If its not the weather slowing you down...as is quite often the case at this time of the year, then railway engineering works...essential though they be, can put quite a hole in your holiday travel plans.
Never fear, though...Improvements to the infrastructure, and to rolling stock (London Midlands promises..) and new and keen franchise holders (Inter City Railways on the ECML... and Keolis on the Docklands Light Railway) should help to put a smile on all faces.....
Long distance takes on a new meaning with the inauguration of a China to Spain freight train trip...
And Nigeria's high speed spending will save maintenance costs on the highways, apparently..
Click on the links..
Headlines
UK
Rail engineering work to cause Christmas delays.(BBC News)
Network Rail Press Release.
Army of 11,000 railway engineers to work on record-breaking Christmas investment programme to deliver a bigger, better railway
Hundreds of thousands of passengers and freight users are set to benefit from the biggest Christmas and New Year investment programme ever carried out on Britain’s rail network.
New station facilities, new platforms, new flyovers, new junctions and thousands of pieces of new, more reliable equipment will be installed and delivered in a £200m investment programme that will begin late on Christmas Eve once the last trains have run.
An army of over 11,000 engineers will be spending their Christmas Day, and the days that follow, working on the railway across Britain to deliver improvements for passengers, with new facilities and new equipment designed to reduce delays, improve train performance and build a bigger, better railway for the 4.5m people who travel on the network every day. The work is timed to take advantage of a relatively quieter time of the year when, on average, less than half the number of people are using the railway each day (2m compared to 4.5m).
Mark Carne, Network Rail chief executive, said: “Making the railway better is what we aim to do everyday and our investment programme this Christmas, the biggest yet, is fully focussed on delivering a better service for passengers.
“With an 11,000-strong army we will deliver a huge amount of work during a quieter time for train travel. New technology and working practices mean we can keep lines open while our people work safely alongside, causing much less disruption than would otherwise be the case.”
"We are acutely conscious that many people want to use the railway during the festive season to reunite with their friends and families. The vast majority of the network will be running normally over the holiday period with only small sections impacted by our work. I recognise and apologise for the fact that some of our essential improvement work will disrupt people’s travel plans. I know that passengers can be frustrated by disruption but people appreciate that carrying out this work at a time when the railway is less busy reduces overall disruption.”
The major investment schemes this Christmas include:
While these are the biggest schemes being carried out over this very busy period, there are a further 300 projects being undertaken across 2,000 worksites across the country by Network Rail and its contractors between Christmas and New Year. The majority will have little or no planned impact on passengers, with a significant portion of this work to be completed before services resume on Saturday 27 December (no services run on Christmas Day with very limited services running on Boxing Day).
The exceptions include major improvement projects along the West Coast main line (Watford, Stafford, Norton Bridge), at London Bridge and in and around Reading. Passengers should check rail websites for travel information if their journeys involve passing through these locations, with the work at London Bridge and Reading continuing into the New Year.
Mr Carne concluded: “Passenger numbers have doubled since 1997 and this Christmas investment programme forms a key part of the record £25bn being invested in our railway over the next five years to meet growing demand and improve and expand our congested railway network.
An army of over 11,000 engineers will be spending their Christmas Day, and the days that follow, working on the railway across Britain to deliver improvements for passengers, with new facilities and new equipment designed to reduce delays, improve train performance and build a bigger, better railway for the 4.5m people who travel on the network every day. The work is timed to take advantage of a relatively quieter time of the year when, on average, less than half the number of people are using the railway each day (2m compared to 4.5m).
Mark Carne, Network Rail chief executive, said: “Making the railway better is what we aim to do everyday and our investment programme this Christmas, the biggest yet, is fully focussed on delivering a better service for passengers.
“With an 11,000-strong army we will deliver a huge amount of work during a quieter time for train travel. New technology and working practices mean we can keep lines open while our people work safely alongside, causing much less disruption than would otherwise be the case.”
"We are acutely conscious that many people want to use the railway during the festive season to reunite with their friends and families. The vast majority of the network will be running normally over the holiday period with only small sections impacted by our work. I recognise and apologise for the fact that some of our essential improvement work will disrupt people’s travel plans. I know that passengers can be frustrated by disruption but people appreciate that carrying out this work at a time when the railway is less busy reduces overall disruption.”
