International & Uk Railway News Wednesday 16th January 2013

International Railway Journal

ALSTOM handed over the first of 19 Citadis low-floor LRVs for Paris light rail Line T7 to Mr Jean-Paul Huchon, chairman of Ile-de-France Transport Authority (Stif), in a ceremony at its La Rochelle plant on January 12.

AFTER almost four years of delays, the president and CEO of Attiko Metro Mr Christos Tsitouras and Mr Dimitrios Dinopoulos, representative of concessionaire Themeli finally signed the contract for the extension of the Athens light rail network to Piraeus port on January 14.


www.progressiverailroading.com US News

BNSF to voluntarily revise on-the-job injury policies per OSHA pact

House passes Hurricane Sandy relief bill

L.A. port breaks ground on yard project, reports year-end volumes

Metro Transit ridership tops 81 million in 2012

Genesee & Wyoming, RailAmerica report traffic declines for December

NCTD advances PTC installation on Coaster system

Chilean blueberries to be imported through Georgia port

Rail supplier updates from BNSF Logistics, RailComm, Railinc and Bombardier (Jan. 16)


www.railway-technology.com Updates.

Construction starts on Yunlin high-speed rail station in Taiwan
Canadian Pacific opens new intermodal facility in Saskatchewan
China Railway Construction secures contracts worth $1.4bn
Construction on Crossrail Custom House station to start this week
Rail.One to supply concrete sleepers for Honam Line in South Korea

Other News....

Shedmaster Railway News

News from ushsr, French railway supply industry, and Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) has opened its new intermodal facility at Saskatchewan's Global Transportation Hub (GTH) in Regina, Canada.

World Heritage & Railway News
100 years of station master memories.....


Railway Engineering News
railwaygazette.com reports.. - SOUTH KOREA: Rail.One has won a contract to supply concrete sleepers for the Honam high speed line. More than 530 000 twin-block sleepers will be installed on the 222 km line from Osong to Mokpo.





Network Rail

Join as apprentice to earn your degree, says Network Rail chief

 

There are around 240 places available on the 2013 Network Rail advanced apprenticeship scheme, and chief executive David Higgins 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” says Higgins. Whether you join straight from school or after college or work, the apprenticeship programme can be the first step to a challenging career. An apprenticeship can also open doors to a university education. 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. Former apprentice now maintenance team leader, Camilla Banner, 24, said: "I am thrilled to have completed my HNC and although it was difficult it has really helped to get me ready for the rest of my degree. By the end of next summer I hope to have completed my foundation degree in engineering and then onto the bachelors. My depot and Network Rail as a whole have been really great with supporting me during my studies and I look forward the successfully completing in 2015."
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 Higgins 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.” By far the largest number of recruits (50) Network Rail is seeking, is along the Great Western route where billions of pounds is being invested in electrifying the railway over the next few years. With this and further investment across Britain, today’s apprentice could tomorrow, be part of one of the biggest infrastructure projects in the country.

Notes:

*Employees who undertake the two-year HNC part-time course, continue to carry out their roles within maintenance depots and elsewhere in the business. Network Rail pays for the university fees, accommodation and gives them time off to attend classes and examinations. It now offers up to 40 places a year to both those who have come through the apprentice scheme as well as those who have taken a different route.

About the Network Rail Advanced Apprenticeship SchemeA three-year programme that equips you with the skills and experience to become a maintenance engineering technician. www.facebook.com/ontrack
There are five engineering programmes: track, signals, electrification and plant, signal design, and telecoms. Each one gives you the chance to work in a critical area of the business, where your development will continue beyond the three years of the scheme.Paid learningIn the first year, apprentices will be paid £8,400 + £1,150 when they successfully finish the year; the salary will rise to £11,750 in the second; and £14,000 in the third.

In the first year, Network Rail will also feed, pay for accommodation and provide the clothing and personal protective equipment that they need – including safety boots, cargo trousers and a fleece. There are plenty of holidays: 28 days plus bank holidays in total. Network Rail will pay for apprentices to travel home for long weekends and Christmas, Easter and summer holidays.

 

QualificationsAfter three years, apprentices will have the qualifications (NVQ, BTec and ILM (Institute of Leadership and Management)) and skills to develop a long-term career with Network Rail. Many apprentices complete their first year and soon start to think about their career options – and many set their sights on becoming technical officers, team leaders or managers. There are even further opportunities to study a foundation degree for those who demonstrate the commitment and ability.