International & UK Railway News Saturday 25th October 2014

..Total Railway News

HS2 presentations, and developing the supply chain..or helping businesses engage with the project.
Crewe is optimistic, Stoke isn't...and when the next part of the route beyond Manchester is revealed, who knows who is going to be either happy or otherwise with decisions as to the route being taken...


Yorkshire train travellers are not altogether happy about their journeys...in aging "Pacers", with no immediate hope of an improvement to the "nodding donkeys"(as they are affectionately known!)
And , a month on, Chiltern passengers will be used to the  "Leaf Fall Timetable".....


In India, the Konkan Railway battles on.... servicing debt seems its biggest challenge..
And environmental group Earth Justice continues to urge appropriate action regarding oil terminals and their related activity... a California oil train terminal, faced with a lawsuit, is closing down.


For more details, click on the links....






Headlines
UK
How Britain is training China’s rail safety staff.(Global Rail News)


High speed rail 'tsar' to spark fresh controversy with new HS2 route and stations recommendations.(This Is Money)


Stoke-on-Trent Central MP Tristram Hunt calls for 'realism' on HS2 bid.(The Stoke Sentinel)


HS2: Phase two report proposes new station for Crewe.(BBC News)


HS2 - Engine for Growth

Supply Chain Conference 2014

The Supply Chain Conference 2014 was the second conference held by HS2 to help promote business engagement with the project. The aim was to ensure that the best companies can identify and compete for contract opportunities.
To facilitate this, we require our main contractors to use open procurement tools and to simplify the procurement process as much as possible in order to reduce barriers for SMEs.
Companies should start preparing now: We want you to get on board and play a part in delivering this nationally important project.

Presentations and Speeches 

Supply Chain Conference 2014 Presentation - Simon Kirby
Supply Chain Conference 2014 Presentation - Beth West
Supply Chain Conference 2014 Presentation - Alistair Kirk

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Supply Chain Conference 2014 Speech - Simon Kirby
Supply Chain Conference 2014 Speech - Beth West
Supply Chain Conference 2014 Speech - Alistair Kirk
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HS2 calls on industry to prepare for one of world’s largest construction projects








23 October 2014

£10bn worth of contracts available for first phase between West Midlands and London

800 delegates from around 500 hundred firms will converge on Manchester Central conference centre today to hear from High Speed Two (HS2) Ltd about what will be needed from industry, as preparations are made to start building the first section of Britain’s new north-south high speed rail network, between the West Midlands and London.
HS2 Ltd is gathering together representatives from the rail, construction and associated industries to get them geared up to bid for work building Europe’s largest infrastructure project, due to start in just over two years’ time
Commenting ahead of the conferences, HS2 Ltd Chief Executive Simon Kirby said:
“The pace of HS2’s development is accelerating so we’re ready to hit the ground running, assuming Royal Assent in 2016.  It is excellent to see such massive support and interest from industry in making HS2 a reality and this is a great opportunity for us to meet companies from across the country.
 “To build HS2 between the West Midlands and London is a huge undertaking: £10bn worth of contracts and at peak construction we’ll be employing around 40,000 people to deliver the first part of this strategically important piece of infrastructure that is an investment in the country’s future stretching decades ahead.”
Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said:
“HS2 is a vital part of the government’s long-term economic plan, creating tens of thousands of job opportunities for people and businesses across the country.
“This supply chain summit is crucial to ensure UK industry, people and businesses are well placed to take advantage of the tremendous opportunity the new railway presents. It is imperative we make the best use of our skills and workers in building the high speed rail network and squeeze every possible benefit from HS2.”
Underling the national significance of HS2 is the geographical spread of firms attending either event from Dundee to Devon, Pembroke to north Norfolk. And businesses as disparate as train manufacturers and heavy engineering bridge builders to archaeology consultants and sign designers are signed up to attend.
HS2 Ltd’s Manchester conference was preceded by a similar event in London on 17 October.
The bill to build and operate Phase One of HS2 is currently progressing through Parliament.

Download a full copy of the press release here




Future events....
Trevor Foulkes, Head of Control Systems at HS2 Ltd. will be addressing the Institution of Railway Signal Engineers on Tuesday 28 October. The event is entitled DAS & ATO for Main Line Railways and is held at the LT Museum in Covent Garden, London.
For more details about the event, visit the IRSE website:
http://www.irse.org/events/default.aspx


London to West Midlands Project Director of HS2 Ltd, Roy Hill, will be part of a panel discussing the sustainability of the HS2 project for London on 3 November.
The event is fully booked but for more details, including a list of panellists, please visit the ICE website:
http://www.ice.org.uk/Events-conferences/Events/HS2-Debate


HS2 Ltd’s Technical Director, Andrew McNaughton, will be delivering the keynote speech at the Bentley Year in Infrastructure Conference.
Professor McNaughton will be speaking on; innovation, business benefits and best practices in the application of technology in the design, construction and operations of infrastructure.
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Cowley line passenger train service planned for Oxford.(BBC News)




Chiltern Railways.


