Table of contents for Issue 823 in RAIL

“We need to make sure rail investment is not only timely and effective but also better value.” Britain has always fudged getting to grips with a genuinely integrated transport policy, which has rarely amounted to anything more sophisticated than trying to put bus stops close to railway stations. Incredibly, we often get even that wrong. Nearly 20 years ago, Labour Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott asked us to judge him in five years if his integrated transport policy didn’t take cars off the road. It didn’t… and we did. Prescott appointed Professor David Begg as chairman of CfIT (the Commission for Integrated Transport) with a brief to “hold the Government to account” on its transport policy. Begg made a valiant attempt, but Prescott gave him little of substance to applaud…

Without Crossrail 2, London’s transport network will grind to a halt and 17 London Underground stations will buckle under crowding pressures, the London Assembly claimed on March 8. The project has cross-party support across the South East, as well as the backing of the National Infrastructure Commission and 83% of London businesses and councils across the region. The Assembly agreed a unanimous motion asking Secretary of State for Transport Chris Grayling to approve Transport for London’s Strategic Outline Business Case for the project without delay. “Crossrail 2 is vitally needed to relieve congestion on busy routes into central London and support economic development in and around the capital. It would also create better connections across the South East and the whole country,” said London Assembly member Caroline Pidgeon. “We cannot…

Secretary of State for Transport Chris Grayling has backed Transport for the North’s bid to become England’s first Sub-national Transport Body. The response is seen by the organisation as a positive step in strengthening plans for the organisation to speak as one voice for the region. TfN has had to demonstrate that, in becoming a statutory body, the new arrangements will deliver better outcomes for passengers and transport users across the North. Along with its partners, TfN will now work through the final stages of becoming a Sub-national Transport Body, with formal statutory status expected to be granted before the end of the year. Grayling said: “This is another important step forward for Transport for the North, and will help the region to speak with one voice on its transport…

UP to 2,000 RMT workers at Southern, Northern and Merseyrail will stage 24-hour strikes on Saturday April 8, in their bitter dispute over the role of conductors and driver-controlled operation. The strikes coincide with the Grand National at Aintree, for which Merseyrail normally lays on strengthened services. Aintree station is close to the racecourse. Talks between Merseyrail and RMT took place on March 20 but quickly broke down, with each side blaming the other for refusing to discuss its major concerns. RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said: “RMT recognises the severe impact the action will have on Grand National Day, but we are dealing with an employer that refuses to listen or engage with the union. We ask the public to understand that we have no option but to take…

This is not a done deal… yet. Last month, the drivers rejected an agreement that had been brokered on their behalf by their own union. Both the union and the company were caught off-guard - the result was entirely unexpected. However, the margin was not large - 54% of drivers who voted objected to the deal, and nearly one in three of those eligible to vote chose not to do so. That indicates the union probably needs just a handful of members to change their minds. The stronger commitment to upgrade the oldest CCTV systems will help - drivers are united in their view that the ageing cameras and small monitor screens simply aren’t good enough. One told me it was like using 17-year-old first-generation Nokia camera phones instead of…

THE Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) has launched an investigation into the partial collapse of a ten-metre-high retaining wall near to Liverpool Lime Street that resulted in a week-long closure of the station ( RAIL 822). The investigation will focus on the history of the wall and the site adjacent to it, as well as Network Rail’s management of the wall, after some 80 cubic metres of material fell into the cutting and onto all four running tracks. RAIB says its final report will also present the findings of subsequent structural examinations of the wall and any underlying management factors, and include recommendations to improve future safety. Its investigation will draw conclusions on the cause of the wall collapse, which is widely believed to have been due to a number…

The opening of a new station at Worcestershire Parkway is reportedly nine months behind schedule, and it will now not open until the winter of 2018-19. It means the £22 million project is now running 18 months behind the original target completion date, following two previous delays. According to the Evesham Journal , Worcestershire County Council has taken longer than expected to appoint a contractor, and so clearance work has only just begun at the 14-acre station site in Norton. Construction is expected to begin in September or October. The council’s Cabinet Member for Economy, Skills and Infrastructure Ken Pollock said: “A huge amount of work has been progressed on Parkway in advance of letting a design and build contract. I’m delighted work has now started on the full design…

Greater Anglia driver Stuart Connell has been nominated by Abellio Group plc for Employee of the Year at the Abellio Achievement Awards, for his actions in April 2016’s collision with a tractor on Hockham Road level crossing. Just before impact he applied the emergency brake and operated the horn up to the point of impact, injuring his hand. Following the collision, he continued his duties, walking the train to reassure and look after its 135 passengers. Greater Anglia Managing Director Jamie Burles said: “Stuart demonstrated a unique ability to put others’ safety before his own. He is a professional through and through, and understands his responsibility as a driver is to ensure the safety of his passengers. “His dedication to his role really shone through and he prides himself on…

Railcard holders who forget their card on train journeys and end up paying the full fare are now guaranteed a refund, providing they can produce their railcard later. Rail Delivery Group Managing Director of Customer Experience Jacqueline Starr explained the move, which was announced on March 21: “Customers make honest mistakes sometimes. We think Railcard holders should have one chance a year to be refunded if they’ve had to pay extra for forgetting theirs. “We’re planning digital Railcards, too, that people can keep on smartphones and other devices if they prefer, making them harder to forget and easier to replace if lost or stolen.” More than four million railcards are in use, with the 16-25 and senior versions the most popular.…

The decision to cut the Modal Shift Revenue Support (MSRS) funding by some £4 million is a result of the 2015 Spending Review decision to improve efficiency in the use of public expenditure. Government transport spokesman Lord Ahmad explained the decision in a House of Lords Written Reply on March 16. Asked by Baroness Randerson (Liberal Democrat) about the decision, which entails the grant being cut from £19.85 million this financial year to £15.74m from April 1, with a further reduction from April 2018 for the year 2018-19 to £15.17m ( RAIL 821), Ahmad explained: “Since implementation of these reductions was due to begin in 2016-17, but delayed by a year to give industry time to adjust, they include the planned reductions for that year also.” He added: “Following the…

