News
Showing stories from May 2004
Train hits minibus; nine dead
A TRAIN hit a minibus as it was trying to cross a railroad line, killing nine people and injuring 15, an official said today.
Launch date set for new Prospector train
The new state-of-the-art, high speed Prospector train will come into service on June 28, Planning and Infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan announced today.
Bookings for the new Perth-to-Kalgoorlie train open on Monday, May 17.
Passenger train returns to Stratford after 11 years
A passenger train has arrived in Stratford in Victoria's Gippsland, for the first time in almost 11 years.
City rail services returning to normal
Trains across the Sydney metropolitan area are beginning to return to normal after most services were brought to a standstill following a malfunction within the rail network's communication system.
Software leaves Sydney commuters stranded
Tens of thousands of Sydney commuters were delayed or stranded yesterday when most services ground to a halt after the rail network's communication system failed. Crowds choked platforms with passengers left to endure lengthy delays, even after RailCorp said it had fixed the problem.
Tranz Rail invests in driver training
Tranz Rail is having to invest in training new train drivers because not only is its equipment ageing, so is its workforce.
Greens and farm lobby on same track over rail issue
They're strange bedfellows but the Greens and farming groups are content to cosy up on opposing rail branch line closure. The rural hamlet of Greenthorpe played host to NSW Greens MP Lee Rhiannon and the NSW Farmers' Association this week as they bonded over branch lines.
No More Millennium Trains: Costa 3/5/2004
RAILCORP would not go ahead with the third tranche of the troubled Millennium trains, the New South Wales Government said today.
Cracked track causes rail chaos
Sydney train travellers were delayed by up to 40 minutes across the metropolitan network today because of a cracked rail.
Sasser eyed over train outage
NSW TRAINS authority RailCorp has sent in software engineers to find the source of the outage that left up to 300,000 commuters stranded yesterday, saying the new Sasser worm, which has already spawned two variants, is being evaluated as a possible cause. A RailCorp spokesman confirmed that software engineers were investigating the problem, which prevented drivers from talking to signal boxes. A virus attack was one possibility being investigated, he said. RailCorp was unable to confirm when the investigation would be complete.
WA: Woman dies after mystery train fall
The mysterious death of an elderly woman passenger who fell from the Indian Pacific train has sparked two separate inquiries into the tragedy. Safety procedures are meant to prevent passengers from opening the carriage doors during a journey. The woman disappeared from a Perth-bound train on Friday after it crossed into WA.
Geelong: Mulder queries train deal
Tuesday, May 4
DANIEL FOGARTY
THE State Opposition is demanding to know why the Government is yet to renew a contract with Geelong's West Coast Railway for the Warrnambool train service.
Shadow Transport spokesman Terry Mulder said the Government had been negotiating the contract since November 2002 and questioned why it had taken so long.
NSW: Now it's official: this train is truly a lemon
By STAVRO SOFIOS and MATT SUN May 4, 2004 SYDNEY'S fault-riddled Millennium train was officially declared a lemon yesterday – after barely 15 months on the tracks. The State Government axed its contract to buy any more of the trains after manufacturer EDI tried to get an extra $22.6 million out of taxpayers. However taxpayers should not feel pleased – $658 million was spent on the Millennium – $100 million more than the public was first told.
EDI allowed to join Millennium train replacement bid
The makers of the dumped Millennium trains would be allowed to bid to provide their substitute, NSW Premier Bob Carr said.
Bairnsdale Reopening - A day out.
The news that Bairnsdale was to re-open was all that was needed to convince the parents to take me there. It was an enjoyable day. Warning, this is actually part of my english essay! Please excuse off topic parts.
NSW: One killed in NSW train derailment
At least one person has been killed and a number of people trapped after a train derailment in north-western New South Wales earlier tonight.
AWU to campaign against train contract cancellation
The Australian Workers Union (AWU) has vowed to stage a campaign to lobby the New South Wales Government to reconsider cancelling the third stage of the Millennium trains contract.
WCR to hand back Warrnambool service before 2006
West Coast Railway says it is likely it will continue to run passenger services to Warrnambool, after its contract runs out next month West Coast director Don Gibson says it looks like the current contract will be extended, but the company will hand the service back to the Government sometime before 2006.
Greens join farmers to save rail branch lines
In what must be an historical day in NSW politics the NSW Greens and the NSW Farmers Association have joined forces to campaign against the Carr Labor Government.
