International & UK Railway News Tuesday 25th March 2014

HS2 again dominates the news. Following the announcement about HS2 not linking directly with HS1, the Transport Select Committee was today taking evidence from Sir David Higgins and Lord Deighton on their respective reports. Not all are convinced (StopHS2 being an obvious candidate), so it will be interesting to see where we go from here....


India apparently has gone off the idea of a high speed line, which may not go down well with the China  Railway Corporation... 


In other news, read about ice on the lines (the overhead lines!).. the airborne signal box, and the eight-car commuter train that crashed at O'Hare International Airport ,Chicago..injuring a couple of dozen passengers.


Look forward to a repeat on BBC 4 (1stApril 2014) of Sean Langan's African Railway documentary.
This was filmed in 2010... so to get a more up to date view of Tazara, take a look at Helen in Wonderlust's blog (2013)...


Read on........

 

Headlines........


MPs take evidence on High Speed Rail: update


The Transport Committee questions Sir David Higgins and Lord Deighton on Tuesday 25 March 2014.
                     Parliament TV: watch the High speed rail: update session

Witnesses

Tuesday 25 March 2014, The Wilson Room, Portcullis House
At 2.00 pm

• Sir David Higgins, Chairman, HS2 Ltd

At 2.50 pm

• Lord Deighton, Commercial Secretary to HM Treasury and Chair of the HS2 Growth Taskforce

Chair's comments

Mrs Louise Ellman MP, Chair of the Transport Committee, said:

“I welcome the proposals to bring forward construction of the new railway to Crewe and to link HS2 more closely to the existing network, including improving east-west links between Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds and Hull. The Transport Committee has been calling for those kind of changes.
"We will be examining those proposals, and the suggested changes to the connection between HS1 and HS2, in detail when we take evidence from Sir David Higgins on 25 March. At that session, we will also scrutinise the report of Lord Deighton’s HS2 Growth Taskforce, which is due to be published this week.”

Triennial review of Passenger Focus - Written statements to Parliament - GOV.UK 


A triennial review of Passenger Focus and its governance arrangements will begin soon.


My noble friend, the Minister of State for Transport, (Baroness Kramer), has made the following written ministerial statement:
We will shortly be commencing a triennial review of Passenger Focus (PF). PF is the independent non-departmental public body (NDPB) set up to represent the interests of rail passengers in England, Scotland and Wales, bus and tram passengers in England (outside of London) and passengers on scheduled domestic coach services in England.
Triennial reviews are part of the government’s commitment to ensuring that NDPBs continue to have regular independent challenge, including to their objectives and governance. A triennial review normally has 2 aims:

• to provide a robust challenge of the continuing need for the NDPB
• where it is agreed that it should remain as an NDPB, to review the control and governance arrangements in place to ensure that the public body is complying with recognised principles of good corporate governance

However, following the public bodies review, PF completed a significant restructure in 2011 and now has a key role in relation to future transport policy, including increasing the passenger voice in future rail franchises. As a result, it has therefore been decided that this review will focus its attention on the second stage.
The report of the review will be placed in the libraries of both Houses when it is completed.

 

UK’s Port of Felixstowe boosted by new direct rail line.(Lloyds Loading List)

 

The Transport Committee to hear reports on future of the high speed rail project.(ITV)

 

High speed rail link 'could cost Bristol millions'. (Bristol Post)

 

New Man, New Spin: Sir David Higgins at the IOD(StopHS2)

 

Trains That Could Be Better Than Planes(OZY)

 

India says no to Chinese high-speed rail.(Indian Defence)


Carno villagers consulted on new rail station proposals.(BBC News)

 

Zambia awards ERTMS Regional contract (IRJ)


Winning bidder emerges for Lima metro Line 2 (IRJ)

 

Etihad Rail operation and maintenance joint venture formed - Railway Gazette

 

 

www.railway-technology.com Updates..

 

Chicago train crashes at O'Hare International Airport

A Chicago eight-car commuter train had crashed at O'Hare International Airport in the US on early 24 March, injuring nearly 32 people.

First Capital Connect launches new mobile ticketing app

British train operator First Capital Connect has launched its new mobile ticketing app, which will allow passengers to buy tickets using a mobile phone or tablet.

Welsh Government to fund access improvements at five railway stations

The Welsh Government has launched a £12m scheme to fund the access improvements at five railway stations in Wales.

