There may be trouble ahead....or so the 1936 song starts... but as long as other factors remain, we'll face the music and dance.....
There has been enough trouble for the UK railways in February...what with the weather, flooding (Dawlish, Thames Valley, the Somerset levels), landslips.....without having to worry about the likely effects of London Midland train managers striking.... the prospect of driverless Tube trains, and closing Tube ticket offices.
And HS2 comment will not go away....save ancient woodland...build tunnels... But some MPs now question whether the project could lead to even further flooding.......
But life must go on.. so overhauling the Overground, financing Northern Ireland projects, and knowing how to use your Oyster Card when travelling in London...are essential pieces of information to help us should there really be trouble ahead...
Read on.....
Headlines..
Alstom on YouTube
A hundred years ago, about 98% of people living in rural areas. From 2012, more than half of the world's population lived in an urban environment. This increase in human housing means that the cities in which we live will have to change to meet the growing needs of future populations.
Eco-cities are the new vision of urban development. Designed to limit the impact on the environment, the eco-city address important issues, such as the building project, urban transport and energy supply.
Discover how we are using our leadership position in transport, Smart grids and energy supply to innovating in the creation of eco-cities.
The Oyster Smart video series demonstrates how to get the most out of your Oyster card and become more 'Oyster Smart'. Share this video with your family and friends to help them become more Oyster Smart.
For more information visit:
Three trade groups laud president's freight, TIGER funding proposals
Houston's METRO, California's Metrolink name new executives
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AAR: U.S. rail traffic ramped back up in week 8
NARP's Capon moving on; Scott named acting president
Wisconsin bill proposes frac sand mining surcharge
Rail supplier news from J&A Industries, B&B Roadway, Alstom, Vossloh, L.B. Foster, Birmingham Rail and EnerSys (Feb. 28)
Rail safety, capex, risk and the road ahead Here
“We have an infrastructure deficit in this country, and we need to create more jobs – improving our roads, bridges, and transit systems will provide help on both fronts,” Secretary Foxx said. “As the President said in his State of the Union address last week, first-class infrastructure creates first-class jobs. This report shows the difference we made thanks to the Administration’s unprecedented investment under the Recovery Act, but it’s also clear that much more remains to be done.”
The Department of Transportation's Conditions and Performance report, based on 2010 data, estimates all levels of government would need to spend between $123.7 billion and $145.9 billion per year to maintain and improve the condition of roads and bridges alone. In 2010, federal, State and local governments combined spent $100.2 billion on this infrastructure, including $11.9 billion in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act dollars.
The report also indicates that as much as $24.5 billion is needed per year to improve the condition of transit rail and bus systems. In 2010, total spending to maintain and expand transit systems was $16.5 billion – a spending level also boosted temporarily by Recovery Act dollars.
“The Recovery Act contributed to the improved quality of our highways,” Federal Highway Deputy Administrator Greg Nadeau said. “It makes a good case for more investment - every dollar produces results for the American people.”
According to the report, travel on pavements with good ride quality rose from 46.4 percent in 2008 to 50.6 percent in 2010. A major factor in this increase was the one-time funding provided under the Recovery Act, a large share of which was directed toward pavement resurfacing. This 4.2 percent increase represents the highest two-year jump ever since the metric was first used in 1995. While the report shows overall pavement and bridge conditions have improved in many areas, the improvements have not been uniform across the system.
The report also finds that the nation’s state of good repair and preventive maintenance backlog for transit is at an all-time high of $86 billion, and that it is growing by an estimated $2.5 billion each year. An additional $8.2 billion over current spending levels from all levels of government is needed annually to spend down the current backlog over the next 20 years. While some transit systems are still operating rail cars that are over 30 years old, the report finds that over three-quarters of the need for repairs affects other facets of our transit systems, such as rail stations, trestles, and power substations. Meanwhile, State and local governments are shouldering more than half the cost of annual investments to preserve and grow the nation’s transit systems.
