10 Speaker Insights from Day Two of SmartRail Europe are included in today's news highlights., courtesy SmartRail World.
In the UK, the south west is still dealing with the aftermath of this month's severe weather, and so an open letter has been sent to the Prime Minister, David Cameron , urging major investment in the west's railway infrastructure.
In the US, the Community Transportation Association of America(CTAA) has introduced Ride Share Nation. This new site is a one-stop shop for all news, resources and conversation about the rideshare and transit industries
Michael Portillo's Great Continental Railway Journeys continues on BBC2, and later (5th March) we can enjoy the treat of Gerry Troyna's (2 part) documentary "Bombay Railway"
And two brief videos from Transport for London(TfL) urge travellers to show consideration to their fellow travellers.... watch your rucksack.... and loud music are the two areas considered.
Enjoy your travel!
Read On...............
Latest News (added at 2155GMT)
DOT Issues Emergency Order Requiring Stricter Standards to Transport Crude Oil by RailToday’s action marks the 4th emergency order or safety advisory on crude oil in the last seven months
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) today issued an Emergency Order requiring all shippers to test product from the Bakken region to ensure the proper classification of crude oil before it is transported by rail, while also prohibiting the transportation of crude oil in the lowest-strength packing group. “Today we are raising the bar for shipping crude oil on behalf of the families and communities along rail lines nationwide —if you intend to move crude oil by rail, then you must test and classify the material appropriately,” said DOT Secretary Anthony Foxx. “And when you do ship it, you must follow the requirements for the two strongest safety packing groups. From emergency orders to voluntary agreements, we are using every tool at our disposal to ensure the safe transportation of crude.”
Emergency orders are issued to protect the public and environment from the likelihood of substantial harm created by an imminent hazard. Today’s Emergency Order, the fourth from DOT in less than a year, was issued in response to recent derailments involving trains carrying crude oil from the Bakken region and out of concerns over proper classification that are currently under investigation as part of Operation Classification, also known as the “Bakken Blitz.”
Effective immediately, those who offer crude oil for transportation by rail must ensure that the product is properly tested and classified in accordance with federal safety regulations. The Emergency Order also requires that all Class III crude oil shipments be designated as Packing Group I or II, thereby requiring the use of a more robust tank car. Packing Group III, a lower risk designation, will not be accepted, until further notice.
Shippers are required to use nine hazard classes as a guide to properly classify their hazardous materials. Proper classification will ensure that the material is placed in the proper package and that the risk is accurately communicated to emergency responders. Shipping crude oil – or any hazardous material – without proper testing and classification could result in material being shipped in containers that are not designed to safely store it, or could lead first responders to follow the wrong protocol when responding to a spill.
In addition to Operation Classification, which includes crude oil spot inspections and investigations, PHMSA will be in Minot, North Dakota this week conducting a classification workshop. Field personnel will present training at the 60th Annual State Fire School sponsored by the North Dakota Firefighters Association to provide information about hazmat response, including how to use the Emergency Response Guidebook.
Rail safety is a national priority, and DOT continues to work aggressively across multiple fronts to enforce its requirements and reduce risks regarding the safe transport of all materials. PHMSA and the Federal Railroad Administration have issued several safety advisories related to the safe transport of crude oil by rail, including the recent January 2 Safety Alert and is currently engaged in the ongoing rulemaking to improve the design of the DOT 111 tank car. In August 2013, PHMSA and FRA launched Operation Classification in the Bakken Shale region to verify that crude oil was being properly classified and announced the first proposed fines associated with that ongoing investigation last month. Additional activities include unannounced spot inspections, data collection and sampling at strategic locations that service crude oil.
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Click here to view (pdf) Emergency Restriction – Prohibition Order (Docket DOT-OST-20014-0025
Click here to view (word file) Emergency Restriction – Prohibition Order (Docket DOT-OST-20014-0025
Headlines....
TRB Webinar: Ensuring Productive Regional Freight Operations and its Economic Benefits.(Transportation Research Board)
(C)@ Boundless Productions
Episode 1 of 2
Duration: 1 hour
Documentary about Bombay's vast suburban rail network, which serves
six-and-a-half million commuters every day. As Bombay's population swells by
tens of thousands each week, the railway and the people whose lives revolve
around it struggle to cope with the pressure and the peaktime 'super-dense crush
load'. From the train driver to the illegal hawker and the homeless shoe-shine
boy, each has a story to tell about this remarkable railway system, often
described as the lifeline of India.
