Dear Readers
Whether you are making a long grand tour or just planning a couple of weekend breaks, Europe by Rail: The Definitive Guide is the perfect book.
The book describes over 50 key routes in detail. Together, they span mainland Europe and - also the British Isles. Each route can be followed in its entirety or used as a building block in a longer itinerary. Beyond the main routes you will find worthwhile excursions well off the beaten track.
The book is written by two highly experienced travellers, Nicky Gardner and Susanne Kries, who are experts in train routes and timetables. It’s also a great read for those who opt to stay at home and travel vicariously instead.
A new edition of Europe by Rail: The Definitive Guide will be released on 1 January 2020.
In November, David Hyland, Varun Pershad and Rajni Tewani attended the 8th International Railway Summit in New Delhi. A very good conference with many networking opportunities and interesting papers providing on what is being done in India and Europe presented by delegates from around the world particularly in high speed rail in India, Europe and China.
If interested in the papers on High Speed Railway in China and India, please email Renee Wade at renee@railprrsonnel.com
Job of the Week is in Singapore and is for an Asset Management Analyst.
Regards
Ceri Taylor
Editor
This Week’s Headlines
27 Nov 2019. Canada. Rail strike ends as CN Rail, Union get tentative deal
A week-long rail strike that halted shipments of oil, grains and potash across Canada, threatening to take a multibillion-dollar bite out of the economy, is over.
Source: Bloomberg
27 Nov 2019. UK. RSSB paves way for new hydrogen trains
The introduction of hydrogen-powered train has moved a step closer with plans for a safety strategy to allow them to operate on the mainline network.
Source: The Times
27 Nov 2019. UK. West Coast Mainline renamed Avanti West
Avanti West Coast will be the name of the new InterCity West Coast rail franchise.
Source: Rail Advent
27 Nov 2019. Azerbaijan. Stadler secures deal for ten FLIRT multiple units
Azerbaijan Railways and Stadler have signed a contract for the delivery of ten FLIRT multiple units.
Source: Stadler Rail
27 Nov 2019. Spain. Three bidders selected high-speed contracts
High-speed infrastructure manager Adif AV has selected three bids from operators to negotiate access agreements to run services on three high-speed corridors.
Source: International Railway journal
27 Nov 2019. Bangladesh. ADB approves loan for Dhaka MRT Line 5
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a concessional loan of US33.26m for a project to design the Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) line 5 (Southern Route).
Source: ADB
Job of the Week:
Asset Management Analyst ( #12832 )
Discipline: Rolling Stock; Transportation
Languages: English
Role: Asset Management; Maintenance
Type:
Location: Singapore, Singapore
Description:
This is a key technical role within a major supplier of rolling stock and railway systems equipment, based in their office in Singapore. The purpose of this role is to create and define data driven asset management in relation to life-cycle costs (LCC) and whole-life costing (WLC), Maintenance, Reliability, Availability, Renewal, Inventories, and Asset Conditions.
As an experienced Asset Management Data Analyst, you will coordinate data features into system requirements specifications for final customer acceptance and will support solution architects to translate features into system design specification. You will work closely with the other technical staff in the business and act as key contributor in the area of the data business team.
Requirements:
* Bachelor's degree (as a minimum) in computer science, mathematics, physics, electrical engineering, or engineering sciences
* Strong experience in asset management analysis using data driven services
* Strong experience or asset management for the rail industry (other similar heavy industries e.g. aviation, power also considered).
* Strong knowledge of operation and maintenance of rail systems
* Strong knowledge of IT solutions
* Ability to draw conclusions from data and recommend actions
* Strong presentation and communication skills on technical and business level
* Strong conceptual working capabilities
Contact: Jon Williams (jon@railpersonnel.com)
Rail News
27 Nov 2019. Canada. Rail strike ends as CN Rail, Union get tentative deal
A week-long rail strike that halted shipments of oil, grains and potash across Canada, threatening to take a multibillion-dollar bite out of the economy, is over. The Teamsters Canada Rail Conference union said it reached a tentative deal with Canadian National Railway Co. (CN. About 3,200 conductors and rail yard workers walked off the job on 19 November over issues such as working conditions and drug benefits. The deal must now be ratified by Teamsters members via secret ballot electronic voting, which CN Rail said in a statement it expected to take eight weeks.
Source: Bloomberg
27 Nov 2019. UK. RSSB paves way for new hydrogen trains
The introduction of hydrogen-powered train has moved a step closer with plans for a safety strategy to allow them to operate on the mainline network. The Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) industry body said that it had appointed consultants to create a “route map” designed to smooth the way for hydrogen trains in the next few years. Arup has been appointed to assess the operational hazards associated with running the trains as well as recommending a series of safety rules. The study, which is due to finish in February 2020, will also determine what level of standardisation is needed across the country’s railway system, clarifying the route to market from a safety and compatibility perspective.
