Network Rail signs new five-year rail supply deal
will see Tata Steel’s Scunthorpe plant supply 140,000 tons of rail per year, depending on consumption. ArcelorMittal and VoestAlpine are also part of the deal, which will involve a variety of rail types being supplied to keep Network Rail’s programme of improvements rolling, with an option to extend for a further five years. Patrick Butcher, Network Rail’s group finance director, said: ‘It’s crucial that we have a trusted and secure supply chain to help us achieve that safely and efficiently.’ Henrik Adam, chief commercial officer of Tata Steel, said: ‘I am delighted the rail network in Britain will continue to be made and maintained with our UK rail.’ The latest Network Rail deal will account for around five per cent of the annual steel output from Tata’s Scunthorpe site and will include some of the latest, harder-wearing high performance rail. Network Rail’s plans for control period 5 (2014-19) include £10 billion of core renewals and a further £10 billion of enhancements.
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Engineering train cuts weeks off west of England improvement works
special train capable of replacing up to 900 yards of railway track per night - five times the average length - is being used for the first time on the UK’s busiest commuter network.
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Staff on the Basingstoke to Salisbury line have been replacing between 450- 900 yards of track every night using the
Swiss manufactured Matisa P95-UK high output track renewal train, one of only two of its type in the country. Jim Morgan, infrastructure director for the South West Trains-Network Rail Alliance, said: ‘To complete this level of track replacement without the use of the machine would normally take two full weekend closures of the line so this will really help us to deliver a faster and more efficient track renewal scheme. The fact that we’ve been able to secure such a cutting-edge piece of machinery to carry out our track renewals is a positive sign of the success being driven through our joint South West Trains-Network Rail Alliance.’ Work started at the end of October and will continue until 19th December. It will then resume on 6th January to Thursday 31st January.
etwork Rail has signed a deal with three steel manufacturers to supply rail for the next five years.
The largest part – around 95 per cent – of the framework agreement
c2c signs up to support the UK’s armed forces
policy encouraging UK business to support the armed forces. c2c has signed the Corporate
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Covenant, the Ministry of Defence’s new initiative to ensure that armed forces personnel are not disadvantaged either while serving or once they leave the Forces. The Toc’s specific pledges are to: • provide up to six free tickets on the c2c network to armed forces leavers for travelling to job interviews, plus a free season ticket for two months on starting a new job (through an extension of c2c’s existing JobStart scheme)
• guarantee any ex-service personnel an interview for any role, provided they meet the relevant essential qualifications
• offer a 34 per cent ticket discount for serving forces personnel through the HM Forces Railcard
• provide a 10-day extension of annual leave for employees who are reservists, so they can undertake their duties. c2c Managing Director Julian Drury
said: ‘We have seen for ourselves how ex-military personnel can make excellent employees. That’s why we’re keen to remove some of the potential barriers they face in finding local employment when they return to civilian life.’ c2c’s Fleet Performance engineer Justin Hope, who served in the Royal Navy for 10 years said: ‘My military background taught me to always respect those around me. It brings unique perspectives, skills and talents to the table, recognising that everyone has their role and part to play. As an avid supporter for the ex-forces, I am proud that c2c has signed the Corporate Covenant, something I hope helps more ex-forces personnel to prosper in civilian life.’
Meanwhile, London Midland has been criticised by the TSSA for excluding army veterans from a free travel offer in the run up to Remembrance Day. The company was accused of
‘insensitive and insulting’ behaviour in restricting its offer to serving soldiers. The Liverpool to London service also banned serving navy and RAF personnel from the offer, which allowed soldiers to travel free on Wednesday and Thursday to mark London Poppy day on November 7th.
December 2013 Page 21
ational Express train operator c2c has signed up to the government’s flagship
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