The HS2 project should be speeded up, according to Sir David Higgins....and it is suggested that benefits to the north...where the line will centre on Crewe (as well as Euston) could be advanced by 6 years....
The Independent reckons that HS2 will be "expensive and divisive, but necessary", whilst in a recent article, Christian Wolmar says that HS2 is the wrong scheme in the wrong place.
Still, the government welcomes the Higgins review.....
Elsewhere, high speed lines are in the news.. In Spain, the last 81 km of the high speed line to Granada will be single track only...at least this will lead to an early completion date... And India and China's strategic economic talks will focus on high speed lines...
And with winter (in the UK) ending, or about to end, the government gives its response to the Transport Select Committee's report on winter weather resilience...
Read on....
Headlines
HS2 chair Sir David Higgins urges project speed-up.(BBC News)
HS2 benefits to north could be delivered six years earlier, says chair.(The Guardian)
Euston and Crewe at heart of Higgins HS2 plan.(Railnews)
Northern Hub - improving rail in the north - Network Rail
Yorkshire’s railways ‘must be upgraded’ if region is to benefit from HS2.(The Yorkshire Post)
HS2 will be expensive and destructive – but it is also the only way to revitalise Britain's railways. (The Independent)
Rail 740: HS2 is the wrong scheme in wrong place.(Christian Wolmar)
MPs to publish Government response to ready and waiting? Transport preparations for winter weather report.(Parliament.uk)
Transport Committee - Sixteenth Special Report
Ready and waiting? Transport preparations for winter weather
Government response
Introduction The Department for Transport is pleased to have the opportunity to respond to the conclusions and recommendations of the Transport Committee's ("the Committee's") report "Ready and waiting? Transport preparations for winter weather". The Department welcomes this report and the Committee's continuing contribution to the resilience of our transport networks.
Responses to recommendations
1. We support proactive decision making by the rail and aviation industries to reduce or cancel services in anticipation of a severe weather event. If used effectively, this approach will provide greater certainty to passengers and minimise the risk of passengers getting stranded away from home during severe winter weather. The Department also endorses this approach, which has again demonstrated its worth during the severe weather of January and February 2014.
2. Our view is that the relocating of flights from one airport to another during the winter months is a commercial decision best left for the airlines but we encourage airports and airlines to discuss candidly relocation options and related issues. The Department agrees with this view and will encourage this approach when engaging with stakeholders from the aviation sector on resilience matters.
3. We welcome the progress made in improving the winter resilience of the third rail network south of the Thames. The conversion of the Southampton to Basingstoke route is a good first step towards upgrading the third rail network. The Government should push for this conversion to take place in the early part of Control Period 5 (2014-19) in order to allow time to evaluate the benefits and build a business case for a more comprehensive third rail conversion scheme in Control Period 6. The programme for conversion of the Southampton to Basingstoke route has yet to be confirmed by Network Rail, but the Department agrees that, all else being equal, an early timing would be advantageous and will be discussing this further with Network Rail.
4. We will review progress on the impact of introducing operational resilienceconditions into airport operators' licences late in 2014.
5. It is widely acknowledged that the problem of insufficient salt stocks has been addressed. This is in part due to the establishment of a national strategic salt reserve, held by the Highways Agency. However, there is no room for complacency. The Government should continue to provide annual updates on how to access strategic salt stocks. In addition to this, the Highways Agency should organise annual dry runs with local authorities to ensure that they have an up-to-date practical understanding of how to access the reserves. The Department for Transport since October 2011, and as recommended by the Transport Select Committee, publishes a salt protocol note on its website ahead of each winter season. This note sets out the steps that local authorities need to undertake prior to gaining access to the Emergency Salt Reserve that is retained by Central Government and managed by the Highways Agency on behalf of the Department. It is recognised that local highway authorities have taken steps to ensure that they have robust salt stock holdings for each winter season. In addition, the Department has ongoing liaison with salt suppliers and continues to monitor salt stocks being held across the country. However it is important that we do not become complacent and therefore the Department for Transport will consider with the Highways Agency the recommendation from the Committee as to whether a dry-run exercise with local authorities would be beneficial.
