General News - April 2012
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30-04-12
Greater Anglia name 90009 Diamond Jubilee
Richard Jewson Esq, JP, HM Lord-Lieutenant of Norfolk officially named Greater Anglia Class 90 No. 90009 Diamond Jubilee in a ceremony at Norwich station on Monday 30 April 2012.
The locomotive is part of the Greater Anglia fleet which operates Intercity train services on the Norwich – Ipswich – Colchester to London Liverpool Street GE mainline route, and now carries a special Diamond Jubilee nameplate and commemorative artwork to celebrate the forthcoming Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty The Queen.
The fitting of ‘Diamond Jubilee’ nameplates to this Class 90 continues a long-held tradition of naming locomotives operating on the Norwich to London mainline route in recognition of special events, regional organisations and historical figures.
Andrew Goodrum, Customer Services Director, Greater Anglia said: “We’re delighted to play our part in celebrating the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty The Queen by naming a locomotive ‘Diamond Jubilee’ and we’re very grateful that the Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk is joining us to officially unveil the nameplates.”
No. 90009 was previously named The Royal Show between 05/89-03/94 and The Economist between 03/94-12/04.
The locomotive is part of the Greater Anglia fleet which operates Intercity train services on the Norwich – Ipswich – Colchester to London Liverpool Street GE mainline route, and now carries a special Diamond Jubilee nameplate and commemorative artwork to celebrate the forthcoming Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty The Queen.
The fitting of ‘Diamond Jubilee’ nameplates to this Class 90 continues a long-held tradition of naming locomotives operating on the Norwich to London mainline route in recognition of special events, regional organisations and historical figures.
Andrew Goodrum, Customer Services Director, Greater Anglia said: “We’re delighted to play our part in celebrating the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty The Queen by naming a locomotive ‘Diamond Jubilee’ and we’re very grateful that the Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk is joining us to officially unveil the nameplates.”
No. 90009 was previously named The Royal Show between 05/89-03/94 and The Economist between 03/94-12/04.
30-04-12
New escalators for Newcastle Metro
Nexus, which owns, manages and is modernising Newcastle Metro, is investing in new escalators at two of its busiest Metro stations in Newcastle city centre.
Monument and Central Metro stations are both set to undergo escalator replacement work over the next 12 months. A total of eight new escalators are being installed with the work scheduled for completion in March 2013.
The work forms part of the £385m Metro all change modernisation programme which will see the network transformed over the next 11 years, including new-look trains and refurbished stations.
The work will be carried out in phases, planned so that Central will always at least have one escalator in operation and one in each direction available for both lines that run through Monument station. Both stations also have passenger lifts to the platform level.
Director of Rail and Infrastructure for Nexus, Ken Mackay, said: “New escalators are a vital part of our modernisation programme. Most of these escalators have been in continuous service for 30 years, with approximately 92 million revolutions in that time, so it’s no wonder they are feeling the strain. The new escalators will be a lot smoother and much more energy efficient, lowering the Metro system’s overall carbon footprint.”
The £385m Metro all change programme will see a whole host of modernisation projects during 2012.
The new generation of ticket machines are currently being installed, with almost half of the network now completed. The new ticket machines, 225 in total, which accept bank notes and credit and debit card payments, are going in at all 60 Metro stations.
Work will be ongoing to fit 13 key Metro stations with electronic ticket gates similar to those used on the London Underground system. New passenger lifts will also be fitted at Heworth Interchange in Gateshead and Four Lane Ends Interchange in North Tyneside in the next year.
Monument and Central Metro stations are both set to undergo escalator replacement work over the next 12 months. A total of eight new escalators are being installed with the work scheduled for completion in March 2013.
The work forms part of the £385m Metro all change modernisation programme which will see the network transformed over the next 11 years, including new-look trains and refurbished stations.
The work will be carried out in phases, planned so that Central will always at least have one escalator in operation and one in each direction available for both lines that run through Monument station. Both stations also have passenger lifts to the platform level.
Director of Rail and Infrastructure for Nexus, Ken Mackay, said: “New escalators are a vital part of our modernisation programme. Most of these escalators have been in continuous service for 30 years, with approximately 92 million revolutions in that time, so it’s no wonder they are feeling the strain. The new escalators will be a lot smoother and much more energy efficient, lowering the Metro system’s overall carbon footprint.”
The £385m Metro all change programme will see a whole host of modernisation projects during 2012.
The new generation of ticket machines are currently being installed, with almost half of the network now completed. The new ticket machines, 225 in total, which accept bank notes and credit and debit card payments, are going in at all 60 Metro stations.
Work will be ongoing to fit 13 key Metro stations with electronic ticket gates similar to those used on the London Underground system. New passenger lifts will also be fitted at Heworth Interchange in Gateshead and Four Lane Ends Interchange in North Tyneside in the next year.
30-04-12
South West Trains and Network Rail form new 'Alliance'
Train operator South West Trains and infrastructure operator Network Rail announced on 30 April 2012 the launch of a new alliance with the aim of delivering better rail services in the south and south-west of England.
A single senior joint management team now has responsibility for both trains and track on the route operating out of London Waterloo in a first for the UK rail industry.
It is aiming to cut delays for passengers, provide better customer service, deliver more effective management of disruption, and improve the efficiency of the railway through more collaborative working and better decision-making. The new alliance is also expected to benefit rail freight operators who use the Wessex route.
The alliance, which officially went live on 29 April, is a first for the UK rail industry and has been approved by the Department for Transport and the Office of Rail Regulation. The alliance is planned to run until 4 February 2017, the expiry date of the South West Trains franchise agreement.
The creation of the alliance follows the publication of the McNulty Report last year, which recommended a package of measures to reduce inefficiencies in the UK rail system. It also delivers a key element of the Government’s Rail Command Paper, issued in March 2012, which called for closer co-operation between operations and infrastructure.
The alliance also builds on the existing joint working between South West Trains and Network Rail through the Wessex Integrated Control Centre at London Waterloo, which co-ordinates the operational response to incidents on the route, as well as recent moves by Network Rail to devolve operational responsibility to regional units.
Sir Brian Souter, Chief Executive of Stagecoach Group, the parent company of South West Trains, said: “This new model is a real opportunity to deliver change that will benefit both passengers and taxpayers and support our objective of growing the railway. Safety will continue to be our top priority and will remain at the core of the way we run the railway. By working more closely with Network Rail than ever before, and with aligned incentives, we can deliver a more customer-focused and more efficient railway for the long-term."
David Higgins, Chief Executive, Network Rail, said: "This marks a new phase in the evolution of Network Rail as we continue to push decision making away from the centre, empowering our front-line managers to run the railway more effectively, and forging closer working relationships with our customers, the train operators. Network Rail will continue to focus on delivering our obligations to all parties, protecting the interests of all customers whilst maintaining the seamless operation of the whole network."
Under the alliance, the combined management team will consider the “whole railway” in making decisions, resulting in a range of improvements for passengers and employees:
* More effective station management: a single management team for London Waterloo, the UK’s busiest railway station with more 90 million passengers a year.
* Better planning of track maintenance work: smarter train planning and improved access to provide more time for renewals, leading to a more reliable and punctual train service.
* Improved response to disruption: a single team dealing with operational incidents on the network through the Wessex Integrated Control Centre.
* Faster decision-making: quicker resolution of issues through joint responsibility for work at stations.
* Aligned objectives and incentives: employees from both organisations working towards common goals with consistent incentives to improve performance.
* Building skills: cross-functional development opportunities for employees, enhancing skills and providing wider job experience.
* Pooled resources: opportunities to share facilities, helping with winter preparations and providing a more efficient response to train service disruption.
* Operational efficiencies: joint training, communications and occupational health processes
The alliance senior management team will be headed by Tim Shoveller. Tim began his career working as a train guard at Guildford, and his 20-year railway career has included senior management positions at Virgin Trains and Eurostar. More recently, he headed up the East Midlands Trains franchise for four years, before moving onto become Managing Director of South West Trains in January 2012.
Tim Shoveller added: “The creation of this joint alliance provides a real opportunity to deliver an even better service for our passengers, and we have already had a very positive response to this new way of working. Our focus now will be on leading and supporting our 6,000 employees and managers who play a critical role in the delivery of our train services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Together we will develop a collaborative way of working through the alliance and deliver a great train service for our passengers.”
The senior management team has more than 200 years’ experience in the UK rail industry covering train service delivery, rail infrastructure management and train fleet manufacturing and includes:
Managing Director – Tim Shoveller, Infrastructure Director – Jim Morgan, Operations Director – Mark Steward, Fleet Director - Christian Roth, Safety & Assurance Director – Brian Cook, Human Resources Director – Kelly Barlow, Commercial Director – Sam McCarthy, Customer Service Director – Jake Kelly, Finance Director – Andy West
A governance board, with equal representation from both organisations, will oversee the operation of the alliance and take major business decisions. Arrangements are in place to ensure the interests of other passenger rail companies and freight operators are protected. Both companies retain their own identities and staff. There are no changes to terms and conditions of employment or collective bargaining agreements with recognised trade unions
A single senior joint management team now has responsibility for both trains and track on the route operating out of London Waterloo in a first for the UK rail industry.
It is aiming to cut delays for passengers, provide better customer service, deliver more effective management of disruption, and improve the efficiency of the railway through more collaborative working and better decision-making. The new alliance is also expected to benefit rail freight operators who use the Wessex route.
The alliance, which officially went live on 29 April, is a first for the UK rail industry and has been approved by the Department for Transport and the Office of Rail Regulation. The alliance is planned to run until 4 February 2017, the expiry date of the South West Trains franchise agreement.
The creation of the alliance follows the publication of the McNulty Report last year, which recommended a package of measures to reduce inefficiencies in the UK rail system. It also delivers a key element of the Government’s Rail Command Paper, issued in March 2012, which called for closer co-operation between operations and infrastructure.
The alliance also builds on the existing joint working between South West Trains and Network Rail through the Wessex Integrated Control Centre at London Waterloo, which co-ordinates the operational response to incidents on the route, as well as recent moves by Network Rail to devolve operational responsibility to regional units.
Sir Brian Souter, Chief Executive of Stagecoach Group, the parent company of South West Trains, said: “This new model is a real opportunity to deliver change that will benefit both passengers and taxpayers and support our objective of growing the railway. Safety will continue to be our top priority and will remain at the core of the way we run the railway. By working more closely with Network Rail than ever before, and with aligned incentives, we can deliver a more customer-focused and more efficient railway for the long-term."
David Higgins, Chief Executive, Network Rail, said: "This marks a new phase in the evolution of Network Rail as we continue to push decision making away from the centre, empowering our front-line managers to run the railway more effectively, and forging closer working relationships with our customers, the train operators. Network Rail will continue to focus on delivering our obligations to all parties, protecting the interests of all customers whilst maintaining the seamless operation of the whole network."
Under the alliance, the combined management team will consider the “whole railway” in making decisions, resulting in a range of improvements for passengers and employees:
* More effective station management: a single management team for London Waterloo, the UK’s busiest railway station with more 90 million passengers a year.
* Better planning of track maintenance work: smarter train planning and improved access to provide more time for renewals, leading to a more reliable and punctual train service.
* Improved response to disruption: a single team dealing with operational incidents on the network through the Wessex Integrated Control Centre.
* Faster decision-making: quicker resolution of issues through joint responsibility for work at stations.
* Aligned objectives and incentives: employees from both organisations working towards common goals with consistent incentives to improve performance.
* Building skills: cross-functional development opportunities for employees, enhancing skills and providing wider job experience.
* Pooled resources: opportunities to share facilities, helping with winter preparations and providing a more efficient response to train service disruption.
* Operational efficiencies: joint training, communications and occupational health processes
The alliance senior management team will be headed by Tim Shoveller. Tim began his career working as a train guard at Guildford, and his 20-year railway career has included senior management positions at Virgin Trains and Eurostar. More recently, he headed up the East Midlands Trains franchise for four years, before moving onto become Managing Director of South West Trains in January 2012.
Tim Shoveller added: “The creation of this joint alliance provides a real opportunity to deliver an even better service for our passengers, and we have already had a very positive response to this new way of working. Our focus now will be on leading and supporting our 6,000 employees and managers who play a critical role in the delivery of our train services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Together we will develop a collaborative way of working through the alliance and deliver a great train service for our passengers.”
The senior management team has more than 200 years’ experience in the UK rail industry covering train service delivery, rail infrastructure management and train fleet manufacturing and includes:
Managing Director – Tim Shoveller, Infrastructure Director – Jim Morgan, Operations Director – Mark Steward, Fleet Director - Christian Roth, Safety & Assurance Director – Brian Cook, Human Resources Director – Kelly Barlow, Commercial Director – Sam McCarthy, Customer Service Director – Jake Kelly, Finance Director – Andy West
A governance board, with equal representation from both organisations, will oversee the operation of the alliance and take major business decisions. Arrangements are in place to ensure the interests of other passenger rail companies and freight operators are protected. Both companies retain their own identities and staff. There are no changes to terms and conditions of employment or collective bargaining agreements with recognised trade unions
27-04-12
'Pacer' in Landslip derailment
Fire crews were called to Clarborough on 27 April 2012, after Class 142 'Pacer No. 142091 was derailed on emerging from Clarborough Tunnel near Retford. The unit, forming the 11.25 Lincoln to Adwick, collided with a landslip just outside the tunnel mouth at 12.15.
There were 17 passengers on the train, who were evacuated after the unit came off the tracks, two people being taken to hospital by ambulance. The lower cab front and coupler area of leading car No. 55787 suffered damage caused by a tree trunk in the debris.
There were 17 passengers on the train, who were evacuated after the unit came off the tracks, two people being taken to hospital by ambulance. The lower cab front and coupler area of leading car No. 55787 suffered damage caused by a tree trunk in the debris.
27-04-12
Rail investment vital to Bristol's Enterprise Zone
Growing Bristol’s railway is vital to the success of the city’s new enterprise zone, says Patrick Hallgate, route managing director for Network Rail.
At the launch event of the enterprise zone on 27 April 2012, Network Rail shared its rail vision in redeveloping Bristol Temple Meads into a world-class railway hub.
Patrick Hallgate, route managing director for Network Rail said: “We warmly welcome the launch of the enterprise zone today. A robust rail infrastructure is vital to a thriving economy and the rail industry is poised to support Bristol with an integrated rail strategy. Bristol Temple Meads is located right at the heart of the enterprise zone and is among the busiest and fastest growing rail interchanges on the Western route, receiving more than 9m passengers on average every year. Redeveloping the station into a world-class rail gateway, with excellent rail links, will be significant to help position the new business district as an ideal location for investment, whilst boosting economic growth and catering for growing rail demand.”
The rail strategy, also supported by West of England Local Enterprise Partnership, aims to expand the station to ease congestion and provide excellent connectivity to London, the South West, Wales and the North. In addition, it plans to increase train services to cater for the forecast 44% growth in passenger number in Bristol over the next ten years.
A high-level feasibility study, led by Network Rail, is currently being carried out to determine the validity of this proposal, which is subject to government funding.
It includes:
1. Station capacity improvements to ease current and predicted passenger congestion - A new eastern station access to ease congestion and provide a convenient link across and around Temple Quarter - A light and airy subway extension under the existing forecourt to provide a welcoming environment and improve retail opportunities for local businesses, whilst preserving the vistas of the historic grade 1 listed structure.
2. Redevelopment of the Digby Wyatt shed to reinstate two disused platforms, bringing the shed back to its former usage, accommodating additional train services.
Complementing this proposal, Network Rail also recommends a number of infrastructure enhancements to provide additional capacity, improved journey times and operational flexibility on the railway around Bristol. These recommendations include remodelling of a key junction into the station area, additional infrastructure on the line to Bristol Parkway and line-speed improvements to the south west.
At the launch event of the enterprise zone on 27 April 2012, Network Rail shared its rail vision in redeveloping Bristol Temple Meads into a world-class railway hub.
Patrick Hallgate, route managing director for Network Rail said: “We warmly welcome the launch of the enterprise zone today. A robust rail infrastructure is vital to a thriving economy and the rail industry is poised to support Bristol with an integrated rail strategy. Bristol Temple Meads is located right at the heart of the enterprise zone and is among the busiest and fastest growing rail interchanges on the Western route, receiving more than 9m passengers on average every year. Redeveloping the station into a world-class rail gateway, with excellent rail links, will be significant to help position the new business district as an ideal location for investment, whilst boosting economic growth and catering for growing rail demand.”
The rail strategy, also supported by West of England Local Enterprise Partnership, aims to expand the station to ease congestion and provide excellent connectivity to London, the South West, Wales and the North. In addition, it plans to increase train services to cater for the forecast 44% growth in passenger number in Bristol over the next ten years.
A high-level feasibility study, led by Network Rail, is currently being carried out to determine the validity of this proposal, which is subject to government funding.
It includes:
1. Station capacity improvements to ease current and predicted passenger congestion - A new eastern station access to ease congestion and provide a convenient link across and around Temple Quarter - A light and airy subway extension under the existing forecourt to provide a welcoming environment and improve retail opportunities for local businesses, whilst preserving the vistas of the historic grade 1 listed structure.
2. Redevelopment of the Digby Wyatt shed to reinstate two disused platforms, bringing the shed back to its former usage, accommodating additional train services.
Complementing this proposal, Network Rail also recommends a number of infrastructure enhancements to provide additional capacity, improved journey times and operational flexibility on the railway around Bristol. These recommendations include remodelling of a key junction into the station area, additional infrastructure on the line to Bristol Parkway and line-speed improvements to the south west.
27-04-12
Highland Line landslip
Network Rail engineers have begun work to repair damage caused to the railway by a landslip early on 27 April 2012 on the Highland main line between Carrbridge and Slochd.
The engineering works are expected to be completed in time for the start of services on Wednesday, 2 May 2012.
More than 2,000 tons of rock will be installed to stabilise the affected line after a 60ft section of the railway lineside gave way shortly after 08.00 this morning due to heavy rain.
David Simpson, Network Rail route managing director for Scotland, said: “Every effort is being made to restore full services as quickly as we can. We are also working with train operators to limit disruption to journeys as much as possible while we carry out our repair works.”
The engineering works are expected to be completed in time for the start of services on Wednesday, 2 May 2012.
More than 2,000 tons of rock will be installed to stabilise the affected line after a 60ft section of the railway lineside gave way shortly after 08.00 this morning due to heavy rain.
David Simpson, Network Rail route managing director for Scotland, said: “Every effort is being made to restore full services as quickly as we can. We are also working with train operators to limit disruption to journeys as much as possible while we carry out our repair works.”
27-04-12
Freightliner order new wagons
Freightliner, has made a significant investment in new container wagons.
Freightliner has placed an order with VTG, for a fleet of twin platform Ecofret ‘Shortliner’ wagons to meet the evolving deep sea container market towards 40ft containers. The 40ft deck length wagons are designed to maximise the amount of 40ft containers that can be hauled on one service without empty running or 20ft wasted space. Ecofret ‘Shortliner’ wagons are enabling Freightliner to maximise port and inland capacity, reduce CO2 emissions and increase network utilisation by maximising the amount of boxes that can be hauled on one service.
Freightliner, through the use of these new wagons and the operator’s unique ability to haul longer, heavier trains, using the state of the art PowerHaul Class 70 locomotives, are creating Shortliner services.
Through Shortliner services, Freightliner is increasing the amount of 40ft containers hauled per train by over 42% in comparison to a standard Class 66 service hauling 24 wagons, whilst still fulfilling the 20ft market demand.
Adam Cunliffe Managing Director, Freightliner Limited commented: “Freightliner Ltd’s investment in the new Ecofret ‘Shortliner’ wagons demonstrates Freightliner’s dedication to meet our customers’ needs in a market which is increasingly dominated by 40ft containers. These new wagons complement our existing 60ft wagon fleet ensuring maximum utilisation of both 40ft and 20ft containers. Our capability to haul longer, heavier trains teamed with our new wagons is ensuring more containers can be moved by rail, reducing CO2 emissions and removing more lorries from the UK’s congested roads.”
Freightliner has placed an order with VTG, for a fleet of twin platform Ecofret ‘Shortliner’ wagons to meet the evolving deep sea container market towards 40ft containers. The 40ft deck length wagons are designed to maximise the amount of 40ft containers that can be hauled on one service without empty running or 20ft wasted space. Ecofret ‘Shortliner’ wagons are enabling Freightliner to maximise port and inland capacity, reduce CO2 emissions and increase network utilisation by maximising the amount of boxes that can be hauled on one service.
Freightliner, through the use of these new wagons and the operator’s unique ability to haul longer, heavier trains, using the state of the art PowerHaul Class 70 locomotives, are creating Shortliner services.
Through Shortliner services, Freightliner is increasing the amount of 40ft containers hauled per train by over 42% in comparison to a standard Class 66 service hauling 24 wagons, whilst still fulfilling the 20ft market demand.
Adam Cunliffe Managing Director, Freightliner Limited commented: “Freightliner Ltd’s investment in the new Ecofret ‘Shortliner’ wagons demonstrates Freightliner’s dedication to meet our customers’ needs in a market which is increasingly dominated by 40ft containers. These new wagons complement our existing 60ft wagon fleet ensuring maximum utilisation of both 40ft and 20ft containers. Our capability to haul longer, heavier trains teamed with our new wagons is ensuring more containers can be moved by rail, reducing CO2 emissions and removing more lorries from the UK’s congested roads.”
27-04-12
Kent rail summit announced extra high speed services
Train passengers in Kent are set to benefit from a series of improvements that were announced at the 4th Kent Rail Summit on Wednesday 25 April 2012 including:
• An extra extended late night high speed Southeastern service to Sandwich, Deal and Ramsgate leaving London St Pancras International at 23.12, from September 2012
• Continued funding by Kent County Council for high speed services from Sandwich and Deal, slashing journey times between to capital to just 90 minutes
The high speed services are being funded by Kent County Council to boost business confidence and support new employment opportunities in East Kent following Pfizer’s announcement last year to exit their site in Sandwich, and will provide further incentive for new business and job growth in the Discovery Park Enterprise Zone.
Demand for Southeastern’s high speed service has grown steadily since they were launched in September last year. The high speed peak services cut the journey time from Deal to London to approximately 90 minutes, compared to the Mainline service, which is 135 minutes.
The extended, late night high speed service from London St Pancras to Ramsgate, is expected to be welcomed by those working late or enjoying a night out in London.
Bryan Sweetland, Kent County Council Cabinet Member for Environment, Highways and Waste, who chaired the 4th Kent Rail Summit, at County Hall, Maidstone, said: “The launch of late night high speed services to East Kent is great news for the area, providing a further boost to business. It will significantly benefit tourism, building on the tremendous success of the Turner Centre and resulting increase in visitor numbers. This comes as part of our continued support of high speed services to Sandwich and Deal following their successful launch. We aimed to pump-prime the service to boost business and job prospects in the area with a move that was called for by local residents. This is good news for the local people and businesses.
We worked closely with Southeastern and local MPs to secure high speed rail services at the lowest possible cost, initially on a trial basis for one year. As a result of strong passenger figures we have been able to reduce the level of our revenue support considerably. As service use grows the potential to extend it to provide a full timetable throughout the day will be a real possibility, which will boost local business prospects still further."
Vince Lucas, service delivery director for Southeastern said: “We have been working more closely with Kent County Council than ever before to deliver real improvements for passengers using our services, and we’re seeing a growth in passenger numbers and satisfaction is at an all time high. “We’re delighted to continue the partnership with Kent County Council to provide high speed services to Sandwich and Deal. The service is a key transport link between the coast and London. From September we will be extending the evening service departing 23:12 from St Pancras to also include stops at Sandwich, Deal and Ramsgate. This means passengers have another transport option to get home following a night out in London"
• An extra extended late night high speed Southeastern service to Sandwich, Deal and Ramsgate leaving London St Pancras International at 23.12, from September 2012
• Continued funding by Kent County Council for high speed services from Sandwich and Deal, slashing journey times between to capital to just 90 minutes
The high speed services are being funded by Kent County Council to boost business confidence and support new employment opportunities in East Kent following Pfizer’s announcement last year to exit their site in Sandwich, and will provide further incentive for new business and job growth in the Discovery Park Enterprise Zone.
Demand for Southeastern’s high speed service has grown steadily since they were launched in September last year. The high speed peak services cut the journey time from Deal to London to approximately 90 minutes, compared to the Mainline service, which is 135 minutes.
The extended, late night high speed service from London St Pancras to Ramsgate, is expected to be welcomed by those working late or enjoying a night out in London.
Bryan Sweetland, Kent County Council Cabinet Member for Environment, Highways and Waste, who chaired the 4th Kent Rail Summit, at County Hall, Maidstone, said: “The launch of late night high speed services to East Kent is great news for the area, providing a further boost to business. It will significantly benefit tourism, building on the tremendous success of the Turner Centre and resulting increase in visitor numbers. This comes as part of our continued support of high speed services to Sandwich and Deal following their successful launch. We aimed to pump-prime the service to boost business and job prospects in the area with a move that was called for by local residents. This is good news for the local people and businesses.
We worked closely with Southeastern and local MPs to secure high speed rail services at the lowest possible cost, initially on a trial basis for one year. As a result of strong passenger figures we have been able to reduce the level of our revenue support considerably. As service use grows the potential to extend it to provide a full timetable throughout the day will be a real possibility, which will boost local business prospects still further."
Vince Lucas, service delivery director for Southeastern said: “We have been working more closely with Kent County Council than ever before to deliver real improvements for passengers using our services, and we’re seeing a growth in passenger numbers and satisfaction is at an all time high. “We’re delighted to continue the partnership with Kent County Council to provide high speed services to Sandwich and Deal. The service is a key transport link between the coast and London. From September we will be extending the evening service departing 23:12 from St Pancras to also include stops at Sandwich, Deal and Ramsgate. This means passengers have another transport option to get home following a night out in London"
27-04-12
County Councillor awards Meldreth station assistant with Recognition Award
Cambridgeshire County Councillor, Susan van de Ven, has this week awarded David Piggott, a Sales Assistant at Meldreth Railway Station, with a First Capital Connect (FCC) Stakeholder Recognition Award.