Increasing station and capacity issues at London Victoria have been examined by NR in its Kent Route Study. Remodelling the station and reinstatement of the fourth track on Grosvenor Bridge could help, as would making ‘better use’ of the Stewarts Lane lines. Creation of a flyover at Herne Hill to eliminate conflicting movements between Blackfriars-Wimbledon Loop and Victoria-Kent House trains is regarded as an option, as is some quadrupling of tracks around Kent House. NR recommends these schemes for further development to increase capacity into London from Kent after 2024.…

“Delegates and visitors were particularly struck by the ambition of our rail programme in Britain.” BRITAIN has a long history as a global exporter. From textiles in the early Industrial Revolution to television programmes today, British innovation and know-how has always found a willing market abroad. But perhaps our greatest export of all has been the railway. After the first public steam railway opened between Stockton and Darlington in 1825, it didn’t take long for Britain to start selling its new technology to other countries. Within decades, British know-how had built new railway lines right around the world. Rail technology may have moved on since the pioneering Victorian era, but the opportunities today for our railway industry to expand into global markets remain undiminished. That is why, at the start…

SIX loaded aggregate wagons, each carrying 98 tonnes of stone, were derailed at East Somerset Junction at 1750 on March 20. There were no injuries as a result of the accident, and no other trains were in the area at the time. However, the accident caused the main Reading to Taunton line to be closed for 48 hours. Network Rail did not say why the 1705 Merehead-Acton Yard derailed, but RAIL understands there was a reported loss of braking continuity. The 3,700-tonne stone train was moving from the W275 signal onto the Up Main Line towards W77 signal when the brake application applied. Severe damage was caused to the track and equipment in the accident. The line was closed between Westbury and Castle Cary as a result. The train was…

Condition monitoring technology used in the oil and gas sectors could be applied to the rail industry, to provide safety managers with detailed real-time information on the condition of infrastructure and rolling stock. The RSSB (Rail Safety and Standards Board) says better and greater use of such technology could allow faults in infrastructure and rolling stock to be detected, and their severity analysed, understood and acted upon. It would allow managers to analyse the balance between cost, performance implications and safety, helping to avoid “costly, excessive, reactive responses but also quickly halting the breakdown in defences before serious consequences occur”. A new Safety Management System is already being used by Network Rail and train operators. It will enable the industry to obtain better data more quickly, allowing intervention to take…

Just under 4% of the budget for Control Period 5 (April 1 2014-March 31 2019) is being spent by Network Rail on the East Coast Main Line, according to Lord Ahmad. In a House of Lords Written Reply to Lord Bradshaw (Liberal Democrat) on March 16, Government transport spokesman Ahmad said: “Network Rail is forecasting spending approximately £550 million (in cash prices) on East Coast Main Line enhancements in Control Period 5, which equates to just under 4% of their enhancement spend.”…

Transport Scotland has created a northeast team tasked with reviewing options for capacity improvements. The Aberdeen to Central Belt team was announced by Scottish Transport Minister Humza Yousaf on March 17. It will look at capacity improvements between Aberdeen and Dundee, as well as options for doubling the track between Usan Junction and the South Esk viaduct at Montrose. Members of the team will be drawn from TS, Nestrans and Tactrans, the ScotRail Alliance, and freight and passenger operators. “Our aim is to ensure the rail service between Aberdeen and the Central Belt improves transport connectivity and provides enhanced performance between cities,” said Yousaf. The team is expected to start work in April, and this will be undertaken in relation to the Scottish Government’s additional £200 million investment, announced alongside…

NORTHERN’S first new diesel multiple unit (DMU) should be on test at Velim in the Czech Republic this time next year, according to a senior Arriva manager. Spanish company CAF is designing and building Northern’s Class 195s. The move of the first to Velim was confirmed on March 14 by Richard McLean, the Arriva manager who led the company’s bid for Northern. He was speaking at a meeting in Leeds. Northern’s Class 195 fleet will comprise 30 three-car trains and 25 two-car units. The first three-car is due in passenger service in October 2018 and the last in May 2019. Two-cars will start service from December 2018, with the last in November 2019. They are being assembled at Irun from bodyshells made in Zaragoza and bogies and wheelsets made in…

The 52nd Class 700 from an order of 115 was delivered to Three Bridges depot on March 20. Eight-car 700013 followed 700044 which arrived on March 15, and 700046, which was delivered on March 8. The dual-voltage electric multiple units are being built by Siemens at Krefeld (Germany), and tested at Wildenrath before being dispatched to the UK for use by Govia Thameslink Railway. This means that 45% of the fleet ordered by the Department for Transport has now been delivered to the UK - 37 eight-car Class 700/0s (296 vehicles) and 15 12-car Class 700/1 (180 vehicles). That is the equivalent of 119 four-car EMUs that they are replacing. The ‘700s’ are replacing 86 four-car Class 319s, 27 four-car Class 377/5s and 29 four-car Class 387/1s on Thameslink (568…

The proposed handback of TransPennine Express Class 350/4 electric multiple units and 22 Class 185 diesel multiple units is due to start in December 2018. The ten four-car Class 350s will be the first to be sent off-lease, having been replaced by 12 five-car Civity Class 397 electric multiple units built by Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF) in Spain. On December 9 2018, TPE’s ‘350/4’ fleet will shrink from ten trains to seven, and then down to five on February 3 2019. A month later TPE will have three remaining Class 350/4s, and from April 1 2019, it will have just two units. Their lease finishes at the end of that month, when the trains (350401-350410) are expected to move to the West Midlands franchise. Meanwhile, between October 13…

A planned bogie swap and ‘B exam’ required by main line-certified 56301 is being deferred until some form of guaranteed main line contract hire is secured for the locomotive. The Class 56 Group owns the preserved locomotive, which had been hired by DCRail and is currently at UK Rail Leasing’s Leicester depot. The ‘56’ will have a power unit top end overhaul during the next few weeks. This is needed after it was discovered that the locomotive was burning oil, when idling on hire to DCR for RailVac duties. Its owners plan to swap its bogies with those under 56006, while the locomotive also requires an exam before a return to traffic. Meanwhile, February 23 marked the 40th anniversary of the entry into traffic of the C56G’s other locomotive (56006).…

