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April 30, 2012

NYMR TV Episode 33 April 2012 (railwaychannel) 30th April 2012


WIN A FAMILY DAY PASS FOR FOUR ON THE FABULOUS NYMR!

What do you think about this programme? This is a pilot for a new look NYMR TV show which aims to broadcast news, reviews and information about the NYMR. What you think really counts and will influence how we progress with the programme - so please leave us your comments below.

WIN A FAMILY DAY PASS FOR FOUR!
In this programme we give you a chance to win a family day ticket on the fabulous North Yorkshire Moors Railway. Watch the programme and answer the simple question to win. Send your answer and details to:
tv@nymr.co.uk

Video by kind permission Mark Found and  on YouTube.

World Railway News................. 30th April 2012

www.railjournal.com

Prorail plans Leeuwarden- Groningen upgrade
DUTCH infrastructure manager Prorail is to upgrade the non-electrified line between Groningen and Leeuwarden in an effort to meet demand for a second hourly fast service between the two towns. The Euros 120m project, which is due to be completed by the end of 2017, is being supported by the provinces of Friesland and Groningen, the cities of Leeuwarden and Groningen, and the municipalities along the line.
KiwiRail to relaunch Overlander service
KIWIRAIL is relaunching its only North Island long-distance passenger train, which operates between Auckland and Wellington, in a bid to make the service profitable.
 
Knorr-Bremse to supply braking systems for E6 Shinkansen trains
JR EAST has selected Knorr-Bremse to supply braking equipment for its latest-generation E6 Shinaknsen trains, 23 of which will be delivered from next March for use on Tokyo - Akita services.
Globaltrans buys freight division of Russian iron-ore producer
RUSSIAN private railfreight operator Globaltrans Investments has agreed to a $US 540m, 100% acquisition of Metalloinvesttrans (MIT), the freight operator division of Metalloinvest, a global iron-ore and hot-briquetted iron producer, based in Russia.
 
Tata Steel’s SilentTrack installed at London station
An innovative new track product which reduces the noise of passing trains has been installed for the first time in Britain at Blackfriars station in London.
 
 
 
Conference committee to meet May 8 on surface transportation bill

Teamsters Canada Rail Conference members favor CP strike if contract renewal stalls

Analysts to discuss Class I first-quarter earnings tomorrow during morning webcast

BNSF bestows employee achievement awards, boots up interactive map

CTA North Red Line stations to undergo $86 million worth of upgrades

Terre Haute chamber honors Indiana Rail Road's wellness program

NCTD assumes dispatching for San Diego's coastal rail corridor

CSXT to upgrade three Ohio grade crossings

VTA to transition to smart-card fare system
 
 
 
 
Knorr-Bremse to supply brakes for Japanese high-speed Shinkansen trainsKnorr-Bremse has won a contract from Japanese rail operator JR East to supply brake systems for the new E6 generation of high-speed Shinkansen trains.       
                   
Globaltrans to acquire MetalloinvesttransRussian freight operator Globaltrans Investment has agreed to acquire Metalloinvesttrans, the railcar unit of iron ore miner Metalloinvest, for $540m.       
                   
Atlas Iron and QR National plan independent rail line in Pilbara of AustraliaAtlas Iron has signed a memorandum of understanding with rail freight carrier QR National to explore the feasibility of an independent railway in Western Australia's Pilbara region costing around A$3.5bn ($3.6bn).       
                   
SMRT to upgrade rail systemSingapore's train operator SMRT will invest S$900m ($724m) to upgrade its rail system in order to address problems that have led to several breakdowns in recent months.       

Chicken Curve Landslip Repair Progress (GWSR) 30th April 2012







Chicken Curve Landslip Repair Progress


Work continues to progress well on the site. The new S&T cable has been dug in and buried. All toe berms are now complete and all digging out of the bank is now complete along with all the piling. Currently stone infill is being rolled in and the slip area brought back up to the profile of the original bank. Due to a slight design change the soil nailing cannot commence until the slip area has been rebuilt, however this should be very soon now. Work is still on schedule to be completed by early June. All that remains to be done is completing the slip rebuild, installing the soil nails, finishing off the drainage under the road on the malvern side and then hydra-seeding the berms and bare areas of embankment and tidying up the site and fencing.

Once soil nailing is under way I will provide some more photographs. (Neil Carr)

World Railway News (RailwayGazette.com) 30th April 2012


‎29 ‎April ‎2012, ‏‎05:00:00


Etihad Rail studies best practice in rail safety and security

‎29 ‎April ‎2012, ‏‎05:00:00Go to full article
UAE: A delegation from Etihad Rail and the Supreme Committee for Safety & Security has visited several European countries to examine best practice in rail safety and security. The extensive trip lasted two months and included stops in Germany, Spain, France and the UK. In the UK and Spain the group looked at general security procedures, with a particular interest in freight security. They met representatives from the UK’s Department of Transport and with RENFE and ADIF in Spain. During their time in Germany and France the delegation studied how accidents and events are managed by emergency teams. They also spent time with Deutsche Bahn International to learn about the implementation of safety standards across Europe. Etihad Rail has already visited several countries to take advantage of best practice around the world, with trips to China, Belgium, Canada and the USA taking place last year. ‘We are dedicated to looking at how similar railway developers and operators are succeeding around the world ... such that we are able to implement a railway system ... to the highest level of standards and procedures’, said Acting CEO Dr Hazem Mobarek.

