ALSTOM has signed an agreement with Williams Hybrid Power to adapt energy storage technologies originally developed for the 2009 Williams Formula One car for use on light rail vehicles.
BIDS will be submitted to Hungary's National Info-communications Services Company (NISZ) this week for a contract to extend GSM-R coverage to a further 905 route-km of the country's main line network.
RUSSIA's Gorkovskay Railway announced on January 11 that it will invest an additional Roubles 1.4bn ($US 46.1m) in 2013 to complete improvements to railway infrastructure in the Russian Republic of Tatarstan ahead of the World Student Games that is being held in the region in July.
POLISH operator Regional Railways (PR) has issued a tender for a contract to carry out a major upgrade of 44 EN57 emus..
FYRA high-speed services linking Amsterdam and Belgium, which were withdrawn on January 18, remain suspended following a ban by the Belgian National Safety Authority (DVIS) on the operation of the V250 emus in Belgium except for testing.
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www.railway-technology.com Updates
Australia completes $1.05bn Southern Sydney Freight Line Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) has completed the A$1bn ($1.05bn) Southern Sydney Freight Line (SSFL), which is intended to speed up the movement of freight trains through Sydney.
US DoT announces funds for Woodward streetcar project in Detroit
The United States Department of Transportation (DOT) has announced that it has provided a $25m TIGER grant to build the Woodward Ave. streetcar line in Detroit, Michigan, US.
BNSF to increase capital investment to $4.1bn in 2013
BNSF Railway Company (BNSF) has unveiled plans to invest $4.1bn on capital expenditures (CAPEX) in 2013, an increase of $450m (11%) compared to the 2012 capital spending budget of $3.6bn.
Massachusetts unveils plans to improve rail infrastructure
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) in the US has unveiled its 21st-Century Transportation Plan to improve rail infrastructure and services across its service area over the next decade.
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Shedmaster Railway News
railwaygazette.com shares this item from bbc.co.uk -
It is 20 years since rail privatisation was set in motion. Are fares higher or lower today than they were under British Rail?
World Heritage & Railway News.
Live in York? Then this will be of interest from the National Railway Museum...
nrm.org.uk - This weekend only: fantastic FREE offers for YorkCard holders See the Residents Festival 2013 website for more information about the festival.
Railway Engineering News
From siemens.com - We will release our first quarter results for fiscal 2013 on January 23, 2013. The press conference will be broadcast live on the internet.
ALSTOM
Press Release.
During the third quarter of 2012/13, Alstom kept a sustained pace of order intake in a still challenging environment
22/01/2013
Over the third quarter 2012/13 (from 1 October to 31 December 2012), Alstom registered a sustained level of orders at €5.1 billion, up 3% compared to the same period last year. Transport continued to deliver a very sound commercial performance with orders at €1.7 billion. Thermal Power received orders of €1.6 billion during the third quarter with fewer large projects but a continuous flow of small to medium-sized contracts. Finally orders in Renewable Power reached €0.6 billion, significantly up compared to the two previous quarters and Grid registered a solid €1.1 billion of orders. The Group's sales pursued their recovery and were up 1% over the third quarter 2012/13.
For the first nine months of 2012/13 (from 1 April to 31 December 2012), Alstom's order intake came up to €17.2 billion, a 14% increase compared to the first nine months of 2011/12. Orders growth continued to be supported by emerging markets representing 48% of the total orders at the end of December 2012, as well as by a robust demand in Transport. The Group's sales reached €14.7 billion, up 3% compared to the first nine months of 2011/12.
At €52 billion on 31 December 2012, the backlog represented 30 months of sales.
"In an environment that remains challenging, we achieved a solid third quarter 2012/13, with orders at €5.1 billion, in spite of fewer large projects in Thermal Power. Demand continues to be active in emerging markets for all Sectors, whilst Transport booked a large number of contracts in Europe during the period. The book-to-bill is over 1 for the 9th quarter in a row. Thanks to our current dynamic commercial activity, we expect order intake to be strong in the fourth quarter with sales continuing their recovery”, said Patrick Kron, Alstom’s Chairman & Chief Executive Officer.
For the first nine months of 2012/13 (from 1 April to 31 December 2012), Alstom's order intake came up to €17.2 billion, a 14% increase compared to the first nine months of 2011/12. Orders growth continued to be supported by emerging markets representing 48% of the total orders at the end of December 2012, as well as by a robust demand in Transport. The Group's sales reached €14.7 billion, up 3% compared to the first nine months of 2011/12.
At €52 billion on 31 December 2012, the backlog represented 30 months of sales.
