World – Page 15 – Railfanning.org

Wabtec Forms Joint Venture to Manufacture Brake Equipment for Chinese Rail Market

April 7, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

WILMERDING, Pa. — Wabtec Corp. has formed a 50-50 joint venture in China to manufacture brake equipment for the Chinese rail market. The joint venture is owned by Wabtec and Shenyang Locomotive and Rolling Stock Railways Brakes Co. Ltd., the largest manufacturer of locomotive and freight car brake equipment in China. “This investment builds on our existing presence in China, the largest rail market outside of North America,” said Albert J. Neupaver, Wabtec’s president and chief executive officer. “Our capabilities and technology will be valuable assets in this rapidly growing market.” The joint venture company, Shenyang CNR Wabtec Railway Brake

GE Transportation Delivers 3,000th Locomotive to Kazakhstan Temir Zholy

March 25, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

ERIE, Pa. — GE Transportation announced that Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ) has taken delivery of the 3,000th Evolution Series locomotive produced at GE Transportation’s Erie, Pa., manufacturing site. One Evolution Series locomotive can pull the equivalent of 170 Boeing 747 “Jumbo Jet” airliners. In 2006, KTZ ordered 310 GE Evolution Series locomotives and the first ten units, including the 3,000th, have arrived in Kazakhstan. Three hundred additional locomotives will be assembled in Kazakhstan starting at the end of 2009 from kits and parts produced in Erie. This is the 3,000th Evolution Series locomotive since its introduction to the market in

GE Transportation Signs Agreement with Trenitalia

March 24, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

FLORENCE, Italy — GE Transportation announced that it has signed a contract valued at more than $60 million with Trenitalia for the design, supply and installation of 400 on board Sistema di Supporto alla Condotta — SSC train protection systems for diesel locomotives in Trenitalia’s passenger and cargo fleet. SSC is a new generation of automatic train protection solutions that increase the safety and performance of train operations. It continuously monitors the actual speed of the train thereby guaranteeing that the maximum speed limit is not violated. In cases where action is required, the system can enforce the train’s braking

Japan’s Shinkansen Loses Power After Lightning Strike

September 3, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

TOKYO — A Shinkansen lost power following a lighting strike, according to media reports. The power blackout was temporary and authorities found a small hole on the roof of one of the Shinkansen’s cars. Authorities believe lightning may have caused the hole. Also, the train’s engineer said he heard sound before the power failure. The East Japan Railway Co. train — No. 263 — was pulling in at Oyama Station in Tochigi Prefecture at the time of the blackout.

Six Killed in French Grade Crossing Collision

June 2, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

MESINGES, France — Six people were killed and dozens more injured after a train collided with a school bus that was blocking a grade crossing, authorities said. Five of the six killed were school children. “Five children were killed. Four passengers on the bus were seriously injured — it is not known if they are children or adults — and 27 children were slightly injured,” AFP news agency quoted an unnamed official as saying. The crash happened about 2 p.m. Monday, June 2, local time. More than 30 people were injured, and some of the injured may have been passengers

China to Finance Jamaican Rail Overhaul

June 1, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

KINGSTON, Jamaica — China has agreed to finance much of a $354 million project to overhaul Jamaican railroads, officials said. Jamaica is building 18 new stations as part of what is expected to be a three-year overhaul. Once completed, railroads will connect many of the island’s major cities, including Montego Bay and Kingston. As part of the agreement, China will loan Jamaica 85 percent of the $354 million needed for the project. “The passenger and freight rail service is intended to significantly impact on the rising fuel cost, with the Government focused on getting much of the island’s freight transportation

Indian Railway Bulletproofing Locomotives

May 31, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

NEW DELHI — An Indian railway that is at times the subject of terrorism is bulletproofing some of its locomotives, officials said. “The idea is to instill some confidence in our engine drivers,” Northeast Frontier Railways general manager Ashutosh Swami told Indian Express newspaper. “The move, along with the bulletproof jackets which are already being provided by the Assam Police, will boost their morale.” The move comes as the railway is working to resume operations on its Lumding-Badarpur division. The Black Widow militant group has targeted that section of line, and a strike on May 15 killed an engineer. The

Toronto Transit Commission Orders Composite Ties

May 31, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. — The Toronto Transit Commission ordered specialty-engineered composite railroad switch ties from Axion International, the company said. The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), a public transport authority, operates buses, streetcars, subways and advanced light rapid transit in Toronto, Ontario. Axion, in conjunction with Rutgers University, has developed plastics technology that uses almost 100 percent recycled plastic. Axion’s structural products have the distinct advantage of being environmentally friendly as well as providing superior products to customers, officials say. Officials tout that the company’s products address the increasing worldwide environmental concerns for deforestation coupled with the specific goals for recycling,

Reports: Olympic Construction Played Role in China Crash

April 30, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

ZIBO, China – Construction in advance of this summer’s Beijing Olympics is at least partly to blame for a train wreck that killed more than 70 people and injured hundreds more, Chinese officials say. According to Li Chenggang, Zibo city spokesman, the tracks where the trains crashed are being upgraded in advance of the Olympics. The upgraded line is supposed to reduce travel time between Jinan and Qingdao, a coastal city that is hosting the Olympic sailing competition. Officials previously said excessive speed could be to blame for the Monday (April 28) train crash. Investigators said train operators were advised

Speed May Be to Blame for China Rail Crash

April 29, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

ZIBO, China — Excessive speed could be to blame for a Monday (April 28) train crash that killed at least 70 people and sent hundreds more to the hospital. According to a Xinhua news report, an express train traveling to the east China city of Qingdao from Beijing was traveling 131 kph (81 mph) in an 80 kph (50 mph) zone. The train derailed and crashed into a second train, which was traveling from Yantai in the Shandong province to the Jiangsu province city of Xuzhou, authorities said. “So far, the accident site has been cleaned up and the stranded