NEWS
Thameslink rolling stock delays threatening 2018 delivery date
Delays of more than three years in the Thameslink rolling stock programme are threatening to undo otherwise good progress that’s been made on the project as a whole, according to a new report from the National Audit Office (NAO).
Phase one of the programme cost £1.704bn, was completed on time and was £143 million under budget, it said, meaning the DfT had done “well so far” on the infrastructure elements of the project. But the rolling stock delays “mean that delivering value for money from the Programme as a whole is at greater risk than the NAO would have expected at this stage”, it said. “This has implications for the rest of the programme and also plans for electrification of other parts of the rail network.”
The NAO said the DfT may have “underestimated the scale of the work, time and skills and resources it needed to negotiate a PFI deal of this complexity” – meaning that the 2018 final delivery date remains open to question.
YRP team doing ‘Three Peaks by Rail’
Four members of the Young Railway Professionals committee – chairman Dr Martyn Chymera, former chair Robert Mullen, Toby Johnson and Nicholas Lloyd – are doing the Three Peaks Challenge by Rail in support of the Railway Children.
Each of the highest peaks will be conquered in one continuous effort, with the travel between each done by rail. Including gift aid, the team had raised just over £2,400 as RTM went to press.
Dr Chymera, who works in systems integration for LU, said: “It’s going to be a gruelling few days for a very worthy cause!” Visit www.
virginmoneygiving.com/team/ YRP3Peaks2013.
rail technology magazine Jun/Jul 13 | 9
National Track Plant Exhibition registration open
Many of the biggest names in track delivery are gearing up for the National Track Plant Exhibition from July 24-25.
The event is sponsored by Network Rail’s programme director for track, Steve Featherstone, and is being organised by Network Rail Infrastructure Projects’ Track Delivery team at the request of suppliers across the industry.
Network Rail said: “The National
Plant Exhibition will provide our rail suppliers the fantastic opportunity to demonstrate and exhibit their plant. You will be able to meet our rail suppliers and watch live demonstrations of their plant and techniques and have first opportunity to see new innovation in action.”
It is being held at Long Marston, Stratford on Avon, from 9am- 5pm on both days.
Registration is free online.
It says there remains a “robust” transport case for the £3.552bn (2006 prices) programme, to relive overcrowded services and add capacity.
Amyas Morse, head of the National Audit Office, said: “It’s too early in the Thameslink programme to conclude on whether or not it will achieve value for money. That will have to wait until the new service is running.
“Our principal concern is around the delay in agreeing the contract to build new trains, which raises questions about the feasibility of delivering the whole programme by 2018.”
Shadow transport secretary Maria Eagle MP, said: “It is unbelievable that these delays will require taxpayers to fund additional trains to meet short-term demand on newly electrified routes elsewhere in the country because the old Thameslink trains will not be freed up for use as soon as expected.”
A DfT spokesman said: “We are in the final stages of the process and we expect to conclude the deal shortly.
“We have an experienced senior team in place and are confident that we will be able to deliver the remainder of the project on time and on budget.”
Stainforth services reinstated from July
Rail services to Hatfield and Stainforth will resume from July 8, Network Rail has announced. The news follows an intensive programme of work to remove a spoil heap that slid onto the line and to stabilise the railway.
A passenger timetable will be fully reintroduced by July 29, once some drivers have re-learnt the route to comply with safety standards.
More on page 75.
Freight charges decision ‘great relief’ – RFG
The ORR’s decision to reduce proposed freight charges has been welcomed by the industry.
Biomass will not be subject to a new freight specific charge in CP5, and increases in freight’s variable access charges will be capped at an average 10% instead of 23%. The proposed 400% increase to the capacity charge for freight will not be implemented and suggested caps on the freight specific charge for ESI coal, iron ore and spent nuclear fuel will be cut.
Maggie Simpson, Rail Freight Group executive director, called it a “balanced decision that is affordable and fair” and “a great relief”.
Class 57s modified for faster rescue
Network Rail is speeding up its ability to rescue failed EMUs with specially adapted Class 57s.
The rescue trains’ brake interface units have been modified to allow drivers to operate their own brakes and those of the failed train together. The train can also operate the safety interlocks,
allowing
broken-down units to be removed at normal line speed. This means rescues can be completed in 15 minutes.
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