International & UK Railway News Thursday 16th October 2014

..Total Railway News

The future's bright, the future's ....Hitachi InterCity Express....(Rail Minister gets a look...)
The future for the Manx Electric Railway will be brighter as long as £1.3 million can be found for repairs to the system....
The future for Stoke will be better with an HS2 station....
The future for rail travellers will be bright if they could make fewer complaints (see ORR report)
CER- The Voice of European Railways ..extols the virtues of the region's railways and their contribution to the European economy...an altogether bright and optimistic report...
And US HSR continues to promote a bright future for the USA  with high speed rail..!


Click on the links..... 

Headlines

UK

GOV.UK
Minister sees the future of Britain’s train fleet
Rail Minister Claire Perry toured a mock-up of Hitachi’s new train, part of the government’s £5.7 billion Intercity Express Programme.


Rail Minister Claire Perry visited Warwick today (Wednesday 15 October) to get a first glimpse of the new state-of-the-art train set to transform travel on some of the UK’s key rail routes.
The Minister was given a guided tour of a mock-up of Hitachi’s new train, part of the government’s £5.7billion Intercity Express Programme. The new electric and bi-mode trains will run on the Great Western Mainline from 2017 and the East Coast Mainline from 2018, bringing more capacity, as well as quicker, more reliable and greener services for thousands of passengers.
During the visit, the minister met with electrical engineering students from the University of Birmingham, many of whom could play a key role in the future of the UK’s railways.
Claire Perry said:

We are investing record amount in our railways as part of our long-term economic plan. The Intercity Express Programme, which will transform the experience of thousands of passengers travelling between some of our key cities, is a key part of that.

Today was fantastic opportunity not just to get a glimpse of what that experience will be like but also to hear the views of young engineers who could be playing a major role in the future of our railways, I was especially pleased to meet so many women who are involved in the engineering, design and management of one of Britain’s key growth industries. Like them, I can’t wait to see the first of these trains rolling out on our network.

The new trains will provide significant benefits to passengers, with 19% more seats on each train and greater reliability. Passengers travelling between London and Edinburgh on the East Coast Main Line could see their journey times reduced by around 15 minutes. The journey time between Bristol and London on the Great Western Main Line could be reduced by as much as 20 minutes.


They will be manufactured by Hitachi at a new purpose-built factory in Newton Aycliffe, Country Durham. The Intercity Express Programme, will see a total of 866 carriages manufactured for use on the East Coast and Great Western Main Lines, creating 730 jobs locally.====================================================================


Seaside railway posters make £13,207 in New York auction.(BBC News)

Manx Electric Railway track repairs 'to cost £1.3m'.(BBC News)

We take a bumpy ride on a Victorian electric railway tram on the Isle of Man to the top Snaefell Mtn 2036ft to the top on a gusty day ! (XxBec3509 on www.steamtu.be)


HS2: Stoke-on-Trent launches business case for station.(BBC News)


Staffordshire HS2 village criticises council's 'compromise'(BBC News)


MPs call for improved rail links to south-east airports.(The Guardian)

Where is Network Rail going on the transparency train?(BBC News)

Trains dump so much human waste that TOMATOES are growing in it on tracks.(The Mirror)

New Street power cut: Passengers plunged into darkness as four platforms closed (Birmingham Mail)

MP calls for Underground link between Watford, Amersham and Chesham.(Bucks Free Press)




Office of Rail Regulation (ORR)

ORR publishes latest passenger complaints data

The Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) has today published a new statistical release detailing trends in rail passenger complaints.
While rates of complaints remain historically low, latest data shows an increase in the rate of complaints compared to the same quarter last year with issues around ticketing increasing as a proportion of all complaints.
The 'Passenger Rail Service Satisfaction' statistical release contains information on complaints from passengers on various aspects of rail services up to June 2014. Latest quarterly figures from 1 April to 30 June 2014 (2014-15 Q1) show:

• The rate of complaints increased by 6.4% compared to the same quarter last year. This is the first increase in the complaints rate (on a Q1 to Q1 comparison) since 2011-12 Q1.
• Issues around ticketing are increasing as a proportion of all complaints with a rise of 4.1 percentage points to 19.8%. The comparable figure for the same quarter last year was 15.7%.
• Punctuality remains the leading cause of complaints with a 29.7% share of all complaints.
• E-mail was the main method of complaint for passengers. For 14 of the 19 franchised operating companies over 50% of complaints were received by e-mail. The exception to this is Merseyrail, who received 26% of complaints via online forums.

