International & UK Railway News Friday 10th January 2014

Total Railway News

 

 

 

 

Whilst various countries face the aftermath of  bad weather and serious incidents on their railways, one person comments on "The Joy Of Rail Travel" (!!), and another person opens up his photographic library to share with us the reality of travel on London's transport system nearly 40 years ago....

 

HS2 is either loved or hated, and some argue strongly on either side of this issue...Alberta doesn't need one, and Denmark does...well, up to a point, apparently.

 

Meanwhile, China forges ahead, and wants the standard for high speed rail to be the "China Standard"

 

Read the stories behind the following headlines......HERE

 

New Dumfries and Galloway railway station funds pursued

 

Insurance will pay for railway repair after landslip

 

Cumbria coastal rail line reopening 'a priority'

 

Chinese plan HS2 link for disused Victorian rail line

 

The map that saved the London Underground

 

Federal government quietly adopts new rail-safety rules post Lac-Megantic.

 

Alberta simply doesn’t need a bullet train

 

My Bath: Arriving by train still gives Ann Garner a thrill

 

Punks, posers, a smoke and a pint: Life on London Underground beautifully caught on camera in the 1970s and 80s.

 

High Speed Rail in Denmark

 

New bullet train with 'Chinese standards' planned

 

HS2 rail link ‘will lead to longer journeys’

 

 

 

Siemens

 

 

(A Siemens Video on YouTube)

 

For over 30 years, Siemens has been serving customers in cities across North America. From Los Angeles to New York, Guadalupe to Calgary and cities and regions in between we are putting our experience to work with rail electrification solutions.

 

 

 

www.progressiverailroading.com US News

 

Virginia, Norfolk Southern sign pact to return Amtrak service to Roanoke


U.S. roads notched intermodal volume record in 2013, AAR says


Three senators call on federal regulators to improve crude-by-rail safety


Giulietti to become Metro-North president; LaHood to become BAF co-chair


LACMTA to purchase new light-rail cars, upgrade others on Blue Line


UP-served grain facility on tap in Missouri; frac sand plant under new ownership in Louisiana


Transportation Services Index nudged up in November


Rail supplier news from XPO Logistics, Pacer, Tata Steel, Thales, Greenbrier and PwC (Jan. 10)








US Department of Transportation

BTS Releases Pocket Guide to Transportation 2014

 

Friday, January 10, 2014 - The Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), a part of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA), has published the Pocket Guide to Transportation 2014 – a quick reference guide to significant transportation statistics. The 17th annual Pocket Guide covers data on moving people and goods, system use and performance, the economy, safety, infrastructure, and the environment. To order a copy of the Pocket Guide to Transportation 2014, go to the BTS website publications page. This free guide can also be obtained by contacting BTS by phone at 800-853-1351, by e-mail at ritainfo@dot.gov or by mail sent to Product Orders, RITA/Bureau of Transportation Statistics, USDOT, 1200 New Jersey Ave., S.E., Room E36-109, Washington, D.C. 20590. For inquiries other than placing orders contact Dave Smallen: 202-366-5568.

www.railway-technology.com Updates

Egis to deliver systems engineering services for Salvador metro
Build-and-operate concession holder Companhia de Concessões Rodoviárias (CCR) has awarded an engineering contract to Egis for the commercial construction of Salvador metro in Brazil. 

       

Eurotunnel signs 10-year mobile services deal with EE and Vodafone
Groupe Eurotunnel has signed a 10-year agreement with the British telecom firms EE and Vodafone to offer mobile services in the Channel Tunnel that links Britain and France. 
       
Metro awards fare collection system replacement contract to Accenture
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro) has awarded a $184m contract to technology firm Accenture to replace its current fare collection system. 
       
Chicago Transit to renovate Blue Line's Illinois Medical District CTA station
The Chicago Transit Board has approved a $23m plan to renovate the Blue Line's Illinois Medical District CTA station.

 

International Railway Journal

VR Group, Finland, has unveiled the first of 26 IC2 DuettoPlus double-deck dining cars, which are being built by Finnish supplier Transtech at its plant in Otanmäki.

FRANCE's deputy minister of transport, Mr Frédéric Cuvillier, has instructed French National Railways (SNCF) and French Rail Network (RFF) to implement three recommendations to improve track safety made by the Office Land Transport Accident Inquiries (BEA-TT).

SYDNEY suburban rail operator Sydney Trains has awarded DeltaRail, Britain, a contract to supply an automated wheel and brake monitoring system, which will be deployed at various locations around the network as part of its asset condition monitoring strategy.

DUTCH infrastructure manager ProRail is to equip a further 2800 signals with the so called ATB-vv train protection system, which triggers an automatic brake application if a train passes a danger signal at less than 40km/h.

AUSTRALIAN rolling stock supplier Bradken could face a fine of up to $A 850,000 ($US 756,000) for overseeing the import of two diesel locomotives from CSR Ziyang, China, that were subsequently found to be contaminated with asbestos.

Other news...

Ten Years since the end of the Travelling Post Office

Steam locomotive which saw service in France in first World War is being hired for West Somerset Railway Spring Steam Gala. « West Somerset Railway

Loose bolts to blame for Brétigny derailment - Railway Gazette

UK Office of Rail Regulation (ORR)

Regulator appoints new director of railway markets and economics

9 January 2014
The Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) today appointed Joanna Whittington as the new Director of Railway Markets and Economics.

Ms Whittington will join ORR from 3 March 2014 and will be responsible for ORR’s longer term economic regulatory role as well as more immediate work on planning for the next funding period and the review of access charges including incentives to maximise the efficient use of capacity on the rail network. As an economic consultant specialising in transport, she is well acquainted with the rail industry and has also served as ORR’s Director of Economics and Finance leading on the first periodic review in 1998. She subsequently joined the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem) in 1999.
In her most recent role as Partner in the Markets Division at Ofgem, she was responsible for regulation of the wholesale gas and electricity markets. Since joining Ofgem in 1999, Ms Whittington has held a number of senior posts including Director of Information and Incentives Project and Europe, and Director of Strategy. She has also spearheaded many vital projects to improve information and reporting standards of the industry as well as significant legislative changes.
ORR Chair Anna Walker said:

"Joanna will be a welcome and complementary addition to the ORR board strengthening it with her rich knowledge and expertise of the markets and regulation. We very much look forward to working with her to help grow and improve Britain’s railways."

ORR Chief Executive Richard Price said:

"No stranger to the world of railways or regulation, Joanna will be a great addition and asset to our team, bringing with her a wealth of experience and expertise to build on the work we have done so far. We are looking forward to her joining us at this important time and strengthening our economic work – leading us into the planning for the next periodic review."

Network Rail public members publish Annual Statement of Activities for 2012-13

Network Rail public members have today published their First Annual Statement of Activity for 2012-13. Following good governance practices the statement records the activities of the public members in holding Network Rail Board to account, giving greater visibility to their work. Publication of the report is consistent with aspirations for greater transparency in the sector. 
Network Rail public members perform a ‘secondary governance’ role by holding Network Rail’s Board to account for its leadership and management. The role of public members is similar to the role of shareholders in public limited companies except that public members have no financial interest in Network Rail. More about the work of the public members, and the report published today, can be found on the Network Rail website.