Source: The Times
27 Nov 2019. UK. West Coast Mainline renamed Avanti West
Avanti West Coast will be the name of the new InterCity West Coast rail franchise. Avanti is Italian for “Forward!” and reflects the mission set by First Group and Trenitalia to deliver an innovative railway service that is “ready for today and fit for the future”, according to the new operators. FirstGroup and Trenitalia will take over the operation of InterCity West Coast rail services from Virgin Trains from 8 December 2019.Under the new partnership, the 56 Pendolino trains will be completely refurbished with 25,000 new seats, more reliable Wi-Fi and improved catering. Outgoing operator Virgin Trains’ red livery will also be replaced with a teal-like “graphene”, orange, black and white colour scheme. By 2022, there will be 263 more train services every week to more places and a fleet of new trains introduced.
Source: Rail Advent
27 Nov 2019. Azerbaijan. Stadler secures deal for ten FLIRT multiple units
Azerbaijan Railways and Stadler have signed a contract for the delivery of ten FLIRT multiple units. The order value, including spare parts and depot equipment is valued at €115m. Four trains will have a diesel-electric drive (DMU) to be used in interregional traffic. Six trains will be driven electrically (EMU). Of these, three will be used for interregional traffic, and a further three will be designed as regional trains for suburban transport. A broad-based infrastructure project is currently under way in Azerbaijan. Many main lines are being converted from 3 kV direct current to 25 kV alternating current. The four diesel-electric FLIRT trains will be built first so that ADY can continue to operate with sufficient trains during this changeover. According to the contract, the first trains will be delivered to ADY in 2022.
Source: Stadler Rail
27 Nov 2019. Spain. Three bidders selected for high-speed contracts
High-speed infrastructure manager Adif AV has selected three bids from operators to negotiate access agreements to run services on three high-speed corridors. The three successful bidders are incumbent Renfe, the Ilsa consortium of Trenitalia and Air Nostrum, and Rielsfera, a subsidiary of French National Railways (SNCF). Adif AV plans to sign the framework agreements before March 15 2020, subject to approval by Spain’s National Commission of Markets and Competition (CNMC). The three companies will be able to operate services with effect from December 14 2020 along the Madrid – Barcelona – French border (Corridor 1) route, Madrid – Valencia/Alicante (Corridor 2), and Madrid – Seville/Málaga (Corridor 3). The three operators will now have one year to prepare to launch the services. However, Ilsa says it will introduce its services using a fleet of Frecciarossa 1000 360km/h trains in January 2022.
Source: International Railway journal
27 Nov 2019. Bangladesh. ADB approves loan for Dhaka MRT Line 5
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a concessional loan of US33.26m for a project to design the Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) line 5 (Southern Route) that will help ease the traffic and pollution burden in the overcrowded Bangladeshi capital. The project readiness financing will carry out detailed feasibility studies, engineering design, and procurement documentation in preparation for the 17.4 km line, which will be constructed between Gabtoli and Dasherkandi Stations in Dhaka. The actual Line 5 project is estimated to cost about US$2.5bn and will be considered for subsequent ADB financing. The Government of Bangladesh is contributing US$11.32m toward the total cost of the project readiness financing of US$44.58m, which is due for completion at the end of 2023.
Source: ADB
27 Nov 2019. Taiwan. Siemens to deliver signalling system for Taoyuan Airport
Siemens Mobility, along with consortium partners ST Engineering and BES Engineering Corporation, has been awarded a contract to deliver the signalling and communications for two new stations at Taoyuan Airport terminal three. The airport currently services more than 45 million passengers and with the opening of terminal three capacity is expected to grow to up to 86 million passengers per year. The mass transit system will provide access to the terminal for both current and future passengers. Siemens Mobility will provide the signalling system, which will include CBTC that will allow for automated train operations (ATO). Two stations, with an option for a third, and 20 trains will be equipped. The first station will be commissioned in September 2022, the second is planned for in June 2024. Siemens Mobility is also delivering Taoyuan City a fully automated metro, including the link to Taoyuan International Airport and the Green Line, which includes 27.8 kms with 21 stations.
Source: Siemens
26 Nov 2019. UK TFL Rail to operate services to Reading
From Sunday 15 December Transport for London (TfL) will start running the stopping services between Paddington mainline and Reading ahead of the service becoming part of the Elizabeth line. These services (currently operated by GWR) will be operated as TfL Rail, which will become the Elizabeth line when the line opens through central London. Under TfL Rail, the current service frequency of four stopping trains an hour in the peak between Paddington mainline and Reading will be maintained using the new Elizabeth line trains. Two trains an hour will run during the off-peak, as is currently the case. The service replaces part of the Great Western inner suburban route, some fast services will continue to be operated by GWR from Reading, Twyford, Maidenhead and Slough to Paddington.
Source: TfL
26 Nov 2019. France. Alstom win Marseille Metro contract
Alstom has been awarded a €430m contract to carry out the renewal and automation of Marseille metro. The project will be financed by Métropole Aix-Marseille-Provence. As part of this contract, Alstom will develop, supply and install the operating system and equipment for the automatic operation of the network’s two lines. Alstom will also commission 38 new rubber-tyred metros (4 cars) and modernise all the audiovisual passenger information inside the stations. The new trains are scheduled to enter service in early 2024. The trains will run in semi-automatic mode with drivers until mid-2025 on line M2 and until 2026 on line M1, before switching to full automation. Each 4-car train, 65 metres long and in "boa"[1] configuration, will be able to carry up to 500 passengers.