The major investment schemes this Christmas include:
- London Bridge: As part of the £6.5bn Thameslink programme, London Bridge will see two new platforms opened and new track laid as the project moves to the next stage of the biggest station redevelopment the capital has ever seen, which will transform the travel experience for the station’s 220,000 daily users (work starts December 20th)
- Reading: One of the last pieces of the jigsaw to unblock the notorious train bottleneck around Reading station will be completed with the completion of a newly-built viaduct to the west of the station, leading to smoother, more reliable services
- Watford: Passengers will enjoy a more reliable and resilient service as a new, state-of-the-art signalling system is brought into use in the Watford area
- Stafford and Norton Bridge: A major bottleneck on the West Coast main line is being unblocked, enabling faster, more frequent and reliable services for passengers. At Christmas engineers will be carrying out essential bridge and track work at Norton Bridge, with the renewal of signalling and overhead lines at Stafford forming a key part of the overall £250m project
- On the East Coast main line serving London King's Cross there are a number of engineering projects delivering significant improvements to the rail network at key points – Peterborough, Holloway, Harringay and Canal Tunnels just outside King’s Cross
While these are the biggest schemes being carried out over this very busy period, there are a further 300 projects being undertaken across 2,000 worksites across the country by Network Rail and its contractors between Christmas and New Year. The majority will have little or no planned impact on passengers, with a significant portion of this work to be completed before services resume on Saturday 27 December (no services run on Christmas Day with very limited services running on Boxing Day).
The exceptions include major improvement projects along the West Coast main line (Watford, Stafford, Norton Bridge), at London Bridge and in and around Reading. Passengers should check rail websites for travel information if their journeys involve passing through these locations, with the work at London Bridge and Reading continuing into the New Year.
Mr Carne concluded: “Passenger numbers have doubled since 1997 and this Christmas investment programme forms a key part of the record £25bn being invested in our railway over the next five years to meet growing demand and improve and expand our congested railway network.
Notes:
- The army of engineers will be fed materials by over 200 engineering trains hauling over 750 wagons
- Joined end-to-end the engineering trains in use over the Christmas investment programme would be 15 miles long
- The investment programme will see some:
- 55 kilometres of rail installed
- 120,000 tonnes of ballast used
- 28,000 railway sleepers replaced
Huge signal gantry installed on the approach to London Bridge
Network Rail Picture
=================================================================
In pictures: the most beautiful railway stations in England.(The Telegraph)
Eastleigh signal failure disrupts train services.(BBC News)
HS2 campaigners lose Court of Appeal challenge.(BBC News)
HS2 moves a step closer after judges throw out legal bid to hold up project (Mail Online)
New trains to boost London Midland services.(insidermedia)
GOV.UK
New East Coast Mainline franchise confirmed.
East Coast rail franchise contract has been signed with Inter City Railways, a venture between Stagecoach and Virgin.
The Department for Transport today confirmed (10 December 2014) it has officially signed the East Coast rail franchise contract with Inter City Railways, a venture between Stagecoach and Virgin.
The 8 year deal will give passengers between London and Edinburgh more seats, more services and new trains from March next year. Under the franchise agreement, Inter City Railways will provide passengers a host of benefits, including:
- new services from London to key destinations, with 75 more station calls a day
- plans for new direct links to Huddersfield, Sunderland, Middlesbrough, Dewsbury and Thornaby
- proposals for more trains to London from Bradford, Edinburgh, Harrogate, Leeds, Lincoln, Newcastle, Shipley, Stirling, and York
- 3,100 extra seats for the morning peak time into and out of King’s Cross by 2020
- 2,200 additional seats – a 50% increase - across the entire train fleet
- 65 state-of-the-art Intercity Express trains brought into service from 2018, totalling 500 new carriages
- reduction of journey times from London to Leeds by 14 minutes, and from London to Edinburgh by 13 minutes
- a £140 million investment package to improve trains and stations
This is a fantastic deal which will give passengers on this vital route more seats, more services and new trains, and give British taxpayers outstanding value for money.Martin Griffiths, Chief Executive of Stagecoach Group, said:
With the signing of the contract, Stagecoach and Virgin are firmly on track to deliver these improvements. The new services have only been made possible by the government’s investment in the railways, a vital part of our long term economic plan.