David was nominated for the award due to the large number of compliments sent by members of the local community to FCC’s Customer Service Director, Keith Jipps. Several people commented on David’s eagerness to help, positive outlook, and for constantly going beyond the call of duty.
The award, launched last year, provides FCC’s stakeholders with an opportunity to show their appreciation for their local station teams and the service they provide to their customers.
Speaking at the award presentation Cllr van de Ven said: “David is a pillar of this community and provides an amazing service to customers using Meldreth Station. He is so well thought of and First Capital Connect should be proud to have a member of staff that really does go the extra mile.”
Keith Jipps, FCC’s Customer Service Director, said: “David does a fantastic job for our customers and regularly goes out of His way to help people. I would also like to thank Susan for showing her appreciation for David by awarding him with our Stakeholder Recognition Award.”
David was nominated for the award due to the large number of compliments sent by members of the local community to FCC’s Customer Service Director, Keith Jipps. Several people commented on David’s eagerness to help, positive outlook, and for constantly going beyond the call of duty.
The award, launched last year, provides FCC’s stakeholders with an opportunity to show their appreciation for their local station teams and the service they provide to their customers.
Speaking at the award presentation Cllr van de Ven said: “David is a pillar of this community and provides an amazing service to customers using Meldreth Station. He is so well thought of and First Capital Connect should be proud to have a member of staff that really does go the extra mile.”
Keith Jipps, FCC’s Customer Service Director, said: “David does a fantastic job for our customers and regularly goes out of His way to help people. I would also like to thank Susan for showing her appreciation for David by awarding him with our Stakeholder Recognition Award.”
26-04-12
GBRf names Class 66 Sorrento
GB Railfreight (GBRf), has named Class 66/7 No. 66709 Sorrento to celebrate a 10-year partnership with the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC). The promotional-liveried locomotive was unveiled at a special ceremony at the Port of Felixstowe on 25 April 2011, where GBRf has its Intermodal headquarters.
The locomotive was unveiled by GBRf Managing Director John Smith and Maurizio Aponte, Director of MSC Europe, with 70 guests of MSC and GBRf present.
John Smith commented: “It is an honour to name this locomotive Sorrento to celebrate the 10-year partnership between MSC and GBRf.”
Dan Everitt, Managing Director of MSC UK, added: “MSC is proud to unveil the newly liveried locomotive to celebrate our 10 year partnership with GB Railfreight, as it also provides us with an opportunity to highlight our commitment to investment in rail services. Last year, we moved over 100,000 containers by rail, which we estimate was almost 20% of the Port of Felixstowe’s total rail moves. As rail produces 70% less Co2 than the equivalent road journey, we are pleased to be able to offer an excellent, sustainable intermodal service for our customers, which is also resulting in reduced carbon emissions and road congestion.”
No. 66709 was previously in Medite black livery and named Joseph Arnold Davies
The locomotive was unveiled by GBRf Managing Director John Smith and Maurizio Aponte, Director of MSC Europe, with 70 guests of MSC and GBRf present.
John Smith commented: “It is an honour to name this locomotive Sorrento to celebrate the 10-year partnership between MSC and GBRf.”
Dan Everitt, Managing Director of MSC UK, added: “MSC is proud to unveil the newly liveried locomotive to celebrate our 10 year partnership with GB Railfreight, as it also provides us with an opportunity to highlight our commitment to investment in rail services. Last year, we moved over 100,000 containers by rail, which we estimate was almost 20% of the Port of Felixstowe’s total rail moves. As rail produces 70% less Co2 than the equivalent road journey, we are pleased to be able to offer an excellent, sustainable intermodal service for our customers, which is also resulting in reduced carbon emissions and road congestion.”
No. 66709 was previously in Medite black livery and named Joseph Arnold Davies
26-04-12
GBRf appoint new head of coal
Amanda Wilson has joined GB Railfreight (GBRf) as the new Head of Coal. She replaces Phil Webster, who was appointed Head of Contract Management in October last year.
Amanda brings with her a wealth of experience in the rail industry. She joined British Rail’s Youth Training Scheme at the age of 16 in 1983 and worked first in a passenger ticket office before moving into clerical support. Her first coal related role was in 1989 working for East Midlands Freight as a Coal Controller, based in Nottingham.
Before joining GBRf she worked for EWS in various positions within the coal team, before becoming the Coal Team Leader and most recently was Account Manager Coal for DB Schenker.
Amanda’s appointment is the latest in a series of changes brought in by GBRf’s Managing Director, John Smith, designed to boost the company’s already excellent standards of customer service.
Phil Webster said: “It is a pleasure to welcome Amanda to the team. Amanda is well experienced in the ESI Coal business, has customer service excellence and his well respected within the power generation business.”
Amanda brings with her a wealth of experience in the rail industry. She joined British Rail’s Youth Training Scheme at the age of 16 in 1983 and worked first in a passenger ticket office before moving into clerical support. Her first coal related role was in 1989 working for East Midlands Freight as a Coal Controller, based in Nottingham.
Before joining GBRf she worked for EWS in various positions within the coal team, before becoming the Coal Team Leader and most recently was Account Manager Coal for DB Schenker.
Amanda’s appointment is the latest in a series of changes brought in by GBRf’s Managing Director, John Smith, designed to boost the company’s already excellent standards of customer service.
Phil Webster said: “It is a pleasure to welcome Amanda to the team. Amanda is well experienced in the ESI Coal business, has customer service excellence and his well respected within the power generation business.”
26-04-12
Network Rail launch educational videos to assist teachers
Network Rail has launched a series of educational videos to help teachers promote engineering in the classroom. The 15 videos are available to view on YouTube www.youtube.com/networkrail and each aims to bring to life how all the different aspects of engineering helps to keep Britain’s railways running. Viewers will see operations in depots, on track and in laboratories and manufacturing plants to illustrate the challenges in an engaging and informative way. Stories range from how Network Rail controls trains to level crossing design, how rail is manufactured, and what materials are used and how they help build and maintain the tracks.
The videos are part of a wider schools engagement programme including STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths), ambassadors, involving our young engineers and technicians in career fairs and events in order to bring what is learnt in the classroom into real life, and show the career options available, and encourage the very best talent to join the rail industry.
Steve Yianni, director, engineering, said: “As an engineer I believe passionately we have a responsibility to support education beyond our own workforce, in schools and colleges, to encourage the next generation to get into engineering and show how it applies in the real world. I am deeply concerned that so many young people that we meet at careers events are not really aware of what role engineering plays in every day life and have never considered a career in this field, despite showing a great aptitude for maths and science. We must do all we can to work with educators to address this knowledge gap so we can continue to develop the world’s best and brightest engineering talents.”
The 15 videos range between 2-20 minutes in length and each video is accompanied by teaching challenges provided by the JCB Academy – a university training college in Staffordshire that has worked closely with Network Rail since 2010.The challenges meet the requirements of recognised national qualifications and can be used across a range of educational activities. As well as promoting these videos via YouTube, Facebook and Twitter, Network Rail will write to schools to help them make the most of these free teaching resources.
Jim Wade, principal, JCB Academy said: “We were delighted to work with Network Rail to develop innovative and exciting curriculum materials. The commitment of Network Rail to producing the engineering leaders of the future has been fantastic and it has been a real pleasure to work with such an innovative and forward thinking company who are so dedicated to inspiring the next generation.”
The videos are part of a wider schools engagement programme including STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths), ambassadors, involving our young engineers and technicians in career fairs and events in order to bring what is learnt in the classroom into real life, and show the career options available, and encourage the very best talent to join the rail industry.
Steve Yianni, director, engineering, said: “As an engineer I believe passionately we have a responsibility to support education beyond our own workforce, in schools and colleges, to encourage the next generation to get into engineering and show how it applies in the real world. I am deeply concerned that so many young people that we meet at careers events are not really aware of what role engineering plays in every day life and have never considered a career in this field, despite showing a great aptitude for maths and science. We must do all we can to work with educators to address this knowledge gap so we can continue to develop the world’s best and brightest engineering talents.”
The 15 videos range between 2-20 minutes in length and each video is accompanied by teaching challenges provided by the JCB Academy – a university training college in Staffordshire that has worked closely with Network Rail since 2010.The challenges meet the requirements of recognised national qualifications and can be used across a range of educational activities. As well as promoting these videos via YouTube, Facebook and Twitter, Network Rail will write to schools to help them make the most of these free teaching resources.
Jim Wade, principal, JCB Academy said: “We were delighted to work with Network Rail to develop innovative and exciting curriculum materials. The commitment of Network Rail to producing the engineering leaders of the future has been fantastic and it has been a real pleasure to work with such an innovative and forward thinking company who are so dedicated to inspiring the next generation.”
25-04-12
Improved performance and capacity for Harrogate line
Passengers on the Harrogate line will have a more reliable service as Network Rail completes the resignalling of the route. At the same time a turnback facility is being built at Horsforth to facilitate future increases in rail services.
£16m is being invested to improve the reliability of the route by provision of modern signalling between Kirkstall Viaduct and Harrogate station. Engineers will also build a turnback at Horsforth which will allow Northern Rail to run a shuttle service between Harrogate and Leeds in the future.
Warrick Dent, area manager for Network Rail, said: “The Harrogate line is a real success story and passenger demand is expected to continue to grow. This substantial investment is great news for rail passengers as the new equipment will not only be more reliable but will give provision for future increases in line speed and the possibility for increased services. This is just one of many projects we are completing to improve services for passengers in the area. Others include resignalling between South Kirby and Wakefield; and Huddersfield and Bradford; a new southern entrance at Leeds station; a turnback at Micklefield and, in partnerships with local partners, new stations at Kirkstall Forge and Apperley Bridge. “
The signalling work on the Harrogate line involves the installation of new equipment, structures and bases along the route.
Engineers will also install new track, sleepers and ballast for the new turnback close to Horsforth station. Significant earth and drainage works will be completed on the land which was purchased from Leeds City Council. The project is working with Natural England and the Environment Agency. All vegetation which is removed will be replaced with wildlife/railway friendly flora.
Signalling will be transferred from Horsforth and Rigton signal boxes into Harrogate, increasing efficiencies as these boxes close.
Key dates
Week of 12 April – land purchase completed, Horsforth.
Saturday 28 April – Work starts on turnback at Horsforth. Train service affected for 30 hours.
July – track works in Horsforth.
12 and 19 August – road closure at Rigton Level Crossing, Rigton. To allow for the plain lining of a redundant crossover in this location.
25 August and 1 September – new crossovers installed at Horsforth to give access to turnback – train service affected for 30 hours.
13 to 29 October, full road closure at Rigton Level Crossing, Rigton to allow the conversion of the level crossing to a manually controlled CCTV crossing.
27, 28, 29 October – 54-hour signalling commissioning. Train service affected.
£16m is being invested to improve the reliability of the route by provision of modern signalling between Kirkstall Viaduct and Harrogate station. Engineers will also build a turnback at Horsforth which will allow Northern Rail to run a shuttle service between Harrogate and Leeds in the future.
Warrick Dent, area manager for Network Rail, said: “The Harrogate line is a real success story and passenger demand is expected to continue to grow. This substantial investment is great news for rail passengers as the new equipment will not only be more reliable but will give provision for future increases in line speed and the possibility for increased services. This is just one of many projects we are completing to improve services for passengers in the area. Others include resignalling between South Kirby and Wakefield; and Huddersfield and Bradford; a new southern entrance at Leeds station; a turnback at Micklefield and, in partnerships with local partners, new stations at Kirkstall Forge and Apperley Bridge. “
The signalling work on the Harrogate line involves the installation of new equipment, structures and bases along the route.
Engineers will also install new track, sleepers and ballast for the new turnback close to Horsforth station. Significant earth and drainage works will be completed on the land which was purchased from Leeds City Council. The project is working with Natural England and the Environment Agency. All vegetation which is removed will be replaced with wildlife/railway friendly flora.
Signalling will be transferred from Horsforth and Rigton signal boxes into Harrogate, increasing efficiencies as these boxes close.
Key dates
Week of 12 April – land purchase completed, Horsforth.
Saturday 28 April – Work starts on turnback at Horsforth. Train service affected for 30 hours.
July – track works in Horsforth.
12 and 19 August – road closure at Rigton Level Crossing, Rigton. To allow for the plain lining of a redundant crossover in this location.
25 August and 1 September – new crossovers installed at Horsforth to give access to turnback – train service affected for 30 hours.
13 to 29 October, full road closure at Rigton Level Crossing, Rigton to allow the conversion of the level crossing to a manually controlled CCTV crossing.
27, 28, 29 October – 54-hour signalling commissioning. Train service affected.
25-04-12
HS1 Ltd and Network Rail agree new deal
HS1 Ltd, the owners of the UK's first and only high speed railway, and Network Rail have signed a new deal, extending Network Rail’s contract to operate and maintain High Speed 1 until at least 2025.
Following a very successful first five years of operation, since the full opening of HS1 and St Pancras International in 2007, the two organisations have now extended the contract between them to:
* Bring the two businesses closer together – aligning incentives for quality and efficiency
* Offer better value to HS1 and its customers – with an immediate significant reduction in price
* Incentivise and facilitate the 50/50 sharing of future financial outperformance
Nicola Shaw, chief executive, HS1 Ltd, said: "We conducted an extensive market review and knew that we had alternatives. However the quality of delivery from Network Rail (CTRL) has been good over the last few years and this deal offered real benefits to us and to our customers. We’ve now got a decade of certainty on which to work together to improve the line even further and to welcome more growth.”
Patrick Butcher, Network Rail's group finance director, said: "We have run HS1's infrastructure since the current route opened in 2007 and have delivered a high standard of punctuality and overall performance for our client and the route's users - a standard that we aim to continue for many years to come. The new contract offers our client even better value, and allows HS1 and its customers to share in outperformance through the continuation of the excellent partnership that has been established."
HS1 remains among the world's most reliable railways with an average train delay of between six and eight seconds. Passenger numbers continue to grow every year since opening.
Network Rail operates, maintains and renews the High Speed 1 railway through a wholly-owned subsidiary, Network Rail (CTRL).
Network Rail (CTRL) and HS1 Ltd have a contract in place to 2047 which included the right for HS1 Ltd to 'market test' for alternative but similar service providers elsewhere and terminate the contract in 2015 by giving notice by 31 March 2012
A new deal has been agreed with HS1 Ltd giving HS1 Ltd a new fixed price featuring a 10% reduction in costs to 31 March 2015 and moving its break-clause rights to 2025.
Beyond 2015 a new fixed price will be agreed, determined through the periodic review process with the ORR for HS1's control period 2 (2015-2020) and control period 3 (2020-2025). Network Rail will now be involved in, and bound by, this review process.
The new deal also sees both parties share 50/50 in any financial outperformance by Network Rail. HS1 Ltd will in turn share 60% of its discount and outperformance with its customers (i.e. the train operators who use the route).
Various other changes were made to the contract too – to improve communications between the organisations and outcomes for customers.
Network Rail (CTRL) also manages three of HS1's stations - St Pancras International, Stratford International and Ebbsfleet International.
HS1 Ltd, is owned equally by Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan and Borealis Infrastructure Ltd, and acquired a 30-year concession to own and operate the High Speed 1 railway in 2010.
Following a very successful first five years of operation, since the full opening of HS1 and St Pancras International in 2007, the two organisations have now extended the contract between them to:
* Bring the two businesses closer together – aligning incentives for quality and efficiency
* Offer better value to HS1 and its customers – with an immediate significant reduction in price
* Incentivise and facilitate the 50/50 sharing of future financial outperformance
Nicola Shaw, chief executive, HS1 Ltd, said: "We conducted an extensive market review and knew that we had alternatives. However the quality of delivery from Network Rail (CTRL) has been good over the last few years and this deal offered real benefits to us and to our customers. We’ve now got a decade of certainty on which to work together to improve the line even further and to welcome more growth.”
Patrick Butcher, Network Rail's group finance director, said: "We have run HS1's infrastructure since the current route opened in 2007 and have delivered a high standard of punctuality and overall performance for our client and the route's users - a standard that we aim to continue for many years to come. The new contract offers our client even better value, and allows HS1 and its customers to share in outperformance through the continuation of the excellent partnership that has been established."
HS1 remains among the world's most reliable railways with an average train delay of between six and eight seconds. Passenger numbers continue to grow every year since opening.
Network Rail operates, maintains and renews the High Speed 1 railway through a wholly-owned subsidiary, Network Rail (CTRL).
Network Rail (CTRL) and HS1 Ltd have a contract in place to 2047 which included the right for HS1 Ltd to 'market test' for alternative but similar service providers elsewhere and terminate the contract in 2015 by giving notice by 31 March 2012
A new deal has been agreed with HS1 Ltd giving HS1 Ltd a new fixed price featuring a 10% reduction in costs to 31 March 2015 and moving its break-clause rights to 2025.
Beyond 2015 a new fixed price will be agreed, determined through the periodic review process with the ORR for HS1's control period 2 (2015-2020) and control period 3 (2020-2025). Network Rail will now be involved in, and bound by, this review process.
The new deal also sees both parties share 50/50 in any financial outperformance by Network Rail. HS1 Ltd will in turn share 60% of its discount and outperformance with its customers (i.e. the train operators who use the route).
Various other changes were made to the contract too – to improve communications between the organisations and outcomes for customers.
Network Rail (CTRL) also manages three of HS1's stations - St Pancras International, Stratford International and Ebbsfleet International.
HS1 Ltd, is owned equally by Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan and Borealis Infrastructure Ltd, and acquired a 30-year concession to own and operate the High Speed 1 railway in 2010.
25-04-12
Tyne & Wear Metro stations for upgrade
West Jesmond and South Gosforth stations are to be upgraded to staffed Metro stations, with refurbishment work starting this summer.
The two stations, used by around three million people a year between them, are the latest to benefit through the £385m Metro: all change modernisation programme.
People can find out more about plans for West Jesmond at the Jesmond Festival this coming weekend - with Metro staff at the station itself for a drop-in session at the Platform 1 ticket concourse from 10am to 2pm on Friday, 27 April, and at the Grand Festival Fair at West Jesmond Primary School from noon to 3.30pm on Saturday, 28 April 2012.
A video about the plans, made by community news website Jesmond Local, can be viewed here.
Once refurbishment is complete and new ticket gates are switched on (in spring 2013) both stations will be staffed on both platforms from 7am to 7pm, improving security and passenger confidence.
Approach routes will be improved with a new wider and tree-lined pathway at West Jesmond, plus new cycling and recycling facilities leading to a new larger entrance hall and gateline.
Throughout the station interiors, exteriors and floors will be refurbished creating a brighter, cleaner and safer feel, while new canopies will be built centred on the current train stopping points.
South Gosforth will also get improved pathways with better step-free access and cycle storage. There will be new larger and brighter concourse buildings and refurbished platforms.
New ‘smart’ ticket machines will be installed at both stations accepting notes and credit/debit cards along with coins, and opening the way for future smartcard transactions.
Metro plan to start work in June with work completed by the end of the year. The stations will remain open throughout, though at times we may need to close one or other platform – look out for details when work starts.
The two stations, used by around three million people a year between them, are the latest to benefit through the £385m Metro: all change modernisation programme.
People can find out more about plans for West Jesmond at the Jesmond Festival this coming weekend - with Metro staff at the station itself for a drop-in session at the Platform 1 ticket concourse from 10am to 2pm on Friday, 27 April, and at the Grand Festival Fair at West Jesmond Primary School from noon to 3.30pm on Saturday, 28 April 2012.
A video about the plans, made by community news website Jesmond Local, can be viewed here.
Once refurbishment is complete and new ticket gates are switched on (in spring 2013) both stations will be staffed on both platforms from 7am to 7pm, improving security and passenger confidence.
Approach routes will be improved with a new wider and tree-lined pathway at West Jesmond, plus new cycling and recycling facilities leading to a new larger entrance hall and gateline.
Throughout the station interiors, exteriors and floors will be refurbished creating a brighter, cleaner and safer feel, while new canopies will be built centred on the current train stopping points.
South Gosforth will also get improved pathways with better step-free access and cycle storage. There will be new larger and brighter concourse buildings and refurbished platforms.
New ‘smart’ ticket machines will be installed at both stations accepting notes and credit/debit cards along with coins, and opening the way for future smartcard transactions.
Metro plan to start work in June with work completed by the end of the year. The stations will remain open throughout, though at times we may need to close one or other platform – look out for details when work starts.
25-04-12
Harpenden station car park overhaul work complete
Work on Harpenden station’s main car park is now complete with a brand new surface, more spaces and better lighting and drainage.
In response to customer feedback, the poor surface was replaced over the Easter school holidays (2-13 April) during which time the car park was closed. The spaces were marked out anew at the weekend.
Before the work, a maximum of only 420 vehicles parked in this east side car park. Through relining and reclaiming waste land, up to 456 can now park (this includes five disabled spaces).
Five new lamp posts have been installed: three in the approach road and two in the car park where the area was previously poorly lit. All the lamp heads were also replaced on the existing poles.
And new drainage with 14 soakaways was installed along the boundary with platform 1.
First Capital Connect Customer Service Director Keith Jipps said: “We would like to thank our customers for their patience during the work. The car park is vastly improved and addresses the serious concerns about the surface, which was breaking up, and inadequate lighting.”
The smaller west side car park is planned for refurbishment later on a date to be announced.
In response to customer feedback, the poor surface was replaced over the Easter school holidays (2-13 April) during which time the car park was closed. The spaces were marked out anew at the weekend.
Before the work, a maximum of only 420 vehicles parked in this east side car park. Through relining and reclaiming waste land, up to 456 can now park (this includes five disabled spaces).
Five new lamp posts have been installed: three in the approach road and two in the car park where the area was previously poorly lit. All the lamp heads were also replaced on the existing poles.
And new drainage with 14 soakaways was installed along the boundary with platform 1.
First Capital Connect Customer Service Director Keith Jipps said: “We would like to thank our customers for their patience during the work. The car park is vastly improved and addresses the serious concerns about the surface, which was breaking up, and inadequate lighting.”
The smaller west side car park is planned for refurbishment later on a date to be announced.
23-04-12
New Heritage Poster for Milngavie
Milngavie’s railway heritage is being celebrated with a new poster at the town’s station. The poster features eye-catching photographs of railway staff, trains, and facilities at Milngavie station between 1920 and 1960.
ScotRail has worked with Milngavie in Bloom, East Dunbartonshire Leisure and Culture Trust, the James F. McEwan Collection and Don Martin, from Milngavie Heritage Centre, to source the historical images.
Bob Hood, of Milngavie in Bloom, said: “It was a pleasure to put together these images as a reminder of how rail facilities have evolved down the years.”
The poster, funded by ScotRail, is on display alongside signs it installed in autumn 2011 to commemorate the extraordinary propeller-powered Bennie Railplane, which ran on a nearby test-track in 1930.
John Yellowlees, ScotRail external relations manager, said: “These images nicely complement the well established gardening by Milngavie in Bloom, by saluting the special regard in which Milngavie station is held among the community that it serves.”
Milngavie in Bloom also maintains planters and flowers beds at Milngavie as part of ScotRail’s Adopt a Station community project.
ScotRail has worked with Milngavie in Bloom, East Dunbartonshire Leisure and Culture Trust, the James F. McEwan Collection and Don Martin, from Milngavie Heritage Centre, to source the historical images.
Bob Hood, of Milngavie in Bloom, said: “It was a pleasure to put together these images as a reminder of how rail facilities have evolved down the years.”
The poster, funded by ScotRail, is on display alongside signs it installed in autumn 2011 to commemorate the extraordinary propeller-powered Bennie Railplane, which ran on a nearby test-track in 1930.
John Yellowlees, ScotRail external relations manager, said: “These images nicely complement the well established gardening by Milngavie in Bloom, by saluting the special regard in which Milngavie station is held among the community that it serves.”
Milngavie in Bloom also maintains planters and flowers beds at Milngavie as part of ScotRail’s Adopt a Station community project.
23-04-12
New ticket machines for Harrogate
Rail passengers travelling on the popular Harrogate line will now find it easier to purchase their train tickets, thanks to the recent installation of Ticket Vending Machines (TVMs) at several stations along the route.
‘Card only’ machines have been installed at both Starbeck and Pannal stations, with Headingley station next in line. Northern Rail has introduced 68 machines across its north east region allowing passengers to collect pre ordered tickets and to make their journey and the travel experience as easy as possible.
Northern has also added a ‘ToDler’ machine at Harrogate station, which provides a collection only facility, allowing passengers to collect tickets they have bought online, without waiting for other passengers to purchase tickets through the same machine.
Richard Allan, Area Director for Northern Rail, comments: “As a commuter on this line, I know just how popular it is. We are working hard to make it as easy as possible for passengers between Harrogate and Leeds to get to where they need to go quickly and efficiently. The machines will certainly benefit thousands of customers every week by providing them with a choice of how they would like to buy their rail tickets and reducing the need to collect tickets at larger stations such as Leeds and York.”
Andrew Jones MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough comments: “I welcome the installation of these new Ticket Vending Machines as they will improve the convenience for rail passengers purchasing tickets. Passenger numbers on this line are increasing so there is clear demand and this welcome investment will help improve customer service and meet demand.”
‘Card only’ machines have been installed at both Starbeck and Pannal stations, with Headingley station next in line. Northern Rail has introduced 68 machines across its north east region allowing passengers to collect pre ordered tickets and to make their journey and the travel experience as easy as possible.
Northern has also added a ‘ToDler’ machine at Harrogate station, which provides a collection only facility, allowing passengers to collect tickets they have bought online, without waiting for other passengers to purchase tickets through the same machine.
Richard Allan, Area Director for Northern Rail, comments: “As a commuter on this line, I know just how popular it is. We are working hard to make it as easy as possible for passengers between Harrogate and Leeds to get to where they need to go quickly and efficiently. The machines will certainly benefit thousands of customers every week by providing them with a choice of how they would like to buy their rail tickets and reducing the need to collect tickets at larger stations such as Leeds and York.”
Andrew Jones MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough comments: “I welcome the installation of these new Ticket Vending Machines as they will improve the convenience for rail passengers purchasing tickets. Passenger numbers on this line are increasing so there is clear demand and this welcome investment will help improve customer service and meet demand.”
