Security on the railways...the subject of a parliamentary report....
Safety on the railways...a First Capital Connect driver given a suspended prison sentence...
An alternative to the Dawlish railway line..??
The Government's lessons learned from major infrastructure projects...and will spend £15 billion on 100 major road projects.....
A bird's eye view of the line between Brighton and London...
Lessons learned in Canada from the Mississauga incident...
And embarrassing connections in Mexico between the president and a company involved in the now cancelled high speed rail project.....
Click on the links....
Headlines
UK
BBC1 Monday 10th November 2014 1930.
As commuters call for improvements to transport links across the north citing overcrowded trains and traffic jams, Jacey Normand travels by rail and road to put the rush hour commute to the test.
Transport Committee - Ninth Special Report
Security on the railway
Security on the railway
Lessons learned from major rail infrastructure projects
10 November 2014
The Public Accounts Committee will be holding an evidence session for the Committee’s inquiry. The session will explore the issues raised in the National Audit Office report into Lessons learned from major rail infrastructure projects.
Witnesses:
3.15pm, Monday 10 November 2014, Committee Room 15, Palace of Westminster- Philip Rutnam, Permanent Secretary, Department for Transport
- Claire Moriarty, Director General, Rail Group
- David Prout, Director General, High Speed 2 Group,Department for Transport
GOV.UK
CBI Annual Conference 2014: Prime Minister’s address
David Cameron will set out the government's new long-term investment plan into the road network in his speech to the CBI Annual Conference 2014.
Addressing business leaders at the Confederation of British Industry’s (CBI) annual conference in London today, the Prime Minister will set out how the government will unveil the first ever long-term Roads Investment Strategy for the government’s long-term economic plan, and these proposals will see investment in over 100 projects on the Strategic Road Network by the end of the decade, and result in hundreds of extra lane miles on our motorways and trunk roads.
By improving the condition of our roads, increasing the capacity of existing roads and taking forward major new strategic road schemes, the UK’s first ever long-term Roads Investment Strategy will be designed to improve the lives of hardworking commuters, back business and enterprise all across the country, and help secure a better future for Britain.
The Prime Minister is expected to say:
Our long-term economic plan is turning Britain round. And nowhere is this better demonstrated than in what we are doing on infrastructure. We inherited a huge budget deficit and frankly, as we went about finding savings, it would have been easy for us to cancel Crossrail, cancel HS2, cancel projects that were politically controversial. But we didn’t. We know to secure Britain’s future, we need world-class infrastructure. Families need it to get around; businesses need it to create jobs; we need it to compete with the world and deliver economic security. So whenever we have been faced with the choice between the past and the future, we have always chosen the future. Not just HS2 and Crossrail; but HS3, the biggest investment in our railways since the Victorian time, a new nuclear power station and tapping shale gas – we have always chosen the future.As part of the biggest programme of investment in our road network for decades, this government will take action and fund solutions to tackle some of the most notorious and longstanding problems on our road network across the country. This includes improvements to:
And I can tell you this today: in three weeks’ time you will see an Autumn Statement where we choose the future again. At its heart is the biggest, boldest and most far reaching road improvement programme in four decades: over 100 improvements to our major roads. Hundreds of extra lane miles on our motorways and trunk roads. The green light given to major projects that have been stalled for years. Action to improve some of the most important arteries in our country – like the A303 and the A1 – which for too long have held parts of our country back. And all underpinned by over £15bn worth of investment.
This will be nothing less than a roads revolution – one which will lead to quicker journey times, more jobs, and businesses boosted right across the country.
And let me add this: we’re the only ones who can afford to do this because we have taken difficult decisions on spending elsewhere. We’re the only ones who have the guts to deliver it because when it comes to the big infrastructure decisions our country needs, we have shown we always take them. And we’re the ones with the vision and optimism to make it happen it, because whenever we have been faced with choosing the past or the future, we have always chosen the future. So with this Autumn Statement we will continue what we’ve done for four years: taking action today to secure a better tomorrow. That’s what our long-term economic plan is all about – and that is what is turning Britain around.
- A303 to the south west
- A1 north of Newcastle
- A1 Newcastle-Gateshead western bypass
- Trans-Pennine roads in the north of England
- A47 in the east of England
- A27 on the south coast
Office of Rail Regulation(ORR).
