Skanska awarded contract for Bermondsey diveunder

A. Samuel
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Skanska has been awarded a contract worth up to £60 million by Network Rail for the design and construction of the Bermondsey diveunder and associated structure strengthening works.

Network Rail said the contract is a crucial component of the final phase of the £6bn Thameslink programme.

With a projected completion date of spring 2017, the diveunder will create a major grade-separated junction on the eastern approach to London Bridge station, allowing the Thameslink lines to cross the Kent lines unimpeded on their approach to the station and increasing the number of trains which can serve London Bridge.

The diveunder will be formed by a series of new structures constructed along the line of existing operational railway viaducts, reusing existing structures wherever possible to reduce disruption and waste.

Skanska has previously been involved in the Thameslink programme, building the new Borough viaduct to the north of the station which will allow more trains to continue their journey into and across the capital.

Andy Gent, Network Rail project director, said:

“The work at Bermondsey is crucial to the Thameslink programme and it’s essential we do this efficiently and with minimal disruption to passengers. We have an excellent track record of delivering infrastructure improvements with Skanska and we look forward to working with them again to improve the railway for passengers in London.”

Arshiya signs rakes lease deal with GIPL

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India’s first private container operator, Arshiya Rail Infrastructure has signed a long term rakes (a line of wagons coupled together as one unit) lease deal with GATX India Private Limited, a subsidiary of GATX Corporation.

The deal will help Arshiya Rail migrate its business to a ‘capex lean model, resulting in lower gearing and improved margins as it expands the business’.

Under this agreement, GIPL will initially provide 10 newly manufactured BLC rakes on operating lease for the next 10 years.

ARIL has not disclosed amount of the deal.

The new rakes will be deployed at its new state-of-the-art rail terminal at Khurja, which will act as a hub and will offer integrated and cost effective solution to its customers across major Indian cities.

“India is one of the most exciting countries. The economy is growing at seven percent. We see a lot of potential in India, adding that this is our first investment in the country,” GATX Corp CEO Brian Kenney said.

GATX Corp will invest around $25 million on the ten rakes. ARIL will then acquire these rakes on a lease basis and operate it for freight forwarding within the country.

Around 3.5 billion tonnes of freight movement happens across the country annually and 65 percent of freight moves on road. Moving freight through railways can bring down supply chain costs, he said.

In 2008-09 railway budget, Indian Railways had launched the wagon leasing scheme.

Brunswick Rail extends partnership with SIBUR-Trans

A. Samuel
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Russian private freight operator Brunswick Rail has reached an agreement to supply more railcars to SIBUR-Trans, a subsidiary of petrochemicals holding SIBUR.

Under the agreement, Brunswick Rail will supply 150 gas tank cars to SIBUR-Trans for seven years on a long-term operating lease.

The 15-1780 model railcar is produced by Poltavhimmash and is designed to transport propane, butane and propane-butane mixes.

The first 20 railcars will be delivered to SIBUR-Trans by the end of May, with the remaining 130 arriving by the end of June.

This deal brings the total number of railcars in SIBUR-Trans fleet supplied by Brunswick Rail to 760. The companies signed their first operating lease agreement in May 2011.

Brunswick Rail Deputy CEO and Business Development Director Vladimir Khoroshilov said:

“This deal is another step in strengthening our relationship with SIBUR-Trans, and we are delighted that SIBUR continues to entrust us with the transportation security of its business.

“Given the current shift in demand from gondolas towards specialised rolling stock, we are interested in working closely with companies from the petrochemicals and gas sectors. In the medium term, we plan to increase the number of specialised railcars in our fleet, including gas tank cars, and hope that this will give us the opportunity to further meet our clients’ demand for such rolling stock.”

ETCS coming to the UK

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Although Network Rail is a member of the ERTMS Users Group, as described in Clive Kessell’s article, the Cambrian Line is the only ERTMS equipped line in the UK. The 134 miles between Sutton Bridge Junction, Shrewsbury and Machynlleth compare poorly with the size of installations in other countries.