Read the full report: http://orr.gov.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0017/14921/passenger-rail-service-2014-15-q1.pdf.


International
CER- The Voice of European Railways

More than what you think: How railway transport contributes to the EU economy

A new study prepared by Dutch consulting company Ecorys reveals the positive economic performance of the European railway sector. The European railway sector has above-average productivity levels and is the backbone of a major export success story.

According to Ecorys estimates, the EU railway sector, so including both train operation and railway infrastructure management, directly employs 1.06 million people and directly generates EUR 66 billion in gross value added annually. Measured in these terms, the rail sector’s contribution to GDP is higher than that of air or water transport. Including indirect economic effects relating to supplier relations and to the effects of infrastructure investments leads to a total estimated contribution of EUR 142 billion – or 1.1% of EU GDP.   In terms of productivity the rail sector performs far better than what may be commonly believed. After many years of reform and restructuring, the sector’s labour productivity started to increase. Still below the economy-wide average in 2003, the rail sector had clearly overtaken the average by 2012.   The EU railway market is also the spring-board for a very successful European railway manufacturing sector. The EU railway supply industry is the largest in the world, with a 20% share in global trade. It is also a high R&D intensity sector – meaning high-skill jobs for Europe.   In a still-fragile economic environment in which growth and jobs are rightly defined as top political priorities, railway transport has much to offer. Railway companies have well-developed vocational training schemes and emerging trends suggest a good potential for new hire over the medium-run.   These findings, alongside well-established performance in environmental sustainability and safety, demonstrate the rail sector’s attractiveness for public investments. Indeed, railway infrastructure projects generate a host of wider economic benefits at the local and regional levels. The study presents four case studies of major European success stories, covering examples in high-speed rail, rail freight, and railway passenger stations.   CER Chairman and ÖBB CEO Christian Kern said: “Investing in rail means investing in the future. This is not about choosing between a cleaner environment on the one side, and growth and jobs on the other. It is in fact about getting both – it is about generating benefits in all areas.”   The study – The Economic Footprint of Railway Transport in Europe – was carried out by Ecorys for the Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies (CER). It was presented to EU policy-makers in Brussels on 15 October and is now available from the CER web-site.   India South Central Railway restores track in a record 36 hours.(Times of India) Oman First Oman Rail Track to be Laid in 2015.(MENA Rail News) USA CSX posts record 3Q 2014 results.(Railway Age) www.progressiverailroading.com CREATE program: 75th Street project moves forward; Englewood Flyover nears dedication Three universities to study fracking's impact on freight transportation patterns Rail boosts transit ridership in Houston, Twin Cities HNTB to study rail bypass, border crossing in southern New Mexico CTA to require contractors, subcontractors to pay $13 minimum wage North Carolina DOT appoints Mann to oversee rail, public transportation Badlands to develop polyethylene plant in North Dakota; NuDevco Midstream to build crude-by-rail terminal in New Mexico Rail supplier news from Siemens, GE, Wabtec, ShipXpress, Decision Lens, RailPros and Parsons Brinckerhoff (Oct. 16) US HSR CA HSR LEGAL VICTORY - OK TO SELL BONDS Project Cleared - Full Speed Ahead!        Today marks another milestone for the high-speed rail program - the California State Supreme Court denied a request to hear an appeal of two lawsuits: Part 1 of the John Tos, Aaron Fukuda and Kings County case, and the Bond Validation Action case. This is a major legal victory for the project and further affirmation that the authority is moving forward in accordance with the law.  It means the Third District Court of Appeal rulings will stand, allowing the issuance of the high-speed rail bonds and withdrawing the requirement to issue a new funding plan. "This decision reaffirms that the Authority can continue building a modern high-speed rail system that connects the state, creates jobs and complies with the law," said Authority Board Chair Dan Richard. "We will continue to move forward aggressively to deliver the nation's first high-speed rail system." "This is more great news from California - the project can now move full speed ahead!" said Andy Kunz, USHSR President. "California continues to lead the way in visionary long-range planning. This project sets the nation on a new course into 21st century transportation. Congratulations to all those who have helped deliver this important project."  