International Railway Journal
THE president and CEO of Amtrak Mr Joseph Boardman has warned the US government that the country's busiest inter-city passenger railway, the Northeast Corridor (NEC) from Boston to New York and Washington DC is facing a "major coming investment crisis that, without a solution, will mean strangled growth and deteriorating service."
KIWIRAIL opened a new rail link to dairy company Fonterra's milk powder plant at Darfield west of Christchurch on April 12, the first new section of railway to be constructed on the South Island ..
THE EUROPEAN Commission has cleared Siemens' $US 2.8bn acquisition of Invensys Rail following an investigation into the potential effects of the takeover on the railway signalling market..
FOLLOWING a successful legal challenge by German Rail (DB) subsidiary DB Regio, Berlin Brandenburg Transport Authority (VBB) has issued a new tender for the Ringbahn, the first part of the Berlin S-Bahn network to be tendered on competitive basis.
www.progressiverailroading.com US News
www.railway-technology.com Updates
New South Wales invites tenders for North West Rail Link skytrain The New South Wales (NSW) Government has invited tenders for the construction of the skytrain section of the A$8bn ($7.96bn) North West Rail Link (NWRL) project in Sydney, Australia.
Thales secures Manaus monorail telecommunications system contract in Brazil
Thales has won a contract from Monotrilho Manaus Consortium to provide telecommunications systems for the Manaus monorail in Amazonas, Brazil.
TfL shortlists four bidders for Docklands Light Railway franchise
Transport for London (TfL) has shortlisted four bidders for a franchise to operate the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) in London, UK from 14 September 2014.
Bombardier to provide signalling system for Delhi metro extensions
Bombardier Transportation has secured a new Rs2.5bn ($47m) order from Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) in India to deliver the Cityflo 350 integrated train control and signalling system for two extensions of the Delhi Metro.
SIEMENS
Anti-trust authorities give their consent to Siemens' acquisition of Invensys Rail
Munich, 2013-Apr-19
- Siemens expands presence in growing global rail automation market
- European Commission gives last remaining consent to the acquisition
- As planned, transaction can close in the second quarter of calendar year 2013
- Transaction is expected to close at beginning of May
Invensys Rail is a leading global supplier of signaling and control equipment for rail, and has a strong footprint and a well established reputation in its domestic markets UK, Spain, the U.S. and Australia. It will extend Siemens Rail Automation's existing presence in the domestic markets Germany, Austria, Switzerland as well as China and India. In recent years, Invensys Rail has successfully expanded its business into fast-growing emerging regions.
Both companies have more than 150 years of experience and know-how in rail automation. Our combined presence, competence and customer base in key regions complement each other perfectly," said Sami Atiya, CEO of the Mobility and Logistics Division. Siemens and Invensys Rail are already using their combined innovative strength in the collaboration of globally recognized key projects, one of which is the automation of the 21-kilometer tunnel for London's "Crossrail" project. For the first time, technology will connect mass transit and mainline services without passengers having to change trains. As of 2018, this line is expected to transport 200 million passengers annually.
Study finds cities could save billions of dollars by investing in resilience
New York, 2013-Apr-18
- Damages due to natural hazards increasing dramatically
- Technology as an important lever to make cities more resilient
- Arup, Regional Plan Association and Siemens present a report on resilient infrastructure
To show how cities can better protect themselves against natural disasters like Sandy, Siemens has joined forces with Regional Plan Association (RPA) and the consulting firm Arup to prepare a study on resilient urban infrastructure. Results to-date show that technology is a key component of resilient and efficient infrastructure protection. Cities should integrate resilience into all aspects of their planning and normal investment and maintenance cycles. This would reduce potential damages, enhance productivity, create a safe place to live and can save billions of U.S. dollars.
