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Deutsche Bahn (DB) has started construction of the railway connection upgrade to the future Fehmarnbelt tunnel. This tunnel under construction will form a shortcut to Danish capital Copenhagen across the Fehmarn strait. The travel time between Hamburg and Copenhagen will be cut from 4.5 hours to 2.5 hours when the tunnel and rail connection are finished in 2029. The railway connection which DB started constructing is the crucial link between the tunnel, which connects Lolland in Denmark with the German island of Fehmarn, and the mainland in the German state Schleswig-Holstein. The Danish company Femern A/S is building the Fehmarnbelt tunnel. The German Federal government, the state of Schleswig-Holstein, Deutsche Bahn and the European Union are jointly investing around 3.5 billion euros in the project. With 18.2 kilometres, the Fehmarnbelt tunnel will be the world’s longest immersed tunnel for both vehicles and trains. The official starting signal for the construction of the railway link was given this Thursday by DB Infrastructure Board Member Berthold Huber, Schleswig-Holstein’s Prime Minister Daniel Günther and State Secretary Susanne Henckel in Fehmarn. A total of 88 kilometres of new railways are being built on the German side between Puttgarden (on Fehmarn) and Lübeck. Deutsche Bahn is initially starting with the double-track expansion and electrification of the 11.4-kilometre-long route between Puttgarden and the Fehmarnsund Bridge – the first of a total of ten construction phases. From 2026, construction will begin in parallel on all sections between Fehmarn and Lübeck. Of the 88 kilometres of the total route, 55 kilometres are planned as new construction. On the island of Fehmarn, construction preparations such as clearing vegetation and trees have been underway since October. It is a big upgrade to the so-called ‘Vogelfluglinie’ or ‘bird flight line’, the current road and single-track rail connection to the island of Fehmarn via the Fehmarnsund Bridge, opened in 1963, and continuing by ferry to Denmark. As of December 2019, the rail ferry connection on the Vogelfluglinie was discontinued due to track work on the Danish side as part of the construction of the Fehmarnbelt tunnel. Instead, all long-distance trains between Hamburg and Copenhagen now run via the Jutland line, via the Flensburg–Kolding–Odense route and the Great Belt Bridge in Denmark. https://lnkd.in/eUa2DheJ

This week, Canada's transit infrastructure took centre stage: Alberta has started investigating an expansive new rail network, a major tunnelling project approached the finish line in Toronto, and B.C. named the team it hopes to build vital components of a major Skytrain expansion. Here's the #infrastructure news that caught our attention: - Alberta has launched a feasibility study to investigate building a rail network that would include a high-speed link between Edmonton and Calgary. Preliminary reports suggest a Crown corporation like Ontario’s Metrolinx would build and operate regional commuter rail lines around Calgary and Edmonton, while networks in the rest of the province would be privately run. https://lnkd.in/eZbdJA55 - The province also announced it's one step closer to starting construction of the Red Deer Hospital Ambulatory Building: three organizations have been qualified through the RFP stage. This puts the project on track to start construction next spring. https://lnkd.in/e5r37SRk - B.C. has selected Transit Integrators BC to enter into final contract negotiations for the Surrey-Langley Skytrain's systems and trackwork contract. The team includes AtkinsRéalis Major Projects Inc., AtkinsRéalis Canada Inc. and Western Pacific Enterprises Ltd. https://lnkd.in/ePx2hevr - Ontario reached an agreement with the federal government that will allow the province's Highway 413 project to proceed. Fieldwork has begun on the proposed 52-kilometre highway that will run west from Highway 400 in Vaughan, Ont., through Peel Region and southwest to Highway 401 in Halton Region, west of Toronto. https://lnkd.in/e6VmfFkq - One of two twin tunnel boring machines excavating tunnels for the western underground segment of the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension has reached its destination. The 750-tonne, 131-metre-long machine has spent the last two years excavating one of two 6.3-kilometre tunnels in western Toronto. The second tunnelling machine is set to arrive at the extraction shaft in the coming weeks. https://lnkd.in/eVKsvJrU - A new T.D. Economics report suggests the federal government's housing plan faces supply-side capacity constraints and demand measures aren't expected to have a significant impact. https://lnkd.in/eU2Ut-Fh CCPPP members receive daily briefings of the top stories impacting the sector delivered to their mailboxes at 10 a.m.E.T. Learn more about membership: https://lnkd.in/g9HtfkSv

