Industry experts join HS2 debate

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Greengauge 21 has established a new forum of industry experts to discuss the future of high-speed rail in Britain.

The high-speed rail research group yesterday announced the creation HSR Industry Leaders Group (ILG) – the first group of its kind in the UK – which will bring together companies with expertise in engineering, railway operations, planning and delivery.

The group’s founding members include: Atkins, Bechtel, Carillion, CH2M Hill, Parsons Brinckerhoff, Railway Industry Association and Siemens, all companies with a strong pedigree in planning and delivering high-speed rail projects in the UK and overseas. UK Steel is an affiliate member.

Jim Steer, director of Greengauge 21, said: “The aim of the HSR Industry Leaders Group is to use industry expertise to ensure that Britain’s national high-speed rail network is delivered successfully to world-class standards.

“The group will complement the work of HS2 Ltd by bringing its experience to bear on questions such as how to maximise opportunities for job creation in the UK supply chain, and how the needs of HSR customers and likely modes of HSR service provision should positively influence the detailed designs and arrangements for HS2.”

The Industry Leaders Group will undertake a research and planning programme, and will work on the development of the supply chain for the implementation of all aspects of a national HSR network.

The aim of the HSR Industry Leaders Group is to use industry expertise to ensure that Britain’s national high-speed rail network is delivered successfully to world-class standards.

Jim Steer

The initiative has the support of the Secretary of State for Transport, Justine Greening, who said: “HS2 will create a wide range of opportunities for British-based businesses and we need to make sure that they have the skills and capability to take full advantage of development of HS2.

“HS2 Ltd are working hard to deliver this vital piece of national transport infrastructure. This Industry Leaders Group will complement the wider work that is underway and will play an important role in helping to bring together the supply chain and prepare the market for the potential ahead.”

Douglas McCormick, managing director for Atkins’ UK rail division and ILG member, said: “High-speed rail represents the next generation of rail transport in the UK. Our current network is running out of capacity and the need for North-South connectivity is crucial for sustainable economic growth.

“Atkins brings a wealth of international experience in major infrastructure projects and we are delighted to be a founding member of the HSR Industry Leaders Group.”

ROBEL readies new model for InnoTrans 2012

Collin Carr
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ROBEL will be showcasing its new 34.02 clipping machine at InnoTrans 2012.

The new model includes a petrol engine, Fastclip work module and e-Clip module.

The patented tool for a quick and simple changing between the work processes for applying and removing Fastclips without the use of additional tools has been retained.

A powerful and precise hydraulic system is also still part of the machine, varying in degrees with regard to which work module is used.

Modular design

The new clipping machine can be used universally. Owing to the modular design, it can be transported more easily, is more manageable and ergonomically optimised as compared to similar machines.

Any 34.02 clipping machine consists of three basic components: work module, transverse travelling gear and power pack add up to a machine suited for any work task. As each of the various work modules and different energy units weighs around 70 kg (+/- 10 kg), they can be transported more easily than conventional clipping machines with masses from about 140 kg up to about 200 kg.

In addition, the power packs have been designed for easy stackability. The transverse travelling gear can easily be separated from the work module, so that three compact elements are left to be stored using as little space as possible.

The biggest advantage of the modular design is that different types of rail fastenings can be applied or removed on a work site or during a work shift with only a short interruption of work. Only the work module has to be changed. Switching between a combustion engine and an electric motor in response to time of day or environment – residential area, tunnel – is just as quick.

The work modules

Apart from the work modules for Fastclips and e-Clips that will be shown in Berlin, versions for FCX- and FE-Clips are being prepared. That means that suitable work modules and consequently a suitable clipping machine will be available when these types of clip are launched. Optionally available is a sleeper lifting device for F-type clips (Fastclip, FCX, FE) which have to be installed at a 90 degree angle to the rail.

The power packs

At the launch of the new range of models for the 34.02 clipping machine ROBEL will show the petrol power pack with an air-cooled four-stroke engine Honda GX200 with 4.1 kW at 3,600 rpm in combination with a Fastclip work module and one for e-Clips.

The engine has been encapsulated to reduce the level of noise considerably. An electric module with a 400 V/50 Hz rotary current motor is planned, other modules are being conceptualised.

Improved ergonomics

In addition to the separation of the two basic components power pack and work module, the basic divisibility of the 34.02 clipping machine has another, ergonomically important advantage: engine and work module are fully decoupled. This is made possible by the hydraulic transmission of power.

Apart from being connected hydraulically, the components are only connected by electric cables and rubber elements. This highly effective decoupling of vibrations considerably reduces the hand-arm vibrations transmitted by the operating handles.

Economic advantages

As power pack and work module can be combined freely, it is not necessary to purchase and maintain complete machines for work on track sections with other types of rail clip. This is particularly interesting in light of the new clip types FCX and FE. Their dispersion will naturally increase only step by step at first, but tracks being equipped with them will have to be treated appropriately and professionally from the outset. This challenge can be solved by simply combining a previously purchased power pack with a new work module. In addition, the space saved as a result of the machine’s divisibility and the stackability of the power packs has a positive economic impact.

