Today's news includes Hitachi's moving its rail business to London...
And talking of moving, how do you fancy a 53 day trip by rail around the world?
HS2 is a white elephant.. or essential to economic growth and progress, depending on your take.
Amongst infrastructure news, a land bridge being built between southern Russia and Crimea comes as no real surprise.
We take a look at RailStaff's March edition, and Think Railways news page which offers insight into
international railway news...
..and the Office of Rail Regulation has a couple of news releases for our consideration... including latest statistics on complaints...
Read On..
Headlines
Hitachi to move rail business to UK from Japan.(BBC News)
Epic 53-day round-the-world train journey launched.(The Telegraph)
Network Rail day in Westbury gets careers on track (This is Wiltshire)
Selby swing bridge repairs begin after landslip delay.(BBC News)
Rail deal 'misunderstood' by Welsh ministers, says Cameron.(BBC News)
HS2 is 'white elephant' Greens say. (Crewe Chronicle)
Centro welcomes call by HS2 boss to accelerate building of high speed rail line - Centro website
Storyville. Brakeless: Why Trains Crash. (BBC iPlayer)
Documentary exploring one of Japan's biggest train crashes in modern history, caused when a driver tried to catch up with a delay of just 80 seconds. It's a cautionary tale of what happens when punctuality, protocol and efficiency are taken to the extreme. On Monday April 25th 2005, a West Japan Railway commuter train crashed into an apartment building and killed 107 people. Just what pressures made the driver risk so much for such a minimal delay?
Piecing together personal accounts of those affected by the train crash, with insights from experts and former train drivers, the film poses a question for a society that equates speed with progress. It offers a fascinating insight into the railway's role in Japan's post-war economic boom and the dangers of corner-cutting in the prolonged economic stagnation that followed. Through the lens of this catastrophic train crash, Brakeless considers the ultimate cost efficiency.
High-speed rail link a top priority for Egypt.(TRL)
Proposed Phoenix-Tucson high-speed rail routes up for public input.(Tucson Sentinel)
Hull Hooked Up: Rail electrification plan given the go-ahead by Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin
New railway designed to enhance Mombasa as gateway to landlocked countries.(Lloyds Loading List)
International Railway Journal
Stadler delivers more Flirts to Hungary
Schleswig-Holstein orders Bombardier TRAXX locomotives
Spain seeks industrial partner for Renfe Freight
www.railway-technology.com Updates.
Bombardier to supply 15 TRAXX Diesel Multi-Engine to Paribus-DIF
Bombardier Transportation has agreed to supply 15 Bombardier TRAXX Diesel Multi-Engine locomotives to Germany-based Paribus-DIF-Netz-West-
Hitachi Rail moves headquarters from Japan to UK
Hitachi Rail Global has shifted its headquarters from Japan to the UK, a move that will enable the company to increase its workforce to 4,000 from the current 2,500.
Russia to construct rail and road bridge to Crimea
The Russian government is set to construct a rail and road bridge connecting Crimea and southern Russia, which is anticipated to cost around $1.4bn.
Bombardier consortium wins $51m ERTMS installation contract in Zambia
A consortium of Bombardier Transportation, Huawei and GMC Technologies has secured a $51m contract to install European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) regional solution on 1,000km Chingola to Livingstone railway in Zambia.
Total Rail
What are the major Challenges in Signalling Technology to enable driver-less systems?
Ansaldo asked this very questions at last MetroRail Congress. This year we will be taking a closer look at automation and driver-less systems with the CEOs of Honolulu, Copenhagen and RATP (Paris). Download this presentation by Francesco Di Maio, Senior Vice President, Transportation Solutions Ansaldo STS from last year’s Metrorail conference.
Learn about:
ASTS company
signalling competence/experience
system role and approach
transportation solutions competence/experience
conclusions
Download the Full presentation HERE
Want to know more about new developments in the MetroRail industry? Why not join us at MetroRail Europe on 1-2 April 2014. Download the brochure for more details Here
www.progressiverailroading.com US News
Schumer to FRA: Examine LIRR's safety practices
UP makes 18 upper management appointments, advances trackwork project
New Orleans port forges representation pact with Samsara Shipping in India
WMATA seeks public input on service, unveils new escalators
Bolyard, Moore assume short-line GM posts at Watco
California High-Speed Rail Authority to host business events for project's next phase
WTS International names new officers, foundation board members
RAC's Gullo joins sustainability group's industry council
US Department of Transportation
Value of 2013 U.S.-NAFTA Freight on Surface Modes Rose from 2012;
Declined on Air and Vessel
Three of the five transportation modes – the surface transportation modes of truck, rail and pipeline – carried more U.S. trade with North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) partners Canada and Mexico by value in 2013 than in 2012 while the value of freight transported by air and vessel decreased, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) (Figure 1 and Table 2).
