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Found 138 bulletins. The archive was last updated on 18 October 2005 and there are 2345 bulletins.
Renaissance Trains, a company backed by former senior managers of British Rail, could become the first new train operating company since privatisation if its bid to run a direct train service between London and Hull is successful. Renaissance hopes to start its service in May 2000 if it can obtain space in the timetable. (June 1st 1999)
A Queensland tilt train train has set a new Australian rail speed record, clocking 210 km/h. More about the train. (May 23rd 1999)
The Altamont Commuter Express in the Silicon Valley is seeking $14 million in federal funds to buy another locomotive and four or five more rail cars and to make track and siding improvements for a third daily round-trip train. But getting that money is proving to be a battle, with ACE forced to compete against several other California projects, many with higher profiles and more political support. The San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission, which manages ACE, voted last week to hire a lobbyist to help shake loose the money. (May 18th 1999)
Siemens hopes that its acquisition of a 95 per cent holding in the transport arm of Matra, the French defence and space industry group, will open up the French market, which is dominated by its arch-rival Alstom, the Anglo-French consortium. Siemens also believes its partnership with Matra of France will help it to break into the potentially lucrative market for automatic metro systems in Germany. Siemens is researching the possibility of allowing the driverless trains in which Matra specialises to run alongside conventional, manned trains. It hopes to see such a system in Germany within the next four years. Troubled Siemens Verkehrstechnik hopes to make a profit in 2000. (May 14th/15th 1999)
The US General Accounting Office formally released a study of rail pricing and service trends that concluded most rail freight rates in the USA have declined, but the pattern of reduction was not uniform. (May 10th 1999)
The Port of Le Havre is setting up direct rail shuttle services to and from inland markets, with the aid of a $410,000 investment by the French government. Le Havre is France's largest container port. The new venture, called Le Havre Shuttles, is 34% owned by the Port Autonome du Havre (Le Havre port authority) and 66% owned by ship agents, freight forwarders and other private port users. It will allow the port to add three to four direct rail shuttle services a year, including possible new links to Milan, Milhouse and Strasbourg. (May 10th 1999)
Dutch shippers, hindered by inadequate infrastructure and chronically jammed roads, gladly would shift their cargo to other modes – if they were attractive. But the alternatives – railroads, short-sea coastal shipping and river barges – are inadequate to handle a major influx of freight, according to a controversial new study conducted for the Dutch Shippers Council. (May 10th 1999)
An EC package of measures aimed at making intermodal transportation more attractive in Europe has run into stiff opposition from European Union member states. The original package proposed cutting taxes levied on trucks that use rail or water transport for substantial parts of a journey. It also proposed relaxing weekend truck bans that impede truckers and shippers, and raising the weight limit for intermodal trucks from 40 to 44 tons. The weight-limit proposal is the only one of the three measures to survive. (April 14th 1999)
The London Underground is at bursting point. Rush-hour overcrowding is spreading to trains outside the peak while the crush is so bad at some busy stations staff have to hold passengers at street level until the platforms below have cleared. Passenger journeys rose 8 per cent to a record 832m in the year ended March 1998 and have continued to rise. (March 13th 1999)
Eurotunnel has signed a 15-year deal with BAA, the UK airports group, to manage retail outlets at either end of the tunnel. Also, Eurostar cut operating losses by 30 per cent to £95m last year and is on target to break even in 2005. Eurostar's current operating losses should not be confused with Eurotunnel's current operating profits. (March 11th 1999)