That is about to change, though, as Network Rail has announced the next stage of the development programme. A framework contract has been awarded to four concerns; Invensys Rail, Signalling Solutions (Balfour Beatty / Alstom joint venture), Infrasig (Carillion / Bombardier joint venture) and Ansaldo STS. All have experience in ERTMS installations elsewhere, and Ansaldo STS was responsible for converting the Cambrian Line.

Network Rail’s medium-term goal is to install ERTMS on three major routes, the Great Western, the East Coast Main Line and the Midland Mainline. However, this new framework contract is for a one year period to help define the specification of the ETCS (European Train Control System) component of the system.

Phase 1, 2, 3….

Guy Stratford, Head of Contracts and Commercial at Network Rail, explained the company’s thinking. “I don’t like labelling projects as ‘Phase1’, ‘Phase 2’ etc,” he commented, “but it is probably appropriate in this case. In Phase 1, the four companies will work collaboratively with Network Rail, and with each other where we are discussing non-commercial aspects, to come up with a technological solution and a commercial proposal for going forward. Network Rail has a clear idea of what it wants to achieve. The discussions will revolve around how each company proposes to achieve that.”

This is a framework contract, not part of the tendering process, so Network Rail will contribute towards the costs of the four organisations involved.

At the end of Phase 1, likely to be in around 9-12 months time, Network Rail will assess the technical and commercial proposals that each company has put forward and ask a number of them, probably three, to demonstrate their proposals using a test installation on the Hertford Loop. This is a double-track, 24 mile loop off the East Coast Main Line between Stevenage and Alexandra Palace.

Commuter trains will be restricted to a single line over a 5.5 mile stretch, freeing up the other line for use as an ERTMS test track. Starting in 2013, the chosen firms will be asked to demonstrate their ETCS solutions, one after the other, over a twelve month period.

Main line implementation

Following these trials, the most robust technical and most cost-effective solutions will be chosen to be installed on the Great Western and East Coast Main Line.

Guy Stratford explains, “We will have as much flexibility as possible at this stage. It is possible that one company will be head-and-shoulders above the others, but we will have to bear in mind the logistical difficulties of one organisation working on two major projects at once.”

Work is likely to start in 2014, with the Great Western coming on stream first (commencing 2016) followed by the East Coast Main Line (2018) and the Midland Mainline (2020).

So it all starts with discussions between Network Rail and the four companies involved over the rest of this year. As Andrew Simmons, Network Rail’s director of future trains and operation control systems, said on announcing the contract awards, “ETCS is now a crucial part of our plans for resignalling the railway – our focus now is on building confidence and experience in the technology so that future schemes can be delivered seamlessly.

“These new frameworks are the building blocks to developing this capability and will allow us to work closely with our chosen suppliers to develop long-term plans for work to be carried out more quickly and efficiently.”

So, at future ERTMS Users Group meetings, Network Rail will have a bit more to discuss!

Record graduate applications at FirstGroup

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FirstGroup’s popular graduate trainee scheme attracted a record number of applications this year.

800 hopeful students applied. ‘The number of candidates that have applied has been overwhelming,’ says John Evans, HR director at FirstGroup.

‘10% more graduates applied this year and compared to two years ago we’ve attracted around 65% more candidates.’

FirstGroup graduates undertake a comprehensive workplace training schedule over two years at various locations within the company’s Bus and Rail divisions.

‘At FirstGroup we are very conscious of the need to invest, train and develop our staff. The transport industry plays a vital role in keeping the economy moving. It is imperative therefore that we attract talented, enthusiastic people to our industry, and in particular FirstGroup,’ says John.

 

East Coast went M.A.D

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East Coast has adopted the Railway Children as its corporate charity of choice.

The news comes shortly after East Coast took part in the international children’s charity’s ‘Go M.A.D.’ (Make a Difference) fundraising day in March, when directors and senior managers worked on board trains and raised £13,320.22.

Says East Coast Managing Director Karen Boswell, ‘We’re delighted to have named the Railway Children as our chosen charity following the great fun we had raising money by taking part in its Go Mad fundraising day. It is testament to the generosity of our customers that we were able to raise such a fantastic sum in just one day. The money will be used to help homeless children in the UK and around the world.

‘East Coast is proud to be working with the Railway Children and we look forward to helping it raise lots of money and awareness of the fantastic things it is doing to improve the lives of children in the UK and abroad.’