Trade by pipeline also grew the most from year-to-year, 7.7 percent, partly due to the value of petroleum products, as the overall value on all modes rose 2.6 percent. Smaller increases took place on rail (4.6 percent) and truck (2.2) while vessel trade fell for the second consecutive year (-2.4) and air trade declined for the third straight year (-1.0) (Tables 1, 2).
Trade by Mode
Most U.S.-NAFTA trade in 2013 (82.4 percent) was carried on the surface modes of truck, rail and pipeline. Trucks carried 59.7 percent, followed by rail at 15.4 percent, air at 9.1 percent, pipeline at 7.3 percent and vessel at 3.8 percent (Figure 2, Table 1).
Previous year: From 2012 to 2013, total U.S.-NAFTA trade rose 2.6 percent. Freight on two modes – pipeline (7.7 percent) and rail (4.6) – grew faster than overall trade. Truck (2.2) grew slower while vessel (-2.4) and air (-1.0) declined (Table 2).
Recent low: From 2009, when trade fell to a recent low during the recession, total U.S.-NAFTA trade in 2013 rose 54.9 percent (Table 3). Freight on three modes – rail (83.2 percent), vessel (74.3) and pipeline (69.5) – grew faster than overall trade. Truck (49.4) and air (11.0) grew slower (Table 2).
Start of database: From 2004 to 2013, total U.S.-NAFTA trade rose 60.0 percent. Freight on three modes – vessel (124.2 percent), pipeline (116.6) and rail (61.7) grew faster than overall trade. Truck (50.0) and air (36.0) grew slower (Table 2).
Although truck carries more than half of U.S.-NAFTA trade, 59.7 percent in 2013, its share of total trade has dropped by 4.0 percentage points from 2004, the first year of BTS data for all modes. Vessel’s percentage share rose 2.6 points while pipeline rose 1.9 points (Table 1). See North American Transborder Freight Data for historic data.
Trade with Canada
Most U.S.-Canada trade in 2013 (83.6 percent) was carried on the surface modes of truck, rail and pipeline. Trucks carried 54.4 percent, followed by rail at 16.7 percent, pipeline at 12.6 percent, vessel at 5.7 percent and air at 4.5 percent (Table 3).
Previous year: From 2012 to 2013, total U.S.-Canada trade rose 2.6 percent (Table 3). Freight on two modes – vessel (13.0) and pipeline (7.7 percent) grew faster than overall trade. Rail (2.3), air (2.3) and truck (0.7) grew slower.
Start of database: From 2004 to 2013, total U.S.-Canada trade rose 42.1 percent (Table 3). Freight on two modes – vessel (159.8 percent) and pipeline (106.8) grew faster than overall trade. Rail (41.4), truck (28.0) and air (26.6) grew slower.
Although truck carries more than half of U.S.-Canada trade, 54.4 percent in 2013, its share of total trade has dropped by 6.0 percentage points from 2004, the first year of BTS data for all modes. Truck’s share of imports declined 9.6 percentage points from 51.9 percent to 42.3 percent. Pipeline’s percent share of total trade rose 3.9 points while vessel rose 2.6 points. Pipeline’s share of imports rose 7.3 percentage points from 14.4 percent to 21.7 (Table 3).
Michigan led all states in trade with Canada in 2013 with $74.6 billion. Of the top 10 states for U.S.-Canada trade in 2013, Washington had the highest percent change over 2012, a 6.4 percent increase (Table 4).
The top commodity category transported between the U.S. and Canada in 2013 was mineral fuels at $134.1 billion with $79.2 billion or 59.1 percent moved by pipelines. The next highest commodity category transported by a single mode in U.S.-Canada trade was vehicles and vehicle parts (other than railway vehicles and parts) with $66.1 billion in trade moved by trucks (Table 7).
Trade with Mexico
Most U.S.-Mexico trade in 2013 (80.8 percent) was carried on the surface modes of truck, rail and pipeline. Trucks carried 66.2 percent, followed by rail at 13.8 percent, vessel at 13.3 percent, air at 3.0 percent and pipeline at 0.8 percent (Table 5).
Previous year: From 2012 to 2013, total U.S.-Mexico trade rose 2.6 percent (Table 5). Freight on three modes – pipeline (8.5 percent), rail (8.2) and truck (3.8) – grew faster than overall trade. Vessel (-9.1) and air (-6.9) declined.
Start of database: From 2004 to 2013, total U.S.-Mexico trade rose 90.0 percent (Table 2). Freight on vessel (108.8 percent) and rail (106.5) grew faster than overall trade. Truck (82.1) and air (58.4) grew slower. Pipeline, which carries a small amount of U.S.-Mexico trade (less than 1 percent of the total) increased $3.8 billion (4,410.0 percent) due predominantly to an increase in U.S. exports of mineral fuels.
