HS2 faces up to the challenges ahead.... Eurostar announces a new London-Amsterdam service for 2016... Eurotunnel reflects on strong performance for the first half of 2014....
Birmingham New Street station... and an initiative to reduce the station's carbon footprint..
Borders Railway progressing well... and the Transport Select Committee looks forward to a session discussing "Investing in the Railways.."
Bogota (in Colombia) is looking to invest in a 27 km metro.... with government support?
New Zealand continues to build up the previously dying system.....Auckland has its own Crossrail.....
Click on the links....
Headlines
UK
HS2 chief to rule out changes in attempt to keep budget on track.(FT.com)
Train conductors' strike in north Wales is called off.(BBC News)
LOOK: Passenger trains back on Llangollen to Corwen line after 50 year absence - Daily Post
Transport deemed more important than devolution.(FT.com)
Lincolnshire’s Railways: On the right track?(BBC iPlayer)
Calum McKenzie investigates the refranchising of the East Coast mainline and the impact on Lincolnshire’s railways. (Available for 6 more days..)
Eurostar to launch London-Amsterdam high-speed train in 2016 (CTV News)
Does European high-speed rail affect the current level of air services? (Science Direct)
Walk the Line (BBC iPlayer)
In a new three-part series, Walk the Line, Barra Best sets out to uncover and explore some of Northern Ireland's lost railways
Great British Railway Journeys... with Michael Portillo. (BBC iPlayer)
Currently 20 episodes available to view on BBC iPlayer
Courtesy: Boundless Productions
Network Rail.
Railway investment means temporary closure of bridge in Salford
A railway bridge in Salford is to be rebuilt as part of Network Rail’s £1bn+ investment to improve the railway in the north west of England.
Temporary traffic lights are already in use on Oldfield Road as preparations begin to demolish and rebuild the bridge as part of the electrification of the line between Manchester and Preston via Bolton.
The new bridge will allow for overhead power lines to be installed on the railway underneath, which will help provide passengers with more reliable, regular and faster journeys from December 2016.
The temporary traffic lights will be in use until 27 October when a full road closure will start and be in place until the end of May 2015. A diversion has been agreed with the local authority and will be clearly signposted.
Ian Joslin, area director for Network Rail, said: “I apologise for the disruption this essential rebuild will cause and can assure local people that we have done all we can to plan the work for the shortest and safest amount of time.
“As well as delivering significant benefits to passengers, an electrified railway is also beneficial to those who live near the railway as it will mean quieter trains which produce fewer emissions will travel through the area.”
The new bridge will allow for overhead power lines to be installed on the railway underneath, which will help provide passengers with more reliable, regular and faster journeys from December 2016.
The temporary traffic lights will be in use until 27 October when a full road closure will start and be in place until the end of May 2015. A diversion has been agreed with the local authority and will be clearly signposted.
Ian Joslin, area director for Network Rail, said: “I apologise for the disruption this essential rebuild will cause and can assure local people that we have done all we can to plan the work for the shortest and safest amount of time.
“As well as delivering significant benefits to passengers, an electrified railway is also beneficial to those who live near the railway as it will mean quieter trains which produce fewer emissions will travel through the area.”
Birmingham New Street station helps heat up the city centre
A ground-breaking green initiative to reduce Birmingham New Street’s carbon footprint is underway.
The project sees Network Rail, Birmingham City Council, Cofely and sustainability consultants, Anthesis-SecondNature, join forces to deliver a project which will see 1.5km district heating pipework installed across the station and in the City Centre to enable excess heat produced by a new combined heat and power (CHP) unit to be exported to the Birmingham District Energy Scheme.
The scheme, owned and operated by Cofely in close partnership with BCC, supplies heat to offices and other buildings in the City including Aston University and the National Indoor Arena, as well as the new John Lewis store adjacent to the station and will extend to other Southside developments in the future.
Network Rail's £600m rebuilt New Street station is three times the size of the old station and will have 31 new escalators and 29 new lifts, all of which require more electricity than the previous station.
A combined heat and power (CHP) plant has been developed as the greenest and most economically viable way to create the necessary energy required which also reduces the station’s carbon footprint by putting the excess heat created to good use.
The connection of the station to the Birmingham District Energy Scheme enables excess heat produced by the station’s CHP plant to be pumped to dozens of offices and buildings around the station, including the new John Lewis store in the Grand Central development.
