Rail organisations opposed to cross-border use of ‘megatrucks’
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The Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies (CER) and the Association of the European Rail Industry (UNIFE), have expressed their opposition to the new proposal to formalise the cross-border use of longer and heavier vehicles (LHVs, or ‘megatrucks’) between neighbouring countries. The new proposal from the European Commission to revise Directive 1996/53 published today (Monday 15 April), will allow vehicles which exceed the current European truck limits of 40 tonnes (44 tonnes if part of combined transport) and 18.75m in length to cross borders between countries if both countries agree.
The rail sector remains opposed to the concept of cross-border use of megatrucks, believing that their use in this way will start a process that will inevitably lead to a ‘domino effect’ and in time their general use across Europe. Furthermore, this approach is contrary to the Commission’s own agenda for modal shift from road to rail transport, most recently set out in the 2011 Transport White Paper which stated a goal of shifting 30% of road freight to rail and inland waterways by 2030 as part of the long-term move to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transport.
The rail sector also believes that pressure from supporters of megatrucks to accommodate their wider use ignores the huge investment in infrastructure that would be necessary even though it would benefit of only a small number of road users.
CER and UNIFE are also particularly concerned by the way this change of policy has been proposed without an impact assessment on its implications. Studies undertaken for the rail sector have shown that the wider use of megatrucks will undermine the viability of rail freight in many areas, in particular single wagonload freight.
CER Executive Director Libor Lochman said,“The greater use of megatrucks goes against what the Commission is trying to achieve in freight transport. If it wants to reduce the environmental impact of transport, it should be helping to further invest in rail and not just allowing ever-longer trucks to cross Europe.”
UNIFE Director General Philippe Citroën stated,“Despite low public approval of megatrucks, there is a clear danger of EU-wide circulation of megatrucks if this proposal is accepted. This approach will be very difficult to reverse once countries start adopting it. On the contrary, modal shift towards environmentally friendly transport modes like rail is the way forward. In this respect, we are keen to implement the objectives set in the 2011 Transport White Paper.”
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Rail franchising evidence session rescheduled
RESCHEDULING OF ORAL EVIDENCE SESSION– RAIL FRANCHISING
The evidence session planned for Wednesday 17 April has been cancelled and rescheduled for Wednesday 24 April at 10am.
Following recent announcements by the Government on the future of rail franchising, the Transport Committee will be hearing evidence from the Minister for Rail, Rt Hon Simon Burns.
The session will follow-up on the Committee’s recent work where it heard from Richard Brown CBE, passenger groups, rail groups and the Transport Secretary.
Following recent announcements by the Government on the future of rail franchising, the Transport Committee will be hearing evidence from the Minister for Rail, Rt Hon Simon Burns.
The session will follow-up on the Committee’s recent work where it heard from Richard Brown CBE, passenger groups, rail groups and the Transport Secretary.
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Fast Lane- The Official Blog of the US Secretary of Transportation
On the Go with Ray LaHood: April 2013
Today, I'm happy to present the latest episode of "On The Go." Many thanks to all those who sent in their questions.
This time around, I'm answering questions about inland ports, farm-to-market infrastructure, and how the public can advocate for high-speed rail. I also have a response to the question, "Where can the next Secretary do the most good?"
But although I answered that one, let's not put the cart before the horse. I'm still here, and I'd like to do one last episode soon. So, start thinking about what question you want to ask and stay tuned to the Fast Lane
In the meantime, enjoy this episode. For those of you curious about such important issues, there's even an answer to the oft-asked, "How many times have you said 'lookit' in your four years as Secretary?"
This time around, I'm answering questions about inland ports, farm-to-market infrastructure, and how the public can advocate for high-speed rail. I also have a response to the question, "Where can the next Secretary do the most good?"
But although I answered that one, let's not put the cart before the horse. I'm still here, and I'd like to do one last episode soon. So, start thinking about what question you want to ask and stay tuned to the Fast Lane
In the meantime, enjoy this episode. For those of you curious about such important issues, there's even an answer to the oft-asked, "How many times have you said 'lookit' in your four years as Secretary?"
www.railway-technology.com Updates
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Australian high-speed rail project to cost $120bn
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ECR Retail Systems to provide catering payment services to East Coast
British train operator East Coast has awarded a five-year contract to UK-based Mobile Point of Sale provider ECR Retail Systems to supply a payment card industry (PCI) compliant payment service for passengers buying food and drink.