"We can't prevent natural disasters, but with our knowledge and our technologies we can better protect our infrastructures. Particularly in difficult economic times, cities have to invest efficiently while minimizing risks and making them calculable. Resilient infrastructure is not an option but a must. What you get is a city that is better protected and at the same time more efficient and reliable!" said Roland Busch, CEO of Siemens' Infrastructure & Cities Sector and member of the executive board of Siemens AG, at the presentation of the report's initial results in New York City.Continue reading here....
UK Office of Rail Regulation (ORR)
Companies fined £60,000 for Cambridgeshire incident which left two workers seriously injured
19 April 2013
ORR/10/13
Babcock Rail and Swietelsky Construction have been fined £60,000 and ordered to pay costs of £29,728 following a prosecution brought by the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) for breaches of health and safety law that led to two rail workers being seriously injured in 2009 at the Whitemoor Rail Depot in Cambridgeshire.
On 25 March 2009, rail workers for both companies were carrying out repairs to a ballast regulator – a machine designed to re-distribute ballast along the railway line. The maintenance workers were injured while using a hydraulic car jack to support an internal part of the ballast regulator. The car jack, which should not have been in use, collapsed causing the ballast regulator to crush a Swietelsky Construction employee. He received multiple facial fractures and continues to suffer the effects of a brain injury, while a Babcock Rail’s employee received injuries to his left eye and face.
The sentencing at Cambridge Crown Court follows an ORR investigation into the incident. The investigation found that Babcock Rail and Swietelsky Construction had failed to carry out a specific risk assessment for replacing wear plates inside the ballast regulator, a dangerous piece of equipment that can easily crush a worker. It also found that no safety briefing or employee training for replacing the wear plates on the ballast machine had taken place. This led to their employees deciding for themselves how to carry out work, and therefore exposed them to unnecessary risks and ultimately an incident that left the two workers hospitalised with serious head injuries.
Babcock Rail and Swietelsky Construction were charged are under sections 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. At a hearing on 5 October 2012 at Cambridge Crown Court, Swietelsky Construction pleaded guilty. Babcock Rail pleaded guilty to the charges in January 2013.
Tom Wake, ORR’s Principal Inspector (South East), Railway Safety, said:
ORR/10/13
Babcock Rail and Swietelsky Construction have been fined £60,000 and ordered to pay costs of £29,728 following a prosecution brought by the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) for breaches of health and safety law that led to two rail workers being seriously injured in 2009 at the Whitemoor Rail Depot in Cambridgeshire.
On 25 March 2009, rail workers for both companies were carrying out repairs to a ballast regulator – a machine designed to re-distribute ballast along the railway line. The maintenance workers were injured while using a hydraulic car jack to support an internal part of the ballast regulator. The car jack, which should not have been in use, collapsed causing the ballast regulator to crush a Swietelsky Construction employee. He received multiple facial fractures and continues to suffer the effects of a brain injury, while a Babcock Rail’s employee received injuries to his left eye and face.
The sentencing at Cambridge Crown Court follows an ORR investigation into the incident. The investigation found that Babcock Rail and Swietelsky Construction had failed to carry out a specific risk assessment for replacing wear plates inside the ballast regulator, a dangerous piece of equipment that can easily crush a worker. It also found that no safety briefing or employee training for replacing the wear plates on the ballast machine had taken place. This led to their employees deciding for themselves how to carry out work, and therefore exposed them to unnecessary risks and ultimately an incident that left the two workers hospitalised with serious head injuries.
Babcock Rail and Swietelsky Construction were charged are under sections 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. At a hearing on 5 October 2012 at Cambridge Crown Court, Swietelsky Construction pleaded guilty. Babcock Rail pleaded guilty to the charges in January 2013.
Tom Wake, ORR’s Principal Inspector (South East), Railway Safety, said:
“No employee should ever be set to work on dangerous machinery without appropriate support and training. In this instance, on 25 March 2009, Swietelsky Construction and Babcock Rail caused two rail workers to suffer serious head injuries at the Whitemoor Rail Depot because of poor planning and lack of employee training.
