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SeaWaves Railroad News June 7, 2006

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KCSR, Louisiana DOTD Announce Corridor Project
Agreement to Improve Public Safety
Kansas City MO June 6, 2006 - Kansas City
Southern (KCS) today announced that its subsidiary, The Kansas City Southern
Railway Company (KCSR) and the Louisiana Department of Transportation and
Development (DOTD) have signed a corridor project agreement to improve the
safety of 300 public crossings in Louisiana.
The agreement covers more than 375 miles of track that stretch from
Shreveport, La., east to the Mississippi state line along the I-20 corridor;
south to DeQuincy, La., along U.S. 171; and north to the Arkansas state line.
Under the terms of the agreement, KCSR will invest up to $5 million and LADOTD
will invest up to $11.6 million over a period of five years to upgrade warning
levels, renew crossbucks and close redundant crossings.
Upon completion of the corridor project, nearly half of the nongated crossings
in the area will have received warning level upgrades - from crossbucks to
flashers and gates. The remaining crossings will get new crossbucks with a
"YIELD" or "STOP" sign.
"DOTD is excited to enter into this partnership with KCSR to improve
crossing safety in these corridors," said Bill Shrewsberry, DOTD highway
rail safety engineer. "By combining available state and federal resources
with railroad resources, we are making important strides toward enhancing
safety throughout the state."
"This project is significant because it accelerates the process of
improving public safety in Louisiana," said Allen Pepper, KCS director of
public safety.
This agreement is the result of House Concurrent Resolution No. 185, which
encourages DOTD to negotiate agreements with Louisiana railroad companies to
seek financial contributions for the installation of traffic control devices
and at public highway/railroad grade crossings as well as some closings. Rep.
Roy Quezaire proposed Resolution No. 185 after Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco
held the Emergency Highway-Railroad Crossing Safety Conference in March 2005
to address the growing problem of grade crossing incidents, fatalities and
injuries in Louisiana.
Bombardier Delivers 1,000th Metro Car to China
Montreal PQ June 6, 2006 - Bombardier
Transportation today celebrated delivery of its 1000th metro car to
operators in the People’s Republic of China during a special ceremony
coinciding with the 2006 Metro and Light Train exhibition in Guangzhou. The
1,000 cars are in service with multiple operators in the cities of Guangzhou,
Shenzhen, Shanghai and Hong Kong SAR. Bombardier provides a wide range of rail
vehicles and components to the Chinese market through its own operations and a
series of joint ventures with Chinese enterprises.
Stephane Rambaud-Measson, President of Bombardier Transportation’s global
Mainline and Metros Division, and Jianwei Zhang, President and Chief Country
Representative for Bombardier in China, presented the 1,000th car
to Mr. Lu Guanglin, General Manager of Guangzhou Metro Corporation (GMC)
during the proceedings. The 1000th vehicle is a MOVIA metro car
produced by Changchun Bombardier Railway Vehicles Co. Ltd. (CBRC), a joint
venture between Bombardier and Changchun Railway Vehicles Ltd. It will operate
on Line 2 of the Guangzhou City metro system and is one of 48 MOVIA metro
vehicles (8 six-car trains) being delivered to GMC under a contract signed in
2004. CBRC assembles the cars at its Changchun plant in Northern China. Upon
completion of the current contract, Bombardier Transportation and CBRC
together will have delivered a total of 330 metro cars to GMC.
Mr. Rambaud-Measson said the milestone is a clear illustration of
Bombardier’s successful partnership with China and its long-term commitment
to evolving the country’s rail infrastructure.
"China, like other countries around the world, is developing its rail
infrastructure as a key element to achieving true sustainable
development," he said. "Bombardier continues to play an important
role in that objective by investing for the long-term in China, bringing
technological expertise here and building effective partnerships with
in-country enterprises. We are optimistic about the prospects in this
promising market."
During remarks at the ceremony, Mr. Lu said, "Bombardier’s 1000th
metro car was delivered to Guangzhou Metro today. This perfect combination of
the world’s most advanced vehicle technology and China’s wide market is
the best example of a mutually beneficial association. In the future, when our
successors open the history books of urban mass transit in China, they will
find this glorious page, which was jointly written by Bombardier and Guangzhou
Metro."