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Network Rail
Rail passenger and freight delay caused by cable theft halved.
Delay minutes down 54%
Number of cable thefts affecting rail services down 67%
Total cost to industry reached three-year low; down more than £5m
Rail passengers are reaping the benefits of years of work to tackle the issue of metal theft on the railway, latest industry figures show. Network Rail has been working with partners in the railway and from other essential infrastructure industries to tackle this crime which, at its peak, caused more than 6,000 hours worth of delays to trains in a single year. As a result of these efforts, delay was down to a combined 2,700 hours in 2012/13.
Neil Henry, head of operations and performance at Network Rail, said: “These figures show the true success of partnership working and are great news for passengers and our freight customers.
“The improvements we have seen are down to a number of factors, including British Transport Police targeting thieves and the scrap dealers buying stolen metal. Our engineers are working with suppliers and other industries to make metal – particularly our cables – harder to steal and easier to identify and our teams around the network introducing new ways of working to reduce delay and fix thefts more quickly. We believe the introduction of new laws following our work with other industries to explain the need for change to government will continue to help to stifle the market for stolen metal.
“I want to thank everyone who has been involved in securing this success, including members of the public who have reported suspicious behaviour to police. We are not complacent that this issue is solved and we will continue to work to further reduce cost and delay caused by thieves on our railway.”
Rail minister Norman Baker said: “The coalition Government is strongly committed to tackling metal theft and it is heartening to see that the decisive action that has been taken is now paying off with major reductions in this kind of crime. Government intervention in this area has included £5m of funding for a task force to crackdown on metal and cable thieves along with the introduction of a ban on cash payments by scrap metal dealers, significantly increasing the fines for all offences under the existing Scrap Metal Dealers Act and providing police officers with sufficient powers of entry to tackle illegal trading in metal yards.”
Speaking about the figures released today, Detective Chief Inspector Gill Murray, of British Transport Police, said: “The significant reductions during the past 12 months are encouraging and are testament to the work done by police and partner agencies to increase the risk of detection and prosecution to offenders, whilst also reducing the potential rewards for their criminal behaviour.
“We cannot, however, take our eye off the ball and will continue to develop initiatives and tactics to make life even more challenging for thieves and unscrupulous metal recyclers.
“Tackling metal theft in an effective manner is now embedded across police forces and within several industries and, with new legislation due to come into force later this year, there can be no doubt that the UK remains committed to tackling a crime which strikes at the very heart of its infrastructure.”
Gary Cooper, director of operations and engineering at the Association of Train Operating Companies, added: “Rail users are starting to benefit from the industry’s joint and determined crackdown on cable theft. The Scrap Metal Dealers Act is now law, which is excellent progress in the fight against cable thieves, whose actions can cause disruption for thousands of our customers.
“The new law will help break the trade in stolen metal, but the industry and police must continue to work together to make metal harder to steal and sell on. Train companies are committed to doing all they can to reduce disruption and costs even further.”
Note: total cost figures are an estimate and a regional break down of this figure is not available.
Legislation
It is already illegal to sell scrap metal for cash – this legislation was introduced in December 2012.
Network Rail supported the Private Member's Bill introduced by Richard Ottaway MP to regulate scrap metal dealers. The Bill was passed in February 2013 and the act will become enforceable as the Scrap Metal Dealer's Act in autumn 2013.
The Home Office is issuing guidance to councils, police, the legal services and all those involved with the implementation of the Act, the key features of which are:
• Scrap metal dealers must be licensed and local authorities have the power to refuse unsuitable applicants and revoke licences
• Police have the power by court order to close unlicensed scrap yards
• All sellers of metal must show verifiable ID which dealers must record and retain
• Cash trades for scrap metal are now illegal without exception and subject to unlimited fines
• A public national register of scrap metal dealers will be created to help make sure that sales of scrap metal are accounted for and that all people trading scrap are doing so legitimately.
