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October 27, 2014

International & UK Railway News Monday 27th October 2014


PhotoPhotoPhoto


Today's news is all about HS3... UK Government announcement...and quite a few regional and national newspapers' take on the story, depending on the region....
The National Training Academy for Rail , opening in Autumn 2015, received a visit from Baroness Kramer....describing it as " a crucial part of the government’s long-term economic plan to secure a better future for Britain"
Currently the House of Commons Transport Select Committee is receiving evidence  on "Investing in the Railway".... More, likely, on this tomorrow...
So, click on the links.....




Headlines
UK
Stoke HS2 dream comes to an end.(insidermedia)


'HS3' rail link for north of England backed by HS2 boss.(BBC News)


HS3: Manchester to Leeds in half an hour as rail plan is ready to depart (The Independent)


HS3: Pennines rail tunnel key to high-speed plans for the north.(The Guardian)


PM backs HS3 plans to cut journey times.(herald scotland)


David Cameron: Big benefits for North in high-speed rail revolution.(The Yorkshire Post)


Ministers give the go-ahead for THIRD high speed rail link: And we don't even know what HS2 will cost us yet! (Mail Online)


Rail-journey times 'could be halved'(herald scotland)


Better rail connections near London to receive EU support - European Railway Review


HS3: government backs faster Manchester-Leeds rail link.(The Week)


Photo


GOV.UK.
PM and Chancellor give green light to develop HS3
The rail link is part of a radical plan to improve transport in the north: the proposals will be key in creating a northern powerhouse.


As part of the government’s long term economic plan for the north, the Prime Minister and Chancellor today gave their backing to develop HS3 – a high speed rail link connecting the north’s great cities which could significantly reduce journey times across the region.
The Prime Minister and the Chancellor were responding to a report published by HS2 Chairman Sir David Higgins which sets out proposals for how to maximise the benefits of HS2 in the north and how transport links can be improved in the north of England more widely. In the report, Sir David identifies the vital importance of improving east west connectivity across the north and considers the central role a high speed rail link could play. He concludes that with a high speed link the journey time between Leeds and Manchester could be cut from around 55 to between 26 and 34 minutes.
The Prime Minister and the Chancellor have also welcomed Sir David Higgins’ recommendation that co-operation on transport issues should be formalised in the north. In response the Chancellor announced the creation of a new body called Transport for the North made up of the main northern city regions. This body will work together with other authorities and stakeholders and allow the north to speak with one voice on the big decisions to benefit the region as a whole.
The government, working with Transport for the North, will now produce a comprehensive transport strategy for the region. This will include options, costs and a delivery timetable for a HS3 east west rail connection. An interim report will be produced next March.
By combining the strengths of the north’s great cities, the government believes that the proposals will help transform the economy of the north of England and play a key role in delivering a northern powerhouse.
The government is also launching a review into the costs and time it takes to build high speed rail, drawing on international experience to find ways to bring down the costs of Phase Two and future high speed rail projects.
The report from Sir David Higgins also gives strong backing to the case for Phase Two of HS2 and sets out proposals to maximise its benefits. His proposals include bringing forward plans for a hub station at Crewe to 2027 and a fundamental review of the right solution for Leeds station to allow connections between HS2, existing rail services and improved east west connections. The government will set out its detailed plans for Phase Two in 2015.
Prime Minister David Cameron said:
Improving connectivity and reducing journey times between our great northern cities is a crucial part of our long term economic plan for the north to boost businesses and create more jobs and security for hardworking people. That’s why we are backing HS3.
I welcome Sir David Higgins’ report which will help our work to create a northern powerhouse and ensure that HS2 delivers the maximum economic benefits.
Chancellor George Osborne said:
The vision I set out earlier this year of the northern powerhouse we could build is rapidly taking shape. I asked Sir David Higgins to look at how we deliver the better transport links across the north that would make a reality of that powerhouse.
I’m delighted with the rapid response and the report. Today we take another big step forward in delivering both the HS2 links from north to south and the HS3 link across the Pennines.
On the back of new transport infrastructure, science investment and civic leadership we are well on our way to turning the Northern Powerhouse into reality.
Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said:
Our northern cities are on the brink of an economic transformation and today’s report underlines how we can secure this by bringing those cities together to maximise the benefits of good transport links.
HS2 is crucial to this, and I welcome Sir David’s findings on how we can ensure the phase two route delivers maximum economic benefits throughout the midlands and the north. But as he says, it is only through linking the east and west of the region that we can really unlock these benefits, not just along the route itself but right across the north.
We have already made great progress towards starting work on this vital project, and I will now give further consideration to Sir David’s comments.
Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander said:
We owe it to taxpayers to make sure the benefits of these projects are maximised and the costs are tightly controlled. Today’s report shows how better transport links will help unleash the north’s tremendous potential for growth which will benefit the whole of the UK.
We have asked Sir David to do some important further work on how to maximise the significant benefits HS2 will bring to Scotland. It is also essential that this project is delivered as cost effectively as possible, which is why we are doing further work to see how international best practice can reduce costs.
“As I said when I launched the National Infrastructure plan, excellent infrastructure is essential if we are to build a stronger economy and fairer society. And to deliver world class infrastructure requires that as a nation, we ‘think big’. That is exactly what David Higgins has done in his report.”