Alstom has fitted its Electronic Train Control System (ETCS) Atlas 200 on Network Rail’s Class 313 test train. As a result, the three-car electric multiple unit is now compatible with European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) Baseline 3. This follows testing at NR’s ERTMS National Integration Facility in Hertford. NR and Alstom will now use the ‘313’ for testing and commissioning to deliver ERTMS Baseline 3 on the London Paddington to Heathrow Airport section of the Great Western Main Line this year. “The successful upgrade of our Atlas 200 technology on the ‘313’ is a significant milestone towards a digital railway in the UK. It has the potential to bring huge benefits to Network Rail, operators and passengers alike,” said Nick Crossfield, Managing Director for Alstom in the UK &…

“Ditching the mixed fleet of two-car and four-car Networkers in favour of high-capacity four-car units with selective door opening might help meet what are likely to be demanding capacity targets within the Invitation to Tender.” Few towns sum up Southeastern’s problem like Hastings. Sitting on the Channel coast in east Sussex, it’s 53 miles from London. Catch a high-peak train to the capital and you’ll be there in 1hr 50mins at an average speed of 29mph. You’ll have time to admire the single-line sections through tunnels at Mountfield (526 yards), wadhurst (1,206yds), Strawberry Hill (286yds) and Somerhill (410yds). There is an alternative. Catch one of Southern’s crowded two-car diesels to Ashford and change onto a Southeastern high-speed service, and you can be in St Pancras in 1hr 45mins, over High…

“It would be good to get cities such as Leeds and Liverpool to think more about tramways.”Susan Evans, Managing Director, Urban & Services, Alstom UK & Ireland Alstom is an undisputed global market leader when it comes to providing metro and light rail solutions, having developed projects in some of the world’s most populous cities. Having supplied more than 50 clients, Alstom has made its mark from Sydney to Sao Paulo, Milan to Manila and Athens to Algiers, deploying its full portfolio of turnkey solutions, including the design and building of infrastructure, through to the supply and ongoing maintenance of rolling stock. But the two projects that Alstom considers to be its most emblematic are much closer to home. They act as international showcases for the company’s ability to…

“Rather than starting from the notion that we needed a high-speed line because everyone else is getting them, there should have been an appraisal of the entire concept within a transport strategy.” THE firework display in London to mark Royal Assent for HS2 was the biggest since D-Day. An estimated half a million people thronged the banks of the Thames to view the pyrotechnics. In Trafalgar Square, tens of thousands of people heard speeches from the mayors of the northern big cities and stood attentively for three hours in the rain, in an event that would have done Kim Jong-Un proud. Except, of course, none of this happened. The passing into law of the HS2 Bill was something of a damp squib (to continue the firework analogy), with only the…

“The spiralling costs have punched a hole in finances, and NR’s reclassification as a public body in 2014 has stopped the company borrowing private money. Instead, it can only spend what the Treasury provides, and few expect generosity over the next Control Period.” BACK in September 2011, Network Rail published initial industry plans for England and Wales and for Scotland. The plans were one of several important milestones in the regulator’s Periodic Review work to establish NR’s income and spending for Control Period 5 (CP5, 2014-19). Spin forward and the Office of Rail and Road is again conducting a Periodic Review, this time for CP6 (2019-24). But September 2016 came and went and there was no sign of initial industry plans. They had slightly morphed into initial industry advice (IIA),…

I have always thought that Great Western Railway electrification took the wrong approach from the start. Initially, it should have been a suburban scheme only. Unlike the Midland Main Line (which should have come first, as it would have allowed a totally electric inter-city service), even when (if?) the current GWR plan is completed, nothing bar Bristol will be self-contained and wholly electric. Most services from Paddington go to Plymouth and Cornwall, Swansea, Cheltenham and Hereford, all of which require bi-mode. And we’re not being told the truth about bi-mode - they won’t offer the faster services originally envisaged. It would have been better to retain and modify the HSTs for now. Instead, the initial electrification should have covered the whole suburban network including all the Thames Valley branches and…

On the Moroccan high speed rail project, Colas Rail has placed a major emphasis on social responsibility. Project Director Pierre-Gilles Douriez explains that of the 1,400 workers trained by Colas Rail on the HS scheme, 85% had no prior railway skills before starting their careers on the project. This has included recruiting local residents, training staff and educating local schoolchildren. Many of the latter will not have encountered trains before, as the railway did not previously pass through this region. The project ‘Zero Accident’, implemented by Colas Rail, is to make people aware of the risks faced through the introduction of the railway. Events were held at a number of locations, including three schools where the first attendance was 350 pupils, the second 451, and the third 608 students.…

The country relies heavily on both import and export. In 2002 a growing manufacturing sector accounted for 24% of total exports, mainly consisting of textiles and clothing. Tourism is another crucial business for the country. The first stage of the HS route does not serve the main tourist spots of Casablanca or Agadir, although in time, it is expected that it will. The ports will play a vital role. In 2014 Morocco was the 54th largest importer in the world, with £35.92 billion brought into the country. This increased at an annualised rate of 7.1% from 2009. Refined petroleum is the highest commodity imported (8.09% of the total imports), followed by crude petroleum (6.53%). The top import destinations were Spain, France, China, America and Germany. As for exports, it is…

THE size of the national passenger fleet is expected to increase by up to 89% over the next 30 years, according to the Long-Term Passenger Rolling Stock Strategy for the Rail Industry (RSS), Fifth Edition. Published by the Rail Delivery Group on March 10, the strategy highlights how £10 billion has already been committed to orders for new trains since 2014. The average age of the UK’s train fleets is also expected to drop from 21 to 15 years by March 2021. RSSSG joint chairmen Malcolm Brown (CEO, Angel Trains) and Hugh Clancy (Commercial Director Rail, FirstGroup) said: “Modern, comfortable and reliable trains are key to improving the experience of rail passengers, and this strategy portrays a welcome picture of the private sector and government working together to invest in…

“With our new Azuma trains entering service next year, this is an opportunity to celebrate the icons of the railways and look forward to 2018, when we’ll usher in a new era for travel on the East Coast route.” David Horne, Managing Director, Virgin Trains “The four-train line-up epitomises the evolution of the later generation of fast, elegant and stylish trains - all with a shared bloodline - that epitomise the history of the route from the 1850s to today.” Paul Kirkman, Director, National Railway Museum “This is a major event for Yorkshire and something people will remember for decades.” Sir Gary Verity, Chief Executive, Welcome to Yorkshire FOUR generations of iconic East Coast Main Line trains will travel side-by-side in the same direction on April 23, in…

