SWEDEN's Lussavaara-Kirunava AB (LKAB) inaugurated the latest phase of its iron-ore mining operation in Kiruna, northern Sweden today, which includes a 12km, standard-gauge underground automatic railway.
GERMAN Rail (DB) CEO Dr Rüdiger Grube has called on European governments to adopt the structure of Germany's railway industry to foster competition and increase market share.
METROPOLITAN Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) awarded the first of three-design-build contracts on May 14 for the second phase of the Washington DC Silver Line..
DESPITE speculation that Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) might not proceed with its implementation of an Advanced Train Management System (ATMS) on the interstate network, a further $A 50m ($US 49m) was allocated in last week's Federal Budget to allow the technology to be rolled out on the Port Augusta - Tarcoola line.
c2c to operate Essex Thameside franchise until September 2014 National Express and the UK Department for Transport (DfT) have signed an agreement to extend the transport operator's c2c franchise contract for another 16 months.
The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) in the US has started the $425m Red Line South re-construction project.
Interfleet to certify Hitachi's fleet of Super Express trains
Hitachi Rail Europe has selected Interfleet Certification, a division of international rail consultancy Interfleet Technology, as the Notified Body (NoBo) and Designated Body (DeBo) for the UK's Intercity Express Programme.
Zaha Hadid to construct new KAFD metro station in Saudi Arabia
Zaha Hadid Architects has won a contract from the ArRiyadh Development Authority to build the new King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) Metro Station in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
CER- The Voice of European Railways.
Public procurement package to be adopted against the needs of utilities
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Representatives of European public services and the railway sector are voicing their concern over the European Commission’s proposal on procurement for organisations operating in the water, energy, transport and postal services (replacing Directive 2004/17/EC – the so-called ‘Utilities Directive’).
The European Centre of Employers and Enterprises providing Public Services (CEEP) and the Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies (CER) are warning that crucial issues are not being properly tackled and must be dealt with in the current trialogue discussions. Both associations believe that the General Approach reached by the Council in December 2012 does not adequately respond to the specific needs of the industries which are covered by the ‘Utilities Directive’. Whilst the European Parliament has properly taken into consideration the Utilities sector’s need, neither the European Commission proposal nor the Council General Approach do so. This will not bring clarity and new rules to cut red tape.
The current Commission’s proposal implies – as an example – that at any time a station is modified and or a new station is put into service, a new public procurement proceeding – an open tendering - will be needed to contract the additional services needed (e.g. for cleaning of public space in stations or waste collection). Depending on the duration of the tendering process, there will be no services (i.e. cleaning or waste collection) provided until the finalisation of the procedure. Such a process can last a few months in the best case and a year in the worst case resulting in dissatisfied customers.
CER and CEEP are convinced that there is a need to take into account the fact that public undertakings providing public services to society deserve a flexible legal framework to operate effectively and to purchase necessary goods and services.
However, as the public procurement ‘Utilities Directive’ stands now, it is hard to believe it will bring simplification and flexibility of the current procedural regime, as intended by the Commission and desired by all stakeholders.
On the contrary, it appears obvious that there is a lack of understanding of the business constraints that the undertakings operating in utilities need to cope with. The introduction of strict conditions which limit the possibility of amending an ongoing publicly procured contract could cause serious repercussions in terms of liability for projects, and hinder the provision of public services.
CEEP and CER believe that the flexibility needed in utilities can be kept without contradicting the Commission’s intention of increasing transparency and enhancing competitive bidding. But failure to be sufficiently flexible will be counter-productive in terms of better access to the market for SMEs in particular.
CEEP and CER are now calling on the EU institutions to re-evaluate their position in the light of the information put forward by stakeholders since the start of the trialogue meetings.
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Wensleydale Railway
For more information about any of these events,
or to make a booking, please telephone 08454 50 54 74 or use the link alongside the event details.
An asterisk (*) indicates that advance booking is necessary
May and June 2013An asterisk (*) indicates that advance booking is necessary
Saturday 25 May - Annual Wildflower Walk
Redmire to Leyburn – 6 miles. Depart Leeming Bar 10 am. Normal rail fares apply.
Saturday 25 May - Medieval Murder Mystery with The Chuffing Theatre Company *
Calling all supersleuths for an evening of murder and mayhem.
Board Leeming Bar 6.30pm or board at Leyburn 7.15pm.
Coach transfer to Bolton Castle where the plot continues to unravel!
Buffet supper served in The Great Hall.
Licensed bar.
Return home by coach and train.
Tickets £35. (It would be a crime to miss out on this most entertaining event!)
Booking essential - click here to book this event
Sunday 26 May - Afternoon Tea Train *
£20 (child £12) includes buffet. Depart Leeming Bar 3 pm.
Booking essential - click here to book this event
Sunday 26 May and Monday 27 May - Open Days at Aysgarth Station 10 am to 4 pm.
Monday 27 May - Dining in the Dales *
Enjoy Bank Holiday with a buffet lunch on the train. £20 (child £12). Depart Leeming Bar 12 noon.
Booking essential – click here to book this event
Friday 31 May and Saturday 1 June at noon and Sunday 2 June depart Leeming Bar 7 pm.
Live acoustic music on the train – (BAMfest event)
Friday May 31 : Tom and Barabra Brown, Pam and Peter Stone (Keystone Acoustic) – normal fares apply
UZ orders 300 electric locomotives - Railway Gazette
Silver Line Phase 2 contractor selected - Railway Gazette
Stratford-upon-Avon Parkway station opens - Railway Gazette
World Heritage & Railway News
Animals and the Railways - Plan a visit - National Railway Museum
Options for a new Lower Thames Crossing video - Publications - Inside Government - GOV.UK
Shenyang tram on test - Railway Gazette
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