"In an environment that remains challenging, we achieved a solid third quarter 2012/13, with orders at €5.1 billion, in spite of fewer large projects in Thermal Power. Demand continues to be active in emerging markets for all Sectors, whilst Transport booked a large number of contracts in Europe during the period. The book-to-bill is over 1 for the 9th quarter in a row. Thanks to our current dynamic commercial activity, we expect order intake to be strong in the fourth quarter with sales continuing their recovery”, said Patrick Kron, Alstom’s Chairman & Chief Executive Officer.
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Network Rail - Press Releases.
Job and skills charter for Grand Central Birmingham
Birmingham City Council, John Lewis and Network Rail have signed a Jobs and Skills Charter today which will help local people access more than 1,000 new jobs created by the development of the new Grand Central Birmingham shopping centre and Birmingham New Street station.
The Charter sets out how the organisations will ensure Birmingham’s diverse community, including young unemployed people, have access to the opportunities being created by the development in the city centre which will be anchored by a 250,000 sq ft John Lewis shop due to open in Autumn 2014, providing three-quarters of the 1,000 jobs available.
Working with local colleges and universities, training providers as well as specialist agencies including Jobcentre Plus, the Skills Funding Agency and National Apprenticeship Service to ensure skills, training and access are a top priority is the key commitment within the Charter. The overall aim is to support the growth of Birmingham as a world class destination, offering a quality experience at Grand Central and New Street station that delights customers, residents and visitors.
Sir Albert Bore, Leader of Birmingham City Council said “This is another illustration of our commitment to helping local people into work. I am delighted that John Lewis and Network Rail have signed up to working with us to provide an opportunity for our priority groups to access the new jobs which are arising out of this investment.”
Andy Street, Managing Director of John Lewis said “Our aim as an employer is to reflect the community in which we trade and I am delighted to sign this Charter, which underlines our commitment to providing local jobs for local people. We want to ensure that the opportunities created by the new Grand Central development are accessible to all and benefit Birmingham and we look forward to welcoming new Partners into our business.”
Dyan Crowther, Network Rail Route Managing Director added: “The redevelopment of Birmingham New Street will transform the experience for the thousands of passengers who use the station every day and allow it to handle the ever increasing numbers of people who want to use the railways.”
“This investment in our transport infrastructure will also give John Lewis and Grand Central the opportunity to offer exciting new retail opportunities in the heart of the city, helping to stimulate regeneration and create one thousand new jobs. We’re delighted to be working alongside Birmingham City Council and John Lewis to open up those opportunities to the local community.”
ERTMS train for Hertford National Integration Facility takes shape.
Work on preparing for the latest test facility on the national rail network is progressing well, with the refurbishment of the train at Wembley and training of signallers at King’s Cross.
Working with local colleges and universities, training providers as well as specialist agencies including Jobcentre Plus, the Skills Funding Agency and National Apprenticeship Service to ensure skills, training and access are a top priority is the key commitment within the Charter. The overall aim is to support the growth of Birmingham as a world class destination, offering a quality experience at Grand Central and New Street station that delights customers, residents and visitors.
Sir Albert Bore, Leader of Birmingham City Council said “This is another illustration of our commitment to helping local people into work. I am delighted that John Lewis and Network Rail have signed up to working with us to provide an opportunity for our priority groups to access the new jobs which are arising out of this investment.”
Andy Street, Managing Director of John Lewis said “Our aim as an employer is to reflect the community in which we trade and I am delighted to sign this Charter, which underlines our commitment to providing local jobs for local people. We want to ensure that the opportunities created by the new Grand Central development are accessible to all and benefit Birmingham and we look forward to welcoming new Partners into our business.”
Dyan Crowther, Network Rail Route Managing Director added: “The redevelopment of Birmingham New Street will transform the experience for the thousands of passengers who use the station every day and allow it to handle the ever increasing numbers of people who want to use the railways.”
“This investment in our transport infrastructure will also give John Lewis and Grand Central the opportunity to offer exciting new retail opportunities in the heart of the city, helping to stimulate regeneration and create one thousand new jobs. We’re delighted to be working alongside Birmingham City Council and John Lewis to open up those opportunities to the local community.”
ERTMS train for Hertford National Integration Facility takes shape.
Work on preparing for the latest test facility on the national rail network is progressing well, with the refurbishment of the train at Wembley and training of signallers at King’s Cross.
Due to start work this summer, the Hertford National Integration Facility (HNIF) will see European Train Control System (ETCS) kit from four suppliers put through its paces on a 5-mile section of the Hertford loop.
Unit 313121 is being converted into a laboratory train to test ETCS technology prior to the roll-out on the mainline network. Painted in Network Rail yellow and temporarily stripped of its bogies, 313121 will be refurbished and equipped with the latest ETCS equipment, including a technician’s workstation, before taking to the railway again.