“Rail is an ever more vital public service, enabling jobs, housing and economic growth. ” PAUL PLUMMER RDG Chief Executive warns that there is a capacity crunch, meaning the reversal of decades of underinvestment is vital. “ Overcrowding is a major problem and it can be galling to see people lounging comfortably in half empty first class carriages when you’re crammed nose to armpit in cattle class every day. ” LIANNA ETKIND Public Transport Campaigner at Campaign for Better Transport responds to the launch of the public consultation into the new South Eastern franchise. “ By working closely together with operators and potential funders, we can keep passengers moving well into the future. ” JOHN HALSALL Network Rail Route Managing Director for the…

A revised deal aimed at ending the dispute between Southern Railway and its drivers has been negotiated. Drivers’ union ASLEF is currently balloting its members on the agreement, recommending they accept it. The result is due on April 3 despite there being industrial action planned for the following day. ASLEF General Secretary Mick Whelan said the new terms “offer solutions to our concerns, as well as restoring the confidence of all parties, and the travelling public”. Govia Thameslink Railway Director Andy Bindon said he hoped it would end “an extraordinarily difficult period for passengers, staff and the regional economy”. The two sides had reached agreement in February. But when ASLEF put the deal to its members, the drivers rejected their union’s recommendation by a majority of 54% ( RAIL 821).…

“The way we deliver transport for our clients and customers is changing, and that presents to us great opportunities, and also some significant challenges. ” MANFRED RUDHART Arriva Chief Executive Officer announces the appointment of Stuart Cockburn as strategy and development director. “It would be preferable to see, over the longer term, the progressive removal of crossings where the only form of protection is the telephone. ” SIMON FRENCH Chief Inspector of Rail Accidents at RAIB makes recommendations following investigation into the collision between a train and a tractor at Hockham Road (Thetford) in April 2016. “Passengers have every right to be angry and confused at this unnecessary strike. ” PAUL PLUMMER Chief Executive of the RDG comments on the RMT…

GA ticket machines Greater Anglia has spent £495,000 on new ticket machines at 14 stations in Essex. Twelve of the stations do not currently have ticket machines, and passengers will be able to buy tickets before travel as well as collecting tickets and smartcard products brought online. More women in rail Network Rail has launched a campaign aimed at increasing the number of women employed on Britain’s railways. The launch coincided with National Apprenticeship Week and International Women’s Day. NR wants to increase the percentage of female staff to 20% by 2020. Bordeaux bookings Eurostar opened bookings for London-Bordeaux trains on March 15. Passengers have to transfer from Paris Gare du Nord to Montparnasse, and a new high-speed line in France will cut journey times by an hour to around…

Eleven student engineering teams will compete in the Institution of Mechanical Engineers’ Railway Challenge this June and July, at the Stapleford Miniature Railway near Melton Mowbray. Ten teams from the UK and one from Germany will compete to design and manufacture the best, most innovative, efficient and quietest small-scale locomotive. Competing this year are: University of Birmingham; Bombardier/Derby University; Brunel University; FH Aachen University of Applied Sciences; Manchester Metropolitan University; University of Huddersfield; SNC-Lavalin (defending champions); University of Sheffield; University of Southampton; Transport for London; and WMG, University of Warwick. Previous winners competing include University of Huddersfield (winners in 2013), current champions SNC-Lavalin (which also won in 2012) and TfL (winner in 2014 and 2015). Philippa Oldham, head of Transport and Manufacturing at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, said: “The…

LU drainage deal Lanes Rail has won a five-year, £2 million per year contract to provide drainage maintenance services on London Underground’s Circle, Hammersmith and City, District, Metropolitan, Bakerloo, Central and Victoria lines. The company also maintains structure and drainage assets on the Jubilee, Northern and Piccadilly lines. Certification for Nomad Nomad Digital has achieved ISO14001:2015 certification for its UK operations and scope. The certification demonstrates that the company’s systems, processes and procedures are robust, regularly audited, and that the company improves the way it manages environmental issues.…

Vivarail has begun testing its new battery-powered demonstrator vehicle at the Quinton Rail Technology Centre, Long Marston. The single-car ex-London Underground D-Stock vehicle is powered by two detachable battery modules, and performance data is being gathered for its continued development with project partners Strukton and Valence. Vivarail says that once this concept has been proven, it will be able to offer its D-Train Class 230 upcycled former Tube stock in any mode of motive power, via its easily changeable power modules. This will give operators the option to run D-Trains on either electrified or non-electrified lines, by using diesel engines, electric motors or on-board batteries. Vivarail Chief Executive Adrian Shooter exclusively told RAIL : “We have built a test car so that we can explore several options, all of which…

Abellio completed the sale of 40% of its Greater Anglia franchise to Mitsui & Co Ltd on March 21, after the Department for Transport gave final approval for the deal to proceed. The deal was first announced on January 17 ( RAIL 819), and fulfils Abellio’s objective of running the franchise as a 60:40 joint venture. Abellio will be in overall control, with Mitsui having a presence on the board. This is the first time any Japanese company has taken a stake in a British train operating company. Abellio retained the Greater Anglia franchise in a nine-year deal last August ( RAIL 807). It will spend £1.4 billion on new trains that will be introduced in 2019-21, but must pay a £3.7 billion premium over the nine-year deal.…

As one of Network Rail’s longer-term aspirations, construction of a new connection to Angerstein Wharf from the Lewisham direction is proposed in its Kent Route Study. NR argues that the current access is via a tightly curved connection on the Blackheath Tunnel line. Construction of the new chord would cut freight journeys by 21 miles, and also provide additional capacity gaps in the timetable. Other freight schemes considered is a freight loop at Nunhead, although this would not be able to accommodate 775-metre-long trains. Gauge clearance works on the Channel Tunnel to Swanley via Maidstone East, Fawkham Junction to Swanley, and Swanley to West London Line via the Catford Loop and Atlantic Lines are also considered, with further work to take place to establish which of the 154 structures over…

