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October 31, 2014

International & UK Railway News Friday 31st October 2014


PhotoPhotoPhoto


Fair fares; getting out of the south west....apart from through Dawlish!....Manchester Airport Metrolink opens a whole year early....
HS2 pays for a primary school in Warwickshire... and the Transport Select Committee's recommendations to the Government on community rail partnerships for rural areas brings a response...
Post Lac Megantic recommendations for Canada's railways.......and more diligence required in reporting "occurences".....
We take a look at maintenance work on the railway in France, courtesy Philibru productions... and include Think Railways news briefs from Europe......


Click on the links.....








Headlines
UK
Rail ticket 'rip-off': passengers routinely denied cheapest fares.(The Telegraph)


Train tickets: the seven worst rip-offs.(The Telegraph)


Rail fare petition handed over.(Telegraph & Argus)


PhotoPhotoPhoto


Commuters to be affected by Thameslink rail changes.(East London Lines)


Minister for transport examines rail options out of Devon and Cornwall.(Western Morning News)



Plans to re-open Wisbech to March rail line builds up steam.(Fenland Citizen)





HS2- Engine for Growth

Improving city connectivity key for boosting knowledge economy
27 October 2014
New report examines rail links in the Midlands and North
Journey times between Leeds and Manchester could be cut in almost half under proposals published today by Sir David Higgins, Chairman of High Speed Two (HS2) Ltd.  This, he says, would be as important to the North as Crossrail is for London, but should only be one step in an overall strategy to improve transport as a whole from Liverpool to Hull.
His report also suggests that the journeys between Leeds and Birmingham, Leeds and Sheffield Meadowhall, York and Birmingham, and Nottingham to Birmingham could also be reduced by a half or more, and many more journeys across the country substantially shortened.
“Improving connectivity is vital”, he says,” if Britain is to compete in the knowledge economy in which this country has a competitive advantage, but in which ease of travel is an essential element.
"Knowledge based companies whether they are in high-tech manufacturing, the creative industries, finance or the law, have to be close, or feel close to the talent, skills base, support network, knowledge pools, collaborators and clients necessary to create the "hot-house atmosphere"  in which they thrive.  That is why reducing the journey times between and within our cities isn't just desirable for both passengers and freight.  It is a strategic necessity."
Sir David's comments and recommendations are contained in his second report on the future of HS2.  Rebalancing Britain: from HS2 towards a national transport strategy - looks at the prospects for improving connectivity across the North of England and the Midlands.
The four main proposals are:
1.    Need to take forward both legs of the proposed HS2 Y-network – the alternatives will not bring the same capacity, connectivity and economic benefits.
2.    Improve the rail services between east and west - sharply reducing journey times between Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield and Hull will stimulate local economies.  Sir David says the journey from Leeds to Manchester could be cut from today's average of over 55 minutes to somewhere between 26 and 35 minutes, depending on which option is chosen, and the number of trains could be doubled.
3.    Northern cities should speak with one voice – local authorities from five key cities should join together to form a new body.  Sir David suggests calling the group Transport for the North.
4.    Set out a timetable to develop a new transport strategy - building on the One North report to decide on an approach for improving rail and road connectivity across and within the region north of Birmingham.
In addition to these recommendations the report sets out a series of conclusions from Sir David’s review of the proposals for Phase Two of HS2.  These include:
•         To continue with the planned route into Manchester city centre via the airport – keeping open the option to add a new airport station.
•         Need to review the best station solution for Leeds to include provision for increased east-west services through the city.
•         The line should be extended to Crewe by 2027 - six years earlier than originally proposed.
•         A new station at Sheffield Meadowhall remains the best way to serve the wider South Yorkshire region, though Sir David recognises Sheffield continues to argue for Sheffield  Victoria
•         That the East Midlands hub should be near the proposed site at Toton but that its precise location needs further work
The report has now been submitted to Government and any final decision on the recommendations made by Sir David will be made by ministers.  An announcement on Phase Two is expected from the Transport Secretary before the end of the year.