20-04-12
E-ticketing comes to First Hull Trains
First Hull Trains is the first train operator on the East Coast main line to offer its passengers e-tickets direct to their smart phones.
Currently, anyone using the First Hull Trains App can search train times, buy tickets and get up to date information direct to their phone.
However, although already one of the most flexible train operating companies in the country offering an on board ticket collection and an online booking service, a great many passengers still have to collect a paper ticket from a ticket office or self-service machine at stations using the credit or debit card the ticket was bought with.
Now, the App upgrade will mean passengers are sent an electronic version of the ticket direct to their phone.
Katie Beckett, Customer Services Manager of First Hull Trains, said: "We are always pushing to be as innovative as we possibly can be, this is just a further step forward in the first class service we offer our loyal customers. At First Hull Trains, we have a proud history of pushing the boundaries of customer service, always endeavouring to make the journeys on our trains as simple and relaxing as possible. By offering the e-tickets direct to smart phones through the App we save passengers time and we reduce the worry of losing or misplacing tickets – which happens from time to time."
The new App, which was launched this week, enables tickets to be sent directly to the phone after being bought online. The passenger will then follow simple onscreen instructions to activate the ticket before showing the train manager the e-ticket on their phone.
Cath Bellamy, First Hull Trains' managing director, said: "At First Hull Trains we have always had a pioneering ethos which has shaped how we deliver our services to the people of Hull and those who use our service en route to London. We are continually striving to improve our customer experience. To that end, we have invested heavily in upgrading our fleet of trains, including the introduction of free wi-fi throughout the majority of our fleet, and we were recently recognised as the East Coast Main Line’s best performers for reliability and punctuality. We hope this latest technological advancement in ticket purchasing makes travel even more enjoyable."
The App is a free download and available on the iPhone, Android, Nokia and Blackberry systems.
Graham Taylor from Beverley, said: "Smart phones and the digital innovation which comes hand-in-hand with them is without question the future.
Currently, anyone using the First Hull Trains App can search train times, buy tickets and get up to date information direct to their phone.
However, although already one of the most flexible train operating companies in the country offering an on board ticket collection and an online booking service, a great many passengers still have to collect a paper ticket from a ticket office or self-service machine at stations using the credit or debit card the ticket was bought with.
Now, the App upgrade will mean passengers are sent an electronic version of the ticket direct to their phone.
Katie Beckett, Customer Services Manager of First Hull Trains, said: "We are always pushing to be as innovative as we possibly can be, this is just a further step forward in the first class service we offer our loyal customers. At First Hull Trains, we have a proud history of pushing the boundaries of customer service, always endeavouring to make the journeys on our trains as simple and relaxing as possible. By offering the e-tickets direct to smart phones through the App we save passengers time and we reduce the worry of losing or misplacing tickets – which happens from time to time."
The new App, which was launched this week, enables tickets to be sent directly to the phone after being bought online. The passenger will then follow simple onscreen instructions to activate the ticket before showing the train manager the e-ticket on their phone.
Cath Bellamy, First Hull Trains' managing director, said: "At First Hull Trains we have always had a pioneering ethos which has shaped how we deliver our services to the people of Hull and those who use our service en route to London. We are continually striving to improve our customer experience. To that end, we have invested heavily in upgrading our fleet of trains, including the introduction of free wi-fi throughout the majority of our fleet, and we were recently recognised as the East Coast Main Line’s best performers for reliability and punctuality. We hope this latest technological advancement in ticket purchasing makes travel even more enjoyable."
The App is a free download and available on the iPhone, Android, Nokia and Blackberry systems.
Graham Taylor from Beverley, said: "Smart phones and the digital innovation which comes hand-in-hand with them is without question the future.
20-04-12
Crossrail get green light for Tottenham Court Road/Oxford Street works
Westminster City Council has given its approval for the regeneration of Tottenham Court Road and the east end of Oxford Street, including the former Astoria site.
The development plans, submitted in conjunction with Derwent London, are for two above ground developments located over each ticket hall of the integrated Tottenham Court Road station that will serve both Crossrail and London Underground passengers.
The 500,000 sq ft of premium retail, office and residential accommodation will cover four blocks, boosting the economy in the eastern end of Oxford Street and Tottenham Court Road. It will also deliver a significant contribution towards the Crossrail funding package.
A new theatre to replace the former Astoria Theatre has also been approved. Derwent London has entered into an agreement with Nimax who will operate the new 350 seat theatre.
London Underground and Crossrail have also gained approval for plans to renew and upgrade the public spaces around the eastern ticket hall and St Giles area. A new open pedestrian space linking Soho Square and Charing Cross Road will create new views of the Square and of St. Patrick’s Church.
Ian Lindsay, Crossrail Land and Property Director said: “The £1bn redevelopment of Tottenham Court Road station provides a once in a generation opportunity to revitalise the eastern end of Oxford Street. The plans including high-quality offices and shops will enhance the Oxford Street and Charing Cross Road area as a thriving cultural and retail destination.”
The proposals link into wider efforts by London Underground, Crossrail, Transport for London (TfL), Camden Council, Westminster City Council and Design for London to improve the area around St Giles Circus. A new public piazza around Centrepoint will also be created providing a distinctive new landmark for the West End.
The arrival of Crossrail will make Tottenham Court Road a major West End transport hub. 150,000 passengers use Tottenham Court Road station every day. That number is expected to rise to more than 200,000 when Crossrail services commence in 2018. Crossrail will link the West End to Canary Wharf in 12 minutes, Stratford in 13 minutes and Heathrow in less than 30 minutes.
In total, £1bn is being spent to build the new Crossrail station and upgrade the capacity of the Tube station.
The private sector-funded over-site developments will be built once work to construct Tottenham Court Road station is complete in 2017. Crossrail will commence services in 2018.
The development plans, submitted in conjunction with Derwent London, are for two above ground developments located over each ticket hall of the integrated Tottenham Court Road station that will serve both Crossrail and London Underground passengers.
The 500,000 sq ft of premium retail, office and residential accommodation will cover four blocks, boosting the economy in the eastern end of Oxford Street and Tottenham Court Road. It will also deliver a significant contribution towards the Crossrail funding package.
A new theatre to replace the former Astoria Theatre has also been approved. Derwent London has entered into an agreement with Nimax who will operate the new 350 seat theatre.
London Underground and Crossrail have also gained approval for plans to renew and upgrade the public spaces around the eastern ticket hall and St Giles area. A new open pedestrian space linking Soho Square and Charing Cross Road will create new views of the Square and of St. Patrick’s Church.
Ian Lindsay, Crossrail Land and Property Director said: “The £1bn redevelopment of Tottenham Court Road station provides a once in a generation opportunity to revitalise the eastern end of Oxford Street. The plans including high-quality offices and shops will enhance the Oxford Street and Charing Cross Road area as a thriving cultural and retail destination.”
The proposals link into wider efforts by London Underground, Crossrail, Transport for London (TfL), Camden Council, Westminster City Council and Design for London to improve the area around St Giles Circus. A new public piazza around Centrepoint will also be created providing a distinctive new landmark for the West End.
The arrival of Crossrail will make Tottenham Court Road a major West End transport hub. 150,000 passengers use Tottenham Court Road station every day. That number is expected to rise to more than 200,000 when Crossrail services commence in 2018. Crossrail will link the West End to Canary Wharf in 12 minutes, Stratford in 13 minutes and Heathrow in less than 30 minutes.
In total, £1bn is being spent to build the new Crossrail station and upgrade the capacity of the Tube station.
The private sector-funded over-site developments will be built once work to construct Tottenham Court Road station is complete in 2017. Crossrail will commence services in 2018.
20-04-12
Crossrail Connaught Tunnel Works
Crossrail has begun drilling wells at Connaught Tunnel to draw down the water table ahead of works to deepen and widen the 130 year old tunnel in east London.
Once the wells are completed, drawing down of the water table will begin next month which is required ahead of works to widen and deepen the central section of the Connaught Tunnel so it can accommodate Crossrail’s larger trains. The water table is also being lowered to allow for the pump house shaft to be deepened by another seven metres to 25 metres in order for it to accommodate modern pumping equipment that will work to keep the tunnel dry.
During the coming weeks the 130 year old pump house will be removed brick by brick and will be donated to Newham Council. This attractive Victorian building is too small to accommodate the larger modern pumping equipment that will be installed as part of the tunnel’s major refurbishment. Demolition of the former North London Line station at Silvertown has now commenced.
Works in Connaught Tunnel are well underway with the ballast – loose stone ground cover – and rail tracks already removed. Major piling works are also underway at the western approach to the tunnel in order to strengthen the ground. Survey work for to identify potential unexploded ordnance from World War II has been completed in the tunnel’s western approach with the all clear given. Crossrail’s archaeologists have opened their fourth and final trench for the site, searching for possible evidence of human activity dating back 6,000 years.
Connaught Tunnel Project Manager Linda Miller said: “Works are progressing extremely well and we are on track for turning this Victorian railway tunnel into modern infrastructure that will service London well into the next century. Major works will begin early next year after the London Boat Show, which will include placing coffer dams in the passage between Royal Victoria and Royal Albert docks, pumping out the water and performing engineering open heart surgery to widen and deepen the central section of the tunnel.”
Connaught Tunnel in the Royal Docks was built in 1878 and was part of the North London Line until 2006. The tunnel will be extensively refurbished as part of works to construct Crossrail’s new Abbey Wood branch.
Sections of the existing tunnel are in a poor structural condition. In 1935, larger ships began scraping the bottom of the Royal Victoria Dock which sits above Connaught Tunnel. As part of work to deepen the dock, the central section of the tunnel was narrowed with brickwork removed and steel segments installed.
Crossrail originally planned to strengthen the central section of the tunnel by removing the existing steel linings and back filling the entire section with concrete foam. These tunnels would then have been enlarged by boring through the concrete to create tunnels large enough for Crossrail trains to pass. However, concerns about the structural integrity of the tunnel as a result of work in the 1930s to narrow the tunnel have led to a new approach which will involve workers digging down to the tunnel to undertake the enlargement work. This will be the first time the tunnel has been exposed from above ground since its construction in the 1870s.
Once the wells are completed, drawing down of the water table will begin next month which is required ahead of works to widen and deepen the central section of the Connaught Tunnel so it can accommodate Crossrail’s larger trains. The water table is also being lowered to allow for the pump house shaft to be deepened by another seven metres to 25 metres in order for it to accommodate modern pumping equipment that will work to keep the tunnel dry.
During the coming weeks the 130 year old pump house will be removed brick by brick and will be donated to Newham Council. This attractive Victorian building is too small to accommodate the larger modern pumping equipment that will be installed as part of the tunnel’s major refurbishment. Demolition of the former North London Line station at Silvertown has now commenced.
Works in Connaught Tunnel are well underway with the ballast – loose stone ground cover – and rail tracks already removed. Major piling works are also underway at the western approach to the tunnel in order to strengthen the ground. Survey work for to identify potential unexploded ordnance from World War II has been completed in the tunnel’s western approach with the all clear given. Crossrail’s archaeologists have opened their fourth and final trench for the site, searching for possible evidence of human activity dating back 6,000 years.
Connaught Tunnel Project Manager Linda Miller said: “Works are progressing extremely well and we are on track for turning this Victorian railway tunnel into modern infrastructure that will service London well into the next century. Major works will begin early next year after the London Boat Show, which will include placing coffer dams in the passage between Royal Victoria and Royal Albert docks, pumping out the water and performing engineering open heart surgery to widen and deepen the central section of the tunnel.”
Connaught Tunnel in the Royal Docks was built in 1878 and was part of the North London Line until 2006. The tunnel will be extensively refurbished as part of works to construct Crossrail’s new Abbey Wood branch.
Sections of the existing tunnel are in a poor structural condition. In 1935, larger ships began scraping the bottom of the Royal Victoria Dock which sits above Connaught Tunnel. As part of work to deepen the dock, the central section of the tunnel was narrowed with brickwork removed and steel segments installed.
Crossrail originally planned to strengthen the central section of the tunnel by removing the existing steel linings and back filling the entire section with concrete foam. These tunnels would then have been enlarged by boring through the concrete to create tunnels large enough for Crossrail trains to pass. However, concerns about the structural integrity of the tunnel as a result of work in the 1930s to narrow the tunnel have led to a new approach which will involve workers digging down to the tunnel to undertake the enlargement work. This will be the first time the tunnel has been exposed from above ground since its construction in the 1870s.
20-04-12
Engineer John Miller to be honoured at Ayr
One of Ayr’s most famous sons – engineer John Miller – is to be honoured with a plaque at ScotRail’s station in the town.
The tribute to the pioneering railway designer, who was born in Ayr in 1805, will be unveiled by Provost Winifred Sloan at a ceremony on Wednesday 25 April 2012.
Miller led many of Scotland’s greatest rail projects, alongside business partner Thomas Grainger. These included Scotland's first inter-city railway, the Edinburgh-Glasgow line, and what was once the largest masonry arch in the world, the Ballochmyle Viaduct.
The permanent plaque at Ayr station has been funded by the Institution of Civil Engineers, which is keen to ensure Ayrshire remembers Miller’s important role in the development of Scotland’s railways.
Professor Roland Paxton, chairman of the Institution's panel on historic works, said: “Miller was Scotland's Brunel, and it is appropriate that we should remember him in his home town.”
John Yellowlees, ScotRail’s external relations manager, said: “This is the latest in a series of excellent plaques from the Institution of Civil Engineers across the Scottish rail network and serves as a further reminder of our indebtedness to those who gave us the infrastructure that we take for granted today.”
Provost Sloan said: “I am pleased that the Institution, in partnership with Network Rail, ScotRail and the Glasgow & South Western Railway Association, has paid this permanent tribute to a famous son of Ayr.”
Another plaque commemorating Miller’s life was unveiled by Sarah Boyack MSP at Edinburgh’s Haymarket railway station in 2005, on the 200th anniversary of his birth.
The tribute to the pioneering railway designer, who was born in Ayr in 1805, will be unveiled by Provost Winifred Sloan at a ceremony on Wednesday 25 April 2012.
Miller led many of Scotland’s greatest rail projects, alongside business partner Thomas Grainger. These included Scotland's first inter-city railway, the Edinburgh-Glasgow line, and what was once the largest masonry arch in the world, the Ballochmyle Viaduct.
The permanent plaque at Ayr station has been funded by the Institution of Civil Engineers, which is keen to ensure Ayrshire remembers Miller’s important role in the development of Scotland’s railways.
Professor Roland Paxton, chairman of the Institution's panel on historic works, said: “Miller was Scotland's Brunel, and it is appropriate that we should remember him in his home town.”
John Yellowlees, ScotRail’s external relations manager, said: “This is the latest in a series of excellent plaques from the Institution of Civil Engineers across the Scottish rail network and serves as a further reminder of our indebtedness to those who gave us the infrastructure that we take for granted today.”
Provost Sloan said: “I am pleased that the Institution, in partnership with Network Rail, ScotRail and the Glasgow & South Western Railway Association, has paid this permanent tribute to a famous son of Ayr.”
Another plaque commemorating Miller’s life was unveiled by Sarah Boyack MSP at Edinburgh’s Haymarket railway station in 2005, on the 200th anniversary of his birth.
20-04-12
New vehicle washer for Tyne & Wear Metro
The Tyne & Wear Metro has installed a new state-of the art Wilcomatic train wash plant at its depot as part of the major system upgrade currently underway.
Nexus, which owns and manages the Metro, said the original 30 year old washing plant had become a “maintenance burden”, and decided to upgrade it as part of the £385m ‘Metro: All Change’ modernisation of the entire network.
The new plant is capable of cleaning the front and rear of the Metro carriage when this previously had to be done by hand. The installation work began in December and was completed on schedule in mid-March and has now been commissioned
Director of Rail and Infrastructure for Nexus, Ken Mackay, said: “We are investing millions of pounds in Metro modernisation work. Getting a new train wash at the Metro fleet depot is a small but very important part of the overall project. The old train wash had been there since Metro first started in 1980. It was very much in need of a replacement and we have now delivered that. The benefit for passengers is of course much cleaner trains, because the new wash is vastly superior to the one which has now been removed.”
Nexus, which owns and manages the Metro, said the original 30 year old washing plant had become a “maintenance burden”, and decided to upgrade it as part of the £385m ‘Metro: All Change’ modernisation of the entire network.
The new plant is capable of cleaning the front and rear of the Metro carriage when this previously had to be done by hand. The installation work began in December and was completed on schedule in mid-March and has now been commissioned
Director of Rail and Infrastructure for Nexus, Ken Mackay, said: “We are investing millions of pounds in Metro modernisation work. Getting a new train wash at the Metro fleet depot is a small but very important part of the overall project. The old train wash had been there since Metro first started in 1980. It was very much in need of a replacement and we have now delivered that. The benefit for passengers is of course much cleaner trains, because the new wash is vastly superior to the one which has now been removed.”
19-04-12
Rare chance to see the site of the historic York Roundhouse
On Friday 27 April between 11.00 and 17.00 and on Saturday 28 April between 10.00 and 16.00, the public are invited to a special open event at the site of the historic York rail roundhouses.
The event will be on a first come, first served basis. Visitors should go to the site entrance on Cinder Lane in York and wear sturdy footwear suitable for rough, dirty terrain.
Foundations for the North Eastern Railway roundhouses which were abandoned in the 1960s have been uncovered by Network Rail in York and are being opened to the public this month.
They are believed to date from around 1864. The roundhouses were used to service steam locomotives and were uncovered by engineers carrying out site inspections for a planned rail operating and training facility on the site
Phil Verster, route managing director for the London North Eastern route, said: “This site is a great example of respecting our rail heritage whilst at the same time making exciting plans for our future. We are working closely with experts to make sure the roundhouses are recorded and looked after. Meanwhile, the plans for operating and training facilities are being developed to help us to deliver a modern, efficient railway. They will allow us to maintain York’s position as a proud rail city by retaining jobs here as well as bringing future employment benefits which are vital for economic growth and prosperity. The operating centre is the largest of just 14 proposed centres across Britain and will bring all the expertise and technology we need to operate the LNE route into a single location. Meanwhile the investment in modern training facilities will help make sure our rail employees continue to be among the best in the world. We also hope that the location of the facilities, on the edge of the York Central development site, could act as a catalyst for further investment in the area.”
The intention is that the rail operating centre (ROC) will eventually control all rail operations on the east coast. The workforce development centre will consolidate training services already provided to rail employees at a number of locations around the route into a single, purpose-built facility. Around 500 jobs will be spread over the two facilities when fully operational.
The event will be on a first come, first served basis. Visitors should go to the site entrance on Cinder Lane in York and wear sturdy footwear suitable for rough, dirty terrain.
Foundations for the North Eastern Railway roundhouses which were abandoned in the 1960s have been uncovered by Network Rail in York and are being opened to the public this month.
They are believed to date from around 1864. The roundhouses were used to service steam locomotives and were uncovered by engineers carrying out site inspections for a planned rail operating and training facility on the site
Phil Verster, route managing director for the London North Eastern route, said: “This site is a great example of respecting our rail heritage whilst at the same time making exciting plans for our future. We are working closely with experts to make sure the roundhouses are recorded and looked after. Meanwhile, the plans for operating and training facilities are being developed to help us to deliver a modern, efficient railway. They will allow us to maintain York’s position as a proud rail city by retaining jobs here as well as bringing future employment benefits which are vital for economic growth and prosperity. The operating centre is the largest of just 14 proposed centres across Britain and will bring all the expertise and technology we need to operate the LNE route into a single location. Meanwhile the investment in modern training facilities will help make sure our rail employees continue to be among the best in the world. We also hope that the location of the facilities, on the edge of the York Central development site, could act as a catalyst for further investment in the area.”
The intention is that the rail operating centre (ROC) will eventually control all rail operations on the east coast. The workforce development centre will consolidate training services already provided to rail employees at a number of locations around the route into a single, purpose-built facility. Around 500 jobs will be spread over the two facilities when fully operational.
18-04-12
Top award for Virgin
Virgin Trains has won another prestigious award, being voted the top long-distance franchise operator for 2012 by leading industry experts.
The Institute of Transport Management placed Virgin Trains at the top of the industry, beating UK operators and SNCF-owned Eurostar.
The ITM based its award on areas including price, frequency, punctuality, health and safety, comfort and cleanliness. It is because of this that the Institute of Transport Management has given Virgin Trains the award of “Long Distance Franchise Provider 2012”, in respect of the full service offering that it provides its customers.
According to the ITM: “Virgin is a company that cares about people – both its customers and its staff – and this shines through in the service that it provides. Its success speaks for itself, in its doubling of passenger numbers, in its customer satisfaction ratings and in its commitment to continual improvements. Its vision to transform rail travel is well on the way to being a reality and the Institute is very pleased to award it the title of ‘Long Distance Franchise Provider 2012’. It is very well deserved.”
Tony Collins, CEO of Virgin Trains said: “We pride ourselves on customer service and independent surveys and awards repeatedly recognise the efforts made by our staff. We are delighted to win this ITM award ahead of competition such as Eurostar and we will continue to work hard to provide the best possible service.”
Virgin Trains has recently been named best train operator by Which? Magazine, and is top of the long-distance train franchises by the independent National Passenger Survey.
It also won best rail operator last year in the Daily Mail Globe Travel Awards.
The Institute of Transport Management placed Virgin Trains at the top of the industry, beating UK operators and SNCF-owned Eurostar.
The ITM based its award on areas including price, frequency, punctuality, health and safety, comfort and cleanliness. It is because of this that the Institute of Transport Management has given Virgin Trains the award of “Long Distance Franchise Provider 2012”, in respect of the full service offering that it provides its customers.
According to the ITM: “Virgin is a company that cares about people – both its customers and its staff – and this shines through in the service that it provides. Its success speaks for itself, in its doubling of passenger numbers, in its customer satisfaction ratings and in its commitment to continual improvements. Its vision to transform rail travel is well on the way to being a reality and the Institute is very pleased to award it the title of ‘Long Distance Franchise Provider 2012’. It is very well deserved.”
Tony Collins, CEO of Virgin Trains said: “We pride ourselves on customer service and independent surveys and awards repeatedly recognise the efforts made by our staff. We are delighted to win this ITM award ahead of competition such as Eurostar and we will continue to work hard to provide the best possible service.”
Virgin Trains has recently been named best train operator by Which? Magazine, and is top of the long-distance train franchises by the independent National Passenger Survey.
It also won best rail operator last year in the Daily Mail Globe Travel Awards.
18-04-12
South West Trains installs ticket collection machine at Southampton airport
Travellers will now find it even easier to travel by public transport as South West Trains has installed a new railway ticket machine at Southampton Airport. The new style ‘ticket on departure’ machine for collecting tickets will provide a quick and easy way for passengers to collect their pre-booked railway tickets.
Dean Pettitt, Station Manager, South West Trains, said: “This is the first time South West Trains has installed one of its ticket on departure machines at an airport. With many passengers now choosing to buy their tickets through our website, we wanted to provide even easier access to passengers simply wanting to collect their pre-booked tickets and who don’t necessarily need to queue at one of our full service ticket machines”.
Dave Lees, Managing Director, Southampton Airport, added: “We welcome the arrival of the new South West Trains ticket machine at Southampton Airport. Busy travellers won’t need to queue for tickets at the station if they’ve pre-booked them online, making their journey easier and saving them time.”
Owned by BAA, Southampton Airport sees nearly 2 million passengers travelling each year. Taking passengers to international destinations including: Amsterdam, Bergerac, Dublin, Hanover and Paris; airlines servicing Southampton Airport include: Air France, Aurigny, Blue Islands, Eastern Airways, Flybe, Skybus, Thomas Cook, and Veuling.
To book the best price train tickets, visit southwesttrains.co.uk/advance or call 0845 6000 650 for more details.
Dean Pettitt, Station Manager, South West Trains, said: “This is the first time South West Trains has installed one of its ticket on departure machines at an airport. With many passengers now choosing to buy their tickets through our website, we wanted to provide even easier access to passengers simply wanting to collect their pre-booked tickets and who don’t necessarily need to queue at one of our full service ticket machines”.
Dave Lees, Managing Director, Southampton Airport, added: “We welcome the arrival of the new South West Trains ticket machine at Southampton Airport. Busy travellers won’t need to queue for tickets at the station if they’ve pre-booked them online, making their journey easier and saving them time.”
Owned by BAA, Southampton Airport sees nearly 2 million passengers travelling each year. Taking passengers to international destinations including: Amsterdam, Bergerac, Dublin, Hanover and Paris; airlines servicing Southampton Airport include: Air France, Aurigny, Blue Islands, Eastern Airways, Flybe, Skybus, Thomas Cook, and Veuling.
To book the best price train tickets, visit southwesttrains.co.uk/advance or call 0845 6000 650 for more details.
17-04-12
Hashtag labels for FCC information
First Capital Connect (FCC) has embraced a feature of Twitter to help passengers during times of disruption.
FCC is grouping tweets about major service disruption under the hashtag #FccDelay. By searching the hashtag, passengers will be able to see at a glance all the questions and answers shared by FCC with other customers about problems with the train service on either the Thameslink or Great Northern routes.
The hashtag has been posted on information screens at two stations as a trial and are to be advertised across the network.
Keith Jipps, FCC Customer Service Director, said: Twitter has proved immensely popular with 10,500 people following our tweets @Firstcc. Our customers like the fact that, from 7am to 10pm they can contact a real person for information. This latest innovation will help people see in one place what is going on without having to ask a question themselves and help passengers share information with one another.”
FCC is grouping tweets about major service disruption under the hashtag #FccDelay. By searching the hashtag, passengers will be able to see at a glance all the questions and answers shared by FCC with other customers about problems with the train service on either the Thameslink or Great Northern routes.
The hashtag has been posted on information screens at two stations as a trial and are to be advertised across the network.
Keith Jipps, FCC Customer Service Director, said: Twitter has proved immensely popular with 10,500 people following our tweets @Firstcc. Our customers like the fact that, from 7am to 10pm they can contact a real person for information. This latest innovation will help people see in one place what is going on without having to ask a question themselves and help passengers share information with one another.”
17-04-12
Kyle Model Railway Club move into Irvine station
Unused rooms at one of Scotland’s oldest working railway stations have been transformed into a clubhouse for model railway enthusiasts, thanks to a ScotRail community project.
