International & UK Railway News 17th January 2014

Total Railway News

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today's news features London's Crossrail project... breathing fresh air into London, apparently..
Whilst HS2 continues to have its supporters and detractors who argue that breath is being sucked out of the provinces to London...
And which operator will run the East Coast mainline franchise?
Sadness in Pakistan as a  bomb blast derails a train in central Pakistan killing at least three people and injuring 15...

 

 

 

 

 

Headlines

 

Full stories here..

 

Has the UK turned the corner after years of transport decline?

 

Departmental Overview: The performance of the Department for Transport 2012-13 -

 

New HS1 freight service for DB Schenker Rail - Lloyd's Loading List

 

Video: Virgin and Eurostar on shortlist to run east coast trains - who do YOU think should win?

 

High Speed Rail Link Consultation draws to close

 

The Siemens Brand Story - YouTube

 

Ein tschechisch-deutsches Wintermärchen - Dampfromantik im Erzgebirge (Teil 1) - YouTube

 

Rail line re-opens after bank slip

 

Crossrail 'breathes life into London' says PM as dig reaches half way

 

Crossrail's army working underground for new London railway | Reuters

 

Docklands rail staff to strike

 

Objectors are urging Wakefield Council to reject HS2

 

Vareo diesel multiple-unit unveiled

 

Blast derails train in Pakistan

 

 

 

International Railway Journal

 

PANDROL announced on January 17 that it has acquired the CDM Track business unit of Belgian noise and vibration damping specialist CDM, including its French resin bonded rubber manufacturing unit RBSI.

 

SLOVENIAN Railways (SŽ) witnessed a strong recovery in freight traffic last year according to the company's annual figures, which show volumes increased by 9% to 17.6 million tonnes.

 

A CEREMONY was held near St Paul in the Austrian province of Carinthia on January 17 to mark the start of construction on the third and final section of the 32.9km Koralm tunnel,

 

BRITAIN's Department for Transport (DfT) announced the shortlist of bidders on January 17 for the contract to operate the InterCity East Coast franchise

 

 

www.progressiverailroading.com US News

 

 

Rail leaders, energy product producers and politicians discuss rail safety

 

 

U.S. Reps. Shuster, Rahall name panel on public-private partnerships; Democrats seek hearing on Highway Trust Fund options

 

 

Passenger-rail safety, PTC make NTSB's 'Most Wanted List' for 2014

 

 

U.S., Canadian rail traffic tumbled in year's second week

 

 

Denham bill would stop federal funding for California high-speed rail project

 

 

Oregon rail council recommends alternative passenger-service routes

 

 

L.A.-area ports pumped up volume in December

 

Amtrak, NJ Transit craft plan to ease Super Bowl travel

HIGH SPEED RAIL IS UNDERWAY IN AMERICA!

  

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(US HSR) www.railway-technology.com Updates.. Hitachi receives EU certification for on-board ETCS technology Japanese conglomerate Hitachi has received a certification for its on-board European Train Control System (ETCS) technology from a notified body of the European Union.          Samskip and ICL Transport create GreenBridge JV Dutch transport group Samskip Multimodal and Turkey Netlog Logistics Group subsidiary Intercombi (ICL) Transport, have created a joint venture (JV) called GreenBridge in order to offer high frequency multimodal services between Europe and Turkey.          ABB to supply electrical systems for Sweden's SJ 2000 high-speed trains Sweden's state-owned rail operator SJ has awarded ABB a $200m contract to supply electrical systems for all its 36 SJ 2000 next-generation high-speed trains to improve punctuality, reliability and energy efficiency.          Network Rail to unveil design proposals of Peckham Rye station revamp Network Rail is set to unveil the latest design proposals to revitalise the area around the Grade 2 listed Peckham Rye railway station with an investment of £25m at an upcoming event on 18 January. Other News: Ffestiniog Railway plans » Oakeley Arms Hotel Spring Steam Gala « West Somerset Railway Shortlist for new InterCity East Coast rail services - Press releases - GOV.UK The shortlist of bidders that will be invited to deliver proposals for improved services for passengers on the Intercity East Coast rail franchise was announced by the government today (17 January 2014). The companies that have successfully passed the ‘Pre-qualification evaluation’ stage and can now start working on developing their plans for the franchise, before they receive the government’s ‘Invitation to tender’ are: East Coast Trains Ltd (First Group plc) Keolis/Eurostar East Coast Limited (Keolis (UK) Limited and Eurostar International Limited) Inter City Railways Limited (Stagecoach Transport Holdings Limited and Virgin Holdings Limited) These potential operators will need to consider how they intend to use the latest high-tech trains, built in the UK by Agility, to deliver more passengers to more of the UK’s biggest cities faster and in greater comfort. The government is expecting to see how the future operators will capitalise on the significant government investment along this route, including £240 million in infrastructure projects over the next 5 years to improve capacity and reduce journey times. Rail Minister Stephen Hammond said: Giving passengers more will be at the heart of the new East Coast franchise. That means new services and journeys that are faster, more punctual and more comfortable. When these companies are developing their proposals they should be looking at ways to innovate and grow the service. We have embarked on one of the biggest programmes of rail investment ever, with over £35 billion being spent to enhance and run our rail network over the next 5 years. But for our railways to continue to grow we need strong private sector partners who can invest and innovate in ways that deliver a world class service. Since rail services were privatised in 1993, the close cooperation between government and the train companies has heralded an unprecedented growth in the number of passengers. While the East Coast franchise has been stabilised under government ownership since 2009, the route now needs a long term private sector operator to plan for the future and meet the increasing demands for more trains serving even more destinations. When it started the franchise competition in October 2013 the government published the InterCity East Coast prospectus which set out the areas prospective bidders will need to consider when they start developing their proposals. These include: developing innovative timetables which build on the core train service requirement published by the Department for Transport (DfT) investment in innovative ways to transform the customer experience on trains and at stations identifying further opportunities for investment along the route, particularly at stations making the route and train operations more considerate of the environment involving communities along the route in local decision making demonstrating how their proposals will support economic growth along the route To pass the rigorous Pre-qualification evaluation each of the bidders were asked to demonstrate that they have the financial strength, legal, operational and safety experience to run the franchise. The DfT is planning to issue the ‘Invitation to tender’ at the end of February and the potential operators will then have at least 3 months to develop their bids, before the new services start in February 2015. East Coast is one of the two main London to Scotland railways providing frequent services. It is an electrified 393 miles (632 kilometres) railway link between London, Peterborough, Doncaster, Leeds, York, Newcastle and Edinburgh. It is one of the fastest conventional lines in the UK with most of the line being cleared for 125 miles per hour (200 kilometres per hour) operation. Non-electrified line extends further north into Scotland from Edinburgh to Inverness and Aberdeen. The services meet demand for business travel, particularly between Edinburgh, Newcastle, York, Leeds and London, leisure travel to a variety of destinations and commuter journeys, primarily between Newark, Grantham, Peterborough and London.