Download the full copy of the press release here
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Photo


Community Rail Partnerships
Recommendation 8: Community Rail Partnerships are a cost-effective way to facilitate passenger transport in isolated communities, but their future viability may be threatened by a funding shortage. The Association of Community Rail Partnerships must lead the CRP sector in taking up the offer of financial help from the Association of Train Operating Companies. It must also work with train operating companies and the DfT in sharing best practice on maximising revenue from fare collection. (Paragraph 30)


Response: The Association of Community Rail Partnerships (ACoRP) is funded by DfT, see response to Recommendation 9. ACoRP are pro-active and work closely with the community rail sector and rail industry to support community rail. They will do all they can to encourage financial help from other organisations such as Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) and are well aware of the funding challenges. They have been active at designing alternative models which keep local rail partnerships intact when funds are short. Initiatives include the creation of Community Interest Companies allowing, for example smaller contributions from councils and a corresponding larger contribution from the train companies. ACoRP are members of the DfT's National Community Rail Steering Group and in that forum regularly discusses funding measures and shares best practice on strategies that lead to higher passenger numbers on rural networks. They provide an extensive range of 'best practice' notes, reports, specialist information and newsletters. Much of this is available on their website.


Recommendation 9: We welcome the DfT's recognition of the value of Community Rail Partnerships. The DfT must translate its support for Community Rail Partnerships into ring-fenced funding to reinforce the sector, which is a proven means of harnessing the power of volunteering to deliver passenger transport in isolated communities. (Paragraph 31)


Response: The Department provides core funding to ACoRP, the umbrella organisation for all Community Rail Partnerships (CRPs) and rail user groups. This funding covers several grant schemes that allow community rail partnerships to develop projects such as marketing campaigns, station improvements, passenger information and schemes involving community engagement. We recognise that there are funding challenges for some Community Rail Partnerships. However DfT will continue to work with ACORP and the wider rail industry to develop strategies that will help reinforce the community rail sector. Volunteers play a valuable role in the support of community rail. Around 4,000 volunteers contribute over 1.2 million hours of work, bringing around £27 million of extra value to the rail industry. Research has shown that every £1 invested in a CRP can bring £4.60 in benefits. A joint research report on the Value of Community Rail Partnerships and Volunteering will be published in the autumn of 2014. Volunteers are involved in many activities including gardening, promoting rail in local communities, campaigns, preparation and distribution of publicity material and station watches. Many are members of station adoption or rail user groups and some may hold an official post such as chair or treasurer. The elected 'chairs' of a Community Rail Partnership are unsalaried and yet play a major role in the success of the partnership.
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GOV.UK


Baroness Kramer views progress at Pye Corner station


UK Transport Minister visits Wales to see how new station will transform journey.
Baroness Kramer at Pye Corner station.
(GOV.UK Picture)
Transport Minister Baroness Kramer visited Newport in Wales today (31 October 2014) to see how a multi-million pound new rail station will transform journeys for local passengers.
The £3.5 million station at Pye Corner, which is nearing completion, will make it easier for residents to access train services – relieving congestion on the local road network and helping to boost the local economy. The station will provide connections to Cardiff and Ebbw Vale.
The work, which has been jointly funded by the UK government’s New Station Fund and the Welsh Government, will also help to build an integrated transport network in south east Wales.
Baroness Kramer said:
Pye Corner is a great example of how our record investment in the railway is building a network that meets the needs of local people and provides real benefits to the economy.
More than £38 billion will be spent in the next 5 years on modernising the rail network, giving passengers across the UK better journeys.
Work started on the station in April 2014, and is due to be completed by the end of the year. When it opens, it will be served by the existing hourly Ebbw Vale to Cardiff service, with the potential for additional services and destinations to be introduced in future.
Four other stations around the UK will be built after successfully applying for funding from the New Station Fund – Ilkeston in Derbyshire, Newcourt in Devon, Lea Bridge in London and Kenilworth in Warwickshire.

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Network Rail on YouTube



Vegetation can reduce drivers' visibility, cover up signals and fall on the track. Find out more, including how we're reducing delays caused by vegetation at http://www.networkrail.co.uk/timetabl...


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(ACT Government on YouTube)


Leading experts give their views on why Light rail is a good investment for Canberra. Good public transport is the glue in just about every world city and provides a range of benefits to the community. Benefits include better transport options, lower emissions, increased accessibility for all social groups, with more investment and economic activity along route.


