World Railway News... 24th July 2012

International Railway Journal

AEROEXPRESS, a subsidiary of Russian Railways (RZD), opened its latest airport rail link on July 20 with the launch of a new service between Vladivostok and Knevichy Airport.

THE Port of Bordeaux Authority has awarded Eurotunnel subsidiary Europorte Socorail an eight year contract to operate and maintain railway infrastructure in the port area.

KIEV metro operator Kiev Metropolitan today signed a contract worth around $US 134m with Kryukov Wagon Plant, Ukraine, for the modernisation of 95 type E and Ezh metro cars.

Rumo Logistics, a subsidiary of Brazil's Cosan group, has placed two orders worth a total of Reais 41m ($US 20m) for 200 sugar and ethanol wagons.

www.progressiverailroading.com US Railroad News

Genesee & Wyoming: RailAmerica acquisition would mean more growth, diversification in addition to more railroads

USDOT doles out FY2012 state-of-good-repair grants

Union Pacific Railroad proposes to build one of Texas' largest classification yards, Hearne mayor says

Arlington County board signs off on long-range capital plan

Cleveland transit agency records another ridership increase in June

Track relocation-related contract let for TransLink's Evergreen Line

Indiana Rail Road teams up with Arrow Reload to co-market transload services

VIA Rail, Air Transat to offer rail and air ticket packages

Intermodal design seminar to be part of AREMA's annual conference

www.railway-technology.com Latest News..

Siemens begins delivering railcars to Bangkok Mass Transit
Siemens has begun delivering 35 additional metro cars ordered by Bangkok Mass Transit (BTSC) in Thailand to lengthen existing trains from three to four cars, in a bid to meet passenger demand.       
                   
Australia completes Hexham loop of Northern Sydney Freight Corridor project
The Australian government, in conjunction with the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC), has completed the new passing loop at Hexham, spanning from North Strathfield through Sydney's northern suburbs to Newcastle, as part of the A$1.1bn ($1.1bn) Northern Sydney Freight Corridor Upgrade project.       
                   
Thailand to fund Laos rail link extension
The Government of Thailand has agreed to provide THB1.6bn ($50m) to support the extension of the Tha Na Laeng to Vientiane, Laos, railway line.       
                   
Nippon Sharyo opens rail car plant in US
Japanese company Nippon Sharyo has opened its first US rail car manufacturing plant at Rochelle, Illinois, built at a cost of $50m.


Office of Rail Regulation (UK)

Britain's railway one of the safest in Europe - ORR annual health and safety report 2012
 Britain has one of the safest railways in Europe, but the industry must develop better safety management systems to maintain improvements, says the Office of Rail Regulation’s (ORR) annual health and safety report.

 ORR’s annual health and safety report 2011-12 provides an update on key health and safety issues facing Britain’s railways. This year’s report highlights a number of successes, including:
A reduction in the level of passenger harm - with the number of passenger journeys taken into account, the overall rate of harm decreased by 12% over the past year, to the lowest level ever recorded.

  London Underground, Overground and Docklands Light Railway all achieved a year without any workforce and industry caused passenger fatalities.
  Level crossing safety improved, as levels of recorded harm reduced by 15% over the past year, maintaining historically low rates.
 The report also highlights some areas of concern, on which the regulator is pressing for improvements:
  An increase in the number of potentially higher risk train accidents from 18 to 34 over the past year – but still the second lowest total on record.
  Workforce safety on the mainline railway deteriorated slightly, with increased levels of harm to train drivers and on board crew. With the number of workforce hours taken into account, the rate of harm increased by 4% over the past year.

  ORR’s safety enforcement on heritage railways increased, as the number of improvement and prohibition notices to ensure safety on the lines increased from four in 2010-11 to ten in 2011-12.
 ORR's Director of Rail Safety, Ian Prosser, said:
 "It is to the rail industry’s great credit that safety on Britain’s railways is now largely taken for granted, comparing favourably to travel by road.
 "Our 2012 health and safety report shows that Britain continues to have one of the safest railways in Europe. Indeed, safety on our railways is improving in key areas, with latest data highlighting that passenger harm has reduced to its lowest ever recorded level.
 "However, over the past year we have had to step in to ensure safety on mainline and heritage lines, and train and freight services. It is vital that the whole rail industry continues to work together, builds on its successes, and tackles areas where there is room for improvement.
 "Over the coming year, our inspectors will focus on helping the industry to develop a cutting-edge approach to safety. This will mean the industry making greater use of proactive, forward-looking safety systems, implementing change safely against a background of industry reform and embedding a professional culture where health and safety is ‘front and centre’ of everything it does. This will be the key to long-term sustainable success."
 To view the press release in full, visit: http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/server/show/ConWebDoc.10983
 To view ORR's annual health and safety report, visit: http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/health-safety-report-2012.pdf