May 2007 in rail transport

This article lists events related to rail transport that occurred in May 2007.

Events

May 5

•  – Officials in Bangladesh announce that the nation will sign on to the Trans-Asian Railway Network Agreement at an upcoming meeting in New York City. The plan for the network includes three lines between India and Myanmar that traverse Bangladesh.^[1]

May 7

•  – Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo presides over a groundbreaking ceremony in Abuja for the city's new light rail system. The project is scheduled to be completed in 2011, and is being touted as an asset for the city in its bid to host the 2014 Commonwealth Games. Speaking at the ceremony, Federal Capital Territory Minister Mallam Nasir el-Rufai cited transportation problems in Lagos as one reason to move the nation's capital to Abuja.^[2][3]

May 8

•  – Germany's Economy Minister Michael Glos rejects a bill drafted by that country's Transport Ministry for the privatization of Deutsche Bahn (DB). The bill's rejection means that a new bill will have to be drafted to address the concerns that have been raised, an action that could delay DB's planned IPO in September.^[4]
•  – Florida East Coast Industries (FECI), parent company of Florida East Coast Railroad (FEC), announces that the company will be acquired by Fortress Investment Group. The purchase, which was unanimously approved by FECI's Board of Directors, is estimated to be valued at $3.5 billion; the transaction is expected to be completed later in 2007.^[5]

May 16

•  – About 1,200 rail and bridge maintenance employees of Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) wage a strike action to protest in support of a 13% wage raise over a three-year period; the 3,200 members of Teamsters Canada Rail Conference are honoring the picket lines. Via Rail employees are not affected by the CPR strike since Via trains and facilities are operated by Via employees. CPR trains continue operating during the strike.^[6]

May 17

Wikinews has related news: Historic crossing of Korean border

•  – For the first time since the division of Korea, two trains cross between South Korea and North Korea in test runs. One train traveled the western coast from Munsan, South Korea to Kaesong, North Korea, while a second train traveled the eastern coast from Kumgang, North Korea, to Jejin, South Korea. 150 invited passengers were aboard each train, including a conductor who was aboard one of the last cross-border trains before the Korean War.^[7]
•  – Officials in India announce that the nation will sign on to the Trans-Asian Railway Network Agreement. As part of the agreement, India will build and rehabilitate rail links with neighboring Myanmar in projects that are estimated to cost more than Rs29.41 billion ($730 million). This announcement follows a similar announcement by Bangladesh on May 5.^[8]
•  – At a ceremony in Washington, D.C., the 2007 E. H. Harriman Awards are presented. In Group A, Norfolk Southern Railway maintained its Gold award streak for the 18th consecutive year, with the Silver going to CSX Transportation and the bronze to BNSF Railway. The Group B awards went to Kansas City Southern Railway (gold), Canadian Pacific Railway's United States subsidiary (silver) and Long Island Rail Road (bronze). The Group C awards went to Florida East Coast Railway (gold), Central Oregon and Pacific Railroad (silver) and BNSF Suburban Operations in Chicago (bronze), while the Group S&T awards went to Birmingham Southern Railroad (gold), Conrail (silver) and Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis (bronze).^[9]

May 28

•  – Government officials in Bangladesh announce the formation of a new six-member committee to investigate and plan upgrades to the Bangladesh Railway system. The goals of the new committee include the development of strategies to improve passenger service and to modernize the network. The committee is also tasked with determining the causes of accidents that occur on the system. At its first meeting, the new committee heard a proposal from an outside consulting firm on double tracking the Dhaka-Chittagong line.^[10]

May 29

•  – MÁV, the national rail carrier of Hungary opens the bidding process for its freight unit, MÁV Cargo Zrt. Initial bids for the company, which is currently valued at an estimated HUF30 billion ($161 million), are due by July 23, with binding bids due by October 19, 2007.^[11]

References