Table of contents for Issue 820 in RAIL

 As Wolmar remarks in his column (pages 38-39) the Transport Select Committee published its report on rail franchising on Sunday February 5, thus securing plenty of TV news coverage. Thus, I found myself doing live TV interviews by Skype at brunch time for Sky News and the BBC News Channel. It won’t surprise regular readers that my good friend Wolmar finds much in the report to reinforce his well-known dislike of franchising! He argues his case well and so once again I’m pleased that RAIL provides a full spectrum of opinions, because - as usual - I disagree with Christian! “Franchising has made it possible for the operating railway to cover all its costs for the first time ever. ...In 2011-12, TOCs made a net contribution of £400m to Government...…

East Coast has 15 sets of 2+9 High Speed Trains, leased from Angel Trains and Porterbrook. These are to be replaced by Intercity Express Programme (IEP) Class 800/801s from next year and, despite being refurbished in the past year, they will be sent off-lease by the end of the decade. Great Western Railway leases 54 2+8 HST sets. While most are leased from Angel and Porterbrook, FirstGroup owns a handful of Class 43 power cars and Mk 3 coaches. Twenty-seven HSTs are to move from GWR to ScotRail when IEPs are introduced from October, and these will enter traffic as 2+4 and 2+5 sets north of the border. The remaining HSTs with GWR currently have no future, although it is expected that GWR will retain some to work regional trains…

“It has been a long and difficult 12 months for those who use the Settle to Carlisle railway, but we cannot overstate the size of the task that Network Rail had to face. PAUL BARNFIELD Regional Director for Northern comments on S&C repair work nearing completion. “They are guaranteed a job until 2021- even I cannot lay claim to that. LORD AHMAD Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport discusses the role of on-board supervisors during a debate on Southern in the House of Lords “We want the widest range of talents and skills as we gear up towards the new trains coming into service later this year. ” GARY MARTIN Stoke Gifford Depot Manager discusses the 150 new job roles being created at the depot. “There are more than…

Ongoing problems on the Thameslink Southern Great Northern (TSGN) franchise operated by Govia Thameslink Railway are also addressed in the Transport Select Committee report. “We recommend that, in response to this report, the Department for Transport (DfT) publish updates on the financial losses to the taxpayer from the TSGN franchise and sets out the options available to recoup these losses. “Given the exposure of the taxpayer to the failings of this franchise, it is unacceptable for the Department to maintain its current arms-length approach,” the committee says. It also recommends that the DfT intervenes to “ensure all possible steps are being taken to stop the haemorrhaging of income”. And it wants the DfT to provide a “full explanation” of its range of options in dealing with the franchise and explain…

ALMOST a year of industrial action on Southern Railway appears to be approaching an end. Nearly 1,000 drivers in the ASLEF union are currently being balloted on a deal, with the result due on February 16. The union is advising drivers to accept it. After a year stating that it would not agree to further Driver Only Operation, ASLEF has now done so after conceding a key principle that trains can run in specific circumstances without a second member of staff on board. ASLEF confirmed the deal did not involve any additional pay or improved terms and conditions for its members. It took nine days of negotiations at the TUC to thrash out the detail. The talks were led by TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady and Andy Meadows, human resources…

Plans for a legal case against the Department for Transport’s handling of the Southern franchise have been announced. Brighton-based Association of British Commuters (ABC) has applied for a Judicial Review of what it terms the DfT’s “ongoing failure” to hold Southern’s owners to account. It claims Secretary of State for Transport Chris Grayling acted unlawfully in failing to determine whether Govia Thameslink Railway was in breach of its franchise obligations, with performance falling below targets set in a remedial plan. The company had claimed force majeure - events beyond its control. But the Department has not stated whether this claim has been accepted. ABC also claims Grayling failed to comply with his duties under the Equality Act 2010, causing indirect discrimination to passengers with disabilities. ABC raised £25,000 for its…

The Government has denied reports that it is planning to strip Govia Thameslink Railway of its franchise. Transport Minister Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon said it was “just media speculation” that plans to nationalise the operation had been prepared, with an “interim managing director” already identified. His comment in the House of Lords followed reports that a number of options had been drawn up by DfT officials. These were said to range from splitting Southern and Gatwick Express from Thameslink and Great Northern to a “managed exit” until a new contract could be let.…

“I do not take the Mayor’s promises at face value,” Secretary of State for Transport Chris Grayling said in a Commons rail franchising debate on January 12, regarding Mayor of London Sadiq Khan’s desire for greater devolution of rail services in the capital. Grayling was speaking to Transport for London in defence of his decision not to devolve routes in London (RAIL 816). Clive Efford (Labour, Eltham), had questioned him on that decision, stating: “We now know that the Secretary of State is putting politics before the interests of passengers, and he is taking a dogmatic approach by ignoring what could improve our railway system.” These claims followed the leaking of a letter, written by Grayling to then-Mayor Boris Johnson, about the possibility of TfL taking over a number of…

Direct Rail Services’ first dual-mode Class 88 is expected to undergo a testing programme that will last six to eight weeks. The locomotive (88002 Prometheus ) was delivered to Carlisle Kingmoor on January 24, having arrived in the UK at Southampton and been taken north by road ( RAIL 819). The operator says the rest of the dual-mode locomotives (88001/003-010) will arrive at Port of Workington by mid-spring. Stadler built the locomotive in Valencia (Spain). Leased by DRS from Beacon Rail, the ‘88s’ will have both 25kV electric and diesel modes and are a development of DRS’ Class 68 platform.…

Newbury bridge opens A new road bridge opened at Boundary Road, Newbury, on January 31, following 12 months of construction associated with the Great Western Route Modernisation. Wider and taller than the structure it replaced, it will have two road lanes rather than one. TL and GN aid hospice Thameslink and Great Northern Railway staff raised £420 for Luton-based Keech Hospice Care in December. The staff organised collections of non-perishable items for local food banks, and the company donated £1 for each item collected.…