Canada
See also:


Data review identifies discrepancies: TSB reminds railways to be more diligent in reporting occurrences

Gatineau, Quebec, 27 October 2014 - A review of reportable rail occurrences conducted by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada has identified late and missing accident information from the three railway companies it examined. The TSB is calling on all railway companies to meet their obligation to report occurrences outlined in the TSB Regulations. Reporting this information is mandatory and the TSB will consider enforcement action, if required to address non-compliance.
The TSB regularly reviews its railway occurrence database to ensure data integrity, and to identify any potential safety issues. Railway-specific data reviews were recently completed for Canadian National, Canadian Pacific, and Montreal, Maine & Atlantic railway companies. The examination determined that a total of 254 occurrences involving these railways had been unreported or reported late to the TSB over a 7-year period. The TSB has communicated these results to the railway companies and has stressed their reporting obligations.
The majority of these occurrences were minor, and many involved rail yard operations, where there was limited damage, and no injuries reported. These occurrences have now been entered into the TSB railway occurrence database.
The updated TSB Regulations which came into effect earlier this year clearly outline occurrence reporting requirements. The TSB will continue to monitor railway occurrence data and fully expects that the industry will report occurrences in a timely manner and in full compliance with the TSB Regulations.





France



Renovation of the Laon - Tergnier line(24/09/2014)


Philibru Productions on YouTube.







Since July 2014, Réseau Ferré de France renovating the railway line between Tergnier and Laon in Picardy. Here are some pictures of the work site using the trains called "fast Suite." This project is part of an extensive renovation program is expected to continue until 2016


Mozambique
Mozambique: Rail Traffic Resumes On Maputo-South Africa Line.(All Africa.com)


USA
www.progressiverailroading.com
  • BNSF aims to better prep for harsh winter weather
     
  • New Amtrak station underway in Rochester
     
  • AAR: Last week's U.S. intermodal volume reached third-highest mark in history
     
  • Genesee & Wyoming rang up more revenue, income in 3Q
     
  • Rail-car backlog reached record level in 3Q, EPA says
     
  • VIA Rail completes Union Station restoration
     
  • Florida East Coast Railway begins to take delivery of GE locomotives
     
  • Rail supplier news from RailComm, Bombardier, Greenbrier, Mervis Railcar, Laird, Parsons Brinckerhoff and CG/LA Infrastructure (Oct. 31)
     

    • Other Railway Press
    Think Railways.

    Romania: First two Imperio tramways delivered


    The first two of the 6 tramways procured by Arad Municipality from Astra Vagoane Calatori (Astra Passenger Coaches) were delivered to the public transport operator CTP Arad. During the handover ceremony, Gheorghe Falca, Mayor of Arad, informed that the municipality plans to obtain EU fundin g in order to purchase another six new trams during 2015-2020. More


    Poland: Swing tramway for Bydgoszcz city starts trials


    First Pesa Swing tramway for Tramwaj Fordon,subsidiary of Bydgoszcz city council, has started two months trial operations. The Polish produces aims to identify the necessary modifications to be done before series deliveries, including any interior design suggested by Bydgoszcz passengers. The new Swing tramways will enter traffic next year on the 9.5 km tramway line to Fordon district. Tramwaj Fordon Sp. z o.o. and Pesa signed a EUR 26 million contract covering the supply of 12 Swing tramways in August this year. The 100% low-floor five-section tramway is 30.12 m long and has a capacity for 201 passengers. More

    Vossloh’s DE 12 and DE 18 locomotives obtain German certification

    Germany’s federal railway authority (Eisenbahn-Bundesamt, EBA) has now given its approval also for the four-axle diesel-electric DE 12 and DE 18 to be operated in Germany. More

    Czech Railways receives EUR 0.9 million fine for Railjet trains contract

    Petr Rafaj, Chairman of The Office for Protection of Competition (ÚOHS ) in Czech Republic confirmed that Czech Railways (CD) received a record CZK 25 million (EUR 0.9 million) fine for the acquisition of Railjet trains from Siemens, without open competition. More

    Serbian Railways to invest EUR 1.2 bn in the next three years

    In the next three years, Serbian Railways will invest EUR 1.2 billion euros in infrastructure development and acquisition of new rolling stock, informed Zoran Andjelkovic Chairman of the Directors Board of Serbian Railways during the “Railway investment Southeast Europe” conference, taking place in Belgrade. More

    Rail Baltica II joint venture established

    On October 28, Rail Baltica II joint venture of the Baltic States was established for successful implementation of the Rail Baltica II European standard railway line project. The project dates from 2005, but has seen delays due to disagreements among the three partners Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. More

    Alstom and Indra to supply tunnel safety and security systems to new Madrid-Asturias high-speed line

