Differences of opinion surface in today's news.....nationalize..or not? Integrate through Europe, giving a level playing field for all players... or not ? (See Tony Berkeley's Open Letter in his role as Chairman, Rail Freight Group).
The crash in France, where a regional express ran into the back of a slow moving TGV, with 25 casualties...4 serious.. reminds of the crash last year at Bretigny sur Orge, where defective maintenance played a considerable part in the several fatalities.
And speaking of maintenance, David Dunning asks why Network Rail were making a racket in York this morning at 2.30am..without prior notification to residents, apparently?(see video)
The cost of opposition to the Radlett rail depot reaches £1.4million.....
MTR will run Crossrail...
And in the US,Scott Bogren & Rich Sampson focus on passenger rail revival in Minnesota...
Click on the links for the news behind the headlines.....
Headlines
UK
Labour plan to part re-nationalise rail network-Nick Robinson.(BBC News).
Labour may allow not-for-profit firms to bid for rail franchises.(The Guardian).
Renationalising railways is 'fast track to chaos'.(The Telegraph).
Birmingham tunnels: How to take pressure off city's roads?.(BBC News).
Radlett rail depot: Fight cost council £1.4m.(BBC News).
Cardiff train station plans unveiled by Network Rail.(BBC News).
MTR selected to operate Crossrail services - Railway Gazette.
David Dunning on YouTube......
"18th July, Britain swelters in the heat. This is the racket over central York thanks to Network Rail, it's a week night , a working day for residents. This is the sound at 2 30am . There was no warning , no letters and no information. I appreciate the need to do work on the line at night but communication (never their strong point) would have been good."
Rail Freight Group(RFG)
OPEN LETTER TO CEOs Deutsche Bahn Rüdiger Grube and FSI Michele Mario Elia,
Dear Sirs,
DB and FS criticise the rail structures UK and France but get their facts wrong!
Meeting in Rome 10 July - CEO Deutsche Bahn Rüdiger Grube e di FSI Michele Mario Elia to discuss the Fourth Railway Package and the Italian Presidency of the Transport Council.
I note with interest and with some surprise the reported statements you and others made at this event in opposing the European Union’s proposal in the 4th Railway Package to separate infrastructure manager from railway undertaking. You criticise the separation of infrastructure manager and railway undertakings in the UK as being ‘likely to lead to loss of efficiency and synergy’.
The facts are rather different, as I am sure is known through DB subsidiaries that operate successfully in the UK. We in the UK’s separated market certainly do not fear greater competition for the simple reason that it promotes growth and investment in the railways.
For example:
- Since 1995 we have increased our passenger kilometres by over 90% compared with 18% in Germany.
- In freight, volumes have increased by around 60% over the same period, largely as a result of competition between operators and the resulting improved service quality and competitive pricing.
- Government funding of the UK railway has remained the same in 2012/3 as in 1993/4, but includes a very significant increase in Government investment in new rail infrastructure to improve service quality and capacity. The UK compares well with other governments’ funding of the railways (2009): UK € 5.1bn, IT € 8.1bn, FR € 10.9bn, D € 13.5bn (source EC)
- As reported in the Eurobarometer survey of ‘Rail and urban passenger satisfaction 2013’, UK rail shows high levels of satisfaction with punctuality, speed and frequency of train services compared with other European countries, particularly Germany and France.
I am also curious to know what is meant by the statements regarding France. I have many reports about freight services of DB and other operators being adversely affected because SNCF often gives its own services priority of access to the network. SNCF can do this since the tasks of managing the infrastructure and operating the trains are not actually separated. The infrastructure manager RFF is forced to use the incumbent operator SNCF for maintenance and renewals and for timetabling of train paths, which leads to the type of problems that other freight services encounter. In spite of this effectively integrated structure, SNCF’s freight volumes nave dropped by around 50%.
We have many operators in the UK owned by national railway companies of other member states – including from Germany, France and the Netherlands. They would not be with us if they did not accept our structure and the ability not only to provide efficient and competitive services but also make a reasonable profit. Conversely, many of our UK operators would like to operate in many other member states, but fear the uncertainty caused by too close a relationship between infrastructure managers, incumbent operators and their governments.