Four airport-rail link operators joined forces at Edinburgh Airport on March 17 to launch a joint sales effort aimed at increasing use of Gatwick Express, Heathrow Express, Luton Thameslink and Stansted Express trains by travellers from the Scottish capital. The Edinburgh-London route is the busiest air route in the country, carrying three million passengers per year on 456 flights per week. The new joint sales initiative will allow airline passengers to buy tickets for onward rail travel from London airports at their departure point. The rail operators were keen to point out the potential cost and journey time savings for airline passengers switching from taxi to rail: 41 minutes for Gatwick Express, which equates to 18 million minutes per year if all Edinburgh-Heathrow passengers switched to Heathrow Express, and cost…

Rail Minister Paul Maynard expects the next phase of the Brighton Main Line (BML) upgrade to take around two years to complete. Peter Kyle (Labour, Hove) had submitted a Commons Written Question asking what further work the Department for Transport had agreed should be undertaken relating to Network Rail’s plans to upgrade the BML in the Croydon area, and what the estimated time would be to complete the work. Maynard replied on March 16: “My Department is working closely with Network Rail on the next phase of development of the Brighton Main Line upgrade programme. This involves undertaking further detailed engineering design and planning work, and preparation of an Outline Business Case. Subject to available funding, and confirmation of an agreed programme of activity, we expect this will take around…

Direct Rail Services has told RAIL it intends to continue running Anglo-Scottish intermodal trains despite the level of grant assistance being evaluated. Government plans to cut the Mode Shift Revenue Support (MSRS) grant, and campaigners fear this could force freight off rail and onto road. The grant is to reduce from £19.85 million this financial year to £15.74m from April 1, with a further reduction from April 2018 to £15.17m ( RAIL 821). Following the announcement, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Transport Andy McDonald suggested this could affect DRS as a route it operates will no longer be covered by the grant. DRS spokesman Rachael Storey told RAIL : “DRS understands that as has happened over the past ten years, the level of grant assistance for intermodal traffic is…

Midlands Swift card Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) has started to switch all 9,000 customers on its nTrain direct debit ticket scheme from paper tickets to its Swift smartcard. The card is valid on London Midland, Chiltern, Virgin Trains, CrossCountry and Arriva Trains Wales services that call at stations in the TfWM area. Cushing steps aside Metrolink Director Peter Cushing has handed over leadership and day-to-day management of Manchester’s light rail system to his deputy, Danny Vaughan. Cushing will continue in a part-time capacity to oversee the change in operator, from RATP Dev UK to KeolisAmey. Glasgow Subway deal Strathclyde Partnership for Transport has appointed Exterion Media as its new media partner for Glasgow Subway and bus operations.…

Contributions for by far the UK’s longest-running column by the same author are most welcome from all sources. Personal observations, society magazines, website printouts and live links, transport group newsletters and media cuttings (with dates, please) are sought to maintain topicality. Please send your contributions, with your name and address, to RAIL , Media House, Lynchwood, Peterborough Business Park, Peterborough PE2 6EA; fax 01733 282654 or email us at rail@bauermedia.co.uk WESTERN Bideford: It has been 100 years since the Bideford, Westward Ho! & Appledore Railway was closed (March 28) to provide track for the First World War effort - an ill-fated move because the ship carrying the materials to France was torpedoed in the English Channel. The line was never revived. Gloucester: The Government has ruled against awarding £10.45 million…

D05 Preservation 37688 Kingmoor TMD will move to the Mid-Norfolk Railway when Direct Rail Services hands it over to its new owner. In a statement, the owner of the ‘37’ said the MNR had been chosen “due to its expertise with Class 37 operations, a long history of diesel locomotive running, award-winning air-braked blue/grey coaches and its forward-looking focus”. The ‘37’ will be available for traffic immediately, subject to test running and usual acceptance checks. It will operate in unbranded DRS livery for the rest of the year before being restored into Trainload Construction livery and renamed Great Rocks (RAIL 822). The ‘37/5’ will be sent to the MNR ahead of its planned debut at the April 28-30 spring gala. It was one of six Class 37s offered for sale…

Class 20s, a ‘47’ and ‘73s’ are among the locomotives that will feature at the Swanage Railway diesel gala on May 5-7. Somerset & Dorset Locomotive Company D8059 (20059) and D8188 (20188) will visit the event from the Severn Valley Railway, while the Peak Locomotive Company Ltd’s 45041 The Royal Tank Regiment will visit from the Midland Railway - Butterley. The Crewe Heritage Trust’s 47192 will also be in action (it is usually based at Crewe Heritage Centre). Paul Spracklen’s 50026 Indomitable will appear at the gala for a third time, and GB Railfreight is supplying a Class 73/1 and a ‘73/9’. More locomotives will be added, with organisers telling RAIL that a Class 37 is on the ‘wanted list’. Residents D6515 (33012) and 33111 will also be in action.…

Great Western Railway says direct trains to Bedwyn and Frome will be retained, through the use of bi-mode AT300 Class 802s on order from Hitachi Rail Europe. Passenger services from London to Bedwyn were due to be lost because wires are only being erected as far as Newbury, while the continuation of services to Frome was due to be discussed. The introduction of bi-mode trains means that both are now possible, the operator says, although a siding at Bedwyn will need extending. Currently three-car Class 165/166s are used on these trains, but the AT300s will be five-car formations. The extension requires planning approval and the diversion of a footpath. GWR and Network Rail are in discussions with local parish councils ahead of submitting a formal planning application to Wiltshire Council.…

Retain the franchises In RAIL 818, Christian Wolmar again asked the question: “What is franchising for?” The same question has been asked again in a different way by the House of Commons Transport Select Committee. Rail franchising was designed to put a system in place whereby Transport Ministers were not directly responsible for the railways. They would not have to answer to MPs allegedly representing the travelling public. Even when Labour returned to power in 1997 there was no return to public ownership, despite pledges otherwise. The RMT union wishes to return to those far-off days of public ownership and TV appearances on the steps of Downing Street. And the RMT is not alone. If some UK scientist were to design a Starship Enterprise ‘transporter’, then the trade unions would…

A Birmingham City University student has won an art competition to mark the arrival of HS2 in Birmingham. HS2 Ltd joined forces with the university to find an artist to produce artwork celebrating Curzon’s Street’s railway heritage as the oldest railway terminus in the world, as well as its high-speed future. Sarina Kaur, a visual communications student from South Shields, was the winning entrant. Her design (pictured) is now on display as two 8.3m x 4.3m banners between the Roman-inspired columns of the former Curzon Street station entrance. “The inspiration behind my design has taken influence from the illustrator and art director Kate Moross,” said Kaur. “Using a serif font and reforming the elements of a steam locomotive to represent the 19th century, I have merged elements of both traditional…

