London King's Cross.(C) P.S. Lewis
An interesting perspective on the recent overrunning engineering works offered by a former railway worker .. and the continuing challenge for London Bridge station and its users.
Two items from Network Rail..one highlighting a problem bridge in Stoke, and the other relating to advance notice of engineering works on the London to Norwich line.
GOV.UK releases a couple of news items relating to the 400th apprentice on the Crossrail project, and improving safety for women on public transportation....
Plus another high speed link in China...in the western corridor.... and Eversholt Rail is acquired by a Chinese consortium......
Click on the links for the full stories..
An interesting perspective on the recent overrunning engineering works offered by a former railway worker .. and the continuing challenge for London Bridge station and its users.
Two items from Network Rail..one highlighting a problem bridge in Stoke, and the other relating to advance notice of engineering works on the London to Norwich line.
GOV.UK releases a couple of news items relating to the 400th apprentice on the Crossrail project, and improving safety for women on public transportation....
Plus another high speed link in China...in the western corridor.... and Eversholt Rail is acquired by a Chinese consortium......
Click on the links for the full stories..
Headlines
UK
Rail chaos will happen again unless we fix the system.(The Telegraph)
A former railway employee's insight......
London Bridge part-closure timetable 'not working well'.(BBC News)
Eurostar Trains Halted By Fire Outside Paris (Sky News)
Rail company faces delays 'pressure'.(BBC News)
Video:Hitachi training carriage arrives at Port of Tyne.(Shields Gazette)
Li Ka-shing to acquire Eversholt Rail (FT.com)
Network Rail
Collision protection beams to be installed on railway bridge in Stoke
Network Rail is to install collision protection beams on a railway bridge on Stoke Road to reduce the risk of damage if the bridge is hit by vehicles.
The bridge has a history of incidents where drivers have failed to observe the height restriction and driven their vehicle into the structure.
While damage is often minimal, the beams will provide additional protection to the bridge, reducing the risk of structural damage and potential disruption to rail services.
To install the beams Stoke Road will be closed to traffic from 8am on Sunday 1 February until 4.30pm on Wednesday 11 March and work will take place between 7am and 5pm, Monday to Friday.
There will be overnight work on Saturday 21 February from 10pm until 6am on Sunday 22 February, and again between the same hours the following weekend (28 and 29 February).
A spokesman for Network Rail said: “These beams will provide protection to a bridge which has a history of being struck by vehicles whose drivers do not observe the height restriction warning signs that are clearly visible on the structure and on the approach to it.
“We have tried to balance disruption to traffic and disturbance to our neighbours by carrying out the majority of the work during the day in the safest and quickest possible way. There are two weekends where overnight work is essential and we will be writing to neighbours to alert them to this.
“We apologise for any inconvenience caused as a result of this essential work which is necessary to protect the structure as part of our commitment to provide a safe and reliable railway.”
Pedestrian access will be maintained at all times apart from the overnight work on 21 and 28 February. A diversion has been agreed with the local authority and will be clearly signposted.
For further information contact Network Rail’s national helpline on 08457 114141
08457 114141.
While damage is often minimal, the beams will provide additional protection to the bridge, reducing the risk of structural damage and potential disruption to rail services.
To install the beams Stoke Road will be closed to traffic from 8am on Sunday 1 February until 4.30pm on Wednesday 11 March and work will take place between 7am and 5pm, Monday to Friday.
There will be overnight work on Saturday 21 February from 10pm until 6am on Sunday 22 February, and again between the same hours the following weekend (28 and 29 February).
A spokesman for Network Rail said: “These beams will provide protection to a bridge which has a history of being struck by vehicles whose drivers do not observe the height restriction warning signs that are clearly visible on the structure and on the approach to it.
“We have tried to balance disruption to traffic and disturbance to our neighbours by carrying out the majority of the work during the day in the safest and quickest possible way. There are two weekends where overnight work is essential and we will be writing to neighbours to alert them to this.
“We apologise for any inconvenience caused as a result of this essential work which is necessary to protect the structure as part of our commitment to provide a safe and reliable railway.”
