Its hard to keep your eyes off events a little further afield (Crimea, Ukraine),but the unfolding story will no doubt impact on all our futures.
And speaking of the future, today's news includes something of a Crossrail special, what with the six videos highlighting the Crossrail apprenticeship programme..
If you have the Rail Talent, then you might be tempted to look even further afield, such as the Middle East, where there are 36 projects in need of 80,000 people over the next 5 years.
The work of specialists is certainly highlighted in the Alstom video explaining the tilting mechanism on Pendolinos...and more news about a rail academy for the UK, which will be needed as and when the HS2 project gets going...at some time in the near future...
And specialists working on the Dawlish sea wall hope to have their job completed ahead of the previously estimated time of mid April 2014....
Read On....
Headlines...
Edinburgh Waverley
Along the Dawlish Sea Wall
Steam Tube member Shirley Turner brings us a video and photographs showing progress
of the repair of the sea wall at Dawlish.....
Steam Tube member Shirley Turner brings us a video and photographs showing progress
of the repair of the sea wall at Dawlish.....
HS2 is a one-off chance for rail funding, says industry group | The Times (subscription)
East Midlands Trains win top customer service award.(The Star)
Sir Nigel Gresley: Fastest steam locomotive banned from line.(BBC News)
Sir Nigel Gresley: Fastest steam locomotive banned from line.(BBC News)
http://RailTalent.com as the leading Middle East Rail Job-board which is FREE for Rail Recruiters & Job seekers is pleased to share this important article on the extremely high demand of Rail Jobs in the GCC.
GCC Jobs: 80,000 railway staff needed in 5 years for rail project
About 36 railway projects coming up in the region; International Railway Academy to provide state-of-the-art training
By VM Sathish
About 80,000 railway staff will be needed within five years in the GCC for 36 railway projects that are currently ongoing, under construction or in the planning stage in the region.
International Railway Academy in Saudi Arabia will provide state-of-the-art training platform to several thousand professionals and technical staff who will be joining an expanding rail network in the region, according to an official from the Academy.
Speaking to Emirates 24|7, an official from the International Academy for Railway and Advanced Developments, Saudi Company for Railway Services, said it will provide specialised training for school graduates and professionals in the proposed academy, which will be first-of-its-kind in the region.
“There are 36 major railway projects and Metro railway projects including those that are progressing or under planning stage in the Middle East, with Al Etihad Railway network planned to link all the GCC nations, “ said the official, who added that the Academy is negotiating with the Etihad Railway to provide training facility for the potential Emirati staff.
Similarly, the academy will be providing special training packages to Saudi students, who pass out of schools and colleges, for potential placement in the expanding railway network in the GCC.
The official said Saudi Arabia and the UAE will share major chunk of the GCC railway network. In the UAE, Etihad railway will cover 1200km, several railway stations and offices.
Etihad Railway is already recruiting staff through its official website.
“Dubai Metro employs nearly 300 employees and some of the GCC railway projects are going to be smaller than Dubai Metro. We expect that about 80,000 railway staff will be required in the region for the next five years,” the official said.
Technicians and experts will be needed for maintaining and supervising the signaling systems.
The Railway Academy, planned along the Riyadh-Dammam railway network, is specially designed as a landmark building with two floors and each of the 14 classrooms will accommodate 15 students each, said Maher Al Refael, Academy’s Project Manager.
In addition to learning in classrooms, trainees will have access to in-house practical training in the four workshops that the academy is developing.
These four workshops will be dedicated to real-life training on railway signaling, heavy track maintenance machines, hand held track maintenance equipment and a simulator center for train driving.
The academy will have two levels of training for high school students and specialized training for professionals. A student who completes the course of one-and-a-half years will be able to do basic maintenance work on railway tracks. High school students who undergo a two-and-a-half years course will be able to perform fault finding on tracks.
Courses offered will range from short-term to diplomas of 2.5 years; training certification programme of 1.5 years; training courses for six months; as well as special courses designed according to the client requirements.
The Academy is also planning to deliver virtual training programmes.
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Website - http://RailTalent.com
LinkedIn – http://linkedin.railtalent.com
Facebook – http://facebook.com/RailTalent
Twitter – http://twitter.com/RailTalent Posted By Imran Qurashi
Alstom
Pendular technology trains to increase their speed by 30% on traditional routes. To determining in real time the position of the train on the track, the reactivity increases and tilt into curves is softer. Watch this video to learn how this technology works.
PRESS RELEASE
Rudy Nieddu, 28, from Forest Hill works at Crossrail’s Whitechapel site as an apprentice civil engineering technician with Balfour Beatty and fought off competition from two other award winners.
