Engineering works will cause some holdups over the holiday period...so check before you travel...
Edinburgh Trams inquiry gets off to a slow start...nobody wants to cooperate, apparently.
Fancy a trip to Geneva? You can now go direct..well, via Lille .. see the Eurostar website for details..
The stats show that rail ridership is at an all time high......
And Singapore travellers can experience a humorous driver...
In the US, US HSR sings the praises of its recent convention.....
Click on the links....
Headlines
UK
Rail engineering work to cause Christmas delays.(BBC News)
Power restored as 'weather bomb' storm subsides.(BBC News)
Edinburgh trams: how was it for you, asks inquiry.(The Scotsman)
Edinburgh tram inquiry: Key figures refused to co-operate.(BBC News)
Eurostar is starting a new year-round service to Geneva via Lille.(Travel Wires)
The new Switzerland service is in partnership with international high-speed train service TGV Lyria.
Travellers can purchase tickets for the Swiss route from the Eurostar website.
Passengers can now travel from London to Geneva in just six hours with a single connection on to a TGV Lyria service in Lille. The services as carefully timed to secure a fast transfer between the trains.
Office of Rail Regulation
New ORR data shows passenger journeys at record high
New statistics published today by the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) show that the number of passenger journeys on franchised rail services reached 407.7 million between July and September this year (Q2, 2014-15), a 4.4% increase on the same quarter last year. This is the highest number of journeys recorded in a quarter since data collection began in 2002-03.The 'Rail Usage Statistics' show the number of journeys made on the network and the distance travelled, providing an indication of the levels of demand for rail travel in Great Britain. The data for 1 July to 30 September 2014 shows there were:
- 284.1 million journeys recorded in the franchised London and South East sector, a 4.3% rise on the same period last year.
- 33.6 million journeys in the franchised long distance sector had, a 3.5% increase.
- 90 million journeys in the franchised regional sector, up 5.5%.
- 0.54 million journeys on non-franchised passenger services, an increase of 16.0%
Rail Accident Investigation Branch(RAIB)
Derailment at Liverpool Street station, London
Summary: Shortly after 10:00 hrs on Wednesday 23 January 2013, train 1P18, the 10:00 hrs Greater Anglia service from London Liverpool Street to Norwich, derailed 260 metres from London Liverpool Street. The train comprised nine coaches pushed by a locomotive, and had just left platform 13. A total of 17 wheelsets derailed on a tight curve and, as the train proceeded, all the wheelsets were guided back onto the correct rail within a distance of 40 metres.
The driver was unaware of any problem until the senior conductor told him that passengers had reported a rough ride and the signaller advised him that the signalling system had identified a problem at a set of points used by the train when leaving Liverpool Street. The driver then stopped and examined his train at Shenfield, but saw nothing unusual. No one appreciated that there had been a derailment until the train was examined by a specialist inspector when it arrived at Norwich and, at about the same time, a signal maintenance team found track damage close to Liverpool Street station.
The train derailed on the curve because the track fixings had deteriorated over a period of time. This tight curve and other non-standard trackwork at Liverpool Street should have triggered consideration of mitigation measures to deal with the associated enhanced derailment risk. The investigation found that no consideration had been given to these enhanced risks because the maintenance management staff did not have the knowledge necessary to appreciate the need for, and to undertake, this activity. This lack of knowledge had not been appreciated by more senior staff. The Network Rail procedures for establishing a track inspection and maintenance regime for non-standard track did not require the regime to be independently checked.
The RAIB has identified six learning points and three recommendations. One learning point relates to effective communication between train and incident controllers when dealing with events which could be associated with urgent safety issues. A second learning point restates the relevance of Network Rail’s existing requirements for verifying maintenance management staff competencies relevant to risk assessing track assets. Three learning points refer to the need for a complete record of assets requiring maintenance, the importance of looking for signs of rail movement when inspecting track and the correct use of data obtained from a commonly used track geometry measurement device (an Amber trolley). The final learning point refers to the need for proper archiving of inspection records.
The three recommendations are all addressed to Network Rail. The first relates to providing assurance that suitable inspection regimes are established, recorded and validated for non-standard track assets. The second recommendation is intended to ensure assessment of management staff’s safety critical track related competencies to ensure they have the necessary experience and knowledge to perform that role. The third recommendation seeks a review and, if necessary, improvement of the competency assessment processes applicable to managers with safety critical roles linked to the maintenance of assets other than track.
