News in brief... A virtuous cycle
Greater Anglia’s Chelmsford station will be the first in the region to benefit from a new CyclePoint which is set to transform facilities for cyclists using the station - the busiest in the operator’s network outside of Liverpool Street. The concept is brought from the Netherlands by Abellio and combines secure cycle parking with increased capacity for cycles, supported by retail, cycle-hire and maintenance facilities.
Rescuing train gets easier Adaptations have been made to Network Rail’s fleet of Class 57’s in the south to allow them to rescue failed electric multiple units. Testing of the six 57/3 locomotives has been completed following a modification of the brake interface units. This will allow the driver to operate his brakes and those of the failed train together. The brake interface unit also operates the safety interlocks on most units, which means broken- down units can be removed at normal line speed.
The Great Train Robbery? A new report by the Centre for Research on Socio-Cultural Change at the University of Manchester on rail privatisation says it has ‘for the first time followed the flow of public money through a dysfunctional rail system which artificially inflates private profits and conceals huge taxpayer liabilities.’ The report is partly funded by the TUC but CRESC has maintained editorial rights over the content.
www.rhul.ac.uk
One millionth pet for Eurotunnel The Le Shuttle pet travel service has welcomed its one millionth pet. The service, which began in 2000, has dedicated facilities including exercise areas before boarding. Dogs, cats and ferrets can remain with their owners during the crossing from Folkestone to Calais. Le Shuttle is the leading
international furry customer carrier, transporting 65 per cent of all pets entering or returning to the UK in 2011. On 6th January 2013, 1,100 dogs and cats were carried from France to the UK, beating the all- time record for the number of pets carried in one day.
Page 6 July/August 2013
Network Rail has appointed a joint team of Atkins and Parsons Brinckerhoff as lead design organisation and system integrator for the electrification of the
Great Western Main Line.
The contract will prepare the route between London and Cardiff for the introduction of Intercity Express trains in 2017, and is one of the first parts of Network Rail’s £10 billion UK-wide electrification programme to be delivered. Around 1,000 kilometres of railway will be electrified and 20,000 overhead line support structures will be installed along a route which passes through 26 local authorities and a World Heritage site, and which interfaces with at least eight other significant railway projects.
Douglas McCormick, managing director of Atkins’ UK rail business, said: ‘As one
of Network Rail’s first major electrification schemes, this project will give the Atkins/ Parsons Brinckerhoff team the opportunity to lead the industry and develop best practice.’ Atkins and Parsons Brinckerhoff will design the overhead line equipment and power systems to electrify the route and provide engineering assurance throughout construction.
Russell Jackson, LDO project director from Atkins, said: ‘Critical to the project’s success will be collaboration between all parties; working together as one team with common goals.’
Virgin Rail Group has demanded that Network Rail makes millions of pounds of customer-focused improvements to compensate customers for poor punctuality
in recent months. VRG, the owning group of Virgin Trains, is also preparing enforcement action to bring punctuality improvements, following sustained poor performance by Network Rail, which VRG believes is a breach of contract and has deterred some customers from travelling and damaged its business. Network Rail has been strongly criticised by the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) for failing to meet punctuality targets, and faces fines of up to £75 million for poor performance on long-distance routes, including the West Coast Main Line operated by Virgin Trains.
VRG has called for any financial penalties to be in the form of customer improvements, and not in fines paid to the Treasury that remove investment from rail. Tony Collins, CEO of VRG, said: ‘Network Rail has consistently failed to deliver what it is contracted to deliver. That has directly affected customers’ experience, and their impression of rail travel. So any penalties levied on Network Rail should be in the form of tangible improvements that customers benefit from. There is really no benefit to Network Rail, customers or VRG in having money leave the industry.’
Eurotunnel has launched the ETICA - Eurotunnel Incentive for Capacity Additions - a system of financial support for railway operators launching new intermodal rail freight services through the Channel Tunnel. The ETICA mechanism - available to all railway operators, will provide a one- off financial support for start-up investments, for one year. Eurotunnel said: ‘The difficulty with opening new services through the Channel Tunnel is not, contrary to some views, due to the level of access charges, which are very competitive, but to the marketing and service start-up costs and the controls at Frethun.’ (Eurotunnel’s terminal in France). The Rail Freight Group has welcomed the scheme. Maggie Simpson, RFG’s executive director, said: ‘Cross Channel rail freight traffic persistently underperforms its potential, and there are many barriers to success including security fees and tariffs, performance issues in mainland Europe and the difficulties of quickly establishing full trainloads. By offering support in the start-up phase, the ETICA scheme should help those operators seeking to establish new services, and we look forward to an increase in traffic levels from this welcome initiative.’
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