6. The Government should more actively publicise its Snow Code at the start of each winter, for example through a national advertising campaign highlighting that the public can clear snow and ice from outside their homes without fear of legal action and should consider doing so. We also recommend that the Government promote examples of good practice and innovation, such as the use by Brighton and Hove City Council of a sit-on vehicle for clearing pavements. The Snow Code is available online via the "Get Ready for Winter" website, hosted by the Met Office. This website, which is Government's primary portal for delivery of public information on all winter preparedness matters, is publicised throughout winter by a range of organisations. This winter more effort has been made to adapt the focus of the website in response to forecasts, to provide the public with the information most relevant to the weather conditions they are about to experience. The Department considers this dynamic, tactical approach to be more beneficial than expensive, one-off campaigns at the start of winter. The latter carry the risk of core messages being forgotten after a few weeks, especially if the weather is benign.
7. As part of its review into the code of practice on the provision of information to passengers, the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) should ensure that train operating companies develop more robust procedures to identify how long a period of disruption is likely to last and communicate this to passengers. The Department agrees that it is important for passengers to be forewarned, where possible, of the likely duration of disruption to services, whether that is expected to be a matter of hours, days or weeks. The National Rail Enquiries website already generally gives an indication of when services are expected to get back to normal, but the Department will explore with ORR whether there is more that can be done in this area. However the recent storm damage at Dawlish demonstrated that forecasting the duration of disruption can be a challenge in the face of continuing severe weather events. Initially, following the storm on 4/5 February, it was estimated that services could be restored in six weeks, but following the further substantial damage caused by the subsequent storm on 14 February, this estimate had to be revised.
8. The Civil Aviation Authority's (CAA) emphasis on service quality for passengers during disruption is a good step in the right direction. The new airport licence conditions should strengthen the approach taken to build operational resilience. The new regime must be workable and we welcome the dialogue between the CAA and the airports. We invite the CAA to set out how it will evaluate the impact of the new licence conditions on passenger welfare, by Spring 2015. We also recommend that the CAA ensure that good practice on the provision of information and passenger welfare is shared across all UK airports.
This is for the CAA to respond to the Committee.
9. While we welcome the progress made by the Highways Agency on proactively communicating with motorists ahead of severe winter weather, there is a need for greater emphasis on the provision of accessible real-time information about road conditions and disruption. Such information is essential to prevent motorists getting stranded in their vehicles. We recommend that the Highways Agency initiate a review to: i. Investigate the barriers to providing comprehensive real-time information to drivers; ii. Identify technological and other solutions to providing real-time information, particularly during periods of disruption; and iii. Develop a strategy for implementing these solutions across the strategic roads network. The Highways Agency should provide us with an update on its progress ahead of winter 2014-15. The Highways Agency welcomes the Committee's report and the recognition of the progress that has been made in communicating with motorists in advance of severe weather. We are pleased that the Committee has also recognised the value of providing real-time information to our customers. Much has already been done to improve the provision of real-time traffic information, for example in preparation for the 2013/14 winter we made improvements to the quality of information we provide through Twitter, supplementing the established automated messages we provide from our National Traffic Information Service. We also supported the Environment Agency recently by using the Agency's network of 'Information Points' at motorway service areas to direct customers to information in relation to flooding in communities around the strategic road network. The Agency acknowledges that there is more we can do. During 2014 we are upgrading our information services systems to provide more accurate information and to do so much more quickly than we do today. We are now developing a strategy to enhance our information services, and we will provide an update to the Committee before the start of the next winter season.
