The importance of keeping the customer satisfied is today's rail news thread...
From the assurance that no-one should have to stand for more than 20 minutes... the South West Trains loadings echo the Mumbai system's phrase "super dense crush load"..
On the Cotswold Line, some rejigging of the timetable to benefit more travellers...
Network Rail will be spending more money on the London to Norwich route...£170 million is mentioned in one report, although £400 million is needed according to another....
A French report suggests that the TGV network should be smaller......
Iarnrod Eirann adjusts fares from 1st November 2014..all part of the long process to get out of the financial problems current....but there are some great deals to be had....
Click on the links.....
Headlines
UK
Ten minute rule bill.(BBC Democracy Live) (Video)
The BBC report says:
"Andy Sawford, the Labour MP for Corby, secured support for
his bill to allow the part re-nationalisation of Britain's railways, after a
vote was forced on 29 October 2014.
Mr Sawford's Railways (Public Sector Operators) Bill would amend the Railways
Act 1993 to permit public sector railways operators.Conservative Martin Vickers, Cleethorpes MP, opposed the bill, arguing that it would be bad for the industry, employees and passengers.
Text commentary of the session can be found here."
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Rail users should get a seat in 20 minutes says minister.(BBC News)
The South West Trains passenger's experience of "super dense crush load", a phrase coined by Mumbai officials to describe loadings of 500 passengers on carriages built for 200!
FGW Class 180 at Honeybourne on a London Paddington service
Network Rail
London to Norwich line set for major investment in 2015.
The railway line from London to Norwich is set to benefit from a major package of upgrades worth £170m next year, providing a better, more reliable railway for passengers.
More than 1,300 passenger trains and around 100 freight trains a day use the Great Eastern Main Line connecting London Liverpool Street with east London, Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk – meaning the tracks are subjected to enormous amounts of wear and tear.
In addition to upgrades of the overhead lines, track and signalling, one of Network Rail’s fleet of ‘high output’ machines will start working its way along the line from January to improve the reliability of the railway while also providing a smoother ride for passengers.
This work will be carried out on Saturdays and Sunday nights, and on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesdays from mid-to-late evening onwards to avoid the peak periods when most commuters will be travelling. The £42m high output machine scoops up the crushed rock, called ballast that the track sits on, before sieving out any small, broken pieces and replacing them with the same weight in fresh stone.
This provides a safe, well-drained bed for the track to sit on and is absolutely vital to improving performance on this busy line. The machine is currently being used to upgrade the Great Western Main Line, before moving over to the Anglia region in the New Year.
By using this technology, Network Rail can cover double the distance every night in comparison with conventional methods. If the same work was to be delivered using conventional methods at weekends only, the equivalent upgrade would take 12 years instead of around two years.
Richard Schofield, Network Rail route managing director, said: “This essential upgrade is the railway’s equivalent of resurfacing a busy road. Running a safe, reliable railway depends on the track being in good condition – not just the metal rails, but the foundations on which they sit too.
“We’re using one of the most modern pieces of kit on the railway, meaning the majority of our work can be done while trains are running on the adjacent track. As the name suggests, the ‘high output’ machine is also much, much quicker than using traditional methods. The railway in East Anglia is getting busier and passenger numbers are growing year on year. This work is part of a significant investment programme to bring the railway into the 21st century and deliver a better service to passengers.”
Jamie Burles, Managing Director, Abellio Greater Anglia said: “We will be working closely with Network Rail throughout the period of the High Output engineering programme. In scheduling the work overnight and at off-peak times to avoid the main periods of commuter travel, we will be doing everything possible to minimise alterations to the normal train service.
“The outcome of this programme and the other infrastructure investment that Network Rail is implementing next year will give us a better, more reliable railway. We also remain absolutely focused in our determination that the powerful case that is being made to Government, in partnership with our key stakeholders through the Great Eastern Rail Campaign, will deliver the significant and major upgrades for the East Anglia rail network that we all wish to see.”
Key projects on the Great Eastern Main Line in 2015 also include:
- Overhead line upgrade: Engineers continue to upgrade 60-year-old equipment to improve reliability along the Great Eastern Main Line. In 2015, work in the Chelmsford area will be completed.
- Witham: Network Rail is installing new track and points at Witham. Points allow trains to move from one part of the track to another
- Colchester: Engineers are returning to Colchester to complete the second part this project. NetworkRail is remodelling the track and installing new sets of points, to deliver a more reliable railway to passengers
- Crossrail: Work continues to transform travel for commuters and longer-distance passengersbetween London, Essex and beyond. The additional passenger capacity and renewed stations will mean major, long-term improvements. Brand new trains will replace the existing trains used on stopping services from Shenfield to London from 2017.
