Network Rail appoints new head of retail

Gemma King
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Network Rail has appointed Gavin McKechnie to join its property division, as head of retail.

Mr McKechnie will have overall responsibility for retail within the organisation, with a focus on the enhancement and expansion of the retail estate at some of Britain’s busiest stations, including King’s Cross, Birmingham New Street and Waterloo.

Previously chief commercial officer at Delhi International airport, Mr McKechnie was a key figure in the development of the airport’s retail operation.

Mr McKechnie said: “This is a key time to join Network Rail and I am excited at this opportunity. Britain relies on rail and retail revenue is a vital funding stream for Network Rail.  As we seek to deliver ever greater value for the British people, maximising commercial opportunities will help us achieve our goals.

“With ambitious plans underway to expand and enhance retail in stations, and the redevelopment of major stations such as King’s Cross and Birmingham New Street creating amazing new space, we are about to see a new era for retail in stations.

“Our stations benefit from unrivalled high levels of footfall making them a prime environment for retailers to trade.  Over the coming year we’ll be using new space to work with exciting new retailers to provide a great experience and enhanced station environment for passengers.”

Mr McKechnie takes over from Simone Bailey who has now been appointed as Network Rail’s new head of commercial estate.

Eurostar appoints Chief Financial Officer

Gemma King
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Eurostar, the high-speed passenger rail service which links the UK with the continent, has appointed James Cheesewright as Chief Financial Officer.

James joins Eurostar from Misys Plc, where he was Group Vice President, Corporate Finance, with responsibility for cost and transformation activities across the Misys Group, including budgeting, forecasting, financial and operating performance management. He joined Misys in 2006 as Business Transformation Director and then became Chief Operating Officer of the Core Banking Division where he was responsible for business development, customer services and professional services.

Prior to Misys, James spent twelve years at Cable & Wireless Plc where he held a number of senior positions across the international business. As Chief Operating Officer of C&W Regional, comprising the Group’s businesses in the Caribbean, Panama, Far East and Middle East, he was responsible for the day-to-day business operations.  In this role, he led successful negotiations on behalf of C&W which resulted in the phased liberalisation of telecommunications in the East Caribbean.

Nicolas Petrovic, Eurostar’s Chief Executive, said:  “James brings a wealth of experience and will be a great asset as we move into an open access world of on-rail competition.  His international perspective and experience of driving financial performance in a competitive, liberalised environment will be invaluable.  I am delighted that James is joining us and look forward to welcoming him to the team”.

Twice as many passengers and freight to use the railway by 2035

Gemma King
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Twice as many passengers and a doubling of freight by 2035 is predicted in a new document published today, looking at long term planning for the rail industry, ‘Planning Ahead’.

With our roads getting more congested and the need to move to a ‘carbon-friendly’ economy, the demand for rail – for moving people and goods – will continue to grow.

Paul Plummer, Network Rail’s director of planning and development, said: “Despite the tough economic times, we must continue to plan for the future and look to how we affordably expand the railway to meet big increases in passengers and freight. The railway is presently too expensive and must reduce its costs to ensure that the money it does invest delivers best value for Britain.”

Over the next 25 years the London commuter market, already very well served by rail, is likely to see growth  of up to 35%.  In contrast, regional urban commuting, to cities such as Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds Glasgow, is expected to see growth of over 100%, with growth on some route predicted to be in excess of 115%.  Rail freight is similarly predicted to double demand to 45 billion tonnes kilometres of goods moved by 2030.

Alec McTavish, director of policy and operations at the Association of Train Operating Companies said: “Rail makes a vital contribution to the UK economy, supporting jobs, businesses and helping millions of people to get round the country quickly and easily every day.

“Value for money for the taxpayer and the passenger needs to be at the heart of everything that we do.  Train operators and Network Rail are working increasingly closely together to help plan the railway and identify ways to improve cost effectiveness, whilst fully recognising the distinctive role that each plays in this.  As our proposals on franchise reform have shown, allowing Network Rail and operators greater freedom to determine the most efficient way of delivering for passengers and making Britain’s railway more financially self-sufficient would be to the benefit of the nation as a whole.”

