London King's Cross.(C) P.S. Lewis
The ground breaking ceremony in California for the state's high speed railway claims the limelight... we shall watch the project's progress with interest. Two opposing local views to the project....
More bad UK weather stretches resources in Scotland... and more chaotic scenes at London Bridge...again..
Groupe Eurotunnel seeks a buyer for its ferry business ..
Click on the links...
Rail supplier news from Appalachian Railcar, Knorr-Bremse, HDR, Alpha Products, Greenbrier, IntegriCo and LTK (Jan. 9)
Headlines
UK
Day of protest at stations calls for re-nationalisation of the railway(Frome Standard)
Rail Accident Investigation Branch
Tram derailment near Mitcham Junction, London, 29 December 2014
At about 23:55 hrs on Monday 29 December 2014, a tram travelling from New Addington to Wimbledon on the Croydon Tramlink system became derailed shortly after leaving the tram stop at Mitcham Junction, while travelling at about 11 km/h (7 mph). There were about 20 passengers, plus the driver, on board the tram, and no-one was hurt. There was some minor damage to the tram.
To the west of Mitcham Junction tram stop, the single tram line becomes two lines at a set of spring-operated points. On leaving the tram stop, the tram driver noticed that an indicator, which shows the position of these points, was indicating that the points were not correctly set. He stopped the tram before reaching the points, and after speaking to the tramway control room by radio, he left the tram and used an operating lever to manually move the points until he observed that the indicator was showing that they were correctly set. He then drove the tram slowly over the points, but the centre bogie and one wheelset of the trailing bogie became derailed.
RAIB’s investigation will focus on the points mechanism and the way that it behaves in degraded operating conditions.
RAIB’s investigation is independent of any investigation by the railway industry or the Office of Rail Regulation.
We will publish our findings, including any recommendations to improve safety, at the conclusion of its investigation. This report will be available on our website.===========================================
Eurotunnel Press Release
Groupe Eurotunnel acquired the assets of the defunct company, SeaFrance, in June 2012 following an open and public process.
Jacques Gounon, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Groupe Eurotunnel stated: "MyFerryLink is an operating and commercial success. We are proud to have succeeded where so many others have failed. Given the position of the British authorities, the future of MyFerryLink will now be determined outside the Group".
To the west of Mitcham Junction tram stop, the single tram line becomes two lines at a set of spring-operated points. On leaving the tram stop, the tram driver noticed that an indicator, which shows the position of these points, was indicating that the points were not correctly set. He stopped the tram before reaching the points, and after speaking to the tramway control room by radio, he left the tram and used an operating lever to manually move the points until he observed that the indicator was showing that they were correctly set. He then drove the tram slowly over the points, but the centre bogie and one wheelset of the trailing bogie became derailed.
RAIB’s investigation will focus on the points mechanism and the way that it behaves in degraded operating conditions.
RAIB’s investigation is independent of any investigation by the railway industry or the Office of Rail Regulation.
We will publish our findings, including any recommendations to improve safety, at the conclusion of its investigation. This report will be available on our website.===========================================
Eurotunnel Press Release
MyFerryLink prohibited from operating in Dover: Groupe Eurotunnel seeks buyer for its ferry business
Groupe Eurotunnel acquired the assets of the defunct company, SeaFrance, in June 2012 following an open and public process.
Groupe Eurotunnel subcontracted the operation of the ferries Rodin, Berlioz and Nord-Pas-de-Calais to an independent company, the SCOP SeaFrance.
Operations began on 20 August 2012 and in 2014, MyFerryLink, the maritime business owned by the Group achieved its objectives with close to 400,000 trucks and 350,000 cars transported.
The Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) recognized the validity of the case put forward by the Group and, independently, by the SCOP but decided that these were not sufficient to overturn again the decision taken by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), published on 18 September. This decision is illogical. It reduces competition across the short straits and it is contrary to the interests of free trade. The CAT is forcing Groupe Eurotunnel to withdraw from this activity.
