Crossrail trains to be funded by the taxpayer
New trains and maintenance facilities for Crossrail are to be fully funded by the taxpayer so that the £14.8 billion project can start
on time.
The previous proposal to procure rolling stock included a £350 million public sector contribution but the revised arrangement will see the public sector finance increase to 100 per cent, or around £1 billion. The government, the Mayor of London and Transport for London
(TfL) say the decision was taken as Crossrail’s ‘unique situation’ means there is no existing fleet of trains to operate through the tunnels when the works are complete in late 2018. Mayor of London, Boris Johnson said: ‘Nothing must get in the way of this fabulous new railway and it is fantastic news that we can now crack on with buying the wonderful fleet of brand spanking new trains.’ Shadow transport secretary Maria Eagle said: ‘This is yet another humiliating transport shambles’, but the move was welcomed by the TSSA, whose leader Manuel Cortes said: ‘We welcome the fact that Tory ministers realise that it is cheaper and quicker to have publicly- funded new trains.’ The RMT has challenged Boris Johnson to support a union-led
campaign for the Crossrail fleet to be built in Britain, specifically by Bombardier in Derby. ‘Although RMT welcomes the belated recognition of the two-year disaster on the Thameslink/Siemens fleet deal, there now needs to be top-level pressure to ensure that the Crossrail fleet is built here,’ said general secretary, Bob Crow.
Hatfield Colliery collapse closes rail services until summer
Around one million cubic metres of material needs to be moved by Hatfield Colliery before the rail line east of Doncaster can be
repaired. Last month, Network Rail declared the damage to the track by the
moving spoil heap to be ‘a lot worse’ than first thought, and services between Doncaster, Scunthorpe and Cleethorpes will not resume until early July when it is hoped repair works will be completed. The track had all but disappeared as the spoil heap moved on to it carrying trees and tracks before it. A rotational slip rather than a simple landslide, the ground had moved sideways and upwards, tearing up the tracks and twisting them out of shape. While colliery workers move the spoil, Network Rail teams are clearing damaged vegetation, completing detailed land investigations and finalising designs for the repair. Phil Verster, route managing director for Network Rail, said: ‘Because of the nature of the material in the spoil heap, the work to stabilise it and remove the material from the railway is complex and will take some time. First TransPennine Express managing director, Nick Donovan, said: ‘This is clearly not ideal for rail passengers and disruption to journeys is likely to be significant. Unfortunately there is currently no alternative rail route available to us although we will continue to assess and update our plans as needed.’ Selby swing bridge is due
for renewal this summer (28 July to 9 September). NR is planning for this to go ahead as scheduled, but in the event that the work at Stainforth is still underway this will limit the diversionary routes available to passenger services. NR is working with train operators to identify alternative arrangements.
Page 24 April 2013
Bombardier refutes Deutsche Bahn accusations
Deutsche Bahn is seeking damages of around £259.2 million (€300 million) from Bombardier Deutschland over ‘serious defects’ in the Berlin 481 series trains used on the suburban S-Bahn network in Berlin. Talks aimed at reaching a settlement failed, with Deutsche Bahn saying it has spent millions of euros to change wheels and wheelset axles, and modify or replace braking systems and traction motors.
Bombardier refutes the claims as without merit and the allegations as defamatory. It says that S-Bahn Berlin, a subsidiary of Deutsche Bahn, has been ‘responsible for its own maintenance from the start’ and that Bombardier has no contractual obligations regarding maintenance and repair of the 481 series.
Deutsche Bahn is already seeking damages of £138.2 million (€160 million) from Bombardier in lawsuits filed over problems with more than 200 regional trains operating in southern Germany and problems with brakes in regional and local trains in Munich. Bombardier said it ‘remains open to dialogue’ with Deutsche Bahn.
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