“The United States cannot grow and compete in the 21st century without a modern public transportation infrastructure that connects citizens, their communities, and their employers with opportunities to succeed and prosper,” said Deputy Federal Transit Administrator Therese McMillan. “Making a down payment on this substantial backlog is critical to not falling farther behind in our commitment to modernize the transportation infrastructure that tens of millions of riders depend on every day.”
The investment estimates for roads and bridges are based on ranges, which is new to the 2013 report. The higher ends are based on state-provided forecasts, which were used in past reports – they average out to annual growth of 1.85 percent per year. The lower ends presume vehicle miles traveled (VMT) will grow at an average annual rate of 1.36 percent per year, which is consistent with the average annual growth in the past 15 years.
Conditions and Performance is a biennial report to Congress that provides information on the physical and operating characteristics of the highway, bridge and transit components of the nation's surface transportation system.
Botley landslip rebuilding work underway, says Network Rail
Work is currently under way to completely rebuild 80m of railway at the largest of three landslips in Botley in Hampshire, UK, with the line expected to open in mid-March.
Amsterdam North/South metro line to receive Thales ticketing solution
Amsterdam Metro network's new North/South line is set to receive Thales next-generation ticket gateway to improve passenger flow and reduce use of equipment while ensuring enhanced security at an optimised cost.
European Parliament MEPs back fourth railway package amendments
Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have voted in favour of the amendments to the fourth railway package, aimed to improve the quality of passenger rail services, as well as reducing fragmentation of the internal market.
International Railway Journal
PARSONS, in a joint venture with Systra, has secured a consultancy services contract for the design of Qatar's main line railway network.
THE mayor of Moscow, Mr Sergei Sobyanin, opened a 4.5km extension to Line 12 of the Moscow metro on February 27..
ALSTOM has successfully delivered the first two trains manufactured at its inaugural Indian rolling stock plant in Sricity, Andhra Pradesh to Chennai Metro Rail (CMRL) as part of a €243m order for 42 Metropolis trains
EXPRESSIONS of interest have been invited by London Underground (LU) for a fleet of 250 trains for operation on four of its deep-level lines under its "New Tube for London" project.
......and finally,
Other News..
Have your say - how the rail industry uses social media
Heritage Hunter « West Somerset Railway
Afghanistan Mineral Riches Won’t Go Anywhere Without Rail - Bloomberg
Ampang Line Extension train unveiled - Railway Gazette
Heritage Appeal | National Railway Museum blog
Little that happens in the interconnected realm that is rail happens in a vacuum. In his quarterly Progressive Railroading column, published in our February issue, transportation industry observer and RailTrends program consultant Tony Hatch connected a few key...
Pat Foran, Be the First to Reply
Pat Foran, Be the First to Reply
New Department of Transportation Report on Highway, Transit Conditions Points to Need for More Investment
WASHINGTON – U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx today announced that a new report on the state of America's transportation infrastructure, 2013 Status of the Nation's Highways, Bridges and Transit: Conditions and Performance, confirms that more investment is needed to maintain and improve the nation's highway and transit systems. Earlier this month, Secretary Foxx highlighted the need for transportation investment in a speech that took aim at America’s infrastructure deficit and identified ways to use innovation and improved planning to stretch transportation dollars as effectively and efficiently as possible.“We have an infrastructure deficit in this country, and we need to create more jobs – improving our roads, bridges, and transit systems will provide help on both fronts,” Secretary Foxx said. “As the President said in his State of the Union address last week, first-class infrastructure creates first-class jobs. This report shows the difference we made thanks to the Administration’s unprecedented investment under the Recovery Act, but it’s also clear that much more remains to be done.”
The Department of Transportation's Conditions and Performance report, based on 2010 data, estimates all levels of government would need to spend between $123.7 billion and $145.9 billion per year to maintain and improve the condition of roads and bridges alone. In 2010, federal, State and local governments combined spent $100.2 billion on this infrastructure, including $11.9 billion in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act dollars.
The report also indicates that as much as $24.5 billion is needed per year to improve the condition of transit rail and bus systems. In 2010, total spending to maintain and expand transit systems was $16.5 billion – a spending level also boosted temporarily by Recovery Act dollars.