He was presented with his award by Crossrail Chairman Terry Morgan in front of more than 100 guests. The ceremony was opened by Lord Deighton, Commercial Secretary to HM Treasury.
The award winners across the different categories were:
Many of Crossrail’s apprentices have trained at the Tunnelling and Underground Construction Academy at Ilford which opened in 2011 and is the only training academy of its type in Europe.
When Crossrail opens it will increase London's rail-based transport network capacity by 10%, supporting regeneration and cutting journey times across the city. Crossrail services are due to commence through central London in 2018.
Crossrail names Apprentice of the Year
A former self-employed labourer who was struggling to find work during the difficult economic times has been named Apprentice of the Year after scooping the prestigious Crossrail award today (3 March) at the Houses of Parliament.
Rudy Nieddu, 28, from Forest Hill works at Crossrail’s Whitechapel site as an apprentice civil engineering technician with Balfour Beatty and fought off competition from two other award winners.
He was presented with his award by Crossrail Chairman Terry Morgan in front of more than 100 guests. The ceremony was opened by Lord Deighton, Commercial Secretary to HM Treasury.
The award winners across the different categories were:
· Overall Crossrail Apprentice of the Year: Rudy Nieddu, Whitechapel station
· Construction Apprentice of the Year (General): Chloe Etheridge, Farringdon station
· Construction Apprentice of the Year (Tunnelling): Rudy Nieddu
· Corporate / Business Services Apprentice of the Year: Ben Khan, Whitechapel and Liverpool Street Station Tunnels
· Apprenticeship Champion of the Year: Elaine Alderton, Farringdon station
· Apprenticeship Employer of the Year: Laing O’Rourke, Liverpool Street Station, Tottenham Court Road and Custom House sites.
After receiving his award Rudy Nieddu said: “I’m stunned. It was one thing just to be nominated but to go on and win is rather special. I’d been self-employed as an electrical labourer before and there were times when the work just wasn’t there so you don’t get paid. This role has given me stability and allows me to start planning ahead.”
Crossrail Chairman Terry Morgan CBE said: “I’d like to offer my congratulations to Rudy and all of our nominated apprentices.
Crossrail Chairman Terry Morgan CBE said: “I’d like to offer my congratulations to Rudy and all of our nominated apprentices.
“Crossrail has achieved significant success in providing opportunities for young people and we want to set an example for the sector to follow. Many of Crossrail’s apprentices have experienced unemployment, but now are gaining skills that can set them up for life. I started my career as an apprentice, I wasn’t particularly studious at school and now several decades later, it is a pleasure to be recognising the efforts of the new generation of apprentices.”
More than 280 apprentices are working on Crossrail and the project is on track to deliver its target of at least 400 apprenticeships during the construction of the new railway.
Many of Crossrail’s apprentices have trained at the Tunnelling and Underground Construction Academy at Ilford which opened in 2011 and is the only training academy of its type in Europe.
When Crossrail opens it will increase London's rail-based transport network capacity by 10%, supporting regeneration and cutting journey times across the city. Crossrail services are due to commence through central London in 2018.
Crossrail: Bond Street Station (Western) site...
Positive Train Control (PTC) in focus: North County Transit District (NCTD) in California.
Today SmartRail World journeys to California to find out how the North County Transit District (NCTD) is working with Positive Train Control (PTC) and integrating the system without interrupting service. The NCTD is the agency responsible for publication transportation in North San Diego County and transports over 1.6 million passengers per year, Multiple railroads operate and enter NCTD Territory: BNSF, Amtrak, Pacific Sun, and Metro link and NCTD dispatches all trains within its territory.
NCTD’s implementation of PTC is well underway as they have already begun installing the fiber optic cables from the Orange County line to Old Town in San Diego. The next phases of implementation will include installing communications infrastructure along the right of way, installing the on-board system, and conducting extensive testing.
NCTD is constructing a PTC test and training facility. The test and training facility is equipped with all PTC elements and will perform end-to-end testing before and after NCTD’s PTC system is commissioned. NCTD will also use this facility to familiarize train operators and maintenance staff with the requirements of PTC and to test hardware and software modifications.
View the Interactive Simulator (Opens in New Window. Large file, please allow several minutes to open)
NCTD will use a hy-rail suburban vehicle to test the PTC system. This vehicle is outfitted to run on the railroad tracks and is equipped with interior infrastructure to mimic a train, gather track data, and communicate with all PTC segments. The test vehicle will be used before and after PTC is commissioned to test the PTC system on the rail corridor.