Writer, Producer, Director... Gerry
Troyna www.gerrytroyna.com/
Didcot Railway Centre plans new ways to spread the magic of the railways.(Oxford Mail)
Network Rail achieves record 7.8% growth in station retail sales in the last quarter of 2013.(Network Rail)
South west MP calls for rail resilience conference.(Railnews)
An open letter to Prime Minister David Cameron urging major investment in the West's rail network. (Western Morning News)
As business leaders
tell the Commons of the impact of our ruined rail network we ask David Cameron to pledge his commitment to the West's economic health
"This is an open letter on behalf of readers of the Western Morning News urging you to commit significant investment to upgrading the South West’s rail network.
Severe storm damage at Dawlish on February 6 resulted in the main railway line to the Westcountry hanging by a thread over the sea. Since then, rail services to and from the South West have been subject to severe disruptions, creating delays and costs for businesses who are already under pressure as a result of the economic downturn.
That parts of the line were also closed in Somerset as a result of flooding, underlines the desperate need that this region has for immediate investment in its infrastructure.
The impact of this closure, likely to last until mid-April, on communities in Devon and Cornwall has been profound because it is the only mainline rail route into the far South West.
Given that the M5 stops at Exeter, that Plymouth City
Airport closed in 2011 and that air links between Newquay and Gatwick will only continue if a public subsidy is agreed, the Westcountry is seeing its transport links with the rest
of the UK eroded, in the case of the railway literally, at the
very time when our region’s economy and communities most need support.
Repairing the line at Dawlish is not enough. The South West is not a second-class part of Great Britain and it deserves fast, resilient, reliable
infrastructure to connect its communities with each other, the rest of the country and the rest of the world.
To achieve this, we need your Government to get the line up and running at Dawlish as soon as possible, before funding and building an additional rail line into Devon and Cornwall to provide faster connectivity. Without the capacity for 21st-century speed of travel, the South West will be significantly disadvantaged when compared to other regions.
Such a commitment would require a significant level of energy and investment, but this is something that the taxpayers of the South West deserve. We ask you today to make this pledge to our region."
Read more: http://www.westernmorningnews.co.uk/open-letter-Prime-Minister-David-Cameron-urging/story-20696108-detail/story.html#ixzz2uJwxoLTw
Latest News from Community Transportation Association of America
Welcome to the Community Transportation Association of America's Ride Share Nation. This new site is a one-stop shop for all news, resources and conversation about the rideshare and transit industries. Click here for a greeting from RideShareNation Director Caryn Souza.
Brazilian sugar company bids $3bn to take over rail operator.(FT.com)
Network Rail achieves record 7.8% growth in station retail sales in the last quarter of 2013.(Network Rail)
South west MP calls for rail resilience conference.(Railnews)
An open letter to Prime Minister David Cameron urging major investment in the West's rail network. (Western Morning News)
As business leaders
tell the Commons of the impact of our ruined rail network we ask David Cameron to pledge his commitment to the West's economic health"This is an open letter on behalf of readers of the Western Morning News urging you to commit significant investment
to upgrading the South West’s rail network.Severe storm damage at Dawlish on February 6 resulted in the main railway line to the Westcountry hanging by a thread over the sea. Since then, rail services to and from the South West have been subject to severe disruptions, creating delays and costs for businesses
who are already under pressure as a result of the economic downturn.That parts of the line were also closed in Somerset as a result of flooding, underlines the desperate need that this region has for immediate investment in its infrastructure.
The impact of this closure, likely to last until mid-April, on communities in Devon and Cornwall has been profound because it is the only mainline rail route into the far South West.
Given that the M5 stops at Exeter, that Plymouth City
Airport closed in 2011 and that air links between Newquay and Gatwick will only continue if a public subsidy is agreed, the Westcountry is seeing its transport links with the rest
of the UK eroded, in the case of the railway literally, at the
very time when our region’s economy and communities most need support.