TECHNOLOGY that could help to create a paperless ticketing scheme, including iris-scanning, is being developed for use in the UK. The Rail Delivery Group announced the technology at its conference in Birmingham on February 7. The app would be loaded onto a passenger’s smartphone, and be used by passengers to swipe their way through a ticket barrier. RDG believes that it could, in time, give way to biometric technology - including fingerprint or iris-scanning. This would enable passengers to be automatically identified and charged against their travel account. The app (without the iris-scanning) will be tested this year by Chiltern Railways, between Oxford Parkway and London Marylebone. Other digital plans announced include “fully intelligent trains” that ‘talk’ to each other to make better use of the railway, thereby increasing capacity.…

The “holy grail” of railway engineering may well be to apply automotive products to rail vehicles in such a way that they are both cheap and reliable, and work first time. The case history of this is very small. More typical is that something that is well proven in automotive finds the rail environment, with its unsupervised and heavy duty cycles to be more difficult than originally perceived. The product is then modified and uprated to produce a rail specific product with rail specialist costs. Nevertheless, there are some really positive things about what is happening on the Class 230. The report establishes a cause that is entirely plausible and not unknown in underfloor engine experience. The detail design issues in the systems around the engine and fire system all…

THE completion of Birmingham New Street station’s refurbishment was a factor in the number of passenger journeys made in the West Midlands in 2015-16 increasing by 7.7% to 86.8 million. That was the largest annual growth rate in the UK, according to the Office of Rail and Road (ORR), which released its regional rail usage statistics on January 26. London dominates the regional figures, with the highest number of total journeys (934.6 million, of which 397.2 million were made to or from other regions, with the remainder purely within London). The North East had the lowest number of total journeys (15.2 million). In the North West and Wales, overall passenger numbers rose by 3% compared with the previous 12-month period, Yorkshire and the Humber by 2%, East Midlands and East…

The Government will consider findings from the UK Statistics Authority before introducing further changes to the current fares structure. Lord Ahmad (the Government’s transport spokesman in the House of Lords) said in a Lords debate that a consultation review of UK consumer prices statistics had been conducted by the Authority in 2015. It had recommended moving towards the end of using the Retail Price Index (RPI) to set the annual increase of regulated fares. Lord Bradshaw (Liberal Democrat) raised concerns that: “London commuters, especially those from south of the river, are facing a situation where the Government are using RPI automatically to increase fares on Southern, regardless of the quality of service being offered.” Ahmad replied: “Regulated fare increases are capped at RPI plus 0% for the term of Parliament…

Potential exists for a significant increase in freight across the ‘West Coast Main Line area’ when HS2 opens, Secretary of State for Transport Chris Grayling said on January 12. Speaking in a Parliamentary debate about the costs of the new railway, due to open in 2026, Grayling said: “Of course the whole point about HS2 is that it releases capacity on the existing West Coast Main Line for freight. As a result, I see the potential for significant increases in freight across the West Coast Main Line area.” Grayling was responding to a question from Robert Flello (Stoke-on-Trent South, Labour), who had asked: “Given what will be the eye-wateringly huge final costs of HS2, surely it makes sense to maximise the use of this asset, so will the Secretary of…

ELECTRIFICATION, infrastructure improvements and improved capacity are ways in which the railway can help Scotland’s economy to grow, the Rail Delivery Group said in a report published on January 31. Scotland’s rail infrastructure: The rail industry’s advice for 2019 onwards details 25 potential schemes that could enhance the railway. “With long-term growth in passengers, Scotland’s railway is becoming ever more important to the nation’s prosperity as more people use the network to get to work, to enjoy their spare time and to do business,” said Jo Kaye, director of Network Strategy and Planning at Network Rail, and who chairs the Rail Delivery Group’s Planning Oversight Group. “In addition, rail freight has a crucial role to play in helping companies to do business more efficiently. Against this backdrop, it’s vitally important…

A fourth track on the East Coast Main Line (ECML) north of Huntingdon is on the cards, after Network Rail submitted a Transport and Works Act Order (TWAO) to the Secretary of State for Transport for approval on January 26. The line would be installed north of Huntingdon and run to Woodwalton, near Peterborough. It would allow slower trains to be overtaken. If approved, the TWAO would authorise the closure of Abbots Ripton bridleway level crossing, with a diversionary bridleway level crossing replacing it. This follows a public consultation last September. The diversion would be completed in summer 2018. NR said that combined with planned junction upgrades at Werrington (near Peterborough) and Doncaster, the fourth track would improve capacity on the ECML.…

Discussions will continue regarding plans for Sheffield’s HS2 station and its transport links, Secretary of State for Transport Chris Grayling told a parliamentary debate covering the costs of the new railway on January 12. Grayling said that Transport Minister Andrew Jones had been involved in discussions, but told Clive Betts (Sheffield South East, Labour) that “the original proposal for a station at Meadowhall was opposed by the city council, which wanted the route to pass through the city centre. It is in response to pressure from within Sheffield that we have revisited those original plans.” Betts had asked Grayling: “I am sure the Secretary of State is aware that, with regard to the option to have a station in the centre of Sheffield, there is currently no money to get…

Transport for London (TfL) has selected Worldline to provide customer information systems at 22 Crossrail stations. TfL has signed a four-year managed service contract in which Worldline will be responsible for the installation and maintenance of information screens, as well as provision of a central content management system. It will also allow station staff to display localised messaging when needed. The system will be installed on the TfL Rail route between Liverpool Street and Shenfield.…

Construction of the Class 710 Aventras for London Overground will begin this year, Bombardier has told RAIL . Transport for London (TfL) has ordered 45 four-car electric multiple units (EMUs) for its LO operations on the Lea Valley, Romford-Upminster and Watford routes. They will also be used on the newly-electrified Gospel Oak-Barking line (GOBLIN). TfL has on order 31 Class 710/1s capable of 25kV operation only, and 14 dual-voltage ‘710s’ that will operate on the DC lines from London Euston to Watford Junction, as well as Gospel Oak. The introduction of the ‘710s’ will enable LO to dispense with its fleet of eight two-car Class 172/0 diesel multiple units, its 17 Class 315 EMUs (315801-315817), and its 14 Class 317 EMUs (317708-710/714/719/723/729/732, 317887-892).…