10. Both the Government and transport providers have taken steps to implement our recommendations and to learn lessons from their experience of previous winters. Embedding a culture of continuous review and improvement is vital to ensure that the robustness of transport networks improves year after year and to demonstrate the willingness of the transport sector to address further issues as and when they arise. 11. Continuous improvement must remain a priority for both Government and the transport sector, even if the weather this winter, and in the next few, is not severe. There is a risk that a few years of mild winter weather could lead to a false sense of security and reduce the sector's preparedness over the longer term. 12. The transport sector must continue to work closely with the Met Office and other forecasters to understand the challenges posed by different types of severe weather. Transport is vital to growth and a lack of preparedness has a direct impact on growth and on the economy as a whole. It is vital that the UK is ready and waiting for adverse weather and not taken by surprise. DfT will continue working to encourage the transport sector to enhance its resilience against a full range of natural hazards and welcomes the Committee's active and productive contribution to this effort. The Department recognises the importance of proportionate resilience measures in encouraging investment and economic growth. To ensure the transport sector achieves the right balance between weather risk and resilience investment we rely on the world-leading scientific evidence provided by the Met Office, with which both the Department and Highways Agency have a very close and effective working relationship. To ensure cross-sector weather risks are identified and managed, the Department actively engages with Other Government Departments on long term risk assessment and near-term planning through a Cabinet Office led weather resilience network. The recent period of severe storms and flooding has highlighted the continuing importance of ensuring that climate change is factored into transport sector risk assessments. To determine what more needs to be done on top of the extensive work already undertaken to mitigate climate change impacts, the Transport Secretary has commissioned a review into the transport network's resilience against more extreme weather conditions, including: · heavy rainfall, flooding and associated geological impacts (groundwater, landslips & sinkholes); · more frequent and more powerful storms with high wind speeds; and · higher extremes of temperature in summer months. The review is due to report by Summer 2014.
Passengers facing rail disruption.(Dorset Echo)
India-China strategic economic talks to focus on high speed rail tracks.(livemint)
New Granada high speed train limited to single track.(The Olive Press)
www.railway-technology.com Updates
South West Trains resumes service after Botley track repairs
UK-based train operator South West Trains has resumed full service between Eastleigh and Fareham through Hedge End and Botley on 15 March.
Revamped Wokingham station unveiled in UK
The new revamped Wokingham station in the UK has been unveiled, following the completion of renovations under a £220m National Stations Improvement Programme (NSIP).
Ankara Metro's M2 Line opens
A 16.5km-long M2 line of the Ankara Metro communications-based train control (CBTC) project in Turkey has entered into revenue services.
Siemens to supply 20 additional Avenio trams for The Hague
Siemens has received another order worth €55m from Dutch transit operator HTM to deliver 20 additional Avenio type trams for The Hague, Netherlands.
FRA unveils critical 'Operation Deep Dive' safety assessment of Metro-North
Proposed regulations would mandate a railway operating certificate in Canada
KCSM initiates Friday program, promotes texting campaign to boost safety
Sound Transit slates public meetings on proposed Federal Way Link Extension
Ceres Global lands CBP agreement to complete BNSF connection at Saskatchewan hub
Survey: Californians are finding alternatives to car travel
UP lands Washington grant to erect fence at popular state park
Rail supplier news from GE, Hollysys, Bombardier and Critical Solutions (March 17)
The Rail Safety Summit
28th April 2014. The Royal College of Physicians, London.
As we finalise the presentations for this year's Safety Summit, we wanted to share two more highlights with you.
2013: The ORR Health and Safety Report
An overview of the current report into Safety on the UK Railway
£10 million of ORR funding in CP5 is earmarked for “developing new technologies to improve protection and warnings for track workers”. Hear why this has been funded and find out what ORR hopes to achieve!
This session will be presented by Sue Johnston, Deputy Director - Railway Safety, ORR.
Design for safety
How Crossrail are designing Safety into a new Railway infrastructure
Crossrail design for safety – hear details of Crossrail’s risk reduction measures for inspection, maintenance, repair and renewal of the new rail infrastructure.
This session will be presented by Darren Selman, Health & Safety Manager - Assurance, Crossrail.
With the following delegates already signed up for the conference : Achilles Information Limited, AndersElite, Balfour Beatty Rail, Bombardier Transport, Carillion plc, First Group, London Underground, Network Rail, Ove Arup, RAIB, RSSB, Safeaid LLP, Serco Docklands, TfL, this is an event you will not want to miss.
Tickets for the event are just £199 + VAT which includes entrance to the conference, refreshments and lunch and a copy of all the presentations.