Mining giant chooses QR to build coal railway
Queensland Rail has won a lucrative contract to build the longest train line in the state since 1983.
Toll NZ launched today
Tranz Rail Holdings will be known as Toll NZ from today, reflecting the name of its majority owner, Australia's Toll Holdings.
Lismore seeks rail closure legal advice
Moves to stop the New South Wales north coast rail line from being dismantled have turned to the courts, with Lismore City Council investigating its legal options.
Cardiff airport rail link to open in 2005
A rail link to Cardiff International Airport will be up and running by next spring, the assembly government has confirmed.
Italy wants France to share cost of rail link
Italy will push France to help build a EUR12 billion rail link between Lyon and Turin, Transportation Minister Pietro Lunardi of Italy said in an interview published Tuesday.
Countrylink to Suffer under Labor
Member for Albury, Mr Greg Aplin and Member for Wagga Wagga, Mr Daryl Maguire, are calling on the community to get behind them to retain local CountryLink rail services.
End in sight for XPT Countrylink services?
The Nationals Member for Myall Lakes, John Turner, said the proposed rearrangement of timetabling for the Countrylink train service out of Taree south in the dead of night is the backdoor way of cancelling services.
End of line for ex-MP train perks
Former politicians have been stripped of their entitlement to luxury train travel and they will no longer be able to have a meal on the taxpayer on long-haul journeys.
France and Italy agree €12.5b alpine rail tunnel
Paris yesterday added to Silvio Berlusconi's pleasure at becoming the longest-serving prime minister in postwar Italian history by agreeing to co-fund an ambitious 52km tunnel under the Alps that will link Lyons with Turin and extend the high-speed French rail network into northern Italy.
Business leaders back Amtrak funding request
Business leaders formed a coalition on Wednesday to back Amtrak's request for a record $1.8 billion in federal subsidies, saying a functioning passenger rail network is important to the economy.
VIC: Train chaos anger
AN electrical fault on a city-bound train sparked transport chaos in the southeastern suburbs yesterday.
Police name train crash victim
Narrabri police have released the name of a woman who was killed when her car collided with a train at Baan Baa, just south of Narrabri.
Railpage Australia Releases Live Help!
Been browsing the site and encountered an error? Got questions, but no answers? Look no further! Railpage Australia has released "Live Help"; click on the icon just below the left menubar to be put in touch instantly with one of our helpdesk operators. If no operators are online, you will be able to leave a message.
Man faces court over Indian-Pacific drug find
A man has appeared in court following the seizure of $170,000 worth of marijuana on the Indian-Pacific train.
Residents protest train cuts
Tweed Heads and Murwillumbah residents turned out in force yesterday to protest against cuts to northern New South Wales rail services.
Vic: $50m station blowout for Spencer Street
WORK on the Spencer St station revamp is six months behind schedule and the cost could blow out by more than $50 million.
Greens say deal will force more rail closures
Greens' MP Lee Rhiannon says the major political parties have joined forces in a deal that will result in more railway branch line closures, causing massive job losses in regional New South Wales.
Bomb sniffer tests rail riders
The US government began screening rail passengers for explosives at a suburban station near Washington, D.C., yesterday to test technology aimed at halting train bombings.
ALP told to fix rail crossing dangers
The NSW Nationals have called on Premier Bob Carr to make one Minister responsible for railway crossings after the tragic death of a Baan Baa woman at the town's railway level crossing on Tuesday.
Rail Link Restored in Adjara
According to the Georgian Railway Company the rail link between Adjara Autonomous Republic and the rest of Georgia was restored on May 6.
Man free after train trap
A MAN who fell onto railway tracks was trapped under a train at a western Sydney station for nearly three hours today.
Tas: Tram's route hits poll hurdle
A POLL of Hobart residents shows just 40.5 per cent approve of a waterfront tram project.
Tram interference claim
ANTHONY RADFORD Tuesday, 4 May 2004 A CITY of Greater Bendigo councillor last night claimed political interference was behind his failure to gain support for abandoning the council's plan to extend the tram line around Lake Weeroona. Whipstick Ward councillor Kevin Gibbins accused Bendigo's two state politicians of pressuring mayor Greg Williams and chief executive officer John McLean into silencing him over the issue.
Govt derails Kalgoorlie-Esperance train plan
The Western Australian Government has dismissed a proposal to trial the old Prospector train between Kalgoorlie-Boulder and Esperance.