Govia Thameslink Railway moved 387101 and 387103 from its Thameslink (TL) operations to Great Northern (GN) on January 23. The four-car electric multiple units (EMUs) have been replaced on TL by the introduction of more Class 700s. GTR has 22 of its 29 Class 387/1s with GN. The remaining seven at TL were expected to move to GN as this issue of RAIL went to press, although 387124 is currently sub-leased from TL to Gatwick Express. Remaining with TL are 387105/115/118/121/122/127. These are used to cover two rostered duties, meaning four of the six are in daily use. The full introduction of the GN Class 387/1s enables GTR to send 12 four-car Class 317s off-lease (317337-317348); these will move to Greater Anglia.…

Repainted ‘66s’ DB Cargo continues to repaint its Class 66 fleet, with 66082 the latest to be treated. The work was done at Stoke Marcroft, and takes the number of UK ‘66s’ in DB red to 16 New livery for ‘66s’ Direct Rail Services 66301 has moved to Arlington Fleet Services’ Eastleigh Works to be repainted with the new livery carried by the majority of its Class 66 fleet. DRS ‘68s’ swapped Direct Rail Services 68025 Superb has replaced 68017 Hornet on hire to Greater Anglia. The ‘68s’ were swapped at Norwich on January 21.…

GB Railfreight (GBRf) will supply a Class 66 and a Class 73/9 for the Severn Valley Railway (SVR) diesel gala on May 18-20. GBRf says it will try to send a ‘66’ that has yet to haul a passenger train. Other visitors announced for the SVR gala so far are: Class 17 D8568, Nene Valley Railway resident 31271 Stratford Depot 1840-2001, Barrow Hill-based 33035 and 45060 Sherwood Forester, 45041 Royal Tank Regiment from the Midland Railway - Butterley and Martin Walker’s 55022 Royal Scots Grey. SVR locomotives expected to be in action include Class 14 D9551, which will be making its passenger debut at the railway. It is hoped that the Class 50 Alliance’s recent purchase, 50007 Hercules, will also feature. Other residents due to be involved include D1015 Western…

I always find the Editorial/ Comment section of RAIL magazine to be informative and interesting. I particularly look forward to Nigel Harris’ submissions as they are invariably incisive, direct and oozing with common sense. What a masterpiece RAIL 818’s Comment was, with no apparent written commentary from Nigel apart from the stroke of genius of the ‘No’ in the title. It surely cannot be just coincidence that ASLEF has announced a suspension of strike action and a willingness to talk. I have long suspected that this series of industrial actions was politically motivated, with union members manipulated by ‘leaders’ newly emboldened by the rise of the left within the Labour party. Since Ted Heath lost the General Election following the 1970s miners’ strike and the three-day week, and Jim Callaghan’s…

HIGH Speed Trains could have a future with GB Railfreight next year, after their withdrawal from passenger usage. The company told RAIL on February 8 that while it could confirm there is hope of using HSTs, the particular trains they would be used on - and exactly when they would be introduced - could not yet be confirmed. At the annual Rail Delivery Group conference in Birmingham the previous day, GBRf Director of Strategic Development Duncan Clark explained how rail freight is changing, with customers demanding same-day delivery. Highlighting statistics collected from various sources, he showed that 22% of customers said they had used a same-day delivery option, up from 13% two years previously. A further 55% of consumers expect to use the facility in the future, while a quarter…

A major new trial of changes to fares - including route simplification, offering the best-value through fare including split ticketing, and single leg pricing - will start from May, ahead of wider ambitions to reform the railway’s fares system with new franchises. The announcement was made by the Rail Delivery Group on February 1. Routeing changes will be made between London and Sheffield, where currently the Any Permitted fare is set by the InterCity East Coast operator, but the Route Chesterfield ticket is faster and cheaper. ‘Best-value end-to-end through fare’ ticketing will be tested on CrossCountry, which has historically had to set hundreds of fares between station pairs that are never used. And single leg ticketing, whereby single tickets will cost half (or thereabouts) the cost of a return, will…

A second DB Cargo Class 90 has been hired to Virgin Trains East Coast for at least six months. The ‘90’ will be based at Bounds Green and will be limited to trains from London King’s Cross to Newark North Gate, Leeds and York. It is needed to enable VTEC to carry out a reliability modification programme on the ‘91’ fleet. Some ‘91s’ will also be sent to Wabtec’s Doncaster Works for planned maintenance. VTEC said that since it introduced the first ‘90’ last autumn, the number of cancellations has reduced, while Bounds Green has been able to make progress with the reliability work on its ‘91’ fleet. On February 6, VTEC had 90034 and 90039 on hire from the freight company.…

MPS on the Transport Select Committee (TSC) are seeking wide-ranging reform of passenger franchising, with longer franchises, better enforcement of terms, and independent enforcement of franchising terms. Their findings were published in a report into rail passenger franchising on February 6. The report concludes that while franchising has coincided with growth in passenger numbers, it “has not yielded all the benefits for passengers envisaged when the Government made the case for privatisation in 1992”. It points out that “many metrics of performance” are plateauing against the backdrop of “substantial growth in premiums paid to government”. With seven franchises due to be issued between 2017 and 2019, including the West Coast Partnership (WCP) operation, the committee says: “Recent experience with Thameslink Southern Great Northern does not fill us with confidence the…

The driver will be responsible for the control, movement and dispatch of the train. However, in “degraded” situations a competent on-board supervisor (OBS) may assist in the dispatch of a train. Examples include the failure of door interlocking, in-cab CCTV failure, or poor-quality CCTV images. ASLEF recognises that there are circumstances when Southern services will run without an OBS. The company must try to provide a second member of staff on board a train where reasonably practicable. A train may run without a second member of staff on board when: • An OBS is absent, late on duty, and where there is no alternative cover. • Late-notice sickness or emergency leave. • OBS delayed while “passing” to work. • OBS displaced by late running or service disruption. • OBS unable…

This is the best news Southern passengers have heard in more than a year, but it does not mean services will suddenly improve. Southern’s performance has been appalling since long before the strikes started - the latest National Rail Passenger Survey shows it is the worst in the country by an increasing margin. On the day before the deal was announced, only 31% of Southern Mainline services ran on time. The Public Performance Measure (PPM) figure for trains arriving within five minutes of schedule was 68%. The figures for the GTR franchise as a whole were 43% on time, with a PPM of 77%. So most of the delays and disruption are not due to strikes - 11 months of industrial unrest has been just one of the factors destabilising…