“The sentence passed today demonstrates how seriously the court considers these criminal breaches of health and safety law. ORR will keep pressing the industry to ensure the safety of those working on Britain’s railways, bringing criminal prosecutions where necessary.”
Notes:
- Swietelsky Construction was fined £24,000 and ordered to pay £13,000 in costs.
- Babcock Rail was fined £36,000 and ordered to pay £16,728.17 in costs.
- Charges brought against Babcock Rail and Swietelsky Construction under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 were:
- Section 2(1) – Failure to ensure health, safety and welfare of employees.
- Section 3(1) – Exposing another to risk to health and safety.
- The case was originally heard at Cambridge Magistrates’ Court where both parties gave no indication as to plea. It was committed to Cambridge Crown Court.
- At the Plea and Case Management hearing Swietelsky pleaded guilty and Babcock pleaded not guilty. In January 2013 Babcock indicated by letter that they would be pleading guilty.
- Follow the Office of Rail Regulation on Twitter @railregulation
ATOC
Train companies respond to ORR report on rail finances
18/04/2013Responding to the Office of Rail Regulation Report ‘GB rail financial information 2011-12’ Michael Roberts, Chief Executive of the Association of Train Operating Companies, said:
“Passengers and taxpayers are benefiting from a booming railway that is delivering better value for money.
“The railways are relying on less taxpayer support and a lower level of revenue per journey as train companies succeed in encouraging more passengers to travel by train. Train companies have reduced their unit costs in real terms, playing their part along with industry partners and Government in improving rail's efficiency.
“The Government’s recent steps to get franchising back on track, recognising the private sector’s role in delivering a successful railway, will help ensure the industry can continue to provide the best possible deal for passengers and taxpayers.”
Notes to editors:
According to the ORR’s report, in 2011-12:
Rail journeys – increased by 7.2 per cent compared to 2010-11 (p4, para 4)
Government funding – decreased by 5.4% in real terms (p4, para 5)
Train operators’ costs decreased by 2.1% taking into account inflation and passenger growth (p12, para 22)
Industry expenditure – decreased by 2.1% in real terms (p5, para 7)
Average revenue per journey - was £4.93, a decrease of 3.6% in real terms (p10, para 17).
Since 2004, Government policy has been to increase the average cost of a season ticket by above the rate of inflation every year; operators have attracted people to travel by train by offering Off-Peak tickets, good value Advance fares and Railcard savings.
Network Rail
Main construction work begins on new Borders Railway
Network Rail and principal contractor BAM Nuttall will today (Thursday April 18) begin main construction work on the new Borders Railway line.
The first works will involve the excavation of the track alignment for the new line through the Monktonhall area and the excavation of the site of the new Shawfair station.
The earthworks programme, which will create the line of route and base for the railway track, will now begin to roll-out along the route throughout summer and autumn.
The start of the main works follows a six-month period of advance preparations along the route, which has included a considerable amount of mining remediation work in the area of the old Monktonhall colliery.
Transport Minister Keith Brown said: “Our delivery of the Borders Railway is bringing communities along the route back into the rail network for the first time in over 40 years.
“The start of the construction works is a hugely exciting milestone and will allow those communities to witness the scheme coming to life.
“I very much look forward to seeing the Borders Railway take shape from here with all the social, economic and environmental benefits that will bring for the area.”
David Simpson, Network Rail route managing director for Scotland, added: “The start of the main construction works is a major milestone in the delivery of the new line.
“From today, local communities will be able to see their new railway beginning to take shape and we look forward to working with them, our contractors and the Scottish Government to re-establish this vital transport link for the Borders.”
The Borders Railway, which will enter service in 2015, will re-establish a passenger rail link for the first time in over 40 years from Edinburgh through Midlothian to Tweedbank.
The line will include 30 miles of new railway with three existing stations and seven new ones – at Shawfair, Eskbank, Newtongrange, Gorebridge, Stow, Galashiels and Tweedbank.
