International & UK Railway News Monday 6th October 2014

..Total Railway News




UK Eurostar's 40% stake could be down to zero.....how will the railway hold up this winter....RMT leader not happy....book advance fares to get price advantages before holiday season in December bites...stay alert at level crossings....


Click on the links...




Headlines
UK
French investors eye UK's Eurostar stake. (travel weekly)





HS2: East Cheshire residents 'in limbo' over planned new railway line.(BBC News)

Week-long Autumn storms to batter Britain and bring travel chaos.(Express)


Mick Cash interview: Disillusioned with Labour, RMT union chief plots a new party for the left.(The Independent)


Garden Cities plan as Clegg looks to reopen railway lines to help build new homes.(The Yorkshhire Post)


Clegg reveals railway line plans.(Gainsborough Standard)


Going by train this Christmas? You need to book your ticket NOW or face a tenfold rise in price.(Mail Online)


Rail bosses quick to deny rip-off allegations.(West Briton)


Rail crossing crackdown to boost safety.(The Star)


Related Item from Network Rail

Level Crossings

There are approximately 6,500 level crossings in Britain; a legacy of a network built 150 years ago when there were fewer and slower trains, and no cars on the road. Network Rail has a national safety awareness and improvements programme investing £130m in closing and upgrading level crossings and a national advertising campaign See Track/Think Train.

There are approximately 6,500 level crossings in Britain. Every day they protect us from one of the busiest rail networks in the world. Level crossings are a result of how the railway was developed over 100 years ago when there were far fewer trains, at slower speeds and fewer people and road traffic. If you were building the railway now, you wouldn’t put in any level crossings.

There are many different types of crossings, all with different safety measures in place from signs, to barriers and klaxons. See http://www.networkrail.co.uk/level-crossings/types-of-level-crossing/.

Network Rail is investing £130m in the next couple of years to reduce risk at level crossings and improve safety. The ongoing programme of activity includes:

- Network Rail’s dedicated community safety team which aims to reduce railway crime

- Level crossing closure programme which has seen more than 500 closed over the past three years

- Investment in upgrading and improving level crossings

- Mobile camera enforcement vans

- National advertising, marketing and media campaign

- Developing better and cost-effective ways of detecting and recording level crossings misuse

- Working with the Police and Crown Prosecution Service to improve the prosecution of offenders

International
China
China's railway expects record holiday passengers.(People Daily)
9.1 million trips..up 10.9% on 2013...334 additional trains....


India
Bullet trains, in perspective.(Indian Express)



USA
www.progressiverailroading.com.

Gov. Malloy announces Walk Bridge replacement

 

 

Amtrak adds Wi-Fi, other amenities to Hoosier State service

 

 

Revisions to proposed PHMSA rule would better enhance rail safety, ACC says

 

 

Railroad equipment investments to accelerate, leasing and finance foundation says

 

 

North Carolina Railroad corridor greatly impacts state's economy, study shows

 

 

Seattle, Tacoma ports support tens of thousands of jobs, study shows

 

 

SEPTA issues safety reminder following trespasser fatalities

 

 

• Oregon DOT issues 'Drive Less' challenge 

CTAA(Community Transportation Association of America
USDOT Unveils $3.6B to Make Transit Systems Climate Resilient
Source: The Hill
The Department of Transportation (DOT) announced $3.6 billion in disaster relief funding for communities affected by Hurricane Sandy to help build public transit systems that are resilient to the impacts of climate change. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx, joined by White House adviser John Podesta, unveiled the funding for projects in Staten Island, N.Y. Roughly 90 percent of the funds will go to projects primarily in New York and New Jersey, which sustained the worst damages from the storm. The rest of the funds will go to transit systems in Connecticut, Washington D.C., Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Pennsylvania



www.cer.be. CER- The Voice of European Railways

SAVE THE DATE

Can rail help deliver a brighter future for Europe?
Thursday, 4 December 20149:00 - 10:30
Stanhope Hotel
Rue du Commerce 9 - 1000 Brussels

In Europe, demand for transportation is set to increase in the coming decades, both for passenger and freight. At the same time, Europe faces pressing challenges such as congestion, energy scarcity and the rising price of petrol. If solutions are not found urgently, these challenges are likely to have a negative impact on mobility and the economy.

Can Europe successfully address the strategic challenges it faces without compromising on mobility?

The European Commission´s 2011 Transport White Paper presented a strategy to address these challenges. In particular, the White Paper advocates a substantial modal shift towards rail. CER and its members recognise that for this vision to become reality, a number of actions need to be implemented, and not just within the rail sector. At the political level, strategies also need to be deployed. Only then can rail become the preferred transport mode of the future for both passengers and freight customers.