DEVOLVING transport powers to London would not prevent investment in other cities across the UK, according to the chairman of London-based intelligence and strategy firm The Business of Cities. Speaking at the London Transport Museum on February 2, at a discussion on the Mayor’s Transport Strategy - The future of transport and infrastructure in London, Professor Greg Clark CBE said: “The problem has been the rest of the UK has not followed London’s growth.” He said that experience from around the world shows that “there’s no rule that says only one city grows. It’s down to devolution.” For the UK, Clark added: “Manchester to Leeds seems the most obvious for growth. For me, HS2 strikes a most obvious link to the growth hubs. We could discuss Edinburgh-Glasgow, too.” Professor Tony…

London’s transport network compares favourably with other cities across the world, but it needs to keep growth going to match other ambitious cities. That was the message from Professor Greg Clark CBE, chairman of The Business of Cities. He told delegates meeting to discuss the London Mayor’s Transport Strategy: “HS1, Heathrow Express, East London Line, Docklands Light Rail, the congestion charge, Crossrail, HS2, Thameslink, Bakerloo Line extension - these are just some of the projects since the last upgrade in New York 25 years ago. In terms of London’s transport, improvements are phenomenal.” Clark said that in comparison to other world cities, London is “doing well”. He highlighted how “the scope to manage growth going forward is second to Paris. If you think of coverage, 61% of the population lives…

Proposals by the Scottish Government to cut the overall burden of Air Passenger Duty by 50% could lead to Edinburgh-London passenger numbers for Virgin Trains East Coast falling by up to a third. VTEC Managing Director David Horne told MSPs at a meeting of Holyrood’s Finance Committee: “We know that the market is competitive, and that is why we are extremely concerned that a reduction in tax paid by air passengers will result, on these domestic routes, in a switch from rail to air. “That will fundamentally undermine the case for further investment in the rail routes between London and Scotland.”…

Journey times of 25 minutes between Liverpool and Manchester form part of Labour’s plans for a ‘Crossrail for the North’. Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell unveiled the plans on February 6, saying that if elected his party would invest to transform the North’s economy, including a series of major rail improvements across existing west-east rail links. “Labour is absolutely committed to delivering HS3, a Crossrail for the North, starting right here in Liverpool and connecting the great cities of the north of England,” he said. McDonnell said there was much potential in the region that was being squandered by underinvestment, delays and a lack of real commitment from Whitehall. “So with our mayoral candidates in Manchester and Liverpool, and councils across the North, Labour will be pushing for this Government to…

Improving access for disabled passengers at stations and on trains is under way following meetings with senior rail industry representatives, says Rail Minister Paul Maynard. The Department for Transport says clearer information will be made available at stations regarding availability of accessible toilets in advance of journeys, and that staff training will be improved. If facilities are out of order, the DfT wants operators to inform passengers. Also, maintenance teams will be tasked with repairing accessible toilets, and ensuring they are more reliable. Paralympian Anne Wafula-Strike had highlighted the issue facing passengers with mobility issues. Maynard said: “I take the issue of accessibility on our railways extremely seriously, and these commitments from industry are just one step forward to improve things. “It is vital that all people, including disabled passengers,…

Richard Kelly is LORAM UK’s new managing director. He joins from the power sector, where a 38-year career has covered customer service, project engineering, operations management and business development. His most recent role was managing director of rotating plant at GE Power Service. LORAM is about to start non-passenger operations on the UK rail network. Vice president of international regions Joe Carlin said: “His extensive commercial and operational experience in the power turbine and automotive sectors, coupled with his proven ability to develop senior executive level talent, will allow us to accelerate the execution of our long-term growth strategies in the UK and beyond.”…

A preliminary view based on the available ground investigation information does not indicate that any tunnel realignment will be necessary regarding HS2 construction. Rail Minister Andrew Jones explained this in a Commons Written Reply to Cheryl Gillan (Conservative, Chesham and Amersham). Gillan had asked whether any contingency plans had been prepared for revisions to re-routing of HS2, should ground investigations in the Chilterns reveal that tunnelling in that area adds “significantly” to costs or presents unacceptable risks. Jones replied: “The HS2 Phase 1 Hybrid Bill contains powers to vary the alignment of the track (or tunnel) either vertically and/ or horizontally within the defined ‘Limits of Deviation’ set out in the Bill. Variation of the alignment within these limits would only be implemented in extreme circumstances. “HS2 Ltd has taken…

Flexicon receives PADS Flexicon has received Network Rail enhanced PADS approval for flexible conduits, glands and accessories for signalling and other infrastructure applications. The revised requirement includes cable protection for applications prone to flooding or prolonged immersion under water. Sandy points renewed Network Rail was due to renew switches and crossings near Sandy as this issue of RAIL went to press, in a £3.6 million project aimed at improving reliability on the East Coast Main Line. The work was due to take place on February 4/5 and 11/12.…

A pay deal for 25,000 Network Rail staff has been secured by the RMT union that protects staff from future inflation, guarantees no compulsory redundancies, and increases London Allowances by 29%. Under the deal NR has committed to pay all employees in the bargaining groups a consolidated increase equal to: RPI at November 2016 on basic pay with effect from January 1 this year; and RPI at November 2017 on basic pay from January 1 next year. The RPI figure last November was 2.2%. There will be no compulsory redundancies across all members of those bargaining groups before December 31 2018. RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said: “This deal shows that an organised and determined workforce can secure pay offers that protect both jobs and wages at a time of…

A £49 million deal has been agreed for the electrification of 46 miles of track on the Shotts Line between Holytown Junction and Midcalder Junction. Network Rail awarded the contract to Carillion Powerlines Ltd on January 12. The line to be wired links Edinburgh and Glasgow, and the work is due to be completed by March 2019. The deal covers the delivery of all elements needed to electrify the route, including the erection of stanchions and overhead line equipment. Seventeen structures on the route will either be removed or replaced, while a further ten bridges will have the height of their parapets extended. In addition, 1,458 piled foundations are required for 1,265 masts and 97 twin cantilevers. New station footbridges will be installed at Addiewell and West Calder, while there…

