International & UK Railway News Saturday 18th May 2013

 

 

 

 

www.progressiverailroading.com US News

 

Federal Railroad Administration budget 'highlight' of USDOT spending plan, Szabo says.

 

Last month, President Barack Obama unveiled a $3.77 trillion fiscal-year 2014 budget proposal that includes $77 billion for the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), a 6 percent increase compared with FY2012 enacted levels.
The spending plan includes $11.6 billion for the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and makes rail "the feature" of the FY2014 USDOT budget, said Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph Szabo in an interview with Progressive Railroading.
"This is an entirely new budget approach that starts talking about rail much more holistically and much more comprehensively," he said. "It's a bolder rail proposal that incorporates both intercity passenger rail and freight rail."

Continue reading HERE..


www.railway-technology.com Feature....

Ergonomic design: how behavioural science is changing London Bridge Station.

Human behavioural science is being employed at the new £700m London Bridge redevelopment to make the station more user-friendly. Julian Turner spoke to David Watts and Adam Parkes of CCD Design & Ergonomics about wayfinding strategies, the concept of 'high-performing passengers' and the challenge of pointing 90 million commuters in the right direction.

Continue Reading Here




Railway Herald - Railtours

Listing offered in good faith. No guarantees offered or implied. Check with operators to confirm runnings. Adhere to Network Rail guidance for photographers.

Monday 20th May 2013

The Jacobite (West Coast Railway Company)

• To be confirmed Fort William - Glenfinnan (break) - Arisaig - Mallaig (break/rev) & return

Tuesday 21st May 2013

The Cathedrals Express (Steam Dreams)

• 4464 Banbury (pu) - Oxford (pu) - Swindon (pu) - Chippenham (pu) - Melksham (pu) - Westbury (pu) - Taunton - Exeter St. Davids (sd) - Newton Abbot - Paignton (sd) - Kingswear (break/rev) & return

The Jacobite (West Coast Railway Company)

• To be confirmed Fort William - Glenfinnan (break) - Arisaig - Mallaig (break/rev) & return

Wednesday 22nd May 2013

The Fylde Coast Express (Compass Tours)

• WCRC Class 47 (Pair) Kilmarnock (pu) - Auchinleck (pu) - Dumfries (pu) - Annan (pu) - Gretna Green (pu) - Carlisle (pu) -
• WCR Steam tba Carlisle - Langwathby (pu) - Appleby (pu) - Kirkby Stephen - S&C - Hellifield - Blackburn - Preston - Blackpool North
• WCRC Class 47 (Pair) Blackpool North (pu) - Preston - Blackburn - Hellifield - S&C - Kirkby Stephen (sd) - Appleby (sd) - Carlisle (sd) -
• WCRC Class 47 (Pair) Carlisle - Gretna Green (sd) - Annan (sd) - Dumfries (sd) - Auchinleck (sd) - Kilmarnock

The Cumbrian Mountain Express (Railway Touring Company)

• 86259 London Euston (pu) - Watford Junction (pu) - Milton Keynes Central (pu) - (Northampton connection to Rugby by service train) - Rugby (pu) - Nuneaton (pu) - Stafford - Crewe (pu) - Preston (pu) - Carnforth
• 46233 Carnforth - Shap - Carlisle (break/rev) - Carlisle - Appleby - S&C - Hellifield - Blackburn - Preston (sd) -
• 86259 Preston - Crewe (sd) - Stafford - Nuneaton (sd) - Rugby (sd) - (Northampton by service train connection from Rugby) - Milton Keynes Central (sd) - Watford Junction (sd) - London Euston

The Jacobite (West Coast Railway Company)

• To be confirmed Fort William - Glenfinnan (break) - Arisaig - Mallaig (break/rev) & return

Thursday 23rd May 2013

The Jacobite (West Coast Railway Company)

• To be confirmed Fort William - Glenfinnan (break) - Arisaig - Mallaig (break/rev) & return

Friday 24th May 2013

The British Pullman Circular Luncheon Train (VSOE)

• 35028 London Victoria (pu) - Barnes - Staines - Virginia Water - Woking - Guildford - Shalford - Reigate - Redhill - East Croydon - Selhurst - Clapham Junction - London Victoria

The Jacobite (West Coast Railway Company)

• To be confirmed Fort William - Glenfinnan (break) - Arisaig - Mallaig (break/rev) & return

Saturday 25th May 2013

The Lakeland Moorlander (Compass Tours)

• WCRC Class 47 (Pair) Lincoln (pu) - Newark Castle (pu) - Lowdham (pu) - Carlton (pu) - Nottingham (pu) - East Midlands Parkway (pu) - Loughborough (pu) - Leicester (pu) - South Wigston (pu) - Hinckley (pu) - Nuneaton (pu) - Tamworth Low Level (pu) - Lichfield Trent Valley Low Level (pu) - Stafford - Crewe - Blackburn - Hellifield - S&C - Carlisle (break/rev) - Carlisle - Maryport - Workington - Sellafield - Ulverston - Carnforth - Preston - Crewe - Stafford - Lichfield Trent Valley Low level (sd) - Tamworth Low Level (sd) - Nuneaton (sd) - Hinckley (sd) - South Wigston (sd) - Leicester (sd) - Loughborough (sd) - East Midlands Parkway (sd) - Nottingham (sd) - Carlton (sd) - Lowdham (sd) - Newark Castle (sd) - Lincoln

The Anniversary Fenman (redated From 6 April) (Railway Touring Company)

• 70013 London Liverpool Street (pu) - Colchester (pu) - Ipswich - Diss - Norwich (break/rev) - Norwich - Thetford - Ely (rev) - Ely - Downham Market - Kings Lynn (break/rev) - Kings Lynn - Downham Market - Ely - Soham - Bury St. Edmonds - Ipswich - Colchester (sd) - London Liverpool Street