Pedestrian access will be maintained at all times apart from the overnight work on 21 and 28 February. A diversion has been agreed with the local authority and will be clearly signposted.
For further information contact Network Rail’s national helpline on 08457 114141
Stoke Road bridge, Stoke, where collision protection beams will be installed.
(Network Rail Photograph.)
Work to improve the railway between London and Norwich continues
Upgrades will start on the weekend of Saturday January 31 and Sunday February 1 and continues for eight weekends until Sunday March 22nd.
Essential improvements to provide a better, more reliable railway for passengers between London and Norwich will take place over eight weekends from the end of January to the middle of March affecting services at Colchester, Witham, Chelmsford and Marks Tey.
Alternative service
Abellio Greater Anglia will run a planned bus service for passengers to keep people moving on the affected sections of the line as the vital upgrades takes place.
"This investment is absolutely vital to help us deliver a better service for passengers. We know that people want to travel by train and not a bus, but the line from London Liverpool Street to Norwich carries a huge amount of traffic and desperately needs this boost.
"We would like to thank passengers in advance for bearing with us over these weekends as it will mean some changes to their travel plans."
"We would like to thank passengers in advance for bearing with us over these weekends as it will mean some changes to their travel plans."
Richard Schofield, route managing director, Network Rail
Locations of improvements
Work will be carried out at the following locations:Colchester: Engineers are returning to Colchester for the second part of this project, which will see more than two kilometres of track installed on this stretch of the route. The current track is more than 30 years old at both Colchester and Witham.
Witham: We are installing new track and points at Witham. Points allow trains to move from one part of the track to another.
Chelmsford: Engineers continue to upgrade the overhead lines to improve reliability along the Great Eastern Main Line.
Marks Tey: We are installing new points at Marks Tey, which allows trains to travel from the main line to Sudbury.
Check before you travel
For more information please visit National Rail Enquries.=================================================================Creating jobs in the transport industry (DfT on YouTube)
Watch this short video to see how transport investment is delivering thousands of jobs and better networks.
Find out more about the work of the Department for Transport by visiting www.gov.uk/dft
GOV.UK
Transport Secretary congratulates 400th Crossrail apprentice
Transport Secretary highlights importance of apprenticeship schemes to the UK.
Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin today (19 January 2015) visited Crossrail’s Bond Street site to congratulate the 400th apprentice appointed to work on the project.
Crossrail will transform rail travel across London and beyond. As well as increasing the capacity of the capital’s transport network, it supports economic regeneration and cuts journey times for the 200 million passengers who are expected to use the service every year.
Crossrail has committed to creating at least 400 apprenticeships over the lifetime of the project and has achieved this milestone ahead of schedule with the appointment of Fatima Alghali, 23, today.
Patrick McLoughlin (Secretary of State for Transport) with Terry Morgan (Crossrail Chairman) and Fatima Alghali (Crossrail Apprentice). (GOV.UK Photograph)
Patrick McLoughlin, Secretary of State for Transport said:
Crossrail is the biggest construction project in Europe and shows UK engineering at its best. I am delighted it has created so many opportunities for young people in civil engineering and construction.Apprenticeships are at the heart of the government’s drive to equip people of all ages with the skills employers need, giving them a chance to reach their potential and achieve a successful career. The government has fulfilled its commitment to starting 2 million apprenticeships in this Parliament.
This government is investing significant amounts in the country’s infrastructure. As we start work on other major projects like HS2 and the Thames Tideway, apprenticeship programmes that ensure young people have the right skills to build our long-term economic future are vital.
As part of this drive, construction is well underway on the multi-million pound national training academy funded by the government to serve as a hub for skills development in rail engineering.
Around 2 in 5 of Crossrail apprenticeships have been filled by people that were previously not in work. They have been trained in a range of professions from construction to accountancy, quantity surveying to business administration.
Terry Morgan, Crossrail Chairman said:
In 2009 Crossrail made a commitment to reinvigorate the UK’s tunnelling and construction skills base with new talent. I’m delighted that we have achieved this major milestone but we will not stop there, and will continue to create new apprenticeships as the project evolves.Crossrail will run over 100 kilometres from Reading and Heathrow in the west, through new tunnels under central London to Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the east. It will call at 40 Crossrail stations including 10 new ones:
As a former apprentice I have seen first hand how beneficial apprenticeships are for both individuals and employers. Crossrail’s approach to skills training is a model that can be adopted across the industry to help deliver the infrastructure projects of the future.
