LETTERS
From: Richard Porter Topic: Bow Group HS2 proposal
We really don’t need yet another route from Heathrow to London. In any case the M40 still cuts through the Chilterns.
HS2 Ltd’s Old Oak Common in- terchange would be excellent if linked to the WCML at Willesden Junction by reinstating the main line station. There would be no need to go to Euston at all as very few passengers will actually have final destinations in the Euston area. The line should go in a new tunnel to link up with HS1. Trains not continuing to the Continent should terminate at Stratford In- ternational, with the possibility of going up the East Coast from there in the future.
Above all we just need to get on with it. Putting more of the line in tunnel won’t pacify the NIMBYs in Bucks so why force passengers to travel in tunnels and cuttings or between high bunds and plan- tations for much of the journey? I don’t think the Settle & Carlisle line has had a detrimental effect on the countryside of Cumbria, though no doubt there were objec- tors when it was built.
For more details on the Bow Group’s alternative proposal, see page 22
From: Graeme Phillips Topic: UK rail staff to learn German
Regarding the matter raised about UK rail staff finding themselves in situations where they have to learn German (‘Rail workers learning
German phrases’,
rtmjobs.com, November 10), I have absolutely no sympathy. We in the UK place too much of an expectation on oth- ers to learn English and it is time our narrow-minded population stepped out its bubble and recip- rocated the favours done by non- English speakers for us.
Being septalingual, I am possibly misguided about the ease with which the population at large is able to learn foreign languages. However, this does not cancel out my view that Britain’s workforce should be able and willing to learn new and varied skills when called to do so by the demands of their job.
It is my view that it may be in- creasingly useful for rolling stock engineers to speak German any- way. Germany has the longest rail- way network in Europe. Siemens is increasingly appearing to be the more competent of the major train builders (Alstom and Bombar- dier’s ‘bad loser’ attitudes in recent tendering decisions are testament to this). Also, Bombardier has ma-
jor factories in Germany (e.g. the bogie factory in Siegen and the vehicle assembly and propulsion & controls factory in Hennigsdorf). Plus the recent talk about Germa- ny’s influence in European discus- sions regarding bailing out fiscally irresponsible nations, on account of its recently regained economic clout.
With the services Deutsche Bahn is planning to run to London, rail- way industry workers may con- ceivably find they get a discount on the Deutsche Bahn services, as indeed many already do with Eu- rostar services.
From: Tony Porch Topic: Thameslink Order
I’m afraid the die is cast and re- luctantly the purchase of the Thameslink trains must stay with Siemens. The last Government was hoodwinked in following EU laws to the letter. I’m sure that the French Government would have found ways round EU legislation that would favour train purchase from French companies. I seem to
remember the furore from them when Siemens trains were ordered for Eurostar.
However I believe that the decision may not have been made on the A+ credit rating of Siemens alone. I seem to recall that Bombardier hasn’t had a good ‘track’ record when it comes to delivering trains that were reliable and on time. If I was a customer I wouldn’t be too impressed. In contrast Siemens have delivered two fleets of trains to South West Trains that have been on time, on budget and reli- able. Did the Select Committee consider this or was their report purely political? If I had control of the purse strings I know who I would be buying my trains from, despite the fact that on the surface the cost of their purchase may be slightly more expensive.
I still believe that we should be buying our trains from UK sources but only for sound commercial reasons. Somehow we should en- courage Bombardier to meet the standards of train builders like Siemens. Life shouldn’t be cosy for them and maybe with Hitachi setting up shop this could provide effective and desirable UK-based competition. In
addition both
Bombardier and Hitachi should not rely on possible UK train or- ders alone; they should be out there competing and winning or- ders not only in Europe but world- wide.
For more on rolling stock pro- curement, see page 18
TELL US WHAT YOU THINK
opinion@railtechnologymagazine.com
rail technology magazine Dec/Jan 12 | 15
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