Train driver receives prison sentence for ignoring safety systems
10 November 2014
Former First Capital Connect train driver, Scott Walford, has received a three-month suspended prison sentence and been ordered to pay costs of £500, after he ignored warnings and safety systems on the Cambridge to London train he was driving – placing passengers and staff on board in great danger. On 7 November, Mr Walford pleaded guilty following a prosecution brought by the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) for a breach in health and safety law in October 2013.
On 8 October 2013, the 20:40 Cambridge to London Kings Cross, driven by Mr Walford, passed a red signal at Hitchin station – a signal which instructs a driver to stop their train. The train's warning safety system applied automatic brakes but Mr Walford deliberately reset the system and continued on without seeking the required authorisation. Prior to leaving Cambridge, Mr Walford had also failed to set up his Cab Secure Radio, which prevented any direct contact from the signaller. As a result of his actions Mr Walford's train ran "out of control" putting himself, passengers and train staff at risk of a serious incident, such as a collision with an oncoming train. Following the incident Mr Walford was relieved from all duties at First Capital Connect.
Sentencing took place at Stevenage Magistrates Court on Friday 7 November, following ORR's investigation into the incident. The investigation found that Mr Walford failed to take reasonable care of the safety of himself, passengers and other persons who might have been affected by his actions. Deliberate decisions to avoid safety procedures following a signal passed at danger, such as the choices made by Mr Walford, are rare but carry potential catastrophic consequences.
Donald Wilson, principal safety inspector, ORR said:
Former First Capital Connect train driver, Scott Walford, has received a three-month suspended prison sentence and been ordered to pay costs of £500, after he ignored warnings and safety systems on the Cambridge to London train he was driving – placing passengers and staff on board in great danger. On 7 November, Mr Walford pleaded guilty following a prosecution brought by the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) for a breach in health and safety law in October 2013.
On 8 October 2013, the 20:40 Cambridge to London Kings Cross, driven by Mr Walford, passed a red signal at Hitchin station – a signal which instructs a driver to stop their train. The train's warning safety system applied automatic brakes but Mr Walford deliberately reset the system and continued on without seeking the required authorisation. Prior to leaving Cambridge, Mr Walford had also failed to set up his Cab Secure Radio, which prevented any direct contact from the signaller. As a result of his actions Mr Walford's train ran "out of control" putting himself, passengers and train staff at risk of a serious incident, such as a collision with an oncoming train. Following the incident Mr Walford was relieved from all duties at First Capital Connect.
Sentencing took place at Stevenage Magistrates Court on Friday 7 November, following ORR's investigation into the incident. The investigation found that Mr Walford failed to take reasonable care of the safety of himself, passengers and other persons who might have been affected by his actions. Deliberate decisions to avoid safety procedures following a signal passed at danger, such as the choices made by Mr Walford, are rare but carry potential catastrophic consequences.
Donald Wilson, principal safety inspector, ORR said:
Train drivers hold a position of great responsibility for safety on our railways. They must comply with health and safety law, and work in accordance with their licence and training.
Mr Walford fell short of these standards, and, in doing so, showed a serious disregard for the safety of his passengers. His actions – ignoring warning signals and systems - could have led to a potentially catastrophic incident. He put his life, and the lives of others, at risk. This kind of incident is very rare, but where serious failings are found, those at fault will be held to account by the rail regulator.
Network Rail
VIDEO: Brighton to London Bridge - stunning new helicopter footage shows improvements taking shape thanks to massive Thameslink railway upgrade
Aerial footage showing the huge amount of work taking place to improve journeys on one of Europe’s busiest rail routes has been captured by helicopter.
Network Rail is completely rebuilding London Bridge as part of the £6.5bn government-sponsored Thameslink Programme to increase capacity and reliability on one of Europe’s busiest routes.
Network Rail’s inspection helicopter, which uses state-of-the-art technology to monitor thousands of miles of track, captured the huge amount of work that was completed during the August bank holiday weekend on film. Over 1200 engineers worked day and night to open two new platforms and replace 40-year-old track and signalling equipment on the approach to the station.
From 20 December 2014 - when passenger numbers are at their lowest due to the Christmas holiday - and throughout 2015 the the journeys of thousands of commuters will be affected as the work to rebuild the station enters a new phase.
Passengers are being urged to check before they travel at ThameslinkProgramme.co.uk as part of an industry wide campaign to help passengers plan their journeys into London.
Note:
The footage was captured on 26 August 2014 by a Network Rail helicopter. These are used to survey the railway and respond to incidents.