Jianwei Zhang said Bombardier and its affiliate organizations have been active
in the Chinese rail market since the 1950s. Bombardier currently has three
joint ventures and three wholly owned foreign enterprises in China aimed at
providing rail vehicles, components and supporting services, such as
maintenance and spare parts.
"Today represents an important milestone for Bombardier and its partner
organizations," he said. "We’re bringing the best in rail
technology to China from our operations around the world, and we continue to
develop our production expertise here. We’ve learned a great deal about how
to do business in this country over the years, and that experience is making a
difference."
Recent contracts awarded to Bombardier and its JVs in China include a deal for
ART Mark II automated rail cars for the Beijing Capital International Airport
Link in March 2006; a high-speed train maintenance center and 20-year services
contract with China’s Ministry of Railways in January 2006 (MOR); an
Automated People Mover system for the Beijing Capital International Airport in
May 2005; 40 eight-car, high-speed trainsets for the MOR in May 2005 and
October 2004, and 361 high-altitude passenger cars for the MOR in February
2005.
Including its joint ventures, Bombardier currently employs 2,400 people in
China. In addition to its rail transportation operations, Bombardier is the
number one supplier to the Chinese regional aircraft market with an installed
base of more than 30 aircraft in operation with six airlines. It is also the
top-ranked supplier of business aircraft to China. Bombardier’s longstanding
business relationship with China began 50 years ago.
RailWorks Corporation Bolsters Management Team
with New Appointments
New York June 5, 2006 - RailWorks Corporation,
a leading provider of track and transit systems construction services
throughout North America, announced today three new appointments to its
corporate management team.
Ronald L. Smith has been promoted to President,
National Transit. In his new position, Smith is responsible for RailWorks'
National Transit division, which includes all North American transit projects
with the exception of the New York City metro region.
Smith is an industry veteran with more than 25
years of transit, power and industrial construction expertise. He joined
RailWorks Corporation subsidiary L.K. Comstock & Company in 1993 and since
then has led a range of strategic transit initiatives, including the Automated
People Mover project at Washington Dulles International Airport.
RailWorks also named two new appointments to
lead its newly formed Risk Management department.
Joseph R. Spirito has been appointed Vice
President of Risk Management. Spirito directs the Risk Management department
with responsibility for insurance and related coverage, claims management,
safety and regulatory compliance, asset management and disaster recovery
functions.
Spirito comes to RailWorks with more than 25
years of experience in the insurance and construction industries. He most
recently served as Director of Risk Management for Railroad Construction
Company's rail and subsidiary operations, and also served as Director of Loss
Control for EMCOR Group Inc.'s domestic and international business units.
Bill Field has been promoted to Director of
Safety. In his new position, he is responsible for RailWorks' field safety
program including Roadway and other track-related safety programs, OSHA, FRA
and MSHA employee training programs, new employee orientation and equipment
operator qualification training, site-specific programs and incident
investigations.
Field joined RailWorks in 2001 following a
20-year career with Conrail. He has worked in the rail industry for 26 years
and holds a master's degree in Safety Engineering.
RailWorks President and CEO Jeffrey M. Levy
said the appointments come at a pivotal time in the corporation's history.
"With the recent completion of RailWorks' strategic divestiture program,
these appointments will help us strengthen our core track and transit systems
construction services business.
"Ron Smith will continue to expand the
depth and scope of our transit footprint throughout North America. Joe Spirito
will integrate and better focus our efforts to protect our corporate assets,
most importantly, our people. Bill Field will help expand and enhance the
safety culture throughout RailWorks," said Levy.
ALSTOM to Deliver Santo Domingo's First Metro
Paris June 6, 2006 - OPRET, the governmental
authority in charge of the reorganization of public transport in the Dominican
Republic, has chosen ALSTOM for the delivery of 19 METROPOLIS trainsets worth
€ 92.5 million for the city of Santo Domingo.
This order is part of the government's
development program to meet the increasing demand for public transport and
reduce road traffic congestion in Santo Domingo. The trainsets will run on the
first line of the capital's new metro system, which is currently under
construction, and will connect Villa Mella (north of the city) with La Feria
(south of the city).