So can it be that DB, FS and many other incumbents fear that the EU proposals would lead to the type of open competitive market of which SNCF, NS and DB take advantage in the UK, but from which incumbents do not want others to benefit in their home markets? Why do incumbents fear competition on their home territories, when they take such good advantage of it in other Member States?
The single European transport market should be accessible under the same conditions to all, be they private, public or new entrants. Only this way will we achieve seamless, fair and competitive rail transport across Europe, leading to real growth. It would be good if all operators and infrastructure managers supported this view!
The Rail Freight Group fully supports the European Rail Freight Association’s campaign to see implemented the European Commission’s 4th Railway package, and is urging the Transport Council members and its Italian Presidency to take forward the governance part along the equally important technical issues.
Tony Berkeley
Chairman
Transport for London (TfL)
TfL announces MTR to run Crossrail services.
Transport for London (TfL) has today announced its intention to award the contract to operate Crossrail services to MTR Corporation (Crossrail) Limited (MTR).
The £1.4 billion contract will be for eight years with an option to extend to ten years. MTR will be a key partner in delivering the new Crossrail services connecting Reading and Heathrow in the west with Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the east.
MTR is expected to employ around 1,100 staff with up to 850 new posts, creating many hundreds of jobs for local people. This will include almost 400 drivers and over 50 apprenticeships for people from communities along the route.
Over the lifetime of the project, it is estimated that Crossrail will also support the equivalent of 55,000 full time jobs around the UK. The construction of Crossrail will generate at least 75,000 business opportunities across the country with 97 per cent of companies in Crossrail's supply chain based in the UK.
When Crossrail services are fully operational they will increase rail based transport in the capital by 10 per cent and, along with the Tube modernisation, ensure TfL can continue to move people efficiently around London. Crossrail will set the benchmark for passenger experience on European metro services and achieve internationally recognised high standards of reliability, train frequency and customer service.
Crossrail will be fully integrated as part of the TfL network providing a fast, frequent service linking the east and west and relieving congestion on some of the busiest Tube lines. Passengers using Crossrail will see reduced journey times and the new stations will be integrated with existing London Underground, DLR, London Overground and National Rail stations making it easy for passengers to change between services.
Mike Brown MVO, Managing Director London Underground and London Rail, said: "Appointing an operator is a huge step towards the new railway coming to London. The decision to appoint MTR was reached after a thorough and competitive procurement process and we look forward to working with them to transform rail services in the capital. Crossrail will help cut journey times, make it easier for people travelling across the city and create jobs and support growth and regeneration along the route. "As our population grows faster than any other European city, the case for stable and sustained investment in London's transport network has never been stronger."
The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: "As hardworking engineers beaver away underneath our feet on the final construction of Crossrail's tunnels, we are putting the final pieces of the jigsaw puzzle together above ground. I am delighted that we can now announce the new operator of this landmark railway, bringing it one step closer to welcoming passengers aboard. Crossrail will revolutionise east-west transit in the capital, making London an even more attractive place to visit and invest. As has been the trend throughout this project, many hundreds of additional jobs will be created for local people, with MTR expected to employ around 1,100 staff including almost 400 drivers."
Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said: "This is great news for passengers across the capital and marks a significant milestone in the project. Crossrail will provide a better and faster service for millions of commuters and will help create up to 30,000 additional jobs in central London by 2026. "Crossrail is a part of our long-term economic plan and one of the many rail infrastructure projects benefitting from record levels of Government investment. Together with Thameslink, investment in rail in the north and a major electrification programme we are creating jobs, boosting business and generating lasting economic growth across the UK."
MTR will start running the services from 31 May 2015 between Liverpool Street and Shenfield, taking over the stopping services currently operated by Abellio Greater Anglia. They will be using the existing trains that currently operate on the route.
When MTR takes over the Liverpool Street to Shenfield services all stations along that route will for the first time be staffed from first to last train.
The trains and stations will all be cleaned and refreshed. Disabled people needing assistance will be able to turn up and go, with no need to pre-book assistance, as staff will be fully trained and equipped to assist customers at all stations, as is already the case on London Underground and London Overground services.
The new operator will work closely with TfL, Bombardier and Crossrail Limited on the introduction of new trains which will begin entering service from 2017.