New rail academy on track to fill engineering skills gap
The new academy for rail, jointly funded by the government and the rail industry, will give a new generation of young people the skills to succeed.


Transport Minister Baroness Kramer inspected the construction work of the new training facility for rail engineering in Northampton today (27 October 2014).
Baroness Kramer at rail training academy
Transport Minister Baroness Kramer
(A GOV.UK Photo)


Opening in autumn 2015, the academy will boost the UK’s expertise and skills level in rail engineering, plugging the skills gap that could otherwise become a barrier to growth. Thousands of young people will gain vital training in specialist traction and rolling stock and many others will learn the skills they need to respond to new technology in the UK rail industry.
The Department for Transport and the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills have provided £3.5 million for the National Training Academy for Rail (NTAR), with industry partner Siemens contributing the rest.


National training academy computer generated visual.
National training academy for rail, computer generated visual still.
(A GOV.UK Photo)

Baroness Kramer said:
The academy for rail, the first of its kind in the UK, is a crucial part of the government’s long-term economic plan to secure a better future for Britain. Generations of young people will benefit from the apprenticeships and training provided here to find new jobs and get on in life.
It is great to see this academy is well on its way to becoming a much-needed facility to support our railways which are being transformed, thanks to our plans to invest more than £38 billion over the next 5 years.
The academy will be housed in a state-of-the-art facility in Kings Heath, Northampton, and will establish a centre of excellence that will combine the use of unique practical workshop facilities with classroom-based teaching.
Around 100 jobs will be created in the construction and subsequent operation of the academy.
Gil Howarth, Chief Executive of the National Skills Academy for Railway Engineering said:
Skills are the foundation of our thriving, hi-tech industry. The new National Training Academy is vital to support the development of the workforce in the rail sector, which continues to benefit from significant investment, as more and more people choose to travel by rail and trains become increasingly technologically advanced.
NTAR will collaborate with other organisations such as the National College for High Speed Rail to help build up a network of training sites to ensure the next generation of rail engineers have all the skills they need to succeed.
Currently, some 13,500 people work in specialist traction and rolling stock roles across the UK, but a future skills shortage of around 4,000 people over the next 5 years is forecast. This is due to an ageing workforce, technological advancement of rolling stock, and investment and growth in the rail industry.
NTAR will enable all organisations across the sector to access excellent training and development facilities, including passenger and freight train operating companies, train manufacturers and maintainers, equipment manufacturers and the wider supply chain.


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Commons Select Committee

27 October 2014

Transport committee holds oral evidence session on investing in the railway on Monday 27 October.