This is the first time that a CHP plant has been used in a Network Rail managed station. It offers considerable carbon reducing benefits, achieving better energy efficiency performance because it captures and uses heat that would have otherwise been wasted.
Patrick Cawley, Network Rail’s programme sponsor, said: "Innovation and sustainability is at the core of this project and reducing the station's carbon footprint by building our own combined heating and power plant is a great example. The excess heat created by the station’s plant can now be used by the city’s shared district heating network to supply surrounding offices and businesses."
As a result of this initiative the Birmingham New Street station will reduce its energy bills as well as achieve a lower carbon footprint per square meter, potentially cutting carbon emissions by up to 3,000 tonnes per year when combined with the wider scheme.
Councillor Tahir Ali, Cabinet Member for Development, Transport and the Economy at Birmingham City Council said:
“I am really pleased that the new station is joining the city's existing shared district heating network to the north side of the station, which already provides heat to a number of key buildings, including the ICC, Birmingham Children’s hospital and the new Library of Birmingham.
“It will further reduce the city’s carbon footprint and provides considerable potential to expand. There are a number of public buildings in the vicinity to the station, which have been identified for possible connection to the district heating. The scheme also provides a huge potential for connecting adjacent buildings with district heating, and support a more sustainable regeneration that is planned for the south of the city centre.”
Cofely is working with Network Rail and Birmingham City Council to expand the current district scheme from the Town Hall, along New Street and Stephenson Street, to reach the station and other parts of the city that were previously constrained by the station footprint.
Charles Perry, director of Anthesis-SecondNature said: “This project is an example of what can be achieved when organisations put sustainability at the heart of their operations. Sustainable behaviour is not about green-washing, it is about changing the way we do business to make it more profitable, more socially acceptable and more environmentally friendly – the three are interrelated as this project clearly demonstrates.”
Network Rail Picture
Network Rail Borders Railway Track Laying (Network Rail on YouTube)
The Borders Railway project is now entering the final phase of construction with the installation of rail now underway. Watch our latest video to see the official launch of this important phase of the track-laying programme and find out about the modern processes that will be used to complete almost 30 miles of the Borders route by the end of the year.
The scheme, owned and operated by Cofely in close partnership with BCC, supplies heat to offices and other buildings in the City including Aston University and the National Indoor Arena, as well as the new John Lewis store adjacent to the station and will extend to other Southside developments in the future.
Network Rail's £600m rebuilt New Street station is three times the size of the old station and will have 31 new escalators and 29 new lifts, all of which require more electricity than the previous station.
A combined heat and power (CHP) plant has been developed as the greenest and most economically viable way to create the necessary energy required which also reduces the station’s carbon footprint by putting the excess heat created to good use.
The connection of the station to the Birmingham District Energy Scheme enables excess heat produced by the station’s CHP plant to be pumped to dozens of offices and buildings around the station, including the new John Lewis store in the Grand Central development.
This is the first time that a CHP plant has been used in a Network Rail managed station. It offers considerable carbon reducing benefits, achieving better energy efficiency performance because it captures and uses heat that would have otherwise been wasted.
Patrick Cawley, Network Rail’s programme sponsor, said: "Innovation and sustainability is at the core of this project and reducing the station's carbon footprint by building our own combined heating and power plant is a great example. The excess heat created by the station’s plant can now be used by the city’s shared district heating network to supply surrounding offices and businesses."
As a result of this initiative the Birmingham New Street station will reduce its energy bills as well as achieve a lower carbon footprint per square meter, potentially cutting carbon emissions by up to 3,000 tonnes per year when combined with the wider scheme.
Councillor Tahir Ali, Cabinet Member for Development, Transport and the Economy at Birmingham City Council said:
“I am really pleased that the new station is joining the city's existing shared district heating network to the north side of the station, which already provides heat to a number of key buildings, including the ICC, Birmingham Children’s hospital and the new Library of Birmingham.
“It will further reduce the city’s carbon footprint and provides considerable potential to expand. There are a number of public buildings in the vicinity to the station, which have been identified for possible connection to the district heating. The scheme also provides a huge potential for connecting adjacent buildings with district heating, and support a more sustainable regeneration that is planned for the south of the city centre.”
Cofely is working with Network Rail and Birmingham City Council to expand the current district scheme from the Town Hall, along New Street and Stephenson Street, to reach the station and other parts of the city that were previously constrained by the station footprint.
Cofely’s Ben Watts added: “We are delighted to be working with Network Rail at New Street station and expanding the district energy scheme in Birmingham city centre. The project delivers cost and carbon savings for Network Rail and has enabled the interconnection of the district energy scheme between Victoria Square and the Aston University Campus.
