World Railway News.... 26th July 2012

International Railway Journal

Genesee & Wyoming Australia (GWA) has ordered five narrow gauge locomotives to cater for increased volumes and replace older locomotives on the 1067mm-gauge network that it manages for steel making and miner Arrium (formerly OneSteel), based in Whyalla, South Australia...

DENVER's Regional Transportation District's (RTD) board of directors has approved Kiewit Infrastructure's proposal to complete the 16.9km, I-225 light rail line, an extension of the existing line to Nine Mile by six stations to Peoria by November 2015. ...

THE European Commission (EC) has authorised an Austrian government scheme to subsidise railfreight operations for five years from December. According to the EC, the €1.18bn programme is compliant with EU rules on state aid ....

www.progressiverailroading.com US Railroad News

For the latest US railroad news......

Surface Transportation Board proposes rule reforms, proceeding to provide captive shippers 'rate relief'

Amtrak forges $7 billion revitalization plan for D.C.'s Union Station

MTA's financial plan shows balanced budget in 2012 and 2013, but deficits thereafter

Denver RTD to contract Kiewit Infrastructure to build I-225 light-rail line

Local government association approves Valley Metro's light-rail plan, route

TriMet posts record annual ridership of 102 million trips

Sen. Durbin, CSX CEO Ward discuss rail safety

Alameda Corridor construction authority seeks bids for grade separation work


www.railway-technology.com Latest News

3M introduces two anti-graffiti overlaminates
UK-based technology firm 3M has introduced two new overlaminates to protect train graphics and surfaces from damage caused by spray painting, felt tip markers and other methods.       
                   
Bombardier to deliver 20 additional LRVs to Manchester Metrolink
Bombardier Transportation, along with its consortium partner Vossloh Kiepe, has signed a deal with Transport for Greater Manchester's (TfGM's) Metrolink system to supply 20 additional Flexity Swift light rail vehicles (LRVs).       
                   
UK awards £4.5bn train contract to Agility Trains consortium
The UK Department for Transport (DfT) has awarded a £4.5bn contract to Agility Trains to build 596 railway carriages at a new train factory in the north east of England as part of the Intercity Express Programme (IEP).       
                   
Walsh Construction to build railroad trench in San Gabriel, US
The Alameda Corridor-East (ACE) Construction Authority has awarded a $172.6m contract to Walsh Construction to build a railroad trench in the city of San Gabriel, California, US.       


Read Future Rail Here....
Dear colleague,    
The latest issue of Future Rail has arrived!
Read your free copy now .....
As hundreds of thousands travel to London this summer, the Olympic city's infrastructure is in for a busy ride. We find out which measures have been put into place to ensure rail passengers' safety and security during the Games.     

We also find out why more and more cities are opting for fully automated, driverless metro systems and what it will mean for safety and service, profile recent light rail projects to identify the benefits and challenges of the light rail option, and explore the technology behind the most successful airport rail services. Moreover, we round up the latest trends in carriage interiors and find out how new ticketing initiatives will make international travel more seamless.

Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) UK

Regulator welcomes railways transparency push - and signals more to come.


The Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) has today launched a consultation seeking views on the publication of greater information about Britain’s railways costs, safety and performance.
 Over the past year, the railways have led improved transparency in the transport industry, publishing an array of new statistics for the first time, including ‘right time’ punctuality data and financial figures on the costs and funding of Britain’s railways. This information has enhanced accountability across the rail industry, towards delivering better services and value for money for passengers and taxpayers.

 Office of Rail Regulation Chief Executive, Richard Price, said:
 "Transparency of cost and performance data is important because it helps the industry, its customers and its funders to understand the real story around what the rail sector costs and how it performs, and whether they are getting value for money.

 "Too often the rail industry has shot itself in the foot by holding data back and looking like it has something to hide. I am delighted that the train operators and Network Rail have started to put that right. I want to see the next steps to make customers and taxpayers much better informed. And I want the railways funders to have much more clarity on how their money is used, and better choices on what they buy from the rail industry in the future."

 Today’s transparency consultation seeks views on how the rail industry can build on this progress, asking where it should be providing even more information, and how this information can best be made publicly available. To participate in the consultation, visit: http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/server/show/ConWebDoc.10984
 The consultation is published alongside new research exploring the impact of publishing more information on train seat availability, which indicates that passengers are keen to see more detail to help them avoid busy trains. To view the research in full, visit: http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/swt-crowding-data-research.pdf