
The World Bank will spend US$77 million (Sh6 billion) to prepare Kenya and Uganda's railways corporations for a privatisation programme scheduled to begin next year.
United Kingdom. 35 hour week for Tube staff
All-night Tube services on New Year's Eve have been agreed by workers under a "groundbreaking" deal to give them a 35-hour week.
Canada. Bombardier wins Madrid Metro contract
Bombardier Transportation has received two orders worth C$161 (€104 million) million to supply an automatic train control system to the Madrid Metro.
Belgium. Rewards for regular rail users
The Belgian government has promised low fares and free parking to regular train users.
United Kingdom. Rural rail review launched
Transport Secretary Alistair Darling warned that "we can't be in the business of carting fresh air around the country" as he launched a review of rural rail services.
Canada. SNC-Lavalin selected for Vancouver
Montreal-based engineering firm SNC-Lavalin Inc and British firm Serco have been selected to build a major mass transit system in the Vancouver area, although it still requires approval from the B.C. government.
VIC: Log on at railway stations
COMMUTERS may soon be able to surf the web, get the latest news and even play games against each other while waiting for a train.
The shameful neglect of our railway epicentre
If Melbourne is to show a happy face, Flinders Street Station will need a lot of work, writes Alan Atwood. ONE night recently I was gazing across the Yarra from the south side of Princes Bridge. I was admiring the view, especially the venerable Flinders Street Station all lit up, when I remembered the music I once heard seeping out of the building.
Fledgling rail deal
A new shipping company has struck a one-off deal with NT railway owner-operator FreightLink to shift more than 60 Chinese freight containers from Darwin to Adelaide next week. But Hai Win Shipping director Frank Guerra told the Northern Territory News yesterday a vital long-term deal with FreightLink was yet to be struck.
Train death man still unidentified
A MAN killed by a train in Sydney's west six weeks ago has still not been identified, police said today.
Carr's transport strategy goes off the rails
Sydney's population grows by almost 1000 a week but the train system is at a standstill, the buses crawl at horse-and-buggy pace through the CBD, and the transport duo, Costa and Scully, are implacably opposed to light rail. It's enough to make an urbanite weep. The Government's successful policy of urban consolidation has not been matched by a workable public transport policy.
First Shanghai shipment due in Darwin
The operator of the Darwin to Adelaide railway says it is confident a trial Shanghai to Darwin shipping service will become a permanent trade route.
12 killed in Indon train smash
A PASSENGER train slammed into a mini-van on Indonesia's Java island today, killing 12 people and seriously injuring another, a radio report said. The collision occurred near Padaharja village in Central Java, about 200km south-west of Jakarta, Captain M Sahri was quoted by radio Elshinta as saying.
Driver dearth spurs train cancellations
Metropolitan train cancellations jumped alarmingly last month compared to September, with frustrated commuters forced to put up with an average of 23 cancelled trains a day. Connex said 712 trains were cancelled last month because of continuing driver shortages, faulty trains and vandalism. In September, 478 trains were cancelled.
QLD: Train driver charged with failing to supply breath test
Queensland Rail says there was no risk of a collision when a freight train stopped for no apparent reason south of Mooloolah train station on the Sunshine Coast.
Govt, industry forecast trade route success
The Northern Territory's Chief Minister says Darwin is on its way to becoming an international port with the arrival of the first Shanghai to Darwin shipment over the weekend.
Drivers warned to keep watch for grain vehicles
Police in country New South Wales have warned drivers not to try to overtake wide vehicles being used for the grain harvest.
Speeding train kills 16 in central India
At least 16 people have been killed in central India when they were run over by a speeding train after getting off another train on a parallel line, authorities said.
Gheringhap Sightings w/e 27/11/2004
This weeks sightings have dropped by another seven trains with 86 for the week, the total number of sightings for the year to date is 5608 (last years sightings on day 332 was 3855).
Talks fail to resolve rail problems
Talks aimed at resolving the dispute over pay and conditions on the New South Wales rail network have broken up for the day without a resolution.
Unions' Eureka trip derailed
A PLAN to bring hundreds of workers by steam train to Ballarat for Eureka Stockade celebrations has been derailed.
VIC: Spencer Street closes
COMMUTERS were turned away from Spencer St Station last night as builders attempt to fast-track the troubled project.
VIC: Spencer St holiday row
Builders rushing to finish the behind-schedule Spencer Street Station redevelopment will stop work for two weeks over Christmas, despite requests from construction firm Leighton Holdings that the Government close the station at night because it needs more site access.
VIC: Govt rejects claims fast rail budget off track
The Victorian Minister for Transport, Peter Batchelor, has rejected Opposition claims the regional fast rail project is well over budget and cost blowouts will continue.
Rail yard $400m boost
TOWNSVILLE'S old north railway yard is to be transformed into a $220 million residential, commercial and retail precinct, providing a $400 million economic boost to the CBD. Transport Minister Paul Lucas announced the signing of a development deed between Queensland Rail and a consortium led by Townsville developer Honeycombes yesterday, signalling a go-ahead for the ambitious project.
Cold freight rail service to stay
Small business owners in south-west Queensland have been reassured by Queensland Rail that they will not lose their cold freight service. The Member for Warrego, Howard Hobbs, raised the issue in the final sitting of State Parliament for the year.
Manganese mine promises NT economic boost
A new manganese mine north of Tennant Creek is expected to inject about $70 million a year into the Northern Territory economy.