Rolling stock issues are also highlighted in the RDG report. There are agreements to lease the refurbished High Speed Train fleet that will enter traffic from next year until 2030 (when the oldest would be 54 years old), and the possibility of extending the 2+4 HST sets to 2+5 sets. There is also an option to increase the order of 70 Class 385s that are now being delivered. Looking beyond that, the number of second generation electric multiple units being made available in England is rising, which means there should be sufficient capacity available. But there is a lack of available diesel multiple units that will be needed to manage growth until 2024.…

For rail freight, the Rail Delivery Group suggests that Scottish maritime intermodal could increase by 58% to 92,000 containers per year, while domestic intermodal could double from 74,000 containers per year to 148,000 (through growth generated on routes from the Midlands as well as new flows and short sea trips). Timber offers up to seven million tonnes per annum. However, the Rail Delivery Group highlights challenges that rail faces against existing road and sea shipment, so the constrained figure is more likely to be 1.5 million to two million tonnes.…

Mark Thurston is the new chief executive of HS2 Ltd. He is currently regional managing director for CH2M, overseeing its European operations. He replaces Simon Kirby, who left HS2 Ltd last year for Rolls-Royce. Thurston has worked in the rail industry for more than 30 years, working for Transport for London, The Nichols Group and Metronet. He has been with CH2M since 2008, working on the London 2012 Olympics and as the lead for the company’s Programme Partner joint venture on Crossrail. HS2 Ltd said he was appointed following a five-month global search, which included 20 candidates working on projects across the world. “HS2 is arguably the most important investment in infrastructure in the UK for a generation, which will serve businesses and communities across much of the country,” said…

GREENGAUGE 21 is calling for reinstatement of the Okehampton-Tavistock-Bere Alston route, to improve network resilience in the South West. The organisation’s conclusions are reached in its response to the Peninsula Rail Task Force’s Closing the Gap report, issued in November 2016 (RAIL 815). It argues that reopening the former London & South Western Railway route would aid development plans in Okehampton and Tavistock, and relieve pressure on congested local roads. “It would be valuable for Plymouth and Cornwall to have a second route to ensure that rail connectivity is not lost in adverse weather conditions or because of other reasons that lead to service disruption,” it says. Greengauge 21 believes that major works proposed to make the coastal railway at Dawlish more resilient will lead to more disruption in itself,…

ELEVEN Class 345s will be in traffic with TfL Rail (Crossrail) by the end of September. One (345002) has been delivered for testing from Ilford, while a further five have been built by Bombardier at Derby Litchurch Lane. Of those five, 345018 is currently at Asfordby for testing on the Old Dalby test track. Currently 345002 is running between Shenfield and London Liverpool Street on the route where the trains will enter revenue-earning traffic in May 2017. One electric multiple unit (EMU) will initially enter traffic that same month, with the rest following. They will replace pairs of Class 315s which date from 1981. The seven-car EMU has already completed more than 3,000 miles of testing at Old Dalby, where it reached speeds of 100mph. The testing is now focused…

‘319s’ to Long Marston Off-lease 319214 and 319453 were taken to Long Marston for storage on January 24. The four-car electric multiple units (EMUs), withdrawn by Govia Thameslink Railway, are owned by Porterbrook. The latter already has 319451 stored at the Warwickshire site. Class 70s stored Six Class 70s undergoing maintenance at Leeds Midland Road were stored on January 23, the first time the locomotives, built in 2009/2010, have been removed from traffic by Freightliner. Stored were 70001-003/009/013/014. Fearless returns to GA Direct Rail Services 68016 Fearless has gone on hire to Greater Anglia. It is the first ‘68’ to work for GA twice, having been one of the intial pair used in July last year on trains between Norwich and Great Yarmouth/Lowestoft. DB hires Class 08 DB…

Great Northern’s fleet consisted of 12 Class 317/1s, 13 Class 321/4s and 40 Class 365s. Under Govia Thameslink Railway’s plans, the ‘317s’ and ‘321s’ will be replaced by Class 387/1s that had been due to be cascaded to Great Western Railway, before the latter bought new ‘387s’ instead. All 12 ‘317/1s’ and ten Class 321s will move to Greater Anglia, with the last three ‘321s’ to move to ScotRail. Their duties will be covered by Class 365s released following the introduction of ‘387s’. A further cascade is planned when GN takes delivery of Class 700s. These will be used on trains from Peterborough and Cambridge on Thameslink routes, and will enable GTR to hand back half of its fleet of Class 365s. These had also been destined for GWR, but…

A Virgin Trains East Coast (VTEC) High Speed Train (HST) - using an East Midlands Trains Class 43 power car at one end - will operate the Branch Line Society (BLS) Railtour on March 18, featuring depot visits and freight-only lines. Four Class 08s will also haul the HST at the depots. The first site visited, Bounds Green, will use 08441 and 08670, while 08472 and 08596 will haul the HST at Craigentinny. The charter is being organised by the BLS, 125 Group and the Preserved Locomotive Enthusiast Group (PLEG). Funds raised will go to the Railway Children charity. The train leaves King’s Cross at 0550, and will stop at Bounds Green before running via the Hertford Loop and visiting York Avoiding Line, Blyth & Tyne, Millerhill and the Edinburgh…

“Of course, competition can at times deliver improvements and make competitors respond to the needs of their customers. But franchising is a far more complex process than trying to choose between Pepsi Cola and Coca-Cola.” In this post-truth age, there are not just the alternative facts put out by the White House. There are also the bits of conventional wisdom that are seen as so obvious and axiomatic that no one would wish to challenge them. That, in short, is the problem with the House of Commons Transport Select Committee (TSC) report on franchising, which has just been published. In a way, as a long-time critic of the whole franchising process, I should be rejoicing. Here is a report from a cross-party bunch of MPs that considers franchising to be…

“A major train accident sticks in the national conscience, and its location alone - be it Quntinshill, Lewisham, Polmont or Potters Bar - is often enough to stir the memory and chill the blood.” It’s February 23 2007. Travelling north from London that day by rail, you have essentially two choices: the East Coast Main Line - route of the celebrated Flying Scotsman - and the West Coast Main Line, once the preserve of ‘Scots’ and ‘Coronations’ before electrification brought the AL1s and Class 87s. You take the latter, boarding one of Virgin Trains’ Pendolinos - the tilting trains, the ‘what-the-APT-should-have-been’ trains, the trains not long from Alstom’s workshops. And at 1715, the signal having been given and the ‘right away’ received, you feel it pull out and rumble over…

