We're looking to the future, but with one eye on the past...
Well, that was the point of the Institution of Civil Engineers lecture "Failures of Seawalls - What do we Learn from Dawlish? (more to come on this ..)
And Siemens is looking forward... a strategic realignment.....
And the UK's ORR has approved a five year plan for HS1.. and recommendations to reduce freight and passenger charges by more than 10%. There must be some good PR for HS2 supporters here... We shall see.
An astounding plan surfaces regarding engineering.... a possible direct link between Beijing and the US.. via the 200km Bering Straits! Luke Upton of "Smart Rail World" reports.
And there's the small matter of transporting Bakken crude oil safely...the subject of
USDOT emergency regulations...
But if you really do enjoy a look at the past.... 110 years ago today, "City of Truro" flew down Wellington Bank.... at over (reportedly) 100 miles per hour!!
And in Cheyenne, UP Big Boy No 4014 arrives for work to restore to full working order!
Click on the links for the full stories....
Headlines....
ORR approves five-year plan for HS1
9 May 2014
The Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) has approved a five-year plan for High Speed 1 (HS1), which sets out a long term investment programme and reduced charges to run passenger and freight services on the line.
The HS1 plan, which will run from 2015-2020, has been developed through a transparent and collaborative consultation process with HS1, Network Rail High Speed and the train operators. It builds on current high levels of performance, in 2013-14 only 0.31% of trains were delayed by issues wholly or partly caused by HS1's infrastructure, compared with the annual target of 13%. In particular ORR has approved recommendations – informed by HS1's asset management model which defines long term maintenance and renewal costs - to reduce charges to run passenger and freight services by more than 10%.
To view the plan in full, visit: http://orr.gov.uk/consultations/policy-consultations/closed-consultations/closed-consultations-2014/hs1-pr14-draft-determination-consultation
The Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) has approved a five-year plan for High Speed 1 (HS1), which sets out a long term investment programme and reduced charges to run passenger and freight services on the line.
The failures of seawalls at Dawlish and Aberystwyth attracted much media attention. Those failures, and those of many other Coastal Structures around the South-West will need short-term repair work, and long-term improvement and replacement. But repair strategies need to be informed by clear analysis of why the structures have failed, and an appreciation that some repairs can worsen other failure modes, particularly where strengthening the toe of a wall can cause impulsive overtopping or loadings.
William Allsop, David Owens and David Finch review the main causes for seawall failure, describe recent research results which can be used predict / forecast such failures, and then use the failure at Dawlish to illustrate some of these methods.
Communications Based Train Control (CBTC)...(therailengineer)
Siemens will not be ‘pushed’ into Alstom acquisition(Global Rail News)
Birmingham, Coventry and Wolverhampton battle to host high speed rail college (Birmingham Post)
On This Day......
09/05/1904
City Of Truro heads the Ocean Mail special down Wellington bank at a reputed 102.3mph
This was taken at Challow in 1960 when 3440 came back 'light' from Swindon after hauling a failed 'Warship' and its train from Didcot.Much sport was had by the keen diesel crew now driving a proper engine and all staff along the line turned out to cheer! (C) Adrian Vaughan
Rail Accident Investigation alert: RAIB investigation: Angerstein Junction
RAIB is investigating the derailment of a freight train at Angerstein Junction, near Charlton in south east London, at about 12:16 hrs on 2 April 2014.
In the future, Siemens AG will position itself along the electrification, automation and digitalization. Along these value chains Siemens has identified several growth fields in which it sees its greatest long-term potential. The company is orienting its resource allocation toward these growth fields and has announced concrete measures in this direction. The measures include the purchase of the major part of Rolls-Royce’s energy business and the contribution of Siemens’ Metals Technologies into a joint venture. A public listing of the audiology business will also be prepared. In addition, Siemens is making its organization flatter and more customer-oriented. This is Siemens – Vision 2020.
The future focus on electrification, automation and digitalization is the result of the in-depth and extensive analysis begun in August 2013. Siemens has identified the fields where it will be able to achieve long-term growth and high profitability with its products and its unique technological knowhow.
In electrification and automation, Siemens already holds a clear No. 1 position in many markets. The growth fields in these two areas include the markets for small gas turbines and offshore wind turbines, which are profiting from a growing demand for secure and sustainable power supplies. The process industry, for example, offers attractive opportunities that Siemens can leverage even more intensively with its automation and drives solutions. The market for the production of unconventional oil and gas also offers attractive growth potential for Siemens.