Witnesses

Monday 27 October, the Wilson Room, Portcullis House
4.05 pm
  • Isabel Dedring, Deputy Mayor of London, Greater London Authority
  • Tracey Lee, Chief Executive Officer, Plymouth City Council and Lead Chief Executive Officer for the Peninsula Rail Task Force
  • Mark Pendlington, Chairman, New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership
5.00 pm
  • Malcolm Brown, Chief Executive Officer, Angel Trains
  • Paul Francis, Managing Director, Porterbrook
  • Mary Kenny, Chief Executive Officer, Eversholt Rail Group
This is the fourth evidence session in the Transport Committee’s Investing in the railway inquiry, which aims to scrutinise the impact and deliverability of Network Rail’s £38 billion investment programme over the next five years (Control Period 5) and to identify priorities for investment after 2019.
The first panel in this session will focus on the regional balance of investment in the railway. The Committee will hear from representatives from the Peninsula Rail Task Force, New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership, and from the Deputy Mayor (Transport) for London. In the second half of the session the Committee will take evidence from the three major rolling stock operating companies—Angel Trains, Porterbrook and Eversholt Rail Group—about the capacity and quality of rolling stock on the rail network, and the leasing of rolling stock by the Train Operating Companies.
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Kenilworth station: Work to begin in the summer.(BBC News)


Rail Accident Investigation Branch(RAIB)



Annual Report published in 2014

Section 1

Report name:
141027_AR2013_Section_1
Category:
Heavy Rail,Metro,Light Rail,Heritage,Other RAIB reports
Summary: The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) today released its Annual Report for the operational period of 2013. It is published in two sections; Section 1 covers the work of the RAIB in 2013 and includes review of the industry response to the areas of risk identified by our investigations. Section 2 covers the status of recommendations as reported to the RAIB.
During 2013, the RAIB published 22 investigation reports, 5 bulletins and started a further 26 investigations.

Download report:
PDF icon 141027_AR2013_Section_1.pdf (2,351.54 kb)

Section 2

Report name:
141027_AR2013_Section_2
Category:
Heavy Rail,Metro,Light Rail,Heritage,Other RAIB reports
Summary: This document forms Section 2 of the RAIB annual report for the operational period 2013.
Download report:
PDF icon 141027_AR2013_Section_2.pdf (2,840.65 kb)



Morning Rush Hour at London Bridge




200 trains in 90 seconds! What the morning rush hour at London Bridge looks like from the Shard with the Thameslink railway upgrade happening just feet away. September 2014. (Network Rail on YouTube)




International
Australia


NSW Government announces Sydney Light Rail Project's preferred bidder
The New South Wales (NSW) Government has selected Connecting Sydney consortium as the preferred bidder to deliver and operate Sydney's CBD and South-East Light Rail Project.
UK Government backs proposed HS3 development
The UK Government has agreed to the proposed development of HS3, a high-speed rail link that connects cities in the north, in a bid to improve connectivity and reduce journey times.
China's CNR to supply metro cars for MBTA
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MBTA) has selected CNR MA, a joint-venture (JV) between China CNR Corp and CNR Changchun Railway Vehicles, for a $430.2m contract to deliver 284 metro cars for Boston's Red and Orange Lines.
MBTA completes first phase of Green Line tracking
The Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (MBTA) in the US has completed the first phase of Green Line tracking that offers real-time information and predictions to the passengers.


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The future of transport in an ageing society. ILC Global Alliance and Age UK. Hosted by Prudential


International Longevity Centre - UK


Tuesday, 28 October 2014 from 09:00 to 12:30 (GMT)


London, United Kingdom


Speakers at the event include: Christian Wolmar, Ian Pearson, Ruth Finkelstein, Geoff Green, and Sir Alan Greengross.
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UITP - Advancing Public Transport


Meet the speakers
Planning tomorrow’s smart city: Turning plans into reality
Bringing together the world's leading experts to explore the future of Smart Cities, this Seminar will provide practical examples on how to implement mobility plans and how technology can help to effectively manage urban organisation. Meet the speakers Our high-level speakers will highlight the key successful principles involved in implementing Integrated Mobility Plans (IMPs) with practical examples from their cities. An interactive panel discussion will provide inspiration on how technology and the Smart Cities concept help to optimise the efficiency of cities..
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