Network Rail reflects on the weekend of engineering works to enhance the travelling experience..but on the East Coast Main Line, things were not so good.....
Watch a 13 minute interview with Terry Morgan, Chairman at Crossrail...
China plans yet another high speed line....and in the USA, US HSR sets up a Project Pipeline to advance other routes from the conceptual stage to investment.
And Japan, celebrating 50 years of the Shinkansen, plans the next level...a long distance maglev line.
Click on the links.....
UK.
Rail chiefs create massive 30-year strategy to expand regional network(Liverpool Echo)
Stagecoach earnings rise after bus and train contract wins.(The Guardian)
Tavistock homes approved with rail link clause.(BBC News)
Norwich to London trains cancelled: Gummer calls for resignations.(BBC News)
East Coast Mainline rail commuters experienced severe delays.(BBC News)
Galileo: What does a more accurate sat-nav system mean?(BBC News)
www.parliament.uk
26 August 2014
ORAL EVIDENCE SESSION – INVESTING IN THE RAILWAY
- Inquiry page: investing in the railway
- The Transport Committee
Witnesses:
4.05 pm
- David Brown, Director General, Merseytravel, representing Rail North
- Dr Ian Kelly, Chief Executive, Hull and Humber Chamber of Commerce
- Dr Jon Lamonte, Chief Executive, Transport for Greater Manchester, representing One North
- Cllr Liz Redfern, Leader, North Lincolnshire Council
- Cllr Chris Shaw, Leader, North East Lincolnshire Council
This session will focus on rail investment in the north of England. The Committee will take evidence from a representative of Rail North—the 30 northern Local Transport Authorities who will manage the Northern and TransPennine Express franchises in partnership with the Department for Transport. The Committee will also hear from a representative of One North—the five city regions that have proposed increased investment in rail infrastructure in the north. Three representatives from Hull and the Humber will also give evidence about rail services and investment in the region.
Likely topics for discussion include:
- the level of investment in rail in the north of England;
- the new Northern and TransPennine Express franchises and changes to direct services between Manchester Airport and Cleethorpes and between Liverpool and Norwich; and
- proposed fare increases in the north of England.
Network Rail Press Releases.
West Coast main line reopens after August closures help to build a better railway.
The West Coast main line reopened on time today (26 August) after Network Rail completed the third successive weekend of upgrade work at Watford.
Over the bank holiday weekend, including bank holiday Monday, more than 300 track workers and engineers continued to replace and install new sections of railway and parts of the new modern signalling system in the area.
Planning is already underway ahead of the next West Coast main line closure at Watford which will take place between Christmas Eve and Monday 29 December.
Jim Syddall, acting route managing director for Network Rail, said: “The past three weekends have seen a significant amount of work completed which will help to provide a better and more reliable railway on the West Coast main line through Watford.
“I would like to thank passengers for their patience while the work was carried out as it meant longer journeys and alternative routes for many travelling in and out of London.
“The section of track at Watford is one of the most intensively used, high-speed pieces of railway in Britain and has seen tremendous growth in traffic and passengers over the last five years. There are still a further four weekends of work to come, starting with the next closure over the Christmas period.
“There is never a good time to close the railway but this work is essential to provide a reliable railway for the millions of passengers who use this section of railway every year.”
The August closures were part of eight weekend and bank holiday closures which will take place until April 2015. Significant upgrade work is being carried out to improve reliability and punctuality along this section of the railway.
To complete the work more than 21,000 tonnes of stone ballast will be used, more than 28,000 tonnes of waste will be removed from the site and 11,000 new railway sleepers will be installed as part of nine miles of track renewals.
Terry Oliver, London Midland's head of west coast services, said: “We are really pleased with the number of passengers that followed our advice and chose to travel with other operators during the closures. We’d like to thank them once again for their patience and cooperation.
“We will continue to work with Network Rail, industry partners and key stakeholders when planning the strategy for the December closure, ensuring that inconvenience is minimised and that passengers are kept up to date with the latest information.”
Phil Bearpark, Virgin Trains’ executive director for operations and projects, said: “There is never a good time to close the West Coast main line – Europe’s busiest mixed-use rail route – and we’d like to thank our customers for bearing with us during the disruption this caused.
“Our staff have worked really hard to ensure that those travelling with us or on alternative services have been well looked after and given the correct support to help them make their journeys.
“This is always a learning experience and we’ll ensure that any lessons from the August line closures are built into our plans for the next round of closures planned this Christmas.”
Information will be made available well in advance of the Christmas closure and Network Rail will continue to work with affected train companies to raise awareness. Passengers can plan any journey and get the latest travel information at www.nationalrail.co.uk.