Work on these key projects will take place during eight weekends between the beginning of February and the end of March in addition to Easter and May bank holidays. In 2015, there are currently no plans for any major disruptive engineering work on the Great Eastern Main Line between May and the end of the year, which would require a bus replacement service during weekends on both Saturday and Sunday.
The high output ballast cleaner is planned to work as follows:
- January to April: from Norwich to Haughley
- April to May: from Ipswich to Stowmarket
- May to October: from Colchester to Shenfield
- November to December: from Norwich to Stowmarket
Where the work takes place from mid-to-late evenings on certain weeknights and very early mornings, there will be some extended journey times and the timetable will also be supplemented with some additional bus services. Extra staff will be on duty during these periods to assist customers with information provision and when transferring to and from bus replacement services.
Full information of revisions and alterations to train times, and advise on alternative travel arrangements will be available at stations and published on the Abellio Greater Anglia and National Rail website in advance of each stage of the High Output work.
The High Output work continues on the Great Eastern Main Line in 2016, but is also planned to work on Saturday nights on the Ely to Peterborough line through the spring and summer. In late 2016 and into 2017, Network Rail will start installing new track on the Great Eastern Main Line as it continues to upgrade the railway.
Network Rail Photos
VIDEO: Vast new gantry in the shadow of the Shard will improve reliability on one of Europe’s busiest routes
(Network Rail on YouTube)
Stunning night time footage at the foot of the Shard shows the installation of a 30m signal gantry on the approach to London Bridge station
As the clocks went back last weekend, over a hundred Network Rail engineers took advantage of the extra hour to install a huge new signal gantry that spans 10 of the 11 tracks on the approach to London Bridge station.
Network Rail is completely rebuilding London Bridge station over the next three years as part of the £6.5bn Thameslink Programme.
This Christmas and into the New Year period, when passenger numbers are at their lowest, parts of the station will be closed for 16 days to allow engineers to return to the site to finish the job by attaching new state-of-the-art signalling equipment. Replacing the current system, which has been in use since the 1970s, will dramatically improve reliability on one of the most congested railway lines in Europe and allow more trains to run through to central London and beyond.
Find out more at ThameslinkProgramme.co.uk
Notes:Footage was taken overnight on Saturday 25 and into the morning of Sunday 26 October 2014.
Borders to Edinburgh railway: Benefits must reach 'whole region'.(BBC News)
Stoke fury at HS2 snub.(insider media)
Ceredigion council backs Cambrian line freight idea.(BBC News)
International
Australia
Cost of Australia’s high-speed rail project could be halved.(Global Rail News)
Airport Rail Link - Project Update (DTPLI on YouTube)
Melbourne Airport Rail Link will provide a frequent and reliable train service between the airport and the CBD, with services departing every 10 minutes during the day.
This project is being delivered as part of the fully funded Melbourne Rail Link project.
France
French auditor calls for smaller TGV network.(IRJ)
India
First High Speed Train on Delhi-Agra Section Scheduled for November 10.(NDTV)
Ireland
Irish public transport: Passengers face fare increase(BBC News)
Weary commuters face fresh ticket price hikes (Irish Times)
Revised fares from 1st November (Taxsaver) and 1st December (all other tickets) 2014(Iarnrod Eireann)
David Franks, CEO Iarnrod Eirann told The Railway Chronicle.."The way out of our financial difficulties is a combination of things, including, the recent pay deal, further efficiencies in non payroll areas, revenue increases (from volume growth and pricing initiatives), service changes and additional subvention.
As to pricing initiatives, our taxsaver product offers great value for money for commuters with up to 50% off. Leap card discounts on cash fares offer 22% discount, our Relaxed Fare offers with prices as low as €14.99 from places such as Cork to Dublin and our plethora of student discounts are all aimed at encouraging more people to travel by train."
Full details....HERE
Pakistan
In session: MPAs demand restoration of ‘local’ train services.(The Express Tribune)
Serbia
Serbian Railways to launch the tender for the acquisition of 27 trains
(See Railway PRO magazine)
USA
US HSR
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California high speed rail is a Special Project of National Significance - the largest, most advanced HSR project in the nation, with the first phase starting construction.
There's widespread public and business support for the project. It's already creating jobs, and will quickly become a national demonstration project for advanced HSR technology in America. Given its location near Silicon Valley, this could lead to the launch of a new high tech industry. California will be the first test of 220 mph trains on American soil, quickly advancing the nation from last place in the world to first. |
Be where the action is...
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 Attend the HSR Event of the Year!
