International & UK Railway News Wednesday 13th August 2014

..Total Railway News




Infrastructure news is at the heart of today's edition of The Railway Chronicle...
The electrification of the Great Western Mainline has begun, and IK Brunel is involved! Well, "Brunel" is the name of the specially-designed factory train which works at night so trains can keep running during the day, and  works up to five times faster than conventional gangs of track workers.
The team will work westwards at one mile a night, reaching Oxford, Newbury, Swindon and eventually Bristol and south Wales at the end of 2016. Then the line (described in another report as "an engineering wonder of the west country") will truly be "fit for purpose" ( a phrase used by Brunel!!) for the 21st century.


The north of the UK has its own ambitions re high speed rail.... HS3...
And hopefully the current Network Rail apprenticeship scheme will produce sufficient engineers for the tasks ahead. In the USA, one programme seeks to encourage young women to consider a career on the rails....


China continues to grow, but slowly, and Tazara employees, who have not been paid in a while, can look forward to getting their owed wages soon.....


Click on the links...


Headlines
Latest News....
Swiss train derailed in landslide.(BBC News)


UK
Great Western Main Line electrification begins.(BBC News)


High speed rail route could 'deprive UK of thousands of new GPs'.(Pulse Today)


The North tunnelling to prosperity with HS3? (BBC News)


The major transport decisions that could get the North East moving (The Journal)


Some Recent News Items.(StopHS2)


Great Western Railway: An engineering wonder of the west country.(BBC News)


Trainspotting tales recalled at I Love Trains launch event.(The York Press)





Workington multimillion-pound transport hub planned.(BBC News)


Northern Rail axes off-peak tickets on several routes.(BBC News)


Call to improve ‘woeful’ rail services between Sheffield and Leeds.(The Star)


Scunthorpe to Manchester trains: Government promises to listen to concerns service will be cut.(Scunthorpe Telegraph)


HS2 court case dismissed by judge.(Bucks Free Press)


Network Rail.




Next generation of London rail engineers start their training on unique Thameslink apprentice scheme.


An unemployed teenager from Dartford is among 12 young people recruited from the greater London area to work on the government’s £6.5billion Thameslink Programme.

William Allen, 17, from Dartford, joined fellow new apprentices at London Bridge and took part in an engineering challenge a month before starting their training. The apprenticeship programme is the only scheme in the UK to teach traditional railway maintenance skills and offer practical experience on a high profile, cutting-edge engineering project, greatly enhancing their long term career prospects.

Network Rail photo.


The new recruits range in age between 17 and 25 and have been drawn from the area local to the programme, including:

• William Allen, 17, Dartford – signalling
• Liam Evans, 19, Buckhurst Hill - signalling
• Charlie White, 20, Dagenham – track
• Gervaise Mckinnon, 25, East Acton - track
• Vikash Chavada, 21, Streatham - electrification and plant

They will spend a year at the joint Network Rail / Royal Navy training facility at HMS Sultan in Gosport before completing the final two years of their training working on the Britain’s biggest station redevelopment. Recruited by Network Rail, Balfour Beatty Rail and Siemens Rail Automation they will specialise in disciplines ranging from signalling, telecoms and track maintenance to electrification & plant.

Thameslink apprentices discuss their training..

William wasn’t able to find a job when he left school and after spending over a year unemployed is super excited that he will join the Thameslink Programme in September. William said: “I got a taste for engineering at school after making and racing electric go-carts. I applied for the apprenticeship as I really like the idea of learning on the job, and I am really excited by the opportunity to work on one of Britain’s biggest projects.”

During his visit to the site, William also met a number of the current crop of apprentices who were on hand to give advice to the new recruits and to talk about how they have found their first year on the Thameslink apprenticeship scheme. Jerome Campbell, a track apprentice, said: “The Network Rail advanced apprentice scheme offers so many avenues and different steps and paths you can take once you have your apprenticeship. They start from the bottom and build you up and develop you, and at the end of the day what you’re learning is priceless”

Welcoming the new recruits, Clare Moriarty, director general of the Department for Transport’s rail executive, said: “The Thameslink Programme isn’t just a railway upgrade. This is a significant programme of works integrating large scale infrastructure with new trains, new signalling and rebuilding London Bridge station – and doing all this while the railway remains open.

“To make all this happen, we need people like you. Without today’s apprentices, tomorrow’s projects can’t be built.”

The Network Rail / Royal Navy training scheme complements the existing Network Rail Advanced Apprenticeship programme and the London Bridge Skills Academy. There are also a series of work placements planned for the remaining four-year life of the programme.