Rob McIntosh – Network Rail’s project director for ETCS and traffic management, said: “Our facility at Hertford, and the train that will run on it, are further steps towards improving the railway across the country. Vital lessons have already been learned during our trials on the Cambrian Lines and now we are refining our knowledge in preparation for the future installation cab signalling on Great Western and East Coast main lines.
“This will begin the process to allow us to make better use of capacity, as well as saving money and adding another layer of safety to an already very safe railway.”
The test train will also be utilised to support other projects on Network Rail, including Thameslink. For that reason the 313’s bogies have been sent away for a full C4 overhaul to avoid the need for any heavy overhaul / maintenance during the lifecycle of the testing programme.
Meanwhile the interior of the train has been stripped for refurbishment and the driver’s cab is being re-designed in readiness for ETCS installation, including the Driver Machine Interface (DMI). As part of the ETCS installation on this train, duplicate screens will be set up in the second cab position and passengers in the train will also be able to see the images, plus high-definition views front and back on 42-inch plasma screens.
To allow for the operation of HNIF, bi-directional signalling has been installed on the northern section of the Hertford Loop, to allow the down line between Molewood Tunnel and Langley South junction to become a test facility. During peak hours the section will be part of the normal railway, but when ETCS testing is required the block will be ‘switched out’ – switching control from King’s Cross signal box to a laboratory facility being built at Hitchin.
In preparation, a WestCAD desk has been installed at King’s Cross to signal the loop, with a duplicate signalling simulator to train staff in its operation. The rest of the King’s Cross area is signalled using a traditional panel, with a mix of solid state and relay interlocking.
Join as a West apprentice to earn your degree, says Network Rail chief.
There are 85 places available on the 2013 Network Rail advanced apprenticeship scheme in the south and south west of England, the company announced today.
Unit 313121 is being converted into a laboratory train to test ETCS technology prior to the roll-out on the mainline network. Painted in Network Rail yellow and temporarily stripped of its bogies, 313121 will be refurbished and equipped with the latest ETCS equipment, including a technician’s workstation, before taking to the railway again.
Rob McIntosh – Network Rail’s project director for ETCS and traffic management, said: “Our facility at Hertford, and the train that will run on it, are further steps towards improving the railway across the country. Vital lessons have already been learned during our trials on the Cambrian Lines and now we are refining our knowledge in preparation for the future installation cab signalling on Great Western and East Coast main lines.
“This will begin the process to allow us to make better use of capacity, as well as saving money and adding another layer of safety to an already very safe railway.”
The test train will also be utilised to support other projects on Network Rail, including Thameslink. For that reason the 313’s bogies have been sent away for a full C4 overhaul to avoid the need for any heavy overhaul / maintenance during the lifecycle of the testing programme.
Meanwhile the interior of the train has been stripped for refurbishment and the driver’s cab is being re-designed in readiness for ETCS installation, including the Driver Machine Interface (DMI). As part of the ETCS installation on this train, duplicate screens will be set up in the second cab position and passengers in the train will also be able to see the images, plus high-definition views front and back on 42-inch plasma screens.
To allow for the operation of HNIF, bi-directional signalling has been installed on the northern section of the Hertford Loop, to allow the down line between Molewood Tunnel and Langley South junction to become a test facility. During peak hours the section will be part of the normal railway, but when ETCS testing is required the block will be ‘switched out’ – switching control from King’s Cross signal box to a laboratory facility being built at Hitchin.
In preparation, a WestCAD desk has been installed at King’s Cross to signal the loop, with a duplicate signalling simulator to train staff in its operation. The rest of the King’s Cross area is signalled using a traditional panel, with a mix of solid state and relay interlocking.
Join as a West apprentice to earn your degree, says Network Rail chief.
There are 85 places available on the 2013 Network Rail advanced apprenticeship scheme in the south and south west of England, the company announced today.
Of these, by far the largest number of recruits (50) Network Rail is seeking, is along the Great Western route where millions of pounds is being invested in electrifying the railway over the next few years.
Network Rail’s Western route managing director, Patrick Hallgate, wants parents, educators and young people alike to realise the future career opportunities that an apprenticeship can bring, including a university education at work.
“There are many paths to achieve a successful career,” Patrick Hallgate said. “Whether you join straight from school or after college or work, the apprenticeship programme can be the first step to a challenging career.”
Whilst many apprentices go on to be team leaders and rise through the ranks, Network Rail also helps those who want to achieve further qualifications the chance to study part-time for a Higher National Certificate in engineering and then onto a foundation degree and a bachelors at Sheffield Hallam University.
