IRJ at the 60th UITP World Congress, Geneva: Cubic Transportation Systems has unveiled a new generation of ticket vending machine which allows ticket office and call centre staff to interact directly with passengers in real time.
TWO weeks after it rejected all three bids in the part-privatisation of state-owned railfreight operator CFR Marfă, the Romanian Ministry of Transport announced on May 28 that the tendering process will resume with the aim of selecting a winner by June 20.
THALES Spain has signed a Euros 109m turnkey contract to modernise and renew signalling systems on the Cairo-Alexandria line, in a project which will double capacity and raise the maximum line speed from 140km/h to 160km/h.
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Cubic Transportation Systems has launched a transport ticketing concept, NextAgent, which uses high-speed video links to allow passengers to interact with ticketing staff in real-time.
Alstom unveils Axonis and Urbalis Fluence train systems
Alstom has unveiled the Axonis mini-metro concept and its new communications-based train control (CBTC) system called Urbalis Fluence at the UITP Mobility & City Transport Exhibition, held 26-30 May 2013 in Geneva, Switzerland.
Thales to upgrade signalling systems on Cairo-Alexandria railway line in Egypt
French company Thales has won a €109m contract from the Egyptian National Railways (ENR) to modernise signalling systems on the Cairo - Alexandria railway corridor.
Russia has hinged a great deal of its economic ambition on the construction of a massive rail network. We find out why investment in rail infrastructure and the opening up of new transport links play a central role in the country's economic and political future.
We also explore the unique financing concept for an extension of London Underground's Northern Line, find out if the availability of free rail fare data in the UK will benefit the customers, and compare the findings of two conflicting surveys to assess passenger satisfaction in the country. Moreover, we look at progress in the redevelopment of Birmingham New Street Station, profile the Radical Train project which seeks innovative ideas for future railways, and find out if LNG or hydrail could provide a long-term, sustainable solution for rail fuels.
We also explore the unique financing concept for an extension of London Underground's Northern Line, find out if the availability of free rail fare data in the UK will benefit the customers, and compare the findings of two conflicting surveys to assess passenger satisfaction in the country. Moreover, we look at progress in the redevelopment of Birmingham New Street Station, profile the Radical Train project which seeks innovative ideas for future railways, and find out if LNG or hydrail could provide a long-term, sustainable solution for rail fuels.
Rail sector on track in developing ‘silent’ breaks
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Railways are going to be closer to the significant reduction of its last environment burden – noise.
This can be achieved thanks to positive results of extensive field tests of composite brake blocks in the context of the ‘EuropeTrain’ project, managed by the International Union of Railways (UIC) and supported by the Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies (CER). However, in order to accelerate an implementation of the new technology it is necessary to secure an appropriate funding mechanism.
The final report of the ‘EuropeTrain’ project, a testing programme with over 200 000 km of test run of wagons equipped with LL-type composite brake blocks across Europe, was presented on 28 May at the UIC headquarters in Paris. The two-year project delivered results enabling the move to the final stage – afull approval of LL brake blocks for international transport.
Noise is a side effect of all major modes of transport. While the perceived noise annoyance is much higher for air and road traffic than for rail, the reduction of noise is a key environmental priority for the railways. The rail sector has put much effort to achieve significant progress in noise abatement over the past 50 years. Furthermore, as part of the ’Strategy for 2030 and beyond for the European railway sector’ jointly agreed by UIC and CER members, the rail sector aims that by 2050, noise and vibrations will no longer be considered a problem for the railways, with noise levels that are socially and economically acceptable and allow for 24-hour passenger and goods operations.
Implementing LL blocks is a key measure to further reduce noise emitted from freight wagons before the end of their natural lifecycle. This will help the rail sector to confirm its strong advantages compared to the other transport modes when considering the wider social and environmental impacts of different transport modes.
At the same time, the sector faces huge costs to relating to the necessary retrofitting of freight wagons for the LL block technology. In this context, the rail sector has engaged with the European Commission to ensure that retrofitting plans will not be jeopardising the competitiveness of rail transport. To make this happen, clear decisions and appropriate funding levels have to be agreed at EU level to ensure that retrofitting the existing freight fleet is economically viable with appropriate inventive schemes and funding originating from outside the railway system.