    A consortium composed by Alstom and Indra has signed a contract with Spanish railway infrastructure authority Adif to supply the safety and security systems for 12 tunnels of the new Madrid-Asturias high speed line, including the 25 km-long Pajares bypass tunnel.More

    Warsaw Metro announced tender for new depot at Kabaty train yard

    Warsaw Metro has announced a tender for the construction of a new depot at Kabaty train yard (Kabaty STP). On an area of approx. one hectare, the new facility will accommodate 14 metro trains and a warehouse for chemical materials. Approximately 3.4km of railway lines will also be built.More
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    www.railway-technology.com


    Keymile to create mission-critical communications network for French LGV BPL line
    Telecommunications solutions provider Keymile has received a contract from France-based EIFFAGE Group to develop the mission-critical communications network for the French high-speed LGV BPL railway line from Le Mans to Rennes. 
           
    Baltic states sign agreement to establish Rail Baltica II joint venture
    The transport ministers of the Baltic states have signed an agreement to set up a joint venture to implement the estimated €3.6bn Rail Baltica II project. 
           
    Netherlands NS selects CAF to supply new Sprinter electric trains
    Dutch passenger railway operator Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS) has selected Spanish train manufacturer CAF as the preferred bidder to supply its new-generation Sprinter electric multiple-unit fleet. 
           
    Alstom and Indra to provide safety and security systems for Spanish railway
    Spanish railway infrastructure authority Adif has awarded a €36m contract to a consortium consisting of Alstom and Indra for the delivery of safety and security systems for 12 tunnels of the new Madrid-Asturias high-speed rail line.

    Future Rail: Issue 20 

    In this issue: A new Tube for London, Arup's vision for rail transport in 2050, Samsung's tech offering to rail operators, what rail operators can learn from airport security, China's push for international high-speed projects and more.






    Posted by at No comments:

    October 30, 2014

    International & UK Railway News Thursday 30th October 2014


    PhotoPhotoPhoto


    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."
    ==========================================
    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!





    Photo
    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.




    High output ballast cleanerHigh output ballast cleaner

    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

    USHSR - bringing 21st century transportation to America!

    Time to think big in America again!
    High Speed Rail is Coming to America!
    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...
    Attend the High Speed Rail Event of the Year!
    Attend the high speed rail event of the year! Attend the HSR Event of the Year!      
    • Billion Dollar Contracts Being Signed
    • CA High Speed Rail Construction Schedule
    • LA Metro, Metrolink, Caltrain, BART Updates
    • Private Funding & PPPs
    • Transportation Tours
    • Ramping Up Federal Funding
    • Learn about USHSR's Project Pipeline
    • Station Architecture/Design & TOD
    • Procurement Opprortunities
    • National & Global HSR Updates
    • Special Networking Events
    Register Now!



    COURT RULING CLEARS CA HSR BOND SALE
    California high speed rail full speed ahead... 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  

    SACRAMENTO BEE-CASE FOR HIGH SPEED RAIL
    Making the case for high speed rail! 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
    High speed rail around the world...
    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 


    21st century transportation in operation all around the world.
    All images courtesy USHSR




    www.progressiverailroading.com.


  • Transport Canada takes steps to address rail safety shortcomings cited by TSB
     
  • Cronus Fertilizers to build CSX-served plant in central Illinois
     
  • LACMTA completes Lankershim Depot restoration; All Aboard Florida begins Fort Lauderdale station construction
     
  • Pennsylvania DOT provides grants for 86 multimodal projects
     
  • Montreal transit agency to slow phase-in of new subway cars
     
  • M-1 Rail selects team for Detroit streetcar technical center
     
  • UP creates mobile classroom from box car
     
  • Gov. Corbett visits Reading & Northern's Pennsylvania headquarters
     
  • Rail supplier news from L.B. Foster, Bayer CropScience, ZTR, Trinity, Wabtec, HNTB and AccessRail (Oct. 30)
     






    • 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.



      Energy Efficiency and Sustainability: De Lijn's Solutions


    In today's industry, where safety and performance are of paramount importance, major rail operators are becoming increasingly concerned about energy efficiency.
    Railway infrastructure companies are keen to exploit the latest innovations on how to design, plan and build more energy efficient networks.
    Patrick Debeuf of De Lijn, the Flemish government's public transportation service, has provided us with an insight into the transport company's variety of sustainable and high quality mobility solutions which it offers to it's customers, focusing on safety, reliability and energy efficiency.
    Download De Lijn's presentation now to find out more.
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