Products & Technology in Brief

‎28 ‎April ‎2012, ‏‎05:00:00Go to full article
Canadian technology firm Itinere is in discussions with three train operators for the launch of a proprietary 'seat centric' onboard wireless network enabling passenger infotainment systems to be connected without cabling. A custom-designed tablet computing platform could supply digital magazines, television, films and travel information, and provide real-time communication between passengers and crew. Fhoss Technology has launched a range of high visibility clothing which incorporates reflective tape with a powered electroluminescent core for clear visibility in the dark. A small rechargeable battery carried in a pocket gives 12 h of usage. Fhoss has also launched the Contego Rail vest, designed to be easily removed if caught in machinery. UK operator Southern is using Gael's Q-Pulse software to improve safety reporting efficiency. It avoids the need for double entry of information because the national safety incident database is informed automatically.

Metalloinvest to sell rail business to Globaltrans

‎27 ‎April ‎2012, ‏‎14:58:00Go to full article
RUSSIA: An agreement for private rail freight company Globaltrans to buy the Metalloinvesttrans rail activities of iron ore producer Metalloinvest for US$540m was announced on April 27. The transaction will be financed from Globaltrans' own funds and credit facilities, and subject to regulatory approvals is expected to close at the end of May. MIT handled 44·2 million tonnes in 2011, primarily metallurgical traffic, with adjusted revenue of US$344m and EBITDA of US$140m. As of December 31 2011 it had a fleet of 9 202 wagons, of which it owned 8 256. The acquisition includes an agreement for Globaltrans to handle all Metalloinvest's rail traffic in the first year, and have first refusal on 60% of its requirements during the following two years. 'It is increasingly important to have the scale and resources to maximise efficiency and profitability, and be able to meet the needs of large cargo owners', said Globaltrans CEO Sergey Maltsev. 'We have made it clear that we are looking to capitalise on market opportunities such as MIT, which is a high-quality business that, combined with the service contract with Metalloinvest, provides a low-risk path to grow our business and consolidate our position in the market.'

DB and Hamburger Hafen agree intermodal freight restructuring

‎27 ‎April ‎2012, ‏‎12:31:00Go to full article
EUROPE: On April 27 Deutsche Bahn and port and logistics group Hamburger Hafen und Logistik announced an agreement to restructure their subsidiaries providing intermodal freight services from German ports. Subject to regulatory approval, DB Schenker Rail is to take over HHLA's 50% stake in TFG Transfracht, which moves containers from Hamburg and Bremen to destinations in Germany, Austria and Switzerland and generated revenues of €250m in 2011. DB Schenker Rail believes taking full control would enable it to improve TFG Transfracht's performance and market share. In return, HHLA will take over DB's 33% stake in Polzug Intermodal, increasing its stake to 86·5%, and would also take over DB's 35% stake in Praha-based Metrans, giving it 74·5%. HHLA said this unbundling would enable it to align the companies more closely to needs of maritime shippers, and make greater use of its own inland terminals, wagons and locomotives. It also plans to intensify co-operation with Polzug shareholder PKP Cargo, which may increase its stake. The value of the transactions is not being disclosed.

33 Days to Railfest 2012....... 30th April 2012



33





33 years ago, in 1979, (on September 8,1979) – Restored locomotive Nickel Plate 765  is unveiled.(US).

File:07 25 09 107x - Flickr - drewj1946.jpg

765 on a Photo Run at Ithaca, Michigan (25 July 2009) Drew Jacksich from San Jose, CA.


Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license

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April 29, 2012

Rail Travel from America to Russia and Beyond? By James Brooke, The Cutting Edge. 29th April 2012


The Race for High-Speed Rail

Dreaming the Impossible Dream: Rail Travel from America to Russia and Beyond



Go to: The Cutting Edge

Mainline Steam for week starting Monday 30th April 2012. Courtesy: www.uksteam.info

Wed 02-May THE DREAMING SPIRES EXPRESS [CANCELLED] updated (26/04)
Poole-Oxford (EH01) [dbs]
71000 (/60019/70000): Poole-Southampton-Oxford and return
TBEL
Thu 03-May THE CATHEDRALS EXPRESS - updated (27/04)
London Victoria-Exeter
34046 35028: Victoria-Staines-Salisbury-Exeter-Castle Cary,
Yeovil Jc-Salisbury-Victoria
[Return now via Castle Cary]
STDR
Thu 03-May THE THANET BELLE - [CANCELLED] updated (18/04)
London Victoria-Faversham [wcrc]
34067: Victoria-Redhill-Tonbridge-Faversham and return
[Cancelled - Insufficient bookings]
RYTC
Sat 05-May THE ROYAL DUCHY - updated (27/04)
London Paddington-Penzance (WCRC) [wcrc]
34046 70013+34067: Penzance-Westbury-Bristol
RYTC
Sat 05-May THE LLANDUDNO VICTORIAN FAYRE
Tyseley-Llandudno (TY01) [wcrc]
4965+5043: Tyseley-Llandudno-Tyseley
As always, check with operators to confim runnings.