SA: Wharf railway line an option
A RENEWED focus on rail has grain-handling company Ausbulk looking closely at Eyre Peninsula's rail infrastructure including options to extend the rail onto the wharf at the Port Lincoln silos. The company's discussions centre on how to accommodate longer trains, which would mean less shunting and facilitate faster unloading.
Geelong: Freight fight takes its toll
A WRANGLE between Australia's two biggest rail operators threatens the expansion of Geelong's freight network. Geelong's $5.1 million dual-guage rail link to Lascelles Wharf, promised two years ago, cannot begin because the line's owner, Freight Australia, will not grant the State Government access to the line.
Truckies win back freight percentage
THE new Adelaide to Darwin rail link has increased competition with road transport in the north or Australia and the truckies are fighting back. Damaged and late goods are causing a shift from rail to road transport and trucking companies report a 15 per cent trade upswing since the "Steel Snowy" opened. Hailed as Australia's last great rail project, the first train on the $1.3-billion, 3000km, Adelaide to Darwin AustralAsia railway debuted on January 15. http://countryman.thewest.com.au/20040429/cm-home-sto124082.html
J103(SSR) & Gheringhap Sightings
Gheringhap Sightings are now back up to date except "Last Week"'s sightings which I am still working on and should be updated by tonight.
NT rail service wins major construction award
The Alice Springs to Darwin Railway has beaten a field of major construction projects across the country to win the Australian Construction Achievement Award.
Blues down Pies after final quarter charge
Carlton kicked six goals to one in the final quarter to scorch to a nine-point come-from-behind win over arch-rivals Collingwood at the Melbourne Cricket Ground this afternoon.
Leaked memo reveals rail closure: Nationals
The New South Wales Nationals say a leaked memo from the Rail Infrastructure Corporation (RIC) has revealed the Government is going to close four major grain rail lines.
Vic: $1.6m rail blow
MELBOURNE public transport companies have been fined a total $1.6 million for delivering sub-standard services.
Push to extend light rail to Quay
An extension of Sydney's light rail network is almost certain to go ahead with a new $200 million link taking passengers up and down George Street from Central Station to Circular Quay, new Lord Mayor Clover Moore said.
Going, going till it's all Ghan in rail sale
All leftover equipment from the construction of the Alice Springs to Darwin railway line will go under the hammer from tomorrow. Auctioneer Andrew Maros said the four-day sale was a good chance to pick up a bargain among the more than 3500 lots up for grabs.
Turkey begins work on rail tunnel under Bosphorus
Construction work began on a US$2.5 billion project to build a rail tunnel under the Bosphorus Strait that flows through Turkey's biggest city Istanbul.
Cootamundra RIC jobs under threat
Up to 200 jobs in Cootamundra and the surrounding area have come under threat in a deal struck between the Rail Infrastructure Corporation (RIC) and the Commonwealth Government's Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC).
Development of urban rail transit speeds up in China
With the development of urban rail transit, on the one hand, it is promoting the process of urban modernization, alleviating congested traffic in cities, and narrowing the distance between time and space. On the other hand, it changes the way people travel, accelerates the pace of their life and work, and affects the quality of life.
Govt starts removing northern rail services
The New South Wales Government has begun removing services on the rail line between Casino and Murwillumbah in north of the State, a week before the end of passenger rail services.
Rail line closed after train collides with car
The Adelaide-to-Melbourne rail line was closed last night after a car was left on the track, south-east of Adelaide.
Train workers find WWII bomb
THE main train station in the eastern German city of Leipzig was evacuated today after construction workers unearthed a 75-kg US World War II-era bomb nearby.
Armidale line future could hinge on new freight project
The Armidale to Tamworth rail line is about to reopen to regular freight traffic for the first time in many years.
Spain could privatise rail network
The Spanish government has raised the possibility that the state rail network, Renfe, could be privatised.
Labor MP calls on govt not to dismantle rail line
The Labor Member for Tweed is hoping to convince his government not to tear up the rail line between Casino and Murwillumbah.
10 Days in Melbourne
A story about my 10 day holiday to Melbourne.
Swiss tram revival gathers momentum
Investment in trams is booming in many European countries including Switzerland where new track is being laid in the cities of Zurich, Basel and Geneva. On May 16 voters will have their say on a new SFr153 million tramline serving a western suburb of the capital, Bern.