“It would be good if the vision was lifted from the ‘pile it high sell it cheap’ mentality.” The South Eastern franchise is due for renewal in December 2018 after a 12-year period of operation by Govia, and a consultation process has started to identify passenger and stakeholder expectations for the subsequent new contract. The Government acknowledges that the performance of the current franchise has been unacceptably poor, as a result of the redevelopment of London Bridge. With the completion of this project in 2018 it has set three objectives: to create more space for passengers by running longer trains; to reduce delays; to introduce improved ticketing and compensation arrangements. The latter will result in the delay repay scheme being improved, so that passengers become eligible for refunds when trains…

A few weeks ago, I travelled on a line I had not realised still existed - the service across the north of the Midlands between Derby and Stoke. There is one hourly service provided by a single-coach Pacer which goes right past Uttoxeter racecourse through very pleasant countryside. The train, which goes through to Crewe, was pretty full and the conductor was kept busy. While it was very enjoyable for me to travel on a new line (I am not a track basher but I must have travelled on around 90% of the network, with a few gaps such as Middlesbrough to Whitby, the West Highland Line and a couple of the Cornish branches), this was clearly an example of a railway that was underused because of a lack of…

RECENTLY, on a day of extensive travel in Greater London, I paid my first visit to Ruislip Gardens - famous for John Betjeman’s 1954 poem (“Gaily into Ruislip Gardens runs the red electric train”). The verse ends “...rural Middlesex again”, but with hindsight it’s not surprising that the area is now far from rural. Indeed, Middlesex was abolished in 1965, amalgamating with Greater London, Surrey and Hertfordshire. Even the poem refers to “hurrying down the concrete station”, for it is a 1948 rebuild. From here I was off to Chesham, which couldn’t be more different - genuinely rural Buckinghamshire. It’s one of the finest towns on the Underground and at the end of one of the loveliest short (3.85-mile) single-track branch lines in Britain - yet blessed with half-hourly eight-coach…

“Before privatisation, BRB looked at this library. While everything else was being sold off, there was no way of dividing this. So the decision was made to retain it and run it on behalf of the privatised industry.”Martin Collins, Consultant, Railway Documentation & Drawing Services Ltd The city of Derby has long been synonymous with the design and production of traction and rolling stock. Once home to both the Midland Railway’s Locomotive and Carriage & Wagon works, Derby’s role in providing a base for UK train manufacturing has outlived other famous native railway centres such as Swindon and Crewe, thanks to Bombardier’s continued presence at the city’s Litchurch Lane facility. Derby’s reputation as a centre of excellence for engineering was reaffirmed in the early 1960s, after the British Railways Board…

During RAIL ’ s visit, we were able to travel on a section of the railway. We boarded at Moulay Bousselham (near Kenitra), and travelled some 30 km to Bahhara Ouland Ayad. The train, formed of a Colas Rail construction train, was only able to operate at slow speed as lineside fencing had yet to be erected, although the rest of the railway (including the OLE) was in place. The railway was standard two-track with OLE. Bridges were in place, and we passed over some switches and crossings. High bridges, embankments and sweeping curves all form part of the railway - some of the gradients were particularly steep, although the Belgian locomotive propelling its container wagon had little difficulty in moving its train. It became clear as night fell that…

“The country as a whole is proud of the quality of its trains, and this makes a crucial difference to the industry’s recruitment, operations and efficiency.”Nadeem Karbhari, Performance Reporting andAnalysis Manager, MTR Crossrail It was a Sunday night at a quiet and emptying train station. Shifts were coming to an end, and few staff remained. I was met by a man in an immaculate uniform, looking as sharp as he would have been at 0900 on a Monday morning - more like an airline pilot than a member of a station team. He was taking the trouble to speak with the occasional passengers as they passed through. This was Japanese Railways Group (JR) in a nutshell; not just efficient, not just putting on a show, but comprised of people who…

Network Rail is preparing to embark on more than 200 individual engineering projects over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend (April 14-17). More than 13,000 engineers and contractors will be out during a series of blockades, to complete £70 million worth of work over the holiday period. Among the most disruptive projects will be on the eastern section of Crossrail between Liverpool Street and Shenfield, to prepare the route for the introduction of new Transport for London-run services from May. Major work will also take place across London on the Thameslink programme between Charing Cross, Cannon Street and London Bridge. Extensive track renewal is also scheduled to take place at Waterloo, as part of the Wessex Route Upgrade. Further north, possessions are required to link the Ordsall Chord to the network…

Mott Macdonald is to produce detailed designs for a £6 million redevelopment of Inverness station. Tenders for construction are due to be invited in the autumn, with completion in 2018. Among the aspirations for the station are a new ‘more dominant’ frontage, extra retail space, improved facilities on Academy Street, and upgraded links to Falcon Square and the bus station. Some £1.9m of funding from the Scottish Stations Fund is being provided, while an application for increased funding will be made to the Inverness Townscape Heritage Fund later this year.…

Upgrade at Long Eaton Long Eaton’s footbridge is to be removed for cleaning, painting and strengthening between April 21 and June 29. Passengers will be able to cross via the level crossings, while road closures will take place in the area on April 29/30 and June 21/22. ScotRail charity choice ScotRail Alliance staff have chosen MND Scotland as their latest nominated charity. The charity provides care and information for people affected by Motor Neurone Disease - it is hoped ScotRail’s efforts will raise at least £150,000 over the next three years. New wheel lathe A new wheel lathe has entered service at Manchester Metrolink’s Trafford Park depot. The facility was installed by Cairn Cross Civil Engineering in partnership with Koltech and Mechan.…

Merseyrail plans to introduce a new fleet of 52 Driver Only Operation (DOO) trains from 2020, but insists none of the permanent guards or guard managers will lose their jobs. Arriva Rail North, which operates the Northern franchise (the country’s second largest network), also proposes to modernise by 2020. It will introduce 281 new carriages and upgrade 243 trains, with 2,000 extra services each week. It says decisions about future staffing arrangements have not yet been taken. The Government has indicated that it wants a more driver-controlled operation. This is expected to be specified in the next two franchises to be awarded - the South West Trains contract that is due to be announced next month, with West Midlands to follow later this year. Transferring all safety-critical responsibility to the…