With thanks to UK Steam Info

34 Days to Railfest 2012! 29th April 2012




34



34 years ago, on July 22nd 1978, Andre Chapelon, French locomotive designer died. (b. 1892)

CFV3V: NE 61 "André Chapelon"
On the CFV3V ( Chemin de Fer à Vapeur des 3 Vallées -Belgium)
NE 61 "André Chapelon"(C) Marc Petit on Steam Tube.

Andre Chapelon was a foremost railway locomotive designer and engineer.
Some of his locomotives exceeded 12% efficiency, which for a steam locomotive was exceptional. With greater efficiency, Chapelon could achieve greater power in a smaller locomotive that burned less coal, rather than simply enlarging a locomotive for more power.

The Kylchap exhaust was a Kylälä / Chapelon innovation later favoured by Sir Nigel Gresley in 4 A4's..and in the Peppercorn A1 Tornado.




April 28, 2012

35 Days to Railfest 2012!! 28th April 2012




35

The Class A4 is a class of streamlined 4-6-2 locomotive  designed by Nigel Gresley for the LNER in 1935

35 A4s were built.

4468 Mallard is the illustrious member of the class, holding the world steam record (3rd July 1938).

There are A4s in preservation, including those with mainline steam certification.

 An A4 in the Morning

Bittern at Kings Sutton 19-4-12
Passing soon after leaving Banbury on the Cathedrals Express. (C)Dick Bodily

April 27, 2012

World Railway News Digest. 27th April 2012

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

Balfour Beatty to build new rail terminal at London GatewayBalfour Beatty Civil Engineering has won a contract to build a new rail terminal, which is capable of handling the longest trains in the UK, at DP World's London Gateway.       
                   
Network Rail to operate and maintain UK's HS1 until 2025High Speed 1(HS1), the owner of the UK's only high-speed line, has extended its contract with Network Rail to operate and maintain the line until 2025.       
                   
SMRT to upgrade rail systemSingapore's train operator SMRT will invest S$900m ($724m) to upgrade its rail system in order to address problems that have led to several breakdowns in recent months.       
                   
London Underground shortlists four bidders for Bank station upgrade
London Underground (LU) has shortlisted four bidding groups for the £500m Bank station capacity upgrade project.    

www.progressiverailroading.com US Railroad News


  Intermodal volume up, but carloads down for U.S. railroads last week

Amtrak to combine emergency management, security functions

SFMTA announces bid for subway station project

Amtrak receives energy grant; Twin Cities' council awards $15.7 million in TOD grants

Analysts to discuss Class I first-quarter earnings at May 1 webcast

Sound Transit identifies route, station options for light-rail expansion

NARP recognizes Rep. Patrick Meehan with 'Golden Spike Award'

NS honors 45 chemical shippers' safety efforts; CSX ranks high on 'climate leaders' list

www.railway-technology.com News...... 27th April 2012

www.railway-technology.com

Countdown to Infrarail 2012                       
Some 200 exhibitors are now making their final preparations to welcome visitors to Infrarail 2012, the UK's showcase for rail infrastructure systems, products and services, which takes place at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham from 1 to 3 May.
Participating companies include leading suppliers of track products, signalling and communications equipment, railway civil engineering needs and much more, with many new products on show. Making a visit to the ninth Infrarail event is worthwhile, due to an extensive supporting programme that includes free seminars with high-profile keynote speakers, panel discussions, an awards dinner and numerous networking opportunities.
For more information on Infrarail 2012, including how to pre-register for free access to the exhibition, plus details of all supporting activities during the show and the latest list of exhibitors, visit www.infrarail.com/rtnews.       


Rail Power Europe                       
Rail  operators and infrastructure managers in Europe have committed to a dramatic reduction in carbon emissions by 2050. Deutsche Bahn, SBB, ProRail and more are amongst the companies employing new technologies and strategies to optimise energy efficiency on their networks. The rail industry will come together at Rail Power Europe in Berlin this June to discuss these strategies and share their ideas.
Rail Power Europe will bring together strategic and technical functions from operators, train manufacturers, transport authorities, government bodies and their partners to outline strategies to reach sustainable transport targets. If you want to learn how to reduce your carbon footprint, optimise your energy management and unlock the potential of new technologies, you need to attend Rail Power Europe from 26 to 27 June 2012, at Maritim proArte Hotel, Berlin, Germany.

Click here to download the brochure for more details....

AGV NTV (Alstom) 27th April 2012

Introduction - Network Rail engineering education (15 videos) Network Rail. 27th April 2012



Steve Yianni, Director of Engineering, introduces this series of films and describes our commitment to supporting engineering education -- within our own workforce and beyond.

Engineering Apprenticeships with Network Rail. 27th April 2012

www.railwaygazette.com Latest News Headlines. 27th April 2012





Knorr-Bremse to supply brakes for Japanese high speed trains

‎26 ‎April ‎2012, ‏‎10:04:00Go to full article
JAPAN: East Japan Railway has awarded Knorr-Bremse a contract to supply braking systems for the 23 Series E6 high speed trainsets which are scheduled to enter service between Tokyo and Akita in early 2013. The 'major order' announced by Knorr-Bremse on April 26 includes brake discs, pads and compact lightweight callipers for motor bogies. The company has previously supplied braking systems for Series E5 trainsets and four prototype E6 cars. 'This commission shows that the systems delivered for the previous generation, the E5, lived up to the operator's high expectations', said Dr Dieter Wilhelm, executive board member responsible for Knorr-Bremse's Rail Vehicles Systems division. The tilting Series E6 trainsets will initially run at up to 300 km/h on high speed infrastructure, with an increase to 320 km/h planned for March 2014. Speeds will be lower on the mini-Shinkansen section of upgraded conventional route between Morioka and Akita.