This is a hugely exciting time for the passengers, businesses and communities who benefit from rail services on the East Coast route. Around £140 million will be invested under the new franchise in delivering an improved service and a more personalised travel experience for customers, on top of a whole new fleet of high quality trains.Inter City Railways will pay the government around £3.3 billion to operate the franchise.
While the franchise officially begins in March next year, our team are already planning ahead to build on the strong pride, heritage and success at East Coast. In the coming months, we will be working closely with employees and the management team to ensure a smooth transition to the new franchise. Stagecoach and our partners Virgin see investing in people and delivering great customer service as key to the future. We look forward to welcoming staff into the Stagecoach and Virgin family and making Virgin Trains East Coast a huge success.
The company will now begin talks with Network Rail and the Office of Rail Regulation to agree its plans to run new direct services from London to Sunderland, Middlesbrough and Huddersfield. It will also seek approval to run more trains to Edinburgh, Leeds, Lincoln, Shipley, Stirling, Harrogate and Bradford.
From 2018, Inter City Railways will take delivery of the new Intercity Express trains, to be assembled at Hitachi’s factory in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham. By 2020 all of the 65 modern high-speed electric trains will be in service and will replace 39 existing trains.
In addition to more seats, passengers will benefit from cleaner, more reliable trains and faster journeys. The new franchise will provide regular journey times of 2 hours to Leeds and 4 hours to Edinburgh. Inter City Railways has also given a commitment to reduce all long-distance standard anytime fares by 10%. This could save passengers travelling from Edinburgh to London around £15 on those journeys.
The operator will also develop its own website, smartphone and tablet apps to make door-to-door travel easier for customers, including planning journeys and buying tickets.
============================================
On Monday 15th December 2015 the Transport Committee will hold an evidence session with the Secretary of State, Rt Hon Patrick McLoughlin, on Government’s long-term vision for the railway network; the regional balance of investment in the railway; and the performance and capacity of Network Rail.
============================================
International
Africa
Railways Africa.
S A INTERCITY TRAINS CUT
PRASA “PROFIT” QUESTIONED
TESTING PERIOD FOR NEW PRASA TRAINS
“LOCALS HAVE LOST LOCO-BUILDING CAPABILITY”
TRANSNET FREIGHT RAIL CLASS 21E
GAUTRAIN EXTENSION FEASIBILITY
SIEMENS SIGNALS FOR ALGERIA
RAIL PROJECTS IN NIGERIA
Full stories.... HERE
France
Alcatel-Lucent Highlights at InnoTrans 2014 – Demo tour
A short overview of the 4 innovative demonstrations shown by Alcatel-Lucent at the world’s largest rail exhibition: Converged IP/MPLS Network for Railways, Agile Optical Network for Railways, Long Term Evolution (LTE) ground-to-train communications, and Cloud Connected Passenger.
France to pay €60m compensation for SNCF holocaust role.(Lloyd's Loading List)
Germany
DB announces €28bn five-year infrastructure spending plan - Railway Gazette
India
Don't get injured, or fall ill at any railway station in Mumbai.(Mid-Day)
Nigeria
KPMG Report: $13bn High Speed Rail to Save Nigeria Road Maintenance Cost.(This Day Live)
Spain
From China to Spain by rail.(Railway Gazette)
From Yiwu in China ..(18th November ) to Madrid Abroñigal intermodal terminal (9th December)...a total of 13,000km in 21days..saving 10 days on the alternative sea route
ADIF Press release..
This rail link is a result of the commitment made at their last meeting of the presidents of the Chinese and Spanish governments to boost trade relations between the two countries The train has traveled about 13,000 km, in what is the longest rail route in the world's initiative is a milestone both in the Spanish-Chinese trade relations and international rail panorama, by highlighting the ability of cross-border traffic of goods by rail as a mode of transport reliability The results of this first trip will be assessed ahead the possible introduction of a rail corridor stable and bidirectional goods between Spain and China......
