World Railway News... 10th July 2012

International Railway Journal

BRITISH infrastructure manager Network Rail (NR) has launched an additional ultrasonic test train, which is fitted with two separate ground penetrating radar units capable of detecting irregularities in the ballast and formation at depths of up to two metres, and a laser rail profile scanner

AFTER years of delays, the Dutch Environmental and Transport Inspectorate (ILT) finally granted authorisation to place into service for the AnsaldoBreda V250 'Fyra' high-speed train fleet on July 6

POMERANIAN Metropolitan Railway (PKM) has invited bids for the contract to design and build a 17km double-track line that will link Gdansk and Gdynia with Gdansk Lech Walesa Airport.

GREATER Stockholm Local Transport (SL) has awarded Strukton Rail two new contracts to maintain infrastructure on the 106km Stockholm metro network and the 65km narrow-gauge Roslagsbanan

www.progressiverailroading.com Latest US Railroad News

California Legislature's high-speed-rail funding approval will help advance Caltrain's modernization

Amtrak updates Northeast Corridor plan

Nova Scotia municipality proposes construction of container terminal

FTA OKs CATS' light-rail extension for final design

South Carolina authority awards preliminary engineering contract for inland port

DART preps for Orange Line's July 30 opening

CSX partners with EPA, New Orleans planning commission to retrofit locomotive

Pennsylvania rail authority completes siding on Nittany and Bald Eagle line

www.railway-technology.com Latest Headlines...

Ansaldo to upgrade signaling on Rio Tinto's rail network in AustraliaAnsaldo STS Australia, a subsidiary of Ansaldo STS, has won contracts worth €289m to upgrade signalling systems on Rio Tinto's iron ore rail network in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.       
                   
Frazer-Nash and Park Signalling win award for VLS system
UK-based engineering consultant Frazer-Nash and Park Signalling have received the 2012 joint Railway Industry Association (RIA) / Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) Innovation Award for developing the virtual lineside signalling (VLS) system.       
                   
Funding plan approved for California high speed rail
The US state of California has approved an $8bn financing plan, including voter-approved bonds and federal funding, for the first stage of its $68bn high-speed rail project.       
                   
Canadian National Railway to build five new sidings on B.C. North line
Canadian National Railway (CN) is planning to build five long sidings in 2012 on the British Columbia North Line (B.C. North line) as part of a C$155m ($152.7m) plan to expand its freight train capacity.




Office Of Rail Regulation (UK)

Shropshire train operator fined £5,000 for incident which led to staff injury

10 July 2012
ORR/13/12
Heritage railway operator, Telford Steam Railway, has today been fined £5,000 and ordered to pay costs of £3,000, following a prosecution brought by the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) for criminal breaches of health and safety law, which left a member of its staff with extensive injuries.
On 2 July 2011, staff and volunteers of the Telford Steam Railway were installing rail on an extension to the line near Lawley Common, Shropshire. The incident occurred when a 450kg length of rail was moved from a wagon to the trackside by a crane, and struck Paul Hughes, chairman of the company, who suffered extensive injuries to both legs.
Sentencing today at Telford Magistrates’ Court follows an extensive investigation by ORR into the incident, which found that none of the staff or volunteers involved in the work had received sufficient training, or been provided with appropriate personal protective equipment. In addition, no planning had taken place, and the railway crane being used was unstable, defective and not certified.
David Keay, ORR’s Head of Inspection, railway operators said:

“There are hundreds of heritage railways in Great Britain, and the vast majority are run in a safe and professional manner. However in this instance, those working on the Telford Steam Railway put their lives at risk, attempting to move a 450kg length of rail with an unstable and defective crane, without training or planning. We will not allow such an inexcusable and casual approach to the safety of those working on Britain’s railways.

“Safety is the rail regulator‘s priority, and this year we will be inspecting heritage railways across Britain to ensure they are being operated safely.”

ORR statement – Regulator welcomes publication of new rail performance data

Network Rail and train companies have today released more detailed information than ever before about train punctuality, showing passengers the number of services that arrive within a minute of their scheduled arrival time.
Welcoming the publication, Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) Chief Executive, Richard Price, said:

"It is encouraging to see the railways leading the transport industry in embracing transparency.

"Greater detail on rail punctuality gives passengers a clear picture of how Britain’s rail services are performing. It also gives the industry better information to use in improving performance, and gives developers the data they need to create tools and apps which enhance information for passengers.

“ORR is checking the quality of ‘right time’ punctuality data at train operator level, and, once we are clear that they are good enough, even more detailed information will be published for passengers.”

To view the new performance data, visit ORR’s NRT Portal: http://dataportal.orr.gov.uk/