Baltic states sign agreement to establish Rail Baltica II joint venture
The transport ministers of the Baltic States signed an agreement to set up a joint venture to implement the estimated €3.6bn Rail Baltica II project.
Named RB Rail, the joint venture will build a standard-gauge high-speed line that will connect the region with Poland.
Earlier this month, the Baltic States, namely Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, agreed to sign the agreement after years of waiting.
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Latvia Transport Minister Anrijs Matiss said: "This important transport line will serve as a bridge between Europe and the Baltic states and contribute to the economic development."
UK Government backs proposed HS3 development
The UK Government agreed to the proposed development of HS3, a high-speed rail link that connects cities in the north, in a bid to improve connectivity and reduce journey times.
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The decision followed a report published by HS2 chairman Sir David Higgins that put forward a proposal to expand the benefits of HS2 in the northern region.
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By GlobalDataPrime Minister David Cameron said: "Improving connectivity and reducing journey times between our great northern cities is a crucial part of our long-term economic plan for the north to boost businesses and create more jobs and security for hardworking people; that’s why we are backing HS3."
California receives clearance from court to proceed with $68bn bullet train project
The US state of California approved the construction of its $68bn bullet train project after the state Supreme Court declined the appeal of a case filed by opponents of the project.
Los Angeles Times reported two Kings County and Central Valley landowners submitted an appeal in September to the Supreme Court questioning the financial plan of Speed Rail Authority.
High-Speed Rail Authority board chairman Dan Richard was quoted by news agencies saying: "The decision reaffirms that the Authority can continue building a modern high-speed rail system that connects the state, creates jobs and complies with the law."
UK expects to sell 40% stake in Eurostar for £300m
The UK Government is to sell its 40% stake in the cross-Channel train operator Eurostar, in a bid to raise funds under the National Infrastructure Plan announced last year.
The government expects to raise approximately £300m through the sale of the high-speed rail operator that connects London to destinations in France and Belgium.
The Autumn Statement and National Infrastructure Plan announced in 2013 aims to earn around £20bn through the sale of corporate and financial assets by 2020.
China to build Russia’s first high-speed line
China is to build Russia’s first high-speed railway line under an investment agreement signed by the two countries.
In collaboration with Russian firms, Chinese railway companies will build a 770km high-speed line between Moscow and Kazan.
The Moscow-Kazan high-speed line comes under the Moscow-Beijing railway project, which aims to build a 7,000km-long railway that connects Russia, Kazakhstan and China.
Canadian National freight train carrying dangerous goods derails, catches fire
A Canadian National Railway (CN) freight train carrying dangerous goods derailed near Clair, 200km east of Saskatoon, Canada.
According to media reports, the train caught fire after the accident. The train was on its way to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, from Winnipeg, Manitoba, and has three locomotives with 100 cars, 26 of which were derailed.
CN spokesman Jim Feeny was quoted as saying: "Of the 26 derailed cars, two cars carrying petroleum distillate have spilled and that is the product that caught fire."
UIC report reveals railway accidents in Europe increased in 2013
The International Union of Railways (UIC) 2014 annual report revealed that the number of railway fatalities had increased on European railway networks in 2013.
According to the report, 9% of the victims were passengers, 3% were staff and the remaining 88% were mostly trespassers.
In 2013, a total of 1,074 deaths occurred compared with 1,011 deaths in 2012, where the number of passenger deaths increased to 96 from 32 in 2013. The margin of trespasser-related deaths also increased up to 643 from 595 incidents in 2012.
Turkey’s 79km-long section of Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway project to complete in 2015
Turkey Transport Minister Lütfi Elvan announced that the construction of a 79km-long railway route in Turkey is to be completed in 2015.
The $700m line is part of Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) railway project, which is a regional railway link that connects Kars in Turkey, Tbilisi in Georgia and Baku in Azerbaijan.
The project aims to enhance trade and economic relations between the regions and also to secure foreign investment through connecting with Europe and Asia.
Chinese consortium submits sole bid for Mexican rail project
Mexico’s Transport and Communications Ministry announced that a Chinese consortium had submitted the only bid for a high-speed passenger train project between Mexico City and Queretaro.
Reuters reported that the consortium, including China Railway Construction Corporation and CSR Corporation, is the only firm that submitted the bid for this tender to design, build, operate and maintain a 210km-long high-speed line.
The construction of the Mexico City-Queretaro route is expected to cost more than $3bn and both public and private funds will be used for the project.
NSW shortlists four corridors for Western Sydney light rail project
Australia’s New South Wales (NSW) Government announced the shortlisted four corridors for the Western Sydney light rail network that connects Parramatta with other centres in the region.
In June, the government announced ten options to identify the highest priority corridor.
In the transport infrastructure budget 2014-2015, the NSW government has committed $400m to construct a light rail for Parramatta and $265m for the CBD and South East Light Rail project.
