Siemens wins China high-speed train order

October 6th, 2009 $50B in high-speed rail applications submittedWASHINGTON — The Obama administration said Tuesday it has received applications from 24 states seeking $50 billion for high-speed rail projects, more than six times the money designated in the economic stimulus plan. A decision on which projects will receive funds will be made this winter, Joseph Szabo, head of the Federal Railroad Administration, said in a statement.

July 3rd, 2009 SoCal-to-Vegas route wins federal designationLAS VEGAS — The clogged tourist travel route between Southern California and Las Vegas has been designated a federal high-speed rail corridor, in a move that officials hope would signal increased cooperation between the regions on building speedier train travel. U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced Thursday that the route is now considered part of the federally designated California high-speed rail corridor.

July 2nd, 2009 Germany's Siemens to pay euro75M to combat corruptionMUNICH — German industrial conglomerate Siemens AG said Thursday it has agreed to pay euro75 million over 15 years to help bolster international anti-corruption efforts and to refrain from bidding for contracts under World Bank-financed projects until 2011. The Munich-based company said it agreed to pay the money — euro5 million ($7 million) annually for 15 years — to the United Nations and Transparency International as part of an agreement with the Washington-based World Bank, calling it part of its "ongoing efforts to address the consequences of the bribery scandal." Siemens, which makes products ranging from wind turbines to trams, has been embroiled in a far-reaching corruption scandal and has acknowledged making dubious payments to secure business.

July 1st, 2009 Former Greek Siemens exec ordered held in GermanyMUNICH — A German court said Wednesday it has ordered that a former head of Siemens AG's Greek branch be kept in custody pending a decision on his possible extradition to face money laundering and bribery charges. Michael Christoforakos, who holds both Greek and German citizenship, was arrested in Bavaria last week on a Greek-issued European warrant.

June 13th, 2009 German prosecutors charge ex-Siemens managerMUNICH, Germany — German prosecutors have charged a former top-ranking Siemens AG manager with breach of trust for his alleged role in a widespread corruption scandal at the Munich-based industrial conglomerate, an official said Saturday. Charges had been brought against the ex-head of finance for Siemens' communications branch, Michael Kutschenreuter, said Anton Winkler, a spokesman for Munich prosecutors.

June 2nd, 2009 Woman survives attempt at suicide by trainJERUSALEM — An Israeli woman laid herself on the tracks just before a train roared through a crossing in an apparent suicide attempt. But seconds after the train passed, she got up and walked away almost unhurt.

May 30th, 2009 US transport boss: Spain's trains are US' modelMADRID — Spain's bullet train system is a model to follow as America plans how to spend the money the government is injecting to stimulate the economy, the U.S. transportation secretary said Saturday.

May 30th, 2009 US transport boss, Spanish premier discuss trainsMADRID — Spain's bullet train system is a model to follow as America plans how to spend the money the government is spending to stimulate the economy, the U.S. transportation secretary said Saturday.

March 31st, 2009 MADRID - Eight people were arrested in Spain for planning an attack on the high-speed train being built in the northern region, Spanish Interior Minister Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba said. According to Rubalcaba, the detainees were members of a group that provided support to the Basque terrorist group (ETA), which has been fighting the government for a separate region.

February 4th, 2009 RANCHI - Passengers on the New Delhi-Ranchi Garib Rath express, which witnessed a high voltage drama after it was 'hijacked' by a drunk driver, heaved a sigh of relief after the train safely reached Ranchi railway station Thursday. The Garib Rath express left New Delhi on Wednesday evening for Ranchi on its first trip.

January 18th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Fresh from a ride on a Japanese bullet train, Railways Minister Lalu Prasad Monday announced that India would soon have similar high-speed trains on select routes. 'The day is not far off when the bullet train will run in the country,' Lalu Prasad told reporters here.

January 18th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Enthused by an exhilarating ride on a Japanese high-speed train last week during his visit to Japan, Railways Minister Lalu Prasad Monday said India would soon have similar bullet trains on selective routes and that his ministry would start scouting for global consultants. 'The day is not far off when the bullet train will run in the country,' Lalu Prasad told reporters here.

January 14th, 2009 DHAKA - The US has said that Bangladesh may get the bribe money allegedly paid by a telecom giant to former prime minister Khaleda Zia's younger son, but 'only if the verdict in the case filed by the US justice department goes in its favour', a media report said. Zia's son Arafat Rahman Koko is alleged to have stashed the money in bank accounts in Singapore, where he is convalescing in a hospital.

January 12th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Railways Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, who is on a seven-day visit to Japan, Tuesday took a ride on the Bullet Train in Tokyo to get a first hand experience of what the Japanese call Shinkansen high-speed trains. The minister along with Railway board Chairman K.C.

January 3rd, 2009 LUCKNOW - A freak rail accident in Kanpur Sunday disrupted movement of trains on the busy Delhi-Kolkata trunk route. An incoming goods train rammed into a stationary goods train near the Panki station in Kanpur, about 85 km from here.