BRITISH operator GB Railfreight has ordered another 13 class 66 diesel-electric locomotives from Electro Motive Diesel, United States, and is acquiring 16 class 92 electric units as part of its plans to double its £100m annual turnover within the next three years.
The Indonesian government is pushing ahead with a $US 468bn infrastructure investment plan intended to facilitate the country's rise to the world's top economic table. However, the suitability of the private investment model touted by the government to deliver these projects remains in question, as Kevin Smith discovered during a visit to Java.
EUROPEAN railfreight reported negative results in terms of transport performance and profits in 2013 and with the weak economic situation continuing, performance remains someway off matching the pre-economic crisis high of 2007.
CONTRACTORS are preparing to start work on a $US 100m project funded by the Colombian government to rehabilitate two 914mm-gauge lines which are currently out of service with a view to starting freight operations by mid-2015.
BNSF has announced a record $US 5bn capital expenditure programme for 2014, an increase of around $US 700m from its 2013 spend of approximately $US 4.3bn, which like 2012's $US 3.6bn investment, was also a record.
RUSSIAN Railways (RZD) may have to double funding for proposed improvements to the Trans-Siberian and Baikal – Amur railways to better serve the growing volumes of coal being transported from the Kuznetsk Basin, the biggest production site in Western Siberia, according to the Russian Institute of Economy and Transport Development.
ETIHAD Rail expects operations to begin on its inaugural UAE railway project, the 266km line from Shan and Habshan to Ruwais, by the end of the year with construction almost complete and testing now underway.
SWITZERLAND will provide €120m towards gauge enhancement works on the Luino Ranzo – Gallarate/Novara line in northern Italy under an agreement signed in Berne on January 28 by Swiss federal councilor for transport Mrs Doris Leuthard, and Italian transport minister Mr Maurizio Lupi.
CROATIA's Maritime, Transport and Infrastructure ministry confirmed on January 24 that it has abandoned the sale of a 75% stake in Croatian Railways (HŽ) railfreight unit HŽ Cargo to Grup Feroviar Român (GFR), a subsidiary of Romania's Grampet Group.
CANADIAN National (CN) has reached an agreement with the government of New Brunswick which will secure the future of freight services in the north of the Canadian province.