UIC Director General Jean-Pierre Loubinoux highlighted: “The ‘EuropeTrain’ testing campaign, a wide-ranging and complex technical project managed by UIC in close cooperation with the 27 associated railway undertakings and industry partners, will provide the railway community with an important basis for possible decision-taking in a strategic issue: the equipment of large fleets of freight wagons with “silent” composite brake blocks. This objective of the reduction of noise emissions by freight trains, marks a new step towards more competitive and more sustainable rail freight transport in Europe.”
CER Director General Libor Lochman said “The rail sector has delivered good results in developing the right technology to retrofit the existing freight wagon fleet. At the same time, the EU has to ensure that funding is made available if a fast large-scale retrofitting programme is defined.”
Notes:
· A summary of the ‘EuropeTrain’ final report can be downloaded athttp://europetrain.uic.org/
· The UIC ‘EuropeTrain’ project was managed on behalf of UIC and its members by Deutsche Bahn (DB), the appointed project manager being Dr. Johannes Gräber (DB Systemtechnik).
· The project involved 27 railway operators and 8 railway manufacturers.
· The main characteristics of the international testing campaign were as follows:
- A test freight train made of 30 representative freight wagons from a number of European rail freight undertakings, which run across Europe only for the purpose of testing the LL brake blocks.
- A mileage of at least 200 000 km.
- A number of successive ‘test loops’ with technical evaluation after each loop. 16 runs were completed.
- All operational conditions relevant for Europe including running on different gradients with different operational modes and extreme weather conditions (high and low temperatures).
· More information about the ‘EuropeTrain’ project is available athttp://europetrain.uic.org/
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Tips on how to get first class rail travel for less
28/05/2013
The Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) recently revealed that first class rail travel has hit a 10 year high. Operators have adopted airline style discounting to encourage a wider range of passengers, particularly at weekends and at quieter times of the day, to trade up and experience first class rail travel.Here are some tips for enjoying first class travel for less than you might think.
1. Book early.
One way to travel first class for less is to buy a first class Advance ticket. Advance tickets are available on many routes and can be bought up to the day before travel, subject to availability. Sales of first class Advance tickets have increased by 76% in the last four years and around 121,000 Advance first class tickets are now sold a week, on average.
Typically, a first class Advance fare is between a quarter and a third of the cost of a first class Anytime ticket.
As Advance tickets generally go on sale around 12 weeks before the date of travel, some of the best deals are to be had by booking early. Check train companies’ own websites or nationalrail.co.uk and use the cheapest fare finder tool.
2. Use a Railcard.
First class journeys made by passengers using a Railcard rose 52% between 2009 and 2012, from 1.3m journeys to 2m last year.
The biggest increases in first class Railcard journeys over the last three years have been among 16-25 year olds (68%), those with a Disabled Persons Railcard (66%) and over sixties with a Senior Railcard (48%).
Senior Railcard and Disabled Persons Railcard holders get a third off all first class fares and those with a 16-25 Railcard can get a third off Advance first class fares. Just remember to take your Railcard along with your ticket when you travel.
3. Pay less to travel in first at weekends.
Many train companies offer you the chance to get a bigger seat and more legroom at weekends by paying a supplement either in advance or when you are on the train to upgrade to first class. Just check with the train company you’ll be travelling with. On some journeys this can be for as little as £5. For full details visit nationalrail.co.uk/firstclass.
David Mapp, Commercial Director for the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) said:
“By offering discounted first class fares, train companies are making it possible for more and more people to travel in style. Despite tough economic times, operators have encouraged people travelling on a range of budgets to take advantage of the good value fares and deals that are on offer.”