Coffs Harbour joins fight to save rail line
The push to save the Casino to Murwillumbah XPT from closure this weekend has now extended to Coffs Harbour.
Victoria urged to use sale to promote rail network competition
There has been a call for the Victorian Government to use the Freight Australia sale to promote competition on the State's rail network.
WA: Vandals target jetty train
RECENT vandalism directed at the Busselton Jetty's train service has raised fears by Busselton Jetty Management Committee executive Len Boyling that unless the culprit is caught someone could get hurt. Mr Boyling said that the jetty had experienced ongoing vandalism for the past 18 months but a recent spate of damage to the train system was a deliberate attempt to sabotage its operations.
Mayors take rail closure protest to Parliament
A final effort will be made today to save rail services on the Casino to Murwillumbah line on the northern New South Wales north coast. Local mayors from the region will take their protest to State Parliament.
Still no start date for Ballarat-Ararat rail services
Transport Minister Peter Batchelor is still refusing to say when passenger train services will resume between Ballarat and Ararat, in the wake of an Auditor-General's report outlining a cost blowout.
Fast rail for Sri Lanka's international airport
A super luxury train service will be introduced from Colombo to the Bandaranaike International Airport soon. The service which will only take 20 minutes from the Airport to Colombo will be set up with assistance from the Government of the People's Republic of China.
Big weekend of rail celebrations
The Goolwa, Port Elliot and Middleton communities will come together this weekend to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Australia's First Public Railway.
Don't like buses? Pretend it's a tram.
A new type of bus that looks more like a tram is being designed by First Group in a drive to get more passengers out of their cars and on to public transport. The bus and rail operator said yesterday that research showed people preferred trams to buses, so it had decided to build a "tram bus".
Riding a slow train to nowhere
A fold-out map spread out on her lap, Alison Wooden traces the last seconds of her son's life. Here is the train, 17.6 seconds before it crashes into the car in which Kyle was travelling, she says, pointing to a bullet-shaped mark on the far right of the map. Here is the car, she says, sweeping her finger to a much smaller spot halfway across the map.
Rail group criticises costing blow out
A rail group has claimed an auditor-general's report into the Ararat rail line spending blow out could lead to further delays in the return of north-western Victorian rail services.
Fast train service awaits infrastructure upgrade
There is still no timeline on when the fast train service between Bendigo and Melbourne will be fully operational.
NSW: Safer train crossings a decade away
Transport authorities admit it will take more than a decade to fix the 400 most dangerous level crossings in NSW, despite recent increases in funding.
All day rail pass for Auckland
Aucklanders can from next week travel all day on trains throughout the region for just $10, or $20 for families of up to two adults and four children.
Consortiums to vie for Chinese rail project
A Japanese consortium is set to bid for a $1b-plus Chinese rail project this month designed to double the speed of conventional locomotives on China's main railways to more than 200km per hour.
Major funding for Ottawa light rail
Politicians from all three levels of government will be in Ottawa Friday to make a major announcement about the city's light-rail system.
New Jersey revives Hudson River rail tunnel plan
New Jersey intends to revive a long-stalled plan to bore a tunnel costing about $5 billion under the Hudson River to expand commuter rail service into New York City's Pennsylvania station, a state official said.
Geelong fast rail on track
Geelong's new fast trains were on time and on budget, State Transport Minister Peter Batchelor said yesterday. At a special progress review of the Regional Fast Rail Project at the Dandenong factory where the new trains are being built, Mr Batchelor said the project was on schedule.
Vic fast trains uncovered
This is the first glimpse of the sleek, high-tech V'Locity trains that will travel at speeds of up to 160kmh under the Fast Rail project. Transport Minister Peter Batchelor yesterday inspected progress on the construction of the 38 two-carriage trains at Bombardier Transportation's Dandenong plant.
Minister insists rail closures will go ahead
New South Wales Transport Minister Michael Costa has said train services on the Casino to Murwillumbah lines will not be restored.
QLD: Three injured after train derailment
THREE men were taken to hospital after a collision between a road train and an empty freight train, which partially derailed, near the Queensland border town of Goondiwindi today. Two train drivers and the truck driver were taken to Goondiwindi Hospital after the accident at a level crossing on the Cunningway Way, 2km north-east of Goondiwindi at 11.15am (AEST), Queensland Fire and Rescue Service (QFRS) area director Mike Flanigan said.
Train shunters walk off job
VICTORIA'S country rail services were disrupted this morning after a snap strike by train shunters.