The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has issued guidance on Network Rail’s strategic business plans for Control Period 6 (CP6) and beyond, as part of the regulator’s Periodic Review 2018 process. Each of NR’s geographical routes will prepare its own strategic plan, while there will be similar plans for the Freight and National Passenger Operator route, for the National System Operator and for NR’s central functions. NR will then need to provide a consolidated strategic business plan (SBP) for England and Wales and one for Scotland, in addition to some nationwide data. Each SBP will set out plans for operating, maintaining and renewing the network, and how NR intends to improve its capability and efficiency. The ORR says each plan should contain forecasts of expenditure and income, the outputs…

CHANGES to how Network Rail manages user-worked level crossings, introduces new signalling equipment and management of the competence of signalling shift managers have been recommended by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB), in its report into a collision between a train and tractor at Hockham Road, Thetford, on April 10 2016. The root cause of the accident was that the signaller gave the tractor driver permission to cross the railway when the 1204 Norwich to Cambridge train, formed of three-coach 170204 travelling at 87mph, was approaching, hitting the tractor at 1230. The tractor driver was seriously injured, and the train driver and four passengers suffered minor injuries. The RAIB found that the signaller involved had lost his awareness of the position of the 1204 Norwich-Cambridge while covering meal breaks for…

RMT General Secretary Mick Cash says that the trades union will believe service improvements on the railway in terms of quality and frequency “when we see it.” Cash was responding to a Rail Delivery Group (RDG) statement on March 20 claiming that more than 6,400 additional trains will run every week by 2021. Analysis by the RDG of projected timetable improvements suggests that 1,283 extra trains will run per day on Mondays-Fridays, an increase of 11% on today’s total. Areas picked out for particular improvements include London commuting, Anglo-Scottish inter-city trains, Edinburgh-Glasgow, Northern England, the Midlands, Wales, the West Country and Kent. However, Cash said of these claims: “There simply aren’t the trains and staff available to make this plan happen. The train operators are already struggling to run current…

DEVOLUTION in Cambridgeshire could accelerate plans to improve railways in the area including upgrading Ely North Junction, reinstating double track through Soham and re-opening the March-Wisbech line. Government is to devolve a range of funding, powers and responsibilities to the seven local authorities covering Cambridgeshire and Peterborough and the Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP). In return for this devolution deal a Combined Authority will be established with a directly-elected Mayor in place by May. The Mayor and Combined Authority will take responsibility for a devolved and consolidated multi-year local transport budget for the area. Part of the plans include providing “world class connectivity and transport systems, fit for the 21st century”. Plans are also in place to work with local areas’ ambitions for new housing settlements, including…

THERE are no simple options to meet projected demand in Kent beyond 2024, according to Network Rail’s Draft Route Study published on March 14. In launching its study for consultation the infrastructure company seeks to tackle capacity challenges in the region. Additional terminal capacity in London will be needed to meet expected growth to 2044, as well as the removal of bottlenecks to allow more trains to run. “Further development is required in the coming years to formulate a coherent strategy for major investment,” Network Rail continued. It expects passenger numbers on most routes in Kent to grow by 15% between 2011 and 2024, and by 47% to 2044. Growth on domestic high-speed trains is predicted to be much higher, with an ‘assumed’ rate of 80% to 2024, and 127%…

More than 100 additional vehicles will be needed to meet projected demand in Kent by 2024, according to the Study, a figure which rises to 277 by 2044. The largest number needed by 2024 is on London Bridge Metro services, with an additional 40 coaches needed. This is followed by an extra 26 for high-speed domestic trains, 21 for London Bridge main line services, six for London Victoria Metro services and two for those on the Victoria Main Line. By 2044, London Bridge Metro services will need 120 extra vehicles, London Bridge main line another 67, domestic high-speed 52, Victoria Metro 22, and Blackfriars Metro and Victoria main line another eight each.…

London TravelWatch is critical of train punctuality in and around the capital, claiming in its National Performance Report that just 54.1% of trains in London and the South East arrived on time in the past three months of 2016. For Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), the figure was lower - 42.1%, with more than 10% of its trains cancelled or significantly late. The report also highlighted signalling failures across South West Trains’ network along with broken rails between Surbiton and London Waterloo and rolling stock failures as the main cause for its 4.1 percentage point fall in Public Performance Measure to 83.7%. LTW policy committee chairman John Stewart said: “Our report shows that passengers across London have had a particularly raw deal during the period covered, and that an already unacceptable…

The dates of further closures needed to complete the electrification of the Gospel Oak-Barking Line will be known by “the end of April”, a Network Rail spokesman has told RAIL . Additional blockades are needed after NR failed to complete the works during a phased eight-month closure of the 14-mile route between June 2016 and February ( RAIL 820). Most of the civil works required to raise or renew structures and lower sections of the railway, to achieve clearance for overhead line equipment, was completed to plan. However, not all of the overhead wires could be installed due to incorrect designs, late delivery of materials and the breaching of two sewers in Walthamstow. NR has indicated that the blockades will be required over a series of weekends later in the…

Ninety-four local stations in Greater Manchester could be turned into community hubs, in plans unveiled by Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) on March 20. TfGM has submitted its ‘Case for Change’ plans to the Department for Transport, as it bids for multimillion-pound investment and regional accountability. The authority wants to bring the region’s stations under local control, with a wholesale transfer of station ownership and management from Network Rail and train operators. In turn, it plans to invest in the stations, enabling them to act as community hubs. If approved, the stations could be transferred over the next two to three years. TfGM hopes Manchester Piccadilly, Victoria and Oxford Road would then follow. More than £400 million would then be spent on the stations over the next two decades. Funding…

A detailed programme of works relating to the construction of HS2 through the Chilterns will be available by the end of next year. Transport Minister Andrew Jones, in a Commons Written Reply to Cheryl Gillan (Conservative, Chesham and Amersham), said: “Following contract award, the Main Works contractors will be in place later this year. As designs mature, the programme of works will be developed, culminating in a detailed programme being available by the end of 2018. “Programmes are currently being developed for individual localised Enabling Works packages such as habitat creations, site clearance and highway improvements in preparation for the Main Works. HS2 Ltd will be meeting my Right Hon. Friend [Gillan] on March 27 to provide an update on the works within the Chiltern area.” HS2 received Royal Assent…