Siemens intends to fully exploit the potential of increasing digitalization not just in manufacturing. Utilizing software and simulations, the Digital Factory makes product development considerably faster and more efficient. Data-driven services, software and IT solutions are of decisive importance as they have a substantial influence on all of Siemens’ future growth fields.
In order to take full advantage of the market potential in these fields, Siemens is realigning its organizational structures. As of October 1, 2014, the organization will be streamlined by eliminating the Sector level and bundling business into nine Divisions instead of the current 16. In addition, Healthcare will be separately managed in the future. This means that regional organization structures can be tailored to the requirements of the healthcare market and do not have to conform to the company’s organizational matrix. This will give Healthcare greater flexibility on the medical technologies market, which is characterized by fundamental changes and paradigm shifts. As part of its realignment, Siemens is also preparing the going public of its audiology business.
Bundling the Divisions and eliminating the Sectors will reduce bureaucracy, cut costs and accelerate decision-making within the company. In addition, the company’s support functions – for example, human resources and communications – are to be streamlined and centrally managed in the future. These measures, which are expected to increase productivity by some €1 billion a year, are to be fully effective by the end of fiscal 2016. To optimize cost development sustainably, the company has set a new target for total cost productivity. Starting in fiscal 2015, it is to total three to five percent a year.
As of fiscal 2015, the Divisions will be assigned target profit margin ranges excluding ppa – that is, excluding the acquisition-related amortization of intangibles. These target ranges are oriented on the profit margins of each Division’s main competitors.
Americas
Chinese experts 'in discussions' over building high-speed Beijing-US railway.(The Guardian)
Four congressmen introduce Rail Safety Enforcement Act
Four Class Is seek to get well beyond one of the worst winters on record
California High-Speed Rail Authority approves alignment, certifies environmental report and inks emissions agreement
AAR: U.S. roads ramped up traffic in April
KCSR promotes Grafton, Stottlemyre to VP posts
Amtrak arrives at Union Depot in St. Paul for first time
Caltrain names Deal to Transbay Joint Powers Authority, completes San Bruno grade separation
CHS forms joint venture to build BNSF-served fertilizer warehouse in North Dakota
Moving CBR ...profitably—and safely
Crude By Rail Conference: Arlington, VA, 12-13th June 2014
Crude by rail (CBR) traffic has grown dramatically in the past few years. In 2013, alone, CBR saw a nearly two-fold increase in business. Projections call for the continued strong and steady growth of CBR.
With the enormous scale of volume and distance crude is being transported by rail, an increasing demand for tank cars that has surpassed builder capacity, and serious safety and regulatory issues in play, CBR is an immensely important topic for railroaders.
Railway Age’s Crude by Rail Conference & Expo will explore how the industry is handling the pressing challenges of exponential growth, new safety regulations, and improved tank car designs.
Far East, China..
Beijing pitches high-speed trains to emerging nations as package with financial aid.(The Asahi Shimbun)
Other Railway Press
US DoT issues emergency order for rail transportation of Bakken crude oil
China proposes new high-speed railway line to US
Bombardier secures Interflo 200 supply contract from Spain's Adif
China Railway signs $13.1bn deal to construct high-speed railway in Nigeria
Siemens – Vision 2020
Munich, 2014-May-07
- Focus on growth fields along the electrification, automation and digitalization
- Acquisition of Rolls-Royce gas turbine and compressor business, joint venture for Metals Technologies and public listing of audiology set the course
- New organization with flatter structures – Sector level eliminated
- Greater employee participation in company success – Siemens to make up to €400 million available annually depending on company performance
- Launch of share buyback of up to €4 billion upcoming
“Our Vision 2020 addresses our company’s long-term perspectives along the modern electrification and automation value chains. By expanding share-based employee participation in our company’s success, we’re creating a sustainable ownership culture at Siemens,” said Siemens President and CEO Joe Kaeser.
The company wants to expand its share plans for employees below the senior management level and increase the number of employee shareholders by at least 50 percent to well over 200,000. For this purpose, Siemens will make up to €400 million available annually depending on company performance. In addition, the launch of the previously announced share buyback program of up to €4 billion is upcoming.The future focus on electrification, automation and digitalization is the result of the in-depth and extensive analysis begun in August 2013. Siemens has identified the fields where it will be able to achieve long-term growth and high profitability with its products and its unique technological knowhow.