Lindsay Durham, chair of the Rail Freight Operators’ Association, said: “Rail freight contributes to the success of the UK economy by reliably and sustainably moving goods for consumers and industry within the UK and as a conduit for imports and exports. Freight trains are part of the logistics chain that stocks our shops, keeps the lights on and moves materials to build our infrastructure. We are pleased to work with our rail industry partners to plan a more efficient network that will enable growth and help to remove more lorries from Great Britain’s roads”

Extra trains for the ‘V Festival’ 2010

Jonathan Webb
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National Express East Anglia is providing extra train services for the ‘V Festival’ 2010.

Festival-goers travelling to the ‘V Festival’ in Chelmsford, on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 August are being encouraged to choose the ‘green’ travel option and use public transport to the festival, reducing their carbon imprint in the process.

This year Essex’s biggest music festival has proved more popular than ever, with the Stereophonics, Paul Weller, Florence and the Machine and many other acts performing at the event.

For those planning to travel by train, National Express East Anglia will operate a normal scheduled weekend timetable with additional services running as listed below:

Travelling to Chelmsford – Saturday 21 August 
Additional train services will call at Chelmsford 

Travelling from Chelmsford – Saturday 21 August
Additional services will operate to London, Colchester, Clacton and Ipswich. 

The last trains will depart:

  •  
    • to London at 01.30 on Sunday morning,
    • to Colchester at 01.33 on Sunday morning
    • to Southend at 01.30 on Sunday morning (changing at Shenfield)
    • to Ipswich at 01.00 on Sunday morning
    • to Clacton-on-Sea at 23.53.

Travelling to Chelmsford – Sunday 22 August 

Additional train services will call at Chelmsford throughout the day
Additional services will operate from Liverpool Street to Chelmsford from 10.15 to 15.15.
Travelling from Chelmsford – Sunday 22 August

Additional train services will operate from Chelmsford to Liverpool Street from 19.45 until 01.30.

Additional services will also operate to Colchester, Clacton and Ipswich. 

The last trains will depart:

  •  
    • to London at 01.30 on Monday morning
    • to Colchester at 01.33 on Monday morning
    • to Southend at 01.30 on Monday morning (changing at Shenfield)
    • to Ipswich at 01.03 on Monday morning.
    • to Clacton-on-Sea at 00.13 on Monday morning

Details of these additional services can be found on the National Express East Anglia website at: ww.nationalexpresseastanglia.com or National Rail Enquiry Service on 08457 48 49 50 to help with travel arrangements.

Balfour Beatty receives notice to proceed with Eagle P3 Project

Gemma King
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Balfour Beatty receives notice to proceed for phase one of Eagle P3 Commuter Rail Project contract in Denver, United States.

Balfour Beatty’s share for phase one valued at £560 million

Balfour Beatty, the international infrastructure group, announces today that the Denver Transit Partners (DTP) team has reached financial close for the design, build, finance and operation (DBFO) of the Eagle P3 commuter rail project in the Denver metropolitan area of the United States for the Denver Regional Transport District (RTD).

Balfour Beatty will be responsible for a 50% or $500 million (£333 million) share of the $1 billion engineering, procurement and construction contract and a 33% or $340 million (£227 million) share of the $1 billion 29-year operations and maintenance contract.

Notice to proceed was received concurrently with financial close of the DBFO project. The groundbreaking ceremony for phase one of the project is scheduled for 26 August 2010.  Phase 2 is expected to be let in 2011.

As well as Balfour Beatty Rail and Parsons Brinckerhoff, Balfour Beatty’s professional services arm, the DTP team, led by Fluor, John Laing plc, and Uberior Investments, includes transit industry experts Ames Construction, Hyundai-Rotem USA (Hyundai), Alternative Concepts, Inc. (ACI), Fluor/HDR Global Design Consultants, PBS&J, Interfleet Technology, Systra and Wabtec.

The multi-billion Eagle project includes:

    East Corridor: a new 22.8 mile commuter rail line from Union Station to Denver International Airport;
    Gold Line: a new 11.2 mile commuter rail line from Union Station to Wheat Ridge;
    A two mile initial segment of the Northwest Rail Corridor; and
    A new commuter rail maintenance facility.

