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JUNE 2011 ISSUE 171 £3.95
THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR RAILWAY MANAGERS
www.railpro.co.uk
Meeting in the middle
Centro’s Geoff Inskip on why construction of the high speed line should begin in Scotland when work starts in the south
Railtex Preview Package deal and tell Show
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Off the rails
FirstGroup declines FGW extension and saves £800m
Going it alone
Network Rail’s Wessex region takes fi rst devolutionary steps
24-25
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12-13 14-15
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Average Net Circulation
January 2010 to December 2010 7,672 copies
16-17 18-19 20-23 4-10 11 11 Rail Professional opinion and news
McNulty report revealed; Network Rail fined over Potter’s Bar; TfL brushes aside Jubilee Line fears; Start of next West Coast franchise put back
Business news
WH Davis says Superlow profits will be eaten up by cost of EU compliance; CrossCountry triggers revenue support; Hitachi open day is big hit with suppliers
Train of thought
Readers letters: have your say about the rail industry and Rail Professional
News analysis
FirstGroup has declined an optional three-year extension for its First Great Western Franchise, which would have seen it paying an additional £800m in premiums. It really shouldn’t have come as a surprise, says Paul Clifton
Wright track
Robert Wright looks at the issues facing the freight industry – with its traditional markets, such as coal and steel, in decline, where does the industry’s future lie?
Wessex begins devolution
Paul Clifton meet Richard O’Brien, managing director of the devolved Wessex region of Network Rail, who explains why his new role will be very different to his previous role of route director
Rail Professional interview
Geoff Inskip, CEO of Centro and chairman of the Passenger Transport Executive Group, tells Alan Salter why Manchester and Birmingham are very different animals when it comes to public transport
30 Railtex preview
Eight-page pull-out on Railtex, which takes place 14 to 16 June at Earls Court Two, London
26-27 28 29
30-31 32-33
When HS2 Ltd was formed to investigate the potential of high speed rail, an alternative report was commissioned to see whether capacity could be improved on the West Coast Main Line without a new high speed line. Peter Plisner looks at its recommendations, which were split into ‘packages’ of improvement works
Missed opportunities
David Barraclough responds to Michael Roberts’ April article, questioning some of the improvements claimed since privatisation
The long way
Philippa Edmunds, from campaign group Freight on Rail, argues that introducing longer lorries onto the UK’s roads could be a disaster for rail freight operators
Accelerating innovation
Innovation is stifled in the UK rail industry, say Rick Eagar and Charles Boulton. They suggest ways in which the private sector can be encouraged to try out new ideas
Institution of Railway Operators
Three students explain how IRO courses have furthered their career aspirations. Plus: dates for your diary
People
Andrew Wolstenholme; Richard Jeffrey; Kevin Riddett; Steve Chilver; Kate Macdonald; Bishwajit Kumar Paul; Joanna Davies; Cathryn Ross; Margaret Ford; Andrew Fulluck
Recruitment 34-35
Vacancies in the rail industry, focusing on senior management positions
ISSUE 171 JUNE 2011
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