Source: Alstom
26 Nov 2019. Japan. Sotetsu rail link inaugurated
Ceremonies have been held at Hazawa yokohama-kokudai station to mark the formal completion of the publicly funded link between the private Sagami Railway and JR East’s Tokaido Freight Line. Built and owned by JRTT, at a cost of ¥111·4bn, the 2.7 km link will enable Sotetsu to operate through trains to central Tokyo from its Y-shaped suburban network west of Yokohama. Regular services from Futamata-gawa to Shinjuku are scheduled to start running on 30 November, with the first train departing from Ebina at 05.43. Following the formal inauguration, the station master flagged off an inaugural train using one of the new Series 20000 EMUs that Sotetsu has procured to operate its through services.
Source: Railway Gazette
25 Nov 2019. UK. 25,000 trains to be axed during South Western Railway strikes
The worst rail strike in history will see 25,000 trains cancelled during a month long strike on South Western Railway (SWR). 900 trains a day will be axed for almost all of December causing chaos for commuters in the run-up to Christmas. The series of walkouts will end at midnight on 1st January. All late-night services will be cancelled after 11pm and there will be no service at all on some routes. It is also expected an increased number of trains will not run at weekends. A timetable covering this and Christmas will be published later. In a statement SWR say they will use mangers and other staff - so-called contingency guards - to operate services.
Source: ITV
25 Nov 2019. France. Lyon T6 light rail line opens
Lyon has opened the 6.7km T6 light rail line, an extension of T1 connecting Debourg to Est-Pinel Hospital with 14 stations. LRVs are operating at 10-minute intervals during peak periods, with an end-to-end journey time of 21 minutes. The new line provides a connection with the south and east of the city while bypassing the city centre. T6 also connects with metro lines B and D, light rail lines T1, T2, T4 and T5, and 14 bus lines. The line is built along a greenway for 70% of its route, providing more vegetation through the city, and also features a cycleway along its entire length.
Source: International Railway Journal
25 Nov 2019. USA. Keolis selected for Phase 2 and 3 of Franklin double-track project
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) has awarded Keolis Commuter Services with the contract for delivery of Phase 2 and Phase 3 of the Franklin double-track project, which will extend the double track from South Station to Franklin. The US$30m contract was awarded to Keolis, MBTA’s commuter rail operating partner, following successful work on Phase 1 which is currently ahead of schedule and under budget Work will begin on Phase 2, which will add three and a half miles of double-track between Norfolk Station and Frank Street by December 2020. In parallel, preliminary design work will begin on Phase 3, focusing on the four-mile section of track between Walpole and Norwood Central Stations.
Source: Global Railway Review
25 Nov 2019. Vietnam. VNR to upgrade rail infrastructure
Vietnam Railways (VNR) plans to upgrade rail infrastructure to satisfy passenger demand by building 300 new carriages and purchasing more locomotives by 2023 to provide better services. Vu Anh Minh, Chairman of VNR’s Member Council, said that outdated locomotives and carriages led to higher fuel consumption and maintenance costs. In accordance with the 2017 Railway Law, the lifespan of locomotives and carriages should not stretch beyond 40 years for passenger trains and 45 years for freight trains. This necessitated the purchase of new equipment, he said. According to Minh, VNR had been working with foreign partners on an investment solution for the plan. Along with the new carriages VNR would upgrade old ones to save money.
Source: VNA
22 Nov 2019. Panama. South Korean consortium Panamá City metro line contract
Metro de Panamá has selected a South Korean consortium as preferred bidder to carry out civil works on the capital’s third metro line. The HPH joint venture of Hyundai Engineering & Construction Co, POSCO and Hyundai Engineering Co has been chosen for the 54-month contract. The 26,7km Line 3 monorail would serve 14 stations on an elevated alignment from Albrook station on metro Line 1 to Ciudad del Futuro. The end-to-end journey time would be 45 minutes. Initial capacity will be 20,000 passengers/h per direction. In 2018 Metro de Panamá signed a MoU with Hitachi, Ansaldo STS and Mitsubishi Corp for the supply of vehicles and railway systems, including a fleet of 28 six-car trainsets.
Source: Metro Report International
22 Nov 2019. UK. TransPennine Express launches Nova fleet
A new £500m fleet of trains promising to increase capacity by 80% on routes in the north of England and Scotland has been launched. Nova 1 will operate between Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle and Edinburgh and will see 161 extra seats available to passengers almost doubling the current total to 342. The 19, five-carriage trains are bi-mode meaning they can be run using diesel or electric power. Nova 2 is a fleet of 12 five-carriage electric trains with 105 extra seats compared to current trains. It will travel between Manchester Airport and Liverpool to Glasgow and Edinburgh via Preston. Nova 3 will operate between Liverpool, Manchester Airport, Scarborough and Middlesbrough. Thirteen five-car carriages will see 106 extra seats and will be pulled by locomotives.
Source: BBC
