International Railway Journal
THE vice-president of the European Investment Bank (EIB) Mr László Baranyay signed a €152m 25-year loan agreement with Ukrainian finance minister Mr Yurij Kolobov in Luxembourg on October 25, which will be used to finance the extension of the Dnepropetrovsk metro.
JUST over a year after his hedge fund Pershing Square won its battle to oust the board of Canadian Pacific (CP) and install a new management team, billionaire investor Mr William Ackman announced on August 24 that he has sold around 5.9 million shares in the railway, roughly $US 800m of his investment.
THE FIRST of 10 Stadler Flirt emus for Györ-Sopron-Ebenfurth Railway (GySEV) was delivered to Stadler's Hungarian maintenance centre at Pusztaszabolcs on October 20 for commissioning..
BRITAIN's Department for Transport (DfT) has issued an invitation for operators to qualify to bid for the InterCity East Coast franchise, which will be let for eight or nine years with a possible two-year extension at the DfT's discretion..
www.progressiverailroading.com US News
US HSR
HIGH SPEED RAIL BEGINS CONSTRUCTION IN US!
 After decades of debate, discussion, and planning, high speed rail has officially begun construction in America! California is once again leading the charge into new territory for America - under the bold leadership of Governor Jerry Brown, and a committed legislature."Its great to see our country join the world leaders at last," said USHSR President Andy Kunz. "We are 50 years behind Japan, 30 years behind France, and light years behind China, but at least we are finally making the big move. This is the smartest thing we can do as a nation to move America towards prosperity once again, and prepare us for a bright future." Governor Jerry Brown calls rail "cheaper than the alternative, and it's a hell of a lot better." Doubling the state's highways would cost far more than building the new high speed rail system, and the new highway would quickly become more lanes of gridlock. High speed rail delivers passengers at 220 mph, even during rush hours, and vacation travel crowds.
The first part of the construction has begun involving archaeological searches for historic underground tunnels and artifacts from an 1880s-era Chinatown neighborhood in the Fresno area. More info
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DON'T MISS THE HSR EVENT OF THE YEAR!
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"This is the conference to attend," said USHSR Vice President Joseph Shelhorse. "The business and political leaders of America's first true high speed rail project are all coming to this event! This is where you want to be November 5-7!" Conference Info
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www.railway-technology.com Updates..
Petards to install digital CCTV systems on new Alstom Coradia EMU trains
Petards has received a contract to install the new Alstom Coradia Nordic X60 suburban EMU trains with its eyeTrain on-board digital CCTV systems.
Serco to operate and maintain Dubai Metro until 2019
UK-based traffic management services provider Serco Group has extended its contract with the Dubai Government Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) until September 2019 to continue to operate and maintain the Dubai Metro.
Hungary's MÁV to modernise rail network around Lake Balaton
MÁV, the Hungarian State Railways, is planning to modernise railway network around Lake Balaton, a tourist destination in the Transdanubian region of the country.
Alstom contracted to upgrade Virgin's Pendolino fleet
Alstom has been contracted to upgrade Virgin's entire UK Pendolino fleet of 56 trains in a bid to offer a better travelling experience for its customers.
GOV.UK
Transforming rail travel on the East Coast
East Coast Mainline competition documents released
The race to get the best rail services for passengers between London and Scotland officially got underway today, Friday 25 October 2013.
The publication of a series of procurement documents by the Department for Transport (DfT) marks the first step in that search for a new private sector partner to help revolutionise services on the East Coast Mainline.
The InterCity East Coast prospectus details what potential bidders will need to consider when they start developing their proposals next year. These include:
- developing innovative timetables which build on the core train service requirement published by the DfT;
- investment in innovative ways to transform the customer experience on trains and at stations;
- identifying further opportunities for investment along the route, particularly at stations;
- making the route and train operations more sensitive to the environment;
- involving communities along the route in local decision making; and
- demonstrating how their proposals will support economic growth along the route.
We want to see a revitalised East Coast railway, one that both rekindles the spirit of competition for customers on this great route to Scotland and competes with the West Coast on speed, quality and customer service.Since 2009, the East Coast franchise has been stabilised under government ownership, but management by Directly Operated Railways was never planned to be a permanent arrangement.
We need a strong partner to ensure we successfully deliver the £240 million programme of infrastructure investments on the route and the improvements in rolling stock that the multi-billion Intercity Express Programme will provide.
The government believes a strong private sector partner, as an innovator and investor, will build on this stable basis and deliver a world-class railway for passengers and best value for the taxpayer.
It expects the new partner will capitalise on the significant government investment in this route over the next 6 years, including the replacement of the current rolling stock fleet, and major infrastructure improvements such as the £72 million programme to improve the line around Peterborough and £20 million enhancements to Doncaster station.
As part of the refranchising process a series of documents are being published, including an ‘OJEU Notice’, the ‘Pre-qualification questionnaire (PQQ)’, the ‘Prequalification process document (PPD)’, the ‘Prospectus’, and the results of the East Coast consultation which asked passengers what they would like to see in the new franchise.
The prospectus describes the East Coast business as it stands today (25 October 2013) and the risks and responsibilities bidders will need to consider when preparing their bid. It also gives an insight as to what the DfT expects to see when prospective bidders are given the invitation to tender (ITT), which will ask them to set out their detailed proposals on what they will deliver for passengers.
The DfT plans to confirm which prospective bidders have passed the pre-qualification stage in January. The DfT expects to issue the ITT in February. The shortlisted bidders will then have 3 months to prepare bids, with franchise services starting in February 2015.
East Coast is one of the 2 main London-to-Scotland railways providing frequent services. It is an electrified 393 miles (632 kilometres) railway link between London, Peterborough, Doncaster, Leeds, York, Newcastle and Edinburgh.
It is one of the fastest conventional lines in the UK with most of the line being cleared for 125 miles per hour (200 kilometres per hour) operation. Non-electrified line extends further north into Scotland from Edinburgh to Inverness and Aberdeen. The services meet demand for business travel, particularly between Edinburgh, Newcastle, York, Leeds and London, leisure travel to a variety of destinations and commuter journeys, primarily between Newark, Grantham, Peterborough and London.
The launch of the East Coast competition is another milestone in the government’s refranchising programme and it follows the on time successful publication of the ITTs for Essex Thameside and Thameslink Southern Great Northern last month.
Details of the published documents are available.
Steam Tube has four copies of Adrian Vaughan's latest book "The Great Western's Last Year- Efficiency in Adversity"....
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This 240 page soft back book is a lasting tribute to the GWR attitude of "Pride in the Job"
Obtain one of these copies for £15-00 (including Post and Packaging. First come, first served.
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