“This latest development of the Birmingham District Energy scheme creates one of the most extensive low carbon heat networks in the UK, which now supplies buildings across all sectors including healthcare, education, local authority, commercial, residential and retail as well as New Street itself - saving over 15,600 tonnes of CO2 per annum.
“We look forward to continuing to work in partnership with Network Rail and Birmingham City Council and supporting them in their ambitious plans for a greener Birmingham.”
Network Rail Picture
Network Rail Borders Railway Track Laying (Network Rail on YouTube)
The Borders Railway project is now entering the final phase of construction with the installation of rail now underway. Watch our latest video to see the official launch of this important phase of the track-laying programme and find out about the modern processes that will be used to complete almost 30 miles of the Borders route by the end of the year.
UK Parliament. Commons Select Committee
Committee to hold fourth evidence session on investing in the railway
ORAL EVIDENCE SESSION – INVESTING IN THE RAILWAY
Monday 27 October 2014, Room TBC
Witnesses:
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
- Malcolm Brown, Chief Executive Officer, Angel Trains
- Paul Francis, Managing Director, Porterbrook
- Mary Kenny, Chief Executive Officer, Eversholt Rail Group
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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Eurotunnel
Press Release.
Eurotunnel Group: Activity in the Third Quarter of 2014 Strong Revenue Growth (+7%)
► Third Quarter 2014
► Third Quarter 2014
• Total Group revenues for the 3rd quarter of 2014 show an increase of 7% to €343.9 million, compared to the 3rd quarter in 2013.
• Cross-Channel Fixed Link
• Revenues from Shuttles grew by 7% to €160.3 million.
• Revenues from Shuttles grew by 7% to €160.3 million.
Europorte: continued revenue growth (+8%)
MyFerryLink: revenues increased by 20% to €30.3 million
Jacques Gounon, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Groupe Eurotunnel SA stated: "This summer Eurotunnel set new records for traffic and this momentum is continuing. The energy in the UK economy and the application of the Marpol environmental regulations to the ferry companies from January 2015, strengthen the Eurotunnel Group’s competitive advantages".
Note: All comparisons with 2013 are made at the average exchange rate for the first nine months of 2014 of £1=€1.250
Eurotunnel Le Shuttle broke several records this summer: 375,000 vehicles were transported in the month of August and the daily record was broken on three separate occasions2, reaching a new peak of 16,416 vehicles. Even more remarkably, more than 85,400 vehicles3 were carried during the week of 11-17 August 2014. This is the highest number ever reached in 20 years of operations.
Eurotunnel, the leading rolling motorway with 1.5 million trucks transported each year, is building capacity to be able to carry 2 million trucks per year from 2020. The order for three new truck shuttles will deliver the capacity required to accompany market growth and to enable 8 departures per hour in future, compared to 6 per hour today. The terminal capacity will also be increased with the addition of a secure parking area for 370 trucks in Coquelles. The works on site are progressing on schedule.
See full press release Here....and videos Here
International
Africa
SEMINAR: WELDING RAIL VEHICLES & COMPONENTS
TRANSNET’S BIG LOCO DEAL CHALLENGED
TFR’S USED AUSTRALIAN DIESELS
DISQUIETING MLPS FIGURES AT PRASA’S AGM
METRORAIL PERFORMANCE
PRASA’S TOURISM INITIATIVE
GAUTRAIN EXTENSION FEASIBILITY STUDY
ANGOLA-NAMIBIA LINK
More details on these stories HERE
Canada
Colombia
Panorama over Bogotá from Montserate(2005) Wikipedia:Jan Arkesteijn. Derivate: Antonio ca2
Bogota is the capital of Colombia with a population of around 8 million, and so experiences , like most large cities around the globe, serious issues of mobility and congestion.
So it comes as no surprise to see the authorities rise to the challenge!
At the 2013 Quality of Life Report -which was presented at the Colombian capital's Chamber of Commerce- the Mayor, Gustavo Petro Urrego, explained that the design study for the Bogota Metro was 75% complete and would be ready for September 2014.
Pictures courtesy: MetroAmericas
He said: "We will deliver the metro design study in September, something that has never been previously completed in Bogota, and this is an important step in its construction. We now want to discuss whether the government will support the metro in the capital. In Medellin they have a metro and a tram because they work towards a shared good”.
The project envisages a 28.7 km line, 28 stations, with 64% underground, and 36% surface.