ONCE again I have produced my annual table analysing the percentage change in walk-on fares since privatisation, for all operators that serve London. Firstly, a few reminders of what the table does and doesn’t show. A 200% increase does not mean a fare has doubled, but trebled. Now, 78% inflation since 1995 equates to an average of 2.7% per annum. If fares had risen a mere 0.5% above that each year they would now be up 100%, so any rise under 100% is very reasonable. Secondly, like-for-like markets are being compared. Where an operator now runs way beyond the limits of what existed in 1995 (such as Chiltern Railways to Birmingham), only fares within the original area of operation are compared. Thirdly, aside from seasons, the table clearly shows how…

It is obvious that the fares system would be greatly simplified if everything could be priced in single legs - but those singles must be around half the price of today’s returns, and that’s where operators are liable to lose money. Similarly, we all want to see an end to the need for split ticketing. But that can only be achieved by raising the current cheap legs to match the throughout fare, or by reducing the throughout fare to the sum of the cheaper legs. The first option would affect regulated fares, so fortunately is ruled out, but the second will mean operators losing money. I had always assumed nothing would happen unless there were revenue guarantees from the Department for Transport. However, I have been assured by the Rail…

ScotRail Alliance Managing Director Phil Verster has told the Scottish Government that he does not accept a reported £379 million increase in project costs north of the border to be an accurate figure. During a Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee meeting on January 18, Stewart Stevenson (SNP, Banffshire and Buchan Coast) asked about the £379m cost and what actions were being taken to give greater predictability of costs, and to keep the costs to the practical levels required against the money available. Verster replied: “The £379m figure that was used in the Ernst & Young report is not accurate - that is, we do not accept it, and things have moved on. We agree on a trilateral basis with the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) and Transport Scotland exactly…

The Transport Select Committee wants the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) to be responsible for enforcement and monitoring roles that are currently undertaken by the Department for Transport (DfT). It says: “We question whether it is effective for one of the commercial partners to a franchise (the Department) to also be the enforcement authority.” The TSC wants the DfT to bring forward a consultation setting out options for independent enforcement, including the ORR option or a new body. This would also consider the costs of doing this and the implementation issues for the ORR.…

“This has been an extremely difficult period for our customers and our staff, and now the process of rebuilding trust can begin. ” CHARLES HORTON Chief Executive of Govia Thameslink Railway says the TOC is committed to restoring the service to levels passengers rightly expect. “ I appreciate there is still some way to go before services are at an acceptable level. ” HUMZA YOUSAF Scottish Transport Minister announces details of discounted travel for Scotland’s rail passengers. “This is a time of rapid change for urban transport authorities. ” TOBYN HUGHES New chairman of the Urban Transport Group discusses his appointment. “ They should hold the train operating companies to account. Unless that happens the taxpayer will be footing the bill and passengers will suffer. ” LOUISE ELLMAN Transport Select…

The RMT union complained that it had been unfairly excluded from the talks. Within an hour of the announcement of a deal with drivers, the union confirmed that action by conductors would continue. Assistant General Secretary Steve Hedley told the BBC that it was “scandalous other people think they can do a deal that affects our members. We are not bound by that deal. The dispute is still on.” At the same time, the RMT announced it was in dispute with Merseyrail, and would ballot for industrial action over its plans to introduce new trains that will not carry guards.” On Southern, RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said: “Loyal and dedicated conductors… have had the legs kicked from under them by those who are supposed to be on their side.…

Schoolwork is suffering as a result of the disruption on Southern Railway, according to David Carter, head teacher at St Phillip Howard School. The Roman Catholic school was built close to the station at Barnham, in West Sussex. Some 750 pupils travel by train each day, in a catchment stretching from Portsmouth to Brighton. Emma Hattersley, a Year 11 pupil, said: “I’m showing a reduction in the quality of my work. I arrive late and miss some of the lesson. I’ll then take an hour and a half to get home. I’m tired, freezing, and I’m just not in the mood for work. We just need them to stop being stubborn and sort it out.”…

The issue of Transport for London controlling suburban routes currently operated by Govia Thameslink Railway, South West Trains and Southeastern was also discussed, even after Secretary of State for Transport Chris Grayling said this would not happen (RAIL 816). Professor Tony Travers, Director, LSE London, said: “It would be good if the interdependence with London and the South East came under TfL control. “Office of Rail and Road performance tables show that, surprise surprise, TfL is top of performance. A structure of people thinking as a system would help.”…

Dr Rüdiger Grube stepped down from his role as DB Chief Executive Officer on January 30, with immediate effect. The supervisory board of Deutsche Bahn AG unanimously approved his request to leave, and for an agreement to terminate his contract, with terms to be agreed. Grube had been in his role for almost eight years. Chief Finance Officer Dr Richard Lutz will act as Interim CEO until a replacement is appointment. In a statement DB said that process would be “prompt”. “Dr Rüdiger Grube has made a lasting contribution to DB, in particular through his work to make the company fit for the future,” said Prof Dr Utz-Hellmuth Felcht, chairman of the Supervisory Board. “ He has left his mark on Deutsche Bahn as a driver of both digitalisation and…

Network Rail’s agenda for reopening the Gospel Oak-Barking line following the installation of overhead electrification may need to be modified because the work has not been completed on time. An NR spokesman told RAIL on February 7: “Over the last eight months we’ve been working to install modern equipment on a Victorian railway that will transform the way people travel across north London on this line. We are planning to reopen the line to passenger services on Monday February 27, and we expect to confirm this early next week. “Unfortunately we’ve been unable to complete all of the work required within the closure. We are currently re-planning this and will update those affected by this future work as soon as possible. Thank you to neighbours and passengers for their continued…

