New Tube trains... but eventually no drivers! Less than 10 years away......so expect "discussions"....
Speaking of which, Bomardier is a preferred bidder to supply the new trains...
Abellio is the new ScotRail franchisee... and Hitachi gets the nod to provide new trains....
A £30 million fund to support businesses near HS2 is launched today...
In Uganda, an $8billion dollar project gets under way.....
Australia looks to recruit skilled workers....
And in the USA, freight movements are not as fast as the producers would like... is oil being given priority.....? Not according to the key carriers........
And Dawlish is in the news again.....
Click on the links....
Headlines
UK
Rail link hit again as 'rogue' wave halts train at Dawlish.(Western Morning News)
Revealed: Inside the new 'driverless' Tube trains to be phased in on London Underground from 2022.(London Evening Standard)
London Underground: Designs for Tube trains unveiled.(BBC News)
BombardierR_UK@BombardierR_UK
We are delighted to have received formal notification we are among the short-listed bidders that will be invited to bid for the transformational 'New Tube for London' contract. We are currently delivering the first air-conditioned, walk-through trains for London Underground's sub-surface line routes, which are receiving a great response from the travelling public and we intend to use our strong pedigree in metro manufacture and award-winning service support to offer London Underground and its passengers a truly compelling vision for the future of tube travel in London. 2014-10-10
London Tube strike suspended after 'substantial progress' made in talks, RMT announces.(London Evening Standard)
Aberdeen rail station set for £2.5m of Abellio improvements.(BBC News)
Record View: Scotland's £6bn railway deal is on the wrong track.(Daily Record)
Full steam ahead for Borders Railway(ITV News)
Making tracks: Borders rail project is on time.(heraldscotland)
Metro bosses bring in new 24hr a day technology in battle against leaves on the line.(Chronicle Live)
Grand Central to invest in its services.(The York Press)
Cross-party support growing for HS2 in North says rail boss.(The Yorkshire Post)
GOV.UK.
£30 million HS2 community and business support funds launched.
New grants to support communities and businesses near HS2.
Communities and businesses near the new HS2 high speed railway will benefit from grants worth millions, Transport Minister Robert Goodwill announced today (10 October 2014).
The Community and Environment Fund (CEF) and the Business and Local Economy Fund (BLEF) will make up to £30 million available for residents and local communities between London and Birmingham to invest in public projects such as the refurbishment of local community centres, nature conservation and measures to support local economies and employment.
Community groups, charities, non-governmental organisations and business support organisations will be able to bid for grants from the new funds, which are expected to be rolled out when construction starts in 2017, following Royal Assent of the High Speed Rail (London to West Midlands) Bill. Grants will be awarded until the end of HS2’s first year of operation in 2026.
Robert Goodwill said:
HS2 is crucial to the long-term prosperity of this country. It will free up space on our railways, cut journey times between our biggest cities and drive forward our economy for years to come.The 2 funds are in addition to the extensive plans already in place to minimise the impacts of HS2’s construction and operation. These include the comprehensive package of compensation and assistance for property owners, which the government set out earlier this year, and the wide ranging measures that we will put in place to enable local people and businesses to obtain employment and contracts arising from construction and operation of the railway.
However, it’s only right we do all we can to help those living and working close to this vital railway. These new funds, totalling £30 million, are in addition to the comprehensive package of support we have already announced and will further help communities and businesses make the most of this once in a generation scheme and crucial part of the government’s long-term economic plan.
Local authorities and environmental groups have spoken in favour of the establishment of a Community Fund, similar to the Countryside Initiative which was set up as part of constructing HS1.
The CEF will support local projects that bring community and environmental benefits to areas affected by HS2. Part of the pot will fund small scale community projects, the remainder will fund larger schemes that have third party or match funding.
Local authorities and business groups have also spoken in favour of the need for measures to support local economies that may be impacted by HS2 construction works. The BLEF will do just that by inviting business groups to bring forward projects that will maintain business activity and employment in their local communities.
