International & UK Railway News Friday 25th January 2013

Network Rail

Boost for passengers and economy as £20m new stations fund opens to bids

 

Local communities are to get improved access to rail services in England and Wales thanks to a £20m fund which will help towards the cost of building new stations.

The new stations fund, which was announced last year by the Department for Transport and opens for bids today, is designed to provide vital additional funding for ‘shovel ready’ projects which can be brought quickly into use for the benefit of passengers and the economy.

Organisations such as local authorities, passenger transport executives and train operating companies keen to boost economic and connectivity by providing new stations are all being encouraged to submit bids.

Robin Gisby, managing director of network operations at Network Rail, said: “Rail is absolutely vital to the economy, connecting people with jobs, bringing friends and families together and helping businesses move goods from ports and airports to our high streets.

“As more and more people decide to travel by train, it is important we not only expand capacity where it is needed but also improve access to rail travel. This fund will provide a welcome boost for all those who wish to see better rail links in their community.”

Proposed new stations must be at a sufficiently developed stage and the plans supported by train operating companies and Network Rail. While the £20m will contribute towards the cost of scheme construction, bidders must have available a portion of match funding of the project cost.

Applications will be assessed by a cross-industry panel including representatives from Network Rail and the Department for Transport. Details of the application process can be found at www.networkrail.co.uk/NSF. The closing date for submissions is 25 February 2013.

Cable theft

What we’re doing to beat the thieves ... and how you can help

Cable theft costs us more than £19m each year. The total cost to the country, taking into account the impact of freight delays to power stations, supermarkets etc and on passengers, is far higher.
The theft of metal from the rail network is a growing problem. Thieves are targeting signalling cables, overhead power lines and even metal fences to sell for scrap.
Britain's rail network is designed to fail safe, which means that when a cable is cut trains are brought to a stop. This protects passengers but can lead to lengthy, frustrating delays while the problem is found and fixed safely.
A large proportion of our funding comes from public money, so these thefts are, ultimately, costing taxpayers.

What we’re doing to prevent cable theft

We have done a huge amount of work to tackle cable theft including:

• Funding extra, dedicated British Transport Police officers around the country
• Using CCTV to alert us that people are on the network and to support the police
• Trialling methods of securing cables
• Using forensic marking agents
• Introducing cables which are harder to steal and easier to identify
• Setting up dedicated security teams

The majority of metal recycling businesses operate within the law, but we firmly believe full legislation reform is needed to help restrict the market in stolen metal.
Network Rail supports the private member's bill introduced by Richard Ottaway (Conservative, Croydon South) to regulate scrap metal dealers, currently making its way through Parliament.

How you can help

You can help by reporting suspicious behaviour on the tracks to the British Transport Police:

• 0800 40 50 40
• In an emergency call 999

We want your ideas for tackling cable theft and have outlined our main challenges and priorities:

• Tell us your ideas for tackling cable theft

Siemens

Siemens to equip Danish rail fleet with digital radio technology.

Munich, Germany, 2013-Jan-24

Siemens has been commissioned by Danish railway infrastructure operator Banedanmark to equip 840 rail vehicles with GSM-R (Global System for Mobile Communication Railways) technology. "The digital mobile radio system GSM-R has established itself as the international standard for on-board communication and is one of the key components of the Danish railway network's cross-border traffic to Germany and Sweden," said Juergen Brandes, CEO of the Siemens Rail Automation Business Unit. The vehicles will be duly equipped by the beginning of 2015. The order volume is worth around 20 million euros.

The GSM-R solution from Siemens enables the continuous transmission of movement authorities between control centers and trains on the rail network. Equipping trains with the international mobile radio standard GSM-R is one of the prerequisites for enabling railway personnel to communicate across national borders. The operation of analog, national systems will be phased out. The contract also includes training of the customer's personnel in the use of the new technology. The components will be manufactured at the Siemens factory in Poole in the UK.
 