- Paddington
- Bond Street
- Tottenham Court Road
- Farringdon
- Liverpool Street
- Whitechapel
- Canary Wharf
- Custom House
- Woolwich
- Abbey Wood
Transport Minister vows to improve safety for women on transport
Claire Perry showed her commitment to increase safety for women on public transport at a seminar.
Transport Minister Claire Perry today (20 January 2015) showed her commitment to increase safety for women on public transport at a ground-breaking event bringing together more than 60 delegates from women’s charities, campaigning groups and grassroots organisations.
Claire Perry (GOV.UK Photograph)
Speaking at the Women’s Safety on Transport seminar, Claire Perry said:
Investment in transport is at the heart of the government’s long-term economic plan, and that includes making it safe for everyone to use.The research by Middlesex University and commissioned by the Department for Transport and BTP is looking at the effectiveness of common approaches like CCTV, increased police presence, lighting, and panic buttons and phones in reducing unwanted sexual behaviours on public transport.
I am determined to do everything I can to make transport safer for women. That’s why my department, along with British Transport Police (BTP), has funded a research project to find out what measures work on the ground, both here in the UK and internationally. I also know there is more we can do, which is why I want to hear directly from the many groups represented at today’s event.
The findings will be launched in a seminar later in the spring to transport organisations, women’s groups, policy makers, researchers and police officers.
The Department for Transport makes personal safety considerations a part of all future rail franchise awards, and is working closely with BTP and rail operators to explore different partnership approaches to tackle violence and sexual offences across the network.
Claire Perry praised the progress made by Project Guardian, a partnership between Transport for London, BTP, the Metropolitan Police and the City of London Police that aims to increase the reporting rate of sexual offences on London’s transport systems by 20%.
The Women’s Safety on Transport seminar is part of the women’s engagement programme run by the Government Equalities Office. The programme aims to bring women from all parts of the community to share views and debate on a wide range of issues, from violence against women and girls to gender pay gap.
The UK is a signatory of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action that was signed 20 years ago and which committed the government to a programme of action to end gender inequality.
International
China
Stakes raised for government takeover of Taiwan's high-speed rail (WantChinaTimes)
High-speed rail corridor in west China to link north with south (ecns)
Planes, trains and automobiles - the Chinese way (FT.com) | |
India
For the Third Constitutive Day Fog Delays Over 50 Trains in Delhi
USA
US-Mexico International Railway Nears Completion (Nearshore Americas)
www.progressiverailroading.com.
CP enters joint venture with DREAM Unlimited to develop surplus real estate
Genesee Valley Transportation lines report double-digit carload growth in 2014
FRA publishes highway-rail crossing inventory reporting rule
VTA set to begin tunnel construction for BART extension in San Jose
California high-speed authority forum to focus on rail-delivery contract
Toronto transit agencies launch fare pilot project
HART collects additional tax revenue for Honolulu rail project, considers cost concerns
CURE names Warner to serve as interim executive director
www.progressiverailroading.com.
Other Railway Press
www.railway-technology.com.
ABB to provide traction converters for Stadler Rail's trains
Power and automation technologies provider ABB has secured orders worth $40m from Swiss firm Stadler Rail for train projects in Europe and the US.
BNSF announces investment details to boost rail network in 2015
US freight transportation company BNSF Railway has announced investment details about major rail projects that will be undertaken this year in the south, north and central regions to boost its network.
Alstom to deliver signalling equipment for Egyptian Railway
Alstom has secured a €100m contract from Egyptian National Railways (ENR) to deliver signalling equipment for the Beni Suef-Asyut line in Egypt.
TSA receives orders from MTU Friedrichshafen and Turkey's Bozankaya
Traktionssysteme Austria (TSA) has secured an order from Turkish car-builder Bozankaya to deliver 120 traction motors.
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