The £294m scheme is being delivered by Network Rail on behalf of the Scottish Government and, once complete, will offer a fast and efficient alternative to the congested local road network and passengers will be able to travel direct from Tweedbank to Edinburgh Waverley in less than an hour at peak times.
The railway is expected to deliver major economic and social development opportunities – connecting people to jobs, housing, leisure opportunities and other facilities.
Accessible rail travel in south London gets a lift - or rather 15.
Rail travel into, out of, and around the capital has become possible for many more people with the completion by Network Rail of work at three south London stations to install lifts and other accessibility facilities.
Transport minister Norman Baker, together with local member of Parliament Sadiq Khan, Wandsworth Council’s cabinet member for transport Russell King, and London Assembly member Richard Tracey, conducted the formal opening of the new lift facilities at Earlsfield station in south London, part of the £370 million Access for All scheme, funded by the Government to improve the accessibility at almost 150 stations nationwide.
Norman Baker said:
“Earlsfield joins Clapham Junction and Vauxhall on the lengthening list of stations where the industry has completed work to open up the railway to be more accessible than ever before.
“With step free access from street to platform at all three stations, and interchange available with National Rail and London Overground’s ‘outer circle’ at Clapham Junction and with the Tube and buses too at Vauxhall, large numbers of people will be able, many for the very first time, to access public transport.
“That’s good news for those with mobility issues but its good news too for leisure travellers with bags or those with small children, many of whom might otherwise choose to travel by road – that means a potential reduction in congestion and sensible use of off peak rail capacity too.”
Tooting MP Sadiq Khan said:
“The campaign for a complete refurbishment of Earlsfield station has been a long one and I am delighted that the work to improve access and facilities at the station is finally complete.
“The improvements brighten the station up and make it much more fit for the 21st century. It will also be accessible to commuters who may have reduced mobility or had difficulty using the station with push chairs and buggies.
“It is good news that Earlsfield residents finally have the access and station facilities they need and deserve.”
Cllr Russell King said:
“We were delighted when this Government announced in 2011 the funding of the improvements to Earlsfield station after so many years of campaigning by the council. The bright, modern facilities have come as a real boost to Earlsfield town centre and the remodelled entrance has brought welcome relief to rush hour overcrowding.
“The lifts are particularly important at Earlsfield as the long flights of stairs up to the platforms are a major barrier to people with limited mobility or those with heavy bags or buggies. Now at last the whole local community can make use of the local station.”
Richard Tracey AM, GLA member for Wandsworth and Merton
"This is a great improvement in accessibility at a key commuter station for the capital. I hope it leads to more and more people finding it possible to use the rail network not just for their journeys to work but at other times too through step-free access elsewhere to other services.
"That's important to help reduce congestion on the system and to ensure the best possible use of available capacity."
Alistair Wright, head of estate for the South West Trains - Network Rail Alliance said:
“The rail network is becoming more accessible than ever before and the completion of these three stations on a busy and important line of route fills in another big piece of the jigsaw.
“With the work at Clapham Junction completed last year and with Earlsfield and Vauxhall’s lifts now in service too this gives a real boost to very many current and prospective customers.
“All three stations are well served by trains throughout the whole day which not only means good news for mobility impaired commuters but also that almost everyone can now use the network at its less busy times for shopping and leisure travel too.
Notes:
Earlsfield station
Earlsfield station saw the completion of its two new station lifts in September 2012 with a new station entrance also now open forming part of a £5.6 million scheme to improve the facilities and accessibility of the station.
Some work is still ongoing to upgrade other station facilities.
Wandsworth Council made a financial contribution to the station improvements using funding from an adjoining development, and is undertaking environmental improvements to the street outside the station entrance.
Clapham Junction station
The £14.5 million works at Clapham Junction were completed in mid 2011 with a range of facilities including a new station entrance and nine lifts providing step-free access to every platform at one of Europe’s busiest railway stations.