One apprentice who has benefited from this career path is Michael Groves, 25, a senior technical officer based in Gloucester. Michael has just been promoted to become efficiencies and innovation programme manager. He had left sixth form in May 2005 after completing his A-Levels.
He said: “I then scanned the internet and newspapers on a regular basis looking for ways to get into engineering without going straight to university. The Network Rail apprenticeship scheme was advertised in a national newspaper and the opportunity was too great to miss.
“After a number of selection days and interviews over the summer, I began the
scheme in September. After a year of training at HMS Sultan I was deployed into the delivery unit at Gloucester where for the next two years I learnt on the job with the track maintenance teams and in the technical office.
“In May 2008 I completed the apprenticeship scheme and was appointed as a technical officer. A year in this role then led to a promotion to senior technical officer and at the same time I was accepted onto the Foundation Degree (Railway Engineering) course at Sheffield Hallam University. I successfully completed the course with a distinction, and have now been invited back to top up this qualification to a Bachelor of Engineering degree.
“Although I am currently working as a senior technical officer, I will begin a new role as efficiencies and innovation programme manager at the start of 2013.”
Network Rail apprentices spend a year training alongside the Royal Navy at Europe’s largest engineering training facility at HMS Sultan in Hampshire. There they learn both the technical skills required to work on the railway and develop leadership and teamwork behaviours to make them more effective in their roles. For the next two years they learn their trade, working within an experienced team, continuing to return to HMS Sultan regularly for additional courses and training.
Mr Hallgate added: “Network Rail’s success is defined by our people. We need a highly skilled workforce to meet the challenges of a busier network and focus on improving performance and increasing capacity. It makes absolute sense for us to develop the talent we have coming through our apprenticeship scheme to complement our experienced engineers. This pipeline of talent development will help us retain and attract more quality people, which will help us meet the tough challenges ahead to deliver a better value railway for Britain.”
Nationally, there are around 240 places available on Network Rail’s five engineering programmes, including track, signals, electrification and plant, signal design, and telecoms. As well as the 50 places available along the Western route, there are a further 35 places available along the Wessex route in the south of England.
Network Rail’s Western route managing director, Patrick Hallgate, wants parents, educators and young people alike to realise the future career opportunities that an apprenticeship can bring, including a university education at work.
“There are many paths to achieve a successful career,” Patrick Hallgate said. “Whether you join straight from school or after college or work, the apprenticeship programme can be the first step to a challenging career.”
Whilst many apprentices go on to be team leaders and rise through the ranks, Network Rail also helps those who want to achieve further qualifications the chance to study part-time for a Higher National Certificate in engineering and then onto a foundation degree and a bachelors at Sheffield Hallam University.
One apprentice who has benefited from this career path is Michael Groves, 25, a senior technical officer based in Gloucester. Michael has just been promoted to become efficiencies and innovation programme manager. He had left sixth form in May 2005 after completing his A-Levels.
He said: “I then scanned the internet and newspapers on a regular basis looking for ways to get into engineering without going straight to university. The Network Rail apprenticeship scheme was advertised in a national newspaper and the opportunity was too great to miss.
“After a number of selection days and interviews over the summer, I began the
scheme in September. After a year of training at HMS Sultan I was deployed into the delivery unit at Gloucester where for the next two years I learnt on the job with the track maintenance teams and in the technical office.
“In May 2008 I completed the apprenticeship scheme and was appointed as a technical officer. A year in this role then led to a promotion to senior technical officer and at the same time I was accepted onto the Foundation Degree (Railway Engineering) course at Sheffield Hallam University. I successfully completed the course with a distinction, and have now been invited back to top up this qualification to a Bachelor of Engineering degree.
“Although I am currently working as a senior technical officer, I will begin a new role as efficiencies and innovation programme manager at the start of 2013.”
Network Rail apprentices spend a year training alongside the Royal Navy at Europe’s largest engineering training facility at HMS Sultan in Hampshire. There they learn both the technical skills required to work on the railway and develop leadership and teamwork behaviours to make them more effective in their roles. For the next two years they learn their trade, working within an experienced team, continuing to return to HMS Sultan regularly for additional courses and training.
Mr Hallgate added: “Network Rail’s success is defined by our people. We need a highly skilled workforce to meet the challenges of a busier network and focus on improving performance and increasing capacity. It makes absolute sense for us to develop the talent we have coming through our apprenticeship scheme to complement our experienced engineers. This pipeline of talent development will help us retain and attract more quality people, which will help us meet the tough challenges ahead to deliver a better value railway for Britain.”
Nationally, there are around 240 places available on Network Rail’s five engineering programmes, including track, signals, electrification and plant, signal design, and telecoms. As well as the 50 places available along the Western route, there are a further 35 places available along the Wessex route in the south of England.
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