Kyle Model Railway Club this week moved into the revamped rooms above the main premises at ScotRail’s Irvine station, which dates back to 1839.
The award-winning club has ‘adopted’ the station as part of ScotRail’s Adopt a Station project, which enables volunteers to develop floral displays at stations and find innovative uses for vacant rooms.
Tom Rout, chairman of the Kyle Model Railway Club, said: “We are delighted to be based at Irvine station, where it will be easier for us to recruit new members than at our previous, more out-of-the-way location at Dunaskin.”
The clubhouse, which was previously used as a training suite, offers an attractive space for railway enthusiasts to exhibit their miniature railway layouts.
John Yellowlees, ScotRail’s external relations manager, opened the new clubhouse on Monday 16 April 2012.
Mr Yellowlees said: “Our Adopt a Station policy is about finding community uses for surplus accommodation, and model railway clubs are a good use because they encourage young people to respect the railway environment.”
The accommodation has been converted with assistance from the Railway Heritage Trust and IDP Architects.
Irvine is the fifth ScotRail station to house a model railway club, with others at Gleneagles, Lanark, Fort Matilda and Maxwell Park.
Kyle Model Railway Club this week moved into the revamped rooms above the main premises at ScotRail’s Irvine station, which dates back to 1839.
The award-winning club has ‘adopted’ the station as part of ScotRail’s Adopt a Station project, which enables volunteers to develop floral displays at stations and find innovative uses for vacant rooms.
Tom Rout, chairman of the Kyle Model Railway Club, said: “We are delighted to be based at Irvine station, where it will be easier for us to recruit new members than at our previous, more out-of-the-way location at Dunaskin.”
The clubhouse, which was previously used as a training suite, offers an attractive space for railway enthusiasts to exhibit their miniature railway layouts.
John Yellowlees, ScotRail’s external relations manager, opened the new clubhouse on Monday 16 April 2012.
Mr Yellowlees said: “Our Adopt a Station policy is about finding community uses for surplus accommodation, and model railway clubs are a good use because they encourage young people to respect the railway environment.”
The accommodation has been converted with assistance from the Railway Heritage Trust and IDP Architects.
Irvine is the fifth ScotRail station to house a model railway club, with others at Gleneagles, Lanark, Fort Matilda and Maxwell Park.
17-04-12
Rochdale rail passengers to benefit with extra Sunday services
From 20 May 2012, Northern Rail is introducing nine additional return Sunday services between Manchester Victoria and Rochdale.
The extra trains will provide more capacity on the route and will depart from Victoria at 48 minutes past the hour from 09.48 until 17.48, and from Rochdale at 22 minutes past the hour from 10.22 until 18.22. These will call at local stations including Castleton, Mills Hill and Moston.
During the times that the new trains are running, the existing Calder Valley trains from Leeds will not call at Castleton, Mills Hill or Moston, meaning passengers travelling from Rochdale and east of there will enjoy a faster journey time.
Rochdale passengers will benefit from twice as many trains and passengers from Castleton, Mills Hill and Moston will have more seats on their trains.
Northern is providing the services in partnership with Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM).
Lee Wasnidge, Area Director for Northern comments: “It is important for us to be able to provide a cost effective solution as well as increased capacity for our passengers, where and when it is needed most. We recognise the importance of Sunday services for travelling to and from leisure activities and hope these can continue to support the Manchester economy and further afield. We are delighted to be able to offer additional travel options to our passengers and are thrilled with the support we have had from TfGM to make these extra services happen.”
Stephen Clark, Rail Programme Director at Transport for Greater Manchester, says: “We always try to work with operators like Northern Rail to ensure that there are plenty of local rail services available for passengers on Sundays, and this is the latest in a number of boosts to Sunday services on various Greater Manchester routes. Feedback from local rail users has also been welcome in helping us to form priorities for rail service improvements. Our railways aren’t just for commuting. Local services like the ones being introduced between Rochdale and Manchester on the Calder Valley route provide passengers with plenty of opportunities to travel on a Sunday for shopping and leisure. The new services will give passengers the choice to leave the car at home, and will also make connections to Sunday inter-city services more accessible.”
The extra trains will provide more capacity on the route and will depart from Victoria at 48 minutes past the hour from 09.48 until 17.48, and from Rochdale at 22 minutes past the hour from 10.22 until 18.22. These will call at local stations including Castleton, Mills Hill and Moston.
During the times that the new trains are running, the existing Calder Valley trains from Leeds will not call at Castleton, Mills Hill or Moston, meaning passengers travelling from Rochdale and east of there will enjoy a faster journey time.
Rochdale passengers will benefit from twice as many trains and passengers from Castleton, Mills Hill and Moston will have more seats on their trains.
Northern is providing the services in partnership with Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM).
Lee Wasnidge, Area Director for Northern comments: “It is important for us to be able to provide a cost effective solution as well as increased capacity for our passengers, where and when it is needed most. We recognise the importance of Sunday services for travelling to and from leisure activities and hope these can continue to support the Manchester economy and further afield. We are delighted to be able to offer additional travel options to our passengers and are thrilled with the support we have had from TfGM to make these extra services happen.”
Stephen Clark, Rail Programme Director at Transport for Greater Manchester, says: “We always try to work with operators like Northern Rail to ensure that there are plenty of local rail services available for passengers on Sundays, and this is the latest in a number of boosts to Sunday services on various Greater Manchester routes. Feedback from local rail users has also been welcome in helping us to form priorities for rail service improvements. Our railways aren’t just for commuting. Local services like the ones being introduced between Rochdale and Manchester on the Calder Valley route provide passengers with plenty of opportunities to travel on a Sunday for shopping and leisure. The new services will give passengers the choice to leave the car at home, and will also make connections to Sunday inter-city services more accessible.”
16-04-12
Major upgrade for Sittingbourne
Major work has been completed to improve access and facilities for more than two million passengers who pass through Sittingbourne station every year.
Two new lifts linked by a new footbridge have created a step-free route between the station entrance and platforms to provide better access to train services. The improvements have been funded through the government’s Access for All programme and cost around £1.8m.
The work has also included a series of enhancements to station facilities funded through the National Stations Improvement Programme and include:
* Relocating and increasing the number of cycle parking spaces outside the station
* Renovating all passenger toilets
* Creating new waiting shelters on the platforms and a new waiting room on platform
* Repositioning the ticket gates to create more space for passengers in the ticket office
* Installing a new customer information screen and non-slip flooring in the ticket office
Fiona Taylor, Network Rail’s route managing director for Kent, said: “Improving access and facilities at stations is one of our priorities in building a bigger and better railway. These improvements will better equip Sittingbourne station to handle the increasing number of passengers who use it every day.”
Charles Horton, managing director of Southeastern said: “This project is part of our commitment and continuing efforts to provide passengers with a high quality service. The new lifts in particular will make a huge difference for passengers using Sittingbourne Station and we hope that passengers are pleased with new and improved facilities.”
Gordon Henderson, MP for Sittingbourne and Sheppey said: “'I am pleased that Sittingbourne station was part of this major Government upgrade scheme and I really welcome these improvements. Accessing trains will now be easier for local users, particularly the disabled, the elderly and those with young children.'
Train services were largely unaffected for the duration of the construction work and Network Rail worked closely with Southeastern to keep any disruption for passengers and line-side neighbours to a minimum.
Two new lifts linked by a new footbridge have created a step-free route between the station entrance and platforms to provide better access to train services. The improvements have been funded through the government’s Access for All programme and cost around £1.8m.
The work has also included a series of enhancements to station facilities funded through the National Stations Improvement Programme and include:
* Relocating and increasing the number of cycle parking spaces outside the station
* Renovating all passenger toilets
* Creating new waiting shelters on the platforms and a new waiting room on platform
* Repositioning the ticket gates to create more space for passengers in the ticket office
* Installing a new customer information screen and non-slip flooring in the ticket office
Fiona Taylor, Network Rail’s route managing director for Kent, said: “Improving access and facilities at stations is one of our priorities in building a bigger and better railway. These improvements will better equip Sittingbourne station to handle the increasing number of passengers who use it every day.”
Charles Horton, managing director of Southeastern said: “This project is part of our commitment and continuing efforts to provide passengers with a high quality service. The new lifts in particular will make a huge difference for passengers using Sittingbourne Station and we hope that passengers are pleased with new and improved facilities.”
Gordon Henderson, MP for Sittingbourne and Sheppey said: “'I am pleased that Sittingbourne station was part of this major Government upgrade scheme and I really welcome these improvements. Accessing trains will now be easier for local users, particularly the disabled, the elderly and those with young children.'
Train services were largely unaffected for the duration of the construction work and Network Rail worked closely with Southeastern to keep any disruption for passengers and line-side neighbours to a minimum.
16-04-12
Network Rail launch photographic competition
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The search to find the best photography of the British landscape and that of the rail network is on. Entries are now open for the Take a view - Landscape Photographer of the Year Awards 2012. Photographers across Britain are being encouraged to showcase the best sights the country has to offer.
For the third year, Network Rail is supporting this competition where amateurs and professional photographers can highlight the very best imagery of Britain’s beautiful rural and urban scenery and compete for the top prize of £10,000. The competition, now in its sixth year, is the idea of renowned landscape photographer, Charlie Waite, and the best images will be displayed at an exhibition at the National Theatre in London. An additional prize will be given for the best photography of Britain’s rail network – The Network Rail ‘Lines in the Landscape’ Special Award. Last year’s winner was Shahbaz Majeed from Dundee, with a beautiful shot of a train passing over the Tay Bridge at dusk. Tom Kelly, Network Rail’s director, corporate communications said: "This competition celebrates something very special: the way this country looks in all its different ways, some changing, some not. I am delighted that the railway, which forms such an important backdrop for both the urban and rural landscape in so many places, should be a part of it, and look forward with anticipation to seeing the entries." Charlie Waite, competition founder is keen to encourage more people to enter the railway award. He said: “Judging this Award is a great pleasure for me as Britain’s railways have always been close to my heart. Network Rail looks after an amazing 20,000 miles of track and owns over 2500 stations and so the photographic opportunities are endless. I will be looking for an image that captures the spirit of today’s railways, be they in the busiest cities or most remote countryside. Details, urban views and sweeping tracks are all eligible and I am hoping to see many photographs that inspire.” This year’s winner of the Lines in the Landscape award will receive a prize of a weekend break and has the option of joining a flight in Network Rail’s inspection helicopter which has onboard infrared technology to monitor thousands of miles of track, or a ride on the New Measurement Train, a converted high speed train that is used to capture geotechnical track data safely, punctually and reliably, collecting real time data and clocking up 80,000 miles per year. Either prize would offer a unique photography opportunity not open to the public. For entry details visit http://www.take-a-view.co.uk/ |
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16-04-12
Get the 'Key' on Southern
Southern’s ground-breaking smartcard – 'the key' is coming to stations between Brighton and Bexhill/Eastbourne via Lewes from 16 April 2012.
The new smartcard technology - an alternative to paper tickets – makes it easier and quicker for passengers to buy and use tickets and comes to the East Coastway following a successful trial between Brighton and Seaford which started in October 2011. The new smartcard is reusable and can be recharged again and again with weekly and monthly season tickets.
The key will be available for use at all stations on the line from Brighton to Bexhill and Eastbourne via Lewes and is already available between Brighton and Seaford.
The key smartcard system allows passengers to purchase tickets online or via ticket machines at Southern stations and collect and travel in a one touch transaction. They can store and manage ticket products through their personal online account.
Put simply, the benefits of the key are:
* No queuing, no waiting – No need to queue for tickets or have them posted out
* Easy to use – Simply touch in and out at stations
* Secure – Purchases are protected if the card is lost or stolen
* Convenient – The card can be used again and again
* Easy to Buy – Purchase online or via self-service ticket machines
* Environmentally friendly – No more paper tickets
Southern’s Development Director Alex Foulds said: “The key is the way forward for buying your ticket with Southern. We are starting on the East Coastway with Weekly and Monthly Season Tickets, and as the key evolves, we will be adding different ticket types to give our passengers even more choice. ”
Customers wishing to find out more and apply for the key can visit southernrailway.com/thekey from Monday 16th April.
The key is the brand used by Go-Ahead Group companies such as Brighton & Hove Buses which already operates smartcard tickets.
The new smartcard technology - an alternative to paper tickets – makes it easier and quicker for passengers to buy and use tickets and comes to the East Coastway following a successful trial between Brighton and Seaford which started in October 2011. The new smartcard is reusable and can be recharged again and again with weekly and monthly season tickets.
The key will be available for use at all stations on the line from Brighton to Bexhill and Eastbourne via Lewes and is already available between Brighton and Seaford.
The key smartcard system allows passengers to purchase tickets online or via ticket machines at Southern stations and collect and travel in a one touch transaction. They can store and manage ticket products through their personal online account.
Put simply, the benefits of the key are:
* No queuing, no waiting – No need to queue for tickets or have them posted out
* Easy to use – Simply touch in and out at stations
* Secure – Purchases are protected if the card is lost or stolen
* Convenient – The card can be used again and again
* Easy to Buy – Purchase online or via self-service ticket machines
* Environmentally friendly – No more paper tickets
Southern’s Development Director Alex Foulds said: “The key is the way forward for buying your ticket with Southern. We are starting on the East Coastway with Weekly and Monthly Season Tickets, and as the key evolves, we will be adding different ticket types to give our passengers even more choice. ”
Customers wishing to find out more and apply for the key can visit southernrailway.com/thekey from Monday 16th April.
The key is the brand used by Go-Ahead Group companies such as Brighton & Hove Buses which already operates smartcard tickets.
16-04-12
New home for historic replica locomotive
London Midland is moving a historic replica locomotive from its home of more than 25 years at Telford Central station on 18 April 2012. The life size model of the Trevithick locomotive will be lifted by crane into a low loader and taken the short distance to a new permanent home at the Hadley Learning Community.
The model is a full scale replica of the first steam railway locomotive in the world, designed by Richard Trevithick and built near Ironbridge by the Coalbrookdale Company in 1803, 26 years before Stephenson's 'Rocket'.
A plaque on the model states that the replica was built by Task Undertakings, a Manpower Services Commission project in Birmingham, under the guidance of Allen Gulliver, to drawings made for the Ironbridge Gorge Museum by Stewart Johnson.
London Midland is donating the model to the Learning Community as part of a £1 million refurbishment of the station, part of the National Stations Improvement Programme (NSIP), a £150 million Government fund to improve station facilities.
There are just under one million passenger journeys at Telford every year, and London Midland is upgrading the station to improve facilities for passengers. The model is being moved to make way for new seating areas for passengers.
As part of the improvements at the station the booking hall, waiting areas and toilets will be completely refurbished, a new disabled accessible toilet installed, flooring will be upgraded and the outside walls will be fully glazed. A new waiting room and waiting shelter will be installed on Platform 2 while on the Birmingham-bound side; Platform 1, the platform canopy will be extended.
Head of Facilities at London Midland, Mike Hampson said: “The Trevithick locomotive has been an iconic landmark at Telford station over the years, and we believe it has been there since the station opened in 1986. With the improvements we are making to the station, there simply isn’t the room any more for the locomotive. We therefore looked for somewhere where the replica would be appreciated for the great engineering feat it is and, would be accessible to lots of local people. We’re delighted that the Learning Community have offered the prefect home for this important artefact.”
Director of Engineering at the Learning Community, Jeff Williams said: “Having the Trevithick Coalbrookdale locomotive sited at Hadley Learning Community School is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the achievements of the Ironbridge industry. The Trevithick will be sited in our Engineering Gallery, a space to exhibit some large items and use as a teaching space, which is surrounded by glass, so it will be a constant reminder of the wonderful achievement and the importance of Ironbridge as a World Heritage Site. At H.L.C. we will be using it with pupils as a visual prompt to discuss the local industry and how that has developed over the last 200 years and to aid us with a project called ‘how things work’. In addition, we have already set up a number of visits to the school from local primaries to use the locomotive as the beginning for their own project on inventors and inventions.“
The model is a full scale replica of the first steam railway locomotive in the world, designed by Richard Trevithick and built near Ironbridge by the Coalbrookdale Company in 1803, 26 years before Stephenson's 'Rocket'.
A plaque on the model states that the replica was built by Task Undertakings, a Manpower Services Commission project in Birmingham, under the guidance of Allen Gulliver, to drawings made for the Ironbridge Gorge Museum by Stewart Johnson.
London Midland is donating the model to the Learning Community as part of a £1 million refurbishment of the station, part of the National Stations Improvement Programme (NSIP), a £150 million Government fund to improve station facilities.
There are just under one million passenger journeys at Telford every year, and London Midland is upgrading the station to improve facilities for passengers. The model is being moved to make way for new seating areas for passengers.
As part of the improvements at the station the booking hall, waiting areas and toilets will be completely refurbished, a new disabled accessible toilet installed, flooring will be upgraded and the outside walls will be fully glazed. A new waiting room and waiting shelter will be installed on Platform 2 while on the Birmingham-bound side; Platform 1, the platform canopy will be extended.
Head of Facilities at London Midland, Mike Hampson said: “The Trevithick locomotive has been an iconic landmark at Telford station over the years, and we believe it has been there since the station opened in 1986. With the improvements we are making to the station, there simply isn’t the room any more for the locomotive. We therefore looked for somewhere where the replica would be appreciated for the great engineering feat it is and, would be accessible to lots of local people. We’re delighted that the Learning Community have offered the prefect home for this important artefact.”
Director of Engineering at the Learning Community, Jeff Williams said: “Having the Trevithick Coalbrookdale locomotive sited at Hadley Learning Community School is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the achievements of the Ironbridge industry. The Trevithick will be sited in our Engineering Gallery, a space to exhibit some large items and use as a teaching space, which is surrounded by glass, so it will be a constant reminder of the wonderful achievement and the importance of Ironbridge as a World Heritage Site. At H.L.C. we will be using it with pupils as a visual prompt to discuss the local industry and how that has developed over the last 200 years and to aid us with a project called ‘how things work’. In addition, we have already set up a number of visits to the school from local primaries to use the locomotive as the beginning for their own project on inventors and inventions.“
16-04-12
Better customer service for Greater Anglia
Train operator Greater Anglia has launched a comprehensive training programme for its managers and customer service staff in the region, aimed at improving customer service on their network.
The ‘Inspire’ customer service training is being rolled out across the company and in the first phase over 600 key frontline managers and staff will participate in the programme which is already underway and will be completed in advance of this summer's London Olympics. The programme will help Greater Anglia in developing a customer centric business which connects each function and role within the business to the customer experience.
The course takes an inspired approach to training to engage and inspire the attendees with the aim through an interactive approach to help employees identify and share best practice for the benefit of their customers. Greater Anglia is working closely with training provider ‘train4change’ on the project.
In the second phase of the programme commencing in the autumn, a further 1,600 employees will participate in the training programme to also include operational staff and employees from other functions across the business ensuring a genuine focus on improving customer service amongst each and every Greater Anglia employee.
Andrew Goodrum Greater Anglia’s Customer Services Director said: “Since the Greater Anglia franchise began, we have been concentrating our efforts on improving the customer experience; one important element of this is to give our staff additional training, enabling them to provide the best service possible for the over two million passengers a week using our services in London and the East Anglia region. Working closely with train4change we are well underway in implementing this comprehensive customer service training programme across the company.”
The ‘Inspire’ customer service training is being rolled out across the company and in the first phase over 600 key frontline managers and staff will participate in the programme which is already underway and will be completed in advance of this summer's London Olympics. The programme will help Greater Anglia in developing a customer centric business which connects each function and role within the business to the customer experience.
The course takes an inspired approach to training to engage and inspire the attendees with the aim through an interactive approach to help employees identify and share best practice for the benefit of their customers. Greater Anglia is working closely with training provider ‘train4change’ on the project.
In the second phase of the programme commencing in the autumn, a further 1,600 employees will participate in the training programme to also include operational staff and employees from other functions across the business ensuring a genuine focus on improving customer service amongst each and every Greater Anglia employee.
Andrew Goodrum Greater Anglia’s Customer Services Director said: “Since the Greater Anglia franchise began, we have been concentrating our efforts on improving the customer experience; one important element of this is to give our staff additional training, enabling them to provide the best service possible for the over two million passengers a week using our services in London and the East Anglia region. Working closely with train4change we are well underway in implementing this comprehensive customer service training programme across the company.”
13-04-12
RAIB report published into train/tractor collision at White House Farm
The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) has released its report into a collision between a train and a tractor at White House Farm user worked crossing on 25 September 2011.
A full copy of the report is available here.
At approximately 10.13 hrs on Sunday 25 September 2011, the 10.10 Kings Lynn to Ely operated by First Capital Connect collided with a tractor at White House Farm user worked crossing. At the time of the accident, there were frequent movements of tractors and trailers over the crossing because of activity associated with the harvesting of sugar beet in an adjacent field. The tractor driver was telephoning the signaller at Kings Lynn to ask for permission to cross on each occasion. This was not the normal method of working; usually, crossing users would themselves check that it was safe to cross before doing so.
The accident occurred because the signaller gave the tractor driver permission to cross before seeking confirmation that the train had passed. The tractor driver did not check for approaching trains because he considered that the signaller’s permission to cross was sufficient guarantee that it was safe to do so.
The RAIB investigation identified that:
* The signaller gave permission for the tractor driver to cross the railway before establishing that the train had passed;
* The tractor driver moved onto the crossing immediately that the signaller gave permission for him to cross; and
the method adopted for working White House Farm UWC during the period of intensive use had not identified and controlled the potential risk arising from mis-communication between the signaller and the tractor driver.
* The unavailability of local staff trained to earth the overhead line equipment delayed the detrainment of passengers from the train.
Recommendations
The RAIB has made no recommendations, but it has identified a number of learning points for Network Rail arising from this accident including: reminding signallers of the need to ensure that safety-critical messages are delivered in the right way;
jointly reviewing and documenting non-standard methods of work at user worked crossings with the crossing user; and
the availability of staff trained in earthing overhead line equipment at remote locations.
A full copy of the report is available here.
At approximately 10.13 hrs on Sunday 25 September 2011, the 10.10 Kings Lynn to Ely operated by First Capital Connect collided with a tractor at White House Farm user worked crossing. At the time of the accident, there were frequent movements of tractors and trailers over the crossing because of activity associated with the harvesting of sugar beet in an adjacent field. The tractor driver was telephoning the signaller at Kings Lynn to ask for permission to cross on each occasion. This was not the normal method of working; usually, crossing users would themselves check that it was safe to cross before doing so.
The accident occurred because the signaller gave the tractor driver permission to cross before seeking confirmation that the train had passed. The tractor driver did not check for approaching trains because he considered that the signaller’s permission to cross was sufficient guarantee that it was safe to do so.
The RAIB investigation identified that:
* The signaller gave permission for the tractor driver to cross the railway before establishing that the train had passed;
* The tractor driver moved onto the crossing immediately that the signaller gave permission for him to cross; and
the method adopted for working White House Farm UWC during the period of intensive use had not identified and controlled the potential risk arising from mis-communication between the signaller and the tractor driver.
* The unavailability of local staff trained to earth the overhead line equipment delayed the detrainment of passengers from the train.
Recommendations
The RAIB has made no recommendations, but it has identified a number of learning points for Network Rail arising from this accident including: reminding signallers of the need to ensure that safety-critical messages are delivered in the right way;
jointly reviewing and documenting non-standard methods of work at user worked crossings with the crossing user; and
the availability of staff trained in earthing overhead line equipment at remote locations.
13-04-12
Work starts on Dalmarnock Redevelopment
The main construction work has now begun on the creation of a new £11m station for Dalmarnock in Glasgow’s East End.
Following extensive preparatory and enabling works, Network Rail and contractors C Spencer Ltd are now building a new station on Dalmarnock Road to replace the existing facility on Swanston Street.
In order to construct the new station in a safe and secure way, the current facility will be closed to the public from 3 June 2012 to 25 November 2012.
Once complete, by the end of 2013, the station will have:
• A new, fully DDA-compliant station building (relocated to Dalmarnock Road from Swanston Street)
• Lift access to both platforms
• A new pedestrian footbridge
• New platform surfaces
• New wall cladding on both platforms
• New customer information and communication systems
The station is being redeveloped in time for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, when it will be a key transport hub for those travelling to and from many of the Games’ events. It is also a key element of the long-term regeneration of the East End of Glasgow.
The project is being funded by Clyde Gateway, Glasgow City Council and Strathclyde Partnership for Transport, with an additional contribution secured through the European Regional Development Fund.
Network Rail is delivering the project on behalf of Transport Scotland and the funding partners.
The first stage of the project included a programme of advanced works, including site clearance as well as restoration and painting of the 15 concrete encased steel (over-rail) beams. These works commenced on site during August 2011 and were completed during December 2011.
David Simpson, Network Rail route managing director for Scotland, said: “The project is progressing to time and on-budget and once complete the new Dalmarnock station will provide visitors with a first-class welcome to the local area, during the Commonwealth Games and beyond.”
Minister for Transport, Keith Brown, added: "I'm delighted we have reached another milestone in the Dalmarnock station works. This cutting-edge transport hub will not only play a central role during the 2014 Games but help attract new businesses, commercial, housing and office developments as well as play a central role in the regeneration of Glasgow's East End for years after."
Councillor Archie Graham, Executive Member for the Commonwealth Games at Glasgow City Council, said: “The redevelopment of Dalmarnock station is another sign of the regeneration of Glasgow’s East End. The improvements to the station will bring immediate benefits to local people, help transform the area and play a part in the successful delivery of the Games in 2014.”
SPT Chief Executive Gordon Maclennan, said: “SPT has championed the station overhaul for a long time and it is great to see the work progressing at pace. It really will be a fantastic transport legacy for the Games and for Glasgow for years to come.”
Following extensive preparatory and enabling works, Network Rail and contractors C Spencer Ltd are now building a new station on Dalmarnock Road to replace the existing facility on Swanston Street.
In order to construct the new station in a safe and secure way, the current facility will be closed to the public from 3 June 2012 to 25 November 2012.