Fury at the Railway Friendly as Byron hits the end of the line
Byron Bay's Railway Friendly Bar will keep rocking, but when the last train leaves the platform tomorrow night the town's railway service will stop rolling. The bar of the Railway Friendly in Byron backs on to the tracks of the Casino-Murwillumbah branch line, which carried its first train 110 years ago.
New British Rail urged to conquer chaos on the trains and cut costs
Ten years after privatisation, the government is to take a historic step back towards virtually recreating British Rail as part of a wide-ranging shake-up to slash costs and boost the dire performance of the railways.
Level-crossing deaths: train speed cut suggested
High-speed trains could be banned from travelling more than 120kmh after the Government admitted yesterday it could not fix the state's most dangerous railway level crossings.
CRC rewrites train timetables
AN Australian firm is attracting interest from rail companies here and overseas with a software project that may help trains run on time. Researchers at the Co-operative Research Centre for Railway Engineering and Technologies (Rail CRC) — set up in 2001 and funded by the federal Government, the Australian rail industry and six universities — are working on a bundle of real-time train scheduling and optimisation tools.
VIC: Dangerous rail crossing to be upgraded
A Victorian Rail Authority has made upgrading a notorious rail crossing in the Goulburn Valley its top priority after yesterday's accident involving a car colliding with a train.
VIC: Auditor General criticises Ararat rail project
The Auditor General has severely criticised the Bracks government's poor management of the Ararat passenger rail project.
NSW: Tram expansion plan for Sydney
THE company which runs Sydney's tram system is driving plans to extend the service to Circular Quay to alleviate traffic congestion.
New Athens tram to cut short service during Olympics
A new tram line intended to cut travel time and ease traffic congestion will not provide service in central Athens during the Olympics.
Work begun on rail tunnel under Bosphorus
Construction work has begun on a 2.5-billion-dollar project to build a rail tunnel under the Bosphorus Strait, which flows through Turkey’s biggest city, Istanbul. Despite fears about the risk of earthquakes, the tunnel will run 1,600 meters at 60 meters below sea-level.
Rail yard plan: get it back on track
Shifting Dubbo's rail-freight interchange out of town has been trundling past different government departments for almost a decade.
Rail wrangle stops woodchips
About every 10 minutes each day, a truck carrying pine woodchips travels along the coastal road from Mount Gambier in South Australia to the Port of Portland in Victoria.
NSW: South Coast rail rage
THE campaign to save South Coast rail services went full steam ahead at a protest rally yesterday morning, on the same day the State Government announced that from July, no trains would run to or from the Shoalhaven after 9pm.
GrainCorp joins rail buyback call
Leading agribusiness group GrainCorp has joined the industry chorus urging the Victorian Government to buy back the state's rail network.
Shanghai to expand rail transport networks
City design officials in Shanghai said that the traffic management department was considering a planto connect Shanghai with the neighboring cities in the Yangtze River delta through rail transport systems.
Another stop here for the XPT
CountryLink's Murwillumbah to Sydney XPT train service will run to a new timetable from this week, and Gloucester will be a "stop on request" for the first time.
My Favourite Form of Entertainment
or
Gone Gunzelling - Back at Five (Maybe)
Note: This was written several years ago. Some things have changed, not least my knowledge of the system and how it works, but gunzelling is still my favourite form of entertainment!
Scientific link found between trains and brains!
Scientists examining the brains of the top 16,500,000 people in Australia with very high IQs have discovered a correlation between high intelligence and two chemicals called Ferrocarbohydroxide (FeCH2O - "Steel and Steam") and Tetra-Osmium-Nitrate (Os4N3 - "Dense Fertiliser").
Trams on George Street
Trams along George St from Circular Quay to Central Station could help ease CBD congestion.
Rail celebration success
Alexandrina Council Mayor Kym McHugh joined 150th Anniversary of Australia's First Public Railway Celebration organisers in thanking the volunteers for making the celebration such a success at a morning tea at Signal Point on Tuesday morning.
Arizona tourist rail line possible
If James Clark sees his dream become reality, a taste of the Old West will be offered on a rail line between Benson and Tombstone.
Auslink's $550m boost for rail
The Eastern Seaboard rail system will receive a $550m funding boost next month as part of a broader plan to help increase the efficiency of freight transport and ease the pressure on the national highway network. Government sources said the money would mainly be used to fix the rail line between Melbourne and Sydney, in addition to the $450m previously allocated to the Australian Rail Track Corporation for upgrading the Sydney to Brisbane line.
