International & UK Railway News Sunday 14th July 2013

Railway News this week has been overshadowed by the two fatal accidents...Friday, July 12 at 17:14, the train SNCF Intercity Paris-Limoges No 3657 derailed at train station Brétigny Sur Orge (Essonne), with 385 passengers on board. Six people lost their lives. Early reports indicate that a loose plate between rails led to the disaster.

And the  Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railway released this statement regarding the horrific
explosions involving a runaway train of wagons loaded with crude oil....

Statement on the Lac Mégantic Tragedy
Our hearts go out to the Lac Mégantic Community for the tragedy that unfolded in their town on July 6, 2013.  The anguish of what has transpired in the deaths of so many is great, and words cannot express how deeply we feel for the pain and uncertainty being experienced by so many.
The Montreal, Maine and Atlantic (MMA) Railway is sincerely committed to safety and that commitment involves not only working with authorities to prevent incidents, but also fully understanding incidents when they occur. We are committed to providing all resources and information at our disposal to assist public safety officials in their endeavors.  MMA staff is onsite in Lac Megantic and more continue to arrive on the scene to offer what assistance they can.
Finally, we would like to express sincere gratitude to the first responders, who’ve been working valiantly to contain the situation, to civic organizations that have provided care to a community in great need, and to the citizens of Lac Mégantic who’ve shown the heart of their town in the selfless care extended to neighbors. Your efforts are making a difference at a very difficult time.

 Steam Tube and The Railway Chronicle join in expressing sincere condolences to all those affected by these tragic events. Doubtless there will be thorough investigations, adjusted safety procedures and increased maintenance checks with the hope that such occurences never happen again.

Shedmaster Railway News

National Rail Enquiries - Future Engineering Works

GE Transportation’s Trip Optimizer achieves 100 million miles of revenue service


World Heritage & Railway News

Minehead Turntable « West Somerset Railway






APHTRO : Asia Pacific Heritage and Tourist Rail Organisation 
http://www.aphtro.org/


I am delighted to inform you that APHTRO, Asia Pacific Heritage and  Tourist Rail Organisation
has been launched.
At the business session, 7 July 2013, of our second conference in Kota  Kinabalu, Malaysia,
a resolution of launching APHTRO was passed unanimously.

I hope APHTRO activities will contribute to progressing of our  heritage and tourist railways,
by uniting our forces through mutual co-operation.

Kyoichi Oda

President
Asia Pacific Heritage and Tourist Rail Organisation


Our Aims and Roles

1. A Non-profit body to represent heritage and tourist railways and museums in the Asia - Pacific region.
2. To provide Discussion forum for meetings, newsletters and website to share and exchange any experiences, ideas and information.
3. To promote the sustainability of its members and to support the operation of members’ activities by:
 a) Making submissions to and liaising with governments or local authorities as when requested its members.
 b) Providing access to advice, assistance and information on technical and marketing matters etc.
4. To generate good relationship for mutual benefit with other international organisations of heritage and tourism sector.
5. To explore and formulate bi-lateral / multi-lateral funding / programmes.
6. To convene an Annual General Meeting and to promote conferences with relevant themes.

Railway Engineering News

HS2 is vital for Britain's prosperity (guardian.co.uk)


HS2

Consultations on draft Environmental Statement and Design Refinement about to close.


9 July 2013

HS2 Ltd’s consultations on the draft Environmental Statement (ES) and Design Refinement (DR) are about to close.  Those who wish to respond have until and including Thursday 11th July to submit their views.

Around 5,340 people attended the recent consultation events which ran along the 140 mile route for Phase One of HS2, between London and the West Midlands.

At the 26 events, held between 22nd May and 29th June, people spoke with HS2 Ltd’s engineers and environmental specialists about the current plans to develop the railway in an environmentally acceptable way and integrate the line into the local landscape.  They could also ask questions about construction methods and the proposed changes to the design of the railway line, known as the design refinements.

HS2 Ltd Head of Consultation, Farahnaz Ashouri, said:

“These consultations are a crucial step forward for the project and the attendance figures at the events prove that people are willing to engage with us and to give us their views.

“We welcome the feedback we have received so far and we encourage as many people as possible to respond to both consultations by 11th July.”

Consultation on the draft ES is not a statutory requirement but the Government views it as an important way of ensuring widespread engagement on the scheme.

Over the next few months the responses to both consultations will be analysed independently and will help inform the preparation of the Environmental Statement, which is a key part of the hybrid bill due to be laid in Parliament by the end of this year.
Further information about these two consultations and how to respond can be found in our Draft Environmental Statement and Design Refinements Consultation section.