The modernization of rolling stock with GSM-R radio devices is part of a Danish government program to renew the nation's entire railway signaling infrastructure by 2020, with the aim of increasing the capacity and reliability of overall railway operations. This is the largest and most comprehensive modernization project of its kind ever to be undertaken in Europe, for which a total of 3.2 billion euros has been made available.

Banedanmark previously commissioned Siemens in 2011 to equip the 170-kilometer-long, dual-track S-train line network in Copenhagen with an automatic train control system. The network uses Semi-Automated Train Operation (STO), which allows trains to run independently in fixed line sections at dynamically-optimized intervals, i.e. according to the moving block system. Large parts of the network are operated automatically and without lineside signals, but still call for driver involvement. This has made it possible to reduce train headways from 120 seconds to 90 seconds within the inner-city area.

 

Earnings Release Q1 FY 2013: Solid start to fiscal 2013

 

Munich, Germany, 2013-Jan-23

"In an uncertain economic environment, we got off to a solid start in fiscal 2013. For the rest of the year as well, we don't expect any tailwinds from the global economy to help us reach our ambitious goals. Our full attention is on implementing our Siemens 2014 program."

Peter Löscher, President and Chief Executive Officer of Siemens AG

Financial Highlights:*

• Revenue for the first quarter rose 2%, to €18.128 billion, supported by 4% growth in emerging markets. Organic revenue, excluding currency translation and portfolio effects, was 1% lower year-over-year.
• Orders came in at €19.141 billion, 3% below the prior-year period. On an organic basis, orders declined 5%. The book-to-bill ratio was 1.06, and Siemens' order backlog stood at €97 billion at the end of the first quarter.
• Total Sectors Profit rose 4%, to €1.698 billion, on higher profit in the Energy and Healthcare Sectors. Income from continuing operations came in slightly lower year-over-year, at €1.295 billion, while corresponding basic EPS rose to €1.52.
• Net income declined to €1.214 billion, with corresponding basic EPS of €1.42.

* Siemens' solar business was classified as discontinued operations, effective during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012, and Siemens adopted accounting standard IAS 19R (Employee Benefits) as of the beginning of fiscal 2013. Prior-period results are presented on a comparable basis.

Please read the complete Earnings Release in the attached PDF:Earnings Release

 

 

 

 

Clean Power for Transport package disappoints rail sector

The Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies (CER) has expressed disappointment at the European Commission’s new Clean Power for Transport package for largely ignoring the role that rail can play in breaking the dependence of transport on oil. The Communication on a European alternative fuels strategy, and the proposed Directive on alternative fuels infrastructure and standards, both overlook improvements that can be made to rail infrastructure, rolling stock and operations. In particular, they omit the completion of electrification of the rail network which would allow trains to run on potentially zero-carbon electricity. Unlike in other transport modes, the rail sector has the advantage that there are no technical obstacles to almost full electrification of the European rail network. Slightly more than 50% of the European rail network is currently electrified. Furthermore, the proposed Directive on the deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure is clearly aimed largely at the road sector, although the different modes of transport are not properly distinguished in it. CER Executive Director Libor Lochman said:“The major environmental problems caused by transport, in particular emissions of CO2, are in modes other than rail. CER welcomes and supports building up infrastructure for alternative fuels in all modes as part of the wider plan to achieve the 60% greenhouse gas emissions reduction target in transport by 2050. “However, the package barely mentions the role that rail can play in helping solve those problems, and in particular the need for further support to ensure that the European rail network can be fully electrified. All modes need to be supported to be as clean as they possibly can.” CER is one of eleven organisations from across industries and transport modes that have set up the Platform for the Electrification of Surface Transport. The platform, which will be formally launched in the European Parliament on Tuesday 19 March, is committed to the promotion of further electrification of surface transport on a cooperative and multi-modal basis.

 www.progressiverailroading.com US News

Alabama port authority advances intermodal facility; Canadian government helps fund Vancouver port project

Caltrans to unveil draft rail plan that incorporates California's high-speed project