The facilities provided a boost to interchange with both existing services and with the London Overground ‘outer circle’ services when that route came into operation in late 2012.
Vauxhall station
Vauxhall station provides interchange facilities both with London Underground’s Victoria Line (NB - Step-free to the ticket hall only) and with London Buses at Vauxhall Cross.
Station improvement works in recent months include better station canopies and 4 new lifts providing step-free access from street to each platform. The lifts were built in 2012 and, after completion of the canopy installations, were brought into service in early 2013.
Waterloo station
Step free access to the Tube and to services via Waterloo East is available at Waterloo station
More news sites.....
Shedmaster Railway News
World Heritage & Railway News
From the NRM....
On 3 July 1938, A4 class locomotive Mallard raced down Stoke Bank at 126mph to set a new steam locomotive world speed record. That record still stands.
In 2013, we're marking the 75th anniversary of Mallard's achievement with a series of commemorative events, including three spectacular opportunities to see the record breaker united with its five surviving sister locomotives: a family reunion on an international scale.
Only six of the 35 A4 locomotives built survive. We've temporarily repatriated two of them from their home museums in Canada and the US: right now you can come and see Dwight D Eisenhower alongside Mallard in the Great Hall at York, and see Dominion of Canada being worked on by the workshop team at Shildon until spring.
The staff of our archive and library centre have created additional material for your research on popular locomotives. Download the latest Mallard 75 resource pack here.
For the latest updates, sign up to our email newsletter, follow us on Facebook or Twitter.
Railway Engineering News
From GOV.UK
Londoners benefit from revamped rail stations.
Earlsfield station has benefitted from more than £5.5 million of investment to provide new lifts and staircases and expand the ticket hall.
Another of south London’s stations has been transformed with the help of government funding, to make it easier for passengers to get around and to improve the travel experience.
Yesterday (18 April 2013) Rail Minister Norman Baker saw how Earlsfield station has benefitted from more than £5.5 million of investment to provide new lifts and staircases as well as the reconfiguration and expansion of the ticket hall.
It is just one of hundreds of stations to benefit from the hundreds of millions being spent by the department and the rail industry to upgrade stations and improve accessibility.
Work began on the Earlsfield improvements in 2011 and has now been completed. Rail Minister Norman Baker officially opened the revamped station yesterday. He was joined by local MP Sadiq Khan.
Norman Baker said:
Access for All will see funding totalling £370 million providing obstacle-free routes at more than 150 priority rail stations by 2015 and more than 1,000 stations have already received grants for smaller scale access improvements under the programme.
The department has provided £150 million for NSIP over 5 years to provide improvements to passenger facilities at busy stations and has levered in third party funding of £27 million. So far over 300 stations have benefitted.
A further £200 million will be split between two schemes to upgrade more stations between 2014 and 2019. Decisions on where the NSIP money might be best spent are being taken at a local level by Network Rail, which acts as landlord for most stations, and the train operators which run them on a day-to-day basis, to ensure that funding is targeted at the most appropriate stations. Access for All funding will be prioritised at the busiest stations where access needs to be improved, but will also take into account the incidence of disability in the area as well as the views of local authorities and the railway industry.
The next round of both programmes will also put increased emphasis on schemes that are able to attract additional third party contributions in order to maximise the value and efficiency of any particular improvement.
Station improvements make travelling easier and more pleasant and feedback suggests that passengers genuinely appreciate the upgrading and modernising of the buildings and platforms.
Earlier this year independent watchdog organisation Passenger Focus published results of survey showing that customer satisfaction went up by 30% at stations that had benefited from the National Station Improvement Programme. Previous studies have also shown that passenger numbers and satisfaction levels also rise where Access for All projects have been completed.
Anthony Smith, Passenger Focus chief executive, said:
Similarly, the Access for All programme has contributed funding to ATOC’s stations made easy website, which allows disabled passengers to decide for themselves whether they can use a station, as well as the new passenger assist system run by ATOC to allow pre-booking of staff help at stations.