Customer benefit

The mentioned characteristics distinguish the new 34.02 clipping machines from previously available machines. Thanks to their covering the newly developed machines are safer and less sensitive than other models.

LOROL complete charity run

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Members of the London Overground Rail Operations Limited (LOROL) running team this week donated more than £730 to the Railway Children charity following 10km run around the capital.

Ten employees from all over the London Overground network took part in the British 10km London run on Sunday, July 8, raising hundreds of pounds in sponsorship, including a £300 donation from LOROL.

The Railway Children charity supports vulnerable children around the world who are forced to live on the streets.

The LOROL team spent months training to be ready for the run in order to support the Crewe-based charity.

Interfleet announces involvement in South African fleet replacement

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Interfleet Technology has officially announced its involvement in the R136 billion mass replacement of South Africa’s rail network.

The Derby-based international rail consultancy will be working with the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) to buy up to 7,200 new electric multiple units (EMUs) which, over a period of 20 years, will augment and eventually replace the country’s existing fleet of trains.

Interfleet’s role involves leading the programme management, coordinating other advisors to PRASA, compiling the technical specification, compiling the maintenance specification and to support the tendering process and contractor selection.

The South African government is using the programme as an opportunity to revitalise the country’s rail manufacturing industry by imposing a 65 per cent local content minimum for all qualifying bids.

The invitation to tender for the new vehicles was issued in April 2012 with bids from potential suppliers to be received in September 2012.

This project follows on from previous work undertaken by Interfleet during 2010-11 – as part of a KPMG-led consortium comprising Arcus Gibb, ENS and Interfleet – to undertake a comprehensive feasibility study to prepare the groundwork for the current procurement phase of the project.

Siemens wins lucrative Middle East light rail contract

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Siemens has been awarded a 100 million euro contract to build a tram system in Qatar’s capital city Doha.

The company will be responsible for the signal and communication technology across the 11.5 km track, the rail electrification system, equipping a depot and delivering 19 trams.

The project is due to be completed by autumn 2015 in preparation for the 2022 World Cup.

Around $60 billion will have been invested in expanding the country’s infrastructure by the start of the World Cup in 10 years time.

Doha’s new tram services will run without overhead contact lines (OCL), stopping at 25 stations around the city.

Each of the 19 trams will be equipped with an energy storage system which will be recharged at the stations. It will also be possible to reuse up to 30 per cent of energy through recovering braking energy.

The cars will also be adapted to cope with the extreme climatic conditions in the region. A powerful air conditioning system and special insulation on the roof will provide protection from the sun and the high temperatures – which averaged 40 degrees Celsius throughout July.

Drugs in the workplace

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Employers should be aware of rising drug use in Britain, says a leading screening provider.

One in 30 employees has drugs in their system while at work, statistics released by Concateno, a European drug and alcohol screening specialist, show.

These figures are general and not specific to the rail industry, which has strict drugs and alcohol procedures and uses random testing on all grades of staff to combat the problem.

In the past five years there has been a significant increase in British employees testing positive for drugs. Drug use was identified in 3.23 per cent of the employees tested in 2011, rising from 2.26 per cent in 2007. The most prevalent drugs used by UK employees are cannabis, opiates – excluding heroin – and cocaine.

Dr Claire George, laboratory director at Concateno, comments: ‘The positivity rate of 3.23 per cent reported in this study demonstrates that drug use in the workplace is an issue that employers should be aware of.

“These are conservative figures across the workplace, when you consider how many companies do not have a screening programme in place.”

The data indicates that 25-34 year olds are more likely to test positive for Class A drugs including cocaine and amphetamines.

In the railway screening procedures discreetly provided by companies like Express Medicals result in a much brighter picture. Certainly this industry has problems like any other but the vast majority of railway staff are professional and have nothing to fear from random D and A testing.

Express Medicals has developed a winning formula, blending medical expertise with first-class service levels.

The company was established by directors Dr Dan Hegarty and John O’ Donnell in 1996, providing occupational health, screening and drugs & alcohol testing services to the rail industry and across a wide variety of businesses and industries.

Nationally delivered services are simple to book, available at short notice, professionally carried out by highly skilled medical staff.

The no-nonsense two-hour national specimen collection service is complemented by a wide range of other drug and alcohol technical services. Frontline collection and results services are supported by the world-class science of LGC Forensics.

Express Medicals is currently building its portfolio of clients to include companies operating across a broad range of industries. This means that even more businesses will benefit from knowing they are working with a trusted partner who will help them understand and meet their regulatory commitments in occupational health both easily and affordably.

First incline lifts to be installed at UK rail stations

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Crossrail and Transport for London (TfL) have awarded a major contract to Kone for around 50 incline lifts for the new Crossrail stations.

The contract, which also includes five lifts for Bank, Greenford and Hammersmith Tube stations, will see Crossrail pioneer the use of incline lifts to deliver step-free access at two of the major central London stations.