Hitachi Rail Europe is recruiting 150 staff from the Bristol area for its Stoke Gifford depot. The £80 million depot, near Bristol Parkway, will be responsible for engine repairs, wheelset changes and train inspections on Great Western Railway’s Intercity Express Programme fleet. The jobs are permanent and HRE is recruiting from outside the rail industry - it is looking at the aviation, automotive and military sectors. It also hopes to recruit more women and young people - when the depot is open, Stoke Gifford will recruit four new apprentices. “This is great news, as it shows how our long-term investment in the modernisation of the rail network is creating new skills and new jobs,” said Rail Minister Paul Maynard. Stoke Gifford Depot Manager Gary Martin said: “The depot will soon…

A fuel leak was the cause of a fire that broke out on-board Vivarail’s prototype Class 230 D-Train, while on test at Kenilworth on December 30 ( RAIL 818). This is the main conclusion of Vivarail’s final internal investigation report published on February 2, and which lays the blame at a repair intervention made to one of the train’s engines by an external supplier. The report adds that fuel lines leading to the 3.2-litre diesel engine, which is part of a range more often fitted to Transit road vans, were refitted using a procedure that did not meet manufacturer Ford’s manual advice not to reuse the pipes. The company says the fault was not spotted before the fire due to “a lack of suitable test procedures”, and has pledged to…

Testing of the TransPennine Express Mk 5a coaches begins this autumn at the Velim test track in the Czech Republic. The vehicles, owned by Beacon Rail, are being built by Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF) in Beasain, northern Spain. Thirteen rakes of five coaches are on order. They will be operated in push-pull mode, with Class 68s hired from Direct Rail Services providing power. TPE told RAIL on January 31 that the first bodyshell was nearing completion. The operator added that its finalised route options for the locomotive-hauled operations were still being developed, but confirmed that the final deployment would be between Manchester Airport/Liverpool Lime Street and Scarborough/Middlesbrough.…

The ScotRail Alliance is trying to bring forward the completion date of the Edinburgh-Glasgow Improvement Programme (EGIP), from its anticipated summer completion. ScotRail Alliance Managing Director Phil Verster told the Scottish Government, during a Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee meeting on January 18, that while electric trains are due to start running in September, it is hoped they could start in the summer. Network Rail was unable to confirm this as this issue of RAIL went to press.…

The Great Eastern Main Line is “one area that could benefit from improvements”, Theresa May told MPs during Prime Minister’s Questions on January 31. Will Quince (Conservative, Colchester) had asked on digital signalling: “Given the new fleet of trains on order and the economic growth opportunity for our region, does the Prime Minister agree that the Great Eastern Main Line has the most compelling case for that pilot?” May replied: “I know that the Department for Transport is considering where those trials should take place, but the Great Eastern Main Line is one area that could benefit from those improvements.”…

THE RMT union has entered into a formal dispute with Merseyrail over the planned introduction of new Stadler-built Driver Only Operation (DOO) trains from 2020. The union announced on February 2 that after talks with the operator broke down, it is to ballot its members on industrial action over Merseyrail’s failure to provide assurances that its 220-strong complement of guards would not be withdrawn from all services. Merseyrail instead plans to create 60 new on-board customer service roles, and has guaranteed all guards continued employment in alternative roles with the same pay and conditions. However, the RMT states that its position is consistent with its national policy on DOO - this has already resulted in a wave of strikes that have paralysed Southern services, over that operator’s decision to also…

The Glasgow tram-train team has visited Sheffield to learn from the experiences of the pilot project that is due to start operating from the Yorkshire city next year. Replying to a Commons Written Question from Clive Betts (Labour, Sheffield South East) regarding what lessons the Department for Transport had learned from the Sheffield to Rotherham pilot, and what steps would be applied to the Glasgow Airport project, Rail Minister Paul Maynard said: “Part of the scope of the Sheffield to Rotherham tram-train pilot project is the production of a suite of information on the lessons learned during both the design and delivery phases. “This information will be published for the benefit of interested parties. The project team is also available to provide advice and have supplied information to a number…

Passengers on ScotRail can switch to Stagecoach East Scotland bus services during times of rail disruption following an agreement between the two operators which came into force on January 16. SR has said the new ‘ticket acceptance arrangement’ covers major disruptions caused by severe weather, emergency repairs or signalling issues. The deal, however, does not cover travel between Edinburgh and Inverkeithing. Under the agreement, passengers with a valid train ticket can show it to the bus driver and travel free of charge. They will be alerted of disruptions by SR staff on trains and at stations, as well as on Twitter and online. Similar arrangements are already in place between SR and Stagecoach in the north of Scotland, with First Bus in Glasgow, with Edinburgh Trams and in Midlothian with…

ScotRail passengers will receive £3 million worth of discounted travel this summer, as a ‘thank you’ from the Scottish Government for their patience during significant periods of upgrades to the network. Transport Scotland said monthly and annual season ticket holders will receive a free week of travel, with details of how to claim to be released soon. Additionally, there will be incentives to switch to smart ticketing. Transport Scotland said these include a free week for holders or a friend/family member and two off-peak return trips anywhere in Scotland, a free week to be added to their next season ticket purchase, plus one off-peak return trip anywhere in Scotland for those holding monthly and above season tickets. Meanwhile weekly season ticket holders receive a complementary one-day return ticket anywhere in…

Network Rail’s £250 million programme of infrastructure upgrades for Crossrail is continuing, with work over ten weekends (until April 8) principally focused on Shenfield. The new Platform 6 at Shenfield will be connected to the main line network, and other platforms will be altered so that they are the correct height for the new trains. The junction at Shenfield will also be upgraded to smooth the flow of freight, stopping and fast passenger trains. Overhead wires will be replaced at Seven Kings, with more heat-resistant wires installed that will enable temporary speed restrictions to be imposed when the overhead wires get hot to be removed. Track, ballast and sleepers will also be replaced at Romford. Transport for London’s station upgrade programme includes refurbishment of ticket halls at Brentwood and Chadwell…

FirstGroup says its rail revenue growth of 1.1% in the third quarter of 2016-17 reflects “moderating growth rates seen across the country”. In a trading update issued on February 7, the company added: “The impact of the slowdown for Great Western Railway has been exacerbated by the volume of infrastructure upgrade work taking place on the network.” However, the company says TransPennine Express revenues are “above the industry average” for the year to date. Year to date rail revenues are up 0.8% compared with the same time last year. Its other key UK operations are in the bus sector, where third quarter revenues fell by 0.6%, with year to date revenues down by 1.1%.…