MTR has experience of working with Transport for London and, along with Arriva UK Trains, operate as LOROL to run London Overground services. London Overground is now one of the most reliable railways in the UK with some of the highest levels of customer satisfaction. This is the culmination of a competitive procurement process to appoint an operator that began last year with four shortlisted bidders announced in June 2013.
The route through Canary Wharf, the City and the West End will open in late 2018, with the full route running from late 2019.
Notes:
The £1.4bn contract value is the nominal value of concession payments payable to the Operator over the base 8-year concession term before performance adjustments (bonuses and penalties)
In August 2013, four pre-qualified bidders were invited to respond to the Invitation to Tender (ITT)
- Arriva Crossrail Limited
- MTR Corporation (Crossrail) Limited
- National Express Group PLC; and
- Keolis/Go Ahead
The Crossrail route will serve 40 stations and run 118 km (72 miles) from Reading and Heathrow in the west, through new twin-bore 21 km (13 miles) long tunnels below central London to Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the east.
Crossrail services will be introduced as follows:
- Heathrow to Paddington (mainline platforms) - May 2018 (when the Crossrail concession takes over the Heathrow Connect service)
- Paddington (Crossrail platforms) to Abbey Wood - December 2018
- Paddington (Crossrail platforms) to Shenfield - May 2019
- Full through service (including services to Reading) - December 2019
International
Australia
We had the opportunity to interview Bryan Nye, CEO of the Australasian Railway Association prior to AusRAIL 2014.
We asked:
1) In 2014, AusRAIL will return to Perth, which last hosted the program in 2010. The theme that year was 'The Rail Plan: Where, How and Why?' Have we, as an industry, delivered on the plans that were conceived that year?
2) The theme for AusRAIL 2014 is 'Making Innovation Work'. Why is it so important to our rail industry to develop innovative, but also market-ready, products?
3) As we move into a new year, our first full year under a new government, what are your views on the next 12 months and what it holds for the rail industry?
4) Just as the industry must innovate, so much AusRAIL. What can delegates expect from the agenda being conceived for this November?
Get in touch!
Website: http://www.ausrail.com
France
French high-speed TGV train crashes near Denguin.(BBC News).
High speed train crash in France injures 25 .(The Telegraph).
Germany
Siemens
RUGGEDCOM - with SCALANCE network components , Siemens takes a leading role in the redesign and modernization of transport networks all over the world . http://www.Siemens.de/RuggedCom/trans... We offer first-class and comprehensive networking solutions for road and rail , which can withstand the toughest of conditions . Improved mobility , efficiency , security and sustainability .
India
Mumbai-Ahmedabad high speed rail corridor to cost Rs.63,000 crore.(Business Standard).
USA
Rail#35 (Community Transport Association of America)
Scott Bogren & Rich Sampson focus on passenger rail revival in Minnesota.
China High-Speed Rail Juggernaut, while Most of US Stands By and Waves -- But Not Elon Musk (Part 1)(Forbes).
www.progressiverailroading.com
Other Railway Press
The new issue of Urban Transport Agenda is HERE
Includes Sim Kallas explaining how an integrated transport network can take the
swarm of cars off Europe's roads.
And a look at Vancouver's Evergreen Line, due for completion by mid 2016.
Read how governments in the Middle East are investing heavily in infrastructure, especially road and rail to support rapid economic growth, population expansion and urbanization.
www.railway-technology.com.
NIB grants €53m loan for Lithuania's AB Lietuvos
Nordic Investment Bank (NIB) has agreed to grant a €53m loan to Lithuanian rail company AB Lietuvos gelezinkeliai for the construction of new tracks and rail corridors upgrades in the country.
The Queen officially opens Reading station
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has officially opened Reading's renovated railway station in Berkshire, UK.
San Francisco to procure 260 LRVs from Siemens
The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Authority (SFMTA) in the US is set to award a $1.2bn contract to Siemens to supply light rail vehicles (LRV) for the city's Central Subway line.
Alstom delivers first Translohr STE5 train to Ayacucho project in Colombia
French train manufacturer Alstom has delivered the first Translohr STE5 model to the Ayacucho LRV project in Medellín, Colombia.
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