2009 review
RAil PRofessioNAl’s
review of 2009
The stories that have shaped the rail industry
during the last 12 months
January
n A consortium, Agility Trains, led by Hitachi is named as the preferred
n Transport secretary Geoff Hoon announces that a bidder for the £7.5bn Inter-City Express contract. The fact that the trains
new company, HS2, will be formed to investigate the will be constructed mainly in Japan brings stinging criticism, because
potential of a new high-speed line in the UK. The loser Bombardier would have built its trains in Derby. Announcements of
group is to be chaired by former civil servant Sir further electrification of the network later in the year cast uncertainty over
David Rowlands. the order.
n Several Tocs begin talks with unions about
redundancies, including First Scotrail, Southeastern,
March
South West Trains and Glasgow underground’s operator Strathclyde n The government launches its own Rosco (rolling stock leasing
Partnership. company), Diesel Trains, to fund the purchase of up to 202 new diesel
trains. The DfT says that existing Roscos are not keen to finance
February
the building of new diesel units because of the possibility of further
n Northern Ireland’s rail
e
electrification of the rail network.
operator Translink scoops two
ess Ey
Pr n The Farringdon to Moorgate branchline closes permanently to allow
awards at the Rail Business work to go ahead on the Thameslink upgrade scheme. First Capital
Awards – Rolling Stock Connect runs a final commemorative service for enthusiasts to mark the
Excellence and Rail Business closure of the line, which opened in 1868.
of the Year. Northern’s
Heidi Mottram wins the Rail
April
Business Manager of the n Managing director Elaine Holt leaves First Capital Connect at short
Year award, while Eurostar is notice to go on ‘gardening leave’. A few months later she is announced as
awarded Train Operator of the the chair of the government-run East Coast railway company.
Mal McGreevy, head of Translink.
Year. n Work begins on the refurbishment of King’s Cross station. The £450m
project, which includes a new platform and major changes to the main
enthusiasts wave off the final service
concourse and the front of the station, will be completed in 2013.
aul Bigland to run on the Moorgate branch.
P
May
n Preparatory work on Crossrail begins following a ceremony at Canary
Wharf attended by Gordon Brown and Boris Johnson.
an artist’s impression of the plaza to
be built at the front of King’s Cross.
18 rail professional : JANUARY 2010
RPJan10 pp18-20 2009 Review.indd 18 10/12/09 15:26:04
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