Transport Committee - Third Special Report
Rail 2020: Rail Delivery Group and Passenger Focus responses to the Committee's Seventh Report of Session 2012-13
Rail 2020: Rail Delivery Group and Passenger Focus responses to the Committee's Seventh Report of Session 2012-13
Third Special Report
On 18 March we published our Ninth Special Report of 2012-13, Rail 2020:
Government and Office of Rail Regulation Responses to the Committee's Seventh
Report of 2012-13.[1]
We also wrote to Passenger Focus and Rail Delivery Group seeking responses to
specific recommendations from our Seventh Report of 2012-13, Rail
2020.[2] We asked Passenger Focus for a
response to recommendation 12 and Rail Delivery Group for a response to
recommendations 12 and 24:
- Recommendation 12: We recommend that the Rail Delivery Group, working with Passenger Focus, develop and publish a clear strategy for improving retail facilities on stations and trains.
- Recommendation 24: The Rail Delivery Group has an opportunity to step up to the plate and show its effectiveness by spearheading the swift implementation of innovative ticketing technology throughout the rail system - certainly by 2020, preferably by 2015. We call on the RDG to respond to this recommendation by explaining its plans in this area and providing a clear timescale for implementation.
Letter from Graham Smith, Director-General, Rail Delivery Group. Response to Rail 2020, Seventh Report of Session 2012-13
This is the response of the Rail Delivery Group to the Rail 2020 report of the Committee and to your letter of 18 March 2013 to the Rail Delivery Group (RDG). In the letter you asked for the Group's comments on two of the recommendations made by the Committee in its seventh report on Rail 2020. You also asked for any comments that the RDG may have on the Rail 2020 report. The RDG brings together the owners of Britain's passenger Train Operating Companies, Freight Operating Companies and Network Rail to provide leadership to Britain's rail industry. The RDG welcomes the support of the Transport Committee for the work of the Group and the comment that: 'The Rail Delivery Group is expected to play a crucial role in achieving more effective cross-industry co-operation and delivering the savings identified by McNulty'. This comment echoes the DfT's 2012 Command Paper, which called on the RDG to lead the rail industry in working together to deliver a more efficient and more affordable railway. The formalisation of the RDG in February 2013 has strengthened that remit and ensures that the most senior people in the rail industry are focused on achieving the Group's objectives of setting the policies and strategies for a growing railway.
- The priorities being pursued by the RDG are:
- Providing leadership to Britain's rail industry;
- Being the collective voice of the rail industry;
- Developing policies, strategies and plans for the coherent management of the rail industry and advancing the provision of a safe, efficient, high quality rail service for users and taxpayers;
- Identifying opportunities to improve Britain's railways through a new approach to franchising and other commercial initiatives;
- Embracing technology and innovation in the working environment to enhance the contribution made by one of the industry's key assets, its workforce;
- Improving the asset, programme and supply-chain management of the rail industry through closer co-operation between Network Rail, operators and suppliers;
- Taking a proactive role in the introduction of innovative technology on to the GB rail network including smart ticketing, communications technology and the practical application of the ideas contained in the Rail Technical Strategy;
- Exploring ways to improve the efficiency of the industry structure through removing overlaps and duplications, introducing flexible commercial and contractual agreements within the industry, between industry and Government and between the industry and its suppliers;
- Building on the development of a rolling stock strategy to identify value for money opportunities in rolling stock provision and procurement;
- Ensuring that there is an awareness of key rail freight issues; and
- Continuing to lead the industry's long-term-planning activities.
The RDG believes that these priorities are aligned with many of the recommendations made in your report. In your letter you asked the RDG to respond specifically on the two recommendations made by the Committee relating to innovative ticketing technology and improving retail facilities on stations and trains. The Rail Delivery Group supports the need for strategies to be established in both of these areas and our detailed comments on each area are attached to this letter as appendices. The RDG would welcome the opportunity to explain its work to you, the Committee or its officials if that would be helpful.
Letter from Anthony Smith, Chief Executive, Passenger Focus. Response to Rail 2020, Seventh Report of Session 2012-13Thank you for your letter dated 18 March. I apologise for the delay in responding but we have been discussing the issue you raised with the Rail Delivery Group.
The Rail Delivery Group is commissioning research on passenger and stakeholder views of retail facilities on stations and trains. We have contributed to the brief for that research in the evaluation of the tender bids and will comment on the final report. This is, I suggest, the most effect way can work in this respect. Both the Rail Delivery Group and ourselves look forward to presenting this work to you in future.
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