Repairing the line at Dawlish is not enough. The South West is not a second-class part of Great Britain and it deserves fast, resilient, reliable
infrastructure to connect its communities with each other, the rest of the country and the rest of the world.To achieve this, we need your Government to get the line up and running at Dawlish as soon as possible, before funding and building an additional rail line into Devon and Cornwall to provide faster connectivity. Without the capacity
for 21st-century speed of travel, the South West will be significantly disadvantaged when compared to other regions.Such a commitment would require a significant level of energy and investment, but this is something that the taxpayers of the South West deserve. We ask you today to make this pledge to our region."
Read more: http://www.westernmorningnews.co.uk/open-letter-Prime-Minister-David-Cameron-urging/story-20696108-detail/story.html#ixzz2uJwxoLTw
Latest News from Community Transportation Association of America
Welcome to the Community Transportation Association of America's Ride Share Nation. This new site is a one-stop shop for all news, resources and conversation about the rideshare and transit industries. Click here for a greeting from RideShareNation Director Caryn Souza.
Brazilian sugar company bids $3bn to take over rail operator.(FT.com)
Mind your rucksack #TravelBetterLondon
If you are on the Tube you are more are carrying extra luggage please be considerate to your
fellow passengers........
If you are listening to music while traveling on the Tube, please be considerate to your fellow passengers.
10 Speaker Insights from Day Two of SmartRail Europe
Day Two of SmartRail Europe sees the Congress split into two streams. One focussing on Signalling and Train Control featuring speakers from Rfi, European Space Agency, Infrabel, Nigerian Railway Corporation, EIM Rail, Turin Metro, RATP and more. The second looks at railway telecommunications with expert speakers from RFF, Network Rail, New Jersey Transit, RapidKL, Metroselskabet amongst many others. Whilst in the buzzing Expo area we’ve seen Innovation Seminars from the likes of Traveline, SBB, DB, WESTBahn, Aporta Digital SNCF and 20+ others.
SmartRail World, reporting from Amsterdam, picks out ten of the speaker highlights from Day Two:
“Network Rail used to develop telecoms like they used to build bridges – they’d build it and make a note to come back in 20 years to check it – but this is completely different now.”
Clayton Nash, Head of Telecom Product, Network Rail
“Too often agencies write their RFP (Request for Proposal) with the solution already in mind. This precludes vendors in coming up with a better solution to your problem…. You have to be very careful in how you draft your RFP so it doesn’t predict what the vendor will offer.”
Allan Tilles, Narrowbanding Task Force Chair, Joint Council on Transit Wireless Communications
“Going forward its essential to combine technological decision making with budgetary planning. And its important to take into account maintainability rather than focussing on design.”
Kosit Tesuchata, Superintendent, Systems Engineering & Maintenance of Way, Jersey Transit – Newark Light Rail Operations
“We have developed an alternative simplified ERTMS to attend to the major constraints of frequency, vandalism / pilferage and the cost of implementing GSM-R.”
Roni Bello Ahmed, Deputy Director, Signalling & Telecoms, Nigerian Rail Corporation
“The problem is going from one country to another, the European Commission has though realised that if you want to implement ERTMS you have to begin the cross-border issue.”
Michel Ruesen, Managing Director, ERTMS User Group
“Africa is a greenfield in terms of rail development when compared to Europe, but though challenging it does make it in a way an easier place to install new system.”
Roni Bello Ahmed
“Monitoring the railway infrastructure is increasingly important and not just for the stability of the railway network, but also in spotting an external risk such as a landfall.”
Rob Postema, Feasibility Manager, Integrated Telecommunications Applications, ESA (The European Space Agency).
“Delivering real time information can help improve the perception of reliability for the passenger.”
Bent Flyen, Advisor in Real-Time Information Services, Operations IT, NSB
“Through integration of asset management operators can deliver a better level of service and reliability to the passenger. Providing operators with a high performance infrastructure.”
Chris Hubbard, Head of EMEA Data Solutions, Tibco
“With passenger expectations changing, it is important to consider not only onboard information but ensure high quality mobility services for the passenger.”
Julie Williams, Chief Executive, Traveline UK
California's Central Valley
Clovis-based Blair Church & Flynn Consulting Engineers (BC&F) has secured a contract for utility relocation design work in the Central Valley from the California High-Speed Rail Authority and Tutor-Perini/Zachary/Parsons (TPZP) joint venture (JV).
Costain secures new rail electrification contract from Network Rail
British engineering group Costain has secured a £75m contract from Network Rail to electrify the Edinburgh Waverly- Glasgow Queen Street Railway.