In electrification and automation, Siemens already holds a clear No. 1 position in many markets. The growth fields in these two areas include the markets for small gas turbines and offshore wind turbines, which are profiting from a growing demand for secure and sustainable power supplies. The process industry, for example, offers attractive opportunities that Siemens can leverage even more intensively with its automation and drives solutions. The market for the production of unconventional oil and gas also offers attractive growth potential for Siemens.
Siemens intends to fully exploit the potential of increasing digitalization not just in manufacturing. Utilizing software and simulations, the Digital Factory makes product development considerably faster and more efficient. Data-driven services, software and IT solutions are of decisive importance as they have a substantial influence on all of Siemens’ future growth fields.
In order to take full advantage of the market potential in these fields, Siemens is realigning its organizational structures. As of October 1, 2014, the organization will be streamlined by eliminating the Sector level and bundling business into nine Divisions instead of the current 16. In addition, Healthcare will be separately managed in the future. This means that regional organization structures can be tailored to the requirements of the healthcare market and do not have to conform to the company’s organizational matrix. This will give Healthcare greater flexibility on the medical technologies market, which is characterized by fundamental changes and paradigm shifts. As part of its realignment, Siemens is also preparing the going public of its audiology business.
Bundling the Divisions and eliminating the Sectors will reduce bureaucracy, cut costs and accelerate decision-making within the company. In addition, the company’s support functions – for example, human resources and communications – are to be streamlined and centrally managed in the future. These measures, which are expected to increase productivity by some €1 billion a year, are to be fully effective by the end of fiscal 2016. To optimize cost development sustainably, the company has set a new target for total cost productivity. Starting in fiscal 2015, it is to total three to five percent a year.
As of fiscal 2015, the Divisions will be assigned target profit margin ranges excluding ppa – that is, excluding the acquisition-related amortization of intangibles. These target ranges are oriented on the profit margins of each Division’s main competitors.
Americas
Four Class Is seek to get well beyond one of the worst winters on record
California High-Speed Rail Authority approves alignment, certifies environmental report and inks emissions agreement
AAR: U.S. roads ramped up traffic in April
KCSR promotes Grafton, Stottlemyre to VP posts
Amtrak arrives at Union Depot in St. Paul for first time
Caltrain names Deal to Transbay Joint Powers Authority, completes San Bruno grade separation
CHS forms joint venture to build BNSF-served fertilizer warehouse in North Dakota
US Heritage
Vintage Big Boy steam locomotive returns to Cheyenne.(9news)
Ex-C&O Mallet joins super power steam revival (railwayage)
Courtesy: B&O Railroad Museum.
Railway AgeVintage Big Boy steam locomotive returns to Cheyenne.(9news)
Ex-C&O Mallet joins super power steam revival (railwayage)
Courtesy: B&O Railroad Museum.
Moving CBR ...profitably—and safely
Crude By Rail Conference: Arlington, VA, 12-13th June 2014
Crude by rail (CBR) traffic has grown dramatically in the past few years. In 2013, alone, CBR saw a nearly two-fold increase in business. Projections call for the continued strong and steady growth of CBR.
With the enormous scale of volume and distance crude is being transported by rail, an increasing demand for tank cars that has surpassed builder capacity, and serious safety and regulatory issues in play, CBR is an immensely important topic for railroaders.
Railway Age’s Crude by Rail Conference & Expo will explore how the industry is handling the pressing challenges of exponential growth, new safety regulations, and improved tank car designs.
Register now and gain valuable insight into the rapidly changing CBR landscape.
Other Railway Press
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More than 40 years after the Beeching axe felled the Waverley route, the line is set to reopen. Ross Davies explores the economic and social advantages this project could bring to the Scottish Borders.
The US Department of Transportation (DoT) has issued an emergency order for rail transportation of Bakken crude oil, as part of a comprehensive strategy to keep oil shipments safe.
China proposes new high-speed railway line to US
China is planning to construct a new high-speed railway line to the US, as part of four such international rail projects that are currently being considered by the country.
Bombardier secures Interflo 200 supply contract from Spain's Adif
Bombardier Transportation has secured a second contract from Spanish railway infrastructure manager ADIF to provide its Interflo 200 mainline signalling system, as part of its upgrade of the Mediterranean Corridor.
China Railway signs $13.1bn deal to construct high-speed railway in Nigeria
China Railway Construction Corporation has agreed to construct a high-speed railway in Nigeria in a deal worth $13.1bn.
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