Norman Baker said:
“Earlsfield joins Clapham Junction and Vauxhall on the lengthening list of stations where the industry has completed work to open up the railway to be more accessible than ever before.
“With step free access from street to platform at all three stations, and interchange available with National Rail and London Overground’s ‘outer circle’ at Clapham Junction and with the Tube and buses too at Vauxhall, large numbers of people will be able, many for the very first time, to access public transport.
“That’s good news for those with mobility issues but its good news too for leisure travellers with bags or those with small children, many of whom might otherwise choose to travel by road – that means a potential reduction in congestion and sensible use of off peak rail capacity too.”
Tooting MP Sadiq Khan said:
“The campaign for a complete refurbishment of Earlsfield station has been a long one and I am delighted that the work to improve access and facilities at the station is finally complete.
“The improvements brighten the station up and make it much more fit for the 21st century. It will also be accessible to commuters who may have reduced mobility or had difficulty using the station with push chairs and buggies.
“It is good news that Earlsfield residents finally have the access and station facilities they need and deserve.”
Cllr Russell King said:
“We were delighted when this Government announced in 2011 the funding of the improvements to Earlsfield station after so many years of campaigning by the council. The bright, modern facilities have come as a real boost to Earlsfield town centre and the remodelled entrance has brought welcome relief to rush hour overcrowding.
“The lifts are particularly important at Earlsfield as the long flights of stairs up to the platforms are a major barrier to people with limited mobility or those with heavy bags or buggies. Now at last the whole local community can make use of the local station.”
Richard Tracey AM, GLA member for Wandsworth and Merton
"This is a great improvement in accessibility at a key commuter station for the capital. I hope it leads to more and more people finding it possible to use the rail network not just for their journeys to work but at other times too through step-free access elsewhere to other services.
"That's important to help reduce congestion on the system and to ensure the best possible use of available capacity."
Alistair Wright, head of estate for the South West Trains - Network Rail Alliance said:
“The rail network is becoming more accessible than ever before and the completion of these three stations on a busy and important line of route fills in another big piece of the jigsaw.
“With the work at Clapham Junction completed last year and with Earlsfield and Vauxhall’s lifts now in service too this gives a real boost to very many current and prospective customers.
“All three stations are well served by trains throughout the whole day which not only means good news for mobility impaired commuters but also that almost everyone can now use the network at its less busy times for shopping and leisure travel too.
Notes:
Earlsfield station
Earlsfield station saw the completion of its two new station lifts in September 2012 with a new station entrance also now open forming part of a £5.6 million scheme to improve the facilities and accessibility of the station.
Some work is still ongoing to upgrade other station facilities.
Wandsworth Council made a financial contribution to the station improvements using funding from an adjoining development, and is undertaking environmental improvements to the street outside the station entrance.
Clapham Junction station
The £14.5 million works at Clapham Junction were completed in mid 2011 with a range of facilities including a new station entrance and nine lifts providing step-free access to every platform at one of Europe’s busiest railway stations.
The facilities provided a boost to interchange with both existing services and with the London Overground ‘outer circle’ services when that route came into operation in late 2012.
Vauxhall station
Vauxhall station provides interchange facilities both with London Underground’s Victoria Line (NB - Step-free to the ticket hall only) and with London Buses at Vauxhall Cross.
Station improvement works in recent months include better station canopies and 4 new lifts providing step-free access from street to each platform. The lifts were built in 2012 and, after completion of the canopy installations, were brought into service in early 2013.
Waterloo station
Step free access to the Tube and to services via Waterloo East is available at Waterloo station
More news sites.....
Shedmaster Railway News
World Heritage & Railway News
From the NRM....
On 3 July 1938, A4 class locomotive Mallard raced down Stoke Bank at 126mph to set a new steam locomotive world speed record. That record still stands.