ALSTOM will supply a total of 19 trainsets, comprising 3 cars each. The first
deliveries are scheduled for the opening of metro line 1 in early 2008. The
metro is expected to carry 200,000 passengers every day.
Three ALSTOM sites will be involved in this project: ALSTOM's site in
Charleroi, Belgium will be in charge of the manufacture and integration of the
traction systems. ALSTOM's site in Le Creusot, France will provide the bogies.
ALSTOM's site in Barcelona, Spain will be responsible for the car manufacture
and assembly.
Since the development of the METROPOLIS range in 1997, ALSTOM has won
contracts in cities around the world. Today, more than 1700 METROPOLIS trains
are in service in cities such as Barcelona, Warsaw, Singapore, Rio de Janeiro,
Sao Paulo, Buenos Aires and Santiago de Chile.
Bombardier Wins Vehicle Renovation and Bogie
Overhaul Work UK's First Great Western
Montreal PQ June 6, 2006 - Bombardier
Transportation is delighted to announce that it has been awarded two
significant contracts from the UK operator First Great Western, part of
FirstGroup plc, the leading transport company. The first order, worth $100
million US (pounds sterling 53 million) is for the renovation of 405 high
speed train (HST) trailer cars to be used by the operator on their premier
services between London, Bristol, South Wales, the Cotswolds and the West of
England.
This renewal work, to include an extensive
interior refresh and an exterior repaint, will be carried out across two of
Bombardier's sites in the U.K., Derby and Ilford. Bombardier's new
refurbishment center at Derby will complete the majority of this work, a total
of 294 cars. The remaining 111 coaches will be refreshed at Ilford. Delivery
of the completed units will commence in November 2006, with all the vehicles
renewed by the end of 2007.
The second contract, at a value of up to $160
million US (85 million pounds sterling) is for HST bogie overhaul and
technical development work, to be undertaken throughout the life of the new
Great Western franchise, for up to ten years. This work will be carried out at
Bombardier's site in Crewe in the UK.
Commenting on the announcement, Colin Walton,
Chief Country Representative, U.K. said: "This win is excellent news for
our workforces at Derby, Ilford and Crewe. Our employees will ensure that
First Great Western receives a first class service from Bombardier."
Rik Dobbelaere, President, Services, Bombardier
Transportation, added: "We have created a state-of-the-art specialist
refurbishment center at Derby and this renewal work is further proof of our
leadership and expertise in this area. The bogie overhaul contract confirms
the quality of the bogie work that we have carried out in partnership with
First Group over the past decade. We are looking forward to continuing to
enhance the product, improving fleet reliability and performance."
Alison Forster, Managing Director, First Great
Western said: "This work is part of a wider investment commitment made by
First Great Western and is good news for our customers. We are delighted to be
working with Bombardier and we are looking forward to seeing improved levels
of passenger comfort and train reliability."
Bombardier Transportation provides a global
support network for its products, with employees working closely in
conjunction with its customers in 70 locations worldwide. The complete service
portfolio includes full train and fleet maintenance, materials and logistics
programs, plus the refurbishment, re-engineering and overhaul of systems,
vehicles and components.
In the UK's rail transportation industry,
Bombardier is a leader in the manufacturing, refurbishment and maintenance of
rolling stock, with a workforce of over 4,000 people. It has production
facilities in Derby and Plymouth, with employees based at 24 maintenance,
refurbishment and overhaul centers across the UK, at which Bombardier
currently maintains approximately 2500 vehicles.
WestPac LNG Corporation: Approval Process
Begins for Prince Rupert LNG Terminal
Prince Rupert BC June 6, 2006 - WestPac LNG
Corporation is proposing to build a $350 million dollar Liquefied Natural Gas
(LNG) receipt and transshipment terminal on Ridley Island, an industrial park
11 kilometers outside of this northern port city. The Calgary-based company
has formally begun the environmental assessment and regulatory review process
by filing its Project Description with the Prince Rupert Port Authority.
"When built, our terminal will provide the Northwest Coast, Vancouver
Island and the Lower Mainland of BC with access to a reliable supply of
natural gas that should contribute to future economic development and power
possibilities," says Mark Butler, President of WestPac.
To conduct the environmental assessment, WestPac has retained Jacques Whitford
-- a national consulting firm that has successfully completed several
LNG-related environmental assessments on both coasts of Canada and in Qatar,
in the Middle East.