Once complete, by the end of 2013, the station will have:
• A new, fully DDA-compliant station building (relocated to Dalmarnock Road from Swanston Street)
• Lift access to both platforms
• A new pedestrian footbridge
• New platform surfaces
• New wall cladding on both platforms
• New customer information and communication systems
The station is being redeveloped in time for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, when it will be a key transport hub for those travelling to and from many of the Games’ events. It is also a key element of the long-term regeneration of the East End of Glasgow.
The project is being funded by Clyde Gateway, Glasgow City Council and Strathclyde Partnership for Transport, with an additional contribution secured through the European Regional Development Fund.
Network Rail is delivering the project on behalf of Transport Scotland and the funding partners.
The first stage of the project included a programme of advanced works, including site clearance as well as restoration and painting of the 15 concrete encased steel (over-rail) beams. These works commenced on site during August 2011 and were completed during December 2011.
David Simpson, Network Rail route managing director for Scotland, said: “The project is progressing to time and on-budget and once complete the new Dalmarnock station will provide visitors with a first-class welcome to the local area, during the Commonwealth Games and beyond.”
Minister for Transport, Keith Brown, added: "I'm delighted we have reached another milestone in the Dalmarnock station works. This cutting-edge transport hub will not only play a central role during the 2014 Games but help attract new businesses, commercial, housing and office developments as well as play a central role in the regeneration of Glasgow's East End for years after."
Councillor Archie Graham, Executive Member for the Commonwealth Games at Glasgow City Council, said: “The redevelopment of Dalmarnock station is another sign of the regeneration of Glasgow’s East End. The improvements to the station will bring immediate benefits to local people, help transform the area and play a part in the successful delivery of the Games in 2014.”
SPT Chief Executive Gordon Maclennan, said: “SPT has championed the station overhaul for a long time and it is great to see the work progressing at pace. It really will be a fantastic transport legacy for the Games and for Glasgow for years to come.”
13-04-12
Network Rail issued Punctuality figures for March 2012
Punctuality on the railways reached 93.4% during Period 13, according to monthly performance data released today by Network Rail. The data for Britain's train services covers the period from 04 March 2012 - 31 March 2012. This compares to 92.9% for the same period last year. The moving annual average is now at 91.6%.
13-04-12
Montpellier Aggolomeration inaugurates 2 new tramway lines
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On 6 April 2012, Jean-Pierre Mourre, president of the Montpellier urban area, simultaneously inaugurated lines 3 and 4 of the town's tramway network in the presence of designer Christian Lacroix and Alstom Transport France CEO Jérôme Wallut.
Line 3, at 19.8 km long, runs from the north of the Montpellier urban area to the south, passing through Juvignac, Montpellier itself, Lattes and, now that major development work on the Route de la Mer is complete, Pérols and the main towns on the way to the beaches. At more than 8 km, line 4 circumnavigates the town centre via the network of the town's three existing tramway lines. In total, 26 Citadis tramsets are being added to Montpellier’s urban transport network, 19 of which will run on line 3. Following on from previous orders for lines 1 and 2, this contract is evidence of the Montpellier urban area’s long-term confidence in Alstom Transport’s ability to support its urban transport development policy. The Citadis tramsets used in Montpellier are built using standard technological components, which make up 80% of the final product. The remaining 20% can be customized, so Citadis offers each local authority the option of adapting its tramsets’ exterior style and interior fittings. Working closely with Christian Lacroix's teams, Alstom Transport’s design department is responsible for managing and planning the implementation of Lacroix’s design on these tramsets. The tram's nose has been customized, drawing inspiration from a diving mask. Similarly, the colour gradients and all of the interior fittings have been specially adapted. With designers, engineers and suppliers working very closely together right from the start of the project, Alstom has been able to ensure that the aesthetics of Montpellier's Citadis tramsets are in keeping with their technological excellence, and that they integrate harmoniously into the landscape through which they run. The tramsets in the Montpellier urban area are fitted with the latest Citadis-range equipment, all designed to ensure passenger comfort, including closed-circuit video surveillance, sound and visual information systems and integral low floors. Each tramset is 42-m long and can carry more than 300 passengers. The Citadis also enhances the quality of city life: four times quieter than road traffic, it generates about five decibels less noise. The Montpellier Citadis, like the rest of the range, has also been designed to be environmentally friendly: 98% of the materials used in making it can be recycled. The Citadis tramsets for the Montpellier urban area were designed and are currently being built at Alstom’s La Rochelle plant. Five other sites will also be involved in their manufacture: Ornans for the engines, Le Creusot for the bogies, Tarbes for the electrical and electronic equipment used in the traction systems, and Villeurbanne and Saint Ouen for the on-board electronics. To date, more than 1,600 tramsets have been sold to nearly 40 towns and cities throughout the world, including more than 800 tramsets for 20 towns in France in three different versions (22-, 32- and 42-m long). They have carried more than 4 billion passengers and have demonstrated their reliability over more than 250 million km. Alstom is therefore in a position to confirm the success of this model, which is much appreciated for its modular design and style. |
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13-04-12
Bombardier opens Monorail vehicle assembly plant in Brazil
Bombardier Transportation has inaugurated a new, state-of-the-art monorail vehicle manufacturing facility in Hortolandia - Sao Paulo, Brazil. The new production site represents an investment of $15 million US and is Bombardier's global production centre for Monorails, serving the fast-growing market in Brazil as well as export opportunities in Latin America and around the world. It will generate 250 new jobs directly dedicated to railway vehicle production, including aluminum carbody, bogie and final assembly activities. In addition, approximately 500 indirect jobs will be created based on increased activity in Bombardier's local supplier base. The new investment underlines Bombardier's long-term commitment to Brazil, a market where the company has been active for many years.
The Hortolandia Monorail manufacturing site was built in just 18 months and will start its manufacturing activities immediately. The first carbodies and bogies are already being manufactured there and the first completed monorail cars are expected to exit the assembly line later this year. The new site was designed and built following the most modern industrial standards worldwide and is based on technology transferred from Bombardier's manufacturing and engineering hubs in Kingston, Ontario, Canada; St. Bruno, Quebec, Canada; and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
Andre Navarri, President and Chief Operating Officer, Bombardier Transportation, participated in the inauguration ceremony at the new site. The 100 guests in attendance included the Sao Paulo State Governor, Geraldo Alkmin, the Sao Paulo State Transport Secretary, Jurandir Fernandes, the Prime Minister of Quebec, Jean Charest, the Minister of Economic Development of Quebec, Sam Hamad, and representatives of Sao Paulo Metro and of other railway operators in Brazil, Bombardier suppliers and employees. Mr. Navarri was joined by Andre Guyvarch, President, Brazil, Bombardier Transportation and Serge van Themsche, Vice President EMEA and Brazil, Systems, Bombardier Transportation.
This new monorail manufacturing site represents the second phase of Bombardier's industrial expansion initiated in 2009 that aims to triple our number of employees in Brazil to 600 people and to quadruple the industrial area in Hortolandia," Navarri said. "Even more important than the new industrial facility is the advanced monorail vehicle we are going to manufacture here - a fine example of our continuous focus on technology development in order to offer interconnected modality of public transport across the globe. One of Bombardier's key strengths is combining this worldwide experience with the local knowledge to deliver the best-fit mobility solution for each city individually."
Navarri added: "The new high capacity BOMBARDIER INNOVIA Monorail 300 system we are building for Sao Paulo is game changing because it offers a transportation capacity similar to a metro, yet the light infrastructure required reduces the construction price and the implementation schedule by up to one half, bringing quality of life benefits to citizens sooner and more cost effectively. We are certain that once service operation starts, it will be acknowledged as one of the best mass transit solutions ever built."
The INNOVIA Monorail 300 system is Bombardier's newest transportation system technology. Cost effective to introduce without requiring major infrastructure or civil works, it offers transport capacity up to 48,000 passengers per hour per direction. Whether transporting visitors to out-of-town destinations, or offering high capacity, frequent services for more densely used inner city routes, the INNOVIA Monorail 300 ensures passengers experience the ultimate in modern ride comfort.
Bombardier's new manufacturing site is set to serve projects in Brazil as well as in the Latin America region. Its first order is the delivery of 54 seven-car INNOVIA Monorail 300 trains (378 cars) for Metro Sao Paulo. To ensure a successful and faster ramp-up of the project, one train (7 cars) will be produced and tested by Bombardier at the Kingston testing facility in Canada. The remaining Monorail cars will be produced at the new site in Brazil.
The site will also result in a broader industrial development of the country due to the production requirements requested by Bombardier of its local suppliers. More than 15 companies have set up or expanded production in Brazil in response to Bombardier's requests. In addition, the most advanced manufacturing techniques will be applied, using lightweight, highly resistant aluminum and composite materials, making Bombardier the first railway company in Brazil to introduce new technologies for aluminum carbody manufacturing.
The Hortolandia Monorail manufacturing site was built in just 18 months and will start its manufacturing activities immediately. The first carbodies and bogies are already being manufactured there and the first completed monorail cars are expected to exit the assembly line later this year. The new site was designed and built following the most modern industrial standards worldwide and is based on technology transferred from Bombardier's manufacturing and engineering hubs in Kingston, Ontario, Canada; St. Bruno, Quebec, Canada; and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
Andre Navarri, President and Chief Operating Officer, Bombardier Transportation, participated in the inauguration ceremony at the new site. The 100 guests in attendance included the Sao Paulo State Governor, Geraldo Alkmin, the Sao Paulo State Transport Secretary, Jurandir Fernandes, the Prime Minister of Quebec, Jean Charest, the Minister of Economic Development of Quebec, Sam Hamad, and representatives of Sao Paulo Metro and of other railway operators in Brazil, Bombardier suppliers and employees. Mr. Navarri was joined by Andre Guyvarch, President, Brazil, Bombardier Transportation and Serge van Themsche, Vice President EMEA and Brazil, Systems, Bombardier Transportation.
This new monorail manufacturing site represents the second phase of Bombardier's industrial expansion initiated in 2009 that aims to triple our number of employees in Brazil to 600 people and to quadruple the industrial area in Hortolandia," Navarri said. "Even more important than the new industrial facility is the advanced monorail vehicle we are going to manufacture here - a fine example of our continuous focus on technology development in order to offer interconnected modality of public transport across the globe. One of Bombardier's key strengths is combining this worldwide experience with the local knowledge to deliver the best-fit mobility solution for each city individually."
Navarri added: "The new high capacity BOMBARDIER INNOVIA Monorail 300 system we are building for Sao Paulo is game changing because it offers a transportation capacity similar to a metro, yet the light infrastructure required reduces the construction price and the implementation schedule by up to one half, bringing quality of life benefits to citizens sooner and more cost effectively. We are certain that once service operation starts, it will be acknowledged as one of the best mass transit solutions ever built."
The INNOVIA Monorail 300 system is Bombardier's newest transportation system technology. Cost effective to introduce without requiring major infrastructure or civil works, it offers transport capacity up to 48,000 passengers per hour per direction. Whether transporting visitors to out-of-town destinations, or offering high capacity, frequent services for more densely used inner city routes, the INNOVIA Monorail 300 ensures passengers experience the ultimate in modern ride comfort.
Bombardier's new manufacturing site is set to serve projects in Brazil as well as in the Latin America region. Its first order is the delivery of 54 seven-car INNOVIA Monorail 300 trains (378 cars) for Metro Sao Paulo. To ensure a successful and faster ramp-up of the project, one train (7 cars) will be produced and tested by Bombardier at the Kingston testing facility in Canada. The remaining Monorail cars will be produced at the new site in Brazil.
The site will also result in a broader industrial development of the country due to the production requirements requested by Bombardier of its local suppliers. More than 15 companies have set up or expanded production in Brazil in response to Bombardier's requests. In addition, the most advanced manufacturing techniques will be applied, using lightweight, highly resistant aluminum and composite materials, making Bombardier the first railway company in Brazil to introduce new technologies for aluminum carbody manufacturing.
13-04-12
Deep clean for Greater Anglia fleet
In commencing work on one of the train operator's key franchise commitments, Greater Anglia has begun a comprehensive programme to deep clean its train fleet of over 1,000 vehicles in time for this summer's London Olympics.
The interior deep clean of each unit includes work to steam clean all surfaces and floor coverings in each carriage including ceilings, floors and wall panels. Seat covers and carpets are being shampooed and the deep clean will also embrace cleaning of all seat backs, seat frames, luggage racks and the train toilets. Close attention is being given to thoroughly cleaning window frames and glass as well as the lighting units, replacing diffusers where necessary and ensuring that lighting levels in all coaches are set to a uniform standard.
Work is being undertaken at Greater Anglia's train servicing depots at Orient Way in East London, Ilford and at Crown Point in Norwich.
This comprehensive programme is transforming the interior environment of the company's fleet of train carriages to provide customers with much more pleasant and cleaner surroundings for their journeys with Greater Anglia.
Ruud HaketGreater Anglia’s Managing Director said: “We’re working hard to improve customer service across the Greater Anglia network and ensuring our passengers experience a clean and tidy train is extremely important to us. Improving and enhancing the on-train environment through this deep cleaning programme is one way that we are demonstrating our determination to make a real difference for our customers in delivering our franchise commitments.”
In addition to the interior deep cleaning of its trains, Greater Anglia is also hand-cleaning the exterior of each vehicle in time for the Olympics and this programme is well underway.
The interior deep clean of each unit includes work to steam clean all surfaces and floor coverings in each carriage including ceilings, floors and wall panels. Seat covers and carpets are being shampooed and the deep clean will also embrace cleaning of all seat backs, seat frames, luggage racks and the train toilets. Close attention is being given to thoroughly cleaning window frames and glass as well as the lighting units, replacing diffusers where necessary and ensuring that lighting levels in all coaches are set to a uniform standard.
Work is being undertaken at Greater Anglia's train servicing depots at Orient Way in East London, Ilford and at Crown Point in Norwich.
This comprehensive programme is transforming the interior environment of the company's fleet of train carriages to provide customers with much more pleasant and cleaner surroundings for their journeys with Greater Anglia.
Ruud HaketGreater Anglia’s Managing Director said: “We’re working hard to improve customer service across the Greater Anglia network and ensuring our passengers experience a clean and tidy train is extremely important to us. Improving and enhancing the on-train environment through this deep cleaning programme is one way that we are demonstrating our determination to make a real difference for our customers in delivering our franchise commitments.”
In addition to the interior deep cleaning of its trains, Greater Anglia is also hand-cleaning the exterior of each vehicle in time for the Olympics and this programme is well underway.
12-04-12
c2c named as most punctual train operator
National Express train operator c2c has been named the most punctual rail company in the UK, according to the latest punctuality performance results published by Network Rail.
During the year ended 31 March 2012, 96.8% of c2c trains arrived on time according to the Public Performance Measure, the rail industry’s official classification of punctuality. This is the best performance of any UK rail company, and more than 5% higher than the UK-wide average performance of 91.6%.
c2c Managing Director Julian Drury said: “It’s great to see c2c in the top spot yet again. We’ve improved our performance through hard work and careful planning, building on the knowledge we’ve gained from running these trains for the past 15 years. I want to thank everyone who’s paid their part in this success, and I’m ambitious to see how we can improve still further in future.”
During the year ended 31 March 2012, 96.8% of c2c trains arrived on time according to the Public Performance Measure, the rail industry’s official classification of punctuality. This is the best performance of any UK rail company, and more than 5% higher than the UK-wide average performance of 91.6%.
c2c Managing Director Julian Drury said: “It’s great to see c2c in the top spot yet again. We’ve improved our performance through hard work and careful planning, building on the knowledge we’ve gained from running these trains for the past 15 years. I want to thank everyone who’s paid their part in this success, and I’m ambitious to see how we can improve still further in future.”
11-04-12
Siemens to provide signalling system for Athens Metro extension
Siemens has been awarded an order to supply signaling systems for the nearly 16-km-long extension of metro Lines 2 and 3 in the Greek capital by operator Attiko Metro S.A. The scope of supply includes the electronic interlockings and outdoor equipment, as well as the trackside components for automatic train control system. Furthermore, 17 trains will be fitted with Siemens onboard units. The order is worth a total of around 41 million euros and calls for first phase to be commissioned in autumn 2013.
Following the Siemens contract to equip metro lines 2 and 3 with signaling systems in 2002, the new project consists of two separate extension stages. The first stage will see Lines 2 and 3 equipped with signaling systems after being extended by a total of 8.5 kilometers and seven stations. The second phase will involve the installation of signaling systems on a 7.5-km extension of Line 3 up to the port of Piraeus, encompassing a total of six new stations. These extensions will provide urban developments with a metro link to the city center and are expected to significantly improve the traffic situation in Athens. Operator Attiko Metro expects a daily passenger volume of around 160,000 on completion of the first stage alone – the equivalent of roughly 30,000 fewer cars on the capital’s roads and a reduction of 130 metric tons in CO2 emissions.
The signaling extension contract includes the delivery, installation and commission of Sicas electronic interlockings, LZB 705M automatic train control systems and a Vicos 111 operations control system as well as a complete facility for future staff training.
The LZB 705M ATC (Automatic Train Control) system is a high performance ATP (Automatic Train Protection) and ATO (Automatic Train Operation) system, which optimizes punctuality and train headways. It also frees drivers from routine tasks, meaning that they can concentrate more on ensuring passenger safety.
Following the Siemens contract to equip metro lines 2 and 3 with signaling systems in 2002, the new project consists of two separate extension stages. The first stage will see Lines 2 and 3 equipped with signaling systems after being extended by a total of 8.5 kilometers and seven stations. The second phase will involve the installation of signaling systems on a 7.5-km extension of Line 3 up to the port of Piraeus, encompassing a total of six new stations. These extensions will provide urban developments with a metro link to the city center and are expected to significantly improve the traffic situation in Athens. Operator Attiko Metro expects a daily passenger volume of around 160,000 on completion of the first stage alone – the equivalent of roughly 30,000 fewer cars on the capital’s roads and a reduction of 130 metric tons in CO2 emissions.
The signaling extension contract includes the delivery, installation and commission of Sicas electronic interlockings, LZB 705M automatic train control systems and a Vicos 111 operations control system as well as a complete facility for future staff training.
The LZB 705M ATC (Automatic Train Control) system is a high performance ATP (Automatic Train Protection) and ATO (Automatic Train Operation) system, which optimizes punctuality and train headways. It also frees drivers from routine tasks, meaning that they can concentrate more on ensuring passenger safety.
11-04-12
Tactile map for Swansea passengers
A ground breaking scheme to help visually impaired people find their way around Swansea’s transport services has been launched. Swansea Council has teamed up with, Arriva Trains Wales and the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) to produce special hand-held maps in braille and large print thanks to funding from the Welsh Government. The maps help to give public transport users who are blind or partially sighted the information they need to use the city’s new bus station and the central train station. Swansea City Bus Station has been redeveloped and the central train station is in the process of having a makeover.
Sue King, RNIB's Tactile Images and Maps Consultant said: “In Swansea, the main transport facilities have been renovated and Swansea Council needs to do what they can to help inform users of the new layout and the facilities the stations offer. The new map initiative will provide blind and partially sighted people with the important information they need when using the bus and railway stations including where to buy tickets, where to get assistance, and other facilities such as toilets and shops. I’m not aware of any other town or city in the country that is providing a similar service. It is an extremely positive step forward in giving people with sight difficulties the opportunity of having such valuable information available to them personally."
Chris Vinestock, Head of Transportation at Swansea Council, said: “Public transport is a vital service for thousands of residents and visitors to Swansea. We are continuing to do everything we can to ensure public transport is accessible to everyone. We have recently redeveloped our main bus station to provide bus users with a state of the art facility. Throughout the development process, we met with disability groups so they could contribute to the redevelopment. I’m confident the new maps will help make public transport easier to use for individuals that are blind or partially sighted.”
The maps will be made available from the information desks at Swansea City Bus Station and Swansea Railway Station.
Sue King, RNIB's Tactile Images and Maps Consultant said: “In Swansea, the main transport facilities have been renovated and Swansea Council needs to do what they can to help inform users of the new layout and the facilities the stations offer. The new map initiative will provide blind and partially sighted people with the important information they need when using the bus and railway stations including where to buy tickets, where to get assistance, and other facilities such as toilets and shops. I’m not aware of any other town or city in the country that is providing a similar service. It is an extremely positive step forward in giving people with sight difficulties the opportunity of having such valuable information available to them personally."
Chris Vinestock, Head of Transportation at Swansea Council, said: “Public transport is a vital service for thousands of residents and visitors to Swansea. We are continuing to do everything we can to ensure public transport is accessible to everyone. We have recently redeveloped our main bus station to provide bus users with a state of the art facility. Throughout the development process, we met with disability groups so they could contribute to the redevelopment. I’m confident the new maps will help make public transport easier to use for individuals that are blind or partially sighted.”
The maps will be made available from the information desks at Swansea City Bus Station and Swansea Railway Station.
11-04-12
£1 million investment by ScotRail in time for Commonwealth Games in 2014
ScotRail has announced a £1million programme of improvements in passenger facilities at 19 stations in Glasgow and Lanarkshire in the run up to the Commonwealth Games in 2014.
This will meet a commitment to Scottish Ministers to deliver enhancements to support spectators travelling by rail to the Games events.
Work will begin later this year at stations close to key venues and at ‘feeder’ stations which are expected to be used by many passengers throughout the major international sporting event in summer 2014.
These will include new customer information screens, waiting shelters, seating and lighting.
ScotRail will also work with Network Rail on a series of refurbishments at stations during scheduled maintenance periods.
In addition around £600,000 of funding, from Transport Scotland and Strathclyde Partnership for Transport, has been secured for further improvements – particularly to access – at 11 stations in Glasgow and Lanarkshire as well as Carnoustie, Angus.
Rail users will see the changes take shape gradually from now and the Commonwealth Games.
Steve Montgomery, ScotRail’s managing director, said: “We are delighted to deliver this commitment on projects in time for Glasgow 2014. The city will be a key focus for people from around the world, and the work that we are doing will ensure that Scotland’s railway is reflected positively.”
Transport Minister, Keith Brown said: “ I am delighted that ScotRail is meeting its commitment to invest £1million in new passenger facilities to make travelling by train to the Games a better option for spectators. This work, in conjunction with Network Rail, will deliver real benefits and help make rail travel a better choice for passengers during and after the 2014 Games.”
David Simpson, Network Rail route managing director for Scotland, added: "We are pleased to be working with ScotRail to further enhance stations ahead of the Commonwealth Games. As rail travel continues to grow in popularity it is vital we ensure passengers are provided with the best possible facilities at our stations."
This will meet a commitment to Scottish Ministers to deliver enhancements to support spectators travelling by rail to the Games events.
Work will begin later this year at stations close to key venues and at ‘feeder’ stations which are expected to be used by many passengers throughout the major international sporting event in summer 2014.
These will include new customer information screens, waiting shelters, seating and lighting.
ScotRail will also work with Network Rail on a series of refurbishments at stations during scheduled maintenance periods.
In addition around £600,000 of funding, from Transport Scotland and Strathclyde Partnership for Transport, has been secured for further improvements – particularly to access – at 11 stations in Glasgow and Lanarkshire as well as Carnoustie, Angus.
Rail users will see the changes take shape gradually from now and the Commonwealth Games.
Steve Montgomery, ScotRail’s managing director, said: “We are delighted to deliver this commitment on projects in time for Glasgow 2014. The city will be a key focus for people from around the world, and the work that we are doing will ensure that Scotland’s railway is reflected positively.”
Transport Minister, Keith Brown said: “ I am delighted that ScotRail is meeting its commitment to invest £1million in new passenger facilities to make travelling by train to the Games a better option for spectators. This work, in conjunction with Network Rail, will deliver real benefits and help make rail travel a better choice for passengers during and after the 2014 Games.”
David Simpson, Network Rail route managing director for Scotland, added: "We are pleased to be working with ScotRail to further enhance stations ahead of the Commonwealth Games. As rail travel continues to grow in popularity it is vital we ensure passengers are provided with the best possible facilities at our stations."
10-04-12
Major revamp for Stalybridge station
Work has started on a major revamp of all the railway tracks and signalling in and around Stalybridge station, which will also see alterations to the platforms, coffee shop and other passenger facilities.
The £20m project is needed because the existing infrastructure is nearing the end of its operational life. The opportunity is being taken to replace it in such a way that it will meet current needs and those of the future when the line from Manchester is electrified in 2016.
Jo Kaye, Network Rail’s route managing director, explained: “The current track layout, particularly the junctions at either end of the station, has remained largely unchanged since the end of the First World War. The new layout will give us greater operational flexibility and will be more reliable. So far as passengers are concerned, that means better train services now, with the prospect of faster and more frequent services in the future.”
As well as renewing the tracks, the signalling system will be replaced to reflect the changes, and the speed of trains passing through the station will increase from 40 to 50 mph. Control of train movements in the area will transfer to Manchester East signalling centre in Edgeley, Stockport.
The station itself will undergo some further changes that will include:
* Building a new bay platform adjacent to the existing platform 1, near the end of the buffet bar
* The widening of platform 2 and extending it alongside the existing bay to create a new platform
* Demolition and rebuilding of the coffee shop on platform 2
* New waiting shelters, CCTV and station announcements system, and passenger information screens
The work means that the station will have five platforms in future instead of three, so the existing numbering will be completely changed.
Once the new platforms have been built an Access for All scheme funded by the Department for Transport will link all platforms. New passenger operated lifts will be built taking passengers down to the recently refurbished subway, giving disabled passengers, people with buggies and those with lots of luggage, step-free access to the entire station.
Work will continue every weekend until November, except for the period of the Olympic Games, when all major disruptive railway work is suspended.
The new signalling system will be commissioned and brought into use in early November. To relay the junction and carry out the necessary safety tests on the new equipment, there will be no train services from Stalybridge station for nine days over the last week of October and first week of November.
The £20m project is needed because the existing infrastructure is nearing the end of its operational life. The opportunity is being taken to replace it in such a way that it will meet current needs and those of the future when the line from Manchester is electrified in 2016.
Jo Kaye, Network Rail’s route managing director, explained: “The current track layout, particularly the junctions at either end of the station, has remained largely unchanged since the end of the First World War. The new layout will give us greater operational flexibility and will be more reliable. So far as passengers are concerned, that means better train services now, with the prospect of faster and more frequent services in the future.”
