International & UK Railway News Thursday 1st May 2014

The news today is dominated by the aftermath of the Tube (current) strike...HS2's relatively easy Hybrid Bill passage, and Alstom's decision due at the end of May as to its response to GE's offer...with Siemens waiting in the wings.


In the US, there is growing excitement over the prospect of high speed rail...but a cloud (of oil fire smoke following a derailment) still hangs over safety issues and oil transportation via the railroad. 
The linked drone video shows how vulnerable towns and cities are, given their proximity to the railroad....


Follow the links, and read on.....


Headlines....


Unions and Tube bosses to hold last-minute talks to avoid another strike next week.(London Evening Standard)


Tube strike: Disruption continues as strike ends.(BBC News)


Enough is enough, say commuters hit by Tube strike.(London Evening Standard)


Boris: Cameron will ban 'wildcat' strikes.(The Telegraph)


London Subway Strike Causes Second Day of Disruption.-an American perspective. (WSJ)







Security alert closes part of NI railway line.(BBC News) 


Life in the gulag? (The work of Parliamentary Committees!) BBC News


Repaired Cambrian Coast line 'boost' for business.(BBC News) 



Barmouth to Harlech Cambrian Coast railway line reopens.(BBC News)

'Invest in London commuter trains not HS2', says senior Tory MP .(London Evening Standard)

MPs 'sickeningly ill-informed' about HS2.(Derby Telegraph)

Richard Wellings: HS2 is sold as cure for all economic ills.(The Yorkshire Post)

Billions of Bucks Will Allow a Eurostar Expansion and Upgrade (Jaunted)



DLA Piper advises DfT on one of first new rail franchise deals.(Birmingham Post)

End of the line for Metrolink's first tram fleet.(Manchester Evening News)

£1.5m of improvements at Sheffield railway station(The Star)

End of the line for rail ballast?(The Construction Index)

Celebrations for 150th anniversary of railway line.(Littlehampton Gazette)



Americas

Province to study possible high-speed rail line from London to Toronto (CTV News)

UPDATE 6-CSX oil train derails in Virginia, leaks into river.(Reuters)

Drone Video of incident here.

US HSR

"Simply the most important high speed rail event of the year!"

 

Price goes up tomorrow!

BIG VOTE YES FOR HEED RAIL IN THE UK!  High Speed Gets Big Yes Vote in Parliament     High speed rail scored another major victory in the UK as Members of Parliament vote in favor of moving forward with the nation's expanded high speed rail program connecting London with the northern cities.   MPs have decisively backed legislation enabling the proposed HS2 high-speed rail link between London and the West Midlands to be constructed. Transport Minister Robert Goodwill said it was an "important step" in taking the project forward.   The High Speed Rail (London - West Midlands) Bill 2013-14, which would authorise the first phase of the multi-billion dollar project, cleared its first parliamentary hurdle when it was given a second reading by MPs.   The proposed legislation would: Grant the powers required to construct and operate phase one of HS2, between London and the West Midlands Because of its complexity, and opposition to it, the bill is not expected to become law until after the 2015 general election The bill does not guarantee that HS2 will be built, but HS2 cannot be built without the bill becoming law The government proposes to start construction in 2017, with the line between London and Birmingham due to be operational by 2026 A separate bill will be brought in later by the government to allow the the second phase - north of Birmingham - to go ahead, with the aim of that part opening in 2033 Speaking at the start of Monday's debate, Mr McLoughlin said the concerns of critics of the project must be addressed and that references to opponents as "either Luddites or nimbys" were unhelpful. He said there would be "fair compensation" for those directly and indirectly affected by the scheme and the impact on the environment must be mitigated.   He said there was an urgent need for new rail capacity and the plan would deliver better connectivity and wider economic benefits to the whole of the UK.  More   ===============================================   www.progressiverailroading.com  Progressive Railroading names 2014 'Rising Stars'   Williams out, Nowakowski in as LIRR president   Genesee & Wyoming on Q1: Harsh winter plowed into profits, piled up operating costs   Global Partners to voluntarily require stricter tank-car standards   After strong first quarter, rail-car production will be a tad higher in 2014, EPA projects    Connecticut Gov. Malloy touts five-year transportation infrastructure plan    FTA, Florida officials mark SunRail's opening   UP to bolster line straddling Iowa, Minnesota