GREAT Western Railway is holding an open day at Old Oak Common on September 2. The depot marks the contribution the west London depot has made to the Great Western Railway since it opened on March 17 1906, 111 years ago. The event, OOC111, will display trains and locomotives that have operated on the route, and the operator plans to announce the full line-up soon. RAIL understands that as well as members of the GWR High Speed Train fleet there will also be new Class 800 Intercity Express Trains on display, various Hydraulics and examples of locomotives, including Class 50s, that have worked past the depot or were based there. GWR said tickets will go on sale shortly and demand is expected to be high. All profits will go to…

Bridge strengthening in Manchester, in connection with the Ordsall Chord project, will lead to service alterations at Manchester Victoria from April 13 to August. Network Rail needs to replace sections of Chapel Street Bridge in Salford, strengthen New Bailey Street Bridge, and remodel tracks through Salford Central. It also needs to install new signalling and overhead line equipment. Services will alter from April 13-May 1, every Sunday from May 7-July 2, May 28/29, July 8/9, July 15/16, August 20, August 27, and Saturday and Sundays from September 2-October 1. Shuttle buses will operate from Salford stations to Manchester Victoria at times during the engineering works.…

A Class 47/0 and a Class 50 have been added to the Severn Valley Railway diesel gala line-up on May 18-20. Crewe Heritage Trust 47192 and Garcia Hanson’s 50008 Thunderer will join 14 other visitors, with more set to be announced. It means there will be two Class 47s and four Class 50s at the event. Visiting locomotives will be: D8568, 20189, 20205, 31271 Stratford 1840-2001, 33035, 33108, D6700 (37119), 45041 Royal Tank Regiment, 45060 Sherwood Forester, 47192, 47828, 50008 Thunderer, 55022 Royal Scots Grey, a GB Railfreight Class 66/7, a GBRf Class 73 and a visitor from DB Cargo UK, although a class has not been specified. Resident locomotives in action will be: D1015 Western Champion, D1062 Western Courier, D2961, D3586 (08471), D4100 (09012) or 12099, D9551, D8059…

NEW Class 88s could be used on TransPennine Express passenger trains, according to the franchise agreement published by the Department for Transport. TPE is contracted to hire a maximum of 18 Class 68s, the document says. From August 19 2018 until the end of the franchise period, the intended quantity on hire is 13. Ten dual-mode Class 88s have been ordered, with six in the UK. Built by Stadler in Valencia, they will initially be used on intermodal traffic, alongside other Direct Rail Services duties. Both the ‘68s’ and ‘88s’ are owned by Beacon Rail and would be sub-leased by TPE from Direct Rail Services. The franchise agreement states: “The rolling stock lease of the Class 68 locomotives shall include provisions enabling them to be replaced by Class 88 locomotives…

THE Class 390 Pendolino fleet has passed the 200 million-mile mark, less than 15 years after the trains were introduced on the West Coast Main Line. Individually, the highest mileage among the Class 390 fleet has been recorded by 390122 Penny the Pendolino - as of the end of February 26, it had completed 3,871,577 miles. The next highest was 390124 Virgin Venturer (3,854,928 miles). The lowest mileage Class 390 is 390157 Chad Varah (1,536,602 miles). This is one of four Class 390s ordered after the initial production of 53 was completed. It was delivered in 2012. Of the original production batch, 390002 Stephen Sutton has recorded the lowest mileage (3,555,317 miles). By way of comparison, the 22-strong fleet of Class 55 Deltics that were used on the East Coast…

Following an exploratory meeting a month earlier, I chaired the first meeting of what became SELRAP (Skipton-Colne Rail Action Partnership) on April 10 2001, and led this campaign in its early years. Sixteen years on, and I was delighted to read Paul Stephen’s comprehensive roundup of the project in RAIL 816, and then the additional information provided by the SELRAP committee in RAIL 820’s Open Access. I have kept in touch over the years, and it is very satisfying to read that real progress is now being made, and that the aims and challenges of today’s committee are much the same as we considered at the start. That there are not yet visible signs of progress on the ground is no reflection on the hard-working and dedicated committee, several of…

“The fact that our skilled people have worked on so many projects around the world is what makes us different.”Nicolas Perrot, UK Metro & LRT Programme Director, Systra Systra is an international transport planning, consultancy and engineering provider, and needs little introduction. Having operated in over 150 countries across the globe, it already has a substantial presence in the UK and Ireland, with more than 400 staff working from 17 offices. It is also a growing company. Systra has completed the acquisition of two UK-based consultancies: JMP in 2015, followed by SIAS in 2016. It has also played a key part in leading the delivery of several of the UK’s most high-profile rail projects, including managing the development of the design, procurement, construction and commissioning of Crossrail, EGIP (Edinburgh-Glasgow…

In the early 1960s, as the railway lost traffic hand over fist to road, it was clear that the rail network was bloated. Cuts had to be made, and some lines were simply no longer viable. Dr Richard Beeching was appointed Chairman of the British Railways Board from June 1 1961, and part of his remit was to produce a report to cut costs on the railways. His Reshaping of Britain’s Railways called for swathing cuts of the network, with many branch lines and duplicate routes axed. The report listed closure of over 2,300 stations and 5,000 miles of lines - over half of the stations and a third of the network, although some stations and lines did avoid closure. These closures were listed despite 3,000 miles having already been…

Caledonian Sleeper has introduced a Family Ticket allowing up to six individuals (combinations from one adult and one child up to one adult and five children or three adults and three children) to travel together in Standard cabins but with access to First Class lounges and the on-board Lounge Car. It is self-printed and non-refundable, and there are no reductions for railcard holders. Details and booking available at www.sleeper.scot. I tried it for one adult and one child in a week’s time from London to Inverness, returning the week after, and was quoted £90 - so it’s certainly an excellent offer. Finally on Scottish matters, in RAIL 822’s The Fare Dealer I mentioned ticket machines at Drumry. In fact, it has none - and nor do any of the stations…