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October 20, 2014

International & UK Railway News Monday 20th October 2014


PhotoPhotoPhoto


Crossrail moves on...tunnel work now 87% complete with Docklands and south east London works finished...And SmartRail World's Luke Upton speaks with the MTR Corporation (Crossrail) Limited's  CEO Jeremy Long.....
The UK's National Audit Office looks at the performance of the Department of Transport...
Network Rail draws compliments in Russia..
Stadler does an express finish (within a year!) for Stockholm...
A look at the Lac- Megantic tragedy (from the TSB Canada)
Lessons to be learned....................


Click on the links....








Headlines
UK
(* denotes subscription required)


Crossrail.




PRESS RELEASE
Crossrail completes tunnels in Docklands and southeast London
 
·         Tunnel machine Ellie spectacularly finishes journey at Victoria Dock Portal
·         Ellie completes her 900m journey in just six weeks, travelling as far as 46 metres per day
·         The ‘final push’ begins on Crossrail train tunnels, now 87% complete, from Whitechapel towards Farringdon
 
Crossrail’s train tunnels in Docklands and southeast London are now structurally complete, following the breakthrough by tunnel machine Ellie at Victoria Dock Portal in east London.
 
Also announced today, tunnel machine Elizabeth has started the final push west from Whitechapel that will see her and sister machine Victoria complete Crossrail’s train tunnels at Farringdon next year.
 
Tunnel machine Ellie had one of Crossrail’s shortest but most complex drives, 900m from Limmo Peninsula, near Canning Town, to Victoria Dock Portal. Ellie successfully navigated the Docklands Light Railway, Jubilee line and utilities, all in close proximity to the River Thames and River Lea. She completes a set of Crossrail tunnels in east and southeast London that stretch from Plumstead to Whitechapel, with an additional spur between Stepney Green and Stratford.
 
It is Ellie’s second drive, having already completed a 2.7km stretch from Pudding Mill Lane to Stepney Green. She will now be dismantled and returned to manufacturer Herrenknecht, with the parts recycled for future projects.
 
Simon Wright, Crossrail’s Programme Director said: “The end is in sight for Crossrail’s tunnelling marathon. Having successfully delivered all bored tunnels west of Farringdon and east of Whitechapel, we now begin the final push to complete tunnelling at Farringdon next year. The next challenge is to fit out the tunnels and stations with systems to run Crossrail trains through central London in 2018.”
 
Tunnel machine Elizabeth is 60% through Crossrail’s longest drive, a distance of 8.3km from Limmo to Farringdon. She has already successfully negotiated Canary Wharf Crossrail station and Stepney Green cavern, before waiting in Whitechapel ahead of the completion of a shaft beneath Durward Street. The drive to Farringdon will reach the deepest point on the Crossrail route, approximately 40m beneath street level near the Barbican in the City of London.
 
Each of Crossrail’s eight tunnel boring machines weighs 1,000 tonnes, is up to 150 metres long and 7.1 metres in diameter. They are staffed by teams of 20 working around the clock. Crossrail’s eastern tunnels are built by Dragados Sisk Joint Venture.
 
Ends




Soothing blue platform lights will be trialled in railway stations to tackle the rise in suicides on the tracks.(Mail Online)


Investment in Yorkshire rail links ‘could earn billions for economy’.(The Yorkshire Post)


The app now arriving at Platform 1 . . . rail puts digital on track.(FT.com*)


Northern star.(The Sunday Times*)


Signals of decline mount for rail route.(The Times*)


Cashback reward for rail passengers who avoid rush hour .(The Times*)




Photo
National Audit Office



Departmental Overview: The performance of the Department for Transport 2013-14

This Departmental Overview is one of 17 we have produced covering our work on each major government department. It summarises our work on the Department for Transport 2013-14.
            

