As such, only two projects in the Obama administration's once-vaunted high-speed rail agenda are moving forward one in California and one in the Northeast Corridor.

WSJ: Which Gets Priority: High-Speed Rail or Intercity Passenger Service?

China's rail industry was dealt a major setback a year ago, when a deadly high-speed train collision near the eastern city of Wenzhou raised questions about whether the country's rail ambitions were moving too fast.

WSJ: China Heads to Soccer Field

"The challenge is to get final approval of our pre-clearance so we can start moving cargo and passengers by rail, " Shumlin said, but it's up to the federal governments in both countries to smooth the border crossings.

WSJ: Vt., Quebec discuss rail link, traffic, energy

Network Rail said the spoil heap had stopped moving and it had been able to survey the damage, which it said was "a lot worse than we originally thought".

BBC: Stainforth landslip rail line to be closed until June

Mr. Srivastava said apart from production issues, there are also significant difficulties in moving coal from mines to power stations due to a shortage of rail wagons for hauling the dry fuel.

WSJ: Coal to Keep Firing India Power Plants

Road and rail transport to ports can be as important as dockside facilities in moving cargo swiftly, for example.

ECONOMIST: Efficiency drive

The transport union National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) will not support moving drivers from the cab into the carriage.

BBC: Could Paris Metro inspire driverless Tube trains?

That might not matter if the project were moving irrevocably forward, but the forthcoming mayoral election is shaping up to be yet another referendum on rail.

ECONOMIST: Hawaii tries to bring a railway to its capital

Phil Verster, route managing director for Network Rail, said his teams were clearing damaged vegetation and finalising designs for the repair while the colliery was moving the material.

BBC: Stainforth landslip rail line to be closed until July