Read more....HERE
USA
www.seekingalpha.com.
North Dakota regulators ordered producers pumping oil from the Bakken shale field to strip explosive gases from their product in an effort to make crude-by-rail transport safer. The rule, which will take effect on April 1, 2015, is the first major move by regulators to address the role of gaseous, volatile crude oil in railroad accidents which have been linked to several fiery explosions, including one last year in Quebec that killed 47 people.
www.progressiverailroading.com.
============================================
International
Africa
Railways Africa.
S A INTERCITY TRAINS CUT
PRASA “PROFIT” QUESTIONED
TESTING PERIOD FOR NEW PRASA TRAINS
“LOCALS HAVE LOST LOCO-BUILDING CAPABILITY”
TRANSNET FREIGHT RAIL CLASS 21E
GAUTRAIN EXTENSION FEASIBILITY
SIEMENS SIGNALS FOR ALGERIA
RAIL PROJECTS IN NIGERIA
Full stories.... HERE
France
Alcatel-Lucent Highlights at InnoTrans 2014 – Demo tour
A short overview of the 4 innovative demonstrations shown by Alcatel-Lucent at the world’s largest rail exhibition: Converged IP/MPLS Network for Railways, Agile Optical Network for Railways, Long Term Evolution (LTE) ground-to-train communications, and Cloud Connected Passenger.
France to pay €60m compensation for SNCF holocaust role.(Lloyd's Loading List)
Germany
DB announces €28bn five-year infrastructure spending plan - Railway Gazette
India
Don't get injured, or fall ill at any railway station in Mumbai.(Mid-Day)
Nigeria
KPMG Report: $13bn High Speed Rail to Save Nigeria Road Maintenance Cost.(This Day Live)
Spain
From China to Spain by rail.(Railway Gazette)
From Yiwu in China ..(18th November ) to Madrid Abroñigal intermodal terminal (9th December)...a total of 13,000km in 21days..saving 10 days on the alternative sea route
ADIF Press release..
This rail link is a result of the commitment made at their last meeting of the presidents of the Chinese and Spanish governments to boost trade relations between the two countries The train has traveled about 13,000 km, in what is the longest rail route in the world's initiative is a milestone both in the Spanish-Chinese trade relations and international rail panorama, by highlighting the ability of cross-border traffic of goods by rail as a mode of transport reliability The results of this first trip will be assessed ahead the possible introduction of a rail corridor stable and bidirectional goods between Spain and China......
Read more....HERE
USA
www.seekingalpha.com.
North Dakota regulators ordered producers pumping oil from the Bakken shale field to strip explosive gases from their product in an effort to make crude-by-rail transport safer. The rule, which will take effect on April 1, 2015, is the first major move by regulators to address the role of gaseous, volatile crude oil in railroad accidents which have been linked to several fiery explosions, including one last year in Quebec that killed 47 people.
www.progressiverailroading.com.
USDOT
BTS Releases October 2014 Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI)
The Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI), which is based on the amount of freight carried by the for-hire transportation industry, rose 0.3 percent in October from September, rising for the fourth consecutive month, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics’ (BTS). The October 2014 index level (121.8) was 28.8 percent above the April 2009 low during the most recent recession.
The level of freight shipments in October measured by the Freight TSI (121.8) reached its all-time high (Table 2A). BTS’ TSI records begin in 2000.
The September index was revised to 121.4 from 121.5 in last month’s release.
The Freight TSI measures the month-to-month changes in freight shipments by mode of transportation in tons and ton-miles, which are combined into one index. The index measures the output of the for-hire freight transportation industry and consists of data from for-hire trucking, rail, inland waterways, pipelines and air freight.
Analysis: The growth in October was led by trucking, rail and waterborne. During the month, several other indicators of related parts of the economy that often impact transportation increased. Employment and retail sales both increased, as did manufacturing output, though total industrial production declined slightly. Inventories increased to reach an historic high.
Trend: The Freight TSI increased for the fourth month in a row in October, reaching an all-time high. The increase was a return to growth after a decline in June. This October rise was the eighth monthly increase in 2014. However, due to the decline in June and the more substantial decline in January, the total 2014 increase has been only 2.2 percent, less than the 2.8 percent increase during same period in 2013. After dipping to 94.6 in April 2009, the index rose 28.8 percent in the succeeding 66 months.