More SALT LAKE CITY CAN-DO RAIL TOD PLAN City Makes Great Progress on Rail           Inclusive planning, bipartisan support and ambitious investments are fueling economic prosperity in Salt Lake City. With stories of partisan gridlock making headlines every day, Utah stands out as a model of collaborative planning for a better future. State leaders and citizens have managed to stare down a recession while making transportation investments that accommodate projected population growth and bolster the economy and quality of life. Their "special sauce"? A combination of sound fiscal decision-making, agency collaboration, and a dedication among residents to get things done for the good of the community.  More info   NORTHEAST CORRIDOR HSR ADVANCES   Open House Meetings Corridor Progress      The Federal Railroad Administration is hosting nine public open house meetings from November 5-20 to introduce the alternatives that will be evaluated in the Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Northeast Corridor high speed rail project.The meetings will be held from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the locations and dates listed. All are welcome to attend and arrive at any time during the meeting. Each open house will consist of displays outlining the NEC FUTURE program, the Tier 1 EIS Alternatives, and the next steps in the environmental review process. FRA representatives and other NEC FUTURE team members will be available to discuss the material and answer questions.  Meeting Schedule   CONGRESSIONAL PPP REPORT RELEASED  Special Panel Releases Report on PPPs         The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee's Panel on Public-Private Partnerships (P3 Panel) released its final report and recommendations on how to balance the needs of the public and private sector when undertaking P3s to finance the Nation's infrastructure. The Panel was tasked by Full Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-PA) and Ranking Member Nick J. Rahall, II (D-WV) with examining the current use of P3s across the Committee's jurisdiction - including all modes of transportation, public buildings, water, and maritime infrastructure.  The Committee's Vice Chairman, U.S. Rep. John J. Duncan, Jr. (R-TN), led the P3 Panel, and U.S. Rep. Michael Capuano (D-MA) served as its Ranking Member.  Read Report   AMBITIOUS NEW HSR PLAN INCLUDES FLIGHTS WASHINGTON - In an effort to bring the United States' transportation network "into the 21st century," President Barack Obama unveiled an ambitious new high-speed rail plan Friday that will fly Americans to Japan in order to use the island nation's extensive, state-of-the-art train system. According to the president, the $80 billion initiative will subsidize airline tickets between the U.S. and several major Japanese cities, allowing the American people to enjoy all the benefits of a modernized network of high-speed trains as soon as their international flights touch down in the East Asian country.   "After years of lagging behind other industrialized nations, this new plan at last provides our citizens with a cutting-edge passenger train network that will rival the world's most advanced transit systems," said Obama at a morning press conference, touting Japan's fast, safe, and comfortable Shinkansen rail network as a vital upgrade to the U.S.'s outdated Amtrak service. "Under this new plan, all Americans will be able to travel quickly and reliably between hundreds of destinations by simply taking a trans-Pacific flight across nine time zones and then boarding one of dozens of lightning-fast, ultramodern trains." "The transit system that the U.S. has needed for so long is now just a 7,000-mile plane journey to Tokyo's Narita International Airport and a brief passage through Japanese customs away," Obama continued. In his speech, the president emphasized the vast improvement in efficiency that would be achieved through his proposal, claiming that residents of population centers such as Miami, Seattle, and Detroit would soon have ready access to 1,500 miles of dedicated high-speed rail tracks via a short drive to their nearest airport and a series of connecting flights and layovers. Administration officials stressed that, after their transoceanic journey, Americans would be able to avoid the hassles of driving by "sitting back and relaxing" on a bullet train as they crossed the countryside at speeds of up to 200 miles per hour, passing through both major cities and smaller, rural prefectures on the Tōkaidō line and seven other reliable, congestion-free rail routes.  