COMPANY NEWS
Suppliers still face discrimination trying to export to Japan
The European Rail Industry Association (UNIFE) has repeated its demand that suppliers across the continent get access to the Japanese market as part of free
trade negotiations.
It says the extensive use of the ‘Operational Safety Clause’ (OSC) and the non-transparent
Library image of an EU-Japan Summit
procurement procedures of operators remain a “major hurdle”, barring most European suppliers from access to the Japanese rail market, especially rolling stock.
It issued the call to coincide with the EU Trade Policy Committee and the progress review of negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the EU and Japan at the end of June.
UNIFE director general Philippe Citroën said: “The agreement on the One-Year Package on railways procurement is still a far cry from
the expectations of the industry. The European Commission should actively pursue negotiations on rail procurement after the fi rst year of negotiations to achieve a true level playing fi eld between the European and Japanese rail markets – and to maintain a strong and dedicated track on rail procurement to ensure that.”
UNIFE said that the current agreement “does not constitute a suffi cient
guarantee Japanese rail market”. GE sells signalling business to Alstom
General Electric (GE) is selling its rail signalling operations to Alstom as part of its £10bn deal to acquire the French company’s energy units.
Joint venture businesses are being created across several of its energy and power businesses, while GE is selling Alstom 100% of its signalling business, which
has 1,200 employees and 2013 sales of £300m.
The companies will sign collaboration agreements including a service agreement for GE locos outside of the US, R&D, sourcing and manufacturing and commercial support in the US.
Siemens’ rival bid was rejected.
Patrick Kron, chairman and CEO of Alstom, commented after the deal was fi nalised in June: “Alstom Transport, a solid leader with a large portfolio
of technologies
and a worldwide presence in a dynamic market, would be further strengthened through the acquisition of GE’s signalling business as well as a far-reaching rail alliance with GE.”
Link-up becomes RISQS from autumn
Link-up – which is used by 110 buying organisations and 3,800 suppliers – will be known as RISQS, the
Railway Industry
Supplier Qualifi cation Scheme, from the autumn.
Fresh from delivering effi ciency savings of £5.5m, the rail industry’s supplier qualifi cation scheme is now re-structuring the operation to deliver further smart working and innovations.
RISQS is governed by a board
comprising 21 industry
specialists; from professional institutes
to contractors, TOCs
and infrastructure managers. The aim is to ensure that the service continues to run in an effi cient and innovative way and is of maximum benefi t to the rail industry. It is also designed to give suppliers a greater voice in how the service
Richard Sharp, chairman of the RISQS Board, said: “The whole aim is to make RISQS a scheme that is managed ‘by the industry for the industry.’ During this time of great change and investment in rail, it’s vital that the sector plays
16 | rail technology magazine Jun/Jul 14 is run.
The core functionality will remain the same – so companies carrying out potentially medium or high risk services can continue to use a single questionnaire to qualify for work with a host of rail businesses. Achilles will continue to provide the qualifi cation system and an audit service for companies deemed to be high risk.
The move follows extensive consultation
with buyers and
suppliers, with input from a number of working groups.
Achilles said future improvements will include: • Further streamlining of the product code hierarchy to be more in keeping with industry requirements
• Changes to assurance, in line with industry requirements
• Additional rationalisation of supplier qualifi cation questions
a greater role in shaping its own supplier qualifi cation service, to ensure decisions are of maximum benefi t to everyone in the rail industry.
“For those already in the community, there will be no additional input required for this latest change but we expect increased benefi ts for all due to the increased effi ciencies created by the RISQS Board with Achilles’ help and support.”
• Streamlining the audit activity • Enhancing qualifi cation arrangements to include sustainable development
• Improving the IT platform to support more effective operation of the scheme
Visit
www.risqs.org for more details.
of
transparency and non- discriminatory
treatment on the
© European Council
© AP Photo and Thibault Camus
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