Drake & Scull Rail wins rail project for Dubai International Airport
Drake & Scull International's rail division has been awarded a contract to deliver a new automated passenger mover system (APM) at the Dubai International Airport.
British rail passengers unaware of compensation and refunds rights
Provincial governments seek rail service improvements for export grain
USDOT OKs early step in Dulles Metrorail project's TIFIA loan application
Maryland selects 'preferred training partners' for Purple, Red line projects
Construction under way on Perris Valley Metrolink extension
CN, CSX and UP considered top 500 global brands again in 2014
Houston and Vancouver ports set container records in 2013
Rail supplier news from Union Tank Car, Strobel Starostka, Toshiba, Hanson, Transit Safety and RSI/CMA (Feb. 25)
International Railway Journal
ANNOUNCING financial and operating results for the first half of its 2013-2014 financial year, Australian rail and port operator Asciano, the parent company of the PN Coal and PN Rail freight businesses, says it will undertake a major restructuring and reintegration of these two divisions from July 1.
CHINA Southern Locomotive and Rolling Stock Corporation (CSR) formally presented the first of a fleet of ten diesel trains for Iraq Republic Railways (IRR) to Iraq's ambassador to Beijing Dr Abdul Karim Mostafa and other dignitaries at the CSR Sifang plant in Qingdao on February 17.
MOSCOW Metro has awarded a contract to supply and maintain 832 metro cars to a consortium of Transmashholding (TMH) subsidiaries Metrovagonmash and Transleasholding in a deal worth Roubles 144bn ($US 4.1bn).
THE UZBEK Reconstruction and Development Fund has allocated a $US 280m loan to help finance the construction of a new railway through the Kamchik pass in eastern Uzbekistan..
ITALIAN open-access operator GTS Rail has awarded two contracts to supply locomotives and wagons for use on intermodal services.
Other News....
Heritage Appeal - Corporate - National Railway Museum
My favourite object | National Railway Museum blog
TECHNICAL PAPERS COMPETITION WINNERS TO SHOWCASE CROSSRAIL KNOWLEDGE AND INNOVATION AT THE ICE - Crossrail
Crossrail's Bond Street Station Site.
Around three quarters of rail passengers across Britain have been found unaware of their compensation and refunds rights, according to the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR), an independent safety and economic regulator for Great Britain's railways.
Provincial governments seek rail service improvements for export grain
USDOT OKs early step in Dulles Metrorail project's TIFIA loan application
Maryland selects 'preferred training partners' for Purple, Red line projects
Construction under way on Perris Valley Metrolink extension
CN, CSX and UP considered top 500 global brands again in 2014
Houston and Vancouver ports set container records in 2013
Rail supplier news from Union Tank Car, Strobel Starostka, Toshiba, Hanson, Transit Safety and RSI/CMA (Feb. 25)
International Railway Journal
ANNOUNCING financial and operating results for the first half of its 2013-2014 financial year, Australian rail and port operator Asciano, the parent company of the PN Coal and PN Rail freight businesses, says it will undertake a major restructuring and reintegration of these two divisions from July 1.
CHINA Southern Locomotive and Rolling Stock Corporation (CSR) formally presented the first of a fleet of ten diesel trains for Iraq Republic Railways (IRR) to Iraq's ambassador to Beijing Dr Abdul Karim Mostafa and other dignitaries at the CSR Sifang plant in Qingdao on February 17.
MOSCOW Metro has awarded a contract to supply and maintain 832 metro cars to a consortium of Transmashholding (TMH) subsidiaries Metrovagonmash and Transleasholding in a deal worth Roubles 144bn ($US 4.1bn).
THE UZBEK Reconstruction and Development Fund has allocated a $US 280m loan to help finance the construction of a new railway through the Kamchik pass in eastern Uzbekistan..
ITALIAN open-access operator GTS Rail has awarded two contracts to supply locomotives and wagons for use on intermodal services.
Other News....
Heritage Appeal - Corporate - National Railway Museum
My favourite object | National Railway Museum blog
TECHNICAL PAPERS COMPETITION WINNERS TO SHOWCASE CROSSRAIL KNOWLEDGE AND INNOVATION AT THE ICE - Crossrail
Crossrail's Bond Street Station Site.
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