The not-for-profit charity New Philanthropy Capital (NPC), which has extensive experience of similar grant schemes, will be working with HS2 Ltd to ensure the funds are delivered in the most effective way possible. This will include engagement with local authorities and local enterprise partnerships along the route to get their feedback on the proposals for the detailed eligibility and application criteria for the fund. These are expected to be published in 2015, enabling local communities to plan ahead.
======================================================================
Network Rail comment on this week’s disruption on the Great Western Main Line
A Network Rail spokesperson, said: “We are sorry for the problems that have affected train services on the Great Western Main Line this week. Performance has been well below the standards passengers deserve and expect.
“We are acutely aware of the frustration and inconvenience felt by passengers when things go wrong. We are working constantly across the rail network to improve the reliability of train services, investing billions over the next five years across the West's rail network to improve signalling, replace old equipment and bring in new modern technology and new trains to provide more reliable train services.
“This week we have not been able to provide the reliability passengers expect for which we apologise. We are wholly focused on delivering a new, modern, reliable rail network for London and the West. “
Hitachi Rail in Europe - (HitachiBrandChennel on YouTube)
Hitachi draws on many years of experience as a leading supplier of high-speed trains such as the Shinkansen (bullet train) for the Japanese and international markets. In Europe, Hitachi Rail Europe's first rolling stock contract was to deliver a fleet of 29 Class 395 trains, the first domestic high-speed train in the UK. The trains are maintained at Hitachi's state of the art depot in Ashford, Kent.
Hitachi to build ScotRail EMUs.(Railway Gazette)
Hitachi Rail Europe Press Release
Hitachi Rail Europe to provide new trains for Abellio franchise in Scotland
Hitachi Rail Photo.
London, 9October, 2014–HitachiRail Europe is delighted thatTransport Scotland has announced its intention to award Abellio the new ScotRail franchise. The Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme (EGIP) will be a crucial part of the new franchise, andAbellio has confirmed that Hitachi RailEurope is its preferred supplier of new rolling stock for the programme, subject to successfulconclusion of negotiations.
Andy Barr, Hitachi Rail Europe’s Chief Operating Officer, said: "We are delightedthat Abellio has selected Hitachi Rail Europe aspreferred bidderto supply rolling stockas well aslong-termmaintenance of our electrictrains.This is great news, as it is the first contract for our recently launched AT200 commuter train. These trains will bebuilt at Hitachi’s new Rail Vehicle Manufacturing Facility in Newton Aycliffe, complementing the delivery of the Class 800 and 801trains for the Intercity Express Programme, boosting jobs and growth in the North East."
Abellio, a well-known name in the UK rail market, was named franchise operator for the ScotRail franchiseonOctober 8, 2014. Hitachi Rail Europe will supply Abellio with 70 electric multiple units (EMUs), which will form 46 three-car trains and 24 four-car trains (234 rail cars). These will run on the newly electrified Edinburgh-Glasgow lineas well as on the Stirling –Alloa –Dunblane lines.They will be cleared to run throughout the wider network, which is currently being electrified.
A spokesman from Abellio said: "We are delighted at the decision of Transport Scotland toaward Abellio the new ScotRail franchise. The new fleet proposal was amajor feature in our winning bid, and we look forward now to continuing the negotiations with our preferred supplier Hitachi."
Hitachi Rail Europe will build a fleet of AT200 commuter trains. A life-size mock-up of this new development was recently presented to the UK and international rail industry. It has been designed to transform the regional commuter travel experience. With a top speed of 100 miles per hour, each unit is 23 metres in length, and features cab-end and inter-vehicle gangways to facilitate the best use of passenger space. The train has a 35-year design life andis made to complement the requirements as set out by Transport Scotland.In particular, they place a heavy emphasis on energy efficiency and weight reduction to minimise the impact on the infrastructure.
Andy Barr continued: "For ScotRail, the passenger experience was a particular area of consideration for us. We wanted to ensure that passengers have a pleasant travelling environment with adequate table and toilet facilities, LED lighting and air conditioning as standard. Power sockets and wifi are available throughout the trains, bringingmodern comforts to the travelling public. In addition to this, the spaceunderneath our cantilever seats provides room for luggage, which is supplemented by further luggage storage for commuter travel."