In 2013, we're marking the 75th anniversary of Mallard's achievement with a series of commemorative events, including three spectacular opportunities to see the record breaker united with its five surviving sister locomotives: a family reunion on an international scale.
Only six of the 35 A4 locomotives built survive. We've temporarily repatriated two of them from their home museums in Canada and the US: right now you can come and see Dwight D Eisenhower alongside Mallard in the Great Hall at York, and see Dominion of Canada being worked on by the workshop team at Shildon until spring.
The staff of our archive and library centre have created additional material for your research on popular locomotives. Download the latest Mallard 75 resource pack here.
Railway Engineering News
From GOV.UK
Londoners benefit from revamped rail stations.
Earlsfield station has benefitted from more than £5.5 million of investment to provide new lifts and staircases and expand the ticket hall.
Another of south London’s stations has been transformed with the help of government funding, to make it easier for passengers to get around and to improve the travel experience.
Yesterday (18 April 2013) Rail Minister Norman Baker saw how Earlsfield station has benefitted from more than £5.5 million of investment to provide new lifts and staircases as well as the reconfiguration and expansion of the ticket hall.
It is just one of hundreds of stations to benefit from the hundreds of millions being spent by the department and the rail industry to upgrade stations and improve accessibility.
Work began on the Earlsfield improvements in 2011 and has now been completed. Rail Minister Norman Baker officially opened the revamped station yesterday. He was joined by local MP Sadiq Khan.
Norman Baker said:
Improvements like these help those using the railways. Opening up access at stations and providing step-free routes can make a real difference to wheelchair users and other with limited mobility, as well as parents with buggies.
The department’s Access for All and National Station Improvement Programmes (NSIP) are providing hundreds of millions of pounds for upgrades around the country.And everyone feels the benefit of taking a train from stations with improved facilities and layout.
Access for All will see funding totalling £370 million providing obstacle-free routes at more than 150 priority rail stations by 2015 and more than 1,000 stations have already received grants for smaller scale access improvements under the programme.
The department has provided £150 million for NSIP over 5 years to provide improvements to passenger facilities at busy stations and has levered in third party funding of £27 million. So far over 300 stations have benefitted.
A further £200 million will be split between two schemes to upgrade more stations between 2014 and 2019. Decisions on where the NSIP money might be best spent are being taken at a local level by Network Rail, which acts as landlord for most stations, and the train operators which run them on a day-to-day basis, to ensure that funding is targeted at the most appropriate stations. Access for All funding will be prioritised at the busiest stations where access needs to be improved, but will also take into account the incidence of disability in the area as well as the views of local authorities and the railway industry.
The next round of both programmes will also put increased emphasis on schemes that are able to attract additional third party contributions in order to maximise the value and efficiency of any particular improvement.
Station improvements make travelling easier and more pleasant and feedback suggests that passengers genuinely appreciate the upgrading and modernising of the buildings and platforms.
Earlier this year independent watchdog organisation Passenger Focus published results of survey showing that customer satisfaction went up by 30% at stations that had benefited from the National Station Improvement Programme. Previous studies have also shown that passenger numbers and satisfaction levels also rise where Access for All projects have been completed.
Anthony Smith, Passenger Focus chief executive, said:
As well as physical station improvements, NSIP is also contributing over £7 million towards a project which will make sure that all information on train running times that is displayed on stations and on-line will originate from a single source. This ‘DARWIN’ project is being delivered by the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) and during 2014 will see some 40 different systems operating across the network replaced by 1.Our research clearly shows that passenger satisfaction with stations increases when the money invested in improvements is targeted at the things that matter most to passengers.
Similarly, the Access for All programme has contributed funding to ATOC’s stations made easy website, which allows disabled passengers to decide for themselves whether they can use a station, as well as the new passenger assist system run by ATOC to allow pre-booking of staff help at stations.
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ReplyDeleteRenovations in Earlsfield