CSX opens double-stack route in New England; Union Pacific upgrades Oregon line

WMATA drafts 'Momentum' plan to define transit system's future

AAR: Carloads down in U.S., up in Canada and Mexico in week No. 3

Wisconsin, Maryland officials seek new revenue sources for transportation projects

Rail-car orders, deliveries dipped in 4Q, ARCI says

Virginia transportation officials schedule public meeting to address high-speed rail plan


 

International Railway Journal

 

TURKMENISTAN's president Mr Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov signed a number of documents on January 17 that will enable its domestic railway to complete construction of a new north-south railway from Gyzlgaya to Bereket and Ertek following the failure by Iranian contractor Pars Energy to complete work on the Bereket - Etrek section on time.

FRENCH National Railways (SNCF) will today carry its 2 billionth TGV passenger since the first high-speed line opened in 1981, which it describes as a "real popular success and a European record."

US Class 1 railway CSX says it plans to invest around $2.3 bn in its business in 2013 supporting initiatives to help meet long-term demand for railfreight, improve customer service and support the company's plans for long-term growth.


 

www.railway-technology.com Updates..

Ricardo and GE showcase fuel saving potential of Class 70 locomotives in UK UK-based engineering firm Ricardo has helped GE Transportation conduct fuel consumption tests on its Class 70 railway locomotives, which could offer 18% fuel savings when compared to the Class 66 locomotives currently used on most of the UK rail freight network. 
      
CSX plans $2.3bn capital investment on rail network in 2013
US-based transportation firm CSX is planning to invest $2.3bn in 2013 to help support the demand for freight rail transportation and improve customer service. 
      
Invensys Rail wins Great Northern Great Eastern signalling contract in UK
Invensys Rail has won a £57.8m contract from Network Rail to carry out the Great Northern Great Eastern (GNGE) signalling upgrade project in the UK. 
      
Stadler Rail and AnsaldoBreda deliver first FLIRT for Emilia Romagna
A consortium formed by Stadler Rail and AnsaldoBreda has delivered five fast light innovative regional train (FLIRT) multiple-units to Ferrovie Emilia Romagna (FER) in Bologna, Italy.

Shedmaster Railway News

railwaygazette.com - USA: CSX Corp announced a 2013 capital spending programme worth $2·3bn on January 23, saying the investment would support initiatives to help meet long-term demand, improve customer service etc

europeanrailwayreview.com - DB Schenker Rail has commissioned Siemens to convert 32 of its existing series 189 locomotives for future cross-border deployment from and to Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic. To this end, the locomotives will be equipped with automatic train protection systems and components that are required on both countries’ lines. Series conversion is scheduled to start in summer 2014 at the Munich-Allach plant.




World Heritage & Railway News

From nrm.org.uk
"Whatever The Weather"

This exhibition takes you on a journey from the falling leaves and bright colours of autumn through the frost and snow drifts of winter to the grey, rainy days of early Spring. Nothing is more predictable than the changing seasons and as nights draw in and temperatures drop our thoughts naturally turn from days out to cosy nights at home.

Through their posters, railway companies work hard to keep us travelling whatever the weather. The bright colours of autumnal landscapes, winter sunshine on the south coast and the beauty of snow-covered hills are all used to tempt us out. If we are determined not to go outside then indoor activities like museums, libraries and theatres provide alternative reasons to travel.
But even after people have been persuaded to travel, the weather still causes problems. Railway companies have produced a variety of posters that explain weather issues to customers and try to head off complaints. From letting us know why leaves on the line cause such an issue, to showing the amazing efforts of wartime railwaymen clearing 5ft of snow off the lines, posters have helped the railways maintain good public relations.

The special challenges of encouraging travel in winter have inspired the best of British design from the 1920s to the present day, from leading commercial artists like Edmond Vaughan to modern design agencies like Johnson Banks.

 Railway Engineering News

railwaygazette.com - LATVIA: A consortium of Bombardier Transportation and Belam Riga has won a contract to upgrade signalling on the line from Bolderāja to Zasulauks, which runs to Riga harbour.