May Cover_Layout 1 23/04/2020 09:31 Page 1

May 2020 | Volume 60 Issue 5 www.railjournal.com | @railjournal

IRJInternational Railway Journal Reconnecting Britain HS2 = Northern Powerhouse Rail = Midlands Engine Rail

Rail’s response to Covid-19 = Austin’s plans revealed IRJMARXX (Goldschmidt)_Layout 1 12/02/2020 10:47 Page 1

SSIA T-ATS RUSSIA ORGO- IA GT -THEM STRIA MIT AUS FRICA USA CE A OUTH AFRICA THERMI A VIC EX SO IT AU GO ER ITRE USTR OL SE MIT RAL DS IL ER EAT BRITAIN THE LIA SC RA TH G GRE ERMI A H T R T DING IT IT PO M IT IL ELD TAL OR ID M ZI W POLAND GO IAN RT T R A IT LSKA P GOLDS NA A T E R M POLS SCH A I CO H H B R IT P HM ITA O E T IL E MI ID AL U ER T SI H ERM T T LY S R T S T HE TH A M ID A TH E G I I R N T R GO IT M B AN ID M O G R M A I IT L GO R H O P M T D O A C D JA H IB S L I S D J C B C D IL S T T SC E C D S D IT IT S R H S S LD D I M C E L M M L IC M C R O M M A H R O R R O A ID V G E G S D M V G E E G S T I H H P I IC H H T ID T T A T E A T - E I H T A T- C IN G T C N E T G N N T E I ID N R H E N I A H R H A M R H E M P E C M R M C D R I R D H F R IT R T H T M A T E Ü M A II C E E F B N S C F I N M W IC E IT M I T E T Y S D Y R S D N R V E N R L R E S C E E S R C E A O R A O H L F H R E H L F H R G I G U IL T E S N U L O T E S N O S L X S D L I X R D I I R I K E K E M N D A N M N D A N R Y R Y L L A R E N - A R E V N - N I V N I L N T T L N T A T I A T A T I C A I H H C H Ö L I K H Ö L K J E J E E M E E O E M M E E S O M S

R

S

R R R

S P R R R

& P R

&

S

W M

S

E

W

L M

E E L

E

R

R

A

R G

W

R

A

G

I

W

H

I

I

H

I

S

T

T S

Ü N T

A

T

Ü N

T T A

T T

I

Z

I

C

H

Z

D R

C

H

D R

T

E T

Z

E

M Z

G E S

M G E S

D R

E

D

R

I E

R

I

R G

L C G

L

C

E

E

M

E

A

H

M

E

A H

H

R

H N H

R

N H

R

T

R T

C M

C D M

-

D

-

E

E S

S

A

O

P

A O

P

D

D

N

R

U

N

R L U

L

T

Y

B T

Y O B

O

K

L

K

G L

G

E

I

E I

C

C L

L

E E

WE ARE GOLDSCHMIDT

Goldschmidt is your global network of experts for rail infrastructure: around the world you have access to the entire portfolio and know-how of the internationally successful Goldschmidt Group - at your location, with your regional contact person and their local knowledge. Together we lead your rail infrastructure into the future - with smart solutions, services and products.

www.goldschmidt.com May contents_Layout 1 24/04/2020 11:48 Page 3

Contact us ContentsMay 2020 Volume 60 issue 5 Editorial offices News 46 Killigrew Street Post 4 This month Falmouth Cornwall, TR11 3PP, UK 5 News - Covid-19 pandemic Tel +44 1326 313945 8 News headlines Web www.railjournal.com 12 Transit 14 Financial Editor-in-Chief Kevin Smith [email protected] Consulting Editor/ Associate Publisher Britain 5 David Briginshaw 16 Government restores impetus to HS2 [email protected] Response to Oakervee Review ends months of uncertainty News & Features Writer 21 Levelling up the North David Burroughs Northern Powerhouse Rail to help close economic gap [email protected] Production Manager 25 Fuelling the Midlands Rail Engine Sue Morant Improving regional connectivity and capacity [email protected] IRJ Pro Account Manager Chloe Pickering [email protected] 16 IRJ Pro Market Analyst Oscar Sinclair Urban rail [email protected] 28 Rail to ease congestion in Texan capital Project Connect includes new light rail and commuter lines Advertising sales office 29a Online extra: Dublin updates metro plan Post 88 Pine Street, 23rd Floor Scheme aims to combat chronic congestion in Irish capital New York, NY 10005 United States 30 Very Light Rail Vehicles prepare for testing Tel +1 732 887 5563 Project develops lightweight and low-cost rolling stock Business development manager Jerome Marullo [email protected] 28 Tel +1 732 887 5562 Subscriptions hotline Tel (US only) +1 800 553 8878 Track (Canada/International) +1 319 33 Improving rail performance in tough conditions 364 6167 Fax +1 402 346 4740 New alloy proves its worth during tests

International Railway Journal (Print ISSN 2161-7376, Digital ISSN 2161-7368), is published monthly by Simmons-Boardman Publishing Corp, 88 Pine Street, 23rd floor, New York, NY 10005, USA. Printed in Great Britain by Buxton Press and distributed in the USA by Mail Right International, 1637 Stelton Road 30 B4, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA. Periodicals postage paid at Piscataway, NJ and additional mailing offices. M 23/04/2020 09:31 Page 1

May 2020 | Volume 60 Issue 5 COPYRIGHT © Simmons-Boardman Publishing Cor- Also in this issue www.railjournal.com | @railjournal poration 2020. All rights reserved. Contents may Front cover IRJInternational Railway Journal not be reproduced without permission. For reprint 36 Rendezvous The British government is information please contact Editor-in-Chief. For sub- backing three major rail Reconnecting Britain scriptions & address changes, please call +1 319 364 37 Full contact list HS2 = Northern Powerhouse Rail = Midlands Engine Rail 6167, Fax +1 319 364 4278, Email: internationalrail- infrastructure projects - [email protected] or write to: International 37 Advertisers index HS2, Northern Powerhouse Railway Journal, Simmons-Boardman Publishing Rail and Midlands Rail Corp, PO Box 1407, Cedar 37 Fresh faces Rapids, IA, 52406-1407. Engine - to improve POSTMASTER: Send address 38 The last word connectivity and capacity changes to International Rail- on England’s rail network. way Journal, PO Box 1407, Photo: Transpennie Express Cedar Rapids, IA, 52406-1407. Rail’s response to Covid-19 = Austin’s plans revealed

IRJ May 2020 3 May TM_Layout 1 24/04/2020 13:45 Page 4

This month | Kevin Smith

staggering the time employees environmental, governance spend at the office. Some and social trends as well as Business continues, but employers have instructed their efficiency and convenience staff to avoid public transport will help rail development, altogether. For those who do, particularly high-speed, not as we once knew frequent temperature testing is achieve unprecedented levels the norm. Travellers must also of growth post-pandemic SIA-Pacific region to expect were facing bankruptcy by the prove they have a clean bill of (p10). UBS says recent falls in its lowest growth since the end of April. health before boarding and pollution will emphasise the A1960s; China’s economy shrinks The Austrian government’s when onboard a train by importance of using and 6.8%, ending four decades of intervention to provide Westbahn scanning a government- investing in rail to both the growth; US now has 22 million and Austrian Federal Railways sanctioned smartphone app. public and the state. unemployed, wiping out a (ÖBB) with PSO contracts to Anyone found to be infected is I like many of you have decade of job gains; Economic operate Vienna - Salzburg forced to self-quarantine. For been working from the activity crashes across Europe. services until July 7 (p7) is those wanting to travel further sanctuary of my own home These were some of the grim welcome. While a thorn in the afield, some Chinese cities are these past few weeks. Video headlines from the end of last side of some state-run railways, requiring people to take calls between colleagues are month as the world began to private operators provide a nucleic-acid tests to confirm now the norm. Travel is of face up to the medium and service valued by millions of that they are Covid-19-free. course off limits, restricting long-term economic impact of passengers each year. They Such strict government control contact and exposure to the Covid-19 pandemic. The save taxpayers money. And is unlikely to be replicated possible sources and stories. IMF projects a global contraction many have made commendable elsewhere. However, until Alternative mediums are of -3% in 2020, a downgrade of progress in recent years in there is a vaccine and until this though emerging to fill the 6.3 percentage points from void. With conferences and January 2020, a shock not tradeshows on the backburner, witnessed since the Great webinars are coming into their Depression in the 1930s. The How the recovery plays out remains a big own as a medium to relay -0.1% fall experienced during unknown. Will people feel comfortable using important messages to the 2008 financial crisis right audiences potentially spread now looks like a walk in the park. public transport? How long will social all over the world. IRJ is The performance of railway “ among those with the facility operators around the world distancing measures last? to host such presentations, and mirrors this depressing outlook. we encourage those interested As people were urged to stay turning a business where the is widely distributed, it is in finding out more to get in at home to slow the spread of margins are slim into something likely that precautionary touch. Business, after all, will the virus, demand for travel increasingly viable. Hopefully measures will remain in place, and must continue. But how plummeted. Many operators more governments will follow limiting economic recovery. we go about it, looks likely to reported ridership falling by suit. Mass gatherings now look be quite different for the over 90% as timetables were How the recovery plays out likely to be banned until at foreseeable future. redrawn to offer a skeleton remains a big unknown. Will least the autumn - Germany service to minimise losses. people feel comfortable using announced on April 15 that it Rail freight flows have public transport? How long would extend the restriction similarly been affected with will social distancing measures on all such gatherings until the shutdown of many last? And how will staying 2m August 31. [email protected] industries hitting operators away from the next person But as governments seek to hard. US combined loadings, impact how people use stations stimulate their economies, usually a barometer of overall and trains? Will people resort infrastructure investment, as it economic performance in the to the sanctuary of their cars usually is in an economic United States, were down 9.1% rather than take the risk of recession, will be top of the year-on-year in the first 15 using the railway? list. This is good news for rail. weeks of 2020. Total North China offers an indication of The British government’s American rail volumes for the what life might look like. decision to issue a notice to week ending April 11 were down Wuhan, the epicentre of the proceed with detailed design more than 20% year-on-year. outbreak in the country, gradually and construction on HS2 (p16) For state-owned passenger began reopening its public is a shot in the arm for the operators, with the backing of transport network on April 8 contractors working on the the public purse, their return after a two-month lockdown. project. Each is observing strict to normalcy appears a lot more Mainline and high-speed coronavirus precautionary straightforward than for their services also began stopping in measures, but this is a long- private adversaries. The the city once again. But things term project and starting Association of New Rail are not the same. work now means the Entrants (AllRail) warns that The use of masks and social benefits will trickle its members could lose up to distancing is mandatory when into the supply chain É1bn in revenue by the end of using public transport and much sooner, getting the year. Without state or passage through stations is more people back to government support, the carefully managed so people work. association says such losses entering do not encounter Equally, Swiss make these businesses those exiting. To minimise multinational bank unsustainable and that many contact, businesses are UBS predicts 4 May Covid19_Layout 1 24/04/2020 15:17 Page 5

News | Covid-19 pandemic As it happened: How rail responded to the coronavirus pandemic The speed at which Covid-19 has spread and the resulting shutdown of both business and daily life has been unprecedented. David Burroughs picks out the key events as the rail industry’s response to the pandemic unfolded. Jordanian border, and the March 13 Haramain high-speed line Italian operators Trenitalia and linking Medina, Jeddah and NTV-Italo cut the frequency of Mecca. their high-speed services. Both operators also closed their passenger lounges at stations, March 22 suspended at-seat service and All passenger rail services were trying to maintain a 3m operated by Indian Railways distance between passengers and Konkan Railway ceased at inside trains. Trenitalia is midnight. Metro services were currently operating four Frecce also suspended in round trips per day, and NTV- Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Italo just one round trip Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, between Rome and Venice. Jaipur, Lucknow, Kolkata, Mumbai and Nagpur.