Groupe Eurotunnel is proud to have created a competitive and respected cross-Channel ferry brand in just two and a half years and with no support whatsoever. Groupe Eurotunnel congratulates the SCOP, its management and staff for their professionalism and the quality of their service.
In view of the requirement to cease operations within six months, which has been confirmed, and to realise the value of the work achieved Groupe Eurotunnel will now seek a buyer for MyFerryLink.
Jacques Gounon, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Groupe Eurotunnel stated: "MyFerryLink is an operating and commercial success. We are proud to have succeeded where so many others have failed. Given the position of the British authorities, the future of MyFerryLink will now be determined outside the Group".
International
India
2014 saw 9 deaths a day on rail tracks in Mumbai(Times of India)
USA
US HSR
IT'S OFFICIAL... HIGH SPEED RAIL
HAS BEGUN IN AMERICA!
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On Tuesday this week, more than 1,200 people gathered in Fresno, California along with Governor Jerry Brown, elected officials, business leaders, and a who's who of high-speed rail officials to formally kick off construction for the visionary fast rail project - one of the biggest transportation projects the country has ever seen.
"It was an amazing and inspiring event," said USHSR President Andy Kunz. "This is history in the making - the day America began its revolutionary 21st century transportation system! Congratulations to all those who have worked to deliver this exciting project." |
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"Today we make history," said Federal Railroad Administrator Joe Szabo. "This Administration could not have asked for a more resolute partner than Governor Jerry Brown. Thanks to his visionary leadership, California will set the standard for high-speed rail in America."
"We've got a lot to be proud of today," said Governor Brown. "This marks the transition from all the planning and appropriations and legal challenges and the design work to continuous construction," said Dan Richard, chairman of the California High-Speed Rail Authority. "Now we build. We are entering a period of sustained construction on the nation's first high-speed rail system for the next five years in the Central Valley, and in the decade beyond that we will be building across California," added Mr. Richard. "This is the day we commemorate the beginning of the nation's first high-speed rail project that promises to connect Northern, Central and Southern California like never before," said Fresno Mayor Ashley Swearengin. "Are we capable of making similar serious investments for future generations? The answer is not only yes we can, but yes we will," said U.S. Congressman Jim Costa.
Gina McCarthy, administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, said the all-electric trains, running on renewable energy, will take cars off highways and provide an effective alternative to flying on jet fuel, which pumps far more greenhouse gas into the atmosphere.
"High speed rail is good for our health, it is good for our climate and it is good for our economy," she said.
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California high speed rail is a project of national significance as it represents the start of a new era of transportation planning in America. In addition to providing a new high-capacity transportation system, the project will reduce congestion on highways and runways, spur statewide rail modernization, encourage transit-oriented development, revitalize American manufacturing, help solve climate change, and create new economic development and millions of jobs.
High speed rail sets up America to save energy, money, and time - year after year. It delivers a fast and reliable mobility option, it protects the nation from energy price spikes, and increases national security by reducing our dependency on foreign oil. More
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High speed rail delivers!
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Amended MONTHLY MEETING AGENDA (13th January 2015)
Other Railway Press and Events
| Planning tomorrow’s smart city: Turning plans into reality |
Make your city ready for the challenges of the future by joining UITP in Brussels, on 22 January 2015.
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What can you expect during this Seminar?
> Presentations on the successful principles of Integrated Mobility Plans with practical examples from cities like Munich, Oslo, ...
> An interactive breakout session where you will discuss the key factors for a successful Integrated Mobility Plan with other participants
> A high-level panel discussion about Smart Cities and the role of technologyCheck out the detailed programme on http://www.uitp.org/
> Presentations on the successful principles of Integrated Mobility Plans with practical examples from cities like Munich, Oslo, ...
> An interactive breakout session where you will discuss the key factors for a successful Integrated Mobility Plan with other participants
> A high-level panel discussion about Smart Cities and the role of technologyCheck out the detailed programme on http://www.uitp.org/
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SmartRail World
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