First trains operate on the newly upgraded Swindon to Kemble line
Network Rail’s £45m project to upgrade the line between Swindon and Kemble was successfully completed over the bank holiday weekend, paving the way for greater capacity, reduced journey times and a better experience for passengers.Planning is already underway ahead of the next West Coast main line closure at Watford which will take place between Christmas Eve and Monday 29 December.
Jim Syddall, acting route managing director for Network Rail, said: “The past three weekends have seen a significant amount of work completed which will help to provide a better and more reliable railway on the West Coast main line through Watford.
“I would like to thank passengers for their patience while the work was carried out as it meant longer journeys and alternative routes for many travelling in and out of London.
“The section of track at Watford is one of the most intensively used, high-speed pieces of railway in Britain and has seen tremendous growth in traffic and passengers over the last five years. There are still a further four weekends of work to come, starting with the next closure over the Christmas period.
“There is never a good time to close the railway but this work is essential to provide a reliable railway for the millions of passengers who use this section of railway every year.”
The August closures were part of eight weekend and bank holiday closures which will take place until April 2015. Significant upgrade work is being carried out to improve reliability and punctuality along this section of the railway.
To complete the work more than 21,000 tonnes of stone ballast will be used, more than 28,000 tonnes of waste will be removed from the site and 11,000 new railway sleepers will be installed as part of nine miles of track renewals.
Terry Oliver, London Midland's head of west coast services, said: “We are really pleased with the number of passengers that followed our advice and chose to travel with other operators during the closures. We’d like to thank them once again for their patience and cooperation.
“We will continue to work with Network Rail, industry partners and key stakeholders when planning the strategy for the December closure, ensuring that inconvenience is minimised and that passengers are kept up to date with the latest information.”
Phil Bearpark, Virgin Trains’ executive director for operations and projects, said: “There is never a good time to close the West Coast main line – Europe’s busiest mixed-use rail route – and we’d like to thank our customers for bearing with us during the disruption this caused.
“Our staff have worked really hard to ensure that those travelling with us or on alternative services have been well looked after and given the correct support to help them make their journeys.
“This is always a learning experience and we’ll ensure that any lessons from the August line closures are built into our plans for the next round of closures planned this Christmas.”
Information will be made available well in advance of the Christmas closure and Network Rail will continue to work with affected train companies to raise awareness. Passengers can plan any journey and get the latest travel information at www.nationalrail.co.uk.
First trains operate on the newly upgraded Swindon to Kemble line
The infrastructure upgrade along the route included the reinstatement of the second line between Swindon and Kemble, improvements to earthworks to accommodate the new track, and the installation of new signalling equipment which will safely control the movement of trains.
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The new infrastructure provides increased capacity, which will be crucial to meet future passenger demand and will reduce delays for a more reliable service. These improvements will also be essential to enable trains from south Wales to be diverted along this route when Bristol Parkway station and the Severn Tunnel are closed for electrification work.
Simon Maple, Network Rail’s route programme and project sponsor, said: “Now that our work is complete, passengers can look forward to fewer delays and reduced journey times in the future. It also means we can minimise the disruption caused by our electrification work and ensure the region gets maximum benefit from a modern, electric railway.
“As is the case with most major works, a certain amount of disruption is unfortunately unavoidable and I would like to thank passengers and local residents for their continued patience and understanding.”
Other improvements incorporated as part of the upgrade project include the installation of additional signals between Kemble and Standish Junction, level crossing upgrades at Minety and Purton Collins Lane and the installation of a new footbridge in Stroud.
Rob Mullen, First Great Western’s general manager central, said: “These are vital infrastructure works to help pave the way for increased capacity and reduced journey times, and better performance and punctuality that electrification and new electric trains will bring for future services.
“We have worked closely with our colleagues at Network Rail to keep disruption to a minimum but I must thank our customers for their understanding and patience as we seek to make the improvements that we know they want to see.”
‘Unacceptable’ level crossing changes.(Bexhill-on-Sea Observer)
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Full stories HERE
Australia:Fast train due at a station near you - 11 years from now.(Northern Star)
China: Feasibility Study on Zhengzhou-Hefei High-Speed Railway to Be Finished within 2014.(anhuinews)
China: Chengdu metro train unveiled - Railway Gazette
Japan: Japan to start work on first long-distance maglev line.(DW)
Mexico: Mexico clamps down on migrant freight train travel.(BBC News)
USA: Texas Eyes Japan for High Speed Rail.(sourceable)
www.progressiverailroading.com.
New Denver-area facility a 'Big Lift' to BNSF's automotive business
US HSR
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Other Railway Press Releases
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