Commenting today, Balfour Beatty Chief Executive, Ian Tyler, said:

“We are delighted to be a key part of the DTP team for this transformational project for the citizens of Denver.  This project demonstrates the capabilities the Balfour Beatty Group can deliver for major infrastructure owners.  We look forward to continuing our successful relationship with our partners and the community to deliver this prestigious project.”

The Eagle Project is part of RTD’s FasTracks Plan, a 12-year multi-billion dollar transit
expansion programme to build and operate new commuter and light rail services and expand transportation offerings throughout the eight-county Denver area.

Russian Railways takes additional environmental measures in Sochi

Gemma King
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Russian Railways is continuing its environmental protection efforts while building infrastructure for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi.

In line with national environmental laws, Russian Railways has drawn up and is implementing measures to compensate for the impact of the federal-level Olympic infrastructure project “Combined road/rail link between Adler and Alpika-Service mountain resort.”

To protect the unique habitat of the local box plants (buxus colchica), a decision was taken, in line with Russian Railways’ proposal, to build a highway overpass on the section of the Adler – Krasnaya Polyana combined road, between the first and second tunnels.

This architectural solution enables the re-cultivation of a major part of the land between the overpass support structures using planting stock of box plants and other rare types of removed trees and plants.

This also allows the largest possible box-growing area to be left intact, and substantially reduces the risk of erosion in the surrounding territory.

The decision to build the overpass was taken jointly with environmental organizations including Greenpeace Russia and the World Wildlife Fund. A study of compensatory planting has shown that the survival rate of replanted box is currently around 70%, which is a good result.

To date, with the involvement of specialists from the Gorlesekol federal research institute for mountain forest protection, planting has been carried out on sections 30 and 31 of the Veselovsky forest area of rare plants and trees including: cladodes (ruscus aculeatus), box (buxus colchica), ruscus colchicus, staphylea colchica, walnut family (juglandaceae), and conifers (taxus baccata).

Compensatory measures and the planting and growing of plants will continue throughout the period of construction.

Russian Railways is taking all possible measures to protect plants on the IUCN Red List, taking into account the views and recommendations of Russian environmental experts. This policy allows optimal decisions to be taken to protect the environment during the construction process.

Next step towards providing new light rail for Sydney’s CBD

Stewart Thorpe
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The NSW Government today announced the calling of tenders for a detailed transport study which will identify the preferred route for the CBD light rail link.

The study will:

  • Make a recommendation of the preferred alignment and consider traffic modelling around the preferred route; and
  • Consider potential impacts of changing transport patterns across the CBD, including future demand in areas such as Barangaroo and Walsh Bay.

Earlier this year, Premier Kristina Keneally announced the $50.2 billion Metropolitan Transport Plan, which includes a light rail extension through the CBD. This will provide transport for key city growth areas such as Barangaroo, the King Street Wharf financial precinct, the Walsh Bay entertainment precinct and The Rocks.

Acting Minister for Transport, David Borger, said the Government is taking the next step in delivery of a $500 million light rail system for Sydney. “Through light rail, we will deliver new transport links and infrastructure for the people of Sydney.

“That said, introducing a brand new mode of transport in the city centre needs to be done properly, with careful consideration of traffic and other implications.

“That’s why we are undertaking this study – to help determine the best route for the extension through the CBD from Haymarket to Circular Quay.”
The study will be overseen by the Transport NSW, in conjunction with the City of Sydney, who will work together to determine the best light rail option for the CBD.

A technical study currently being undertaken by GHD will help identify potential options for a light rail route through the CBD. The options are expected to include:

  • Sussex St alignment – from Central to Barangaroo to Circular Quay
  • George St alignment – from Central to Barangaroo via Circular Quay
  • a light rail loop using both George St and Sussex St

The GHD study will provide important technical input to the transport study.

Arriva Trains Wales Appoints Manchester Studio For Series Of Rail Masterplans

Gemma King
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BDP On Track For Station Success

BDP’s Manchester Studio has been appointed by Arriva Trains Wales to masterplan a number of stations across the UK, including Swansea. The new developments will benefit over six million passengers a year.

