World Railway News 16th November 2012

Presents news from the following trusted sources....



International Railway Journal


THE 4.9km western extension of Paris light rail line T1 from Saint Denis to Asnières Gennevilliers Les Courtilles opened on November 15.

According to local media reports, construction of a 418km standard-gauge line linking the Laotian capital Vientiane with the Chinese network could begin next year.

THE National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) announced on November 13 that it will provide cash-strapped Pakistan Railways (PR) with a Rs 6.1bn ($US 63.7m) loan to revive its depleted locomotive fleet.


www.progressiverailroading.com US Railroad News

Illinois, FRA sign off on environmental statement for Chicago-St. Louis high-speed rail line

Hurricane Sandy update: Feds speed up $25 million in funding to help New Jersey Transit restore train service

AAR: U.S. carloads continue to fall while intermodal volume climbs

Los Angeles transit agency posts double-digit ridership gain

First Nations, tribal leaders support Alaska-Alberta rail link

Amtrak adds four rail cars to accommodate strong demand for Virginia service launch

International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Canadian Pacific reach tentative pact

AAR issues 2012 fact book



www.railway-technology.com Updates

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro) in the US has started utility relocation work in the Mid-Wilshire district for the $6.3bn Westside Subway Extension..

Earth work and bridge construction has started at Mango Hill in Queensland as part of the Australian Government's A$1.15bn ($1.18bn) Moreton Bay Rail Link...

Network Rail has started renovation work on the Sleaford avoiding rail line in the UK to improve freight capacity and enhance reliability of rail transport.


Siemens- Press Release

Consortium headed by Siemens to automate Crossrail tunnel in London

New train route scheduled to carry 200 million passengers per year across London, by 2018

Munich, Germany, 2012-Nov-14

Siemens will supply the signaling and control equipment for the 21 kilometer long Crossrail tunnel in London, linking up the local transport system to the suburban regional services of Network Rail. The project company "Crossrail" has placed an order with the consortium made up of Siemens and Invensys. The business is worth a total of around 60 million euros. Commissioning of the overall line is scheduled for the end of 2018.

 

In the Crossrail tunnel, the trains will be governed by means of radio Communications-Based Train Control (CBTC). On the westward long-distance route the European Train Control System (ETCS) Level 2 is installed; the eastward direction features the local Train Protection Warning System (TPWS). Dynamic switchover between the three control systems will ensure smooth integration of the differing lines.
 

For the core part of the line, Siemens will install the radio-based control system Trainguard MT with Automated Train Operation (ATO), the operations control system Vicos and the radio transmission system Airlink, including the integration between ETCS, TPWS and CBTC. The consortium partner Invensys will provide the interlocking equipment, along with components for outside facilities, and will attend to installation. Supply of in-vehicle units, as well as a service agreement, will be the subject of separate contractual terms.

Beneath the center of the metropolis, the 21 kilometer long rail tunnel will constitute a twin-track East-West connection, linking the Great Western Main Line at its present terminus, Paddington station in West London, with the Great Eastern Main Line at Stratford station in East London. The tunnel is the centerpiece of the London Crossrail project comprising a roughly 118 kilometer long line from Maidenhead and Heathrow in the West to Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the East. As of 2018, up to 24 trains per hour are scheduled to travel along the core network, carrying 200 million passengers per year and easing the load on the London Transport system.

See also: Crossrail awards signalling system contract

Network Rail CIO takes top IT award (Network Rail) 

Susan Cooklin, Network Rail’s chief information officer has won ‘CIO of the Year’ at the UK IT Industry Awards 2012.

Susan leads the company’s information management department, overseeing around 700 staff who look after IT across complex track and signalling systems, 17 managed stations, corporate offices’ IT requirements and all the systems behind vital train timetable information fed through to passengers.

Since taking up the role in October 2009, she has placed the IT function at the heart of Network Rail’s business strategy and operation. This has included rollout of iPad and iPhone technology, a major upgrade to our Ebusiness suite, delivery of 300 screens in four months to Olympic stations and keeping all systems protected with no service disruption during the period of the Olympics.

Commenting on her award, Ms Cooklin said: “Being recognised by the UK IT industry is an immense achievement, not just for the information management department but for the whole of Network Rail. None of this would be achievable without the technology and engineering talent that exists within our company.”

David Higgins, Network Rail chief executive said: “In running the rail network, information – from communicating to passengers, timetabling of trains, recording asset condition through to efficient accounting and personnel management – is the life blood of running a cost efficient business. Not only has Susan led this by running a critical part of the organisation, over the last year she led the process of relocating the organisation to a new headquarters in Milton Keynes. Achieving this major change, as well as dealing with the London 2012 Olympics and the existing workload, is a reflection of her leadership and management skills.”

In May 2012 Susan was shortlisted as the only European finalist for a 'CIO Innovation Leadership’ award by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and has recently been listed by Computer Weekly as one of the Top 25 most influential women in UK IT.


Other news sources...

Shedmaster Railway News
 

Railway Engineering News....

The first train left Chongqing(China) for Poland and Germany on October 31, carrying 42 containers for customers including Acer and ASUS. Russian Railways Logistics is working with Kazakhstan's Kaztransservice and Belarus firm Belintertrans to expedite traffic through the breaks of gauge at Dostyk in Kazakhstan and Malaszewicze in Poland, with the aim of cutting two days from the current Chongqing - Duisburg journey time of 16 to 20 days for 10 769 km.