Experience Opening Major Roads from Binh Duong My Phuoc – Tan Van Road (Binh Duong) connects and passes through Di An city and Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Duong Chi Tuong/TTXVN Massive Projects About to Commence Noteworthy in 2024, the Ho Chi Minh City – Thu Dau Mot – Chon Thanh Highway project will be invested in under the public-private partnership (PPP) model with a total investment of about VND 17,408 billion and expected to commence construction this year. To ensure the right investment progress, Binh Duong provincial People’s Committee has assigned the Project Management Board of provincial transport infrastructure investment to act as the investor of the component 1 clearance project. Accordingly, it is expected to hand over at least 50% of the cleared site to implement the construction of the first component tenders by the second quarter of 2024. The first highway crossing Binh Duong is expected to be completed in 2027. The Ho Chi Minh City Ring Road 4 section from Thu Bien Bridge – Sai Gon River (phase 1) is divided into 2 component projects including component project 1, which is the clearance for the Ho Chi Minh City Ring Road 4 section from Thu Bien Bridge – Sai Gon River, and component project 2, which is the investment for the construction of the Ho Chi Minh City Ring Road 4 section from Thu Bien Bridge – Sai Gon River (phase 1) under the PPP format. Accordingly, Binh Duong provincial People’s Committee issued Decision No. 2865/QD-UBND to allocate capital plan for the Ho Chi Minh City Ring Road 4 section from Thu Bien Bridge – Sai Gon River (phase 1) project with VND 7,500 billion. Currently, the project is carrying out piling and design zoning for land clearance implementation. It is expected to approve the component projects in March 2024. The cleared land is expected to be handed over, at least 50% in the second quarter of 2024, 70% in the third quarter of 2024, and complete the entire land clearance in 2024. The project will commence construction in the second quarter of 2024 and be put into operation from the fourth quarter of 2026. The key project Ho Chi Minh City Ring Road 3 section passing through Binh Duong province with a total length of 26.6 km and an investment level of VND 19,280 billion has been started in 2023, and until now, the component tenders are being expedited urgently. According to Mr. Tran Hung Viet, Director of the provincial Transport Department of Binh Duong, the implementation progress of the key projects is being expedited according to the general progress of the entire project. Specifically, the construction of the Ho Chi Minh City Ring Road 3 project package 2 units have arranged work during Tet holiday to ensure the progress as required by the investor. According to representatives of the provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Binh Duong, to meet the material sources for the Ho Chi Minh City Ring Road 3 project, the province has invited mining enterpri...

Paving the Way: India's Accelerated Infrastructure Growth India's journey towards becoming a developed nation by 2047 hinges significantly on improving its infrastructure. The government's commitment is evident through its allocation of 3.3% of GDP to the infrastructure sector in the fiscal year 2024. Roads -  - Phase I aims to develop 34,800 km of National Highways and is set to conclude by 2027-2028 - The project will cover 31 States/UTs and over 550 districts - The government plans to build 22 new greenfield expressways as part of the project Airports - - The Ministry of Civil Aviation's flagship Regional Connectivity Scheme UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagarik) aims to enhance air connectivity to regional airports in small towns. - The Budget for 2023–24 allocated INR 1,244.07 Cr to UDAN, doubling the previous year's budget, with plans to revive 22 airports. - The government outlined the revival of 50 additional airports, heliports, water aerodromes, and advanced landing grounds. Railways - - Ambitious projects in India's railway sector include the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Speed Rail Corridor, world's highest pier bridge, and the Chenab bridge in Jammu & Kashmir - Introduction of 35 indigenously designed Vande Bharat Express trains, with plans for six more - Trains serving up to 247 districts across the country - Indian Railways aiming to become Net Zero Carbon Emitter by 2030 Ports - - Indian Ports "Turn Around Time" of 0.9 days is better than USA, Australia, and Singapore - Sagarmala promotes port-led development in India - Port capacity to increase from 2,600 MTPA to more than 10,000 MTPA by 2047 - Cargo through waterways increased by 7.49% from April to November 2022 to 2023 - Government aims to operationalize 23 waterways by 2030. Electric Vehicle - - Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced plans to expand the electric vehicle ecosystem in the Interim Budget - 72,930 new electric four-wheelers registered in the country in 2023, nearly double from the previous year - Electric vehicles captured a 6.3% market share in 2023, a substantial rise from pre-pandemic levels Facts to Check - - Private sector participation is crucial for financing key infrastructure projects in India due to government fiscal constraints - National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP) launched in 2020 with an investment of INR 111 Lakh Cr over 2020-2025, promoting Public Private Partnerships (PPP) - PPP projects like Pune metro line 3, Hyderabad metro extensions, and Chennai logistics park are in the pipeline - Development of urban and rural areas is important for national progress, with 40% of population projected to be in urban areas by 2030 - Smart Cities Mission aims to address challenges of rapid urbanization, with 6,753 projects completed as of February 2024 - Rural areas expected to contribute significantly to new internet user growth, with 56% of new users coming from rural India by 2025, emphasizing connectivity between rural and urban regions.