Czech rail operator unveils Stadler train

A. Samuel
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Czech railway operator LEO Express has unveiled its new modern train unit built by Stadler Rail.

The train will start carrying passengers between Prague and Ostrava later this year.

At the Velim test circuit, guests had a unique opportunity to have a look inside the train.

After successful test runs on the circuit, the 90m long LEO Express train – the most modern one in the Czech Republic – will be in service in December.

In the next few weeks, the first of five LEO Express trains will ‘pass the necessary tests at the Velim test circuit’.

The rail operator said the route Prague-Pardubice-Olomouc-Ostrava-Bohumin is ‘just the first step’ in the wider roll-out of new trains for the country.

Alstom takes over DB shares in locomotive joint venture

A. Samuel
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Alstom and DB Mobility Network Logistics have signed a contract for the takeover of the 49% stake held by DB in the ‘Alstom Lokomotiven Service’ joint venture in Stendal, Germany.

Alstom Deutschland, who was holding a 51% stake since the creation of the JV in 2002, will now become the sole shareholder.

Alstom Lokomotiven Service’s Stendal site works on locomotive renovation and shunting locomotives, trams, regional trains, bogies and other maintenance components from all manufacturers.

Over the last 11 years, it has supplied more than 300 V100 class locomotives to private operators.

Klaus Hiller, head of the Train Life Services Department within Alstom Transport Germany, stated:

“The business model of the Stendal site has proven itself to our customers. I am sure that in the coming decades we will see this historic site, founded in 1873, as a strong, flexible partner with advanced business ideas in this exciting market.”

Alstom aims to develop ‘new environmentally friendly three-axle shunting locomotives with four different types of engine, including hybrid technology’.

BNSF plans $199m rail capacity program in Texas

A. Samuel
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BNSF Railway Company plans to invest an estimated $199 million on maintenance and rail capacity improvement and expansion projects in Texas this year.

BNSF’s 2012 capacity enhancement projects in Texas include expansion of rail capacity at Tower 55 in Fort Worth, the realignment of BNSF’s mainline for the extension of the Alliance Airport runway just north of Fort Worth, replacement of the Galveston Causeway Bridge, installation of wheel detectors in Galveston, improvements to BNSF’s Amarillo car shop, as well as significant signal upgrades for federally mandated positive train control (PTC).

BNSF will also continue its robust track maintenance program in Texas, which will include 1,341 miles of track surfacing and undercutting work, and the replacement of 84 miles of rail and about 563,000 ties.

“BNSF’s investments will improve our ability to provide rail freight services to Texas businesses and communities, and will expand opportunities to create more jobs and growth for the Texas economy,” said Matthew K. Rose, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

Network Rail plans to reduce level crossing misuse in Lincoln

A. Samuel
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Network Rail is developing plans to reduce the risk of misuse at High Street and Brayford Wharf level crossings in Lincoln.

The company is seeking to improve pedestrian access around the city through provision of two new footbridges and is now inviting comments.

Phil Verster, route managing director for Network Rail said:

“We regularly see people rushing across the level crossings at Lincoln High Street and Brayford Wharf once the warnings have started. We even have instances of people lifting the barriers. Clearly this behaviour is highly reckless and dangerous.

“Much level crossing misuse results from people not thinking about the risks but we believe frustration caused by the location of the crossings is also a factor in Lincoln. The crossings here are already the highest possible safety design so we needed a pragmatic, joint effort to further reduce the risk of misuse.

“I am grateful for the support we have received from city, county and university representatives in our development work so far.

“It is important that Lincoln residents, workers, students and visitors also help to refine our designs. On June 1/2 our team will be in the city centre to talk to people. We will also have a webpage and email address to which we welcome all feedback.”

Network Rail is looking to develop designs which are ‘in keeping with and will enhance the city centre’ and has received advice and support from City of Lincoln Council, Lincolnshire County Council and the University of Lincoln.

On June 1/2 Network Rail will be in the city centre, to allow people to see the work which has been completed so far and to comment on and influence the designs’ development. Stands will be held at St Marks and at The Waterside on Friday 1 June from 09.00 – 17.30 and Saturday 2 June from 10.00 – 16.00.

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