World Heritage & Railway News



NOVEMBER 2012 at the B&O in Baltimore

Tickets on sale now for the Train Ride and Breakfast Buffet in the Roundhouse with Santa

Enjoy a full breakfast buffet while visiting and having your photo taken with Santa. Enjoy a magical display of toy and model trains at the B&O’s Holiday Festival of Trains & Toys event and a ride on the Museum's indoor Train Carousel. Then “All Aboard” the Mile One Express for an exclusive train ride with Santa! Space is limited; advance prepaid reservations required for the following weekend breakfast dates: Saturday, December 1 & 8 from 8:00am - 9:30am and Sunday, December 2 & 9 from 9:00am - 10:30am. B&O member tickets are $25 for adults and $20 for children. To purchase a B&O membership visit Membership. General admission event tickets are $33 for adults and $25 for children. To purchase tickets on or after Monday, October 29, contact Dana Kirn at 410-752-2462 x 221. Please note that tickets are non-refundable.

Tickets on sale now for Holiday Story Time

Children and families enjoy a favorite holiday story with a snack of cookies, milk and hot chocolate. Then "All Aboard" the Mile One Express for an exclusive train ride with Santa! Space is limited; advance reservations required for the following dates: Saturday, December 1 (SOLD OUT) & 8 and Sunday, December 2 & 9 from 2:00pm to 3:30pm, and Wednesday, December 19 from 10:30am - 11:30am . Tickets are $12 each for B&O members and $18 each for the general public. To purchase tickets on or after October 29, contact Dana Kirn at 410-752-2462 x 221. Please note that tickets are non-refundable.

Train Ride to Mount Clare Museum House

Saturdays, November 3, 10, & 17 at 11:00 a.m.

Sundays, November 4, 11, & 18, at 12:30 p.m.

Sunday, November 25 at 12 Noon

With paid admission to the B&O Railroad Museum, you may purchase a train ride ticket to visit Mount Clare Museum House. Learn the story that connects these two great sites. Tickets for this trip are $5.00 for adult , $4.00 for children, and free for B&O members. Please note that Mount Clare Museum is limited in handicap accessibility and restroom facilities. Please note that the B&O Museum reserves the right to cancel or change train rides in the event of inclement weather, equipment malfunction, or special event days.

Restoration Facility Tour: the New, the Old, & the Restored!
Sunday, November 4

1:00 p.m. Take the 1:00 p.m. train ride for a behind-the-scenes tour of the Museum’s state-of-the-art restoration facility constructed in 2005 to restore and maintain the museum’s locomotive and rolling stock collection. This guided tour is an up-close and personal look at the shop including the machinery used in the restoration process and a peek at some of the “Iron Horses”currently being maintained and restored. Duration of the tour is 1 hour with an additional 15 minutes for train ride to and from the restoration shop. Space is limited to 25 people for age 13 and up. Train ride and tour is $11.00 per person with paid admission.

Veterans Day Weekend
Saturday, November 10 (10 a.m. - 4 p.m.) & Sunday, November 11 (11 a.m. – 4 p.m.)Salute the military and veterans at the B&O! Join us for special living history presentations by members of the 4th Infantry Division Military Police Unit on our WWII Troop Sleeper. Vintage military vehicles will also be on display. Veterans with military identification receive FREE admission on these two event days.

Museum CLOSED

Thursday, November 22

Museum closed in observance of Thanksgiving.

Holiday Festival of Trains & Toys

November 23 - December 31

Monday-Saturday (10 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.)

Sunday (11 a.m.- 4p.m.)

Celebrate the holiday season at Baltimore’s largest holiday display of toy and model train layouts. Civil War Santa & Mrs. Claus arrive in the William Mason #25 locomotive to the Roundhouse at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, November 23. Visits throughout the day with Civil War Santa. Weekend train rides and photo opportunities with Santa through December 23. Weekend train rides and photo opportunities with Frosty the Snowman through December 30. All ages enjoy indoor train carousel rides and crafts at Santa's North Pole. Children may mail their letters to Santa too. Don't miss seeing the Honorable William Donald Schaefer's toy train layout and some of his treasured holiday memorabilia. Plus the new exhibit Home for the Holidays where you learn how the B&O Railroad celebrated the holidays, hear recordings of Christmas carols by the B&O's Glee Club, learn about the famous employee decorated Holly Tree, and see the historic art and print images of Santa Claus as depicted by the famous illustrator Thomas Nast and B&O staff artists. Bring a new, unwrapped toy for donation to Toys for Tots through December 16 and receive 50% off admission. It’s a train load of fun that is an annual family holiday tradition! For a complete schedule of all activities, click here.

Civil War 150th Anniversary

The War Came By Train

Now – May 30, 2015

Monday-Saturday (10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.)

Sunday (11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.)

The American Civil War was the first major conflict where railroads played a prominent role and the B&O was the major line that straddled a divided country. Between April 19, 1861 (The Baltimore Riot of 1861) and April 21, 1865 (Lincoln’s funeral train leaving Baltimore for Illinois), the B&O stood witness and participant in the greatest conflict the United States has ever faced and changed the course of American history. The War Came By Train serves as the B&O Railroad Museum’s primary attraction for the five year commemoration of the War’s sesquicentennial. The National Landmark Roundhouse will exhibit the largest assemblage of Civil War railroad equipment in the World featuring locomotives and rail cars that served during the war, significant military and personal artifacts that will change annually to portray each year of the war (some artifacts have never before been on public display), and a narrated, round trip train ride to the original site of Camp Carroll, the largest Union encampment in Baltimore. New exhibits added for 2012 include the Union Army's Railroad Brigade, hospital trains, and moving the wounded by rail and road.