June 21, 2007 — Eastchester, N.Y.

$3.275 million

The design and layout of this estate home might leave you feeling a bit like you’re in Normandy (or so claims its brochure: “Vive La Difference!”). The turreted entryway will certainly makes a strong case with Francophiles and, well, there are French doors leading to the first-floor sun room, just beyond the elegant living room with its beehive plaster ceiling. The upstairs master suite offers not only a dressing area and its own private terrace but also “the most intriguing bath, built into the turret.” The level also features three additional bedrooms with two full bathrooms (less intriguing, but perfectly lovely) as well as a two-bedroom, one-bathroom suite. Above that, there is a full attic with “endless possibilities.” How intriguing.

Agent: Alice Regan, Bronxville-Ley Real Estate, (914) 337-1234.

SoHo

$3.425 million

You can identify the Dream Homes in certain neighborhoods just from a few particular signs. In the case of this Lafayette Street spread, you’ve got all the right signals: “loft,” “oversized,” “walls of windows,” “beamed ceilings,” “full-service” and, perhaps most important of all, “condo.” It should go without noting (though we’re going to note it right now) that there also is plenty of space, with three bedrooms, three bathrooms, a “spacious” corner living room, a dining room, an open chef’s kitchen and a laundry/storage area spread out over more than 2,300 square feet. There are also great views and plenty of light, which is what makes the walls of windows so worthwhile.

Agents: Glenn Schiller and Lauren Powell, The Corcoran Group, (212) 941-2561 and (212) 941-2613.

Greenwich, Conn.

$12.75 million

Built in 1885 and renovated in 2000, this seven-bedroom Victorian residence stands as a landmark (well, it is landmarked) to both the history of Greenwich architecture and the luxury of modern Greenwich living. In addition to the preserved dentil moldings, paneled woodwork, and beamed ceilings, there are 21st-century additions such as the heated, three-car garage with a sky-lit studio attached to the main house by breezeway. Oh, and perhaps we should mention the location - on the exclusive Willowmere peninsula with 245 feet of direct, private waterfront. In total, the property is 1.69 acres and includes a private lake, a private dock, a gazebo, and a Gunite swimming pool.

Agent: Joann Erb, Round Hill Partners, (203) 861-0050.

ALAN Bond’s three-year struggle to list his African diamond project on London’s AIM stock exchange has suffered a big blow after a key ally pulled out of a 5.7 million ($A13.4 million) funding arrangement.

River Diamonds told shareholders in London that it would withdraw from a deal under which it could have emerged with a 6.7 per cent stake in Mr Bond’s unlisted Lesotho Diamonds Corporation.

The River deal was seen as a precursor to Lesotho Diamonds listing on AIM.

River chairman Colin Orr-Ewing said on Friday the company had decided to walk out on the deal after consulting shareholders and River management. River would retain its 0.5 per cent stake in Lesotho Diamonds and remained in full support of the company and its Kao asset.

Lesotho Diamonds’ key asset is the big Kao kimberlite pipe in the southern African nation of Lesotho. Despite positive feedback on Kao’s potential, Lesotho Diamonds has struggled to win over broker support in London because of Mr Bond’s involvement.

The failure to secure River’s support comes at a critical time for Mr Bond, whose control of Lesotho Diamonds is under attack from disgruntled fellow shareholders who have fallen out with the convicted fraudster.

The rebel shareholders are thought to control 48 per cent of Lesotho Diamonds and have struck a deal with AIM-listed Pangea Diamond Fields to hand over their stake. This has prompted Pangea to launch a full bid for Lesotho Diamonds, a move being resisted by Mr Bond and his allies who speak for 38 per cent of the company.

In response, Mr Bond has tried to secure a Middle Eastern investor to chip in about 40 million in return for a third-stake in Lesotho Diamonds’ enlarged capital base. Mr Bond’s interests would be diluted to about 30 per cent. He could not be contacted for comment.

WEST AUSTRALIAN

A 30-year plan to transform rail travel with longer trains that can run closer together using biofuels and even hydrogen power will be set out by the government this month.

Ministers are to give more details of a new fleet of inter-city trains, raising the prospect of Britain getting trains similar to the high-speed Velaro recently unveiled in Spain. They will also announce for the first time a ‘new generation’ train to replace much of Britain’s remaining diesel and electric stock. Research will also be unveiled into trams that can run on commuter rail routes and on roads through city centres.

To increase capacity on crowded routes, the white paper is likely to say the latest hi-tech European signalling system will be fitted within a decade so that trains can run closer together. Thousands more carriages are to be ordered so that trains can be made longer.

Double-decker trains are thought to be considered too expensive because of the need to increase the height of tunnels and bridges.

Other improvements could give passengers general wi-fi access to the internet and provide on-board information about other transport links, while CCTV cameras which can detect suspect packages and ‘abnormal behaviour’ are being considered, as are anti-viral surfaces to reduce the risk of epidemics such as bird flu spreading. Scanners to detect weapons and explosives could also be installed at major stations.

On the tracks, more modern monitoring and repair equipment should allow faults to be detected more quickly and repaired without closing neighbouring lines, creating what officials call a ‘24/7 railway’ - and raising hopes of ending widespread shutdowns and the misery of replacement bus services at weekends.

The improvements will come at a price: officials warn that seats could have to be removed from busy trains so they can carry more standing passengers, and fares could rise further on popular routes to encourage travel outside the rush hour. The white paper is also expected to suggest that savings could be made by further cutting back maintenance on the least used rural lines. Network Rail has asked for nearly 21bn for day-to-day running costs and another 7bn-8bn for enhancements from 2009 to 2014.

However, the white paper is not expected to give a definite go-ahead to three of Britain’s biggest rail projects: a new Crossrail route across London, which is the subject of a separate government bill, and new passenger and freight lines from London to Scotland.

The wide-ranging plans will be welcomed by passengers and campaigners who have been complaining about over-crowding and continuing delays caused by infrastructure failures. However, they are likely to be met with caution after previous promises since Labour came to power 10 years ago and previous strategies from Network Rail’s predecessor, Railtrack and the government’s now disbanded Strategic Rail Authority.

There is also likely to be concern about whether the government will put in enough subsidy to pay for the promises and anger if fares continue to rise, particularly before the improvements are introduced.

‘People have heard a lot of this before,’ said Stephen Joseph, director of the lobby group Transport 2000. ‘Because this is coming from government, and the Treasury has had to sign it off, there’s a level of commitment that probably wasn’t there in the past, but there’s still a large level of uncertainty. Passengers will believe this when they see the new trains running down the tracks.’

There will also be keen interest in how far ministers will commit to a new north-south high-speed line. In a draft of the technical strategy, which forms part of the white paper, it is tabled as a possibility between 2020 and 2030. However, rail leaders are hopeful the advice of the government’s transport adviser, Rod Eddington, to rule out the new line will not be taken. ‘All the hints have been that it’s going to be left open,’ said Paul Martin, director-general of the Railway Forum industry group. ‘I’d be surprised if they slammed the door altogether.’

A DfT spokesman said: ‘The technical strategy has been produced in close collaboration with the rail industry and brings together many projects already in development. It will inform and guide decisions taken as part of the work on the longer-term strategy, but is separate to it. It will be published in due course.’