Education at NRM York - Education - National Railway MuseumAustria
Austria’s National Railway Opens Exhibit About Its Holocaust Complicity.(Forward)
Canada
Mississauga train disaster sparked safety improvements.(Toronto Sun)
Germany
Deutsche Bahn strike ends earlier than expected.(Lloyd's Loading List)
Mexico
Report: Mexico president's private home built, owned by high-speed rail contractor.(Fox News)
USA
www.progressiverailroading.com
Norfolk Southern's Bellevue Yard expansion is vital to the railroad's strategy for moving freight
Events
European Rail Congress 11th November 2014.
At the Riverbank Park Plaza in Central London.
The European Rail Congress Scheduled to arrive in London on 11 November 2014
The 2nd annual European Rail Congress will take place in London on 11 November 2014 and will stage a prestigious awards ceremony and summit.
The European Rail Congress is about bringing the euro rail network together to celebrate its achievements in providing efficient, high quality and safe connectivity across Europe; reducing Europe's emission of greenhouse gases; boosting jobs and economic growth; and facilitating European competitiveness. It also provides the chance for leading European players to debate and discuss the key challenges and opportunities for the European rail market.
The Awards will celebrate and reward railway excellence across 18 different areas. They are designed to:
- publicise and encourage European railway excellence and innovation
- disseminate the very best practice throughout Europe
- help new market entrants to learn from the more established players
- promote inter-operability to achieve seamless rail travel across the whole of Europe
Other Railway Press
www.railway-technology.com.
Keolis to support Greater Wuhan commuter trains network
French transport group Keolis has signed a letter of intent with the Chinese province of Hubei to become a part of the operation of the future express commuter trains network in Greater Wuhan.
Rolls-Royce to supply MTU PowerPacks for Polish rail manufacturer Pesa
Rolls-Royce has signed a framework agreement with Polish rail vehicle manufacturer Pesa to deliver up to 940 MTU PowerPacks underfloor drive units, which will be used in power Link railcars operated by Deutsche Bahn (DB).
Mexico cancels $3.75bn high-speed rail project contract with China
Mexico has scrapped the $3.75bn contract with Chinese-led consortium for the construction of a high-speed passenger rail link between Mexico City and the central city of Queretaro.
Corys to supply e320 simulator for Eurostar
High-speed rail service provider Eurostar has awarded a contract to Grenoble-based Corys for the delivery of a replica desk simulator of the new e320 electric multiple unit..
Christian Wolmar.
November 2014 Newsletter
For the second time running, I must apologise for the tardy nature of this newsletter. It is six months since the last one. As I'm sure many of you realise, my time has been taken up with my campaign to seek the Labour nomination for the London mayoralty election in 2016. That has taken up much of my time and I have now spoken at over 60 meetings across the capital. If you are interested in the campaign, please go to www.wolmarforlondon.co.uk and sign up for that newsletter; or if you are simply feeling generous today and want to donate to the campaign, go to https://wolmarforlondon.
As for the christianwolmar.co.uk site, as you will probably have seen there has been a radical transformation as it has been updated and looks much better, with much greater access to the near 1200 articles now on the site (do contact Primal Image if you need website services, they have consistently done an excellent job for me and the website is now in its fourth incarnation).
As a result of the long gap in newsletters, there are too many new articles to mention individually. There are now, for example, a staggering 382 Rail magazine columns, with the latest being Rail issue 759. I always post them around a month after publication so there is an incentive to buy the mag, which does pay my wages! Just a couple of recent additions may tempt you. I wrote a long piece about Eurostar for the Telegraph http://www.
In terms of events, this Wednesday I am giving a talk at the London Transport Museum at 18 30 on how London was created by the railways - you can sign up at http://www.ltmuseum.co.uk/
Even though I will be busy in the next few months, with the mayoral contest due to start in earnest straight after the election, I will try to produce these newsletters more regularly - especially now the website is so much improved. I'd be grateful for feedback on it,and any difficulties you may have had.
Cheers
CW
Iarnrod Eireann
If you are looking to save €100's on your commute check out www.taxsaver.ie today. Or speak to a Taxsaver representative at one of our upcoming road shows taking place; Tuesday - 11th November - Diageo St James Gate D8 Wednesday 12th November - Hewlett Packard Ireland, Leixlip
Thursday 13th November - Diageo St James Gate D8
Friday 14th November - AXA Insurance Dublin 1
Monday 17th November - CITI Bank
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