March 17 Operators including SNCF and Renfe converted high-speed trains into The International Union of March 23 hospital services to transport patients to other hospitals to ease the Railways (UIC) hosted the Britain’s Department for pressure on medical facilities in the worst affected areas. second Covid-19 taskforce Transport (DfT) transferred all construction sites on the rail project was suspended. online meeting for rail operators passenger rail franchises into Kunming - Wan, Dari, Dalin The organisation said it was from around the world (p38). management contracts for six and Lixiang rail projects. working with its Tier 1 months to prevent operators = Belgian national passenger contractors to safely close becoming insolvent. At the operator SNCB, infrastructure down sites. March 19 same time, services were cut manager Infrabel and the Belgian FlixTrain suspended its drastically to bring them more government introduced an services until “approximately in line with demand. emergency timetable to ensure March 25 the end of April.” FlixTrain = The International services remain available for European transport industry tickets could be used on Association of Public essential travel during the associations jointly endorsed a corresponding German Rail Transport (UITP) published coronavirus pandemic. The series of pledges reinforcing (DB) services. guidelines to help operators ‘National Interest Train the critical role that transport deal with the coronavirus Service’ ensured around 75% plays in combating the outbreak, which said that of normal capacity, with pandemic. The associations March 20 while public transport is an services operating with said that the transport sector Transport for London (TfL) essential service during occupancy rates of 8-10%. was continuing to move announced it would pandemics, it is also essential key freight, temporarily shut around 40 of considered a high-risk particularly medicines, its 260 stations, together with environment. March 24 medical devices, and food. the Waterloo & City Line. All- = Australian private operator A coalition of 10 US transit = Passenger rail services night services on the London Journey Beyond, which runs agencies sent an open letter to started to resume at 17 stations Underground and London luxury long-distance rail the US Congress urgently in Hubei province, China, Overground, which normally services, announced an requesting that a federal relief except for stations in the operate on Friday and immediate temporary package include at least $US Wuhan area. Saturday nights, were also suspension of Uif!Hibo 25bn of dedicated support for = DB concluded an agreement stopped. (Adelaide - Darwin), Joejbo public transport agencies. with two trade unions, EVG Qbdjgjd (Sydney - Perth), and = The New York Metropolitan and GDL, confirming that Uif!Pwfsmboe (Adelaide - Transportation Authority there will be no layoffs as a March 21 Melbourne) services, until (MTA) implemented its “NY result of the coronavirus Saudi Arabia announced all May 31. Essential Service Plan,” pandemic. public transport services = China reportedly resumed running a reduced schedule to = The European Commission would shut down. All work on all rail construction ensure service for essential (EC) issued new advice to passenger rail services stopped projects outside Hubei workers while adapting to the ensure freight continued to between Riyadh and Damman, province, the epicentre of the 90% drop in passenger flow across European Union on the North-South Railway coronavirus outbreak. Work on numbers. (EU) borders during the linking Riyadh with Qassim, projects in Yunnan fully = Crossrail Ltd announced lockdowns imposed to prevent Hail and Al-Jauf near the resumed, including the 751 that work on the cross-London the spread of coronavirus. IRJ May 2020 5 May Covid19_Layout 1 24/04/2020 15:17 Page 6

News | Covid-19 pandemic

= Russian Railways (RZD) = SNCF operated a TGV services were badly affected to the EC calling for concrete established an operations Duplex train carrying around with a 30% drop in traffic. measures to tackle the headquarters to provide 30 patients with Covid-19 to Traffic in Italy had fallen by coronavirus pandemic. “We support and coordination for hospitals, the first such service 65% and maritime container are well aware that keeping freight operators. in Europe. Patients were traffic dropped by 50%. With European mobility and = Czech operator RegioJet transferred from hospitals in car manufacturers stopping or logistics operational is suspended its Vienna - Prague Strasbourg and Mulhouse via reducing production, RCA also essential,” the letter says. “All service while open-access ambulance to the train, which expected falls in automotive European rail operators, operator Westbahn cut the left Paris Est station at around and steel traffic. infrastructure managers and frequency of its Vienna - 11.00, arriving in Angers at = The Spanish rail sector other service providers are Salzburg service to two-hourly. 15.30. The service then scaled back train services and doing their best in order to Most regional train operators continued to Nantes where it manufacturing. Faced with a respond to the critical mobility also reverted to Saturday or arrived at 18.30. SNCF 95% drop in passenger needs in these dire times.” Sunday timetables. operated a further nine demand, national operator = India extended the Hospital Trains up to April 16, Renfe cut off-peak commuter suspension of all passenger carrying 202 patients. services by 50% and peak March 31 trains until March 31. Freight = The UITP, together with the services by 20%. The Texas Central, the company services continued to run. Community of European frequency of AVE high-speed developing a 390km, 320km/h = Brightline suspended its Railways and Infrastructure and long-distance passenger high-speed line from Dallas to Miami - West Palm Beach Mangers (CER), Polis, trains was further reduced Houston, said it is likely that inter-city service. Eurocities, and the permanent from 50% to 30%. the coronavirus pandemic will delegation to the EU (IRU), = Operators and station impact delivery of the project. sent an open letter to the managers were warned that Texas Central said the project March 26 European Union to urge basic pollution levels across the was ‘shovel ready,’ and it was The US Senate unanimously continuity and the survival of network should be managed ready to begin construction. passed its $US 2 trillion public transport. The group and reduced in anticipation of However, with partners in coronavirus stimulus package, said that maintaining basic more people with respiratory Japan, Spain and Italy, Texas which included at least $US public transport services was issues due to the coronavirus Central conceded that there 25bn specific funding for vital for European citizens pandemic. Speaking during a was a chance it would not passenger rail and public carrying out essential functions. webinar on Air Quality in Rail, proceed on schedule. transport. The US House of Emsol head of sales, Mr = Transnet, South Africa, Representatives passed the Marcus Mayers, warned that scaled back rail operations as Coronavirus Aid, Relief and March 27 those recovering from Covid- part of a larger decision to Economic Security Cares Act Austrian Federal Railways 19 could have lung damage for limit activities during the (Cares) on March 27. (ÖBB) introduced a much- up to six months after country’s 21-day lockdown. = French National Railways reduced timetable following contracting the disease. High-value freight trains and (SNCF) announced a further falling demand for services. trains carrying perishable and reduction in timetables for Trains were operating at sensitive goods including fuel, TGV InOui and Intercity around 10% of usual loadings March 28 containers, timber, chemical services. SNCF also while revenue dropped even Wuhan resumed partial products, agricultural products, announced the cessation of all further due to compensation operation of its six-line metro and coal for hospitals and Ouigo trains from March 27. payments for cancelled trains. network while mainline and power generation continued to SNCF cut the number of TGV ÖBB said it would retain all high-speed trains also began operate. InOui services per day from 90 staff, but several thousand stopping at Wuchang station to 40, while Intercity trains employees would switch to for the first time since the city would operate at only 7% of part-time employment. was locked down on January April 1 their usual frequency. = Rail Cargo Austria freight 23. Passengers were still not New Zealand transport able to board mainline services minister, Mr Phil Twyford, from Wuhan until April 8. announced that advance = The first freight train for payments would be made to Europe to leave Wuhan since transport construction the city was locked down industry contractors to retain departed the yard at the workforce and ensure it is Alashankou at 10.00, bound ready to quickly gear up to for Duisburg, Germany. build projects vital to the country’s Covid-19 economic recovery. March 30 British open-access operator Hull Trains, which is owned April 2 by FirstGroup, temporarily British infrastructure manager suspended operation of its Network Rail (NR) announced Beverley/Hull - London it would make immediate King’s Cross service, becoming payments to suppliers to help the first British operator to boost their cashflow. cancel all trains in light of the Backdated to March 30, NR As well as continuing to provide transport and other essential services during pandemic. committed to immediate the pandemic, the industry has found other ways to provide assistance, = Five European rail payments to suppliers, or as including the use of 3D printing facilities to create medical equipment. associations sent a joint letter close to immediate as possible. 6 IRJ May 2020 May Covid19_Layout 1 24/04/2020 15:17 Page 7

= Renfe and Talgo announced = DB and the DB Foundation that the Covid-19 pandemic cannot be business as usual for they were converting Talgo assembled an aid package for had led to an unprecedented IR,” a senior ministry official 250 Dual high-speed trains the Stations Missions charity. crisis for independent said. “In all probability, the into hospital trains capable of DB provided all Station passenger rail operators and losses will be insurmountable.” transferring patients affected Missions with hygiene items predicted that some could by the coronavirus around such as disinfectant, masks, disappear as early as the end Spain if needed, following and gloves to protect of April. AllRail said operators April 15 instructions from the Ministry employees and those in need. were experiencing severe The president of Bombardier of Transport, Mobility and = Spanish infrastructure drops in passenger volumes, Transportation for France and Urban Agenda. manager Adif and high-speed some by more than 90%. Benelux, Mr Laurent Bouyer, infrastructure manager Adif = Four associations including visited Bombardier’s plant in AV extended rental subsidies the UIC and UITP called on Bruges, Belgium, as work April 3 for property and land used by governments to take resumed after a shutdown of Norwegian rail and bus self-employed workers, SMEs exceptional measures to almost a month. Bombardier operator Vy laid off a further and other companies. Rents maintain public transport also partially resumed work in 400 employees from its rail have been postponed for up to services for essential workers Crewe, Britain. and administration sectors. two years or until the end of and to ensure their survival. = Stadler said it had resumed The operator had already laid the contract with negotiations They said exceptional measures, rail vehicle manufacturing at off 700 employees, as set to take place on a case-by- including financial support, its factory in Valencia, Spain, passenger numbers dropped case basis. must be adopted and deployed which had been put on hold. rapidly to operators to limit the The company says its other social, economic and financial plants have largely been able consequences of the pandemic. to continue production = Belgian private freight through the pandemic. operator Lineas unveiled a = Alstom told IRJ that locomotive with a white livery resumption of work at its sites to recognise people fighting around the world would the coronavirus as well as progress according to the state those in essential work. “This of the pandemic in each area, is our way of thanking all the the conditions or guidelines people at the frontline of this set out by authorities, the type crisis,” says Lineas director - of work, and the measures assets and network operations, necessary to ensure the Mr Jeroen Spruyt. protection of workers. In Europe, production had partially resumed in some April 13 countries such as Spain and Talgo restarted work at its Las was due to do so in Poland As countries and businesses halted travel, SKM board president, Mr Alan Matas 2 factory near Madrid, and Germany within days. Beroud, and Newag CEO, Mr Zbigniew Konieczek, signed a contract for 21 followed by its Rivabellosa = Siemens said it had been EMUs during a video conference call on April 7. facility in northern Spain a day able to keep most of its later. The manufacturer is production and service by more than 80%. Revenue requiring all of its staff and facilities open throughout the also dropped by up to 90%. April 7 contractors to possess face outbreak, while implementing = Swedish operator SJ Siemens and Alstom used masks, the use of which is measures to protect its reduced the working hours of their 3D printing capabilities mandatory when working employees and its partners. more than half of its 3000 to produce items to protect within two metres of another employees to cut costs while passengers, staff and medical person. still retaining staff in order to practitioners. RZD began April 20 be ready to relaunch services testing 36 attachments for door CAF gradually resumed work after the pandemic. handles, provided by Siemens, April 14 at its Spanish facilities, with = British open-access operator while Alstom’s 3D printing Bombardier’s production the aim of having 100% Grand Central suspended hub in at Santa Perpètua, facility at Trápaga, Vizcaya, activity within a week of services indefinitely due to Barcelona, coordinated reopened with new safety reopening. The company said falling passenger numbers. initiatives across the group to measures. Bombardier also it had drawn up a strict plan Services were initially produce components, supply restarted train production at to comply with protocols and suspended for two months. consumables and design new Derby, Britain, and heavy security measures, with the solutions. maintenance at Ilford, London. fundamental objective of Indian Railways (IR) is preserving the health of its = Over 2000 Moscow Metro = April 4 staff were cleaning more than understood to have made a workers. Finland’s national operator VR 900,000m2 of surfaces daily, loss of approximately Rupees = Austria’s Federal Ministry suspended overnight services including 413,000m2 of platforms, 100bn ($US 1.2bn) during the for Climate Protection to Rovaniemi and Kemijärvi as well as floors, stairs, escalators, first phase of India’s lockdown temporarily awarded until at least May 24. VR also handrails, and doors. from March 24 to April 14. Westbahn and Austrian announced it would cut back Passenger services were due to Federal Railway (ÖBB) a its total passenger services by remain suspended until May public service obligation (PSO) 40% between May 4 and 24, April 9 3. “With the global rail contract to operate an hourly up from the 15% reduction The Alliance of Passenger Rail economy having been turned service between Vienna and introduced on March 14. New Entrants (AllRail) said upside down by Covid-19, it Salzburg until July 7. IRJ IRJ May 2020 7 May News_Layout 1 27/04/2020 12:59 Page 8

News | headlines

HS2 Phase 1 InHnE oorgaTniserr aof nInnsoT rapns,osptosptpoone nInneoTdran s u202n0. til s2p1 wrilli rnemgain v2ali0d, b2ut 1if Messe Berlin, says it will “The health and safety of changes are necessary exhibitors construction pTostpone the exhibition until exhibitors, trade visitors and will be notified in autumn April 27-30 2021 due to new all the employees at the trade 2020. However, this does not proceeds RITAIN’s Department for coronavirus restrictions. fair have the utmost priority,” apply to the locations of rail Transport (DfT) has issued The Berlin Senate imposed a says InnoTrans director Ms vehicles on the outdoor display aB formal notice to proceed ban on staging large events, Kerstin Schulz. “For this area which may have to be with detailed design and particularly trade fairs reason InnoTrans will take changed. construction of the first 225km attracting more than 5000 place on April 27-30 2021. We After receiving written phase of HS2, the high-speed people, until October 24 2020 would like to take this notification about the new link between London, in order to prevent the spread opportunity to thank our dates, Messe Berlin says Birmingham and Lichfield, to of Covid-19. Messe Berlin says exhibitors at InnoTrans for exhibitors will have until May the joint venture contractors that after consulting with the their cooperation and loyalty.” 11 to cancel their booking for working on the project. co-founding associations of Messe Berlin says that in the new date, and any down- Four joint ventures (p18) InnoTrans and the leading principle stand allocations payments of fees will be were awarded construction market players it decided to which were confirmed by April refunded without charge. contracts for the project in July 2017 and will now be able to proceed with work in line with the government’s guidance around construction work continuing during the coronavirus pandemic. Gps!npsf!po!IT3-!tff!q27/

CD eyes Leo Express acquisition - reports ZECH Railways (CD) is reportedly in talks rCegarding a potential takeover of private open-access passenger operator and market rival Leo Express. Czech minister of transport, Mr Karel Havlícek, told news Spanish competition authority curbs Renfe’s HS ambitions website [epqsbwz/d{ that PAIN’s National Markets Conversely, CNMC says in outside the framework meetings were held in late and Competition view of the risk facing Ilsa and agreement with Adif AV. Renfe April. “So far, this is an CSommission (CNMC) has Rielsfera, 10-year contracts has ordered the trains from indicative meeting between curtailed Adif High Speed’s with these companies are fully Talgo in batches. CNMC says the two entities,” he says. “I (Adif AV) plan to award Renfe justifiable. The two companies that the average age of Renfe’s am receiving ongoing a 10-year operating contract as plan to acquire 23 and 14 trains current high-speed train fleet is information.” part of opening a section of the respectively, and they will 18 years, which will limit its Any merger would be high-speed rail market to have to set up commercial and risk with a five-year significant as it would combine competition. operational networks and framework contract compared state-owned incumbent CD While the CNMC has develop a brand image in with the two new operators. with one of the Czech Republic’s approved the long-term Spain, all of which will require The CNMC also points to two private open-access agreements with the Ilsa considerable investment. the increased risks facing the passenger operators. consortium of Trenitalia and In addition, CNMC says new entrants as a result of the Leo Express board member Air Nostrum, and Rielsfera, a Renfe has not proven that it coronavirus pandemic, and and former CEO Mr Peter subsidiary of French National needs to add 49 trains to its says that this is bound to create Köhler confirmed to IRJ that Railways (SNCF), to operate fleet for the proposed services, uncertainty for their business the company could not services on three high-speed especially as they represent plans, the availability of new comment on any proposed lines in Spain from December, only a slight increase in trains on agreed dates, the mergers and acqusitions. it cut the length of the agreement capacity compared with the signalling system to be used on “Leo Express has long been with Renfe from 10 to five years. timetable which Renfe normally the Madrid - Seville/Malaga negotiating the entry of a CNMC wants Adif AV to operates on the three lines. line, and the approval of lines strategic partner that would justify why Renfe should be CNMC also points out that of credit to fund investment. enable the further growth of a given a 10-year contract. The the technical characteristics of Adif AV says it will prepare successful project,” Leo CNMC says it was agreed that the new Renfe trains, which an adequate justification for its Express spokesman, Mr Emil the framework agreements have gauge-changeable original decision to award Sedlarík, told [epqsbwz/d{ . should be for five years, unless wheelsets and interoperable Renfe a 10-year contract. “Negotiations are taking place associated contracts, special signalling, would allow Renfe Adif AV planned to sign the with many interested parties, investment and the level of to operate the trains on other framework agreements with and due to confidentiality risk incurred by companies lines in Spain or abroad, such Ilsa and Rielsfera by the end of agreements, we cannot comment justifies a longer term. as in France, which would be April. on them in more detail.” 8 IRJ May 2020 May News_Layout 1 24/04/2020 13:59 Page 9

In brief

Austria Mayan Train project Phase 2 attracts 15 bids Plasser & Theurer has EXICO’S National Fund = 11 Mexican companies led Mexican companies ($US 810m) announced the death of the for Tourism Protection by Citcocomex Group ($US 656m) = Dragados, Spain, with two track machine manufacturer’s (Fonatur)M has received 15 bids = Copasa, Spain, with four Mexican companies ($US 815m) founder, Dr Josef Theurer, on to construct the 235km second Mexican companies ($US 728m) = Empresas ICA and Impulsora March 19 at the age of 91. section of the $US 7.4bn Mayan = FCC Construcción and de Desarrollo Integral, Mexico Theurer, who together with Mr Train project. Operadora Cicsa, Spain ($US ($US 830m) Franz Plasser founded the Section two will run from 740m) = Sacyr Construcción, Spain, company in 1953, managed Escárcega to Calkiní and the = China Railway Construction with three Mexican partners Plasser & Theurer for 60 years winning contractor was due to Corporation (CRRC) and a ($US 850m), and before handing over the reins be announced on April 30, with Mexican company ($US 740m) = CAABSA Constructora, to his grandson, Mr Johannes construction beginning on May = Mota Engil, Portugal, China Mexico, with four other Max-Theurer, in 2011. 12 provided the health authorities Communications Construction Mexican partners ($US 872m). deem it safe to do so in light of Company, with three Mexican Tenders for section one, China the coronavirus pandemic. partners ($US 760m) which will run from Palenque China National Railway (CR) “The winning company will = PowerChina with MM-Mex to Escárcega, and section two started commissioning and be responsible for organising and GH Maquinaria, Mexico were issued on February 12. test running on the 137.5km the project based on the basic ($US 760m) Section three will run from Zhaodian - Huangdu section engineering provided by = Grupo Azvi, Spain, and Gami Calkini to Izamal, while of the Nantong - Shanghai Fonatur, the construction of Ingeniería, Mexico ($US 760m) section four will run from high-speed line on April 20. platforms and rail lines, the = China Railway International Izamal to Tulum and section The line has a design speed of supply of materials, roads and with two Mexican partners five will run from Tulum to 200km/h and nine stations drainage systems, among other ($US 760m) Cancun. and includes a crossing over works,” Fonatur says. = Nexumrail of Durango and The tender for the third the Yangtze River. The 15 bidders comprise: Emartrons of Guadalajara ($US section is still open. The project = CR started test running on = 11 Mexican companies led by 780m) is expected to be completed in the 311km 350km/h line Grupo Vázquez del Sur ($US 640m) = China Gezhouba with 10 2022. linking Hefei and Huzhou on April 7. The line forms the southern section of the Rhine Valley Line reopens US firm eyes Zambia - Shangqiu - Hefei - Huzhou Zimbabwe - high-speed line. The 378km following fatal crash at Auggen northern section from ERMANY’s Rhine Valley killed in the crash, while Mozambique line Shangqiu to Hefei opened on Line reopened at 20.00 on several lorry drivers travelling AILNET International, December 1 2019. AprilG 8, after it was blocked on in a coach behind the United States, has announced April 2 following a fatal crash locomotive were injured. plansR to construct a $US 11bn Denmark at Auggen, 20km north of SBB Cargo International says passenger and freight line Banedanmark has launched Basle. it is working with German connecting Zambia, Zimbabwe ERTMS on the 73.6km single- An SBB Cargo International authorities to determine the and Mozambique. track line between Thisted and freight train, travelling on the cause of the accident. Railnet International CEO, Struer in northwest Jutland. RALpin rolling road service Replacement services were Mr Donald Kress, says talks Banedanmark gradually from Freiburg im Breisgau via arranged for passengers, while are underway with the switched over to ERTMS on Basle to Novara, Italy, and freight services were diverted governments of the three the line, which is owned by hauled by a BLS Cargo via Singen and Schaffhausen. countries and that an agreement Thybanen and operated by locomotive, derailed after it The route is one of the has already been signed to start Arriva, from mid-February. collided with a concrete section busiest sections of railway in feasibility studies in Zambia. that had fallen from a bridge Europe, with lengthy double- “We have a group known as Finland that was due to be demolished track sections normally used Magcor International and their VR Transpoint piloted operation a few days later. by up to 400 trains per day, CEO has arranged financing of an 830m 6000-tonne freight The locomotive driver was including 216 freight services. through a group of investors,” train consisting of 66 wagons Kress told Sfvufst. “Until we and two Siemens Vectron have signed a contract with locomotives at the end of the investors, they have March, a development which requested to remain anonymous.” VR hopes will improve the The line would run from flow of rail freight from Russia. Zambia’s Copperbelt province via Harare, Zimbabwe, to the Germany Transdev has announced it port of Beira, Mozambique. will unify the branding of its The $US 11bn investment three regional Bavarian would include the cost of the operators. The Meridian and locomotives and rolling stock. Bavarian Oberland Railway Freight services would (BOB) brands will be phased operate at 120km/h and out in favour of the Bavarian passenger services at up to Regional Rail (BRB) brand. 160km/h. Railnet would Vlexx introduced the first operate the line to recover its = two Talent 3 three-car EMUs investment, before handing it on the RB 74 line between over to the government. IRJ May 2020 9 May News_Layout 1 24/04/2020 13:59 Page 10

News | headlines

UBS says rail industry faces strong growth post-coronavirus report by UBS has found developed and emerging business if frequency and European rail market is that the Covid-19 countries for weeks, triggered service quality improves. expected to “profoundly” impact pandemicA could accelerate the new habits such as remote Overall, this would reduce the both the frequency and shift of passengers from air to working and the use of social global air traffic growth forecast affordability of high-speed rail, post-lockdown, with video-calling apps, and giving to 4.6% per annum, versus the services in Europe. “We think greater than expected growth a majority of the population 5.1% annual growth estimated 2019 and 2020 mark the inflection in the rail industry over the the experience of much lower before the Covid-19 outbreak. point for the industry,” UBS next 10 years. levels of pollution,” UBS says. “We believe the global, and says. “Open network access The report from the Swiss “There could be a strong rise in in particular the European, will be granted across Europe investment bank says countries awareness of the movements railway markets are poised for from December 2020.” are unlikely to abandon their campaigning against climate growth rates higher than This growth is expected to ambition to reduce carbon change beyond a few wealthier historical levels, driven by have a major impact across the emissions by 2050, and nations.” three key drivers: environmental, rail industry, with Spain, France, passengers are more likely to Aviation represents around social, and governance (ESG) Germany and Italy expected to accept longer travel times by 2.5-3% of global emissions, but trends, efficiency, and purchase up to 800 high-speed train. around 15% of transport- convenience,” UBS says. “HSTs trains over the next decade, Covid-19 is still expected to related emissions. In Europe in in particular should benefit representing an investment of have major short-term 2017, transport generated 4483 from these drivers.” É40-60bn. implications, with UBS million tonnes of CO2. Road UBS says rail is the best Growth could be accelerated estimating a -0.5% contraction transport accounted for the available solution to solve the by the significant investments in global GDP in 2020 and dominant share of greenhouse problems posed by population in high-speed infrastructure 4.5% growth in 2021. However, gas emissions at 73%, growth, rising living standards taking place in Germany, the rail industry is expected to compared with aviation at and increased demand. “In our France, Spain, the Nordic and bounce back, showing strong 14%, maritime at 13.5% and view, and underpinned by Baltic regions, and the growth over the next decade. rail at 0.5%. lower financing costs, the connections between Eastern “As well as the economic High-speed trains (HST) political support for rail and Western European regions. downturn triggered by Covid- could encourage more infrastructure investment is UBS also expects É6bn in 19, movement restrictions may travellers to move away from growing significantly,” the revenue opportunities for also be remembered for having air to rail in both Europe and report says. signalling suppliers over the abruptly reduced emissions in China for both leisure and The liberalisation of the next 10 years.

Ural Locomotives unveils details of double-deck Swallow EMU: Adani awards Queensland coal line contract Ural Locomotives, a joint venture of Sinara Group and DANI Australia, the developer of the controversial Carmichael Siemens, has released details of its new double-deck Swallow coal mine in northern Queensland, has awarded a $A 220m regional EMU for Russian Railways (RZD). Available in either ($USA 140m) construction contract to Martinus Rail for its 200km three or four-car variants, the manufacturers are due to begin 1067mm-gauge coal railway linking the mine to Abbott Point port. production in 2021 with a view to launching the trains in 2022. The contract covers the construction of 86km of rail formation The 140km/h EMUs will be equipped with batteries to allow works, a road over bridge, nine waterway bridges, more than up to 120km of operation on non-electrified routes. 200 culverts and 35 rail crossings. Martinus was also awarded the $A 100m track works package in October 2019. Martinus Rail recently purchased two refurbished, former Tranz Rail DC class locomotives and a number of intermodal flat wagons from New Zealand to use as work trains on the project. The Carmichael Mine is located in the North Galilee Basin more than 300km from the Queensland coast. The line will connect the mine with existing tracks owned by Aurizon

Virgin Trains USA granted $US 600m in bonds for Las Vegas HS project ALIFORNIA’s Debt Limit higher than traditional housing underway is for Nevada to Nevada’s Department of Allocation Committee projects,” Virgin Trains USA approve $US 200m in bonds Business. A meeting to discuss (CDLAC)C has approved $US said in its application. from the state’s debt limit the bond approval in Nevada 600m in tax-exempt bonds for This is the second bond allocation, which would allow will not be arranged until all the $US 4.8bn Virgin Trains Virgin Trains USA has secured. Virgin to market $US 800m in outstanding items are completed. USA high-speed project In March, the US Department bonds for the project. Construction could start between Las Vegas and of Transportation (USDOT) “We still need the Nevada later this year provided the Victorville. approved $US 1bn in tax-free Department of Transportation Nevada bond is approved and Virgin Trains USA says the private bonds for the project. agreement finalised, final depending on the impact of the funds will inject $US 2.4bn of All the Virgin bonds must be environmental determination, coronavirus pandemic on the investment into the Victor issued by September 30. If not, evidence that the FRA will project. Valley Region. “Due to the California will transfer the $US issue the record of decision, Trains will operate at 45- private rail company’s ability 600m it approved into its and (financial adviser) David minute intervals and take about to market four-times as many affordable housing fund. Robertson’s due diligence on 1h 30min to complete the bonds, CDLAC’s return on According to Mbt!Wfhbt the financial side before we can 270km trip between Victorville investment for housing, jobs Sfwjfx.Kpvsobm, the final step to issue a finding of fact,” says and Las Vegas compared with and regional growth will be get the high-speed project Mr Terry Reynolds, director of about 3 hours by car. 10 IRJ May 2020 May News_Layout 1 24/04/2020 13:59 Page 11

In brief

Homburg and Illingen, in Saarland, on March 31. Vlexx has ordered 21 EMUs from Bombardier for the Elektro Netz Saar (ENS) network. = Abellio Rail Baden- Württemberg will sub-contract part of the Neckar Valley (Neckartal) contract it operates around Stuttgart to private operator Wedler Franz Logistics (WFL) from June. The sub-contract will last for six months with an option for a six-month extension. Guinea CRRC Qishuyan has completed the first Co-Co diesel locomotive for the SMB- Winning consortium which is building a 135km bauxite railway. SMB-Winning FlixTrain halts French expansion as RDC pulls out ordered two DF8B diesel ERMAN budget open- months to complete an in- improve, FlixTrain is open to locomotives in November 2019 access operator FlixTrain depth analysis of the market reconsidering a French followed by another 14 saysG it will not enter the and processes by which expansion.” 3.28MW ac heavy-haul diesel French market in 2021 as private passenger operators FlixTrain says the decision locomotives a month later. expected, due to the high cost could secure access to tracks. was made before the of train paths. However, “The result of this coronavirus outbreak. International FlixTrain says it would assessment was that FlixTrain has been hit hard by German Rail’s (DB) Spanish reconsider this decision if conditions for new market the pandemic, suspending all subsidiary Transfesa Logistics French track access charges entry are, at this point in time, its routes in Germany from has launched an express 72- were brought into line with not favourable for operating a March 19. hour freight service carrying other European countries. FlixTrain service in France. In addition, the German essential goods including In June 2019, FlixTrain FlixTrain will therefore not subsidiary of Railroad hygiene and medical products indicated five routes where it submit an application in 2021. Development Corporation and food from terminals in planned to compete with “A significant hurdle to (RDC), United States, says it Valencia and Murcia, Spain, to incumbent operator SNCF FlixTrain expanding in France will end its partnership with London, Britain. Mobility. All five would only is the high infrastructure cost FlixTrain once services resume run on the conventional compared with other citing a “massive change” to Kazakhstan network and would have European markets. With fees the previous agreement. RDC Kazakhstan Railways’ (KTZ) radiated from Paris to Bordeaux, at the current levels, it is very says there was a fundamental freight subsidiary saved more Toulouse, Nice (an overnight challenging to offer customers reversal of the agreed than Tenge 12bn ($US 26.6m) service), Lyon and Brussels. an affordable product similar structure of the partnership, in 2019 through the introduction “This was done well in to that which FlixTrain including questions around of energy-saving measures to advance of a potential launch successfully provides in RDC’s value-added share, fleet reduce locomotive fuel and based on the timeline and Germany. and cost of operation. RDC electricity consumption. mandatory process outlined “If French decision makers says under these conditions it by French regulators,” can demonstrate a willingness would have been unable to Poland FlixTrain told IRJ. “The to align with other European ensure sustainable rail Lower Silesian Railways (KD) FlixTrain team used the last 10 markets and conditions operations. has rejected a bid from Newag to supply six dual-mode electro-diesel trains. Newag New timetable expands Chinese high-speed services submitted a bid of Zlotys HINA National Railway (CR) has increased weekends and 19 extra trains during peak 169.74m ($US 40.9m) for the the number of trains it operates per day by periods. six three-car dual-mode 2.7%C and introduced new high-speed services CR is taking advantage of the completion of multiple units compared with with the start of its new timetable on April 10. the triangular high-speed network linking KD’s budget of Zlotys 118m. The total number of trains operating per day Chengdu, Chongqing and Guiyang to introduce has risen by 130.5 per direction to 4970.5 per a new East Sichuan - Chongqing - Guizhou direction across the national network. CR says it service. The train will run three times per day, Sweden Vehicle leasing company has also optimised the capacity of its freight taking around eight hours to complete the Transitio has announced it will services to meet demand. circuit. CR has also increased the number of order 30 trains from CAF, with CR says the opening of the high-speed line one-stop and non-stop high-speed trains an option for an additional 34 linking Beijing with Zhangjiakou, Hohhot, and operating between Chengdu and Chongqing. vehicles. The contract is worth Datong on December 30 2019 has been successful To address changes in demand for freight, two SKr 6.5bn ($US 638.1m), with with strong demand. new China - Europe freight trains have been delivery scheduled to commence CR is now operating 44 round trips per day, introduced together with a multi-modal express at the end of 2022. IRJ with seven additional services per direction at freight train and a fast freight train. IRJ May 2020 11 May News_Layout 1 27/04/2020 12:59 Page 12

News | headlines

Indonesian HS project progresses despite challenges Etihad Rail Stage NDONESIA’s acting flooding into February delayed the new line to be bored transportation minister, Mr the project. through. On March 27, concrete 2 construction LIuhut Pandjaitan, says According to Hmpcbm pouring for a section of the ramps up construction of the 142.3km Dpotusvdujpo!Ofxt , about 300 two main piers for the TIHAD Rail has launched 350km/h line linking Jakarta out of the 2000-strong Chinese continuous rigid frame bridges construction on package B with Bandung was suspended workforce engaged on the on the high-speed line was oEf stage 2 of the UAE’s and completion is likely to be project including senior completed and entered the national railway development delayed as a result of the managers travelled to China in segment construction stage. project, a 216km section which coronavirus pandemic. February for the Lunar New The $US 5.5bn project is includes links to Khalifa The minister’ announcement Year but were unable to return being implemented by the Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi, follows a report from China due to travel restrictions. The Kereta Cepat Indonesia-China Khalifa Port and Industrial National Railway (CR) on April supply of materials from China (KCIC) joint venture under a City of Abu Dhabi. 2, which said that the project is has also been interrupted, 50-year design-build-maintain- The package also includes making progress despite floods although this should resume as operate concession. CRRC construction of a concrete and interruptions caused by Chinese industry restarts after Qingdao Sifang will supply a sleeper factory at Saih Sheib Covid-19. the Covid-19 lock-down. fleet of 11 eight-car trains. and is being conducted by a Abnormal rainfall in the Nevertheless, on March 12, The line was originally due consortium of China Railway Jakarta area on January 1, which CR says the Number 5 tunnel to open in 2019 but is not now Construction Corporation and led to flash floods, and was completed on schedule. expected to be completed until Ghantoot Transport & General repeated heavy rainfall and This is the second tunnel on 2021 at the earliest. Contracting under a contract awarded in June 2019. In addition, Etihad Rail has Latvian Railways halts national electrification project signed a Dirhams 846m ($US ATVIAN Railways (LDz) has decided to halt LDz fears that the drop in revenue will mean 230.3m) contract with Vinci a project to electrify its 1520mm-gauge it will not be able to cover the cost of maintaining Construction, France, to build nLetwork due to a sharp drop in freight traffic. the electrified network without government an operation and maintenance LDz started to suffer a fall in the first half of support. Instead the railway plans to focus on facility at Al Faya, Abu Dhabi. 2019 and the decline has continued into 2020. small-scale, affordable investment schemes. The facility will be responsible Traffic dropped by 15.8% in 2019 compared with LDz says it plans to redistribute EU Cohesion for warehousing, installations, 2018 which was LDz’s best year since 2015. This Fund finance to projects aimed at achieving operation and maintenance of has forced the railway to review its capital climate change transport goals and multimodal locomotives and wagons. Vossloh expenditure projects, even those co-funded by passenger transport schemes. LDz says it has has also secured a contract to the European Union’s (EU) structure fund. started consultation with the Transport Ministry supply turnouts and fasteners. “These projects were planned and prepared at on ways to implement alternative projects. Etihad Rail has now a time when 45 to 55 million tonnes of freight “I have a reason to be confident that LDz will awarded all civil works and were carried by rail annually,” says Mr Maris manage to regain financial balance and become construction contracts for Kleinbergs, chairman of LDz. “Now, the situation a modern, efficient and competitive company, Stage 2 and launched has changed substantially, and the changes to and, as freight transport increases, there will be construction on stage A to rail freight volumes, brought about by the a reason to return to financially large-scale Ghuweifat on the Saudi border geopolitical situation, require corrections to railway infrastructure development projects,” on February 5. railway investment projects.” Kleinbergs says. Israel electrification programme accelerated as ETCS Level 2 tested SRAEL Railways (IR) has was completed two months Española de Montajes electrification project management successfully extended ahead of schedule. Industriales (Semi), Spain, teams, which has improved eIlectrification of the A1 Link to A few days later, IR which was awarded a contract trust between IR and Semi as Tel Aviv Hashalom and Tel announced plans to revise and to deliver 25kV ac electrification well as increased possession Aviv Savidor/Central stations accelerate its network across 420 route-km in December times for electrification work and began test running on the electrification programme. 2015, will significantly increase on active tracks. section on April 5. The work Spanish contractor Sociedad manpower to speed up delivery Electrification is currently of the project. Semi will also be underway north of Tel-Aviv free to recruit its own Savidor/Central to Tel-Aviv subcontractors. University and Hertzliya, on Semi will now receive an the Sharon line to Kfar-Sava increased payment of Shekels Nordau, and on the Tel-Aviv 500m ($US 139.3m), which will Hahagana - Ashkelon line. be paid depending on the In addition, IR has completed contractor’s ability to meet the an initial test run with ETCS milestones and schedules Level 2 on the Tel Aviv - anchored in the contract. Jerusalem A1 Link near Latrun Momentum has picked up Monastery. Israel’s Shekels on the electrification project 2.5bn ETCS network project since IR general manager, Mr covers the 625km network as Michael (Micha) Maiksner, was well as 255km of new lines. appointed in July 2019. The The complete ETCS Level 2 project has benefitted from a project is expected to be Electrification has been successfully extended to stations in Tel Aviv. subsequent change in completed in 2023. 11a IRJ May 2020 May News_Layout 1 27/04/2020 12:59 Page 13

In brief

Britain Hitachi unveils latest version of JR Central maglev test train Angel Trains has awarded ITACHI has unveiled a Wabtec Rail a contract to more streamlined version overhaul 24 two-car class 158 oHf the series LO maglev test DMUs operated by Transport train which it is building for JR for Wales and 16 two-car class Central. 158 DMUs operated by East The train will have two end Midlands Railway. cars and an intermediate coach, and JR Central plans to start China testing on the Yamanashi test The 11.56km Milin tunnel has line in May. been holed through on the The 500km/h production 435km Sichuan-Tibet railway, trains will have up to 12 cars which will connect Lhasa with with a total length of 300m. Nyingchi in southeast Tibet. The 28m-long end cars will The tunnel is one of six 10km seat 24 passengers and the tunnels being constructed on 24.29m-long intermediate on further testing, developing reduce construction, operation the most difficult part of the coaches 68. The aluminium- a maintenance system and maintenance costs. 160km/h line. alloy vehicles will be 2.9m compatible with commercial The Chuo Shinkansen is operation, improving and scheduled to open between wide. Germany JR Central plans to spend commercialising superconducting Tokyo Shinagawa and Nagoya Captrain’s German subsidiary Yen 3bn ($US 27.5m) this year technology, and trying to by 2027. ITL has put into service the first of four new Eurodual six- axle bi-mode freight California awards $US 500m for rail and transit projects locomotives built by Stadler ALIFORNIA State = LA Metro will receive $US Pacific Surfliner double-deck Rail Valencia. The 120km/h Transportation Agency 107m to increase capacity and train fleet. locomotive has a 7MW power (CCalSta) has awarded $US assess the feasibility of = San Francisco Municipal rating while using 15/25kV ac 500m in Transit and Intercity introducing zero-emission Transportation Agency (SFMTA) traction plus a 2.8MW Rail Capital Program (TIRCP) propulsion trains on the will receive $US 41.7m for the Caterpillar C175-16 EU Stage grants to 17 recipients to Metrolink Antelope Valley Muni Forward programme, IIIB diesel engine. support design and construction commuter rail line. including capacity improvements The City of Inglewood will on the J and M LRT lines, of transit and railway projects. = International Funding will be complemented be granted $US 95.2m to development of a train control PKP Cargo and Lithuanian by federal, local and other state construct a 2.6km automated upgrade programme and the Railways’ subsidiary LG Cargo funding. CalSta says the projects peoplemover with three new third Muni Forward corridor. have signed a letter of intent will leverage more than $US 4.9bn stations from Downtown = Sacramento Regional Transit to set up a joint venture to in additional investment and Inglewood station on LA District will receive $US 23.6m develop intermodal rail services are part of more than $US 7bn Metro’s Crenshaw/LAX Line to purchase eight low-floor between Poland and Lithuania. investment in transit and rail = CalSta will grant $US LRVs for the Gold Line. The letter of intent allows the projects between 2018 and 2027 38.74m to the Los Angeles - = San Diego Association of start negotiations without any under the Road Repair and San Diego - San Luis Obispo Governments (Sandag) will obligation at this stage. Rail Corridor Agency (Lossan) receive $US 12.1m to construct Accountability Act of 2017. = A Swedish consortium of Recipients include: to construct a Central Coast an additional track and rolling stock leasing company = Bay Area Rapid Transit layover facility in San Luis platform along a 1.6km stretch Transitio and four regional (Bart) will receive $US 107m to Obispo, a new maintenance in El Cajon to allow the Green operators has awarded Alstom and layover facility in San and Orange lines to terminate expand its metro train fleet by a É35m contract to install 34 cars to 306 cars. Diego, and to modernise the at El Cajon Transit Centre. ETCS Level 2 on 77 class X31 EMUs with an option to equip Norwegian infrastructure projects costs to increase – report 34 more trains. The operators UMEROUS projects Nor is now reviewing the 12.2bn and NKr 6.6bn, even comprise Skånetrafiken, underway across Norway project to provide an updated though annual costs are Hallandstrafiken, Blekinge aNre expected to cost more than cost framework. expected to increase in 2020 Region, and DSB SOV. The previously budgeted, a report The report also states that and 2021. The Drammen - trains operate on Sweden - from the Norwegian Ministry of the cost of the NKr 10.4bn Kobbervikdalen project is also Denmark Öresund services. Transport and Communications Sandbukta - Moss - Såstad expected to be completed one has found. project could increase by up to year earlier than planned, Latvia This includes a further increase NKr 3bn, due to the strain put opening in 2024. RB Rail has awarded design of up to NKr 5bn ($US 477.8m) on the supplier market by the “The government will come and design supervision for the already delayed NKr large number of projects back to how to solve the contracts for the two remaining 30.9bn Follo Line, as well as a currently underway. challenges of increased sections of Rail Baltica in risk that this may not be The 10km Drammen - investment needs in the rail Latvia. Ineco-Ardanuy has completed in December 2022 Kobbervikdalen and the sector,” says Bane Nor CEO, won a É13.5m contract for the as previously expected. This is 13.6km Nykirke - Barkåker Mr Gorm Frimannslund. “In Vangazi - Latvian-Estonian due to contractors going double-track projects are the meantime, we are border section, while Idom has bankrupt, and more difficult expected to be completed at continuing to work on the been awarded a É6.9m ground conditions than expected. their originally-estimated projects in accordance with the contract for the Misa - Latvian- IRJ Infrastructure manager Bane respective budgets of NKr current plan.” Lithuanian border section. IRJ May 2020 11b May TN_Layout 1 23/04/2020 16:35 Page 12

News | transit

Stadler wins €3bn Berlin U-Bahn train order Israeli light rail ERLIN Transport Authority The framework agreement around É1.2bn including the tender launched (BVG) has awarded Stadler includes a fixed minimum supply of spare parts. ROSS Israel Highway (TRI) aB framework contract, which order for 606 cars. Under the The framework agreement ran an international tender could be worth nearly É3bn, first tranche, Stadler will includes an option for 894 cars. forC Supervisory Independent for 1500 metro cars for the U- supply 376 cars formed into Stadler IK series trains already Safety Assessor (Sisa) consultancy Bahn network. two or four-car trains for the operate on BVG U-Bahn lines services for the 41km Haifa - BVG was able to finalise the small and large profile lines U1, U2 and U5. The new J/JK Nazareth LRT project, which deal following the rejection of from 2022 onwards. BVG has series trains will be energy- closed on April 24. an appeal against the contract also confirmed an order for efficient with noise reduction The chosen contractor will by an unsuccessful bidder by another 230 cars, but the delivery features, and the depth of the ensure that the documentation, the Berlin Court of Appeal on date will be decided later. door pillars has been adjusted management and delivery is in March 20. These firm orders are worth to improve access. line with the targets and safety regimes on behalf of TRI and Hyundai Rotem awarded first Seoul GTX train order the Ministry of Transport and G Rail, Korea, has awarded a Won 345.2bn thickness as those used on KTX-Sancheon and Road Safety. ($US 282.2m) contract to Hyundai Rotem to Supreme Railway (SRT) high-speed trains. In The Haifa - Nazareth project, supplyS 120 EMUs for Line A of the Great Train order to accelerate boarding and alighting at which will have 20 stations in the Express (GTX) project in Seoul. stations, the width of the doors will be 1300mm Galilee and Haifa metropolitan This is the first order for trains for the new compared with 900mm on the high-speed trains, areas, is being implemented by three-line GTX regional rail network serving the and there will be three doors per side. TransIsrael, an agency of the Korean capital. The trains will be delivered in GTX Line A will be 83.1km long with 10 Ministry of Transport and time for the opening of Line A in 2024. stations and will run from Unjeong in Paju, Road Safety. The eight-car trains will carry up to 1090 through the centre of Seoul to Dongtan in The line will carry 100,000 passengers. As the EMUs will have a maximum Hwaseong. passengers daily and will start speed of 180km/h and will operate partially Much of Line A already exists, as GTX at Merkazit HaMifratz station underground, the bodyshells will be reinforced services will share tracks with the SRT high- in Haifa, before running through and pressure tight to avoid discomfort to speed line. The southern section from Samseong Kiryat Ata. The line will then passengers from the change in air pressure to Dongtan is being built by the Korea Rail pass through Shfar’am, Bir El- when trains enter stations. Network Authority. Line A is expected to cost Maksur, Mashhad, Reineh, To minimise noise levels, the doors on the Won 3.58 trillion and is expected to carry and Nof HaGalil, before GTX EMUs will be single-leaf and the same around 300,000 passengers per day. terminating in Nazareth.

Sydney light Remainder of Amsterdam transit project retendered rail network completed HE final extension to the Sydney light rail network openedT on April 2. Passengers can now ride the L3 extension from Moore Park to Kingsford. This follows the opening of the L2 line from Circular to Randwick in December 2019. The L3 Kingsford Line completes the 12km CBD and South East Light Rail network, giving southeastern suburb residents a sustainable connection to the city centre. The project will revamp Amsterdam south into an integrated transport hub. Trams will operate on both HE Netherlands Ministry of services. The A10 South final design for the transport the L2 Randwick Line and L3 Infrastructure and Water highway will also be widened hub and planned construction Kingsford Line between 05.00 ManagementT and the from four to six lanes, with activities linked to rail and and 01.00 daily, with services Municipality of Amsterdam 1km of the road moved road closures in 2020 and 2021. every 4-8 minutes in the city have announced an updated underground. Heijmans says the joint centre and every 8-12 minutes tendering structure for the Zuidplus, a joint venture principals decided to split the in the southeast. Zuidasdok project. between Hochtief (42.5%), project into sections due to its No more extensions are Part of the Zuidas development Fluor (42.5%) and Heijmans considerable complexity. A new currently planned for the in Amsterdam, the Zuidasdok (15%), was initially awarded a approach, adjustments to the Sydney network, but project envisages developing $US 1bn design and construction collaboration model, the contract construction of the separate $A Amsterdam South station into contract for the project, but this form and the risk allocation 2.4bn ($US 1.44bn) Paramatta a compact public transport will now be partially retendered. resulted in a substantial light rail network commenced terminal, connecting train, Zuidplus will complete the work change from a legal point of earlier this year. light rail, bus, taxi and bicycle agreed previously, such as the view, and the need to retender. 12 IRJ May 2020 May TN_Layout 1 23/04/2020 16:35 Page 13

In brief

Bangkok finance the 14km Valley Line Manchester Metrolink passes 100km Mass Rapid Transit Authority West Light Rail Transit project. of Thailand (MRTA) opened the final section of the 48km Krasnodar Blue Line metro from Tao UST-Katav Wagon (UKVZ) has Poon to Tha Phra on March 30. been awarded a contract to supply 56 single-car LRVs. The Buenos Aires first 29 LRVs will be delivered The Argentinean government this year, with the remaining has extended the passenger 27 following in 2021. rail concessions for the Urquiza Line and the Belgrano Moscow Initial services are operating at a reduced North Line for 18 months. The 14.4km second and final frequency due to the coronavirus pandemic. Both include options for 18- phase of the Nekrasov metro RANSPORT for Greater network have dropped by month extensions. Line 15 opened on March 27 Manchester (TfGM) opened 90%, as the British government adding six new stations. theT 5.5km Trafford Park line on brought in strict movement Copenhagen March 22, taking the city’s controls across the country. Metro line M4 opened on Munich Metrolink light rail network to The network is operated by March 28, extending the Munich City Authority (SWM) 101km with 99 stops. a KeolisAmey joint venture network by 2.2km to has submitted a planning The line opened seven under a 10-year contract, which Nordhavn and Orientkaj. application for the “Tram West months earlier than planned. commenced in July 2017. Tangent” light rail project. Services are operating with a The project was delivered by Dresden Construction should begin in reduced 12 minute headway as TfGM, with design and Oberelbe Transport Authority 2023 and the new line is due to part of Metrolink’s efforts to construction partner MPT - a (VVO) has published a tender open in December 2026. reduce services during the consortium of Laing O’Rourke, for a consultant to support coronavirus pandemic. VolkerRail and Thales - and procurement of battery and Sydney Passenger numbers across the delivery partner WSP. fuel-cell-powered trains. Tunnelling of twin metro tunnels beneath Sydney Edmonton Harbour has been completed, Tung Chung Line extension approved Three consortia have been marking the end of all HE Hong Kong government Construction is expected to shortlisted for a public-private tunnelling on the Sydney has given MTR the green start in 2023. partnership (PPP) scheme to Metro City and Southwest lightT to carry out detailed The new Tung Chung East design, build and partially project. IRJ planning and design for the station will serve the Tung Tung Chung Line metro Chung New Town Extension extension project. (East) development while Tung The project comprises: a new Chung West station will serve intermediate station at Tung existing residents and potential Chung East between Sunny Bay housing developments nearby, and Tung Chung; extending the including the Tung Chung New line from the existing terminal Town Extension (West). at Tung Chung to Tung Chung The Tung Chung Line partly West; and extending the existing shares tracks with the Airport overrun tunnels beyond Hong Express Line but has eight Kong station to enable a future stations compared with five on increase in train frequency. the express line. Chengdu to open express metro lines HE Chinese city of serving Terminals 3 and 4, and Chengdu is gearing up to the other for Terminals 1 and 2. openT lines 17 and 18 later this Civil works and track laying year. The two lines will be have been completed on Line operated as express metro lines 18, whereas civil engineering is using trains with a maximum in the final stage of completion speed of 140km/h. on Line 17. Mechanical and Line 17 will run from Venus electrical system installation is east to Jitouqiao where it will also in full swing. The two connect with the future Line 9. lines will be electrified at 25kV It will be 26km long with nine ac rather than 1.5kV dc, which System solutions stations, two of which will be is used on existing metro lines. from one source elevated and seven underground. CRRC has completed Highest quality standards Line 18 will be 66.8km long delivery of 26 trains for Line with nine underground 18. Type testing of the first Fast construction concepts stations and only one elevated train was officially launched in Intelligent delivery logistics station. Line 18 will run south the last week of March. Eight from Chengdu South mainline trains have been delivered for DOORS station to Tianfu Airport, where Line 17, of which five have GANGWAYS there will be two stations, one been commissioned. www.ultimate-eur.com INTERIORS IRJ May 2020 May FNews_Layout 1 23/04/2020 17:45 Page 14

News | financial

ÖBB achieves higher profit in 2019 but revises 2020 budget USTRIAN Federal Railways recorded a drop in freight traffic É38.3m compared with É45.3m Nevertheless, Rail Cargo (ÖBB) says total revenue rose from 113 million tonnes in 2018 in 2018. Group is one of the few freight slightlyA in 2019 to É6.9bn with to 105 million in 2019. Volumes railways in Europe that did a pre-tax profit increasing from in Austria dropped from 78.6 positive job in 2019. In the É168m in 2018 to É169m in 2019. million tonnes to 74.3 million Budget revision future, however, transport ÖBB carried 267 million with freight activity in most ÖBB is revising its 2020 policy measures at the EU level passengers in 2019, a new all- other countries decreasing as budget in the wake of the will be required to ensure the time high, compared with 261 well. coronavirus pandemic. “We sustainable protection of rail million in 2018. As a result, the As a result, RCA achieved a quickly implemented measures freight transport, so that passenger division achieved a pre-tax profit of just É5m to stabilise the company and competition between rail and pre-tax profit of É100m compared compared with É24m in 2018 secured liquidity,” says ÖBB’s road becomes a little bit fairer.” with É91m the previous year. and an Ebit of É26.8m CEO, Mr Andreas Matthä. Since the start of the crisis The passenger division compared with É53.1m in “Nevertheless, the result will RCA freight traffic has dropped accounted for more than half 2018. Revenue remained stable suffer in 2020, with freight by 25-30%, while passenger of ÖBB’s total pre-tax profit at É2.3bn but was insufficient transport under particular traffic suffered even more with and was the only division to to compensate for rising costs. pressure. The situation in an 80% reduction in regional report an increase in 2019. ÖBB’s infrastructure division freight transport is challenging traffic and a 90% drop in long- Rail Cargo Austria (RCA) reported a pre-tax profit of for all European railways. distance passenger traffic.

DB passenger numbers up but profit down in 2019 €1.4bn for EU Germany’s railway. “Future expenses will have priority in infrastructure the coming years, which will be reflected in lower results in projects the medium term,” he says. HE European Commission DB’s “Strong Rail” strategy (EC) has approved an also resulted in greater overall investmentT package worth passenger numbers, with more than É1.4bn for 14 large regional passenger traffic infrastructure projects in growing by 1.6% to nearly 2 Croatia, the Czech Republic, billion journeys. DB’s total Hungary, Poland, Portugal, passenger traffic increased by Romania and Spain. The 695 million passenger-km to projects include rail, transit, 98.4 billion passenger-km. environment, health and Use of the national network energy schemes. increased by 0.4% to 1.09 billion More than É119m from the train-path-km, with the share EU cohesion fund will finance used by external operators rising Croatian national operator HZ from 32.2% in 2018 to 33.8% in Passenger Transport’s purchase DB carried more than 150 million long distance passengers for the first time 2019. of 21 new EMUs. in 2019. Photo: Deutsche Bahn/Volker Emersleben DB Cargo recorded a 3.7% drop The European Regional ERMAN Rail (DB) carried Group grew by nearly 1% to in rail freight traffic compared Development Fund (ERDF) 151 million long-distance É44.4bn in 2019, although with the previous year due to will provide nearly É85m to passengersG on its inter-city and adjusted Ebit fell 13% year-on- demand in sectors such as steel improve public transport in ICE services in 2019, up 1.9% year to É1.8bn due to high and automotive declining. DB Olsztyn, Poland, along with from 2018, the first time the expenditure, including says sustainable growth in the É76m to support the company has carried more investment in the fleet, rail freight market will take time. modernisation of four main than 150 million passengers network and stations. DB Schenker achieved an lines totalling nearly 52km in and the fifth consecutive year DB CEO, Dr Richard Lutz, operating profit of É538m in 2019, the Slaskie region. The cohesion of growth. says the goal is to substantially with all business segments except fund will also invest more than Adjusted sales across the DB increase the performance of air freight seeing growth. É38m to modernise the Bydgoszcz light rail network, in the Kujawsko-Pomorskie region. Jica provides $US 374.5m loan for Myanmar upgrade In Porto, Portugal, the HE Japan International 260km Yangon - Toungoo track, bridges, and a depot cohesion fund will invest Cooperation Agency (Jica) section of the double-track = railway systems, including É107m to upgrade the light hasT signed a Yen 40.6bn ($US 620km metre-gauge Yangon - the improvement of signalling rail network to make public 374.5m) loan agreement with Mandalay line. and telecommunication systems transport more appealing, the government of Myanmar Work on the Yen 49.2bn = rolling stock, including the reduce traffic and pollution for the Yangon - Mandalay project is due to begin in procurement of 24 new trains and guarantee safer, faster and Railway Improvement Project December 2023. The project = electric power facilities, more comfortable journeys. Phase I (III). includes: including a 66kV/6.6kV The ERDF will also invest The project will increase rail = civil engineering work, substation, and É265m to improve more than capacity by rehabilitating and including rehabilitation and = consulting services, such as 178km of the 715km Madrid - modernising the existing line construction of new civil tender assistance and Lisbon section of the TEN-T and related facilities along the engineering structures such as construction supervision. Atlantic Corridor. 14 IRJ May 2020 May FNews_Layout 1 23/04/2020 17:45 Page 15

In brief

Azerbaijan Denmark and Germany is in BLS passenger numbers up in 2019, United Wagon Company line with EU state aid rules. (UWC) has secured contracts The 19km-long tunnel will as BLS Cargo faces tough 2020 from two rail freight operators carry an electrified, double- WITZERLAND’s second- BLS Cargo’s turnover rose to supply 25-tonne axleload track railway and a four-lane largest operator BLS to SFr 293m in 2019, up 24.7% freight wagons. UWC’s highway. carriedS 67.7 million passengers from SFr 235m in 2018. The Tikhvin plant will supply 40 on its rail and bus services in growth in sales was largely hopper wagons to Soyuzkontakt- Italy 2019, 1.7 million more than in attributable to the purchase of Trans and 18 flat wagons and Italian State Railways (FS) 2018, the company’s annual Crossrail, which was finalised five box wagons to ATU Trans. engineering subsidiary Italferr results show. on March 5 2019 and has awarded D’Agostino Revenue for the passenger backdated to January 1 2019. Britain Angelo Antonio Costruzioni division increased from SFr BLS Cargo’s annual profit Network Rail (NR) has Generali an É80m contract to 546m ($US 562.4m) in 2018 to remained steady at SFr 5.6m, appointed Siemens and Atkins construct a new 10km line SFr 552.6m in 2019, while the but the railway says it expects as partners to introduce ETCS providing additional capacity infrastructure division’s volume and sales to drop by Level 2 on the southern section into Bari from the southwest. revenue rose from SFr 390.3m 30% in the coming months of the East Coast Main Line to SFr 412.4m. Freight division due to the coronavirus (ECML). The installation of Netherlands revenue grew from SFr 229.6m pandemic. This decline is ETCS forms part of the £350m Netherlands Railways (NS) to SFr 285.6m, real estate mainly due to industries first phase of NR’s East Coast has begun the process of division revenue was steady at closing in Italy and the Digital Programme (ECDP). ordering a new fleet of high- SFr 2.6m, and other revenue shutdown of entire sectors = The Department for capacity EMUs to replace its decreased from SFr 73.1m to such as the automotive Transport (DfT) issued direct existing DDZ fleet. The SFr 65.5m. industry. award contracts to Govia, a operator issued a request for joint venture of Go-Ahead information to select potential (65%) and Keolis (35%), to suppliers with a view to continue to operate the ordering the new trains in Southeastern franchise, and 2022. FirstGroup to continue to operate the Great Western Poland Railway franchise from April 1. PKP Cargo transported 108.6 million tonnes of freight in Egypt 2019, down 10.9% year on TMH International has year. Revenue in 2019 awarded Knorr-Bremse a amounted to Zlotys 4.87bn contract to supply braking ($US 1.15bn), a 7.1% decrease FS maintains medium-term plans systems for the 1300 passenger compared with the record coaches which it is building Zlotys 5.25bn generated in despite coronavirus emergency for Egyptian National 2018. TALIAN State Railways (FS) increased by É230m (2.4%) to Railways (ENR). Knorr-Bremse = Warsaw commuter rail says it is continuing to É9.8bn. The growth in revenue says the pneumatic braking operator SKM has signed a pursueI its medium-term goals, was driven by the transport systems will be delivered in contract with Newag to despite the impact of division, which increased its several batches by the end of supply 21 EMUs. The first coronavirus. turnover by É230m to É7.6bn, 2022. Impuls 2 vehicles will enter With Italy one of the worst with all segments seeing service at the beginning of affected countries by Covid-19, growth. France 2022, with the full fleet in FS says that while it was Passenger revenues French National Railways operation by the end of monitoring the situation and increased by É150m, while (SNCF) has ordered 19 six-car November 2022. its impact on the group, it is road passenger revenue double-deck Regio 2N EMUs continuing to stick to its plans. increased by É62m, rail freight from Bombardier on behalf of Russia “The FS Group is aware of rose by É17m, and shipping the Auvergne-Rhône Alpes Chemical manufacturer its key social and service role grew by É1m. region. The order is worth Togliattiazot has awarded for the country and is Group Ebitda improved by É176m. UWC a contract for 200 constantly monitoring the 5.4% to É2.6bn, with an Ebitda hopper wagons to transport impact of this Covid-19 margin of 21%. Ebit increased Germany mineral fertilizers. The wagons emergency, in order to pursue to É829m in 2019, up 16.1% on Hessian State Railway (HLB) will be produced at UWC’s its solid medium to long-term 2018, with an Ebit margin of has awarded Alstom a contract Tikhvin plant and will be outlook,” the company says. 6.7%. worth around É120m to supply shipped to the customer by the FS says that in 2020, “the Net profit reached É584m in 30 Coradia Lint DMUs. The end of May. group will continue to follow 2019, up É25m or 4.5% on trains, which seat 120 passengers, its business plans in terms of 2018. FS Group investment will enter operation from 2022. Switzerland revenue, net profit and totalled É8.1bn in 2019, with a Switzerland’s Competition investment, despite a strong increase in the rate of International Commission has approved macroeconomic and a investment during the second The European Commission Swiss Combi’s acquisition of a competitive environment that half of the year. (EC) has found the public 35% stake in Swiss Federal is extremely complicated.” Rail infrastructure manager, financing model proposed by Railways (SBB) subsidiary SBB FS recorded É12.4bn in Italian Rail Network (RFI), and Denmark for the road-rail Cargo. The deal was first revenue in 2019, up É363m or road manager Anas, recorded a Fehmarn Belt tunnel between agreed on August 30 2019. IRJ 3% on 2018. Operating costs É308m profit in 2019. IRJ May 2020 15 May HS2_Layout 1 23/04/2020 12:56 Page 16

Britain | HS2 Government restores impetus to British prime minister Boris Johnson’s vow to “get HS2 done” on February 11 ended months of debate and uncertainty over the controversial high-speed project. Kevin Smith charts the project’s recent history and looks at where it heads next. E can try to get by with is after all just 338km of new railway. project in autumn 2019. Key government the existing routes from Deadlines have similarly been pushed advisors were openly hostile to a scheme north to south, we can back: from the start of construction in described as a “white elephant.” consignW the next generation to 2017 and the first trains running in 2025 A House of Lord’s Economic Affairs overcrowding, standing up in the at its foundation, to the current Committee had also published a report carriageways,“ or we can have the guts completion date of 2028-2032 for the in May 2019 questioning the economic to take a decision - no matter how first phase, and 2035-2040 for Phase 2a case for the new line. The panel said difficult - that will deliver prosperity to to Manchester and 2b to Leeds. HS2 should not go ahead without a new every part of the country.” However, as Johnson was quick to assessment of its costs and benefits. British prime minister, Mr Boris point out, the project, in the government’s Despite receiving Royal Assent and Johnson’s ringing endorsement of HS2, view, remains the best option to address becoming an act of parliament in the project to build a new high-speed capacity constraints, which hinder the February 2017, and work getting line from London to Birmingham and performance of the existing West Coast underway on enabling works later that the north of England, in an address to Main Line (WCML). year, in August 2019, transport secretary, parliament on February 11, finally “Poor management to date has not Mr Grant Shapps, sanctioned the review. brought months of debate over the detracted, in my view, from the He said that while the government controversial scheme to a head. fundamental value of the project,” backed transport infrastructure First proposed by the then Labour Johnson said. “The review recently investment to drive economic growth, prime minister Mr Gordon Brown in conducted by Douglas Oakervee… such investments must be subject to a December 2009 and supported by each leaves no doubt of the clinching case for continuous assessment of their costs transport minister in the five governments high speed rail. A vast increase in and benefits. Shapps later confirmed that have followed, HS2 has a chequered capacity, with hundreds of thousands of that HS2 Ltd, the company developing past. The costs have seemingly ballooned extra seats, making it so much easier for the project, no longer believed that at every juncture: from £30bn when the travellers to move up and down our delivery was possible within the project was first approved in 2010, to long, narrow country.” £55.7bn budget set at 2015 prices. He £38.4bn in 2013, £55.7bn in 2015, and While short of a U-turn, the feeling subsequently said that the expected cost most recently £80.7-87.7bn. among industry observers was that the was now £80.7-87.7bn at 2019 prices. This is a staggering amount for what government was gearing up to ditch the The review was led by Mr Douglas

An artist’s impression of the future Curzon Street station in Birmingham, the city centre terminus for HS2. Photo: HS2 Ltd

16 May HS2_Layout 1 23/04/2020 12:56 Page 17 to troubled high-speed project Oakervee, the former chair of HS2 Ltd. Policy conference held in London on Midlands Engine Rail (p25), offer far Oakervee was supported in his work by March 10, Berkeley cited Oakervee’s greater benefits than HS2 to the areas deputy chair Lord Tony Berkeley along reference to the project’s benefit:cost that need improvements the most for with a panel of Ms Michele Dix, Mr ratio (BCR), which offered a wider around £74bn less than the £230bn cost Stephen Glaister, Mr Patrick Harley, Sir economic benefit ratio for the project of if HS2 is included. Peter Hendy, Mr Andrew Sentance, Mr 1.1 to 1.2. However, he says this is “It has been going on for 10 years, the Andy Street, Mr John Cridland and Mr based on an operating pattern of 18 costs have trebled,” Berkeley said. “People Tony Travers. trains per hour (tph), which he claims is have lost sight of the purpose of it… I However, there was soon discontent unrealistic and is not operated by any am not against HS2 as such, I am against in the ranks. Berkeley, a former chair of the Rail Freight Group, and long-time critic of HS2, resigned from the review on October 31 and published a letter on Poor management to date has not detracted, in my view, November 13 which he had written to Oakervee expressing his grievances. from the fundamental value of the project. Boris Johnson Berkeley complained of a lack of “ balance in the review’s findings and questionable practices adopted during the review process. He referred to the equivalent high-speed railway in the the enormous cost and the fact I don’t “often unquestioning acceptance of world. If reduced to 14 trains per hour, think it delivers what is on the tin.” information provided by HS2 Ltd and a Berkeley said the BCR falls to 0.6 Berkeley’s findings, while drawing failure to scrutinise the involvement of “Normally this would cause the favour from environmentalists and HM Treasury and the Department for Treasury to reject a scheme as being bad opponents of HS2, have been widely Transport (DfT) in the development of value for money,” Berkeley said. criticised in the rail industry. This the project.” In particular, he says both Berkeley subsequently published his includes former HS2 technical advisor HS2 Ltd and the DfT were reluctant to own review. In the document he backs a and chief engineer, Professor Andrew provide information backing up their plan to upgrade existing infrastructure, McNaughton, who says Berkeley’s forecasts of passengers/revenue and including four-tracking sections of the alternative suggestions are impossible. capital costs. WCML and electrification of other main Speaking to Ofx!Djwjm!Fohjoffs in During a presentation to the High lines from London to the midlands and January, McNaughton said WCML four- Speed Rail in the UK - HS2 and the the north. The report says these tracking was unachievable because of Oakervee Review, Delivery Practicalities improvements, as well as those offered the proximity of houses to the line in and the Future Direction of Government by Northern Powerhouse Rail (p21) and some areas and that signalling systems

17 May HS2_Layout 1 23/04/2020 12:56 Page 18

Britain | HS2

could indeed support 18tph. The fact improve the whole network for 100 plus Rail in the UK conference, Mr Nick that it is not done elsewhere is because years to come,” McNaughton said. “If it Bisson, director HS2 Phase 2 and NPR of bottlenecks at junctions and stations, was possible to achieve the same at the DfT, said that as part of the which HS2 is designed to avoid. benefits at a lower cost by upgrading Treasury’s greenbook, the department “The point of HS2 is not to build like the existing network, then it would has looked at alternatives to HS2 at we always have done for 200 years but have been done already.” every stage of the process. to do something different that will Similarly, speaking at the High Speed “If you do everything you think of