Plockton & Kyle Of Lochalsh (SRPS Railtours)

• WCRC Class 47 (Pair) North Berwick (pu) - Longniddry (pu) - Musselburgh (pu) - Edinburgh Waverley (pu) - Dalmeny (pu) - Forth Bridge - Dalgety Bay (pu) - Kirkcaldy (pu) - Ladybank (pu) - Perth (pu) - Aviemore - Inverness - Plockton (sd) - Kyle of Lochalsh (break/rev) & return

Welsh Mountain Statesman (Statesman Rail)

• WCRC Class 47 (Pair) Hull (pu) - Brough (pu) - Selby (pu) - Garforth (pu) - Leeds (pu) - Dewsbury (pu) - Mirfield (pu) - Huddersfield (pu) - Stalybridge (pu) - Stockport (pu) - Wilmslow (pu) - Crewe (pu) -
• NR Class 97/3 (Pair) Crewe - Shrewsbury - Welshpool - Newtown - Machynlleth - Aberystwyth (break/rev) - Aberystwyth (pu) - Machynlleth - Newtown - Welshpool - Shrewsbury - Crewe (sd) -
• WCRC Class 47 (Pair) Crewe - Wilmslow (sd) - Stockport (sd) - Stalybridge (sd) - Huddersfield (sd) - Mirfield (sd) - Dewsbury (sd) - Leeds (sd) - Garforth (sd) - Selby (sd) - Brough (sd) - Hull

Additional Tour Information

1/13: NR Class 97/3s will take over either at Crewe or Shrewsbury for Aberystwyth: on the return they will also be detached at either Shrewsbury or Crewe.

Added 17:37 on Tuesday 1st January 2013

The Whitehouse Wanderer (UK Railtours)

• To be confirmed St. Albans City (pu) - Bedford (pu) - Kettering (pu) - Nuneaton (pu) - Stafford - Crewe (break/rev) - Crewe - Alsager - Stoke on Trent - Uttoxeter - Derby - Chaddesden Sidings (rev) - Derby Goods Line - Melbourne Junction - Sinfin (rev) - Derby (rev) - Burton upon Trent - Tamworth High Level - Kingsbury Junction - Whitacre Junction - Water Orton - Camp Hill Line - Bromsgrove - Droitwich Spa - Worcester Shrub Hill (rev) - Droiutwich Spa - Kidderminster - Stourbridge Junction - Round Oak Steel Terminal (rev) - Stourbridge Junction Loop (rev) - Rowley regis - Galton Junction - Soho to Perry Barr Junctions - Bescot - Walsall - Sutton Park - Water Orton - Nuneaton (sd) - Kettering (sd) - Bedord (sd) - St. Albans City

The Whistling Ghost (Vintage Trains)

• 5043 Tyseley Warwick Road (pu) - Birmingham Snow Hill (pu) - Stourbridge Junction (pu) - Worcester Shrub Hill (pu) - Cheltenham Spa - Bristol Parkway - Bristol Temple Meads (pu) - Taunton - Bishops Lydeard
• WSR steam Bishops Lydeard - Minehead (break/rev) - Minehead - Bishops Lydeard
• 5043 Bishops Lydeard - Taunton - Bristol Temple Meads (sd) - Worcester Shrub Hill (sd) - Stourbridge Junction (sd) - Birmingham Snow Hill (sd) - Tyseley Warwick Road.

 

Listing courtesy : Railway Herald.

 

 

 

RailFuture - Press Release

Government press statement today on reopening Uckfield-Lewes!!!

Rail campaigners have welcomed news that the government has asked Network Rail to look again at the Lewes - Uckfield scheme.

"This is great news, as its something we've been supporting for some time" said Chris Page of Railfuture. "We've been working with local stakeholders, including East Sussex County Council, to progress plans for a transport hub at Uckfield and protect the route so it can be reopened"

"We feel there is a strong long-term case for a second main line to Brighton, but our experience is that other rail developments have happened incrementally, so we have to take one step at a time. Our proposals must fit in with Network Rail plans."

Railfuture recently engaged a firm of consultants, JRC, to research travel needs in Sussex. "We've put our money where our mouth is on this one. This work will help form the business case for reopening this stretch of line, as part of a partnership with key players, so that we can move towards a viable, realistic solution. We want not just a better railway for passengers, but to promote growth in the local economy as well."

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/lewes-uckfield-rail-route-to-be-re-examined

www.railfuture.org.uk/Uckfield+Lewes.

 

 

Mena Rail News

 

China-Israel Rail Route Would Revolutionise Trade in the Middle East

By Sam Applegate on May 18, 2013

 

A landmark initiative between China and Israel has the potential to totally change trade in the Middle East. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has travelled to China to discuss Israel’s potential to provide rail access from the southern port Eilat on the red Sea, to the Mediterranean ports of Ashdod and Haifa.



The 180 km railway would carry freight and passengers and would provide fast, safe access for trade, avoiding the Suez Canal. Israel is increasingly concerned that difficulties in Egypt could lead to blockages of the canal, which would have a devastating effect on the Israeli economy.

Having a railway in place, would likely increase trade from China, India and other Asian countries to Israel and provide opportunities for trade through the Middle East to Europe. China is known to be keen to increase trade into the Middle East and beyond, and has established expertise around the world in railway infrastructure construction.

The route proposed follows an ancient trade route between Arabia and Europe. It would cost an estimated US $4 billion, and take around five years to complete. However, the route does pass through some valuable archaeological sites and nature reserves and care would need to be taken to keep the environmental damage to a minimum.

 

Article reproduced courtesy Mena Rail News.

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