This is the latest contract for Hitachi Rail Europe in the UK. To date, the train manufacturer has delivered the preview service for the Class 395 Javelin™trains, Britain’s fastest commuter service, to Southeastern six months early. They remain the most reliable train fleet on Southeastern’s network. The new trains for Scotland further Hitachi’s AT200 range of trains, a custom-designed train for their passengers’ requirements.
Furthermore, Hitachi Rail has implemented new methods of vehicle construction and manufacturing based on itsA Train product platform.These methods will be employed in the construction of the AT200 trains. In addition to the Class 800/801 trains commissioned for the government’s Intercity Express Programme (IEP), the AT200 trains will be builtat Hitachi Rail’s flagship vehicle manufacturing unit in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham. The Newton Aycliffe facility will contribute 730 jobs to the local economy.
The AT200 trains, run by Abellio, will be in operation from 2017.
====================================================================
International
Australia
Regional Rail Link: Rail Industry Experience Week Promotion. (DTPLI on YouTube)
Rail Industry Experience Week will run from 20-24 October 2014 at Newport's Rail Skills Centre and provide year 10 students from schools in Melbourne's growing west an invaluable insight into the rich and varied career opportunities the rail industry offers.
During the week, students will receive construction awareness training, and experience the V/Line driver simulator, which is used in the rigorous training process that drivers undergo.
The week will raise awareness of the many roles and disciplines that exist within the rail industry, provide a greater understanding of what is involved in each, and what skills and qualifications are needed for a career in rail.
Young members of the rail industry – recent graduates and trainees – will also be present throughout the course to act as peer ambassadors to the 26 students attending from selected schools. In similar initiatives worldwide, industries have seen a greater level of engagement among participants.
The Rail Systems project team have worked closely with the Wyndham and Hobsons Bay Local Learning and Employment Network to develop this initiative.
UGANDA
South Sudan president Salva Kiir and Paul Kagame of Rwanda on Wednesday joined Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni at an event to launch the standard gauge railway project in Uganda.
The $8 billion project is expected to transform the transportation of goods and passengers in the region by significantly bringing down transit costs - See more at: http://www.ntvuganda.co.ug/news/local/08/oct/2014/museveni-launches-standard-gauge-railway-project-uganda#sthash.sxgIW6UJ.dpuf
Railway project good for Uganda.(Daily Monitor)
USA
Union Pacific affected now, too, as scrutiny widens over rail shipping delays.(Omaha.com)
Miami To Orlando High-Speed Rail May Mark Promising Return of Private US Passenger Rail.(Clean Technica)
www.progressiverailroading.com.
Recent population trends and future predictions suggest more people are moving from rural areas to urban areas of all kinds - both small and large - at the same time as health care and employment destinations are increasingly regionalized within metropolitan areas. It's these confluence of trends that make reliable, responsive and efficient mobility options in communities of all sizes more vital than ever.
Download
- Complete Edition: Small Urban Transit (PDF)(6.72 MB)
- Or Download Individual Articles featured below
Need Assistance?
====================================================================
Other Railway Press
www.railway-technology.com.
New contracts awarded for Grand Paris Express
Société du Grand Paris in France has awarded contracts management worth €700m for the construction works on North lines 14, 16 and 17 of the Grand Paris Express.
San Francisco BART sanctions $2.5m to build Pittsburg Centre Station
San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) in the US has allocated $2.5m for the construction of Pittsburg Centre Station at the intersection of Highway 4 and Railroad Avenue.
LU reveals designs for 'New Tube for London'
London Underground (LU) has introduced new designs for the 'New Tube for London', which comprises the next-generation trains that are expected to start service from mid-2020.
Abellio wins new ten-year ScotRail franchise
Dutch passenger transport group Abellio has been awarded the new ten-year franchise from Transport Scotland to operate most of the country's trains from April 2015.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Tell us your Railway News!