Rail chief bares his teeth at inquiry
The chief executive of RailCorp, Vince Graham, yesterday verged on openly clashing with the Waterfall commissioner, Peter McInerney, in his defence of the program RailCorp had taken to prevent new rail disasters.
Minister buys into rail line closure debate
Federal Transport Minister John Anderson says the New South Wales Government should not have closed the Casino to Murwillumbah rail line.
UK rail travellers want wireless broadband
Three out of four UK business rail travellers want to use Wi-Fi for Internet access on the move, believing on-train connectivity is a clear reason to choose rail travel over other forms of transport, according to research released by Broadreach Networks Limited.
Geelong port rail link faces cost bust
A NATIONAL rail link to Geelong's port faces a blow-out well beyond a State Government $5 million funding pledge made two years ago.
Albury-Wodonga railway relocation at crucial juncture
Wodonga's double railway plan for a $30 million freight hub at Barnawartha North and a relocation of the tracks from the citys centre has reached a crucial stage.
Rail cheaper, more efficient says Corrigan
One goods train on the Melbourne-Sydney line could substitute for 150 semi-trailers, the managing director of Patrick Corporation, Mr Chris Corrigan, told a conference.
Canadian help for Sri Lanka Railway
The Canadian Government is to assist Sri Lanka Railway to rehabilitate passenger coaches under the Export Development Canada (EDC) program.
Deputy PM challenges states to spend more on rail
Deputy Prime Minister John Anderson says the Federal Government's plans for substantial spending on Australia's road and rail corridors sends a clear challenge to the states.
UK: Rail and Tube face simultaneous strikes
The UK's two busiest rail systems face simultaneous disruption after Network Rail staff voted in favour of striking days before the Rail, Maritime and Transport Union ballots its London Underground staff on industrial action.
US: Security regulations issued for commuter rail
The Department of Homeland Security issued its first anti-terror directive for the nation's commuter rail and subway systems yesterday, calling for wide-ranging precautions dealing with checks of unattended bags, bombproof trash receptacles and the use of explosive-sniffing dogs.
'Two dead' in train station crash
From correspondents in Amsterdam 22may04 A PASSENGER train crashed into an empty train at Amsterdam's central station, killing two people, the NOS national news service said today. The national disaster information service ANWB estimated 10 to 15 people were injured, but could not immediately confirm the fatalities.
Teens charged over train attack
FIVE teenage boys have been charged in relation to an attack on a Victorian train earlier this month.
Rail trail walk plans unveiled
THE proposed 35-kilometre Hamilton-Coleraine Rail Reserve walking track was unveiled on Tuesday and a Friends group launched in support. It was the first public event organised by the Committee of Management and more than 60 people from across the district attended.
Spain re-arrests Moroccan in train bombing probe
A Spanish judge investigating the Madrid train bombings has re-arrested a Moroccan man after new evidence came to light linking him to the March 11 attacks which killed 191 people, state radio reports.
QLD: Network revamp jacks up rail fares
ALMOST 80 per cent of southeast Queensland rail commuters face fare rises within six weeks as part of a revolution in the region's public transport network.
V/LINE - State rail efficiency off track
TRANSPORT Minister Peter Batchelor admitted V/Line's punctuality performance has been below par, according to the State Opposition. Opposition transport spokesman Terry Mulder accused Mr Batchelor of making the blunder about the government-owned rail service in a public hearing of State Parliament's Public Accounts and Estimates Committee on Thursday.
Gheringhap Sightings w/e 15/5/2004.
Gheringhap Sightings w/e 15/5/2004.
Train safety alert -- locos grounded
WEST Coast Railway's entire fleet of locomotives has been taken off the tracks after a safety alert was issued late yesterday. The director of Public Transport and Safety notified West Coast Railway about the possibility of stress cracks in locomotive underframes. The company took immediate action to cancel all rail services for at least the next four days and replace them with coach services.
Waterfall report slams rail managers
Top managers and frontline staff within NSW's rail agencies were not properly trained to help prevent the Waterfall rail disaster, a special independent safety audit ordered by the inquiry into the fatal accident has found.
Gheringhap Sightings w/e 22/5/2004
This week we have had 144 sightings at Gheringhap Loop making a total of 2443 sightings for the year to date.