Bayer develops lightweight engine enclosure

‎26 ‎April ‎2012, ‏‎05:00:00Go to full article
EUROPE: Bayer Material-Science has developed a prototype enclosure for underfloor engines on diesel multiple-units which it says is 35% lighter and 30% cheaper than steel and aluminium equivalents. The prototype is designed for a Bombardier Itino DMU. Engine enclosures must be able to withstand high mechanical loads from ballast impacts, with chemical resistance to prevent oil from leaking onto the track. They must also meet strict fire protection requirements. Instead of using glass fibre reinforced structures with a rigid foam core, the prototype enclosure uses components manufactured in a complex three-dimensional shape using a spray/press process. A honeycomb core is covered on the top and bottom with glass fibre mats then sprayed from both sides with the Baypreg system, which contains the flame retardant and optional glass fibres. The moist composite is pressed in a mould at 130°C to bind the components. Components up to 4 m2 are possible, with good dimensional stability enabling precise installation.

Network Rail agrees new High Speed 1 management deal

‎25 ‎April ‎2012, ‏‎13:21:00Go to full article
UK: Network Rail's contract to manage and maintain the high speed line between London and the Channel Tunnel on behalf of infrastructure concessionaire HS1 Ltd has been revised and will now run until at least 2025. Announcing the new agreement on April 25, Network Rail said it would align 'incentives for quality and efficiency', offer HS1 Ltd a 10% reduction in price and facilitate sharing future savings. HS1 Ltd, owned equally by Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan and Borealis Infrastructure Ltd, acquired a 30-year concession to own and operate High Speed 1 in 2010. Network Rail's Network Rail (CTRL) subsidiary operates, maintains and renews the line under a contract which has run from the opening in 2007 to 2047. This contract included the right for HS1 Ltd to 'market test' for alternative service providers, and HS1 Ltd could have terminated the contract in 2015 by giving notice by March 31 2012. The revised deal gives HS1 Ltd a new fixed price incorporating a 10% reduction in costs to March 31 2015, and moves the break clause to 2025. Beyond 2015 a new fixed price will be agreed, determined through the periodic review process undertaken by the Office of Rail Regulation for HS1 Control Period 2 (2015-20) and Control Period 3 (2020-25). Network Rail and HS1 Ltd will equally share any financial outperformance by Network Rail; HS1 Ltd will in turn share 60% of its discount and outperformance with the train operators. 'We conducted an extensive market review and knew that we had alternatives', said HS1 Ltd CEO Nicola Shaw. 'However, the quality of delivery from Network Rail (CTRL) has been good over the last few years and this deal offered real benefits to us and to our customers. We've now got a decade of certainty on which to work together to improve the line even further and to welcome more growth.'

GE Transportation enters the ERTMS market

‎25 ‎April ‎2012, ‏‎10:30:00Go to full article
INTERNATIONAL: GE Transportation has announced its intention to enter the global ERTMS market, launching its first products at the UIC's 10th ERTMS World Congress in Stockholm on April 25. A GE PowerHaul diesel locomotive is to be used as a European onboard equipment demonstrator from 2013. GE Transportation has invested US$60m to develop its Tempo product range in just 40 months, according to Marketing Leader Christophe Eline. The company now has over 100 staff working on the project at two centres in Paris and at Sesto, near Firenze, which opened in 2009-10. Designed for both ETCS Level 1 and Level 2 applications, a common scaleable Tempo Vital Platform hosts any of the core systems: Onboard Controller, Lineside Equipment Unit, Radio Block Centre or Interlocking Controller. This helps to reduce the number of spare parts needed. Certified to Cenelec SIL4, the TVP is suitable for use with centralised or distributed system architectures. The Tempo family also incorporates an integrated suite of design, application and verification tools. Eline says GE Transportation has been working closely with operators to develop the concept, establishing a 'challenge committee' of railway experts including former Swiss Federal Railways project leader Oskar Stalder and former MTR Corp Chief Executive Phil Gaffney. Although the company has extensive signalling experience, with its products in use on more than 70 000 route-km, the Tempo range has been developed from scratch. GE is now looking at using the same basic elements to support a CBTC application. The launch customer for Tempo ETCS will be an open access freight operator which is to put a PowerHaul locomotive assembled by Turkish firm Tülomsas into service on routes in Belgium, the Netherlands, France, Germany and Switzerland during 2013. GE is currently in discussions with potential customers for the lineside elements.
  • The completed onboard package is due to be on display at InnoTrans in September. Railway Gazette International is the only official international media partner for InnoTrans.