WestPac earlier entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Prince
Rupert Port Authority for a 30-year lease, with a provision for three,
ten-year extensions, with the Port for 100 hectares on Ridley Island adjacent
to existing grain and coal shipping terminals.
The Project will include a new marine berthing facility with transfer piping
to onshore LNG storage tanks; two to four onshore LNG storage tanks, with a
total capacity to transship the natural gas equivalent of up to one billion
cubic feet per day of LNG; a natural gas liquids extraction facility, with
storage; infrastructure for barge, rail car and truck, LNG and natural gas
liquids loading; and LNG re-gasification facilities with a capacity of up to
130 million cubic feet per day of natural gas and related infrastructure for
interconnection to existing pipelines at the Project site.
The Prince Rupert LNG terminal will create at least 300 jobs during
construction and about 30 full time jobs once operational in 2011. The
proposal has already received expressions of support from the local community
as a means of bringing natural gas to the area for affordable energy to
support existing industry and enable future economic development.
A full and complete analysis of any risks associated with the establishment of
the LNG terminal will be met through the environmental assessment and
regulatory review of the project. The proposed terminal will be designed and
constructed to Canadian and international standards for LNG facilities. There
will be an extensive public consultation process. "We are committed to
treat any concerns with thoughtful regard and consideration," says
Butler.
The Prince Rupert Port Authority operates the deepest harbor in North America
offering easy and ice-free navigation access that can safely accommodate LNG
tankers. "The port will rigorously assess the proposed terminal beginning
with a full environmental assessment," notes Don Krusel, President and
Chief Executive Officer of the Prince Rupert Port Authority. "We know
numerous ports around the world operate safe LNG facilities and we're
confident that WestPac will develop and operate their facility to the highest
standards."
Krusel points out that the LNG facility also fits well with the Port's
strategic plan to diversify port operations and grow a dynamic and sustainable
business that will also help ensure the long-term economic health Prince
Rupert and the region.
Prince Rupert Mayor Herb Pond agrees, adding, "An unrestricted supply of
natural gas becomes a catalyst for future investment and jobs because the
availability of abundant, secure supplies of natural gas will remove
bottlenecks that have constrained growth and development in the past."
LNG facilities are not new to British Columbia. A production facility has
operated in the Tilbury Island region of Greater Vancouver since 1971 without
incident. Seven LNG projects have been announced in Canada including a
proposed terminal in Kitimat and an LNG project was approved on Vancouver
Island within the past year.
The LNG terminal will help meet future demand for natural gas and electricity
in BC and across North America at a time when costs are rising and reserves
are decreasing. It will provide new and flexible energy options for planners
in the Province of British Columbia by allowing access to natural gas in
volumes and at locations where gas was not previously available or where it
could not be economically transported.
LNG is transported in specially insulated ships and pumped into safe
double-walled storage tanks at LNG terminals for later delivery by smaller
vessels, truck or rail. LNG can be re-gasified for distribution through the
natural gas pipeline system.
Liquefied natural gas is created by cooling natural gas into a liquid state at
a temperature of minus 162C. This reduces the space natural gas occupies by
600 times making it practical for transport and storage. It has been safely
transported by ship, truck and rail car for more than 50 years. More than
33,000 ship cargos of LNG have been safely transported over a combined
distance of 60 million miles without serious mishap or fatality. Annually,
more than 150 ocean tankers safely transport more than 110 million tonnes of
LNG, a volume greater than all gas consumed in American homes each year. LNG
provides the only source of natural gas for use in both Korea and Japan, with
one LNG cargo arriving into Tokyo Harbor every 20 hours.
BTS Releases Transportation Services Index (TSI);
Index Rose 0.1 % in April from March
Washington June 6, 2006 - The Transportation
Services Index (TSI) rose 0.1 percent in April from its March level, rising
for the second consecutive month, the Bureau of Transportation Statistics
(BTS), a part of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Research and
Innovative Technology Administration (RITA), reported today.
TSI is a single seasonally adjusted index of
the month-to-month changes in the output of services provided by the for-hire
transportation industries, including railroad, air, truck, inland waterways,
pipeline, and local transit.
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