Businesses sign $310m WA rail contract
The final phase of the Perth to Mandurah railway line has been locked in, with the Western Australian Government awarding the southern suburbs contract to a state-based joint venture.
Tram plan stalled as solution to congestion
The State Government has refused to commit to a proposal to return trams to Sydney's CBD as it begins public consultation on a 30-year strategy for the city.
RailLink wins WA rail project
RailLink Joint Venture, a consortium of Macmahon Holdings, John Holland and Multiplex Constructions, said it won the biggest single contract of Western Australia's 70-kilometre Southern Suburbs Railway project.
Rail transportation likely for toxic waste
Environment Victoria says it is confident the Victorian Government will opt for rail transportation to a proposed site for a toxic waste dump in country Victoria.
Vic: 700 train faults in three months
Broken down trains are the main reason angry commuters have been left waiting on platforms this year. Train faults saw almost 700 scheduled weekday services scratched during the first three months of the year.
Buses to replace Warrnambool trains over safety concerns
Buses will continue to be used in place of the passenger rail services between Warrnambool and Melbourne until safety concerns with the locomotives are resolved.
German rail sale woes
The prospect of a stock market flotat of Deutsche Bahn in 2006 dimmed on Sunday after advisers to the government said the German rail operator would need government subsidies and higher profits for a successful sale.
Rail trail proves major attraction
A VISITOR survey during Easter has confirmed the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail is one of Victorias leading attractions. The traffic count found 7596 people had cycled the trail on Saturday and Sunday of the Easter long weekend.
India: Freight Fright: Don't let the Railways jump tracks
The task ahead for the railways is huge. Right now, we have a situation in the country where the freight cost is cheaper for moving steel from Rotterdam to Mumbai than it is to bring it over from Jamshedpur or Bhilai. Inefficient overland transport makes several industries like steel and coal non-competitive vis-a-vis imports. Railways should play a major role in changing this situation.
$35k of marijuana found on train
A MAN will appear in a Sydney court today after cannabis worth $35,000 was found on a train travelling from Victoria to Queensland.
Security tightened on US rail systems
The 10 million commuters a day who use US subway and rail systems may notice increased security today as new federal mandates go into effect.
World's most realistic train simulator leads rail industry to better training an
Bentley Systems today announced that First Great Western, a leading U.K. train operating company, has unveiled the world's most advanced and realistic train simulator. As a commitment to rail safety, First Great Western is investing in three train simulators based on Bentley software.
Lastminute.com attacks French rail website
The head of the French subsidiary of Lastminute.com, a British online travel service, said Monday the unit would next month file a complaint with French competition officials against the online travel agency of the French state rail authority.
Indian railway bookings to go mobile
It had a rather humble start in August 2002 when only 3,352 passengers logged on to their computers to book tickets online. It would get even simpler once the IRCTC launches its booking service through mobile phones.
Azerbaijan, Russia and Iran to build new railway
The governments of Azerbaijan, Russia and Iran on Thursday agreed to form a consortium to construct a railway that would connect the three countries.
Tas: West coast railway receives safety certification
More than a year since it was officially opened, Tasmanian's West Coast Wilderness Railway will today be given a certificate of accreditation acknowledging it has met required safety standards.
Taiwan takes delivery of its first bullet train
The first bullet train to be shipped overseas from Japan arrived here Tuesday. The train -- the first of 30 to be delivered over the next year -- was built by a Japanese consortium led by Mitsui & Co. It was shipped from Kobe.
More police patrols on Bairnsdale rail line
Bairnsdale police are stepping up patrols along the Bairnsdale to Sale railway line in response to a number of incidences of wilful damage.
Silk Road rail route planned
Kazakhstan is looking to make a part of the old Silk Road from China to Europe into a faster link for goods with a 2,000 miles rail project.
South African transport system is a mess
The department of transport will require a radical overhaul to meet the challenges of a developing economy, Transport Minister Jeff Radebe admitted on Monday.
Boree Creek Express to run June long weekend
Under the auspices of 3801 Limited, The Boree Creek Branch Unlimited Express will run on Saturday, June 12, 2004. It will be the first passenger train down the Branch Line in nine months.
Concerns over future of south coast rail services
The Member for South Coast, Shelley Hancock, says she has received information that a tender is to be called for a bus service to run 24 hours a day from Bomaderry to Kiama.
Railway accident claims 7 lives in Indonesian province of East Java
Hospital officials in the Indonesian province of East Java say seven people have been killed and more than 20 others injured in a railway level crossing accident.