Four incline lifts will run alongside escalators at Farringdon and Liverpool Street Crossrail stations where it is not possible to install vertical lifts.

London Underground will also install an incline lift at Greenford station by 2014.

Martin Rowark, Crossrail’s procurement director, said: “All Crossrail stations in central London will have step-free access from street to train. The new incline lifts offer an added benefit by allowing groups travelling together to have passengers with wheelchairs, buggies or large baggage to take an incline lift while friends and family take an escalator directly alongside.”

The contract, which is valued at around £45 million, includes maintenance for a period of 22 years.

Further lifts may be able to be added to this contract as other step-free access projects are delivered across TfL.

Miles Ashley, London’s Underground programme director of stations, said: “Greenford station will benefit from the first of the five incline lifts and represents an innovative approach in providing our customers with improved access.

“Incline lifts simply afford us with better opportunities to facilitate access where more traditional lift arrangements prove impossible to accommodate.”

Rail to receive £9.4 billion funding bonanza

Jonathan Webb
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The government has announced plans to invest £9.4 billion on rail enhancements  between April 1 2014 and March 31, 2019 as part of the High Level Output Specification (HLOS ) for Control Period 5.

The money includes £ 5. 2 billion of schemes that are already committed including Thameslink, Crossrail, electrification of the London to Cardiff, Manchester to Liverpool/Preston and Manchester to York routes.

Outlined in the HLOS are plans electrify the Midland Main Line between Bedford and Sheffield – Nick Clegg’s constituency being in  Hallam – electrification of the Cardiff to Swansea route  and the Welsh Valley lines along with electrifying cross-country routes paving the way for electric powered freight services to operate from the Midlands to Southampton docks. An infill electrification scheme between Walsall and Rugeley Trent Valley has also been announced.

Although such funding announcements have made transport secretary Justine Greening popular with the rail industry, it is widely known that number 10 and 11 are becoming increasingly frustrated with her continuing opposition to an extra runway at Heathrow airport. Ms Greening’s supporters fear that the expected cabinet reshuffle on September 3 may usher in a more airline industry friendly minister.

Another major rail project to benefit from HLOS is £322 million towards unfunded elements of the Northern Hub. The Northern Hub has already seen schemes worth £477 million approved.

The East Coast Main Line will benefit from a ring-fenced fund of £240 million to carry out improvements, especially at Peterborough, and the western section of the Varsity line will reopen as an electric railway.

It is hoped that such a big commitment to electrification will encourage further investment in electric locomotives and act as a catalyst for further electrification schemes in Control Period 6, which will run between 2019 and 2024.

Conversion of the Basingstoke to Southampton route from third rail to overhead electrification will act as a test bed to determine the business case for abolition of the third rail network south of the Thames.

Heralded as the biggest railway investment since Victorian time, the £9.4 billion is somewhat less than the £1.24 billion – approximately £30 billion in today’s money – modernisation plan from the mid 1950s, which marked the beginning of dieselisation and the abolition of steam.

Although such funding announcements have made transport secretary Justine Greening popular with the rail industry, it is widely known that number 10 and 11 are becoming increasingly frustrated with her continuing opposition to an extra runway at Heathrow airport. Ms Greening’s supporters fear that the expected cabinet reshuffle on September 3 may usher in a more airline industry friendly minister.

Police appeal to identify Coventry train death victim

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British Transport Police (BTP) are appealing for the public’s help to identify a man who was killed after being struck by a train near Coventry.

The man was hit by the 10.03 London Euston to Birmingham New Street service at Berkswell, Coventry, on July 25.

The man’s death is not being treated as suspicious, but extensive enquiries, including taking fingerprints, have failed to provide any clues as to his identity.

Pc James Lynch, the officer in charge of the investigation, said: “The man who died after being struck by the train had no identification on him and his fingerprints were not on the police database.

“He is described as white, aged 30-45, with black, shoulder-length hair. He was wearing dark-coloured trousers, a red and blue top – possibly a polo shirt, white socks with green trim around the toes, heel and top of the socks, and white Nike training shoes with grey trim.

“I am appealing for anyone who recognises the description of the man or his clothing to come forward and contact British Transport Police straight away.”

Etihad Rail tenders first contracts for Stage Two of UAE network

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Etihad Rail has invited bids for the first three contracts in the second phase of the national rail network’s construction.

Stage Two will see the railway connect with the planned GCC network – linking with Saudi Arabia at Ghweifat and Oman at Al Ain.

The three invitations to tender, which were issued to all pre-qualified companies, are for contracts covering the design and build of new lines between Ruwais and Ghweifat (137km), Liwa Junction and Al Ain (190km), as well as for the railway integration and systems contract – covering signalling, communications and commissioning – for the Stage Two network.

Construction of Stage Two is scheduled to begin early next year, following the award of tendered contracts.

The tendering of the first contracts for Stage Two follows the commencement earlier this year of construction works near Mirfa in the Western Region for Stage One of the network.

Stage One of the network is being developed in partnership with the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), who will adopt rail as the main means for transporting granulated sulphur from Shah and Habshan to the port of Ruwais for export.

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