in brief... C
Crossrail’s sustainability report
rossrail has outlined how Europe’s largest infrastructure project is performing against its sustainability
targets in its 2012 report. Highlights include: contractors exceeding recycling targets with more than 92 per cent of demolition and construction waste re- used; more than 98 per cent of excavated material recycled, with the majority being used to create an RSPB nature reserve in Wallasea Island in Essex, and measures implemented to track ethical sourcing of material through the supply chain. Andrew Wolstenholme, chief executive,
said: ‘Crossrail is setting new standards ranging from recycling and energy efficiency through to future rail operations.’
Railway Improvement conference T S
he Railway Improvement: getting Britain on track conference will look at the challenges facing both passenger
and freight rail. Speakers include Tom Smith, chairman of ATOC; Graham Smith, secretary, Rail Delivery Group; Anthony Smith, chief executive, Passenger Focus. Venue is the America Square conference centre, London on 25th June 2013. www.
publicserviceevents.co.uk/254/railway- improvement.
Transport drives business for Serco
erco’s operations in the transport market contributed to Serco UK and Europe’s overall success in 2012
the company said in its full-year results statement. London-based contracts - the DLR, the Barclays Cycle Hire scheme and traffic management operations all achieved ‘excellent operational performance’. Serco’s operating profit for 2012 was up 8 per cent to £287.6 million and the order book increased to £19.1 billion over £17.9 billion in 2011. Serco’s other UK rail franchises in Northern Rail and Merseyrail are ‘supporting growth in passenger numbers’.
Crossrail project for Balfour Beatty Rail N
etwork Rail has awarded a £130 million contract to BBR for the construction of a two-mile section
of the Crossrail route from Plumstead to Abbey Wood in South London. The contract will also include construction of a new station building at Abbey Wood with a new Crossrail platform that will allow for easy interchange with North Kent services. The main construction works will start in 2014. Under the Crossrail programme, NR is responsible for the upgrade of 43 miles of track, as well as improving 27 stations from Maidenhead in the west to Abbey Wood and Shenfield in the east.
Page 8 April 2013
Data release paves way for rail price comparison websites
Rail passengers can access free up-to-date information on
the best ticket deals following the publication of comprehensive fare data, Transport Minister Norman Baker has announced.
The fares database, which had previously only been available under a paid-for licence, can now be accessed for free through the ATOC website following discussions with the Department for Transport. The publication is in line with
the government’s push for greater transparency around data, and is necessary for the development of price comparison websites and mobile phone apps. Norman Baker said: ‘The
government is committed to providing greater clarity around information and the publication of this comprehensive fare data is a vital first step in providing passengers with a platform to make more informed ticket choices. ‘In industries where this
information has been made available previously we have a seen a raft of price comparison websites and mobile apps developed and I am confident we will see the same results here. ‘It is now down to private sector
companies to seize this opportunity and I encourage them to start working on products which can provide real benefits to both passengers and the market.’ Steve Howes, managing director of Rail Settlement Plan, said: ‘The way
people access information on, and buy, all sorts of services is changing. Train companies have decided to make their fares data available to developers to further enhance the ability of passengers to access accurate information and find the right ticket at the right price. ‘Providing this data for free is the
latest step in a decade-long process that has seen the rail industry make more information publicly available than other transport sectors in this country and other railways overseas. Rail passengers in Britain now enjoy access to information on fares and timetables that is unrivalled elsewhere in the world.’ The fares database provides a
comprehensive breakdown of the range of fares available between different locations and follows on from the widespread release of timetabling information for free by the industry at the end of 2011.
David Sidebottom, Passenger
Focus director, said: ‘Value for money has become the Achilles’ heel of the rail industry, with less than half of passengers in our most recent survey saying that their ticket was good value. Some passengers tell us that they can find the fares system complicated and illogical. ‘We welcome this move to provide
more information on ticket pricing, and look forward to seeing increased transparency from the rail industry as a whole.’
Politicians gather at Cheltenham station
MP for Cheltenham, Martin Hopwood and Transport Minister Norman Baker visited Cheltenham station as Network Rail begins a £45 million project to upgrade the line between Swindon and Gloucester via Kemble and Stroud.
The new infrastructure will increase capacity at Cheltenham allowing for the operation of four trains per hour in each direction.
Martin Horwood said: ‘The redoubling of the Swindon to Kemble line will be good for Cheltenham, good for the local rail network, good for passengers and good for local business. I’m delighted that after years of campaigning and lobbying the actual work has now begun.’
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