SBB invests SFr40m in ticket vending machines

‎25 ‎April ‎2012, ‏‎09:25:00Go to full article
SWITZERLAND: Reflecting a growing trend towards automated retail, Swiss Federal Railways has ordered 1 000 ticket vending machines from German supplier Scheidt & Bachmann. Worth around SFr40m, the order will see the first machines installed at Swiss stations in September this year, with deliveries continuing for approximately two years. Scheidt & Bachmann’s ePOS vending machine will replace on a like-for-like basis SBB’s oldest designs, which date from 1997. The company says that ePOS features ‘modern technology’ and complies with more stringent disability legislation which comes into force in January 2014. Featuring a 15 in screen, the TVMs will have improved banknote acceptance function, allowing notes to be provided as change and higher value cash transactions to be completed. RFID equipment and barcode readers will also be fitted to enable contactless payments, whilst enhanced anti-fraud measures are designed to reduce incidents of ‘skimming’. SBB says that 55 million tickets were sold at its vending machines in 2011, and it forecasts this figure to reach 58 million by 2016.

Government responds to Transport Committee concerns over Thameslink procurement (27th April 2012)

Parliament Select Committee News

  • Special report: Thameslink rolling stock procurement: Government Response to the Committee's  eleventh report
  • Report: Thameslink rolling stock procurement (PDF version)
  • Inquiry: Thameslink rolling stock procurement
  • Transport Committee
  • Comment from the Chair

    Commenting on this response, Committee Chair Louise Ellman MP said,
    "Our train manufacturing industry needs a steady flow of work opportunities, to support employment in the sector, not occasional major orders.
    Following our recommendations, the Government is taking steps in this direction, but it remains to be seen how this will affect firms like Bombardier and the long term security of UK supply chains.
    If the Government decides to contract with Siemens for the Thameslink trains we would like more information to be published about why their bid was preferred to Bombardier's. This is essential to restore public confidence in the Department for Transport's procurement process and we urge the Secretary of State to act."

    Transport Committee publishes Government Response to cable theft on the railway report (Transport Select Committee) 27th April 2012

    Urgent action by Government essential to curb cable theft according to Transport Committee as they publish Government Response to cable theft on the railway report.

  • Government Response: Cable theft on the railway
  • Inquiry: Cable theft on the railway
  • Transport Committee

  • Comment from the Chair

    Commenting on this response, Committee Chair Louise Ellman MP said,
    "Cable theft continues to disrupt train journeys for thousands of passengers across the UK. I am disappointed that the Government will not provide further resources for the police to tackle metal theft despite BTP’s leading work in this area.
    Cable theft cost Network Rail £16 million last year and disrupted over 35,000 journeys, so the Government should not sit back and wait whilst these figures are repeated.
    The Government's announcement must be translated into action if this unacceptable situation is to be addressed with the urgency that is required."
    From The Railway Chronicle's Archive.....(May 2011)
                                   Delays due to "signalling" problems.....code for cable theft?

    ENGINEERING VIDEOS HELP BRING RAIL LIFE TO THE CLASSROOM (Network Rail) 27th April 2012


    Network Rail has launched a series of educational videos to help teachers promote engineering in the classroom. The 15 videos are available to view on YouTube www.youtube.com/networkrail and each aims to bring to life how all the different aspects engineering helps to keep Britain’s railways running. Viewers will see operations in depots, on track and in laboratories and manufacturing plants to illustrate the challenges in an engaging and informative way. Stories range from how Network Rail controls trains to level crossing design, how rail is manufactured, and what materials are used and how they help build and maintain the tracks.

    The videos are part of a wider schools engagement programme including STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths), ambassadors, involving our young engineers and technicians in career fairs and events in order to bring what is learnt in the classroom into real life, and show the career options available, and encourage the very best talent to join the rail industry.

    Steve Yianni, director, engineering, said: “As an engineer I believe passionately we have a responsibility to support education beyond our own workforce, in schools and colleges, to encourage the next generation to get into engineering and show how it applies in the real world.

    “I am deeply concerned that so many young people that we meet at careers events are not really aware of what role engineering plays in every day life and have never considered a career in this field, despite showing a great aptitude for maths and science. We must do all we can to work with educators to address this knowledge gap so we can continue to develop the world’s best and brightest engineering talents.”

    The 15 videos range between 2-20 minutes in length and each video is accompanied by teaching challenges provided by the JCB Academy – a university training college in Staffordshire that has worked closely with Network Rail since 2010.The challenges meet the requirements of recognised national qualifications and can be used across a range of educational activities. As well as promoting these videos via YouTube, Facebook and Twitter, Network Rail will write to schools to help them make the most of these free teaching resources.

    Jim Wade, principal, JCB Academy said: “We were delighted to work with Network Rail to develop innovative and exciting curriculum materials. The commitment of Network Rail to producing the engineering leaders of the future has been fantastic and it has been a real pleasure to work with such an innovative and forward thinking company who are so dedicated to inspiring the next generation.”

    36 Days to Railfest 2012!! 27th April 2012






                                     www.railfest2012.org More details here!!!

    36 Days to go...........



    36 years ago , on March 31st 1976 – The Sallins Train Robbery took place on CIE when a Cork to Dublin mail train was robbed near Sallins in Co. Kildare, and around IR£200,000 stolen.



    April 26, 2012

    World Railway News Digest..... 26th April 2012

    www.railway-technology.com


    GE launches new rail signalling solutionGE Transportation has launched a new European train control system (ETCS) and computer-based interlocking system, as part of its new portfolio of rail signalling solutions called Tempo.       
                       