Index highs and lows: Freight shipments in October 2014 (121.8) were 28.8 percent higher than the recent low in April 2009 during the recession (94.6). The October 2014 level reached its all-time high.
Year to date: Freight shipments measured by the index were up 2.2 percent in October compared to the end of 2013.
See Freight TSI Press Release for summary tables and additional data
Other Railway Press
Consultation begins on East Anglia network improvements in UK
The UK Government has launched a public consultation to seek passengers view on the future of rail services across the East Anglia region.
Rockwell Collins to provide its SCADA system to LA Metro The UK Government has launched a public consultation to seek passengers view on the future of rail services across the East Anglia region.
Rockwell Collins has secured a contract from Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro) to develop the supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system for the Foothill Gold Line Extension and the Exposition Line Phase II light rail systems in the US.
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.
New York MTA awards $194m South Ferry station rehabilitation project to Judlau
The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has selected US-based Judlau Contracting for a $193.8m project to renovate the new South Ferry station in Lower Manhattan, New York, US.
=========================================================================
GREAT DORSET STEAM FAIR
The National Heritage Show
E-Newsletter
December 2014
|  |
Great Dorset Steam Fair 2015 dates:
WEDNESDAY 2nd SEPTEMBER - SUNDAY 6th SEPTEMBER
|
A Big Thank You From The GDSF Team!
|
|
WW1 Trenches To Remain At Great Dorset Steam Fair Site
|
 |
|
2014 Great Dorset Steam Fair DVD
AVAILABLE TO ORDER
|
The 2014 Great Dorset Steam Fair DVD is the essential guide to our 46th show. The
 wide variety of exhibits, ranging from working steam through to tractors, commercial vehicles and over twenty other sections, make this programme the definitive record of the show. Despite the muddy start, armies of visitors turned up to take in the sights, smells and unique atmosphere of The National Heritage Show with its dedicated WW1 Section. The WW1 Special Display was one of the biggest commemorative displays taking place in the UK this year. Divided into three main areas, the “Western Front,” the “Home Front” and an Exhibition marquee. Exhibits included a Horse Remount Depot, a fully authentic replica trench system, steam engines, tractors, field guns, heavy artillery, cars, motorcycles, lorries, trucks and agricultural demonstrations.Filmed and Produced by Jonathan EckardtNarration by John Collins and John Reeves
2014 PROGRAMME FEATURES:
■ Old Time Harvesting
■ The World War One Commemorative Road Run from Bovington Tank Museum to the show ground via Blandford town centre ■ The World War One Commemorative Display ■ Working Tractors, Horticultural Machinery and Vintage Plant ■ Stationary Engines, Agricultural Displays and Outside Crafts ■ The Heavy Horse Working Area and Ring Events ■ Cycles, Motorcycles, Cars and Caravans ■ Military and Commercial Vehicles ■ Monster Trucks, Stunt Display and Tractor Pulling ■ Working Steam Threshing, Wood Sawing, Rollers, Road Making and Cultivation ■ The Heavy Haulage Arena ■ The Night Time Fair and Showman’s Line Up
£19.95
BUY ONLINE: www.gdsf.co.uk
ORDER BY TELEPHONE: Call our office on 01258 860361
SEND A CHEQUE: Send a cheque for £19.95, payable to 'Great Dorset Steam Fair Ltd' to: Dairy House Farm, Child Okeford, Blandford, Dorset, DT11 8HT
|
*Other GDSF DVDs also available*
Whilst purchasing the 2014 GDSF DVD why not treat yourself to an extra portion of your favourite event and purchase one of our other show DVDS for just £9.95.
WE HAVE LIMITED STOCK OF OUR 2009/10/11/12/13 DVD'S AVAILABLE.
*Other official GDSF merchandise also available*
To see our full range of official GDSF merchandise, including t-shirts and calendars, CLICK HERE.
|
|
BOOKINGS FOR GDSF 2015
|
|
No comments:
Post a Comment
Tell us your Railway News!