Europe
In Spain, government-backed trains overtake planes. Fortune (blog)


Deploying artificial intelligence to spot fare dodgers - Railway Gazette

 

High-speed train to link Istanbul to Turkish capital (Turkish Press)

First Régiolis enters service.(Global Rail News)

Alstom to decide on GE bid by end of May as Siemens circles.(IRJ)




Far East

Deadly China blast at Xinjiang railway station.(BBC News)

Xinjiang station attack: President Xi Jinping urges action.(BBC News)

Twin blasts hit India express train.(BBC News)

Walking the mile to ensure train and passenger safety.(Times of India)





Other Railway Press

Download Transport Security and Safety Trends E-Book

Market focus: Bulgaria EUR 1 bn for Bulgaria’s major rail infrastructure project The major railway project estimated at EUR 1 bn and included the Operational Programme “Transport and Transport Infrastructure” 2014 – 2020 is the Modernization of Sofia – Septemvri railway section, declared Hristo Alexiev, Deputy Director of the National Railway Infrastructure Company (NRIC). More Bulgarian Railways likely to lose 25 Siemens DMUs and 3407 freight wagons                          BDZ, the Bulgarian state-owned railway carrier, is likely to lose 25 Siemens Desiro DMUs and 3407 freight wagons, stated the Bulgarian Ministry of Transport, Daniel Papazov. According to him, the large creditors – the banks BNP Paribas, Societe Generale, KFW, Dexia, Depfa and First Investment Bank – will have a meeting in the beginning of May, at which will decide the sell off. The company owes its creditors BGN 620 M (approx. EUR 317 million). The negotiations with them are difficult, as they want a meeting with Prime Minister Plamen Oresharski and a state guarantee covering the debts. More Bulgaria in search of Chinese partners for joint venture formation to produce locomotives During the 15th session of the Bulgarian-Chinese intergovernmental joint commission for economic cooperation, the Bulgarian delegation expressed interest in attracting Chinese partners to establish a joint venture in Bulgaria for the production and assembling of carriages and locomotives. More www.railway-technology.com Alstom to supply X'Ttrapolis Mega commuter trains to South Africa French transport group Alstom has concluded a contract worth €4bn with Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) to supply 600 X'Ttrapolis Mega commuter trains, which will be operated on the 1.067m gauge in the country.                     FGC installs new system to control fare-dodging on Barcelona-Vallès i Llobregat-Anoia lines Spain's Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC) and Barcelona firm Awaait Artificial Intelligence (AWAAIT) have partnered to install a new system at railway stations on the Barcelona-Vallès i Llobregat-Anoia lines to identify and intercept fare-dodgers.                     Knorr-Bremse to construct test and development centre in Munich German braking system manufacturer Knorr-Bremse is investing €80m to construct a new test and development centre in Munich, which can be used for both rail and commercial vehicles.                     Etihad Rail plans to build four stations in Dubai Etihad Rail, UAE's national railway network, is planning to build four stations to connect the railway network to the Dubai Metro. SMART RAIL WORLD What does €50bn+ of budget look like? These five European rail projects will show you. hub.am 5 projects: €50bn+ worth of budget. We examine some of the biggest European rail projects. Luke UptonEditor at Global Transport Forum Today SmartRail World takes a look at five European rail projects that have really caught our attention. Some are on their way to completion, some just beginning. Each have faced their own challenges, a few more significant than others but each show not just the potential of rail travel but also a boldness of thinking and a drive for the latest innovative technology. A few have gained political and financial support from the highest level whilst others have had lengthy battles to even begin their construction....What does €50bn+ of budget look like? These five European rail projects will show you. http://hub.am/1iM4c13