Downloads

This guide is designed to provide a quick and accessible overview of the Department and focus in particular on where we believe the Department’s performance could be improved, using examples from our published work. They cover:
  • The department’s responsibilities and how it spends its money
  • Financial management
  • Reported performance
  • Issues identified in NAO reports
October 2014




International
Australia


Regional Rail Link: Rail Industry Experience Week
(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.


Canada






Lac-Mégantic MMA Train Accident - 6 July 2013
TSBCanada on YouTube
Animation - Sequence of events in the Lac-Mégantic derailment and fire

On 6 July 2013, a unit train carrying petroleum crude oil operated by Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railway (MMA) derailed numerous cars in Lac-Mégantic, Quebec, and a fire and explosions ensued.








France
Alstom to supply 12 metro sets for Lines 2, 5 and 9 of the Paris metro


Russia

Russian Railways on YouTube


What does Russia live by?
Russia is the world’s largest country with great history. What does Russia live by?


Network Rail hailed in Russia.(Global Rail News)


Sweden
Stadler produces first intercity for Sweden in record one year time(European Railway Review)


USA
www.progressiverailroading.com.


    • USA


    New Features:

     Central Valley Farmers Refuse to Give up Fight vs. High-Speed Rail.(Breitbart California)


    Other Railway Press

    www.railway-technology.com.



    Turkey's 79km-long section of Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway project to complete in 2015
    Turkey Transport Minister Lütfi Elvan has announced that the construction of a 79km-long railway route in Turkey is to be completed in 2015.            
    New Mexico Border Authority selects HNTB for new rail bypass feasibility study
    The New Mexico Border Authority in the US has selected construction management firm HNTB to conduct a feasibility study for a new rail bypass and international rail border crossing near the Santa Teresa port of entry into Mexico. 
                Siemens plans to bid for passenger rail projects in Mexico
    Siemens is reportedly planning to bid on a range of upcoming railway projects in Mexico, despite missing the recent tender for a high-speed passenger train project in the country. 
                Chinese consortium submits sole bid for Mexican rail project
    Mexico's Transport and Communications Ministry has announced that a Chinese consortium has submitted the only bid for a high-speed passenger train project between Mexico City and Queretaro    .




    SmartRail World
    SmartRail Speaks: Jeremy Long, CEO European Business, MTR Corporation
    "We were delighted to be awarded the operating concession for Crossrail. It’s a hugely exciting new train line that will making travelling across London easier than ever before. Not only will it make people’s lives easier, it will also transform travel habits of Londoners, encouraging people to re-think where they travel and explore new areas."
    Today SmartRail Editor, Luke Upton speaks to Jeremy Long, CEO European Business at MTR Corporation, one of the most interesting and progressive organisations in rail today. MTR was established in 1975 as the Mass Transit Railway Corporation with a mission to construct and operate an urban metro system to meet the transport needs of Hong Kong. In June 2000 it was re-established as MTR Corporation Ltd and in October 2000 was listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Since then MTR has expanded from its home base in Hong Kong to include international rail business in Stockholm, Beijing, Shenzen and Melbourne. In 2014 it was confirmed that MTR Corporation (Crossrail) Limited, have been awarded the Crossrail Train Operating Concession. The service will commence in phases from 2015 to 2019.
    Luke Upton, SmartRail World Editor (LU): Thanks fo the time today, as CEO, European Business could you give us a little introduction into your role at MTR Corporation?
    Jeremy Long (JL): Not a problem Luke, as Chief Executive Officer of the European Business of MTR Corporation, my role is to oversee all of our ventures in Europe which include the running of MTR’s London Overground joint venture with Deutsche Bahn, MTR’s Metro concession in Stockholm and the forth coming intercity service in Sweden. I also manage all franchise bids and other business development activity, including the recent successful bid for Crossrail. MTR is growing both at home in Hong Kong and here in Europe, we are therefore always looking for potential attractive opportunities to invest, tender and engage – whether it be operations, infrastructure, stations, rolling stock or other businesses.


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