    Tata Steel's SilentTrack to reduce noise levels at London Blackfriars stationTata Steel has installed a special railway track called SilentTrack for the first time in the UK at Blackfriars, London, to help reduce rail traffic noise in and around the station by up to 50%.       
                       
    London Underground shortlists four bidders for Bank station upgradeLondon Underground (LU) has shortlisted four bidding groups for the £500m Bank station capacity upgrade project.       
                       
    BART recommends Bombardier for railcar contractThe Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Agency in San Francisco, US, has recommended Bombardier as the recipient of a $2.5bn contract to build 775 new railcars.       



    The High Speed Rail conference of the year is coming to California!  

          




    www.progressiverailroading.com US Railroad News. 26th April 2012


    RailAmerica reports strong Q1 results, assigns Lewis as CCO

    Construction begins on Seattle's new streetcar line

    AAR recognizes UP's Iden, Sen. Udall as 2012 Chafee award recipients

    Denver's RTD board decides against FasTracks ballot initiative in 2012

    NS and KCS, Pacer and CRST form intermodal partnerships

    Amtrak engineers honored for rail safety, Barkan receives NARP's Academic Award

    Slag processing, distribution facility coming to Indiana port

    April 26: Updates from GE Transportation, Boatright, Bombardier, Trinity and RailComm

    Rail passenger journeys across Great Britain reach record levels (ORR) 26th April 2012

    Office of Rail Regulation (ORR)


    26 April 2012
    The number of rail passenger journeys across Great Britain has reached record levels according to new statistics published today by the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR).
    The figures detail passenger rail journeys taking place within Great Britain from 1995-96 up to latest data for 2010-11, looking at travel within and between 11 government office regions (GORs) - East of England, East Midlands, London, North East, North West, Scotland, South East, South West, Wales, West Midlands and Yorkshire and Humber.
    The 2010-11 figures show that:
    • 1.16 bn rail journeys took place in Great Britain – up 8.9% from 2009-10. 769.8 million rail journeys took place within individual GORs (an increase of 10.3% compared with 2009-10) and there were 393.3 million rail journeys between GORs (up 6.3% from 2009-10).
    • The total number of rail journeys for England was 1.05 bn - up 9.4% on 2009-10.
    • The total number of rail journeys for Scotland was 85.9 million - up 4.4% on 2009-10. 78.5 million rail journeys took place within Scotland (an increase of 3.7% compared with 2009-10) and there were 7.4 million rail journeys between Scotland and other GORs (up 11.7% from 2009-10).
    • The total number of rail journeys for Wales rose to 27.3 million – up 4.7% from 2009-10. 18.7 million rail journeys took place within Wales (an increase of 3.8% on 2009-10) and there were 8.6 million rail journeys between Wales and other GORs (up 6.8% from 2009-10).
    • London had more rail journeys than any other government region and 60.7% of all rail journeys in Great Britain started and/or ended in London. There were 706.3 million journeys involving London, an 11.7% increase on the previous year. There were 371.7 million journeys made within London (a 17.3% increase on 2009-10) and there were 334.5 million journeys made between London and other GORs (a 6.1% increase on the previous year).
    To view the statistics and methodology, see: http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/server/show/nav.2026

    Work starts on Gilon tunnel (Railway Gazette) 26th April 2012

    Work starts on Gilon tunnel



    ‎24 ‎April ‎2012, ‏‎15:15:00Go to full article

    ISRAEL: On April 23 the joint venture of local construction company Danya Cebus and China Civil Engineering Construction Corp began work on a 4·6 km twin-bore tunnel that will carry the new Acre - Carmiel line under Gilon mountain. The ceremony was attended by the Chinese Ambassador to Israel Gao Yanping, as well as Mayor of Carmiel Adi Eldar. Work is being undertaken under a US$276m contract awarded to Danya Cebus and CCECC in 2011 by Israel National Roads Company Ltd, which is also responsible for rail projects. Transport Minister Yisrael Katz has announced that design work is due to start later this year on extending the 23 km Acre - Carmiel line to Kiryat-Shmona near the border with Lebanon.

    Shortlisted bidders for the Bank Station Capacity Upgrade project (TfL) 26th April 2012

    London Underground (LU) announced today the four bidding groups who have been shortlisted to go through the new Innovative Contractor Engagement (ICE) procurement process for the Bank Station Capacity Upgrade project.
    The Bank and Monument Tube station complex is located in the heart of the City of London financial district and is the fourth busiest interchange station on the Underground network with 96,000 customers during the morning rush hours, which is set to increase.
    Bank is a key interchange served by six lines (Northern, Central, Waterloo & City, and at the Monument end of the same station complex, the District & Circle), as well as the Docklands Light Railway (DLR), for which Bank is the main central London terminus.
    The upgrade project will, by 2021, deliver increased capacity at Bank station and a step-free route between the Northern line platforms, DLR and street levels.
    Following the advertisement in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) in November 2011, LU has completed its evaluation of the Pre Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ) responses and aims to award a contract by July 2013.
    The pre-qualified bidders are listed in alphabetical order:
    • BFK Joint Venture (BAM Nuttall, Ferrovial SA & Kier)
    • CVC Joint Venture (Costain, VINCI Grand Projets & VINCI Construction)
    • Dragados SA
    • MBA Joint Venture (Morgan Sindall, Balfour Beatty & Alpine Bemo Tunnelling)
    David Waboso, LU's Capital Programmes Director said: 'We are using the new ICE procurement process for the first time with this project.
    'This process should improve our relationship with the contractor market and get the benefits of early contractor involvement while developing major design and build contracts.'
    The process has been designed to allow bidders to bring their expertise and knowledge to drive innovation that will reduce cost and risk to the project.
    This innovation will be commercially confidential to each bidder so they are able to fully derive the value and competitive advantage of their innovation through the procurement process.
    The evaluation criteria used in the PQQ, targeted the contractors' ability to deliver and innovate.
    The four strong bidding groups will be able to use their significant global infrastructure experience at Bank Tube station, which will be one of London Underground's biggest and most complex projects.
    TfL website....