Construction begins on North Metro Rail Line in Denver

Construction on the first 12.5-mile phase of the new North Metro commuter rail line has been launched by the Denver Regional Transportation District (RTD), with an aim to enhance transit options for the region's northern communities. 

www.progressiverailroading.com US News 

Metro-North completes signal upgrades at curves, bridges

 

NTSB investigating CTA train derailment at O'Hare

 

CN delivers 4,000 hopper cars to Western Canada grain elevators, calls for Coast Guard support

 

Amtrak's Boardman praises new corporate alliance for infrastructure investment

 

Developers schedule public meeting to review Pennsylvania container facility project

 

North Carolina DOT begins double-track project on NS line

 

AREMA seeks applicants for Watford Fellowship

Georgia port's harbor deepening project gains additional state funds; port volume continues to rise

 

N&W J 611 Locomotive To Be Restored in North Carolina.(The Roanoke Star)

African Railway..with Sean Langan. (BBC4)
Wednesday 2nd April 2014 8pm
In a moving and often funny documentary, award-winning filmmaker Sean Langan is off to East Africa to ride the rails of the Tazara railroad, whose passenger and goods trains travel through spectacular scenery and a game park teeming with wild animals.

The railway was built by the Chinese just after independence to link Zambia's copper belt to the Tanzanian port of Dar es Salaam, and once carried the region's hopes and dreams. But now it is in crisis. Every day there are derailments, trains running out of fuel and mechanical breakdowns.

Langan meets the train crews, controllers and maintenance crews who battle to keep it going - and at Tazara HQ he is on the track of Tazara's elusive Chinese railway advisors to find out why it is in such a parlous state. 


You must read this......its a more recent (2013) experience. Has anything changed?
The Tazara Train – An Overland Journey from Zambia to Tanzania.(Helen in Wonderlust)

 

 

How to roll out major expansion plans and best support your business during the transition 
How to maintain or upgrade existing railways
How to create bankable railway projects which meet the end user needs
How to understand new business models and processes
How the current African transportation projects will affect your business

 

Meet with Nigerian Railway Corporation, The South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Rift Valley Railways, TransNamib, The International Finance Corporation and more, and more at Africa Rail 2014!

 

London Underground announces closure for Uxbridge branch track renewal (Global Rail News)

HS2 will not link to Eurostar confirms minister.(BBC News)

Anger at Pennines split over HS2.(The Yorkshire Post)

Trams halted... there's frost on the lines! (Daily Mail)

Signal box moves home as part of £21m investment in Arun Valley line.(Network Rail)

Vital rail tunnel reopens after feat of engineering delivers improvements.(Network Rail)

Rail minister visits new £59m Ipswich rail link.(Network Rail)

Safety event targets misused level crossing at Rossington.(Network Rail)

 

Britain's forgotten rail stations.(Telegraph Travel)
In his new book, Tiny Stations, Dixe Wills visits Britain's tranquil railway request stops, each of which has a fascinating history. In this article he picks his 10 favourites...

 

 

Transportation Research Board

 

Vision of Railroading in the 21st Century*

TRB is cosponsoring the Vision of Railroading in the 21st Century on August 20-22, 2014, in Altoona, Pennsylvania. The conference is designed to bring together railroad professionals, government officials, and academics to discuss the past, present, and future of the U.S. railroad industry. Particular emphasis will be placed on university led research on railroad subjects and possible career choices for those students performing railroad research.

 

For additional information contact Scott Babcock of TRB.

 

This week's hot topics:

• Badgerys Creek airport requires new rail line
• Hitachi Rail move global HQ to UK
• Rail planning - Integrating and operating HS2
• Key features of East Coast franchise tender
• 5 partnerships closing the air rail gap

 

 

York - unmissable engines - Our collection - National Railway Museum

 

Vacancies | North Yorkshire Moors Railway :: Staff and volunteer site




GordonDudman on Blipfoto :: @bluebellrailway 1st Anniversary :: 23 March 2014




GWR - Gloucestershire's mainline heritage railway - A rare chance for a footplate ride!

New post on SmartRail World

Riding and writing on the rails of America – Amtrak offers ‘writers in residence’ programme. by Luke Upton Amtrak, the railroad service that provides intercity passenger train service in the USA has formally launched a ‘writer in-residence’ programme for its long-distance train routes. Like many initiatives in 2014, it all began with a Tweet, when author Alexander Chee expressed his fondness for writing whilst travelling on the rails. Amtrak replied and set the ball in motion for a trial by Manhattan based writer Jessica Gross whose piece, Writing The Lakeshore Limited penned on an Amtrak train was published in February by The Paris Review. A full programme - the Amtrak Residency - now been confirmed. Up to 24 writers will be chosen for residencies, which will only take place on undersold long-distance routes. Each residency will include accommodation on a sleeper car with all a writer really needs: a bed, a desk and outlets. Applications will be judged on a year-round basis by a panel of Amtrak executives and outside writers. On the unveiling of the programme, Julia Quinn, Amtrak's director of social media has stated that “Residents won't be obliged to write about or mention Amtrak in their work, nor will they be expected to turn in any writing to the company after their trips.” Quinn says Amtrak has concluded that the organic social-media buzz created by the residency program provides enough of a return on investment. All residencies will take place over two-to-five days on 15 long-distance routes, and will be free. If you fancy applying click here for the official application process which is now open. Amtrak are just one of the many speakers confirmed for SmartRail USA taking place in Charlotte, North Carolina on 29-30 October 2014.