We are also creating the Rail Safety Summit Guide, which will contain the conference agenda, details of exhibitors and a range of safety features. If you wish to promote some of your company’s safety initiatives, please contact tom@rail-media.com.
New post on SmartRail World
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 SmartRail World is to have commissioned a brand new free e-book Positive Train Control (PTC): An Insider’s Guide looking at the status, lessons learned and challenges faced by US railroads with the implementation of the government-mandated technology. For the e-book we've spoken with the industry's leading innovators from Metrolink, CSX, NCTD, HP Enterprise Services, BNSF, Alaska Railroad and other rail leaders in order to assist you understand the industry's current challenges and opportunities. It’s not just another collection of facts and figures but an insight into the reality of the direction of Positive Train Control (PTC); the opportunities and potential but also the challenges still to be overcome.
PLUS each download comes with a free subscription to SmartRail World ensuring you will never miss out on the latest news, views and resources.
Click here to download Positive Train Control (PTC): An Insider’s Guide
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eurotransport magazine
In our latest Automated Metros supplement, Chris Cox from Metroselskabet tells us how the Copenhagen Metro has transformed city travel, Ramón Malla from TMB opens up about how the Barcelona network has coped with operating three automated lines over the last four years, and Miryam Hernández from UITP provides facts and figures about the automated metro marketplace...
GOV.UK
Written statement to Parliament
Higgins review
Government response to Sir David Higgins' HS2 Plus report.
Sir David Higgins has today (17 March 2014) published proposals to build HS2 better and bring the benefits to the north sooner. The government strongly supports this ambition and welcomes his report. HS2 is vital for the economic health of this country and our international competitiveness.
It was in this context that I asked Sir David Higgins, when he became Chair of HS2 Ltd, to undertake a review on maximising the benefits of HS2 and managing costs. Given his experience on delivering the Olympics, there was no one better equipped for the role.
Sir David has carried out a robust and rigorous review of the cost estimates for constructing Phase One and confirmed they are right. He proposes to use any savings to protect the contingency at this early stage in the parliamentary process and the project as a whole. The government supports that.
Sir David’s report also proposes to deliver benefits, particularly benefits to the Midlands and the north, more quickly. The report sets out a clear proposal to accelerate construction so that the Crewe section of Phase Two would be completed by 2027, not 2033, and to build a new integrated hub station at Crewe. Therefore, I am commissioning HS2 Ltd and Network Rail to undertake work to allow both these proposals to be considered in detail as part of my consideration of the public consultation responses to Phase Two.
Sir David also makes recommendations about connectivity in the midlands and the north. He says the key to improving this is to integrate decision making on HS2 with Network Rail’s decision making for improvements to the existing network during control period 6 (2019 to 2024). I am, therefore, commissioning HS2 Ltd and Network Rail to make recommendations before our response to the Phase Two consultation.
Our priority must be to get the benefits to the midlands and the north as soon as possible. Our proposals must stand the test of time and we must put our money where it will do the most good. Sir David is clear that he does not think the existing proposals for the HS2-HS1 link meet those tests. His report concludes that the link proposed in the High Speed Rail (London - West Midlands) Bill has not secured a consensus. The link requires too many compromises in terms of impacts on freight, passengers and the community in Camden. I, therefore, intend to take the necessary steps to remove the link from the Bill and withdraw the safeguarding of this section of the route as soon as possible. I will also commission a study into ways to improve connections to the continent that could be implemented once the initial stages of HS2 are complete.
I also agree with the report that more can be made of Euston station. It is a significant opportunity to maximise the economic potential of the line and regenerate a site that has been neglected. It is also a significant opportunity to generate private sector investment that can reduce the overall burden on the taxpayer. I will, therefore, ask HS2 Ltd and Network Rail to develop more comprehensive proposals for the redevelopment of Euston, working with the rail industry and the local community. This work should include proposals for the Euston arch which should never have been knocked down and which I would like to see rebuilt.
HS2 is a project that will be built over many parliaments and will serve people for many generations. We must design it carefully and build it correctly. The government is keen to rise to the challenge and we hope that hon members on all sides of the House will do the same.
Copies of Sir David’s report have been placed in the libraries of both Houses.
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