At the present, we (MetroAmericas)are working with the Metro mayor of Bogota and the Colombian capital, supporting the development of new city metro project. They are looking to collaborate with the most innovative companies to do it successfully.
For more information on the project ..
Contact:
Simon Edwards, CEO, Metro Americas
Germany
DB Schenker rail services returning to normal after strike (Lloyds Loading List)
New Zealand
News from Auckland....
In just over 15 years the railway system has come from a dying passenger railway carrying less than a million passengers a year to one carrying 11.4 million .Much track has been doubled - a new subterranean station built in 2003 underneath the old post office building in central Auckland .Since then electrification at 25 kv is in progress and completes next year as does a brand new fleet of Class AM multiple units from CAF Spain ,similar technically to Heathrow express but visually and layout wise very different and to Cape guage(3ft 6ins): new signalling fitted since 2011 is Westrace- latest version from Invensys now Siemens. ETVCS Level 2 signalling is the hoped for specification on a new underground section being built - a sort of modest Crossrail - 3.5 km under Auckland linking the west of Auckland .
In the meantime GM diesels slog on with ex BR Mark 2 s heavily modified and some DMUs second hand from Perth WA.
Russia
UAE
Etihad Rail secures $11 billion project in the UAE(Al ARABIYA News)
USA
www.progressiverailroading.com.
Rail grabs share of TIGER VI grants
Other Railway Press
Video125co
video125.co.uk for the very best in railway content. This Driver's eye view shows the Hammersmith and City line and Circle line of London Underground from the cabs of brand new S stock trains. This is just a sample. The fully Driver's eye view runs for 98 minutes and is available on DVD, Blu-ray disc and download (at video125.tv)
SmartRail World
Ensuring safety and communication at SuperBowl XLVIII.
It was certainly an exciting time! But one that did come with a great deal of responsibility as well. It wasn’t just the day itself that challenged the system but also the build-up and days immediately afterwards..."
Today SmartRail World has an opportunity to find out more about the innovative work of PowerTrunk and speak to their CEO Jose Martin about the development of TETRA in the USA and their work at Super Bowl XLVIII with NJ Transit this past January. PowerTrunk Inc. is the subsidiary of Teltronic S.A.U. responsible for business development, distribution and customer support for Teltronic land mobile radio projects in North America. With nearly 40 years’ experience designing, manufacturing, implementing and supporting digital and analog land mobile radio turnkey projects, Teltronic S.A.U. has more than 300 systems installed in over 50 countries. In addition to transit, Teltronic also work across the public safety, oil and gas, transportation, and utilities industries.
The TETRA standard was developed by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) and released in 1995 and I opened our discussion by asking Jose for the latest developments with TETRA in the USA; “TETRA is in wide use around the world for emergency, military, safety and other mission critical communications, in Europe, Asia, Africa and increasingly in Latin America it’s the primary LMR technology. But has only recently been deployed in the USA through the combined efforts of PowerTrunk, which got through FCC and Industry Canada certification with a modified version of the standard in 2009, and the TCCA, which requested the FCC a waiver, both undertakings ending up in a complete regulatory change in Canada in late 2011 and a partial change in the USA that opened certain portions of the spectrum to TETRA in 2012. Tetra offers a number of advantages for the user including higher data rates, improved data throughput in poor RF signal conditions, bandwidth on demand, concurrent voice and data, a standard interface (PEI) for 3rd party applications and more so it has been particularly exciting to see it being rolled out across the USA and Canada.”
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UK's Network Rail opens redoubled Swindon to Kemble railway line
UK's Network Rail has opened the newly redoubled Swindon to Kemble railway line, in a bid to offer improved passenger service, increased reliability and reduced journey times. Los Angeles Metro unveils new light rail car from Kinkisharyo The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) in the US has taken delivery of the first of 78 Kinkisharyo P3010 light rail cars from Kinkisharyo International, a US subsidiary of Japan-based Kinki Sharyo Company. New Crossrail tunnels in Docklands and south-east London completed Crossrail's new train tunnels in Docklands and south-east London, UK, has been completed, bringing the total number of finished rail tunnels under the programme to 87%. Alstom to deliver 12 new MF01 metro sets for STIF and RATP A consortium consisting of Alstom, Bombardier Transport and Areva will deliver 12 new MF01 metro sets to Ile-de-France Transport Authority (STIF) and Paris transport operator Régie Autonome des Transports Parisiens (RATP). |
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