The driver was unaware of any problem until the senior conductor told him that passengers had reported a rough ride and the signaller advised him that the signalling system had identified a problem at a set of points used by the train when leaving Liverpool Street. The driver then stopped and examined his train at Shenfield, but saw nothing unusual. No one appreciated that there had been a derailment until the train was examined by a specialist inspector when it arrived at Norwich and, at about the same time, a signal maintenance team found track damage close to Liverpool Street station.
The train derailed on the curve because the track fixings had deteriorated over a period of time. This tight curve and other non-standard trackwork at Liverpool Street should have triggered consideration of mitigation measures to deal with the associated enhanced derailment risk. The investigation found that no consideration had been given to these enhanced risks because the maintenance management staff did not have the knowledge necessary to appreciate the need for, and to undertake, this activity. This lack of knowledge had not been appreciated by more senior staff. The Network Rail procedures for establishing a track inspection and maintenance regime for non-standard track did not require the regime to be independently checked.
The RAIB has identified six learning points and three recommendations. One learning point relates to effective communication between train and incident controllers when dealing with events which could be associated with urgent safety issues. A second learning point restates the relevance of Network Rail’s existing requirements for verifying maintenance management staff competencies relevant to risk assessing track assets. Three learning points refer to the need for a complete record of assets requiring maintenance, the importance of looking for signs of rail movement when inspecting track and the correct use of data obtained from a commonly used track geometry measurement device (an Amber trolley). The final learning point refers to the need for proper archiving of inspection records.
The three recommendations are all addressed to Network Rail. The first relates to providing assurance that suitable inspection regimes are established, recorded and validated for non-standard track assets. The second recommendation is intended to ensure assessment of management staff’s safety critical track related competencies to ensure they have the necessary experience and knowledge to perform that role. The third recommendation seeks a review and, if necessary, improvement of the competency assessment processes applicable to managers with safety critical roles linked to the maintenance of assets other than track.
Download report:
141211_R272014_Liverpool_Street.pdf (2,216.69 kb)
141211_R272014_Liverpool_Street.pdf (2,216.69 kb)
International
The biennial World Congress & Exhibition (8-10 June 2015) is the only worldwide event that covers all urban and regional transport modes, combining a full programme of Congress sessions with an Exhibition displaying the latest industry-defining products and services.
With ‘Smile in the city’ as its theme, the event will explore the following key topics:
Sustainability, Mobility, Innovation, Lifestyle and Economy
Mobility in the city
We all know that mobility is changing rapidly.
Embracing change can be challenging but it also means great opportunities are within reach for public transport.
New urban transport modes are blurring the divide between shared and individual transport. This means more choice for customers, but integration is the cornerstone of success. What’s the best approach?
Want to know more?
Join us in Milan from 8-10 June. You’ll come away with some exciting ideas to help shape the mobility of tomorrow.======================================================================
The biggest event in public transport
will take place
in Milan from 8-10 June 2015
will take place
in Milan from 8-10 June 2015
The biennial World Congress & Exhibition (8-10 June 2015) is the only worldwide event that covers all urban and regional transport modes, combining a full programme of Congress sessions with an Exhibition displaying the latest industry-defining products and services.
With ‘Smile in the city’ as its theme, the event will explore the following key topics:
Sustainability, Mobility, Innovation, Lifestyle and Economy
Mobility in the cityWe all know that mobility is changing rapidly.
Embracing change can be challenging but it also means great opportunities are within reach for public transport.
New urban transport modes are blurring the divide between shared and individual transport. This means more choice for customers, but integration is the cornerstone of success. What’s the best approach?
Want to know more?
Join us in Milan from 8-10 June. You’ll come away with some exciting ideas to help shape the mobility of tomorrow.======================================================================
Canada
Singapore
Last week, SMRT train captain Tan Ming Hui decided to brighten his passengers' day with some quirky announcements, which later went viral on the Internet. Find out more about him at: http://cna.asia/1wgg1BQ
Spain
The Silk Railway: freight train from China pulls up in Madrid.(The Guardian)
USA
Five issues to watch with high-speed rail in 2015(Silicon Valley Business Journal)
Bombardier withdraws from Amtrak high-speed train tender.(Global Rail News)
www.progressiverailroading.com
"The best conference I've ever attended"
The US High Speed Rail Association's conference last week at MTA's Headquarters in Downtown Los Angeles saw a great turn out to hear from top government officials and many of the world's leading HSR experts. California's new Cap and Trade Program - the nation's first dedicated high speed rail funding source - is driving tremendous interest in the project and high speed rail in general.
