All articles by Rail Business UK – Page 132
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Rail Business UKReview of Network Rail’s tree management launched
UK: Terms of reference for a review of how Network Rail can best ensure the safety of railway operations while also protecting wildlife and preserving trees were published by the Department for Transport on July 12. There are estimated to be more than 10 million trees within 60 m of ...
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Rail Business UKUK railway news round-up
The National Infrastructure Commission published its first quinquennial National Infrastructure Assessment on July 10, making recommendations for meeting long term needs up to 2050. Transport recommendations include a call for a greater focus on cities, with devolution of powers and budgets. On July 9 the Rail Delivery Group announced that ...
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Rail Business UKInvestor sees 'interesting opportunity' in rail revenue technology
SEATFROG: Venture capital investor Octopus Ventures has led a £4·5m Series A funding round at Seatfrog, which has developed mobile auction technology enabling passengers to upgrade train and airline seats until the time of departure. Existing investors including Howzat Partners also participated. Octopus Ventures partner Luke Hakes will join the ...
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Rail Business UKInnovation Centre supports evolution from ‘find & fix’ to ‘predict & prevent’
UK: ‘It is about developing the means to operate a railway in a more effective and safer way’, said Mark Bullock, Balfour Beatty CEO for Rail & Utilities, when he welcomed guests from the rail industry and academia to the company’s Rail Innovation Centre on June 28. The 450 m2 ...
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Rail Business UKUK railway news round-up
The government announced on July 4 that the High Speed 2 Phase 2b eastern leg rolling stock depot would be close to Junction 45 of the M1 motorway in the Aire Valley to the east of Leeds, rather than at Crofton near Wakefield as previously proposed. Greater Anglia has ...
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Rail Business UKCAF joins HS2 shortlist as train building market consolidates
UK: High Speed 2 project promoter HS2 Ltd has invited CAF to join the list of suppliers shortlisted to bid for the contract to supply at least 54 trainsets. HS2 Ltd took the decision in response to consolidation in the global rolling stock supply market, and the decision of Bombardier ...
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Rail Business UKJoint venture to bid for HS2 rolling stock contract
UK: Bombardier Transportation and Hitachi Rail Europe have agreed to submit a joint bid for the contract to supply a fleet of high speed trainsets for High Speed 2, the companies confirmed on July 4. In November 2017 project promoter HS2 Ltd shortlisted Alstom, Bombardier Transportation UK, Hitachi Rail Europe, ...
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Rail Business UKUK railway news round-up
The InterCity East Coast franchise was handed over from Virgin Trains East Coast to London North Eastern Railway on June 24. VTEC said it had made premium payments of more than £800m since March 2015, 'an increase of more than 30% on previous payments to government under DOR'. However a ...
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Rail Business UKAccessibility technology projects awarded funding
UK: Seven technology projects which aim to assist passengers with disabilities have been awarded a total of £600 000 of government funding to support development. Accessibility Evaluation Survey for Stations is a tool to help people responsible for station accessibility to identify problems and prioritise improvements.Less Visible Impairments will ...
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Rail Business UKUK railway test circuit proposed
UK: Proposals for the development of a ‘world-leading’ railway testing facility in Wales are to be set out by Welsh government Transport Secretary Ken Skates on June 25. The proposed test centre would have two electrified test ovals of 7·3 km and 3·1 km suitable for continuous running at up ...
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Rail Business UKTrack alliance tendering launched
UK: Network Rail has invited expressions of interest in its ‘next generation’ of track works contracts, which will run for 10 years from 2019. The contracts worth up to £5bn in total would cover both plain line and switches and crossings, unlike the current contracts where these are contracted separately. ...
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Rail Business UKUK railway news round-up
Trains began calling at the new Maghull North station on the Ormskirk branch of Merseyrail’s Northern Line on June 18, ahead of a ceremonial opening scheduled for June 22. The station features a staffed building and ticket office with passenger toilet, waiting shelters, adjacent bus stops, a 156-space car park ...
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Rail Business UKTemporary Windermere service introduced
UK: Charter operator West Coast Railway Co began running a temporary passenger service between Oxenholme and Windermere on June 18, after franchised operator Northern suspended all services on the route with effect from June 4. This was a result of difficulties encountered in delivering the new timetable introduced network wide ...
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Rail Business UKCross-border upgrade plan
EUROPE: North-south rail services between Belfast and Dublin could be upgraded over the coming years, under a three-stage development strategy agreed by Irish national operator Iarnród Éireann and its Northern Irish counterpart Translink. Launched in Belfast as part of Northern Ireland’s Bus+Train week initiative, the plan envisages investment in ...
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Rail Business UKNetwork Rail technology supplier qualification system launched
UK: Network Rail has launched a technology supplier qualification system as its primary sourcing platform for IT goods and services. This is intended to improve market engagement, provide greater visibility of business opportunities and reduce the time it takes to award contracts. 'The feedback from vendors so far has been ...
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Rail Business UKUK railway news round-up
The first Hitachi Nova 1 trainset for TransPennine Express arrived at the Port of Southampton from Japan on June 11. FirstGroup has appointed Louise Cheeseman as Managing Director of Hull Trains, where she was formerly Service Delivery Director. This follows the departure of Will Dunnett in March. The Welsh government ...
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Rail Business UKInquiry into May timetable disruption launched
UK: On June 13 the Office of Rail & Road formally launched its independent inquiry into the 'recent and widespread' disruption which followed the introduction of the new timetable on May 20. The inquiry was announced by the Secretary of State for Transport on June 4, and is being held ...
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Rail Business UKCAF to supply Wales & Borders regional train fleet
UK: Incoming Wales & Borders franchisee KeolisAmey has selected CAF as preferred bidder for a contract to supply regional diesel multiple-units for the franchise’s rural and suburban services. CAF is in final negotiations to supply and maintain 44 two-car and 26 three-car Civity DMUs to be in service by ...
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Rail Business UKDraft determination calls for more Network Rail spending on reliability and safety
UK: On June 12 the Office of Rail & Road issued its draft determination setting out its initial opinions on Network Rail’s £34bn strategic business plan for Control Period 6, which the infrastructure manager had published in February. The draft determination is a key stage in the Periodic Review 2018 ...
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Rail Business UKDfT indemnifies GWR against Heathrow Express risks
UK: In a written statement to Parliament on June 11, Secretary of State for Transport Chris Grayling said the Department for Transport had agree to provide indemnities in relation to risks that airport owner Heathrow Airport Ltd, Heathrow Airport Operating Co and Great Western franchisee First Greater Western Ltd were ...