More info     IN CASE YOU MISSED IT... CELEBRATING HALF A CENTURY OF HSR! Japan's High Speed Rail Turns 50 This Week! This month we celebrate the opening of the Tokaido Shinkansen in October 1964, the world's first dedicated high-speed railway. The event was a momentous step forward not just for Japan but much further afield because it was a vivid demonstration to the rest of the world that rail transport had a future at a time when cars and jet aircraft were widely regarded as the way forward. Zipping cross-country in a super-high-speed train has become commonplace in many countries these days, but it was unheard of when Japan launched its bullet train between Tokyo and Osaka 50 years ago. The Shinkansen, as it's called in Japan, gave a boost to train travel in Europe and Asia at a time when the rise of the automobile and the airplane threatened to eclipse it. It also was a symbol of pride for Japan, less than two decades after the end of World War II, and a precursor of the economic "miracle" to come. Japan started building a high-speed line during World War II, but construction was halted in 1943 as funds ran out. The idea was revived in the 1950s, but many questioned undertaking such a costly project, particularly with the expansion of air travel and highways. Criticism turned to pride when construction, financed partly by an $80 million World Bank loan, was completed in time for the Tokyo Olympics in October 1964. The Shinkansen renewed interest in high-speed rail elsewhere, notably in Europe. France and Spain are among the leaders in Europe, and Turkey last year became the ninth country to operate a train at an average speed of 200 kph, according to Railway Gazette. South Korea and Taiwan also operate high-speed systems in Asia. Japanese high speed rail also helped influence China into getting into the game only recently. China has build new high speed rail systems so rapidly they quickly became the global leader in size of their system and number of trains operating daily... now more than the rest of the world put together.  More info   LAS VEGAS HSR TO CONNECT WITH CA HSR Public & Private HSR Working Together        A private train intended to whisk Southern Californians to Las Vegas casinos and resorts could boost the proposed government-owned high-speed rail connection between LA and San Francisco. A public partnership with private operators would help build segments of the system, Dan Richard, chairman of the California High-Speed Rail Authority, said in an interview. "We are not going to be a government-run railroad," Richard said. "Our business model is that the private sector will come in and bid for the right to operate on our system."     The bullet train is intended to move passengers from San Francisco to Los Angeles in less than three hours at speeds reaching 220 miles (354 kilometers) per hour.  More info Other Railway Press SmartRail World Exclusive e-book: Building the Smart Metro of the Future SmartRail World is proud to publish our latest exclusive e-book - Building the smart metro of the future where you will learn more about the growing need to develop a smart, sustainable and competitive metro in our fast evolving industry.  By downloading this e-book, you will: Gain insight into how drones are already being deployed on metros and railways globally and how they are highly efficient in terms of maintenance and security. Read an exclusive interview with Jeremy Long, CEO European Business of MTR Corporation, about the big challenges and opportunities faced with the Crossrail project. Learn about how the role of increasing digitisation impacts CBTC projects around the world. Discover more about the major development projects at the Dubai Metro and the Dublin Metro. Find out if free public transport is a dream or a reality? totalrail What are the benefits of the contactless payment model within rail? Low-Cost High Speed Rail Services: An Insight from Ouigo Trenitalia's Creation of Competitive Brands www.railway-technology.com Veolia to withdraw InterConnex trains in Germany from December German public transporter Veolia Verkehr will withdraw its InterConnex trains, between Leipzig, Berlin and Rostock / Warnemünde from December. Port of Gothenburg opens new rail track at its car terminal Logent Ports & Terminals has opened a new rail track at its car terminal at the Port of Gothenburg, Sweden. China to build Russia's first high-speed line China is to build Russia's first high-speed railway line under an investment agreement signed by the two countries. Finmeccanica selects CNR Corp and Hitachi to sell rail businesses Italian industrial group Finmeccanica has shortlisted China's CNR Corporation and Japan's Hitachi for the sale of its unprofitable railway subsidiaries.