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Other Railway Press
www.railway-technology.com.
Alstom purchases 25% share in EKZ joint venture
French rail manufacturer Alstom has signed a contract with the national rail company Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ) to purchase an additional 25% share in the EKZ joint venture.
UK DfT awards East Coast rail franchise contract to Inter City Railways
UK's Department for Transport (DfT) has signed the £3.3bn East Coast rail franchise contract with Inter City Railways, a joint venture between Stagecoach Transport and Virgin.
First freight train route from China to Spain opens
The first freight train linking China and Spain has completed its maiden journey, marking the opening of the world's longest railway route dubbed as 'the Silk Railway'.
New trains officially rolled out on London Midland network
Rail passengers in London Midland network are set to benefit from the ten new four-car trains that will start operational service on 14 December
Think Railways
TCDD key statistics 2011 - 2013
Turkish State Railways (TCDD) posted a loss of TL 1.28 billion (EUR 461 million) in 2013, the largest loss of all the State Economic Enterprises (KIT). TCDD’s losse increased by 45.9 % since 2012, from TL 877.5 million. The company’s total revenues reached TL 2.54 bn (EUR 214 million). More
Rail Freight
First freight train between China and Spain arrives in Madrid
The first Yiwu – Madrid freight train has arrived on Tuesday at Adif’s Madrid Abroñigal railway logistics terminal, its final destination. The “Yixinou” pilot train left Yiwu, the largest wholesale hub for small consumer goods in China, on the 18th of November and traveled in 21 days over 13,000 km, passing through Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus, Poland, Germany and France. More
Lithuanian Railways and GEFCO Turkey cooperate to promote freight transport by VIKING Train
Lithuanian Railways and GEFCO Turkey signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the field of developing the freight transportation between Turkey and Lithuania, as well as between Baltic Sea Region and Middle East, by using their rail freight transport services and other services related to freight transport. The MoU, which was signed by Stasys Dailydka, General Director of Lithuanian Railways, and Fulvio Villa, Turkey Managing Director and Area Manager Middle East, GEFCO Tasimacilik ve Lojistik A.S, foresees that the parties will cooperate in order to promote freight transportations by VIKING Train. More
USD 30 million EBRD loan for Kazakh rail operator Eastcomtrans
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is providing a financing package equivalent to US$ 30 million for one of the largest private railway operators in the country, Eastcomtrans LLP. More
EU Financing
Croatia: EU to finance reconstruction of Dugo Selo – Križevci railway section
Croatia has received the European Commission decision for co-financing the construction of a second track and reconstruction of Dugo Selo – Križevci railway section, part of the Corridor Vb and M201 State border – Koprivnica – Dugo Selo railway line. More
EU co-finances two railway projects in Montenegro
Montenegro will receive for the first time under EU’s Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance - Regional Development Component a EUR 22 million grant for environmental and transport projects. An additional EUR 4 million will be provided from the state budget. More
EUR 203 million of regional funds to modernize railway lines in three Polish regions
The European Commission has approved an investment of 202.9 million euro from the Cohesion Fund (CF) for five major transport projects which will modernize and significantly improve railway transport in the regions Slaskie, Opolskie and Kujawsko-Pomorskie. More
SmartRail World
SmartRail World
| Event review: SmartRail Asia Congress & Expo 2014. | |
By Luke Upton, 11 Dec 2014 16:46:00
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Today we are in Bangkok, Thailand to review SmartRail Asia Congress & Expo 2014, the continent's definitive rail and metro technology exhibition and congress. Bangkok is at the heart of plans for a connected ASEAN rail network and has ambitious plans to significantly develop its metro network amongst US$93 billion of confirmed rail infrastructure spend planned by 2021 so made a perfect venue for this event. Taking place at BITEC, over three days it brought together industry professionals from around the world particular from the region's rapidly developing rail sectors in Southeast Asia, the Far East, China and India. SmartRail Asia’s inaugural exhibition attracted a record audience from 41 countries and 123 exhibiting companies. The co-located conference welcomed 250 delegates including senior representatives from over 40 separate rail and metro operators. Of the 2,000 trade professionals the event attracted, 32.7% were international. And plans are already underway for the next edition on 25-27 November 2015 so mark those dates in your new diaries!
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