Rail Accident Investigation Branch



Fatal accident involving a track worker at Saxilby

Report name:
131029_R212013_Saxilby

Incident date:
04 December 2012

Category:
Heavy Rail

Summary: The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) has released its report into a fatal accident involving a track worker at Saxilby on 4 December 2012. The RAIB has made four recommendations.

Download report:
131029_R212013_Saxilby_v2.pdf (3,435.71 kb)

International
Africa
Railways Africa.




LOOTSBERG PASS REOPENING SOON
BRANCH LINES AN IMPORTANT INITIATIVE – GAMA
SHACKS TO MAKE WAY FOR STD GAUGE RAILWAY
BIG SIGNALS DEAL IN MOROCCO
GOVT TO PAY TAZARA (ZAMBIAN) WAGE ARREARS
More on these stories HERE




China
China data raises doubts over growth.(BBC News)


This BBC report says that China's latest industrial production and retail sales figures are higher in July from one year ago but the pace of expansion has slowed. But in recent months, policymakers in China have unveiled a series of measures to help boost growth including plans to cut taxes on small firms and speed up the construction of railway lines across the country......


Beijing orders driverless metro trains - Railway Gazette


Thailand
Critics fall silent on Thai junta's high-speed rail plans (Asian Correspondent » Bangkok Pundit)


USA
One year later, Hyperloop remains a fantasy.(cnet)


GE highlights locomotives, signalling and data at InnoTrans - Railway Gazette



www.progressiverailroading.com

Roundtable with CP's Harrison, ag producers addressed grain-car backlogs in North Dakota

D.C. airports authority tabs Stark to head Dulles Corridor Metrorail project

Gov. Dayton holds first meeting to review Minnesota's new rail safety laws

Minnesota DOT extends deadline for Zip Rail comments

Two developments target rail-served frac sand operations in Wisconsin

MTA, NYCDOT collaborate on new neighborhood subway maps

Greenville & Western promotes Julian to management post, adds Chrisler to administration

NJ Transit surveying public opinion for 'Scorecard' campaign

Transportation YOU program aims to influence young women to explore transportation careers

BTS 37-14

August 13, 2014Contact: Dave Smallen
Tel:  202-366-5568

BTS Releases June 2014 Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI)

The Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI), which is based on the amount of freight carried by the for-hire transportation industry, declined 0.9 percent in June from May, falling after four consecutive monthly increases, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics’ (BTS). The June 2014 index level (119.1) was 25.9 percent above the April 2009 low during the most recent recession.

The level of freight shipments in June measured by the Freight TSI (119.1) was 0.9 percent below the revised all-time high level of 120.2 in May 2014. BTS’ TSI records begin in 2000.

The May index, the all-time high, was revised to 120.2 from 120.0 in last month’s release.  Monthly numbers for January and March were revised down slightly.  There was a larger downward revision for September 2013, 118.1 in last month’s release to 116.8.

The Freight TSI measures the month-to-month changes in freight shipments by mode of transportation in tons and ton-miles, which are combined into one index. The index measures the output of the for-hire freight transportation industry and consists of data from for-hire trucking, rail, inland waterways, pipelines and air freight. 

Analysis: The index for each freight mode declined in June with the largest decline in pipelines. The declines took place when construction spending, which often is a driver of transportation shipments, declined in June after several months of increases. Construction spending declined although there was growth in several other economic indicators. Despite the decrease, the freight index was higher in each month of the second quarter of 2014 than it was in any month of the first quarter of 2014 when weather impacted transportation. 

Trend: June was the third consecutive month in which the index reached the levels that had been attained prior to the weather-related downturn in the early part of the year, even though the June index was below the level reached in the previous two months.  The index reached its all-time high level (120.2) in May 2014.  After dipping to 94.6 in April 2009, the index rose by 25.9 percent in the succeeding 62 months.  

See Freight TSI Press Release for summary tables and additional data. See Transportation Services Index for historical data and methodology.

 

Other Railway Press Releases
www.railway-technology.com.




NSW government to invest $2.8bn on new intercity train fleet
Australia's New South Wales (NSW) Government is investing A$2.8bn to buy a next-generation intercity train fleet for commuters travelling from the South Coast, Blue Mountains, Central Coast and Newcastle. 
       
Fourth phase of upgrade work on Lincolnshire rail completed
The fourth phase of upgrades to the Great Northern Great Eastern (GNGE) line in the UK has successfully been completed, in a bid to deliver better services to the passengers. 
       
Network Rail begins on-track trials of first battery-powered train in UK
Network Rail has started trials of its first battery-powered train on a test track in Derby, UK, after completing the retrofitting of the unit. 
       
Grand Central Rail receives direct services contract extension from ORR
The UK Office of Rail Regulation has awarded a ten-year contract extension to Grand Central Rail to continue operation of services between Mirfield, Brighouse and London.









