GEORGIA: October 2019
Borjomi to Bakuriani Railway
(Gauge: 900mm) A visit to this location in October 2019 confirmed that this railway is still operating.
There are 2 round trips each day with the train well used by the local population on the 37km route. Every so often the driver stopped to pick mushrooms from the line side and allowed the reporter into the cab and in the driving seat while the train trundled along. There was no evidence of any freight and checking elsewhere, it appears that it was used to transport andesite from a mine near Bakuriani until 1991, but now it is just a passenger service. All the locos appear to be to the standard BoBo electric design as used in the brown coal industry built by the Skoda Works in the former Czechoslovakia.
(Posted 12.10.2019 Source: Paul Duncan)
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IRELAND: October 2019
Bord na Mona
(Gauge: 3ft) The Bord na Móna website has announced a 1.6 Billion Euro investment in renewable energy development, new business projects, waste recycling and resource recovery for the next ten years, which means transitioning over 200 employees from peat-related operations to enhanced peatland rehabilitation programmes.
ESB has confirmed that that the two peat powered electricity plants at west Offaly in Shannonbridge and at Lanesborough on Lough Ree, will close at the end of 2020. This will mean that the major networks of 3ft gauge railways used to provide peat for these two locations will close.
The state subsidy for burning peat comes to an end by the end of 2019. Outside of power generation, other railways are also reported to be impacted by the renewable energy transition, for example, railways at Littleton and Ummeras only continuing until peat that has been stockpiled on the bogs is cleared, which may be as early as December/January.
Wagon tipper and loco workshops at Littleton seen from the top of the factory.
(Posted 02.11.2019 Source: Bord na Mona)
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ROMANIA: October 2019
CIECH Soda Romania, Govora
(Gauge: 760mm) It has been reported in the Romanian press on the 18th September that the Bistrita to Govora railway, operated by CIECH Soda Romania (formerly known as Uzinele Sodice Govora) ceased operations. There apeared to be an impasse reached in negotiations for a new contract. Ciech confirmed its Romanian unit received a notice of termination in June 2019 regarding its deal with the insolvent local heat and electricity producer CET Govora for the supply of industrial steam. The notice period was 3 months and as no progress had been made after the notice period expired, operations have now ceased.
Latterly there was up to 3 limestone trains running each day, and this was probably the longest 100% industrial narrow gauge railway in Romania. It is currently unclear if there is a potential for this stoppage to be only temporary.
(Posted 02.11.2019 Source: Romanian Press)
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