How can the EU support this transition towards the railways of the future?

What can the Member States do?

 This will be the focus of an event organised by CER in Brussels, on 4 December, with the kind support of the Italian Presidency.

Italian Transport Minister, Mr Maurizio Lupi, has already confirmed his participation as keynote speaker.

 Further details will be provided soon. Meanwhile, we kindly ask you to save the date in your agenda.

If you already wish to register, please fill in this form before 28 November 2014.

Should you need more information on this event, please contact Agnese Danelon

(Agnese.Danelon@cer.be / +32 (0)2 213 08 66).


Press Release Brussels, 6 October 2014 Rail Sector Urgently Needs Adoption of Technical

CER- The Voice of European Railways

Press Release.

Brussels, 6 October 2014

 

Rail Sector Urgently Needs Adoption of Technical Pillar of the Fourth Railway Package

On 8 October, EU Transport Ministers will meet in Brussels to discuss the Fourth Railway Package. In view of this important meeting, the Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies (CER) and the European Rail Industry Association (UNIFE) reiterate the European rail sector´s concerns on the lack of action on the Package’s Technical Pillar (i.e. the revision of the Regulation establishing a European Railway Agency, the Directive on rail interoperability and the Directive on rail safety). Broad consensus has long been reached on this part of the Package and, thus, the sector urges the Italian Presidency and the Council to begin trialogues on the Technical Pillar between the Council, Parliament, and the Commission to expedite its adoption.

The adoption of the Technical Pillar will enable the rail sector to realise the benefits of more efficient procedures for vehicle authorisation and safety certification, both in terms of time and cost. Currently, it often requires months and years before new vehicles can enter into service and market entrants still face huge administrative burdens when applying for the required safety certificates. The Technical Pillar provides a new legal framework that will enhance the free and safe movement of passengers and freight on the European railway network, and help create a more competitive and fair market for rail products. This is why the Technical Pillar, and its promotion of true European processes for authorisation and safety certification is urgently needed to overcome the current cumbersome situation, and to ensure that the railway sector regains competitiveness in Europe.   The Italian Presidency has an opportunity to negotiate the Technical Pillar during its term and the European railway sector hopes that the Presidency will seize this chance to support the competitiveness of the European railway operators and the European rail industry.   CER Executive Director Libor Lochman said: “The rail market opening is an important challenge. However it will not deliver if the technical and operational means are not available for a reasonable price within the reasonable time. Therefore, the first part in this process is to proceed with the Technical Pillar as quickly as possible. It is high time to dedicate all resources available and to open trialogue discussions right away. We cannot wait any longer!”   UNIFE Director General Philippe Citroën asserted, “There has been widespread agreement throughout the sector on the reforms set forth in the Technical Pillar of the package. In order to continue to push modal shift and make railways more competitive and attractive, the efficiencies that would be created by the Technical Pillar are desperately needed and I urge the European institutions to split the Package and swiftly initiate the trialogues!”

Pillar of the Fourth Railway Package On 8 October, EU Transport Ministers will meet in

Other Railway Press










SmartRail World
Procurement underway as California project seeks 95 high-speed trains.

Expressions of interest in the manufacture of up to 95 trainsets for California’s High-Speed Rail project and accompanying maintenance facilities are now being sought. With a deadline of October 22nd, manufactures will have to be quick to submit initial proposals for the supply of up-to 95 high-speed trains, capable of speeds of up to 354 km/h, and construction of light and heavy maintenance facilities. The $68 billion high-speed rail network will connect Los Angeles with San Francisco and by 2029, the system will cover this distance in under three hours at speeds capable of over 200 miles per hour. Plans also exists for the system will eventually extend to Sacramento and San Diego, totalling 800 miles with up to 24 stations

Read more » www.railway-technology.com UK designates Tyne Valley Line as community rail service The UK's Department of Transport has designated the Tyne Valley Line between Newcastle and Carlisle as a community rail service.          Bombardier contracted to maintain NJ Transit's River Line light rail system Rail manufacturer Bombardier Transportation has been contracted by New Jersey Transit Corporation (NJ Transit) in the US to deliver operations and maintenance services for its River Line light rail system.          DB Schenker Rail UK to deploy stop-start technology in locomotives The UK division of rail freight company DB Schenker Rail (DBSR) has introduced auto-engine stop-start technology in its ninety Class 66 locomotives.          TfL launches public consultation for Bakerloo line extension Transport for London has launched a public consultation on plans to extend London Underground's Bakerloo line from Elephant & Castle station through Southwark towards Lewisham, Bromley and Hayes.