    HS1 LTD AND NETWORK RAIL AGREE NEW DEAL (Network Rail) 26th April 2012

    HS1 Ltd, the owners of the UK's first and only high speed railway, and Network Rail have signed a new deal, extending Network Rail’s contract to operate and maintain High Speed 1 until at least 2025.
    Following a very successful first five years of operation, since the full opening of HS1 and St Pancras International in 2007, the two organisations have now extended the contract between them to:

    • Bring the two businesses closer together – aligning incentives for quality and efficiency
    • Offer better value to HS1 and its customers – with an immediate significant reduction in price
    • Incentivise and facilitate the 50/50 sharing of future financial outperformance

    Nicola Shaw, chief executive, HS1 Ltd, said: "We conducted an extensive market review and knew that we had alternatives. However the quality of delivery from Network Rail (CTRL) has been good over the last few years and this deal offered real benefits to us and to our customers. We’ve now got a decade of certainty on which to work together to improve the line even further and to welcome more growth.”
    Patrick Butcher, Network Rail's group finance director, said: "We have run HS1's infrastructure since the current route opened in 2007 and have delivered a high standard of punctuality and overall performance for our client and the route's users - a standard that we aim to continue for many years to come."
    "The new contract offers our client even better value, and allows HS1 and its customers to share in outperformance through the continuation of the excellent partnership that has been established."
    HS1 remains among the world's most reliable railways with an average train delay of between six and eight seconds. Passenger numbers continue to grow every year since opening.

    37 Days to Railfest 2012!! 26th April 2012






    37


    37 years ago, in 1975 (on August 10)  –British Railway’s  APT achieved 245 km/h (152.3 mph) between Goring and Uffington on the Western Region.



    Driving the APT - Railway Documentary  (C) Safir Group on YouTube

    April 25, 2012

    World Railway News Update........ 25th April 2012

    www.railway-technology.com Latest


    BART recommends Bombardier for railcar contract
    The Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Agency in San Francisco, US, has recommended Bombardier as the recipient of a $2.5bn contract to build 775 new railcars.       
                       
    MBTA extends commuter rail line to Wickford stationThe Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) has opened Wickford Junction commuter rail station in Rhode Island, US.       
                       
    Cubic wins rail ticketing equipment maintenance contract in AustraliaCubic Transportation Systems, a unit of US-based Cubic, has won a $65m three-year contract from Rail Corporation New South Wales (RailCorp) to maintain ticketing equipment and provide related services for passenger rail operations in Sydney, Australia.       
                       
    Masabi and MBTA to launch first smartphone rail ticketing system in the USUK-based developer of mobile ticketing technology Masabi and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) have partnered to launch the US's first smartphone rail ticketing system in Boston, towards the end of 2012.       



    www.progressiverailroading.com US railroad news.......

    NS set four financial records, equaled another in Q1

    BART recommends Bombardier to build rail 'Fleet of the Future'

    Grand Central Terminal upgrades will slash energy consumption, MTA says

    UP advances trackwork in Idaho and Colorado, acknowledges 'UP Day' in Illinois

    ARCI: Rail-car orders ratcheted down, deliveries ratcheted up in Q1

    Analysts to discuss Class I first-quarter earnings at May 1 webcast

    LACMTA prepares for Expo Line's launch on Saturday

    STB: U.S. Class I workforce enlarged in March

    MBTA, Masabi to offer smartphone rail-ticket system



    International Railway Journal Headlines......

    CargoServ gains operating license
    AUSTRIA's rail regulator has granted open-access operator CargoServ an operating license for the Austrian mainline network.
    Amadeus to supply new SNCF agency booking system
    FRENCH National Railways (SNCF) has appointed Amadeus to deliver a new indirect distribution system for travel agents.
    Now or never for ERTMS in Europe, says Lochman
    IRJ at UIC ERTMS World Conference, Stockholm: THE executive director of the Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies (CER), Mr Libor Lochman, called today for the acceleration of the implementation of ERTMS in Europe, warning "If we go ahead with ERTMS we have to go ahead now, otherwise we should forget it."
     
    Network Rail secures HS1 management contract extension
    BRITISH infrastructure manager Network Rail has extended its contract to operate and maintain the line from London St Pancras to the Channel Tunnel, with HS1, the owner of Britain's only high-speed line.




    www.railway-technology.com News Feed. 25th April 2012


    Masabi and MBTA to launch first smartphone rail ticketing system in the US

    ‎24 ‎April ‎2012, ‏‎00:00:00Go to full article
    UK-based developer of mobile ticketing technology Masabi and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) have partnered to launch the US's first smartphone rail ticketing system in Boston, towards the end of 2012.