Just in case you missed this announcement from 28th September 2014?

Leaf fall timetable starts from Sunday 5 October

   

Don’t forget that like every autumn, all trains on the Aylesbury via Amersham line towards London Marylebone will depart up to three minutes earlier than normal. 
On the Birmingham to London Marylebone line trains wil arrive up to three minutes later than normal into London Marylebone.


We need this extra time because autumn leaf fall means that our trains can’t go as fast as normal. Leaves are blown on to the rails by passing trains.  Rain and the pressure of heavy trains going over them then creates a hard surface on the rails, which not only makes it difficult for the wheels to grip the tracks but it is also very difficult to remove. It’s so slippery, our drivers compare it to black ice.


Changing our timetable means we have a much better chance of keeping to time so that services can run smoothly and without disruption.
The leaf fall timetable is displayed in our timetable



Chiltern Railways at London Marylebone.

Buffet cars to be axed from Hitachi's East Coast Main Line trains.(Northern Echo)


Stephen Joseph: The Pacer train embodies our transport woes.(The Yorkshire Post)


A critical time for the future of rail services in Yorkshire.(The Yorkshire Post)


Former trams figure to run Caledonian Sleeper.(The Scotsman)


Seen it all on the Tube? Tell us the most surprising things you’ve seen… (London Evening Standard)

UK Heritage

Courtesy: Howard Sprenger at Raildate

EVENTSAll details are correct to the best of my knowledge, but no responsibility is accepted for inaccuracies or changes.

24/10/14- Mid-Hants Railway: Autumn Steam Gala26/10/14 http://www.watercressline.co.uk/

25/10/14 London Omnibus Traction Society: Autumn Transport Spectacular http://www.lots.org.uk/

25/10/14 Wimborne District Society of Model Engineers: Halloween Open Day http://wdsme.co.uk/

25/10/14 Rushton, Higham & Wellingborough Railway: Hallowe'en Ghost Train http://www.rhts.co.uk

25/10/14- Sandtoft Trolleybus Museum: Twilight Trolleydays26/10/14 http://www.sandtoft.org

28/10/14 Ecclesbourne Valley Railway: Half Term Operating Day

http://www.e-v-r.com

29/10/14 Foxfield Railway: Halloween Steam Cream Land Cruise Train

http://www.foxfieldrailway.co.uk/events.php

30/10/14 Ecclesbourne Valley Railway: Half Term Operating Day

http://www.e-v-r.com

31/10/14 The Battlefield Line: Hallowe'en Night Trains

http://www.battlefieldline.co.uk

31/10/14- Mid-Hants Railway: Wizard Weekend02/11/14 

http://www.watercressline.co.uk/

01/11/14 The Battlefield Line: Bonfire Night Spectacular

http://www.battlefieldline.co.uk

01/11/14 Swadlincote Meccano and Model Railway Exhibition 2014 Hill Street Church, Swadlincote, Derbyshire
1000-160001/11/14- Friends of the Cromford Canal - Horseboat trips02/11/14 http://www.cromfordcanal.info/

01/11/14- Leawood Pumping Engine Steaming Day, Cromford Canal02/11/14 Engine in motion 1200-1600

http://www.middleton-leawood.org.uk/

03/11/14 Hampshire Industrial Archaeology Society Underhill Centre, St John's Road, Hedge End, SO30 4AF
Annual General Meeting
1930 for a 1945 start

http://www.hias.org.uk

03/11/14 Peak Railway Association (Sheffield Branch) The Harlequin Pub, 108 Nursery Street, Sheffield, S3 8GG
“Memories” a slideshow by Keith Marshall
Starts at 1930
For a requested £3 donation on the door, all welcome

http://www.peakrail.co.uk/SheffieldBranch

05/11/14 Barry Tourist Railway: Bonfire Night

http://www.barrytouristrailway.co.uk/

07/11/14 RCTS Bristol St Peters Church Hall, Church Road, Filton, BS34 7BX
"To Scotland for Steam" by Peter Groom
Starts at 1930 (room open from 1900)
Non-members are very welcome

http://www.rcts.org.uk/branches/bristol/events.htm

08/11/14 Railway Film Show St Mary's Church Hall, Thornhill Road, Ponteland, Newcastle, NE20 9PZ
Archive films (BTF films shown with the permission of the BFI)
Admission free, retiring collection, doughnuts at the interval
1500 and 1930

http://ponthistsoc.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/railway-films.html
http://www.pontelandstmary.co.uk

09/11/14 Mid-Hants Railway: Walk the Line

http://www.watercressline.co.uk/

International

China

China approves 8 railway, airport projects.(The Peninsula Qatar)

India

Ahead of Chhath Puja, Massive Overcrowding on Delhi-Bihar Trains.(NDTV)

Konkan Railway chugs through forests, hills and debt.(Business Standard)

Konkan Railway Photographs.

USA

New York Ebola patient's movements tracked to trains, taxis and the High Line.(The Guardian)

Facing lawsuit, California oil train terminal to shut down.(McClatchyDC)

See related articles at Earth Justice.