As well as renewing the tracks, the signalling system will be replaced to reflect the changes, and the speed of trains passing through the station will increase from 40 to 50 mph. Control of train movements in the area will transfer to Manchester East signalling centre in Edgeley, Stockport.
The station itself will undergo some further changes that will include:
* Building a new bay platform adjacent to the existing platform 1, near the end of the buffet bar
* The widening of platform 2 and extending it alongside the existing bay to create a new platform
* Demolition and rebuilding of the coffee shop on platform 2
* New waiting shelters, CCTV and station announcements system, and passenger information screens
The work means that the station will have five platforms in future instead of three, so the existing numbering will be completely changed.
Once the new platforms have been built an Access for All scheme funded by the Department for Transport will link all platforms. New passenger operated lifts will be built taking passengers down to the recently refurbished subway, giving disabled passengers, people with buggies and those with lots of luggage, step-free access to the entire station.
Work will continue every weekend until November, except for the period of the Olympic Games, when all major disruptive railway work is suspended.
The new signalling system will be commissioned and brought into use in early November. To relay the junction and carry out the necessary safety tests on the new equipment, there will be no train services from Stalybridge station for nine days over the last week of October and first week of November.
10-04-12
'Hornby' station footbridge restored
Network Rail has restored an iconic structure that was used by world famous railway model maker Hornby as the basis for one of its construction kits.
The station footbridge in the Worcestershire village of Hagley is Grade 2 listed and was built in 1884 by the Great Western Railway, 32 years after the station opened on Saturday 1 May 1852.
Patrick Cawley, Network Rail’s route buildings engineer, said: “It’s amazing to think that people the world over ‘own’ a little piece of Hagley in the form of a footbridge on their railway layout. Having given the original footbridge a thorough overhaul, it will serve the people of Hagley for many years to come.”
Simon Kohler at Hornby said: “We at Hornby are absolutely thrilled to see the Hagley footbridge restored to its former glory. As a model it was one of our star items and with the actual footbridge being restored, perhaps it is time that a suitable model once more became part of the Hornby range.”
The last time the footbridge was painted, a blue and white colour scheme was chosen but after talking to the Railway Heritage Trust, Network Rail has restored it to what is known as GWR ‘light and dark stone’.
The entire structure has been cleaned, rubbed down and repainted.
Elements of the ornate metalwork that needed replacing were specially cast to match and blend in with the original.
Various parts of the structure's fabric were replaced or repaired. These included wooden dagger boards, panelling and sections of guttering, with the edges of the stair treads being coated in an anti slip resin in contrasting colours to make them stand out.
While the contractors were on site, the station buildings were also completely repainted at the request of train operator London Midland as was the platform canopy, so the entire station has a new feel to it.
The overall cost of the work was almost £50,000.
The station footbridge in the Worcestershire village of Hagley is Grade 2 listed and was built in 1884 by the Great Western Railway, 32 years after the station opened on Saturday 1 May 1852.
Patrick Cawley, Network Rail’s route buildings engineer, said: “It’s amazing to think that people the world over ‘own’ a little piece of Hagley in the form of a footbridge on their railway layout. Having given the original footbridge a thorough overhaul, it will serve the people of Hagley for many years to come.”
Simon Kohler at Hornby said: “We at Hornby are absolutely thrilled to see the Hagley footbridge restored to its former glory. As a model it was one of our star items and with the actual footbridge being restored, perhaps it is time that a suitable model once more became part of the Hornby range.”
The last time the footbridge was painted, a blue and white colour scheme was chosen but after talking to the Railway Heritage Trust, Network Rail has restored it to what is known as GWR ‘light and dark stone’.
The entire structure has been cleaned, rubbed down and repainted.
Elements of the ornate metalwork that needed replacing were specially cast to match and blend in with the original.
Various parts of the structure's fabric were replaced or repaired. These included wooden dagger boards, panelling and sections of guttering, with the edges of the stair treads being coated in an anti slip resin in contrasting colours to make them stand out.
While the contractors were on site, the station buildings were also completely repainted at the request of train operator London Midland as was the platform canopy, so the entire station has a new feel to it.
The overall cost of the work was almost £50,000.
10-04-12
Greater Anglia announced new support for Community Rail
Greater Anglia has announced plans to provide additional and substantial financial support for the region’s Community Rail Partnerships (CRPs) through a new investment of £125k to support the work of the CRPs as part of the train operator’s current franchise term.
£50k will be invested immediately to provide extra support this year for the work of the partnerships which include the Essex & South Suffolk, East Suffolk Line, Bittern Line and Wherry Lines CRPs. As well as the established partnerships, Greater Anglia is also preparing for the launch of a new Fenland CRP by local stakeholders in Cambridgeshire this summer embracing the Ely to Peterborough route.
Greater Anglia is strongly committed to the concept of rail partnerships and positive co-operation with local stakeholders as a means of improving the marketing and awareness of local rail services, and helping to develop those services for the benefit of the communities they serve, whilst boosting tourism and contributing to the local economy.
Ruud Haket, Managing Director, Greater Anglia said: “This new investment for Community Rail Partnerships is a tremendous vote of confidence by Greater Anglia in the community rail network across the region we serve. We are keen to work with our local partners to continue to increase demand for rail travel in these areas and to play our part in boosting the local economy.”
Greater Anglia is also increasing the support it provides for its network of station adopters as part of this package, with many adopters also working in partnership with their local CRPs.
£50k will be invested immediately to provide extra support this year for the work of the partnerships which include the Essex & South Suffolk, East Suffolk Line, Bittern Line and Wherry Lines CRPs. As well as the established partnerships, Greater Anglia is also preparing for the launch of a new Fenland CRP by local stakeholders in Cambridgeshire this summer embracing the Ely to Peterborough route.
Greater Anglia is strongly committed to the concept of rail partnerships and positive co-operation with local stakeholders as a means of improving the marketing and awareness of local rail services, and helping to develop those services for the benefit of the communities they serve, whilst boosting tourism and contributing to the local economy.
Ruud Haket, Managing Director, Greater Anglia said: “This new investment for Community Rail Partnerships is a tremendous vote of confidence by Greater Anglia in the community rail network across the region we serve. We are keen to work with our local partners to continue to increase demand for rail travel in these areas and to play our part in boosting the local economy.”
Greater Anglia is also increasing the support it provides for its network of station adopters as part of this package, with many adopters also working in partnership with their local CRPs.
05-04-12
Wakefield Kirkgate improvement plans get go ahead
Plans to renew the canopies and remove part of the redundant spine wall at Kirkgate station have today been granted Listed Building consent by Wakefield District Council planning committee.
Phil Verster, route managing director at Network Rail, said: “This is the news we have been waiting for at Kirkgate. Our team is already on site completing preparatory works and will press ahead with the full scheme immediately."
Ambitious plans to transform the listed station building have been drawn up by Groundwork Wakefield with support from Network Rail, Northern Rail, West Yorkshire PTE (Metro), Wakefield council and Railway Heritage Trust. “Our project is in addition to the wider scheme to transform the station building which is being led by Groundwork Wakefield” added Phil Verster. “We expect to complete our work in November when the station building scheme is expected to begin.”
The Network Rail work on the station is worth approximately £1.5m and is being funded by the company with a contribution from the Railway Heritage Trust. Bricks which are removed from the spine wall will be cleaned and reused in the supporting wall for the new ramp."I'm delighted that the planning committee has given its consent, and that the next phase of work at Wakefield Kirkgate rail station can now go ahead," said David Hoggarth, director, development at Metro. "Through partnership working between Metro, Network Rail, Wakefield Council, the train operators and Groundwork Wakefield, we are on the road to delivering a much needed step-change in facilities for passengers."
Richard Allen, area Director for Northern Rail comments: "We are thrilled to continue to be part of the transformation at Wakefield Kirkgate. The improvements being made at the station are an excellent example of a successful partnership achieving real results for our customers."
Ken Taylor, executive director for Groundwork Wakefield, said: "Groundwork, along with partners, is committed to bringing the station back to its former glory and it will be a catalyst for the regeneration of the entire Kirkgate area. Not only will the redevelopment provide a safe and welcoming gateway to the city, it will provide facilities for local communities, enterprises to grow in and foster a sense of community pride into the area."
In 2009 and 2010, Northern Rail, Network Rail and Metro secured improvements to the CCTV system and subway as well as improvements to signage, a new help point and refurbished entrance lobby. The car park was also resurfaced, allowing the free bus to call at the station. This was mainly funded through the National Stations Improvement Programme, a joint rail industry initiative funded primarily by the Department for Transport.
Phil Verster, route managing director at Network Rail, said: “This is the news we have been waiting for at Kirkgate. Our team is already on site completing preparatory works and will press ahead with the full scheme immediately."
Ambitious plans to transform the listed station building have been drawn up by Groundwork Wakefield with support from Network Rail, Northern Rail, West Yorkshire PTE (Metro), Wakefield council and Railway Heritage Trust. “Our project is in addition to the wider scheme to transform the station building which is being led by Groundwork Wakefield” added Phil Verster. “We expect to complete our work in November when the station building scheme is expected to begin.”
The Network Rail work on the station is worth approximately £1.5m and is being funded by the company with a contribution from the Railway Heritage Trust. Bricks which are removed from the spine wall will be cleaned and reused in the supporting wall for the new ramp."I'm delighted that the planning committee has given its consent, and that the next phase of work at Wakefield Kirkgate rail station can now go ahead," said David Hoggarth, director, development at Metro. "Through partnership working between Metro, Network Rail, Wakefield Council, the train operators and Groundwork Wakefield, we are on the road to delivering a much needed step-change in facilities for passengers."
Richard Allen, area Director for Northern Rail comments: "We are thrilled to continue to be part of the transformation at Wakefield Kirkgate. The improvements being made at the station are an excellent example of a successful partnership achieving real results for our customers."
Ken Taylor, executive director for Groundwork Wakefield, said: "Groundwork, along with partners, is committed to bringing the station back to its former glory and it will be a catalyst for the regeneration of the entire Kirkgate area. Not only will the redevelopment provide a safe and welcoming gateway to the city, it will provide facilities for local communities, enterprises to grow in and foster a sense of community pride into the area."
In 2009 and 2010, Northern Rail, Network Rail and Metro secured improvements to the CCTV system and subway as well as improvements to signage, a new help point and refurbished entrance lobby. The car park was also resurfaced, allowing the free bus to call at the station. This was mainly funded through the National Stations Improvement Programme, a joint rail industry initiative funded primarily by the Department for Transport.
05-04-12
Improvements to London Midland stations announced
Rail passengers across the West Midlands are set to benefit from a raft of station improvements following a unique partnership deal between Centro, the region’s transport authority and train operator London Midland.
A total of ten stations are in line for improvements including cutting edge passenger information, automated ticket machines and cycle storage facilities.
The work is the result of the recently signed Transforming Rail Travel agreement – a partnership between Centro and London Midland to further improve journeys for the 42 million passengers who use the West Midlands network each year.
Under the deal Centro will fund the £250,000 improvements and London Midland will carry out the work.
Stations set to benefit include:
Birmingham Snow Hill – Customer Information System (CIS) improvements to include new information screens at the station entrance and an extension of the automated public address system. New cycle storage will also be installed.
Tipton – CIS improvements on the Birmingham bound platform.
Whitlocks End – CIS summary departure screens (for the entrance points onto both platforms).
Alvechurch, Bloxwich, Bloxwich North, Landywood and RugeleyTown – to have ticket vending machines for the first time
Bournville and University which will get additional ticket vending machines helping to reduce queues for tickets at peak times. Centro is exploring the feasibility of locating one of the machines at University on the BirminghamUniversity campus.
Centro’s lead member for Rail and Metro Cllr Tom Ansell said: “These improvements will make a tangible difference to passengers, making it easier to use the train. “The number of people using our local rail network has more than doubled in the last ten years and continues to grow. These improvements will help encourage even more people to consider using public transport as a genuine alternative to the car, helping to reduce the road congestion that is costing our regional economy more than £2.4 billion a year.”
London Midland's Head of Franchise Management, Nicola Moss said: "This investment shows how by working together in partnership, Centro and London Midland can deliver real improvements to rail services in the West Midlands. This is really good news for customers at the ten stations in the scheme."
Although Alvechurch and the Chase Line stations of Landywood and RugeleyTown are outside the metropolitan West Midlands, Centro considers them important stops in the wider journey-to-work area. Centro also recently contributed £900,000 to a separate package of improvements to stations along the Chase Line.
The work at Snow Hill is part of a bigger £1 million project to upgrade its facilities under the National Stations Improvement Programme (NSIP). The project is due for completion by 2014.
A total of ten stations are in line for improvements including cutting edge passenger information, automated ticket machines and cycle storage facilities.
The work is the result of the recently signed Transforming Rail Travel agreement – a partnership between Centro and London Midland to further improve journeys for the 42 million passengers who use the West Midlands network each year.
Under the deal Centro will fund the £250,000 improvements and London Midland will carry out the work.
Stations set to benefit include:
Birmingham Snow Hill – Customer Information System (CIS) improvements to include new information screens at the station entrance and an extension of the automated public address system. New cycle storage will also be installed.
Tipton – CIS improvements on the Birmingham bound platform.
Whitlocks End – CIS summary departure screens (for the entrance points onto both platforms).
Alvechurch, Bloxwich, Bloxwich North, Landywood and RugeleyTown – to have ticket vending machines for the first time
Bournville and University which will get additional ticket vending machines helping to reduce queues for tickets at peak times. Centro is exploring the feasibility of locating one of the machines at University on the BirminghamUniversity campus.
Centro’s lead member for Rail and Metro Cllr Tom Ansell said: “These improvements will make a tangible difference to passengers, making it easier to use the train. “The number of people using our local rail network has more than doubled in the last ten years and continues to grow. These improvements will help encourage even more people to consider using public transport as a genuine alternative to the car, helping to reduce the road congestion that is costing our regional economy more than £2.4 billion a year.”
London Midland's Head of Franchise Management, Nicola Moss said: "This investment shows how by working together in partnership, Centro and London Midland can deliver real improvements to rail services in the West Midlands. This is really good news for customers at the ten stations in the scheme."
Although Alvechurch and the Chase Line stations of Landywood and RugeleyTown are outside the metropolitan West Midlands, Centro considers them important stops in the wider journey-to-work area. Centro also recently contributed £900,000 to a separate package of improvements to stations along the Chase Line.
The work at Snow Hill is part of a bigger £1 million project to upgrade its facilities under the National Stations Improvement Programme (NSIP). The project is due for completion by 2014.
05-04-12
Work starts on Stockley Interchange
Work has begun on the Stockley Interchange in west London, a crucial part of the Crossrail network that will allow Crossrail services to operate to and from Heathrow.
When Crossrail services begin, even more trains will travel along the Great Western Main Line so work is needed to improve capacity. The current junction at Stockley allows trains to leave the main line and continue to Heathrow Airport.
Network Rail, on behalf of Crossrail Limited, will build a new single track viaduct for all trains from Heathrow towards London. Work is due to complete in 2017. Existing train services to Heathrow will continue to run throughout.
Stockley Interchange will allow Crossrail trains to join the branch to Heathrow without delaying - or being delayed by - fast trains to the west, thus increasing capacity and reliability on the extremely busy Great Western Main Line.
Jorge Mendonça, Programme Director for Network Rail, said: “The Stockley Interchange is critical to unlocking the benefits of Crossrail. We’ve spent years planning and preparing to reach this point, so today is an important milestone. As well as starting the building works, we’re planning the rest of our programme to make sure that passengers and our lineside neighbours notice as little disruption as possible. This represents a very successful start to our delivery of this Crossrail structure.”
Matt White, Crossrail Surface Director, said: “The major works at Stockley Interchange will allow Crossrail services to operate to Heathrow. Crossrail will provide four ten-car trains per hour on the Great Western Main Line in each direction during the peak between central London and Heathrow with two per hour to West Drayton and four per hour to Maidenhead.”
Crossrail trains from Heathrow will run into Paddington and under London in newly-constructed tunnels. The service will offer the ability to travel from Heathrow to the West End, the City, and Canary Wharf without changing, reducing journey times and inconvenience.
When Crossrail opens, passengers will be able to reach Heathrow from Canary Wharf in 39 minutes, Liverpool Street in 33 minutes and Bond Street in 26 minutes.
Network Rail is responsible for the design, development and delivery of the parts of Crossrail that are on the existing network, covering 70km (43.5 miles) of track and 28 stations from Maidenhead in the west to Abbey Wood and Shenfield in the east.
The current junction at Stockley is used by Heathrow Connect in both directions and Heathrow Express in the London direction. The viaduct will start on the western side of the existing airport lines. It will then cross over all of the tracks in the railway corridor, turning eastwards and will continue on the northern side of the railway tracks.
The viaduct will then widen and a junction for Crossrail and Heathrow Express services will be installed on the track. This junction will allow Heathrow Express services to cross above the slow lines and descend to main line track as at present. Crossrail services will remain on the northern side, descend on a second ramp and run on a dedicated track, which will then connect with the existing up slow line via a new junction constructed at a point just before Hayes & Harlington station.
The timetable for the works is as follows:
Late March 2012 – Installation of a retaining wall begins
February 2014 – Western flyover completed
December 2014 – Northern viaduct completed
September 2017 – Project completion
As this work progresses it is likely to involve some night-time and weekend working, as some sections can only be built when train services are not running.
When Crossrail services begin, even more trains will travel along the Great Western Main Line so work is needed to improve capacity. The current junction at Stockley allows trains to leave the main line and continue to Heathrow Airport.
Network Rail, on behalf of Crossrail Limited, will build a new single track viaduct for all trains from Heathrow towards London. Work is due to complete in 2017. Existing train services to Heathrow will continue to run throughout.
Stockley Interchange will allow Crossrail trains to join the branch to Heathrow without delaying - or being delayed by - fast trains to the west, thus increasing capacity and reliability on the extremely busy Great Western Main Line.
Jorge Mendonça, Programme Director for Network Rail, said: “The Stockley Interchange is critical to unlocking the benefits of Crossrail. We’ve spent years planning and preparing to reach this point, so today is an important milestone. As well as starting the building works, we’re planning the rest of our programme to make sure that passengers and our lineside neighbours notice as little disruption as possible. This represents a very successful start to our delivery of this Crossrail structure.”
Matt White, Crossrail Surface Director, said: “The major works at Stockley Interchange will allow Crossrail services to operate to Heathrow. Crossrail will provide four ten-car trains per hour on the Great Western Main Line in each direction during the peak between central London and Heathrow with two per hour to West Drayton and four per hour to Maidenhead.”
Crossrail trains from Heathrow will run into Paddington and under London in newly-constructed tunnels. The service will offer the ability to travel from Heathrow to the West End, the City, and Canary Wharf without changing, reducing journey times and inconvenience.
When Crossrail opens, passengers will be able to reach Heathrow from Canary Wharf in 39 minutes, Liverpool Street in 33 minutes and Bond Street in 26 minutes.
Network Rail is responsible for the design, development and delivery of the parts of Crossrail that are on the existing network, covering 70km (43.5 miles) of track and 28 stations from Maidenhead in the west to Abbey Wood and Shenfield in the east.
The current junction at Stockley is used by Heathrow Connect in both directions and Heathrow Express in the London direction. The viaduct will start on the western side of the existing airport lines. It will then cross over all of the tracks in the railway corridor, turning eastwards and will continue on the northern side of the railway tracks.
The viaduct will then widen and a junction for Crossrail and Heathrow Express services will be installed on the track. This junction will allow Heathrow Express services to cross above the slow lines and descend to main line track as at present. Crossrail services will remain on the northern side, descend on a second ramp and run on a dedicated track, which will then connect with the existing up slow line via a new junction constructed at a point just before Hayes & Harlington station.
The timetable for the works is as follows:
Late March 2012 – Installation of a retaining wall begins
February 2014 – Western flyover completed
December 2014 – Northern viaduct completed
September 2017 – Project completion
As this work progresses it is likely to involve some night-time and weekend working, as some sections can only be built when train services are not running.
05-04-12
New entrance to West Croydon station improves access
Railway passengers, particularly those with restricted mobility, will find their journeys from London Overground's West Croydon station made easier when a new gateline offering a direct link to adjacent tram and bus stops opens.
Transport for London's (TfL) Chief Operating Officer for Rail, Howard Smith, said: 'The new gateline will create a new station entrance for all passengers and make their interchange from bus and tram to rail much more convenient.'
Work on the new gateline which begins on Tuesday 10 April 2012 and is scheduled to last for eight weeks, will provide a more direct walking route from the West Croydon tram stop and bus station on Station Street to West Croydon London Overground station.
A wider gate in the new gateline will allow customers who use wheelchairs, or travel with a guide dog, buggy or large luggage to use the entrance which offers step-free access to Platform 4 without staff assistance.
Transport for London's (TfL) Chief Operating Officer for Rail, Howard Smith, said: 'The new gateline will create a new station entrance for all passengers and make their interchange from bus and tram to rail much more convenient.'
Work on the new gateline which begins on Tuesday 10 April 2012 and is scheduled to last for eight weeks, will provide a more direct walking route from the West Croydon tram stop and bus station on Station Street to West Croydon London Overground station.
A wider gate in the new gateline will allow customers who use wheelchairs, or travel with a guide dog, buggy or large luggage to use the entrance which offers step-free access to Platform 4 without staff assistance.
04-04-12
Greater Anglia launch smart phone app
Greater Anglia has recently launched a new easy-to-use smart phone app to make ticket purchasing and access to information for train times even easier, as part of the train operator's commitment to improve customer service and information provision.
The free app for smart phones - available now from the App Store - allows customers to buy train tickets and obtain train service information for journeys with Greater Anglia and across the wider rail network
With the new phone app customers can:
• Purchase train tickets for travel on Greater Anglia and the rest of the rail network
• Purchase tickets up to 10 minutes before departure time and collect from self-service ticket machines
• Get ticket collection references direct to their mobile
• Check train times quickly and easily
• Save timetables to their smart phone for easy reference
Ruud Haket Greater Anglia’s Managing Director said: “The Greater Anglia phone app offers up-to-date and timely information for our customers, complementing the Greater Anglia website, our twitter feed and other forms of customer communication. Providing better information is a key part of our plans to improve customer service across the Greater Anglia network.”
The new app is available for smart phones including: Apple iPhone, Google Android, Blackberry and Nokia Ovi.
The feature enabling timetables to be saved to a smart phone is currently available with the Apple iPhone.
The free app for smart phones - available now from the App Store - allows customers to buy train tickets and obtain train service information for journeys with Greater Anglia and across the wider rail network
With the new phone app customers can:
• Purchase train tickets for travel on Greater Anglia and the rest of the rail network
• Purchase tickets up to 10 minutes before departure time and collect from self-service ticket machines
• Get ticket collection references direct to their mobile
• Check train times quickly and easily
• Save timetables to their smart phone for easy reference
Ruud Haket Greater Anglia’s Managing Director said: “The Greater Anglia phone app offers up-to-date and timely information for our customers, complementing the Greater Anglia website, our twitter feed and other forms of customer communication. Providing better information is a key part of our plans to improve customer service across the Greater Anglia network.”
The new app is available for smart phones including: Apple iPhone, Google Android, Blackberry and Nokia Ovi.
The feature enabling timetables to be saved to a smart phone is currently available with the Apple iPhone.
04-04-12
Signal upgrade work starts of Great Western
The largest-ever scheme to modernise the 1960s signalling infrastructure on the Great Western main line has started.
The £400m improvement will significantly benefit services travelling through Bristol, Bath, Chippenham, Swindon, Didcot, Reading, Newbury and Oxford.
The four-year scheme, once completed, could help cut delays by 50%, thus significantly boosting rail performance. Around 25,000 minutes of delays on average each year on the Great Western main line are potentially caused by problems with aging signalling equipment.
The major upgrade will also support the 10-year plan to expand services on the Great Western main line, catering to the 51% forecast increase in rail demand by the end of the decade.
In addition, the improvement work is also vital to prepare the signalling infrastructure, so that it is compatible with an electrified railway.
Patrick Hallgate, route managing director for Network Rail Western said: “We are safeguarding the long-term future of a vital rail artery in the South West of England and Thames Valley. The Great Western main line is running out of room with nearly 30m journeys and a growth rate of at least 5% each year. A robust and modernised signalling infrastructure is vital to cope with this burgeoning growth. In a few years’ time, the signalling infrastructure will be considered life-expired but we are ahead of the game by starting the improvements now. This programme is a vital building block for the transformation of Great Western, boosting performance, paving the way for electrification and supports major enhancement plans in Bristol, Swindon, Oxford, Reading and Newbury.”
The improvement will be carried out in five stages, starting from the Didcot area, to minimise disruption. Invensys has recently been appointed as the main contractor to deliver the work in the Didcot area.
The biggest programme of work will be carried out in the Bristol area, which is forecast to experience the highest number of passenger growth of 44% in the next decade. Around £150m will be invested in upgrading the signalling infrastructure in the area. The programme of work is designed to complement the capacity-boosting proposal to revamp the railway track around Bristol Temple Meads.
Around £50m will be invested between Swindon and Chippenham and Swindon and Gloucester as part of this scheme. This work will complement the scheme to redouble the track between Swindon and Kemble, bringing better performance and potentially enabling more trains to run.
Around £20m will be invested in upgrading the signalling between Newbury and Reading. As part of this programme, work will be carried out to upgrade existing tracks to allow passenger trains to run. This will enable better train movement and potentially allow more trains to run, especially in times of congestions on race days at Newbury.
The signalling upgrade forms part of a wider ten-year, £5bn plan to transform the Great Western main line. The transformation programme comprises of several core packages of work, including electrification, between London and Bristol.
The signalling upgrade is the first core package of work in this transformation programme.
Delivery timeline
2012: route between Didcot and Swindon and Didcot and Oxford
2014: route between Swindon and Chippenham, Swindon and Gloucester, Swindon and Hullavington (route to Bristol
Parkway)
2015: route between Newbury and Reading
2015: Oxford area
2015: route between Bath and Parson Street via Bristol Temple Meads, Swindon and Bristol Parkway
The £400m improvement will significantly benefit services travelling through Bristol, Bath, Chippenham, Swindon, Didcot, Reading, Newbury and Oxford.