Neil Henry, head of operations and performance at Network Rail, said: “These figures show the true success of partnership working and are great news for passengers and our freight customers.
“The improvements we have seen are down to a number of factors, including British Transport Police targeting thieves and the scrap dealers buying stolen metal. Our engineers are working with suppliers and other industries to make metal – particularly our cables – harder to steal and easier to identify and our teams around the network introducing new ways of working to reduce delay and fix thefts more quickly. We believe the introduction of new laws following our work with other industries to explain the need for change to government will continue to help to stifle the market for stolen metal.
“I want to thank everyone who has been involved in securing this success, including members of the public who have reported suspicious behaviour to police. We are not complacent that this issue is solved and we will continue to work to further reduce cost and delay caused by thieves on our railway.”
Rail minister Norman Baker said: “The coalition Government is strongly committed to tackling metal theft and it is heartening to see that the decisive action that has been taken is now paying off with major reductions in this kind of crime. Government intervention in this area has included £5m of funding for a task force to crackdown on metal and cable thieves along with the introduction of a ban on cash payments by scrap metal dealers, significantly increasing the fines for all offences under the existing Scrap Metal Dealers Act and providing police officers with sufficient powers of entry to tackle illegal trading in metal yards.”
Speaking about the figures released today, Detective Chief Inspector Gill Murray, of British Transport Police, said: “The significant reductions during the past 12 months are encouraging and are testament to the work done by police and partner agencies to increase the risk of detection and prosecution to offenders, whilst also reducing the potential rewards for their criminal behaviour.
“We cannot, however, take our eye off the ball and will continue to develop initiatives and tactics to make life even more challenging for thieves and unscrupulous metal recyclers.
“Tackling metal theft in an effective manner is now embedded across police forces and within several industries and, with new legislation due to come into force later this year, there can be no doubt that the UK remains committed to tackling a crime which strikes at the very heart of its infrastructure.”
Gary Cooper, director of operations and engineering at the Association of Train Operating Companies, added: “Rail users are starting to benefit from the industry’s joint and determined crackdown on cable theft. The Scrap Metal Dealers Act is now law, which is excellent progress in the fight against cable thieves, whose actions can cause disruption for thousands of our customers.
“The new law will help break the trade in stolen metal, but the industry and police must continue to work together to make metal harder to steal and sell on. Train companies are committed to doing all they can to reduce disruption and costs even further.”
Notes:
Please see attachment for detailed figuresNote: total cost figures are an estimate and a regional break down of this figure is not available.
| Financial Year | No. of incidents^ | Delay minutes1 | Compensation cost* | Total Cost** |
| 2012/13 |
285
|
160,260
|
£5, 823, 094
|
£12,765, 935
|
| 2011/12 |
845
|
344,680
|
£12, 000, 679
|
£18,337,504
|
| 2010/11 |
995
|
365, 430
|
£12, 132, 860
|
£16,404, 255
|
| 2009/10 |
656
|
321, 570
|
£10, 931, 350
|
£13,511, 889
|
| 2008/09 |
742
|
283, 167
|
£7, 858, 516
|
£12,315,811
|
Legislation
It is already illegal to sell scrap metal for cash – this legislation was introduced in December 2012.
Network Rail supported the Private Member's Bill introduced by Richard Ottaway MP to regulate scrap metal dealers. The Bill was passed in February 2013 and the act will become enforceable as the Scrap Metal Dealer's Act in autumn 2013.
The Home Office is issuing guidance to councils, police, the legal services and all those involved with the implementation of the Act, the key features of which are:
• Scrap metal dealers must be licensed and local authorities have the power to refuse unsuitable applicants and revoke licences
• Police have the power by court order to close unlicensed scrap yards
• All sellers of metal must show verifiable ID which dealers must record and retain
• Cash trades for scrap metal are now illegal without exception and subject to unlimited fines
• A public national register of scrap metal dealers will be created to help make sure that sales of scrap metal are accounted for and that all people trading scrap are doing so legitimately.
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