Hughes wants tram to replace Oxford St buses
Mayoral candidate Simon Hughes is today outlining his proposals to prevent Oxford Street becoming gridlocked with buses. Despite a ban on cars, the street frequently comes to a halt. The problem worsened after more buses were introduced alongside the congestion charge. Now Mr Hughes, the Lib-Dem mayoral candidate, is proposing to pedestrianise the popular shopping street. He also suggests eventually running a tram along it if the removal of buses can be made to work.
Canadian government open wallets for passenger rail lines
Ottawa has created a one-year contribution program to provide funding for four remote and regional passenger rail lines across Canada. Transport Canada and Indian and Northern Affairs Canada will both contribute to the program.
Minister pledges EUR 40m to boost Dutch rail safety
Amid safety concerns after an Amsterdam train collision last week, Transport Minister Karla Peijs announced Tuesday she is to spend EUR 40 million on upgrading the present rail safety system, starting with the busiest routes.
Swiss government faces revolt over rail cuts
The Swiss government has come under fire over plans to cut spending on links to Europe’s high-speed rail network by more than ten per cent.
Union partly happy with train assurances
The Shoalhaven Group of Unions says it is partly satisfied with assurances from RailCorp and officials from the Ministry of Transport that there are no plans to phase out train services between Kiama and Bomaderry.
Sydney weekend train services to be cut
Sydney's weekend and late night train services will be cut back by almost a third within the next two months.
Mandurah rail contract in place
THIRTY months is the deadline the State Government has given for trains to roll into the Mandurah train station.
Rail line inquiry head urges public comment
The head of a New South Wales Parliamentary inquiry into the closure of the Casino to Murwillumbah rail link is reminding people they only have a week to submit their comments.
WCR fleet off the rails
West Coast Railway was unable to say yesterday when passenger services to Warrnambool would return to normal. West Coast's entire fleet of 10 locomotives will have to undergo repair works before they are allowed back on the tracks.
Fight to keep rail access for Manning
It is time to go forwards with rail development, not backwards, according to Manning Valley Branch of the Combined Pensioners and Superannuants Association.
US: Public backs high-speed rail but opposes park route
Silicon Valley residents want a bullet train - but not one that runs through a state park. That was the message Wednesday afternoon from speaker after speaker as 200 people turned out at a state hearing in San Jose to offer opinions on California's proposed $37 billion high-speed rail project.
Hanshin Railway posts record profit
Japan's Hanshin Electric Railway Co said Thursday it posted record-high group net profit and sales for fiscal 2003 ended March 31 as sales at its affiliates were boosted by the Hanshin Tigers winning their first Central League pennant in 18 years.
Jamaica rail revival still in limbo
A photo in Wednesday Business showed tracks of the Jamaica Railway Corporation at Industrial Terrace, part of the main line leading out of Kingston. But as the caption stated, this was just one more section of the tracks which was paved over.
WCR services under cloud
West Coast Railway's services may be disrupted for months after stress fractures were found in seven of its 10 locomotives. Safety checks ordered by the Director of Public Transport and Safety last Friday found the company's seven S and B class Clyde locomotives needed repairs.
West Coast regrets train safety disruptions
West Coast Railway says it is regrettable that seven of its trains have failed safety checks and train services between Warrnambool and Melbourne could be disrupted for some weeks.
Rail chief resists Waterfall conclusions
The boss of Sydney's rail network has clashed heatedly with the former judge examining the Waterfall disaster and appears set to oppose the inquiry's key recommendations on safety.
Rail workers join march
NORTHERN rail workers will join other Rail Infrastructure Co-operation (RIC) employees in a march on Bathurst to raise public awareness of railway job losses.
Students hurt in train derailment
AT least one person was killed and more than 70 injured when a train packed with about 1000 students jumped the tracks outside the Cuban capital Havana, witnesses said today.
Blast derails passenger train
A BLAST derailed a passenger train today outside of the southern Russian city of Vladikavkaz, near wartorn Chechnya, without causing any serious injuries, police said.
Bay line in $16m blowout
THE State Government has been accused of poor planning amid a $16 million cost increase for the proposed Glenelg light-rail project.
All aboard model train
ORANGE'S model railway in Matthews Park is set to grow in popularity after the official opening of the bridge and track extensions on Saturday, with the railway now taking up a large section of the park.