Deputy Prime Minister inspects Al Fateh Highway underpass Manama: Shaikh Khalid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Deputy Prime Minister, paid an inspection visit to the partial opening of the underpass at the intersection of Al Fateh Highway with Awal and Bani Otbah avenues (Al Fateh Grand Mosque Junction).   Wael bin Nasser Al Mubarak, Minister of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture, Ibrahim Hassan Ali Al Hawaj, Works Minister, and Sultan bin Abdulrahman Al Murshid, CEO of Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) were present.   The development project is considered an essential part of developing the vital highway, which is funded within the Gulf Development Program by the SFD, at a total cost of about BHD 35 million.   The Deputy Primer praised the efforts of the Works Ministry in developing Bahrain's infrastructure, particularly Al Fateh Highway development project, which is being carried out in accordance with the highest standards of accuracy, taking into account the traffic flow on this strategic street during construction, and which, once completed, will reduce traffic congestion on the roads in the capital city of Manama.   Al Hawaj said that the project works to meet Bahrain's current and future development needs, as well as to revitalize the economy, as it connects Mina Salman intersection with the North Manama Causeway Bridge, which connects to Bahrain Bay.   As part of the ministry's plans to improve traffic flow as the remaining parts of the project are completed, the partial opening of the underpass will provide additional work spaces, which can be used to complete the rest of the project on schedule, he added.   The minister noted that a new diversion at Al Fateh Mosque intersection will operate three lanes of the underpass, with two lanes for southbound traffic and one lane for northbound traffic. At the current light signal, two additional northbound lanes will be provided above the undrpass, providing the necessary space for the remaining underpass segments on the southwest side of the Gulf Hotel.   The CEO of SFD said that Al Fateh development is one of the Gulf Development Program projects to develop Bahrain's infrastructure and promote sustainable development and economic growth, as well as contribute to the development of the transportation sector.   It is noteworthy that the Al Fateh highway development project aims to increase the capacity of the street to reach 140,000 vehicles per day, a 61% increase from the previous situation for the volume of traffic used for the same street, which was 87,000 vehicles per day. In terms of the three-lane Al Fateh highway underpass, which will be fully operational on the scheduled date, it will extend 600 meters in both directions. For more details please visit: timesofbahrain . . . . . #timesofbahrain #localnews #gulfnews #worldnews #bahrain

European Commission Commits €61 Million to Enhance Railway Line Infrastructure in Poland https://ift.tt/Q3wLAla The European Commission has approved an investment of more than €61 million from the 2014-2020 Cohesion Fund, in order to improve railway line 202 in the Gdynia-Chylonia-Słupsk section. The Commission gave its green light to new investments on this railway line in Poland on October 3 that include the reconstruction of the track substructure, adding an extraction of the second track along the Wejherowo-Słupsk section, as well as the construction of new stops and the modernisation of all the stations. Thanks to this new EU investment, the railway transport in Poland will continue to develop and modernise. Trains between Gdynia and Słupsk will be faster and more attractive for citizens. Once again cohesion policy is bringing concrete benefits for EU citizens and this time, to Pomerania! Elisa Ferreira, Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms According to the Commission, this project will also involve installing computerised railway control devices to make the European Rail Traffic Management System work on the railway line. Furthermore, once the project is finalised, which is expected to happen in 2028, passenger trains in that area will be able to go as fast as 160 km/h, and even up to 200 km/h in certain sections of the track. This will make the line able to handle more trains and make them run on time more often than usual. In addition, according to this plan, the goal is for passengers to prefer using the improved railway stations over travelling by private cars. This preference would contribute to a more sustainable and eco-friendly transportation system by reducing pollution, enabling fewer emissions and less congestion. Recently, the Commission has been actively investing in railway infrastructure across the EU. In December of last year, the Commission approved an investment of over €109 million to build a new circular railway section in Palermo, Italy. Additionally, in April of this year, the Commission also announced its commitment to grant an amount of €190 million to upgrade the railway infrastructure of Slovakia, connecting the Žilina-Teplička railway, a very important part of the trans-European transport network. All three projects intend to upgrade the railways in so many ways: by infrastructure changes, making travelling easier, aiming towards a more sustainable transformation choice and setting up computerised devices for railway control. These investments demonstrate the EU’s efforts to improve transportation networks and enable eco-friendly transportation throughout the continent. via Monte OZ Live https://monteozlive.com October 08, 2023 at 03:21PM

