. Earth Science News .




.
FAST TRACK
Alstom in deal to build high-speed rail in Iraq
by Staff Writers
Le Bourget, France (AFP) June 24, 2011

French engineering group Alstom is in exclusive talks to build a high-speed rail line between Baghdad and Basra in Iraq, French junior transport minister Thierry Mariani said Friday.

"Alstom and the Iraqi railway have signed a memorandum of understanding to build a high-speed rail line between Baghdad and Basra," Mariani told journalists at the Paris International Airshow.

The two will hold exclusive talks for 12 months to try to wrap up a final agreement.

An Alstom spokesman confirmed the agreement, and said they were seeking a deal that would include the construction of the rail line plus trains and service.

The spokesman said the 650-kilometre rail network would handle speeds of up to 250 kilometres per hour (135 mph).

The network would include a 150 kilometre link between Baghdad and Basra and serve the cities of Karbala, Najaf, Moussayeb and Samawah.

Mariani said he would travel to Iraq in September or October to discuss the possible deal.

No financial details were immediately available.

In May, Alstom announced a separate preliminary deal to build a 25 kilometre elevated commuter train network in Baghdad.




Related Links
Great Train Journey's of the 21st Century

.
Get Our Free Newsletters Via Email
...
Buy Advertising Editorial Enquiries






. Comment on this article via your Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle



FAST TRACK
China's key high-speed rail to open July 1: report
Beijing (AFP) June 23, 2011
China's much-anticipated high-speed rail link between Beijing and Shanghai will go into service on July 1, state media said Thursday, after a corruption scandal that toppled the former railways minister. A ceremony will be held on June 30 to mark the opening of the link, before trains go into commercial use on July 1, the Xinhua news agency reported, citing the railways ministry. The min ... read more


FAST TRACK
Haiti leader vows to tighten adoption rules

New Zealand offers to buy 5,000 quake-hit homes

Japan cleaning radioactive water, says PM aide

TEPCO books more than $1.5 bn in additional losses

FAST TRACK
BlackBerry maker upbeat on Asian growth markets

Stretching Old Material Yields New Results for Energy

Rare earth minerals prices skyrocket

Tablet war heats up as Asia challenges iconic iPad

FAST TRACK
'Super sand' for better purification of drinking water

Pacific's California current likened to Africa's Serengeti Plain

Surprises from the ocean: Marine plankton and ocean pH

Three Gorges tarnishes new hydropower?

FAST TRACK
NASA to embark on last leg of Arctic sea study

Life Between Snowball Earths

Arctic snow harbors deadly assassin

Glaciations may have larger influence on biodiversity than current climate

FAST TRACK
European And US Consumer Views On Cloned Products Differ

Early-season strawberry tested in high elevation conditions

Pollination services at risk following declines of Swedish bumblebees

New curation tool a boon for genetic biologists

FAST TRACK
Floods kill 24 as rains pound north Nigeria city

Patagonian shepherds fear Chile ash disaster

Japan lifts tsunami warning after strong quake

Experts warn Chile volcano could explode again

FAST TRACK
China's power play for Africa alarms U.S.

World Bank to fund environment projects in Madagascar

Somalia Islamists vow loyalty to Zawahiri

Sudan army 'to fight by all means' in border state

FAST TRACK
Researchers find smart decisions for changing environmental times

Can humans sense the Earth's magnetism

Walker's World: Here come the 'age wars'

Family genetic research reveals the speed of human mutation


Memory Foam Mattress Review
Newsletters :: SpaceDaily Express :: SpaceWar Express :: TerraDaily Express :: Energy Daily
XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News
.

The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2011 - Space Media Network. AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement