Latest issue

Track Systems supplement (free to view)

Latest issue / 13 April 2012 / Steve Yianni, George Kotsikos, Tamara Colombier, Angélique Raude

This free to view Track Systems supplement is sponsored by voestalpine and features:

• Optimising the wheel/rail interface: reducing forces for the benefit of all!
  (Steve Yianni, Director of Engineering at Network Rail and European Railway Review Editorial Board Member)
• RAILECT – development of an ultrasonic technique, sensors and systems for the volumetric examination of aluminothermic rail welds
  (George Kotsikos, RAILECT Project Manager of NewRail – the Centre for Railway Research at Newcastle University, Tamara Colombier, Senior Project Leader in the Non-Destructive Testing Technology Group at TWI and RAILECT Project Co-ordinator and Angélique Raude, Principal Project Leader in the Non-Destructive Testing Technology Group at TWI)
• Show Preview: INFRARAIL 2012 (more…)

Tagged with: Angélique Raude, George Kotsikos, Steve Yianni, Tamara Colombier, Track systems

Rolling Stock Maintenance & Refurbishment supplement (free to view)

Latest issue / 13 April 2012 / Ian Duncan, Mark Knowles

This free to view Rolling Stock Maintenance & Refurbishment supplement is sponsored by Vossloh and Mechan and features:

• East Coast – where ‘Falcon’ meets ‘Eagle’
  (Ian Duncan, Engineering Director, East Coast)
• Combination for growth turns LNWR into leading UK train maintenance specialist
  (Mark Knowles, Managing Director, LNWR) (more…)

Tagged with: Ian Duncan, Mark Knowles, Rolling stock maintenance

Encouraging railway transport growth in Germany

Latest issue / 11 April 2012 / Dr. Peter Ramsauer, Federal Minister of Transport, Building & Urban Development, Germany

In 1993, Germany initiated its structural railway reform. Bundesbahn became Deutsche Bahn AG (DB AG) and the aim of the reform was to get more traffic on the railways to limit the burden on the budget and to create more competition. Today, one can say that this comprehensive reform was a complete success.

The transport performance of freight and passenger traffic increased considerably, and competition on the rail is clearly increasing, the same as group turnover, productivity and the overall operating results of DB AG.

Due to the economic crisis, turnover, profit and freight transport performance in 2009 decreased as expected but, since 2010, figures have been increasing in these areas.

The reform process is being consistently reviewed to progress even further. In order to successfully master the challenges of the European rail transport market and to ensure further growth in the railway sector, we need economically strong and successful railway undertakings. (more…)

Tagged with: Deutsche Bahn AG, Dr Peter Ramsauer, European Parliament, Germany, Infrastructure construction

DB’s continual programme of investments and developments

Latest issue / 11 April 2012 / Craig Waters, Editor, European Railway Review

Deutsche Bahn AG (DB AG) was founded in 1994 and is now one of the world’s leading passenger and logistics companies. Operating in 130 countries, approximately 290,000 employees, of which about 190,000 are located in Germany, are committed to ensuring that customers are provided with effective and efficient mobility and logistical services.

In a series of recent announcements from DB, the company is showing that it is not putting the brakes on future developments in Germany, with commitments made to invest in line extensions and track investments plus a selection of other significant improvements.

Noise protection

With increasing passenger numbers and a rise in rail traffic, DB recognises the importance of implementing noise protection measures along railway lines. In 2011, DB made good progress in this area by constructing over 55km of new noise barriers and soundproofing 2,550 households. Commenting on the success of the noise protection programme, Oliver Kraft, CEO of DB Netz AG said: “The measures we took in 2011 were innovative and we invested approximately €145 million of federal funding and around €6 million of our own funds.” (more…)

Tagged with: Craig Waters, DB Netz AG, Deutsche Bahn AG, Dr. Volker Kefer, Germany, ICE, Infrastructure construction, Oliver Kraft

Focused on highquality services

Latest issue / 11 April 2012 / Bernard M. Kemper, CEO, Abellio Rail NRW GmbH

Abellio was established in 2003 as a subsidiary of ‘Essen Verkehrs AG’ (EVAG), the local public transportation service for the city of Essen. The purpose was to profit from opportunities of a liberalised traffic market and to utilise more than 100 years of experience.

The company’s bus and rail service structure focuses on providing high quality services and the company operates its Abellio Rail NRW subsidiary in the North Rhine Westphalia region. With three additional companies, Abellio owns 25% of WestfalenBahn which operates the Teutoburger forest network in North Rhine Westphalia and in Lower Saxony.

Abellio Rail NRW’s black and silver trains have been in operation on the Ruhr district’s local transport network since December 2005. Upon market entry the company operated on the lines RB 40 Ruhr-Lenne-Bahn from Essen to Hagen and line RB 46 Glückauf-Bahn from Bochum to Gelsenkirchen. The transport association Rhein-Ruhr (VRR) initially granted operation on the RB 40 line for two years and so the acquisition of new vehicles would not have been feasible at that time. (more…)

Tagged with: Abellio Rail NRW GmbH, Bernard M Kemper, Germany, Rolling stock maintenance

Open-access between Hamburg and Cologne

Latest issue / 11 April 2012 / Eva Kreienkamp, CEO and Carsten Carstensen, COO, Hamburg-Köln-Express (HKX)

In 2012, the Hamburg-Köln-Express (HKX) will start operations, thus breaking new ground for open-access operators in Germany. With three six-wagon trainsets, HKX will provide space and comfort combined with modern services on the long-distance route between Hamburg and Cologne.