We spoke to Robert Paladino, Rail Systems Engineer at NCTD, about what challenges they overcame in installing the new system; “The two main challenges we have faced with on-board is placement of the TMC within the locomotive and the cab car. We needed it to be in a place that didn’t restrict the engineers view and allowed them to be able to use the screen. The next obstacle was meeting the 49 CFR 238.103 which is Passenger Equipment Safety Standards. No one thought about this and the wiring in our locomotives for PTC didn’t meet the fire standards. All the wiring had to be pulled and new wires had to be placed inside the locomotive.”
And then asked what advice Robert would give to other railways what advice would you give to a railway just beginning the testing process? “NCTD is currently just beginning the testing process in the test and training facility. I think the key is to make sure your crew has a proper understanding of how the equipment works and how to properly conduct each test.”
After testing is fully complete the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) will examine and certify the PTC system and operation before it is commissioned. NCTD is on target to implement PTC before the deadline of December 31, 2015.
Robert Paladino will an expert speaker at the Positive Train Control (PTC) World Congress taking place in Orlando, Florida on 15-17th April 2014 where over 50 speakers and 300 attendees gather to discuss and share the latest developments in PTC ahead of its rapidly approaching deadline. For more on NCTD and their work with PTC visit here.
www.railway-technology.com Updates..
London Underground seeks supplier to build new air-cooled trains
London Underground is looking for a new supplier to build the next generation 'new tube for London' walk-through and air-cooled trains.
TramForward argues UK government could have avoided £300m pollution fine
The Light Rail Transit Association (LRTA) campaigning arm, TramForward, is arguing that the UK government should encourage the development of tram systems in the country's major cities in order to combat air pollution.
India's Chennai metro receives first two metro train sets from Alstom
Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) in India has taken delivery of the first two metro train sets from Alstom, as part of a €243m order to supply 168 cars.
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.
International Railway Journal
CALIFORNIAN commuter rail operator Caltrain has released the draft environmental impact report for the planned electrification of the 82km line between San Francisco and San Jose.
SWEDEN's largest railfreight operator Green Cargo has launched a programme to restructure its operations after suffering a sharp decline in revenues last year, which the company blames on a sluggish economy...
TRENORD, the joint venture between North Milan Railways (FNM) and Trenitalia which operates regional services in the Italian region of Lombardy, has taken delivery of the first of five Vivalto double-deck push-pull sets from AnsaldoBreda..
MTR Corporation has taken delivery of the first of 10 three-car trains from CNR Changchun Railway Vehicles, China, which will be used on Hong Kong's new South Island Line.
Other News...
Heritage Appeal - Corporate - National Railway Museum
Bridge appeal reaches £380,000! | The UK's Only Main Line Heritage Railway(GCR)
Bulleid Society
Keep it clean at InnoTrans 2014 - Railway Gazette
Spring’s on its way, the sun’s appearing and it's time to think about signing up for a challenge in 2014!
How about experiencing one of the most gruelling sports events in the world - the Tour de France? Summer 2014 sees some of the world's best cyclists make their Grand Depart from Leeds to Harrogate to cycle the first stage of this event.
Join us on our ride just a week after the actual event and experience the challenge for yourself. Our fantastic new event, Tour de Yorkshire, will be starting in the beautiful town of Ilkley, following the Stage 1 route of the Tour de France to Harrogate before returning to Ilkley.
It will be a very tough day on undulating terrain over the Yorkshire Dales, but the sense of achievement will be unforgettable. The 120-mile route can be completed as an individual or take part in the business relay and ride a 30-mile leg as part of a team of four.
Join us on our ride just a week after the actual event and experience the challenge for yourself. Our fantastic new event, Tour de Yorkshire, will be starting in the beautiful town of Ilkley, following the Stage 1 route of the Tour de France to Harrogate before returning to Ilkley.
It will be a very tough day on undulating terrain over the Yorkshire Dales, but the sense of achievement will be unforgettable. The 120-mile route can be completed as an individual or take part in the business relay and ride a 30-mile leg as part of a team of four.
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Two options available:
1. Ride the whole route as an individual. 2. Enter the business relay with three colleagues. Each member of the team covers approximately 30 miles of the route. |
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Entry cost:
Individual - £55 registration fee Minimum sponsorship £100 |
Business relay - £50 per person registration fee
Minimum sponsorship £50 per person | |  |
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Get in touch
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Visit our website to find out more about any of our events, for advice and training tips, or to book your place. You can also contact our friendly events team:
T 01270 757596 E events@railwaychildren.org.uk |
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