SmartRail World

Exclusive SmartRail World free e-book: The Future of US Rail By Luke Upton In 2013, Americans took 10.7 billion trips by public transport. Amtrak is now the nation’s fastest-growing major travel mode, with ridership records set in 10 out of the last 11 years. And the freight rail industry is now in a better position than ever to meet the nation’s growing transportation needs. Rail transport might be more popular than ever. But there are significant challenges facing the industry, by 2050, the USA will be home to up to 100 million new people and the transit networks have to be ready for the nation of tomorrow. Huge challenges exists in terms of finance, technology and development in ensuring growth continues. SmartRail World wanted to find out more. So for this e-book - The Future of US Rail - we’ve gained insights from a host of industry experts analysing trends, opportunities and challenges, and carried out interviews with those at the heart of major developments in US rail. We address significant trends in the region that will be a huge bearing on the future including the rise of naming rights sale and digital security. It’s not just another collection of facts and figures but an insight into the reality of the US rail and metro industry. Download today! Read more »

Trade Fairs
InnoTrans 2014.

2014/08/06

New at InnoTrans: Future Mobility Park


How can different modes of transport be connected in intelligent and environmentally friendly ways? How can people’s transport needs in mega-cities be solved in a space-saving and efficient manner? These are fascinating questions prompting solutions that are both creative and visionary. From 23 to 26 September at InnoTrans 2014 the newly launched Future Mobility Park will be exhibiting three forward-looking transport projects. Is this how we will be travelling in the future?


Horizon: intelligent and intermodal


Studio Globe will present Horizon, a transport system of the future that aims to eliminate delays by connecting different modes of transport. According to design engineer Ewan Alston passengers would enter Horizon through an airport hub, a so-called SkyStation. There they would board a pod to transport them to the outskirts of the city where they would then take a SkyShip, a fully electric and autonomous aircraft. “What is unique about Horizon is that it connects ground and air traffic in a seamless and dynamic way“, says Alston of Studio Globe.


JPods: sustainable and computer-controlled


In Berlin Jpods will present an innovative concept for a privately funded mobility network in Secaucus, New Jersey. “The Jpods mass transit system will carry passengers and freight in ultra-light, robotic, podcar vehicles that are computer-controlled and run on elevated rails“, says Bill James, managing director of Jpods. It is intended to operate at only 10 per cent of the energy required by cars, buses and trains. “Furthermore, solar panels mounted above the rails will collect sufficient energy to run the network without any need for external energy sources”, says James.


TubularRail: high-speed travel without rails


TubularRail’s visionary mass transit system features a high-speed vehicle that travels above ground through rings supported on concrete pedestals. The rings house engines and rollers that drive, guide and stabilise the vehicle at low speeds, as well as flywheels for operating at higher speeds. According to Joaquin Garza, managing director of TubularRail Development, “this concept is suitable for high-speed travel between cities and represents affordable urban public transport“.


More information about the Future Mobility Park: www.innotrans.com/Visitor-Info/FutureMobilityPark/.


via Total Rail

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FERRMED – promoting rail freight and intermodality in Europe.(european railway review)




Late News.....

Compo Club - Barclays at Blaenavon

Circulating on behalf of Simon Hopkins, If interested please reply to Simon

Compo Club - Barclays at Blaenavon 
Proudly presents

Big Blaenavon Barclay Bash.

Tuesday 16^th September 2013.

I am pleased to offer a day with three visiting Andrew Barclay’s at the Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway.

We have a day’s photography using visitors to the line:-

AB 2088, Sir Thomas Royden, built in 1940 from Rocks by Rail.
AB1931, built in 1927 also from Rocks by Rail.
AB2168, Edmundsons, built in 1943 from Rushden.

Starting at 9am for the lighting up around the shed we will then use the Barclays on various freight rakes for parallel running, rail over rail bridge and multi level run pasts.

We will end with a short night shoot around the shed to capture the disposals of the engines.

Also we will endeavour to source some road side interest as in previous years.

The railway will kindly open their café for us, which will offer bacon sandwiches, lunches and hot drinks.

Price: £45.

All cheques to be made payable to “Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway Company”
………………………………………………………………………………………

Booking form:          …………………………………………………………………

Name………………………………………………………………………………….

Address……………………………………………………………………………….

…………………………………………………………………………………………

Tel:…………………………………………..email………………………………….

Please return with two SAE to: -
Simon Hopkins, 17 Queensway, Bidford on Avon, Warwickshire, B50 4BA. Email: simon@scam.fsnet.co.uk
Home: - 01789 77216901789 772169 Mobile: - 07850 98284907850 982849