Railway News Digest............ 6th March 2012

International Railway Journal Reports...

Arson attacks delay French ski trains
Three fires were deliberately started early March 3 at three locations in the Savoy region of France on the lines linking Chambery and the ski resorts in the Tarentaise and Maurienne valleys. The fires severely damaged signalling cables leading to delays to 40 conventional trains and 60 TGVs,

www.railway-technology.com News.....

GE and PTKAI to build locomotive service centre for ASEAN region
   
Downer EDI to supply EMD locomotives to BHP Billiton
          
Crossrail awards Liverpool Street station contract to Laing O'Rourke
                
Poland head-on train collision kills at least 16       

From the Office of Rail Regulation.... 

Regulator sets out expectations of rail industry ‘alliances’

The Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) has today welcomed rail industry ‘alliances’, and set out its regulatory expectations of future agreements.
Network Rail and train operators are developing plans to form alliances – closer working relationships which can range from partnerships on specific projects through to long-term commercial links – with the aim of delivering a better service for passengers at a lower cost.
As the independent safety and economic regulator of Britain’s railways, ORR will ensure that alliances do not disadvantage other customers of Network Rail, and that there is no loss of clarity about responsibilities, in particular for the safety of workers and passengers. In outlining its approach, ORR highlights three key areas for attention:

• Legal compliance – parties must comply with their existing obligations, including under licences, contracts and rail, consumer, and health and safety legislation.
• Non-discrimination – Network Rail must treat all operators fairly in negotiating, agreeing and operating alliances.
• Transparency – agreements should be made clear to third parties.

To read ORR’s alliancing statement in full, visit: http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/alliancing-policy-statement-march-2012.pdf

Consultation on ORR’s emerging conclusions on proposed changes to the Station Access Conditions and Independent Station Access Conditions

Consultation documents

• Consultation on a revised contractual regime at stations – March 2012 ( PDF 616 Kb)

www.progressiverailroading.com US Railroad News...

Maersk Line, BNSF team up to provide 'Flagship' import container service

APTA targets ad campaign at congressional action on transportation bill

UP: February coal train loadings lagged in SPRB, climbed in Colorado/Utah

TSA recognizes 17 rail, mass transit agencies' security efforts

Amtrak measures, records its carbon footprint

Westhoff joins Florida East Coast as sales and marketing VP

Watco changes intermodal division's name, installs short line GMs

March 6: Updates from Alstom, Siemens, Harsco, Balfour Beatty, KONE and URS