For each individual masterplan, BDP is tasked with designing and integrating new features and refurbishing existing buildings. Swansea, where work is due to commence later this month, is set to enjoy a larger concourse area, with better and more accessible passenger facilities, as well as new waiting shelters. In addition there will be a new booking office with extra ticket vending machines, toilets, digital information boards, shops and CCTV cameras.

The station environment will also be significantly improved with refurbished canopies and modernised fittings that will blend in with existing architecture.

The upgrading and redevelopment of the Arriva Wales estate is part of the nationwide NSIP programme. NSIP is a Department for Transport-backed scheme which is set deliver £150m of improvements at approximately 200 stations in England and Wales over the next few years.

In Wales the Welsh Assembly has committed additional resources to improving its stations via and initiative labelled its NSIP+.

Peter Jenkins, Transport Architect Director for BDP’s Manchester Studio, said: “For many travellers rail stations are the first thing they experience when arriving at a new destination and the impression they leave about the location is often indelible. For other rail users they are simply places to be enjoyed before boarding a train.

“In both cases the station environment contributes hugely to the overall passenger experience, so it is important that they are subject to the same investment and upgrades enjoyed by rolling stock and tracks.

“But in addition to being aesthetically pleasing and equipped with a range of modern facilities, stations also need to be functional. Being able to get information, buy tickets and catch the train is the primary purpose of the rail stations. Getting this balance right is what underpins BDP’s approach to transport interchange planning and will inform our work for Arriva Wales at Swansea and other stations due for refurbishment.”

Peter led BDP’s £60 million pound redevelopment of Manchester’s Piccadilly Station in 2002 which remains one of the most significant station developments of recent times and topped a national passenger satisfaction survey (with a 92% approval score) in 2008.  Last week it was also announced that BDP had been appointed to tackle the redesign and refurbishment of Manchester’s Victoria Station.

Rare open day for Electric Railway Museum

Jonathan Webb
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A public open weekend will be held at the Coventry Electric Railway Centre site on Rowley Road, Baginton on the weekend of Saturday the 25th and Sunday the 26th of September 2010. 

Visitors will be able to view an extensive collection of electric traction, with many vehicles unique to the CERC.

Two locomotives on the site are celebrating significant birthdays. Ruston & Hornsby 165DE `MAZDA’ is 60 years old, whilst English Electric Overhead/Battery locomotive `Spondon No.1′ is celebrating 75 years of operating service. Both locos will be in operation on shunting demonstrations.

The stock on site will be uncovered for the event and some items will be open for interior viewing. It is hoped to have the LMS Class 503 `Wirral’ unit reformed correctly for the first time in nearly twenty years in time for the event. The two car class 501, the last examples of which were taken out of passenger traffic 25 years ago, will be on display and the ongoing restoration work on this unit can be viewed. 

In addition to the trains there will be a display of contemporary artwork by some local artists who will be on hand to talk about their work and techniques. Also, the West Midlands Fire Service will have one of their fire engines on site with a full crew.

The CERC is open:
Saturday 25th – 10:00 to 18:00
Sunday 26th – 11:00 to 17:00

Admission is free.

There will be on-site car parking available. If you are traveling by public transport, bus service No. 1 runs from the over bridge at the north end of Coventry railway station (bus stop is on the opposite side of the road from the station). The Coventry Electric Railway Centre is a fifteen minute walk along Rowley Road from the bus stop at Toll Bar Roundabout. 

Spondon in 2006. Picture: Jonathan Webb

New Railtrack approved LED buffer stop light from Aerco

Gemma King
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AE 431 LED buffer stop light from Aerco

Now available from Aerco is a new LED buffer stop light that has a robust housing supporting a multi-cluster of high intensity, sunlight readable red LED elements.

Operating from either 110 VDC or AC, the polycarbonate lens provides excellent wide-angle viewing for signals and indicator illumination.  Benefits include high optical performance, lower heat generation and outstanding reliability.  Railtrack approved, the unit features two parallel branches of LEDs and independent circuitry providing a 50% redundancy factor.

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