The four-year scheme, once completed, could help cut delays by 50%, thus significantly boosting rail performance. Around 25,000 minutes of delays on average each year on the Great Western main line are potentially caused by problems with aging signalling equipment.
The major upgrade will also support the 10-year plan to expand services on the Great Western main line, catering to the 51% forecast increase in rail demand by the end of the decade.
In addition, the improvement work is also vital to prepare the signalling infrastructure, so that it is compatible with an electrified railway.
Patrick Hallgate, route managing director for Network Rail Western said: “We are safeguarding the long-term future of a vital rail artery in the South West of England and Thames Valley. The Great Western main line is running out of room with nearly 30m journeys and a growth rate of at least 5% each year. A robust and modernised signalling infrastructure is vital to cope with this burgeoning growth. In a few years’ time, the signalling infrastructure will be considered life-expired but we are ahead of the game by starting the improvements now. This programme is a vital building block for the transformation of Great Western, boosting performance, paving the way for electrification and supports major enhancement plans in Bristol, Swindon, Oxford, Reading and Newbury.”
The improvement will be carried out in five stages, starting from the Didcot area, to minimise disruption. Invensys has recently been appointed as the main contractor to deliver the work in the Didcot area.
The biggest programme of work will be carried out in the Bristol area, which is forecast to experience the highest number of passenger growth of 44% in the next decade. Around £150m will be invested in upgrading the signalling infrastructure in the area. The programme of work is designed to complement the capacity-boosting proposal to revamp the railway track around Bristol Temple Meads.
Around £50m will be invested between Swindon and Chippenham and Swindon and Gloucester as part of this scheme. This work will complement the scheme to redouble the track between Swindon and Kemble, bringing better performance and potentially enabling more trains to run.
Around £20m will be invested in upgrading the signalling between Newbury and Reading. As part of this programme, work will be carried out to upgrade existing tracks to allow passenger trains to run. This will enable better train movement and potentially allow more trains to run, especially in times of congestions on race days at Newbury.
The signalling upgrade forms part of a wider ten-year, £5bn plan to transform the Great Western main line. The transformation programme comprises of several core packages of work, including electrification, between London and Bristol.
The signalling upgrade is the first core package of work in this transformation programme.
Delivery timeline
2012: route between Didcot and Swindon and Didcot and Oxford
2014: route between Swindon and Chippenham, Swindon and Gloucester, Swindon and Hullavington (route to Bristol
Parkway)
2015: route between Newbury and Reading
2015: Oxford area
2015: route between Bath and Parson Street via Bristol Temple Meads, Swindon and Bristol Parkway
04-04-12
10th Anniversary of Tyne & Wear Sunderland line
The Sunderland line of the Tyne and Wear Metro is celebrating its 10th birthday, having carried more than 40 million passengers since opening.
Opened to the public on 31 March 31 2002, the line transformed travel between the two biggest cities in the North East, and continues to do so today.
The Sunderland line added a new route of 18km and 12 stations to the Metro network from Pelaw through Sunderland City Centre to South Hylton.
Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, officially opened the line during her Golden Jubilee year, travelling with the Duke of Edinburgh on 7 May 2002, from Park Lane Interchange to Fellgate, South Tyneside.
Bernard Garner, Director General of Nexus, which owns and manages Metro, said: “Building and opening the Sunderland Metro line meant overcoming huge technical and financial challenges, but the difference it makes is there to see every day.
Metro helped open the door to attracting people to Sunderland from far and wide, whether it is to shop, to visit, to study at Sunderland University or attend world-class sport and culture at The Stadium of Light.
Richard McClean, Managing Director of Metro operator DB Regio Tyne and Wear said: “The Sunderland line is a great asset to the North East and over 40 million journeys have been made on this line in the last 10 years. Metro provides a vital link across the whole of Tyne and Wear which has helped to boost the economy in Sunderland and Newcastle as well as the surrounding towns. Many people use Metro to commute to and from work and over four million journeys have been made on the Sunderland line alone in the last 12 months.
The whole project to build the Sunderland line involved some unique engineering challenges. Around 13km of line between Pelaw and Sunderland were converted to Metro use by installing overhead power lines and some of the most advanced signal systems in the UK.
The line marked a milestone for the rail industry as, for the first time in the UK, local light rail and national heavy rail began sharing the same tracks, with Sunderland station playing host to Metro, Northern regional trains and now Grand Central intercity trains to London from the same platforms.
A further 4.5km of line was built from Sunderland to South Hylton using a disused railway route, until then used as a cycle path. A brand new transport interchange was also built at Park Lane, creating a major new bus station above the Metro line.
At Fellgate station, lift shafts had to be built without disturbing the 160-year-old railway embankment and at St Peter’s a new station had to be created without damaging the historic stone viaduct, a listed structure.
Eight new stations were built and three converted to Metro use from national rail, while Sunderland continues to be used by both. Sunderland station’s platforms were refurbished by Nexus in a £7m project completed in 2010, creating a new city centre gateway.
McClean added: “Sunderland is the busiest station on the extension, with 1.8 million Metro passengers in the last 12 months and 350,000 passengers using the station for Northern and Grand Central services.”
The opening of the line has seen the number of trains between Newcastle and Sunderland increase to five an hour. A journey between the two city centres takes less than 30 minutes, while Metro links Sunderland to Newcastle International Airport in around 45 minutes.
Shirley Atkinson, University of Sunderland’s Deputy Vice Chancellor, said: “Since the opening of the Sunderland Line, literally thousands of our students and staff have benefitted over the last 10 years from the accessibility the Metro service offers between University and St Peter’s stations. The extension has certainly opened up our two campuses to the rest of the region, playing an important role in attracting students from across the North East and removing any travel barriers they previously may have faced. We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Metro on reaching such a major milestone and we’re sure their growing success will continue to benefit our own staff and students for years to come.”
Football fans have also benefitted from the transport link, Gary Hutchinson, Sunderland AFC’s commercial director and chairman of the NECC in Sunderland said: The Metro service has been a wonderful addition to the city of Sunderland. A strong infrastructure is vital for a successful business community and the service has enhanced our connectivity with the rest of the region, making Sunderland more accessible than ever. Like any major venue, the Stadium of Light requires outstanding transport provisions and Metro has continued to offer a speedy service for both football and music fans, moving a high percentage of substantial crowds for both Barclays Premier League matches and concerts. The club has worked closely with Nexus on a range of initiatives for our fans such as the new ‘Wear on our Way’ travel pass for the 2012/13 season, which will offer fans subsidised travel anywhere in Tyne and Wear before and after kick for just £20 per season. We look forward to continuing our work together.”
Opened to the public on 31 March 31 2002, the line transformed travel between the two biggest cities in the North East, and continues to do so today.
The Sunderland line added a new route of 18km and 12 stations to the Metro network from Pelaw through Sunderland City Centre to South Hylton.
Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, officially opened the line during her Golden Jubilee year, travelling with the Duke of Edinburgh on 7 May 2002, from Park Lane Interchange to Fellgate, South Tyneside.
Bernard Garner, Director General of Nexus, which owns and manages Metro, said: “Building and opening the Sunderland Metro line meant overcoming huge technical and financial challenges, but the difference it makes is there to see every day.
Metro helped open the door to attracting people to Sunderland from far and wide, whether it is to shop, to visit, to study at Sunderland University or attend world-class sport and culture at The Stadium of Light.
Richard McClean, Managing Director of Metro operator DB Regio Tyne and Wear said: “The Sunderland line is a great asset to the North East and over 40 million journeys have been made on this line in the last 10 years. Metro provides a vital link across the whole of Tyne and Wear which has helped to boost the economy in Sunderland and Newcastle as well as the surrounding towns. Many people use Metro to commute to and from work and over four million journeys have been made on the Sunderland line alone in the last 12 months.
The whole project to build the Sunderland line involved some unique engineering challenges. Around 13km of line between Pelaw and Sunderland were converted to Metro use by installing overhead power lines and some of the most advanced signal systems in the UK.
The line marked a milestone for the rail industry as, for the first time in the UK, local light rail and national heavy rail began sharing the same tracks, with Sunderland station playing host to Metro, Northern regional trains and now Grand Central intercity trains to London from the same platforms.
A further 4.5km of line was built from Sunderland to South Hylton using a disused railway route, until then used as a cycle path. A brand new transport interchange was also built at Park Lane, creating a major new bus station above the Metro line.
At Fellgate station, lift shafts had to be built without disturbing the 160-year-old railway embankment and at St Peter’s a new station had to be created without damaging the historic stone viaduct, a listed structure.
Eight new stations were built and three converted to Metro use from national rail, while Sunderland continues to be used by both. Sunderland station’s platforms were refurbished by Nexus in a £7m project completed in 2010, creating a new city centre gateway.
McClean added: “Sunderland is the busiest station on the extension, with 1.8 million Metro passengers in the last 12 months and 350,000 passengers using the station for Northern and Grand Central services.”
The opening of the line has seen the number of trains between Newcastle and Sunderland increase to five an hour. A journey between the two city centres takes less than 30 minutes, while Metro links Sunderland to Newcastle International Airport in around 45 minutes.
Shirley Atkinson, University of Sunderland’s Deputy Vice Chancellor, said: “Since the opening of the Sunderland Line, literally thousands of our students and staff have benefitted over the last 10 years from the accessibility the Metro service offers between University and St Peter’s stations. The extension has certainly opened up our two campuses to the rest of the region, playing an important role in attracting students from across the North East and removing any travel barriers they previously may have faced. We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Metro on reaching such a major milestone and we’re sure their growing success will continue to benefit our own staff and students for years to come.”
Football fans have also benefitted from the transport link, Gary Hutchinson, Sunderland AFC’s commercial director and chairman of the NECC in Sunderland said: The Metro service has been a wonderful addition to the city of Sunderland. A strong infrastructure is vital for a successful business community and the service has enhanced our connectivity with the rest of the region, making Sunderland more accessible than ever. Like any major venue, the Stadium of Light requires outstanding transport provisions and Metro has continued to offer a speedy service for both football and music fans, moving a high percentage of substantial crowds for both Barclays Premier League matches and concerts. The club has worked closely with Nexus on a range of initiatives for our fans such as the new ‘Wear on our Way’ travel pass for the 2012/13 season, which will offer fans subsidised travel anywhere in Tyne and Wear before and after kick for just £20 per season. We look forward to continuing our work together.”
04-04-12
Three Class 57/3s go to Direct Rail Services
Porterbrook has reached an agreement with Direct Rail Services for the lease of three Class 57 locomotives.
Direct Rail Services specialises in hauling freight for a range of customers throughout the country. Due to continued market growth they sought to lease an additional three Class 57 locomotives, numbers 57302, 57304 and 57309 which were handed back from Virgin Trains at the end of March 2012, to complement their existing Class 57 fleet. They will be on lease until 2015.
The three locomotives operated light from Manchester to Eastleigh Works on 4 April 2012 for upgrade work and repainting.
Direct Rail Services specialises in hauling freight for a range of customers throughout the country. Due to continued market growth they sought to lease an additional three Class 57 locomotives, numbers 57302, 57304 and 57309 which were handed back from Virgin Trains at the end of March 2012, to complement their existing Class 57 fleet. They will be on lease until 2015.
The three locomotives operated light from Manchester to Eastleigh Works on 4 April 2012 for upgrade work and repainting.
04-04-12
Health, Safety and Environmental Manager appointed at First Hull Trains
Ian Lee has been appointed as Health, Safety and Environmental Manager for First Hull Trains.
Ian will head up a team which oversees the effective and safe running of the company’s services between Hull and London.
Ian has moved to First Hull Trains from First Capital Connect where as the Safety Project Manager he was in charge of the safety management arrangements on the Thameslink Programme and King's Cross Station Redevelopment in London.
With over 40 years’ experience in the industry, Ian is relishing the opportunity in this new career challenge.
He said: “I decided to move to First Hull Trains as I wanted to get more involved with day to day safety management. My most recent position was in a strategic role and I wanted a post in which I could have a combination of the two. "The Health, Safety and Environmental Manager at First Hull Trains provide the perfect opportunity. I am a dedicated safety professional who believes totally in the fantastic work that First Hull Trains has been doing to improve its safety management performance and systems. I feel that there is a lot I can offer the company in terms of my experience, skills and knowledge and I want to make a real impact. I aim to put together a programme to continually improve and achieve safety excellence."
Ian’s role will see him providing support and guidance to managers to ensure First Hull Trains continues to deliver high standards of safety in all that the company does.
Outside of work, Ian is a keen golfer. He said: “I look to get out and play a round of golf every week, I find it to be a very relaxing sport. My wife and I live near to our children, and our beautiful grandchildren, and we love spending as much time with them as possible as they are growing up.”
Cath Bellamy, Managing Director at First Hull Trains, said: “We are delighted to welcome Ian to our team. We are further assured by the level of expertise and skill he is bringing to the company and we look forward to working with him. “Our motto is: ‘If we can’t do it safely, we don’t do it’, and with Ian on board we are even more confident in our ability to run a safe and on time railway – things that our customers say are very important to them.”
Ian joined the company at the end of March 2012.
Ian will head up a team which oversees the effective and safe running of the company’s services between Hull and London.
Ian has moved to First Hull Trains from First Capital Connect where as the Safety Project Manager he was in charge of the safety management arrangements on the Thameslink Programme and King's Cross Station Redevelopment in London.
With over 40 years’ experience in the industry, Ian is relishing the opportunity in this new career challenge.
He said: “I decided to move to First Hull Trains as I wanted to get more involved with day to day safety management. My most recent position was in a strategic role and I wanted a post in which I could have a combination of the two. "The Health, Safety and Environmental Manager at First Hull Trains provide the perfect opportunity. I am a dedicated safety professional who believes totally in the fantastic work that First Hull Trains has been doing to improve its safety management performance and systems. I feel that there is a lot I can offer the company in terms of my experience, skills and knowledge and I want to make a real impact. I aim to put together a programme to continually improve and achieve safety excellence."
Ian’s role will see him providing support and guidance to managers to ensure First Hull Trains continues to deliver high standards of safety in all that the company does.
Outside of work, Ian is a keen golfer. He said: “I look to get out and play a round of golf every week, I find it to be a very relaxing sport. My wife and I live near to our children, and our beautiful grandchildren, and we love spending as much time with them as possible as they are growing up.”
Cath Bellamy, Managing Director at First Hull Trains, said: “We are delighted to welcome Ian to our team. We are further assured by the level of expertise and skill he is bringing to the company and we look forward to working with him. “Our motto is: ‘If we can’t do it safely, we don’t do it’, and with Ian on board we are even more confident in our ability to run a safe and on time railway – things that our customers say are very important to them.”
Ian joined the company at the end of March 2012.
04-04-12
Alstom to supply 28 Coradia Continental regional trains to Deutsche Bahn
Alstom Transport will manufacture 28 Coradia Continental regional trains for the German operator Deutsche Bahn Regio NRW GmbH. The contract is worth approximately €140 million. This is the first stage of the frame contract signed in 2011 with DB Regio for the delivery of up to 400 trains.
The trains will run on the Rhine-Ruhr transport network in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW). They will enter service for DB Regio NRW GmbH in 2014.The Coradia Continental trains will be manufactured at the Alstom Salzgitter site in Germany, where a high level of experience is guaranteed: 141 trains of the same type have already been built there.
"We are glad that Deutsche Bahn has selected our modern and reliable trains. Our concept of the Coradia Continental offers high flexibility for our customers and maximal comfort for passengers. We are delighted to be contributing to the further development of transport services in North Rhine-Westphalia", said Dr. Martin Lange, Alstom Transport Managing Director in Germany.
The Coradia Continental trains can run at maximum speed of 160 km/h with an excellent acceleration rate. With a capacity of up to 170 seats and 173 standing places for passengers, these trains can use double and triple traction regimes. DB Regio intends to use them for the S5 and S8 suburban tramlines from Dortmund to Mönchengladbach.
Eco-friendly technologies have also been implemented. Regenerative brakes allow the braking energy to be recovered – up to 30% can be fed back into the electrical power network. Due to the utilisation of the latest crash components, the trains meet highest levels of safety and already comply with the EN 15227 norm which will become compulsory in Europe from 2013 onwards.
The trains have been adapted according to specific wishes of the customer. For the first time on this railway lines toilets will be fitted for disabled passengers. Modifications for people with reduced mobility and visual impairments have also been made: audio cues, side handrails, signage and electric lighting to improve spatial awareness. Multifunctional areas for wheelchairs, bicycles and baby carriages, as well as surveillance cameras inside each car, will ensure passenger comfort and safety. Wide central aisles facilitate movement inside and between the cars, since the driving gear equipment has been moved to the roof. A sliding step can be used to seal the gap between the platform and the car, thus ensuring safe boarding and alighting for passengers.
The trains will run on the Rhine-Ruhr transport network in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW). They will enter service for DB Regio NRW GmbH in 2014.The Coradia Continental trains will be manufactured at the Alstom Salzgitter site in Germany, where a high level of experience is guaranteed: 141 trains of the same type have already been built there.
"We are glad that Deutsche Bahn has selected our modern and reliable trains. Our concept of the Coradia Continental offers high flexibility for our customers and maximal comfort for passengers. We are delighted to be contributing to the further development of transport services in North Rhine-Westphalia", said Dr. Martin Lange, Alstom Transport Managing Director in Germany.
The Coradia Continental trains can run at maximum speed of 160 km/h with an excellent acceleration rate. With a capacity of up to 170 seats and 173 standing places for passengers, these trains can use double and triple traction regimes. DB Regio intends to use them for the S5 and S8 suburban tramlines from Dortmund to Mönchengladbach.
Eco-friendly technologies have also been implemented. Regenerative brakes allow the braking energy to be recovered – up to 30% can be fed back into the electrical power network. Due to the utilisation of the latest crash components, the trains meet highest levels of safety and already comply with the EN 15227 norm which will become compulsory in Europe from 2013 onwards.
The trains have been adapted according to specific wishes of the customer. For the first time on this railway lines toilets will be fitted for disabled passengers. Modifications for people with reduced mobility and visual impairments have also been made: audio cues, side handrails, signage and electric lighting to improve spatial awareness. Multifunctional areas for wheelchairs, bicycles and baby carriages, as well as surveillance cameras inside each car, will ensure passenger comfort and safety. Wide central aisles facilitate movement inside and between the cars, since the driving gear equipment has been moved to the roof. A sliding step can be used to seal the gap between the platform and the car, thus ensuring safe boarding and alighting for passengers.
04-04-12
Join GBRf on a Class 317 railtour to York
On 26 May 2012, GB Railfreight (GBRf) are inviting rail fans and guests to join them aboard a charity train to York, with all monies raised being donated to the Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA).
The train will be planned and worked by GBRf staff, who are all giving their time and energy for free. Called The Shambles, after the famous street of the same name in York, the train will pick up at Shenfield, Stratford, Finsbury Park, Stevenage and Peterborough for the day trip. Guests will have approximately four hours to enjoy the sights and shopping of the city before the return journey.
MNDA is the only national charity for England, Wales and Northern Ireland that funds and promotes research into Motor Neurone Disease, which affects about 5,000 people across the UK. It also provides support for sufferers of the condition.
There is no known cure for MND and about half of those affected die within 14 months of diagnosis. The money raised by events such as this charity train trip is vital in helping those with the condition and their families, and can make a vast improvement to people’s day-to-day lives.
More information about the charity’s work can be found on the website: http://www.mndassociation.org
The train itself will be operated by Class 317 Electric Units provided free of charge by Greater Anglia.
York is a city steeped in history and boasts many attractions, from the National Railway Museum to the JORVIK Viking Centre, tangled cobbled shopping streets and the iconic York Minster.
Tickets for the charity train ride are being sold through UK Railtours for a minimum donation of £20 each.
Approximate times for the day are as follows, please check the UK Railtours website for confirmation of times and full details: http://www.ukrailtours.com/
Estimated times:
Shenfield 08:30
Stratford 08:50
Finsbury Park 09:20
Stevenage 09:50
Peterborough 10:30
The train will be planned and worked by GBRf staff, who are all giving their time and energy for free. Called The Shambles, after the famous street of the same name in York, the train will pick up at Shenfield, Stratford, Finsbury Park, Stevenage and Peterborough for the day trip. Guests will have approximately four hours to enjoy the sights and shopping of the city before the return journey.
MNDA is the only national charity for England, Wales and Northern Ireland that funds and promotes research into Motor Neurone Disease, which affects about 5,000 people across the UK. It also provides support for sufferers of the condition.
There is no known cure for MND and about half of those affected die within 14 months of diagnosis. The money raised by events such as this charity train trip is vital in helping those with the condition and their families, and can make a vast improvement to people’s day-to-day lives.
More information about the charity’s work can be found on the website: http://www.mndassociation.org
The train itself will be operated by Class 317 Electric Units provided free of charge by Greater Anglia.
York is a city steeped in history and boasts many attractions, from the National Railway Museum to the JORVIK Viking Centre, tangled cobbled shopping streets and the iconic York Minster.
Tickets for the charity train ride are being sold through UK Railtours for a minimum donation of £20 each.
Approximate times for the day are as follows, please check the UK Railtours website for confirmation of times and full details: http://www.ukrailtours.com/
Estimated times:
Shenfield 08:30
Stratford 08:50
Finsbury Park 09:20
Stevenage 09:50
Peterborough 10:30
04-04-12
Network Rail fined £3 million for Grayrigg train derailment
Network Rail has been fined £4 million and ordered to pay costs of £118,052 for a breach of health and safety law which caused a train to derail near Grayrigg in 2007, causing the death of one passenger and injuring 86 people.
Today’s sentencing at Preston Crown Court marks the end of the rail regulator’s criminal prosecution against Network Rail. On 23 February 2007, the 17.15 Virgin Trains service from London Euston to Glasgow Central derailed on the West Coast Mainline near Grayrigg in Cumbria. 109 people were on board. Mrs Margaret Masson, a passenger travelling in the first carriage, was killed. Of the 86 people injured, 28 were seriously hurt.
At Lancaster Magistrates’ Court on 29 February 2012, Network Rail pleaded guilty to one charge under section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. This results from the company’s failure to provide and implement suitable and sufficient standards, procedures, guidance, training, tools and resources for the inspection and maintenance of fixed stretcher-bar points.
Ian Prosser, Director of Railway Safety at ORR, said: "The train derailment on the West Coast Mainline near Grayrigg in Cumbria was a devastating and preventable incident which has had long-term consequences for all involved. It tragically caused the death of one passenger, Mrs Margaret Masson, and shattered the lives of others. My thoughts are with Mrs Masson’s family and all those injured and affected by this horrific incident. Under Sir David Higgins’ leadership, Network Rail is focussed on driving safety measures and I welcome the company’s progress on implementing safety recommendations made after this incident. But the pace of carrying out improvements has, at times, been too slow and the rail regulator has had to repeatedly push the company to bring about change. Britain’s railways are safe and are one of the safest in Europe. But there is absolutely no room for complacency. Where failings are found those at fault will be held to account and the entire rail industry must continue to strive for improvements to ensure that public safety is never put at a similar risk again.”
Today’s sentencing at Preston Crown Court marks the end of the rail regulator’s criminal prosecution against Network Rail. On 23 February 2007, the 17.15 Virgin Trains service from London Euston to Glasgow Central derailed on the West Coast Mainline near Grayrigg in Cumbria. 109 people were on board. Mrs Margaret Masson, a passenger travelling in the first carriage, was killed. Of the 86 people injured, 28 were seriously hurt.
At Lancaster Magistrates’ Court on 29 February 2012, Network Rail pleaded guilty to one charge under section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. This results from the company’s failure to provide and implement suitable and sufficient standards, procedures, guidance, training, tools and resources for the inspection and maintenance of fixed stretcher-bar points.
Ian Prosser, Director of Railway Safety at ORR, said: "The train derailment on the West Coast Mainline near Grayrigg in Cumbria was a devastating and preventable incident which has had long-term consequences for all involved. It tragically caused the death of one passenger, Mrs Margaret Masson, and shattered the lives of others. My thoughts are with Mrs Masson’s family and all those injured and affected by this horrific incident. Under Sir David Higgins’ leadership, Network Rail is focussed on driving safety measures and I welcome the company’s progress on implementing safety recommendations made after this incident. But the pace of carrying out improvements has, at times, been too slow and the rail regulator has had to repeatedly push the company to bring about change. Britain’s railways are safe and are one of the safest in Europe. But there is absolutely no room for complacency. Where failings are found those at fault will be held to account and the entire rail industry must continue to strive for improvements to ensure that public safety is never put at a similar risk again.”
03-04-12
Norton Bridge improvements undergo consultation
Network Rail is holding its third consultation in Staffordshire to give members of the public the opportunity to comment on plans to solve one of the few remaining bottlenecks on the key rail line connecting London Birmingham Manchester and Scotland.
Last year a preferred scheme was announced which included plans for a new flyover to take Birmingham to Manchester trains up and over the main line rather than across it. Separating the path of services will improve reliability and allow more trains to run on the route.
The investment will provide:
* Two extra fast trains per hour between London and the north west
* One additional train per hour between Manchester (via Stone) and Birmingham
* One additional freight train per hour through Stafford
A second round of public consultation was held in October last year to explore details about construction, road diversions and footpath alterations. After analysis of the feedback and further development of the scheme it was found the road and footpath changes would be complex and disruptive.
Further options have now been developed and will undergo consultation with the local community over the coming weeks. Subject to feedback, it is anticipated a final round of consultation will be held in the summer ahead of submission of the plans to the National Infrastructure Planning Unit in December.
Consultation will take place on diversions to the B5026 around Scamnell Lane and Station Road, Staffordshire and also on footpath 11 in Chebsey.