WESTERN Bristol: The 14-month restoration of the Grade 2-listed Avon swing bridge has been completed, enabling it to become part of the MetroBus scheme running from Temple Meads to Ashton Vale. The replacement of the badly corroded superstructure has cost £3.2 million. Broadway: The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway’s £1.25 million ‘Final Mile’ share offer reached the £1m mark at the beginning of February. The new station building on the site of the original (demolished in 1963) has almost reached roof height, and is scheduled to open on March 30 2018. Buckfastleigh: Vandals caused around £5,000 worth of damage to carriages at the South Devon Railway on January 20, after gaining access to the storage shed. They were seen on CCTV cameras. Looe: Services over the branch from Liskeard were suspended yet…

Eight Class 319/4s have been allocated to Northern, but have yet to enter traffic. These are the first of the sub-class to move to the operator. Northern has leased 319424/431/434/442/448/450/456/458, which were previously used by Govia Thameslink Railway but which had been made redundant following the introduction of Class 700s on the Thameslink route. Currently there are 20 Class 319/3s used by Northern, with a further 12 to enter traffic. Of the 12, eight will be fitted with diesel engines ( RAIL 818), although identities have yet to be determined.…

Three Class 321/4s that were due to be sent off-lease at the end of 2016 have remained with Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR). However, RAIL understands that a deal is in place for them to move on a short-term hire contract to ScotRail (SR). The electric multiple units (EMUs) were scheduled to be replaced by Class 387s, but GTR retained them on its Great Northern operations on a short-term basis. Currently, 321401 and 321404 are operating as a pair, with 321403 spare at Hornsey. If the EMUs do move north of the border, they will follow seven Class 321/4s that left London Midland. However, they will remain as four-car trains (unlike 321411-321417 which were reformed as three-car trains), and will stay with SR until enough Hitachi Class 385s have entered traffic.…

Govia Thameslink Railway Class 387/1 electric multiple units have reached Kings Lynn on test, ahead of their entry into traffic on the route later this year. They will replace Class 365s that will be cascaded to other parts of GTR’s Great Northern network, and are the first air-conditioned Electrostars to serve the Norfolk town for GTR, although Greater Anglia introduced Class 379s on the route in 2011. The first test was carried out on January 14 with 387108 and 387129, followed by on January 21 with 387108 and 387113. These will be the first new trains on the Kings Lynn-London King’s Cross route since the Class 365s were introduced in 1995. Govia Thameslink Railway already uses 20 Class 387/1s on its Great Northern routes from London King’s Cross to Cambridge…

A Direct Rail Services Class 37/4 sent from the North West to East Anglia to cover for a failed classmate itself failed after one trip, leaving Greater Anglia with no serviceable ‘37s’ for three days. Following the failure of 37403 Isle of Mull while hauling the 0747 Lowestoft-Norwich on January 25, GA was forced to return it to Crewe Gresty Bridge, along with 37405 and 37419 Carl Haviland 1954-2012. An oil leak was the cause of its failure. Isle of Mull had only arrived at Norwich the day before, hauling DRS 57002, 68016 Fearless and GA 90009 from Crewe. It had been dispatched south from Barrow, having been on hire to Northern. It was the first time 37403 had been supplied to GA by DRS. It had been sent south…

Progress is too slow I am sure John Worth speaks for us all when he questions the length of time it takes to get any railway project completed (Open Access, RAIL 817). In addition to the examples he mentioned there are many more. Parliamentary approval for the Borders Railway was given in June 2006, but it took over nine years before the first train ran in September 2015. This was to rebuild 30 miles of the Waverley Route along a largely extant trackbed. It looks as if East West Rail might take even longer. The Chancellor approved expenditure for this project in the Autumn Statement of 2011, but five years on there is precious little evidence of any progress on the 20 miles between Bicester and Bletchley. It is interesting…

Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell was spot on when, in a speech recently, he was very clear about where rail investment was lagging behind. He has committed Labour to spending serious money on the nebulous HS3 project for railway improvements in the north, a project originally promoted by that after dinner speaker extraordinaire George Osborne. There is no doubt that the biggest single stimulant for the northern Powerhouse would be the creation of a network SouthEast-type railway system in the north. Imagine if all the major cities were connected by modern electric trains running on reliable, fast tracks with much enhanced capacity and frequency. It really would become a powerhouse. Every time I travel on local trains in the north I am struck by the contrast to London and the South…

“If RMT planned to fight on safety grounds, it should have checked whether history supported its case. History is not littered with accidents where driver-only operation has been the cause. RMT chose instead to rubbish the figures, and rubbish those producing them and any other counter-arguments.” There’S always been a tension between the front and rear of a train. It’s some decades since freight trains lost their guards, and the vans in which they rode on the rear of the train. At the front the driver remained, albeit without a secondman. Both unions - ASLeF for the drivers and the NUr (now rMT) for the guards - lost roles. But the NUr lost its entire role on freight trains, whereas ASLeF kept its drivers. Old union hands remember these battles……

For some time now TfL Rail (Crossrail) has produced no printed timetables. Currently this affects only Liverpool Street to Shenfield, of course. But it has now been joined by London Overground, and I am told this has produced a storm of protest. I predict nothing will change, as in my experience Transport for London never listens to complaints and has always suffered from a ‘we know best’ attitude. Of course, TfL has the precedent of not having produced any Tube timetables for some years, other than for the Metropolitan Line. While mentioning Shenfield, I did overlook to mention in my review of the National Rail Timetable ( RAIL 818) that Brentwood to Shenfield is currently closed to TfL Rail. Table 5 does get this right, although it omits to mention…

“Low-cost bi-mode trains can improve rural route finances by improving connectivity to larger population centres.” There will be all-round relief that the Southern Railway traincrew dispute is nearing its end. Finally, drivers could see there was no financial gain in resisting the inevitable trend towards the removal of the traditional role of the guard. Elsewhere, the toning down of London Underground’s proposals for reduced station staffing emphasises how difficult it is to make productivity gains in railway operation. However, it is unlikely that the future removal of guards from Merseyrail and Northern train services will happen without industrial unrest and timetable disruption. A principal reason why it is such hard going to make productivity gains is the surge in demand for railway network use - in 20 years, passenger numbers…