“The Recovery Act contributed to the improved quality of our highways,” Federal Highway Deputy Administrator Greg Nadeau said. “It makes a good case for more investment - every dollar produces results for the American people.”
According to the report, travel on pavements with good ride quality rose from 46.4 percent in 2008 to 50.6 percent in 2010. A major factor in this increase was the one-time funding provided under the Recovery Act, a large share of which was directed toward pavement resurfacing. This 4.2 percent increase represents the highest two-year jump ever since the metric was first used in 1995. While the report shows overall pavement and bridge conditions have improved in many areas, the improvements have not been uniform across the system.
The report also finds that the nation’s state of good repair and preventive maintenance backlog for transit is at an all-time high of $86 billion, and that it is growing by an estimated $2.5 billion each year. An additional $8.2 billion over current spending levels from all levels of government is needed annually to spend down the current backlog over the next 20 years. While some transit systems are still operating rail cars that are over 30 years old, the report finds that over three-quarters of the need for repairs affects other facets of our transit systems, such as rail stations, trestles, and power substations. Meanwhile, State and local governments are shouldering more than half the cost of annual investments to preserve and grow the nation’s transit systems.
“The United States cannot grow and compete in the 21st century without a modern public transportation infrastructure that connects citizens, their communities, and their employers with opportunities to succeed and prosper,” said Deputy Federal Transit Administrator Therese McMillan. “Making a down payment on this substantial backlog is critical to not falling farther behind in our commitment to modernize the transportation infrastructure that tens of millions of riders depend on every day.”
The investment estimates for roads and bridges are based on ranges, which is new to the 2013 report. The higher ends are based on state-provided forecasts, which were used in past reports – they average out to annual growth of 1.85 percent per year. The lower ends presume vehicle miles traveled (VMT) will grow at an average annual rate of 1.36 percent per year, which is consistent with the average annual growth in the past 15 years.
Conditions and Performance is a biennial report to Congress that provides information on the physical and operating characteristics of the highway, bridge and transit components of the nation's surface transportation system.
Alstom set to deliver first Citadis Compact tram to Aubagne local authority
French transport group Alstom is set to deliver its first 22-metre long Citadis Compact tram to the local authority of Pays d'Aubagne et de l'Etoile today.
French transport group Alstom is set to deliver its first 22-metre long Citadis Compact tram to the local authority of Pays d'Aubagne et de l'Etoile today.
Work is currently under way to completely rebuild 80m of railway at the largest of three landslips in Botley in Hampshire, UK, with the line expected to open in mid-March.
Amsterdam North/South metro line to receive Thales ticketing solution
Amsterdam Metro network's new North/South line is set to receive Thales next-generation ticket gateway to improve passenger flow and reduce use of equipment while ensuring enhanced security at an optimised cost.
European Parliament MEPs back fourth railway package amendments
Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have voted in favour of the amendments to the fourth railway package, aimed to improve the quality of passenger rail services, as well as reducing fragmentation of the internal market.
International Railway Journal
PARSONS, in a joint venture with Systra, has secured a consultancy services contract for the design of Qatar's main line railway network.
THE mayor of Moscow, Mr Sergei Sobyanin, opened a 4.5km extension to Line 12 of the Moscow metro on February 27..
ALSTOM has successfully delivered the first two trains manufactured at its inaugural Indian rolling stock plant in Sricity, Andhra Pradesh to Chennai Metro Rail (CMRL) as part of a €243m order for 42 Metropolis trains
EXPRESSIONS of interest have been invited by London Underground (LU) for a fleet of 250 trains for operation on four of its deep-level lines under its "New Tube for London" project.
......and finally,
Other News..
Have your say - how the rail industry uses social media
Heritage Hunter « West Somerset Railway
Afghanistan Mineral Riches Won’t Go Anywhere Without Rail - Bloomberg
Ampang Line Extension train unveiled - Railway Gazette
Heritage Appeal | National Railway Museum blog
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