Although the railway sector deregulation in Germany started as early as 1996, very few attempts to break the dominance of Deutsche Bahn in long-distance travel have been made. Apart from the InterConnex of VeoliaTransdev running between Rostock, Berlin and Leipzig, so far no open-access operators have success – fully joined the Intercity-market in Germany. In October 2009, HKX took up the challenge when it was founded as a joint venture by majorityshareholder Railroad Development Corporation, based in Pittsburgh, USA; Locomore Rail in Germany; and the British-Canadian investor and advisor Michael Schabas, who share the strong feeling that railway travel in Europe should be more competitive.

Looking at Great Britain as a compelling example of how an increase in open-access operators can raise the overall service quality in terms of number of connections, attractive pricing and on-board service, HKX is now setting up operations, which will start between Hamburg and Cologne in late-2012. (more…)

Tagged with: Carsten Carstensen, Cologne, Eva Kreienkamp, Germany, Hamburg, Hamburg-Köln-Express (HKX), Long-distance travel

Working together to find adequate solutions

Latest issue / 11 April 2012 / Dr. Libor Lochman, Executive Director, CER

The Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies (CER) brings together more than 70 European railway undertakings, infrastructure companies and vehicle leasing companies, including long-established bodies, new entrants, and both private and public-sector organisations. In EU, EFTA and EU accession countries, CER members represent approximately 75% of the rail network length, more than 85% of the rail freight business and over 90% of rail passenger operations, with 1.2 million jobs directly created by CER members. Exclusively for European Railway Review, Dr. Libor Lochman – the newly appointed Executive Director of CER – provides an insight into CER’s current work and what the future holds.

Mobility challenges and the role of railways

The 2011 Transport White Paper, published by the European Commission in March 2011, recognised the stark challenges facing Europe’s transport system. Meeting growing mobility needs, Europe must move away from its dependence on oil, and must achieve substantial cuts in greenhouse gas emissions. While other sectors of the economy should cut emissions by even larger amounts in order to meet the Union’s long-term overall target, transport should also contribute by reducing emissions by at least 60% on the 1990 level by 2050. (more…)

Tagged with: Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies (CER), Dr Libor Lochman, European Railway Agency (ERA), Infrastructure construction, Rail Development

2012: the most exciting year yet for Crossrail

Latest issue / 11 April 2012 / Andy Mitchell, Crossrail Programme Director

2012 is going to be the most exciting year yet for the £14.8 billion Crossrail project with construction moving up a few gears as we enter our tunnelling phase.

The year has started with great expectations and excitement for the project not just within Crossrail but also amongst Londoners who have responded in thousands to our Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) naming competition to suggest names and vote for their favourite ones. The Prime Minister has personally shown interest in the progress of the project and Crossrail’s apprenticeship programme, too; visiting Crossrail sites and facilities earlier this year.

Crossrail is now becoming more and more visible across London. At Paddington Station, we recently opened a brand new taxi-rank at the Red Star Deck which was previously on Eastbourne Terrace. Work is in now starting at the Eastbourne Terrace site to construct the Crossrail Paddington Station box to receive the TBMs that will start tunnelling from Royal Oak Portal.

Once complete, Crossrail will be the largest addition to the London and South East transport network for 50 years and it will increase the railbased public transport capacity in London by 10%. Crossrail will run 118km from Maidenhead and Heathrow in the west, through new twinbore 21km tunnels under central London to Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the east. (more…)

Tagged with: Andy Mitchell, Cross London Rail Links, Crossrail, Infrastructure construction, Tunnel Boring, Tunnelling and Underground Construction Academy (TUCA)

Turkey’s continuing developments

Latest issue / 11 April 2012 / Süleyman Karaman, Director General and Chairman of the Board, Turkish State Railways (TCDD)

The history of railways in Turkey can be analysed in four periods. First was the Ottoman Period between 1856 and 1922 when foreigners were granted concessions and 4,136km of railway lines were constructed. Second was the Republic Period between 1923 and 1950 when developments were fast and bright and 3,764km of railway lines were constructed (approximately 134km annually) and the railway transportation share was 68% for passenger and 42% for freight. Third was the Negligence Period between 1950 and 2003 when only 945km of railway lines were constructed in total over the 52 years. The fourth period is from 2003 onwards when the railways were re-granted a well-earned prominence. The main focus of this article shall be the period after 2003.

An assessment of the 2003-2011 period

Investments

After 52 years of negligence, railway con – struction in Turkey has considerably increased since 2003. After railway construction was made a state policy, the following four activity points were set: (more…)

Tagged with: Diesel Train Sets, High-speed rail, Logistic Centres, Rolling stock, Suburban Rail, Suleyman Karaman, track construction, Track maintenance & engineering, Turkey, Turkish State Railways (TCDD)