The Railway Chronicle: International & UK Railway News Monday 9th June 2014

HS2 is diverting precious funds, according to one MP.... and Crossrail 2 could be extended to New
Southgate. The National Audit Office Annual Report seeks to reassure us that public money on various projects is being well monitored.....

In Brazil, the World Cup starts on Friday...and Sao Paulo Metro may not be functioning...due to a
strike.....

Mumbai's Metro has just started services....but not without the odd opening day glitch...

And two articles muse over Alstom's being taken over by General Electric..or Siemens..

We await developments......

Click on the links for the full stories...

Headlines

“HS2 diverting precious funds”. (StopHS2)

Crossrail 2 could be extended to New Southgate.(Barnet & Whetsone Press)

This video shows two potential routes for Crossrail 2..(TfL on YouTube)

UK National Audit Office. NAO Annual Report and Accounts 2013-14

The Annual Report highlights that, during 2013-14, we certified 427 accounts, published 66 value for money reports, supported 60 hearings of the Committee of Public Accounts and exceeded our cost reduction target. Our recommendations and reports helped government improve public services, and our work led to audited savings of almost £1.1 billion.
Downloads

"The National Audit Office exists to provide assurance to Parliament on the way that public money is spent. In 2013-14 we have continued to play this vital role, delivering our most insightful and impactful programme of work to date. At the same time, we have transformed the way that we work. We have reorganised ourselves to focus on the systemic issues facing government, developed our investigative capabilities which allow us to be more responsive to emerging issues, and delivered sustainable ongoing savings in our budget of £2.5 million."
Amyas Morse, head of the National Audit Office, 9 June 2014

Derby's London Road bridge replacement delayed by four months.(BBC News)

UK Rail 2014 is delighted to announce that Stephen Hammond MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport will be one of the keynote speakers at this year’s event.
He will be joining other leading industry speakers including:

Simon Kirby, Construction Chief Executive, HS2
Gareth Powell, Director of Strategy & Service Development, London Underground & Rail, Transport for London
Nigel Jacques, Programme Engineering Manager, Network Rail
Graeme Shaw, Head of Northern Line Extension, London Underground
Paul Griffiths, Metro Programme Director, Centro
Anthony Smith, Chief Executive, Passenger Focus
Alan Cox, Rail Sector Director, BAM Nuttall
Paddy Gregg, Route Delivery Director, Network Rail

Download the programme to find out more about the 2014 sessions

Christian Wolmar - Britain's Leading Transport Commentator.

To the Edge of the World (Atlantic Books, 2013)
The Story of the Trans-Siberian Railway
The Trans-Siberian stretches nearly 6,000 miles between Moscow and Vladivostok on the Pacific Coast and was the most ambitious railway project in the nineteenth century. A journey on the railway evokes a romantic roam through the Russian steppes, but also reminds travellers of the vastness of our world and hints at the hardships that were endured in its construction. Read more >>

The Iron Road (Dorling Kindersley, 2014)
The Illustrated History of the Railway
From the early steam trains to the high-speed bullet trains of today, The Iron Road tells the hidden stories of railway history- the inspired engineering, blood, sweat and tears that went into the construction of the railways. This book is divided into 43 discrete chapters covering aspects of the history of the railways and is fully illustrated, with lots of factettes and anecdotes, throughout. Read more >>

UK Heritage

Press Release EXTRA DISCOUNT ON WEST SOMERSET RAILWAY ROVER TICKETS FOR 2015 SPRING STEAM GALA « West Somerset Railway.

Timetable | North Yorkshire Moors Railway :: A steam train adventure through the stunning Yorkshire Moors

Brazil
Brazil World Cup: Sao Paulo metro strike to continue.(BBC News)

Czech Republic
Not so fast - Railway Gazette

France
What Will The Alstom Deal Bring To General Electric? (seeking alpha)

Siemens Would Be A Better Match For GE Than Alstom.(seeking alpha)

Relieving bottlenecks around Marseille and Nice - Railway Gazette

India

Indian media: Mumbai metro starts.(BBC News)

Hop on the Mumbai Metro today: Here’s all you need to know.(First Post India)

Reviving Economy, FDI & Speed Train On Government's Agenda, Says Indian President.(Bernama)

USA
More lawsuits are a foregone conclusion for California high-speed rail (LA Times)

www.progressiverailroading.com

FRA to investigate Metra due to recent incidents

Canadian rail corridor program marks completion of three overpasses

Caltrain OKs FY2015 operating budget

Harsco Rail tabs Bolte to serve as senior director of North American sales

Global Port Tracker report: Potential labor disruption drives June import volumes

Connecticut Gov. Malloy highlights investments in New Haven rail yard

Quebec to fund feasibility study on iron-ore rail line

L.A. harbor commission OKs $350 million in FY2014-15 for capital work

Metro-North tweaks schedules to improve service

American Association of Railroad Superintendents aims to help railroads facilitate knowledge transfer to next-generation leaders

Other Railway Press

www.railway-technology.com.Attiko Metro delivers new trains to Urban Rail Transport

Greece's Attiko Metro has delivered 17 new trains to Urban Rail Transport as part of a €155m contract.

Bombardier to supply TRAXX diesel multi-engine locomotives to DB

Bombardier Transportation has secured a €27m contract from German railway company Deutsche Bahn (DB) to deliver seven TRAXX diesel multi-engine locomotives.

Trafikverket awards Stockholm area maintenance contract to Strukton

Swedish railway provider Trafikverket has awarded a €40.3m maintenance contract for southern Stockholm's rail structure to Strukton Rail.

www.railwaygazette.com

Register now to view this live and interactive broadcast

Tuesday 10^th June 2014.

Around the world, extreme weather events are taking their toll on ageing railway networks, leading to disruption and increased cost. How should infrastructure managers optimise their capital, renewals and maintenance regimes to maximise resilience with the funds available?

In this next Railway Gazette TV Live debate on Tuesday June 10, a panel of high-level speakers will address the key issues:

How do we make railways more resilient to support intensive operations and cope with extreme weather?
What lessons can be learned from recent experiences to inform the design of new infrastructure?
What are the benefits of using improved track materials, such as wear- resistant rails and concrete sleepers? What is the relationship between a good substructure and track quality?
How can infrastructure managers and their suppliers make best use of condition monitoring and automated inspections to optimise maintenance regimes?
With access to busy lines increasingly scarce, what is the best way to manage maintenance possessions on a 24/7 railway?
What technologies are available to complete more work in less time with less disruption?

Submit your questions to the panel to take part in our interactive debate, streamed live from the London Stock Exchange.

Don’t miss out – save the date and register now.

Tuesday 10^th June 2014, 12.00 to 13.00 BST