For more information on the scheme you can visit the website at www.networkrail.co.uk/Stafford-NortonBridge or attend one of the public exhibitions below:
Tuesday 10 April 3pm – 7pm
Chebsey Village Hall, School Lane,
Chebsey, Stafford, ST21 6JU
Wednesday 11 April 11am – 3pm
St Luke’s Church, Station Road,
Norton Bridge, Stafford, St15 0NT
Thursday 12 April 4pm – 8pm
Great Bridgeford Village Hall,
Newport Road, Great Bridgeford,
ST18 9PR
Tuesday 17 April 11am – 3pm
Yarnfield Village Hall, Meece Road,
Yarnfield, ST15 0NR
Last year a preferred scheme was announced which included plans for a new flyover to take Birmingham to Manchester trains up and over the main line rather than across it. Separating the path of services will improve reliability and allow more trains to run on the route.
The investment will provide:
* Two extra fast trains per hour between London and the north west
* One additional train per hour between Manchester (via Stone) and Birmingham
* One additional freight train per hour through Stafford
A second round of public consultation was held in October last year to explore details about construction, road diversions and footpath alterations. After analysis of the feedback and further development of the scheme it was found the road and footpath changes would be complex and disruptive.
Further options have now been developed and will undergo consultation with the local community over the coming weeks. Subject to feedback, it is anticipated a final round of consultation will be held in the summer ahead of submission of the plans to the National Infrastructure Planning Unit in December.
Consultation will take place on diversions to the B5026 around Scamnell Lane and Station Road, Staffordshire and also on footpath 11 in Chebsey.
For more information on the scheme you can visit the website at www.networkrail.co.uk/Stafford-NortonBridge or attend one of the public exhibitions below:
Tuesday 10 April 3pm – 7pm
Chebsey Village Hall, School Lane,
Chebsey, Stafford, ST21 6JU
Wednesday 11 April 11am – 3pm
St Luke’s Church, Station Road,
Norton Bridge, Stafford, St15 0NT
Thursday 12 April 4pm – 8pm
Great Bridgeford Village Hall,
Newport Road, Great Bridgeford,
ST18 9PR
Tuesday 17 April 11am – 3pm
Yarnfield Village Hall, Meece Road,
Yarnfield, ST15 0NR
03-04-12
First Capital Connect passengers benefit from new waiting shelters
As part of the National Station Improvement Programme (NSIP) First Capital Connect (FCC) has installed new waiting shelters at a number of their stations.
The new shelters are built with modern materials and incorporate the latest solar technology and LED lighting with intelligent switching to ensure that light is only provided when required.
The stations that have had new shelters installed are: Biggleswade, Cricklewood, Finsbury Park, Hendon, Hitchin, Leagrave, St Neots, Stevenage
NSIP is a Department for Transport programme with the aim of delivering noticeable and lasting improvements to stations for the benefit of passengers. This leads to an improvement in the passenger and public perception of the chosen stations.
FCC’s Projects Director, Ian Duncan Santiago, said: “I am very pleased with how the new shelters have turned out. I am confident our customers will appreciate the latest in what is a long line of improvements to our stations.”
The new shelters are built with modern materials and incorporate the latest solar technology and LED lighting with intelligent switching to ensure that light is only provided when required.
The stations that have had new shelters installed are: Biggleswade, Cricklewood, Finsbury Park, Hendon, Hitchin, Leagrave, St Neots, Stevenage
NSIP is a Department for Transport programme with the aim of delivering noticeable and lasting improvements to stations for the benefit of passengers. This leads to an improvement in the passenger and public perception of the chosen stations.
FCC’s Projects Director, Ian Duncan Santiago, said: “I am very pleased with how the new shelters have turned out. I am confident our customers will appreciate the latest in what is a long line of improvements to our stations.”
03-04-12
New Blackpool trams go into service
From today, residents and Easter holiday visitors to Blackpool will have the opportunity to enjoy their first ride on the very latest tram technology by Bombardier – the BOMBARDIER FLEXITY 2. Todays opening ceremony to celebrate the event was hosted by Norman Baker MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport. The project to upgrade the tram system has been cofundedby the Department for Transport (DfT) and Blackpool and Lancashire County Councils.
Blackpool will operate 16 new, ultra-modern FLEXITY 2 vehicles on the Blackpool and Fleetwood tramway alongside the popular heritage fleet.
In 2010 Blackpool celebrated its 125th year of operation, as the longest operating tram system in the UK. The popular tourist destination’s trams transport 4 million passengers each year, with the majority travelling during the busy summer period.
Although the heritage trams operating in Blackpool remain a popular tourist attraction, Blackpool and Lancashire
County Council began an extensive programme to identify a supplier for a new fleet of vehicles to enable ease of access and comfort for all passengers. “Trams are good for passengers, good for the local economy and good for the local environment – and the travelling public enjoy using them,” Norman Baker said. “Blackpool’s trams are absolutely on the right track.”
Paul Grocott, Programme Manager, Tramway Upgrade, Blackpool Council said: “Today, which sees our tram system reborn after 125 years, has been keenly anticipated by all in Blackpool. We travelled to every part of Europe to find the best solution available to modernize our tram system. The Bombardier FLEXITY 2 trams bring the world’s latest and best technology to our town and we appreciate Bombardier’s professional support throughout the delivery of this project. Five years ago, we committed to providing this new service and modern vehicles to our passengers and today we are immensely proud to
deliver on our promise.”
Germar Wacker, President Light Rail Vehicles, Bombardier Transportation said: “This marks the dawn of an exciting new era in urban transportation. Bombardier’s FLEXITY 2 trams combine ‘the best of the best’ – market-leading experience, proven parts and visionary engineering. These groundbreaking vehicles will ensure that all passengers in Blackpool can enjoy the best possible standards in comfort and safety.”
The FLEXITY 2 tram is based on Bombardier’s highly successful FLEXITY family of light rail vehicles and combines proven technology with continuous improvement and innovation. As well as having 100% low floor technology for optimal ride comfort, the FLEXITY 2 tram includes some new advanced features, such as touch-screens in the driver’s cab, reflecting the latest developments in intelligent digital technology.
To date, more than 3,500 trams and light rail vehicles from Bombardier have been ordered or delivered in around 100 cities in more than 20 countries. Blackpool is the latest location in the UK to operate Bombardier’s light rail solutions in addition to Croydon and Docklands in London, Nottingham and Manchester.
The FLEXITY 2 vehicles have been eagerly anticipated by the general public in Blackpool and public interest was high today, though this does not signal the end for the heritage trams, which will continue to run alternate services with the new vehicles. Passengers will be able to choose which vehicle they want to use, old or new, with five minute intervals between
each service.
Following Bombardier’s success in Blackpool, the Queensland Government in Australia followed suit by ordering 14 new FLEXITY 2 trams for its Gold Coast Rapid Transit system. As part of the GoldlinQ consortium, Bombardier will also design, build, finance, operate and maintain the system. In January of this year, the Swiss city of Basel became the latest
customer to opt for the world-leading FLEXITY 2 trams.
Blackpool will operate 16 new, ultra-modern FLEXITY 2 vehicles on the Blackpool and Fleetwood tramway alongside the popular heritage fleet.
In 2010 Blackpool celebrated its 125th year of operation, as the longest operating tram system in the UK. The popular tourist destination’s trams transport 4 million passengers each year, with the majority travelling during the busy summer period.
Although the heritage trams operating in Blackpool remain a popular tourist attraction, Blackpool and Lancashire
County Council began an extensive programme to identify a supplier for a new fleet of vehicles to enable ease of access and comfort for all passengers. “Trams are good for passengers, good for the local economy and good for the local environment – and the travelling public enjoy using them,” Norman Baker said. “Blackpool’s trams are absolutely on the right track.”
Paul Grocott, Programme Manager, Tramway Upgrade, Blackpool Council said: “Today, which sees our tram system reborn after 125 years, has been keenly anticipated by all in Blackpool. We travelled to every part of Europe to find the best solution available to modernize our tram system. The Bombardier FLEXITY 2 trams bring the world’s latest and best technology to our town and we appreciate Bombardier’s professional support throughout the delivery of this project. Five years ago, we committed to providing this new service and modern vehicles to our passengers and today we are immensely proud to
deliver on our promise.”
Germar Wacker, President Light Rail Vehicles, Bombardier Transportation said: “This marks the dawn of an exciting new era in urban transportation. Bombardier’s FLEXITY 2 trams combine ‘the best of the best’ – market-leading experience, proven parts and visionary engineering. These groundbreaking vehicles will ensure that all passengers in Blackpool can enjoy the best possible standards in comfort and safety.”
The FLEXITY 2 tram is based on Bombardier’s highly successful FLEXITY family of light rail vehicles and combines proven technology with continuous improvement and innovation. As well as having 100% low floor technology for optimal ride comfort, the FLEXITY 2 tram includes some new advanced features, such as touch-screens in the driver’s cab, reflecting the latest developments in intelligent digital technology.
To date, more than 3,500 trams and light rail vehicles from Bombardier have been ordered or delivered in around 100 cities in more than 20 countries. Blackpool is the latest location in the UK to operate Bombardier’s light rail solutions in addition to Croydon and Docklands in London, Nottingham and Manchester.
The FLEXITY 2 vehicles have been eagerly anticipated by the general public in Blackpool and public interest was high today, though this does not signal the end for the heritage trams, which will continue to run alternate services with the new vehicles. Passengers will be able to choose which vehicle they want to use, old or new, with five minute intervals between
each service.
Following Bombardier’s success in Blackpool, the Queensland Government in Australia followed suit by ordering 14 new FLEXITY 2 trams for its Gold Coast Rapid Transit system. As part of the GoldlinQ consortium, Bombardier will also design, build, finance, operate and maintain the system. In January of this year, the Swiss city of Basel became the latest
customer to opt for the world-leading FLEXITY 2 trams.
02-04-12
Stalybridge buffet bar and canopy work complete
Network Rail has recently completed two projects at Stalybridge railway station which together represent an investment of nearly £500,000.
The back room of the station buffet bar has been fully refurbished and now has numerous posters, prints, mirrors and pieces of railway memorabilia, including ladies room and waiting room signs.
Lord Pendry of Stalybridge, who often uses the buffet bar and contributed over half of the £6,000 costs, unveiled a plaque to mark the refurbishment. Speaking at the unveiling, he said that contrary to popular belief, he hadn't been using the buffet since the station opened in 1845.
He also said that Network Rail had shown a commitment to the station that its predecessors hadn't.
Patrick Cawley, Network Rail’s route building engineer, said: “We have committed a considerable amount of money to Stalybridge station in recent years and there is yet more to come. Yet our funds are limited so we are grateful for Lord Pendry’s contributions to the current and previous work in the buffet bar. Working on a scheme like this is always a pleasure because the end results show what can be achieved with a little imagination, and you know that your efforts will be appreciated by everyone who uses the station.”
The original plaster ceiling rose and cornices have been retained, and moulds of the existing architrave were taken so that damaged sections could be replicated.
The walls had their plaster removed completely and a new skim applied using heritage materials. They were then decorated in a blush pink colour as chosen by the landlady.
Finally, the wooden floor was sanded, coated and glossed.
On the platform outside, Network Rail has also recently finished a complete refurbishment of the station canopy. Gone are the old, cracked and missing glazing panels and the leaking guttering, which is what led to the buffet bar work
A new apex canopy was designed so that the rear section would be strong enough to be walked on for cleaning and keeping the gutters clear and the front section glazed to allow natural light to flood the platform.
The capacity of the guttering between the canopy and station building has been increased as have the water down pipes which will guard against the drainage system overflowing and affecting the building.
A new lighting system has been installed underneath the canopy.
Steelwork has been stripped back to bare metal, repaired where necessary, treated and repainted as have the supporting columns with their intricate ironwork.
Now the station has a stunning canopy, in blue and white that compliments earlier work carried out on the subway linking the platforms, and the station entrance and ticket hall.
The back room of the station buffet bar has been fully refurbished and now has numerous posters, prints, mirrors and pieces of railway memorabilia, including ladies room and waiting room signs.
Lord Pendry of Stalybridge, who often uses the buffet bar and contributed over half of the £6,000 costs, unveiled a plaque to mark the refurbishment. Speaking at the unveiling, he said that contrary to popular belief, he hadn't been using the buffet since the station opened in 1845.
He also said that Network Rail had shown a commitment to the station that its predecessors hadn't.
Patrick Cawley, Network Rail’s route building engineer, said: “We have committed a considerable amount of money to Stalybridge station in recent years and there is yet more to come. Yet our funds are limited so we are grateful for Lord Pendry’s contributions to the current and previous work in the buffet bar. Working on a scheme like this is always a pleasure because the end results show what can be achieved with a little imagination, and you know that your efforts will be appreciated by everyone who uses the station.”
The original plaster ceiling rose and cornices have been retained, and moulds of the existing architrave were taken so that damaged sections could be replicated.
The walls had their plaster removed completely and a new skim applied using heritage materials. They were then decorated in a blush pink colour as chosen by the landlady.
Finally, the wooden floor was sanded, coated and glossed.
On the platform outside, Network Rail has also recently finished a complete refurbishment of the station canopy. Gone are the old, cracked and missing glazing panels and the leaking guttering, which is what led to the buffet bar work
A new apex canopy was designed so that the rear section would be strong enough to be walked on for cleaning and keeping the gutters clear and the front section glazed to allow natural light to flood the platform.
The capacity of the guttering between the canopy and station building has been increased as have the water down pipes which will guard against the drainage system overflowing and affecting the building.
A new lighting system has been installed underneath the canopy.
Steelwork has been stripped back to bare metal, repaired where necessary, treated and repainted as have the supporting columns with their intricate ironwork.
Now the station has a stunning canopy, in blue and white that compliments earlier work carried out on the subway linking the platforms, and the station entrance and ticket hall.
02-04-12
Nottingham Tram fare review
The result of a fares review for Nottingham’s tram network has been announced.
A new fares structure will be introduced in the middle of April and, whilst some tram ticket prices have been maintained at current levels, others are scheduled to increase.
The news follows the recent uplift in the city’s multi-operator Kangaroo ticket prices. Roger Harrison, Chairman of Tramlink Nottingham, the consortium which is extending the network and operating the existing system, explained: “We have managed to keep child fares and the adult peak single ticket at the same level. Unavoidably, other prices have had to rise but the increases have been minimised as far as possible. Fare increases are not something we take lightly, but we would still argue that the tram offers excellent value for money in terms of service frequency and reliability for travelling into and out of the city centre. Some vastly underused ticket options such as the Pay Point 15 day adult ticket will be withdrawn and we expect the new structure to come into force on 15 April. Customers will able to see a complete list of the new fare options on thetram.net website and on board trams prior to their introduction.”
The key fare changes following the review are:
Adult Day ticket – from £3.20 to £3.50Adult Peak Single – held at £2.50Adult off peak single – from £1.70 to £1.90Adult
30day Pay Point season – from £38 to £42 Child Fares - held at current rates
A new fares structure will be introduced in the middle of April and, whilst some tram ticket prices have been maintained at current levels, others are scheduled to increase.
The news follows the recent uplift in the city’s multi-operator Kangaroo ticket prices. Roger Harrison, Chairman of Tramlink Nottingham, the consortium which is extending the network and operating the existing system, explained: “We have managed to keep child fares and the adult peak single ticket at the same level. Unavoidably, other prices have had to rise but the increases have been minimised as far as possible. Fare increases are not something we take lightly, but we would still argue that the tram offers excellent value for money in terms of service frequency and reliability for travelling into and out of the city centre. Some vastly underused ticket options such as the Pay Point 15 day adult ticket will be withdrawn and we expect the new structure to come into force on 15 April. Customers will able to see a complete list of the new fare options on thetram.net website and on board trams prior to their introduction.”
The key fare changes following the review are:
Adult Day ticket – from £3.20 to £3.50Adult Peak Single – held at £2.50Adult off peak single – from £1.70 to £1.90Adult
30day Pay Point season – from £38 to £42 Child Fares - held at current rates
02-04-12
SNCF takes up contract option for 40 additional Euroduplex TGV very high speed sets
Patrick Kron, Chairman and CEO of Alstom, has declared his great satisfaction at the SNCF’s signing of the contract option for 40 additional double-deck Euroduplex very high speed trains on 30 March 2012.
Taking into account a possible cancellation of 10 trains, Alstom booked an order corresponding to 30 train sets in the last quarter of the 2011/12 fiscal year, for a value of around €900 million. This new order is included in the framework of the contract placed with Alstom by SNCF on 27 June 2007. The 40 trains are in addition to the firm tranche of 55 Euroduplex train sets currently under construction, the first of which entered commercial service on 11 December 2011 on the new Rhine-Rhône high speed line and the last units being delivered mid-2015.
The additional train sets will be delivered from 2015. Their manufacture will contribute to the workload of Alstom Transport’s La Rochelle site which builds the passenger cars as well as the workload of other sites in France: Belfort (locomotives), Reichshoffen (end cars), Le Creusot (bogies), Ornans (traction systems), Le Petit Quevilly (locomotive transformers), Tarbes (electrical units and traction equipment) and Villeurbanne (electronic control systems). Charleroi (Belgium) for auxiliary inverters and Montreal (Canada) for passenger information systems are also part of the manufacturing scheme. A total of 1,500 people on these sites work each day on high speed rail transport projects at Alstom.
The main French suppliers for this project are Faiveley Transport, Logitrade, COMECA, CEIT, TFCM and Association Bretagne Atelier. Together with the other small to medium sized companies involved in the French rail industry, they employ 6,000 people in France.
Intended for use on the French, German, Swiss and Luxembourg networks, the Euroduplex trains contain signalling equipment which is compatible with all European networks. They are equipped with traction systems adapted to the different electric currents used across Europe. Some of these train sets can also run in Spain. Benefiting from Alstom’s unique and long experience in the very high speed rail market, Euroduplex trains offer the best operating costs per corridor and the highest return per seat.
With the taking-up of this option, Patrick Kron announced that Alstom has proposed to end its legal process in the London High Court, opened to contest the call for tender launched in 2009 by Eurostar to renew its fleet.
Taking into account a possible cancellation of 10 trains, Alstom booked an order corresponding to 30 train sets in the last quarter of the 2011/12 fiscal year, for a value of around €900 million. This new order is included in the framework of the contract placed with Alstom by SNCF on 27 June 2007. The 40 trains are in addition to the firm tranche of 55 Euroduplex train sets currently under construction, the first of which entered commercial service on 11 December 2011 on the new Rhine-Rhône high speed line and the last units being delivered mid-2015.
The additional train sets will be delivered from 2015. Their manufacture will contribute to the workload of Alstom Transport’s La Rochelle site which builds the passenger cars as well as the workload of other sites in France: Belfort (locomotives), Reichshoffen (end cars), Le Creusot (bogies), Ornans (traction systems), Le Petit Quevilly (locomotive transformers), Tarbes (electrical units and traction equipment) and Villeurbanne (electronic control systems). Charleroi (Belgium) for auxiliary inverters and Montreal (Canada) for passenger information systems are also part of the manufacturing scheme. A total of 1,500 people on these sites work each day on high speed rail transport projects at Alstom.
The main French suppliers for this project are Faiveley Transport, Logitrade, COMECA, CEIT, TFCM and Association Bretagne Atelier. Together with the other small to medium sized companies involved in the French rail industry, they employ 6,000 people in France.
Intended for use on the French, German, Swiss and Luxembourg networks, the Euroduplex trains contain signalling equipment which is compatible with all European networks. They are equipped with traction systems adapted to the different electric currents used across Europe. Some of these train sets can also run in Spain. Benefiting from Alstom’s unique and long experience in the very high speed rail market, Euroduplex trains offer the best operating costs per corridor and the highest return per seat.
With the taking-up of this option, Patrick Kron announced that Alstom has proposed to end its legal process in the London High Court, opened to contest the call for tender launched in 2009 by Eurostar to renew its fleet.
02-04-12
Posthumous award for station volunteer
A volunteer gardener’s work to brighten a West Highland train station for ScotRail customers has been honoured with a posthumous award.
Brian Bentham single-handedly rejuvenated Falls of Cruachan station with beautiful floral displays, but he died in October last year before it was named the Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership’s (HITRANS) Most Improved Local Station 2011.
Mr Bentham, who had lived in Oban since 2005, had voluntarily planted and maintained colourful flowers at Falls of Cruachan since July 2010 as part of ScotRail’s Adopt a Station project.
Mr Bentham’s daughter Mandi Dees travelled from Lyneham in Wiltshire to Inverness to accept the award on his behalf from HITRANS vice-chairman Councillor John Laing, at a ceremony on Friday 30 March.
She said: “It makes me such a proud daughter to know what my dad has done to brighten Falls of Cruachan station, particularly for walkers to enjoy during the summer months. He was very happy with his work and would spend a good few hours at the station every day, just to make sure everything looked good. He often took his camera with him so he could see the difference he was making over time, and it is pleasing for our family to now be able to look back at those pictures.”
A plaque will be installed at Falls of Cruachan station to mark the achievement.
John Yellowlees, ScotRail’s external relations manager, said: “We are grateful to Mandi for travelling so far to accept this prestigious award on behalf of her father, whose eye for detail and love of the outdoors have made a lasting, positive impact for everyone who uses ScotRail’s station at Falls of Cruachan.”
Before moving to Oban, Mr Bentham had previously worked as a landscape gardener in other areas, including Perth and Dunblane.
Falls of Cruachan is a summer-only request stop on the West Highland Line. It is particularly popular with hill-walkers and tourists travelling to Cruachan Power Station Visitor Centre.
Brian Bentham single-handedly rejuvenated Falls of Cruachan station with beautiful floral displays, but he died in October last year before it was named the Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership’s (HITRANS) Most Improved Local Station 2011.
Mr Bentham, who had lived in Oban since 2005, had voluntarily planted and maintained colourful flowers at Falls of Cruachan since July 2010 as part of ScotRail’s Adopt a Station project.
Mr Bentham’s daughter Mandi Dees travelled from Lyneham in Wiltshire to Inverness to accept the award on his behalf from HITRANS vice-chairman Councillor John Laing, at a ceremony on Friday 30 March.
She said: “It makes me such a proud daughter to know what my dad has done to brighten Falls of Cruachan station, particularly for walkers to enjoy during the summer months. He was very happy with his work and would spend a good few hours at the station every day, just to make sure everything looked good. He often took his camera with him so he could see the difference he was making over time, and it is pleasing for our family to now be able to look back at those pictures.”
A plaque will be installed at Falls of Cruachan station to mark the achievement.
John Yellowlees, ScotRail’s external relations manager, said: “We are grateful to Mandi for travelling so far to accept this prestigious award on behalf of her father, whose eye for detail and love of the outdoors have made a lasting, positive impact for everyone who uses ScotRail’s station at Falls of Cruachan.”
Before moving to Oban, Mr Bentham had previously worked as a landscape gardener in other areas, including Perth and Dunblane.
Falls of Cruachan is a summer-only request stop on the West Highland Line. It is particularly popular with hill-walkers and tourists travelling to Cruachan Power Station Visitor Centre.
02-04-12
Siemens Northampton opens its doors to the public
Siemens is opening the gates of its state-of-the-art traincare facility in Northampton to local families on Saturday 5 May, in partnership with London Midland.
The behind-the-scenes tour will showcase the technology and dedicated maintenance team behind the 67-strong fleet of London Midland-operated Siemens Desiro Class 350/1 and 350/2 trains based at the Kings Heath site.
Lucky visitors will take a ride on a land train to the depot entrance before the tour, which includes seeing a train on jacks ready for maintenance activities and a chance to sit in a driver’s cab. The winner of our competition to name the four maintenance teams based at the depot will also be announced, and visitors can also show off their artistic skills with our family-friendly activities.
Mick Hill, fleet manager for Siemens, says: “This is the first time since the site opened in 2006 that we’ve opened the doors to the public. We’re very much looking forward to showing local families and residents the innovation behind the millions of miles our trains run every year.”
This free event also aims to raise money in aid of Northampton General Hospital’s special care baby unit with stalls selling items donated by Siemens and London Midland employees.
Mike Dalton at London Midland says: "This will be a real opportunity for people to see the hard work that goes on behind the scenes in providing rail services. The fact that the event will also be raising money for such a special cause is even better reason for people to visit."
Alison McCulloch, Community Fundraiser at the NGH Charitable Fund says: “We’re delighted to be part of this family event, the proceeds of which will help us purchase some new equipment to benefit the babies being treated on Gosset Ward at the hospital. I hope everyone has a great time!”
The event is restricted to ticket holders only. To register your interest for a tour and obtain your FREE ticket, please visit www.siemens.co.uk/whistlestoptour. Please note children younger than three years of age cannot be accepted on the tours. Find us on Facebook at facebook.com/WhistleStopTour.
Due to high demand, a second open day is also being arranged specifically for train enthusiasts and employees of both Siemens and London Midland. A date for this will be announced shortly.
The behind-the-scenes tour will showcase the technology and dedicated maintenance team behind the 67-strong fleet of London Midland-operated Siemens Desiro Class 350/1 and 350/2 trains based at the Kings Heath site.
Lucky visitors will take a ride on a land train to the depot entrance before the tour, which includes seeing a train on jacks ready for maintenance activities and a chance to sit in a driver’s cab. The winner of our competition to name the four maintenance teams based at the depot will also be announced, and visitors can also show off their artistic skills with our family-friendly activities.
Mick Hill, fleet manager for Siemens, says: “This is the first time since the site opened in 2006 that we’ve opened the doors to the public. We’re very much looking forward to showing local families and residents the innovation behind the millions of miles our trains run every year.”
This free event also aims to raise money in aid of Northampton General Hospital’s special care baby unit with stalls selling items donated by Siemens and London Midland employees.
Mike Dalton at London Midland says: "This will be a real opportunity for people to see the hard work that goes on behind the scenes in providing rail services. The fact that the event will also be raising money for such a special cause is even better reason for people to visit."
Alison McCulloch, Community Fundraiser at the NGH Charitable Fund says: “We’re delighted to be part of this family event, the proceeds of which will help us purchase some new equipment to benefit the babies being treated on Gosset Ward at the hospital. I hope everyone has a great time!”
The event is restricted to ticket holders only. To register your interest for a tour and obtain your FREE ticket, please visit www.siemens.co.uk/whistlestoptour. Please note children younger than three years of age cannot be accepted on the tours. Find us on Facebook at facebook.com/WhistleStopTour.
Due to high demand, a second open day is also being arranged specifically for train enthusiasts and employees of both Siemens and London Midland. A date for this will be announced shortly.