    Victoria completes South Morang rail extension project

    ‎24 ‎April ‎2012, ‏‎00:00:00Go to full article
    The Ministry for Public Transport in Victoria, Australia, has officially opened the A$498m ($516m) South Morang rail line.

    www.railwaygazette.com News Feed........ 25th April 2012



    Metrorail fleet renewal begins

    ‎23 ‎April ‎2012, ‏‎15:55:00Go to full article
    SOUTH AFRICA: Bid documents are now being made available by Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa as it seeks to let two 10-year contracts for the design, manufacture and maintenance of electric-multiple-units. PRASA expects to order an estimated 7 224 cars over the next 20 years to replace the aging Metrorail fleet. ‘Today we formally invite manufacturers of rolling stock in South Africa and all over the world to submit their bids to build metro coaches estimated at R123bn’, said Transport Minister Dr Sibusiso Ndebele, speaking at Metrorail’s Braamfontein depot on April 19. ‘Government has opened the bid to private-sector companies to encourage growth and job creation in our country, this is a milestone in passenger rail investment which will see a significant change in the quality of public transport as a whole’. Bidders will be required to attend a compulsory briefing session on May 9, with bid proposals to be submitted by September 10. Deliveries of the new EMUs are expected to commence in 2015. According to PRASA Group CEO Lucky Montana, the government has set a ‘65% localisation target’ as part of the bid conditions. ‘We have already started preparing for the new trains not only to complement government’s contribution, but also to improve our stations and customer experience as a whole’, said Montana. ‘We have set aside R25·9bn of our own money over the next three years to invest in infrastructure development at station level’.



    Tenders called for US passenger cars

    ‎23 ‎April ‎2012, ‏‎11:47:00Go to full article
    USA: US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced on April 20 that manufacturers had been invited to bid for a contract worth $551m to supply 130 double-deck cars for Amtrak services, under ‘a groundbreaking multi-state effort to jointly purchase standardised rail equipment’. With funding from the Federal Railroad Administration’s High Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail Program, the new cars are to be deployed on Amtrak routes in California, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Missouri ‘and potentially Iowa’. The preferred bidder is due to be selected this autumn for deliveries to start in 2015. According to the US Department of Transportation, the Buy America provisions of the Request for Proposals issued to potential suppliers require that ‘all components’ of the new cars ‘are built by American workers’ and ‘with American-produced steel, iron and manufactured goods’. USDoT has been working with the Department of Commerce to connect major rolling stock manufacturers with more than 34 000 domestic suppliers ‘and help them retool their production capabilities’. USDoT says that new uniform standards ‘will drive down lifecycle costs and allow more manufacturers and suppliers to compete, fostering a healthy competition while helping re-establish the US domestic supply chain for passenger rail equipment’. The common design should also simplify rolling stock maintenance, including staff training and spares inventories, reducing costs and increasing fleet reliability. ‘President Obama has called on us to invest in transportation systems that are built to last’, said LaHood. ‘This important opportunity represents a win-win scenario for both workers and the traveling public by helping to create manufacturing jobs and support passenger rail’.



    Chinese locos prepare for service

    ‎23 ‎April ‎2012, ‏‎10:58:00Go to full article
    AUSTRALIA: Following successful testing that has included operation at up to 130 km/h and hauling ‘one of the biggest iron ore trains’ between Port Augusta and Adelaide last month, SCT Logistics expects its full fleet of CSR Ziyang diesel locomotives to be ‘up and running’ by June. SCT says that it has been ‘humbled’ by the performance of its new Chinese locomotives, in particular during noise, ride and speed tests. Powered by a 4 200 hp MTU engine, the new design meets EU Stage IIIA emissions standards as well as Australian EPA requirements. ‘One of the issues we now face is that the average age of the fleets that operate across Australia is nearly 30 years old with most not conforming to current standards, especially 21st century emission standards’, said SCT Logistics Managing Director Geoff Smith. SCT says that its new CSR locomotives ‘emit less carbon than any other locomotives in Australia and will set a new benchmark for the Australian rail industry moving forward’. SCT has ordered a total of 10 locomotives from CSR Ziyang, also featuring AC traction, isolated driving cabs and ‘a proven bogie configuration’. A batch of six units was shipped from Shanghai to Adelaide on January 1 2012.



    Railway could tap Québec's northern wealth

    ‎23 ‎April ‎2012, ‏‎05:00:00Go to full article
    CANADA: Proposals for an 800 km railway to enable the exploitation of natural resources in the Labrador Trough are being drawn up by Canadian National and pension fund manager Caisse de Dépôt et Placement du Québec. A railway north from the port of Sept-Îles forms part of the government of Québec's Plan Nord economic development strategy. The province's 2012 budget states that railway 'is essential in order to tap into this territory's vast potential for wealth', and predicts that mining projects could attract more than C$20bn in private investment and generate substantial royalties. The estimated C$5bn cost of the railway would be met by the private sector and the pension fund. Initial discussions are now underway to assess the transport needs of mining companies, with a view to reaching preliminary usage agreements before a detailed feasibility study is carried out.