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COURT RULING CLEARS CA HSR BOND SALE
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 California Supreme Court Rules
from last week:
In a significant victory for California's high-speed rail project, the California Supreme Court ruled to decline an appeal of a lawsuit challenging the issuance of bonds for its construction. "This decision reaffirms that the Authority can continue building a modern high-speed rail system that connects the state, creates jobs and complies with the law," said Authority Board Chair Dan Richard. "We will continue to move forward aggressively to deliver the nation's first high-speed rail system." This is a major legal victory for the project and further affirmation that the authority is moving forward in accordance with the law. It means the Third District Court of Appeal rulings will stand, allowing the issuance of the high-speed rail bonds and withdrawing the requirement to issue a new funding plan. The rail project earlier this year secured a stream of future funding, with the enactment of a budget that directs a portion of the state's cap-and-trade revenue - money polluters pay to offset carbon emissions - to the project.
Crews this summer have been working on the first construction segment of the project, near Fresno, relocating utilities and demolishing, among other work.
"This visionary fast rail project can now move full speed ahead!" said Andy Kunz, USHSR President. "California continues to lead the way in visionary long-range planning. This project sets the nation on a new course into 21st century transportation. Congratulations to all those who have helped deliver this important project." More
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SACRAMENTO BEE-CASE FOR HIGH SPEED RAIL
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 Official makes case for California HSR
by Rick Zbur
The California League of Conservation Voters supported Proposition 1A, the 2008 ballot measure that approved the issuance of bonds to fund high-speed rail in the state. As the president of the California league, I wanted to share why I think this program is so pivotal in our efforts to "decarbonize" California and is part of our international climate leadership. Right now, there really are only two ways to travel between the mega-regions of this huge state of ours. People have to spend money on plane tickets or time in a car to travel to see family, to go on vacation or to do business. It's not only expensive and time-consuming, but all that driving and burning of jet fuel have a major impact that most do not consider - a high cost to our environment. Transportation is the single biggest contributor to climate change in California.
The state's transportation sector, according to the California Air Resources Board, accounts for 38 percent of our collective carbon footprint. That's the same as California's electric, commercial, residential and agricultural sectors combined.
Reforming how people get around our state, by introducing more environmentally friendly transportation choices, isn't just a good idea, it is absolutely essential to meeting California's world-leading carbon pollution reduction goals. As we have seen in other places where high-speed rail is already in existence, like Spain, Japan and France, it is one of the most energy- and environmentally-efficient forms of mass passenger transport there is. Studies show that when done right, high-speed rail produces only a small fraction of the pollution of an average plane or car trip over the same distance, on a per-passenger basis. In addition, California's high-speed rail system will run on renewably generated electricity, from the ample resources in California, meaning for our state, high-speed rail will reduce pollution whenever someone rides it and gives up a car or plane trip. The Mineta Transportation Institute in San Jose recently authored an analysis of the world's high-speed rail systems and found that, in similar corridors, high-speed rail would prove a very attractive option for California, securing a sizable share of trips around the state. In other words, high-speed rail, by shifting travel away from dirtier transportation modes such as planes and cars, would do wonders in reducing the transportation sector's impact on our carbon footprint. More |
HIGH SPEED RAIL AROUND THE WORLD
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The global high speed rail network is one of the great feats of modern engineering, and proves to be the best form of transportation ever invented. The global high speed rail network is rapidly expanding across continents world wide - delivering fast, efficient mobility to numerous nations every day.
HSR is currently in operation in more than 20 countries (including the UK, France, Germany, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Turkey, Japan, China, Korea, and Taiwan).HSR is under construction in more than 10 countries (including China, Spain, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, France, and Italy); and in development in another 14 countries (including Qatar, Morocco, Russia, Poland, Portugal, South Africa, India, Argentina, Mexico, and Brazil). HSR has been in operation in Japan for 50 years carrying more than 9 billion passengers without a single fatality. More info |
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www.progressiverailroading.com.
Other Railway Press
www.railway-technology.com.
Cisco to develop IoE systems for transport industry
Networking equipment provider Cisco has launched the 'Connected Transport Challenge' programme, an opportunity for start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises to develop Internet of Everything (IoE) systems for the transport industry.
New Crossrail 2 preferred route revealed
London mayor Boris Johnson has revealed the preferred route for a proposed £20bn Crossrail 2 scheme, a rail line connecting south-west and north-east London, UK.
Vossloh receives approval for DE 12 and DE 18 locomotives in Germany
Transport technology manufacturer Vossloh has received approval for its four-axle diesel-electric DE 12 and DE 18 locomotives from Germany's federal railway authority Eisenbahn-Bundesamt (EBA) to operate in the country.
Bombardier unveils new Innovia Metro 300 design for Riyadh Metro Orange line
Train manufacturer Bombardier Transportation has unveiled the new Innovia Metro 300 design for the Riyadh Metro Orange line in Saudi Arabia.
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