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Breaking News
Damage discovery delays rail link reopening
OBAMA AIMS TO USE WAR SAVINGS ON INFRASTRUCTURE
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama proposed ploughing half the money America will save from the end of its wars in Iraq and Afghanistan into high-speed rail lines and repairs to the nation's creaking roads and infrastructure.
The plan likely will face an uphill battle in Congress where Republicans frequently point to high-speed rail projects as a waste of money at a time of tight budgets.
"So much of America needs to be rebuilt," Obama said in his annual State of the Union address on Tuesday, adding the United States has "crumbling roads and bridges."
Rail freight line work done
Work has finished on an important rail freight branch line in Victoria's Wimmera-Mallee.
Trains are expected to start running on the Yaapeet line in the next few weeks after construction work and inspections were finished.
Rail freight back on the move in Pakistan
Pakistan Railways has restarted rail freight services from the port of Karachi, after a six-month gap due to a lack of locomotives.
A spokesman said daily services would be used to clear a backlog of of coal, phosphate and railways material at the port, while container services would restart within 10 days.
Around 15 locomotives had been operating freight trains last year but services were suspended in July, due to an “acute shortage of locomotives”.
Light rail tunnel for Surry Hills proposed
THE state government faces a judgment call over whether to build a light rail tunnel under Surry Hills or a cheaper but slower surface link between the eastern suburbs and the city.
The Herald has been told transport planners working on the city's light rail expansion expect the tunnel option to be about seven minutes faster for commuters travelling through Surry Hills.
That would be a significant advantage in travel time for anyone using the line to get between Central Station and Anzac Parade and Randwick.
But the faster route would be offset by a significantly higher cost. The tunnel to the eastern suburbs could cost about $100 million, sources said.
News in brief
Asciano seeks new driver for rail-freight business
ASCIANO has begun a search for a new boss of its rail-freight business after Chris Keast handed in his resignation after about two years in the role.
Mr Keast will stay on at Pacific National Rail, which hauls containers and bulk products such as grain in all states except Tasmania, until as late as September to ensure an ''orderly handover'' to his successor. A spokeswoman said Mr Keast did not have plans to go to another job.
As part of leadership changes announced yesterday, the rail and ports company has also decided not to replace the head of its Patrick stevedoring division, Paul Garaty.
Man killed trying to cross train tracks at St Albans
PM to question Barnett on Oakajee report
Prime Minister Julia Gillard will write to Western Australia's premier about reports the builder of Australia's largest infrastructure project is being directed to import Chinese equipment and services.
Foreign companies are being favoured over local contractors, with Oakajee Port and Rail (OPR) told to endeavour to secure the involvement of private or state-owned Chinese companies, The Australian reported on Wednesday.
Japanese-owned OPR is pressing on with plans for a $6 billion port and infrastructure project near Geraldton, in WA's Mid-West, to open up the region's junior iron ore plays, despite hitting trouble with its joint venture partner Murchison Metals last month.
Teenager dies while train surfing at Caulfield Station
A MAN has died after he was electrocuted while train surfing in Melbourne's south last night.
The man, believed to be aged in his late teens, was train surfing when he was electrocuted at Caulfield Station just before 11pm.
A police spokeswoman said police were speaking to a number of people who were at the station at the time.
Union Pacific Plans $1B In Neb. Rail Upgrades
Union Pacific said Friday it plans to invest $1 billion in railroad projects in Nebraska over the next several years to upgrade the capacity of its network.
Jim Young, the CEO of Union Pacific Corp., said he expects the investments to help create at least 1,000 jobs in Nebraska. The company plans to invest the money over about seven years, but the projects could be accelerated if the economy improves quicker than expected.