CFR Infrastructure and Yapi (Turkey) can sign the 580 million lei (118.367.346 EUR) contract with PNRR money for fast repairs on the Bucharest-Pitești train line, the Greek Aktor's appeal being rejected by the National Council for Settlement of Disputes (CNSC) The PNRR contract to lift speed restrictions on the non-electrified Bucharest-Pitești line was put out to tender in August 2022, and CFR Infrastructură awarded the contract on 3 October to the Turkish builder Yapı Merkezi İnșaat ve Sanayi A.Ș with a bid of 584 million lei, compared to the railway company's estimate of 660 million lei. As early as May 2021, the company has started work to increase train speeds from 50 km/h. to 120 km/h, which is necessary to prepare the railway infrastructure before acquiring hydrogen trains, according to former state secretary in the Ministry of Transport Adrian Covăsnianu. Aktor's appeal was rejected on the merits on Monday 27 November after a month and a half of analysis. SRCF Bucharest has designated the winning bids in the public tender procedure for the replacement works of the track superstructure elements on the CF 101 Bucharest - Pitești line, an investment financed by the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR). The bids submitted by Yapı Merkezi İnșaat ve Sanayi A.Ș for the 2 lots on the CF CHITILA - GOLEȘTI interval, related to the Bucharest - Pitești line, have been designated the winners. - Lot 1: Chitila - Ciocănești (track II) and Ciocănești - Titu (track I and II), from km 10 600 to km 49 780 (current and direct lines from Săbăreni, Ciocănești and Ghergani stations). The winning financial offer: 257,322,902.95 lei (excluding VAT). Estimated value: 304,257,778.46 lei (excluding VAT) - Lot 2: Titu - Călinești - Golesti (track I and II), from km 49 980 to km 95 000 (current and direct lines from Fusea, Mătăsaru, Găești, Leordeni and Călinești stations). The winning financial bid: 326,550,492.37 lei (excluding VAT). Estimated value: 386,627,248.36 lei (excluding VAT). The aim of the work is to replace in turn the track superstructure components on the 196.7 km of the CF line in order to bring the line within the designed parameters, increase the maximum speed of passenger trains to 120 km/h, eliminate the costs caused by restrictions, increase the efficiency of the operation and maximise safety. Under the two contracts, works will be carried out on a total length of 196.7 km of the CF, on the CHITILA - GOLEȘTI CF line, by replacing the following components of the track superstructure in turn: rail, switches and crossings, parts for switches and crossings, transition couplers, normal and special wooden sleepers (for switches and crossings and bridges), bridge counter rails, metal decking, tamped and un tamped for bridges, fully equipped concrete sleepers, elastic slabs for level crossings, small material, crushed stone, including works for the realisation of the track without joists", CFR Infrastructure sent.

The #German #construction sector has publicly criticised the government’s “negligent investment policy” after a 20% reduction in national #roads budget was announced while 4,000 road #bridges are in need of #refurbishment. Die Autobahn GmbH des Bundes, the German federal #infrastructure company for #highways and trunk roads, is to have its budget cut by 20%, from €6.2bn (£5.3bn) to €4.9bn (£4.2bn) and #engineers have said this will yield more closed bridges and deteriorating roads. The Federal Association of Medium-Sized Construction Companies (BVMB), the German Construction Industry Association (HDB), the German Construction Industry Association (ZDB), the Association of Consulting Engineers (VBI), Pro #Mobility - Initiative for Transport Infrastructure, the DVLV - German Association for Noise Protection on Transport Routes, the Steel Crash Barriers Quality Association and the German Asphalt Association (DAV) issued the statement condemning the German federal government’s approach. The joint statement said more than 4,000 #motorway bridges in #Germany “are currently in urgent need of renovation or must be rebuilt”. The associations said Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing had promised at a bridge summit in 2022 that the federal government would undertake 400 bridge projects per year from 2026 and clear the #renovation backlog within 10 years. The promise “is unlikely to be kept” according to the joint statement. The ‘emergency call’ from the trade associations said: “We're a long way from the 400 bridges a year. “In addition, in recent weeks, #tenders have increasingly been cancelled due to a lack of money and the Autobahn GmbH’s construction program is being stretched overall. “On top of that, it was announced that the Autobahn GmbH’s budget is to be cut by 20% [...] This negligent investment policy will lead to more bridges being closed and the road network continuing to deteriorate.” The trade associations called for an additional €1bn to be invested every year by the federal government to modernise Germany’s bridges and highways. The statement said that, according to the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMDV), “more than 1,000 motorway bridge structures are in an ‘inadequate #structural condition’ and 80 structures are in an ‘inadequate structural condition’.” It went on to say, given the BMDV data, the “load-bearing capacity and functionality of a large number of bridges is severely impaired. If the bridge construction program is not implemented - as announced by the federal government - the associations predict further bridge failures that would paralyse traffic for years. “The companies have increased their capacities because they were confident that the orders announced by the federal government would come through. Now the construction companies are instead on hold, which results in considerable #financial losses. Short-time work, including in bridge construction, can no longer be ruled out.”

Exploring Denmark's Ambitious Infrastructure Plans: The Kattegat Link Project Denmark is embarking on an ambitious journey to enhance its transportation network with the construction of one of Europe's most significant infrastructure projects – the immersed Fehmarn Belt road and rail tunnel connecting Denmark and Germany. Spanning an impressive 18 kilometers under the Baltic Sea, this tunnel will link the Danish island of Lolland with the German island of Fehmarn. As Denmark paves the way for improved connectivity, the idea of the Kattegat link is gaining traction within Danish society. This proposed combined road and rail bridge aims to traverse the 35-kilometer Kattegat Strait, connecting the Jutland city of Aarhus, Denmark's second-largest city, with the island of Zealand, and more specifically, Kalundborg on Zealand's western shore. The economic incentive behind this proposed link is clear – to establish a direct route between Copenhagen on Zealand's eastern coast and Aarhus. This route would run westward across Zealand to Kalundborg and include a bridge over Samsø, a small island in the Kattegat Sea. The envisioned link comprises two key sections: Kalundborg to Samsø and Samsø to Aarhus. Back in March 2020, COWI submitted studies for this ambitious project, examining various corridors from central Zealand to Aarhus via Samsø. These studies not only assessed the road and rail infrastructure in Jutland and Zealand but also explored technical solutions between the coasts of Zealand and Jutland, including corridors via Sjællands Odde. The proposal for a Kattegat Bridge is not a new concept, with successive governments over the past two decades considering it as a complement to the existing 18km Great Belt Fixed Link that connects Zealand and Funen with a road suspension bridge, a railway tunnel, and a box-girder bridge for both road and rail traffic. As Denmark shapes its path towards improved connectivity and sustainable economic growth, the Kattegat Link Project sparks interest and debate. What benefits and challenges do different corridors present? How might this project impact the economic landscape of the connected regions? Do you believe the Kattegat Link is a crucial next step for Denmark's transportation network? Join the conversation and share your thoughts on this transformative infrastructure initiative. More links: https://kattegat.dk/ https://lnkd.in/eATdiXgX Picture source: COWI Source info: Transportministeriet, Kattegatforbindelse.dk Kattegat.dk ___ 👍 Your insights matter. Like if you find value, re-post ♻️, and follow for more interesting rail, and innovation insights.

EXCITING RAIL NEWS FROM CANADA!!!!!! Minister of Transport announces the launch of the Request for Proposals for the High Frequency Rail project!!!! The High Frequency Rail project will be the largest Canadian infrastructure project in generations. Once operational, the rail line will span the Québec City to Toronto corridor with dedicated passenger tracks. "This transformational project will provide clean, safe, and efficient travel, drive our economy, and strengthen our partnerships with Indigenous communities". Today (Friday 13th Oct.), the Minister of Transport and Quebec Lieutenant, Pablo Rodriguez, announced the launch of the Request for Proposals (RFP). The RFP process will be ongoing until summer 2024. Following the evaluation period, the Government of Canada will select the group who will become the private developer partner to work collaboratively with VIA HFR to design and develop the High Frequency Rail project. To maximize public benefits and innovation, RFP bidders will have to develop two solutions with respect to speed. One solution must include trains that can reach a maximum speed of 200 km per hour, which is faster than the service offered today. The second solution must include high speed segments for faster travel. This will allow for a rigorous assessment of the costs and benefits of incorporating high speed rail on each segment of the Corridor. The High Frequency Rail project’s competitive procurement process follows the highest standards of fairness and transparency. It is overseen by an independent Fairness Monitor, who acts as an objective, third-party observer to safeguard the integrity of the procurement process. National security and related risks will also be assessed, along with measures to address such risks. High Frequency Rail is a transformational project that will fundamentally change the way Canadians travel in southern Québec and Ontario, notably for communities who will be newly served by passenger rail service such as Trois-Rivières and Peterborough. 👁 Full Press Release : https://lnkd.in/d_A8hhia More To Follow .................... Keep Updated on this development : 🚉 https://lnkd.in/dhkSJd-w 🔊 On Track- Railway Construction, Bridges, Viaducts & Tunnels