Truck carries two-thirds of U.S.-Mexico trade, 66.2 percent in 2013. Truck’s share of total trade dropped by 2.9 percentage points from 2004, the first year of BTS data for all modes. Truck’s share of exports declined 5.1 percentage points from 71.6 percent to 66.6 percent. Vessel’s percentage share of total trade rose 1.2 points while rail rose 1.1 points. Vessel’s share of exports rose 5.2 percentage points from 6.7 percent to 12.0 (Table 5).
Texas led all states in trade with Mexico in 2013 with $195.6 billion. Of the top 10 states for U.S.-Mexico trade in 2013, Illinois had the highest percent change over 2012, a 22.5 percent increase (Table 6).
The top commodity transported between the U.S. and Mexico in 2013 was electrical machinery at $94.2 billion with $85.1 billion or 90.4 percent moved by trucks. The next highest commodity category transported by a single mode in U.S.-Mexico trade was mineral fuels with $50.3 billion in trade moved by vessel (Table 8).
TransBorder Data
The TransBorder Freight Dataset is a special extract of the official U.S. foreign trade statistics. The data are obtained by BTS from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Foreign Trade Division.
This news release and summary tables can be found on the BTS website. More informatiansborder freight data is posted on the BTS website.
UK Regulators launch new network to bring cross-sector regulation closer together
19 March 2014
The chief executives of the UK's economic regulators have joined together to launch the UK Regulators' Network (UKRN), tasked with improving coordination across regulated sectors to enhance investment and efficiency for the benefit of consumers.
UKRN brings together the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Office of Communications (Ofcom), The Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem), Office of Water Regulation (Ofwat), the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) and the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation (UREGNI). Monitor and the Water Industry Commission for Scotland (WICS) are also participating as observers.
The UKRN is a vehicle for co-operation that supports the separate independent regulatory frameworks of the individual regulators. It will allow regulators to work closer together on issues of cross-sectoral significance and to learn lessons across industries which help to improve regulation and the promotion of competition in order to secure better outcomes for consumers.
The three main objectives of the new network are to improve the consistency of economic regulation across sectors, deliver efficiency of regulation, and to improve understanding of how independent economic regulation works in the interests of consumers, markets, investment and economic performance, identifying scope to do better.
The members of UKRN are committed to working together to achieve these objectives. This commitment includes an ambitious programme of joint work on issues of cross-sectoral significance and applying lessons learned across sectors to improve the system of economic regulation.
The first areas of focus for the UKRN will include facilitating efficient multi-sector investment projects, promoting customer engagement and switching in regulated markets, assessing cross-sector resilience and cyber-security and developing a clear understanding of the overall affordability of regulated services for consumers.
Richard Price, the inaugural chair of the group, chief executive of ORR said:
UKRN is an opportunity for regulators to build best practice and to identify ways to deliver greater benefits for the consumers they serve. By sharing expertise and analysis across our regulated industries, we can get new insights and make sure there is a joined-up strategic approach which reduces regulatory burdens, gives investors greater confidence, and delivers better outcomes for consumers.
Independent regulation has delivered significant benefits for UK consumers through improved quality, innovation, better prices, greater choice and better protection where competition is not yet viable. The UK's track record in economic regulation is an enviable one.We have come together to build on these successes so that each of us, in our own sectors can raise the performance of independent regulation in promoting consumer interest, securing a stable environment for efficient investment and innovation and more effective dialogue with government.The UK model of independent regulation has delivered major benefits to consumers and the economy and is widely recognised to be world leading. The objective of the network is to look for further ways to improve the contribution it makes.
Regulator publishes latest statistics on rail passenger complaints
The Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) has today published a new statistical release on 'Passenger Rail Service Satisfaction' which contains information on complaints from passengers on various aspects of rail services from 2002-03 up until 31 December 2013.Latest quarterly figures (between 1 October and 31 December 2013) show:
- There were 32 complaints per 100,000 train journeys, a decrease of 14.2% on the same period last year. The moving annual average (MAA) continues on a downward trend with 30 complaints per 100,000 journeys.
- 34% (51,376) of all complaints were about the punctuality/reliability of trains and this category continues to have the highest number of complaints nationally.
- Over a million calls were made to the National Rail Enquiries telephone service, but the number of calls made was 11.2% less than the same period last year. This reflects the growing number of people accessing train service information through other methods, such as mobile phone applications and social media.
This report is part of a series of quarterly and annual National Statistics offering context and commentary on the latest data trends. Quality reports are also available which give a detailed explanation of the methodology used in collecting the data.
Read the full report at: http://orr.gov.uk/__data/
RailStaff Magazine March 2014
Expanded constellation for Eurostar
Eurostar celebrates 20 years in the business this November.
Eurostar celebrates 20 years in the business this November.
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