What is HS2? S2 is a 338km high-speed railway Phase 2a from Lichfield to Crewe will it was targeting delivery for £40bn. The from London to Birmingham, now be included in Phase 1. The business case also states that the line Leeds and Manchester. Divided remaining 82km of 2a runs from Crewe will open in phases between 2028 and intoH two phases, Phase 1 comprises the to Manchester Piccadilly via Manchester 2030, with the initial London terminus 190km link from London Euston to a Airport. Phase 2b runs for 198km from located at the hub at Old Oak Common new station at Birmingham Curzon Birmingham to Leeds. to prevent identifying an optimised Street and Lichfield. Under plans The current budget for Phase 1 is £35- solution for Euston from delaying the announced by the government on 45m with the DfT stating in the revised project. Phase 2 is expected to cost a February 11, the 69km initial section of Business Case released on April 15 that further £40bn although exact costs have yet to be confirmed. Delivery is IRJ xphtbmH!pu ihsvcojeF!pu Existing main lines scheduled for 2035-2040. York HS2 Phase 1/1A HS2 Phase 2 Phase 1 of the 360km/h railway is New ECML East Coast Main Line expected to carry 300,000 passengers Leeds Lane MML Midland Main Line City WCML West Coast Main Line each day and 100 million per year. Up Preston to 18 trains per hour will operate on

W

CML Phase 1, with the complete network set

ECML to serve 25 stations across Britain. Each N train will have capacity for 1100 passengers. Wigan Doncaster Manchester Piccadilly Enabling works on Phase 1 got Liverpool underway in spring 2017. Four joint Warrington Manchester venture contractors were awarded civil Airport Midland works contracts worth a total of £6.6bn in July 2017. The joint ventures and WCM MML work responsibilities are as follows: L = SCS Railways (Skanska Construction UK, Costain, Strabag) - Area South: the Crewe Newark London Euston tunnels and approaches, Stoke-on-Trent and the Northolt tunnels Nottingham = Align JV (Bouygues Travaux Publics Derby East Midlands Hub SAS, a subsidiary of Bouygues ECM Construction, Sir Robert McAlpine and MML Stafford L VolkerFitzpatrick, a subsidiary of VolkerWessels UK) - Area Central: Tamworth Chiltern tunnels and Colne Valley W Leicester Wolverhampton CML Peterborough viaduct = EKBF JV (Eiffage Genie Civil, Kier Curzon St Nuneaton New St Infrastructure and Overseas, BAM Birmingham Interchange Nuttall, Ferrovial Agroman), Area International Central: North Portal Chiltern tunnels - Brackley and Brackley - South Portal Long Itchington Wood Green tunnel sections, and = BBV JV (Balfour Beatty Group, Vinci Construction Grands Projets, Vinci Construction UK, Vinci Construction

ECML

MML Terrassement). Area North: Long WCML Itchington Wood Green tunnel - Delta Junction and Birmingham Spur Delta Junction - WCML Tie-In sections Work underway on sites across Phase 1 predominately comprises enabling LONDON works to prepare for main construction, 1 King’s Cross including archaeology and ground 2 St Pancras LONDON 3 Euston 1 preparation in Birmingham; building 2 4 Old Oak Common 4 3 access roads and bridges near the

18 IRJ May 2020 May HS2_Layout 1 23/04/2020 12:56 Page 19

Keep your rails and growth continues at its current rate, The Oakervee Review also backs the you will still have used that capacity by construction of HS2 as there are no perfectly maintained the 2030s and you will still come back “shovel-ready” alternative investments with to say we need to build more tracks in the existing network. The 130-page here,” Bisson said. “That fundamentally document was finally published to is what the decision to proceed with coincide with Johnson’s announcement. HS2 is about.” It states that the original rationale for LINSINGER the scheme - the need to increase the high performance National Exhibition Centre (NEC) and capacity and reliability of the conventional M42; large compound preparation work British network - still holds. The report rail milling at Streethay near Lichfield, Stoneleigh advised the government to proceed and Long Itchington; ecology work in with the full Y-shaped network to technology Warwickshire and Buckinghamshire; Manchester and Leeds and says failure site clearance at Calvert and the Chilterns to proceed would present “serious south portal site; and demolitions to consequences” for the supply chain, the prepare for work to begin at Euston fragile construction industry and Trust the Inventor station. confidence in British infrastructure In addition, HS2 Ltd says 350,000 planning. www.linsinger.com new trees have already been planted “If HS2 were to be cancelled many along the route and 26 areas of new years of planning work would be required habitat created for wildlife. In total, 7 to identify, design and develop new million trees will be planted and 33km² proposals,” the review says. “The of new and existing wildlife habitat will upgrading of existing lines would also be created and maintained during the come at a high passenger cost with course of Phase 1, a 30% increase significant disruption. compared with what is already in place. “The full network is needed to realise the highest value for money economic return on the investment of HS2. Phase 1 Next stage as a standalone scheme does not represent With the DfT issuing a notice to value for money, nor does building proceed with detailed design and Phase 2 without building Phase 1.” construction on April 15, attention is Oakervee’s findings are endorsed by now shifting to the next stage of Phase a revised business case for HS2 Phase 1, 1. The notice is prompting contractors published on April 15. The document to set up numerous compound and updated the previous case published in satellite construction sites along the 2013 and reaffirmed the strategic and route. Work on complex and lengthy economic case for the project. It also assets including tunnels using TBMs, outlines how the scheme will deliver a viaducts and earthworks comprising positive return on investment and how both embankments and cuttings will introducing HS2 will result in an commence in 2021-22. improvement to the annual subsidy- Further contracts for construction of premium balance for Britain’s railways, Birmingham Curzon Street station and benefitting the taxpayer. Birmingham Interchange station and The business case confirms the latest railway systems, including track and cost estimates for Phase 1 at £35-45bn, Linsinger Maschinenbau GmbH including contingency, with the overhead lines, power supply and depots Dr. Linsinger Straße 23-24 will launch later this year. HS2 Ltd says government targeting delivery for that as it finalises detailed designs for £40bn. Phase 1 has a central-case BCR 4662 Steyrermühl assets with the joint venture contractors of 1.2:1. This increases to 1.5:1 when Austria over the course of 2020, it will be in a Phases 2a and 2b are included. In addition, the business case finds better position to provide more Tel: +43 7613 8840 information about the size, scale and that alternative interventions on the timeline of the construction programme. WMCL could accommodate expected E-Mail: offi[email protected] The company adds that the estimated increases in demand but would not £2.75bn rolling stock contract for at least provide a lasting solution. “None of the 54 high-speed trains for Phase 1 is likely alternative schemes that have been to be awarded this year. Five parties were examined are able to deliver the same shortlisted for the contract in June 2019: kind of capacity benefits,” the report says. Alstom, CAF, Siemens, Talgo, and a On the same day as releasing the revised consortium of Bombardier and Hitachi. business case, the DfT issued a notice to Siemens and Talgo have committed to proceed with detailed design and building new factories in Britain to construction of Phase 1 to the four joint support delivery of the contract. CAF, venture partners. The DfT says that at a Bombardier and Hitachi already have time when the construction sector faces manufacturing sites in Britain. uncertainties during the coronavirus outbreak, issuing the notice to proceed IRJ May 2020 19 May HS2_Layout 1 23/04/2020 13:32 Page 20

Britain | HS2

provides a vote of confidence in Stephenson’s role also includes construction companies and the wider oversight of NPR and the Transpennine The impact of Covid-19 supply chain supporting HS2. route upgrade as the government seeks HILE the issuance of the to align the objectives and outcomes of notice to proceed is good these major construction projects in news for the contractors Reform order to maximise benefits and reduce workingW on HS2 as the project ramps Yet it is not going to be business as costs while speeding up delivery. up, each remains mindful of usual for HS2 Ltd. Johnson’s address Johnson’s address included a pledge to maintaining social distancing measures included a commitment to reform the develop an integrated rail plan for the prompted by the Covid-19 pandemic. company as the government recognised north and the midlands, High Speed HS2 Ltd says construction has been that its failings had contributed to the North. The DfT confirmed on February paused at some sites to safeguard the explosion in costs. Johnson confirmed 21 that it will publish the plan by the health and well-being of the workforce that the government will find end of the year. and the communities in which they are alternative arrangements to deliver There are also changes afoot at HS2 working. Phase 2b and the Euston station project. Ltd. The company confirmed to IRJ that “They may remobilise if our “We will, in line with Mr Oakervee’s CEO, Mr Mark Thurston, has identified contractors are confident they can recommendations, be interrogating the serious challenges of complexity and operate in line with Public Health current costs to identify where savings risk in the project since he was appointed England (PHE) and industry can be made in Phase 1 without the cost in 2017, and has overseen “significant guidance,” an HS2 spokesperson said. overruns and delays that would be changes” and improvements to the “Those sites still working are doing so associated with a detailed redesign so organisation, its governance, and its because they are confident they are that the company can concentrate solely processes. operating within PHE guidelines, and on getting phases 1 and 2a built on “We now have strong integrated will be monitored and remain under something approaching time and project teams in place, linking HS2 Ltd constant review.” budget,” Johnson said. closely with the joint ventures in order Central to the government’s plan is to encourage greater collaboration to 2019. A flurry of recent activity on the the appointment of an HS2 minister to drive efficiencies and share innovations,” company’s job board is another “restore discipline” to the project. Mr the company said. “In preparation for indication of further change over the Andrew Stephenson MP was appointed the notice to proceed, HS2 Ltd redesigned coming weeks and months. on February 15 and he vowed to offer its Phase 1 organisational structure to However, the company still has a lot “forensic scrutiny” of the project. “We focus on delivery of the main works of work ahead if it is to bring the need to have a much better, improved civils contracts and construction of the project under control and avoid further approach from HS2 Ltd this time,” he railway.” cost overruns, as a report from the told the Ofx!Tubufnbo’t Northern Assessments of HS2 Ltd’s organisational independent National Audit Office, Powerhouse conference in Manchester capability and its readiness to issue the published in January, emphasised. on February 27. “The company has a notice to proceed were provided by The report says both the DfT and HS2 new budget for Phase 1 and now must three lines of assurance, including an Ltd underestimated the complexity and deliver it. No ifs, no buts.” Independent Assurance Panel, in late risk associated with the project. It adds that huge uncertainty remains around the DfT’s cost estimate for HS2 because 50% of the construction contracts are yet to be let. As the NAO points out, the cost of building additional tunnels and cuttings to appease the concerns of local residents has pushed the cost up. Reports of over- engineering from contractors also hint at a project paranoid about future liability but with little concept on how this might impact upfront costs. Failures to communicate the benefits of the scheme to provide vital boosts in capacity rather than speed to the wider public as the rationale for spending such a huge sum have also, quite frankly, been abysmal. Successive governments have though held firm, and consistently endorsed the project’s importance to reconnect and rebalance the north with the south. Now armed with a revised budget and new momentum from an administration seemingly intent on “getting it done,” spades are in the ground and work is pushing ahead. HS2 is, for now at least, HS2 Ltd CEO, Mark Thurston, (left) is seeking to restore confidence in the company. Photo: HS2 Ltd well and truly back on track. IRJ 20 IRJ May 2020 May NPR_Layout 1 22/04/2020 17:03 Page 21

Britain | Northern Powerhouse Rail Levelling up the North Photo: Photo: Keith Fender

Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) is arguably the most radical rethink of the north of England’s rail network since the Victorian era. The plan to improve inter-city connections across the region received a major shot in the arm earlier this year. Kevin Smith speaks with NPR director at Transport for the North, Tim Wood, about how the project is progressing. URING his speech to parliament While the north is home to around and spread across seven corridors (see on February 11 in which he 15.7 million people - around 7 million panel p23), is considered the vehicle to reaffirmed the government’s more than the population of Greater deliver this improved connectivity while commitmentD to HS2, British prime London - the region reports around half meeting future demand. NPR would minister, Mr Boris Johnson, also of the capital’s Gross Value Added (GVA). bring more than 10 million people within endorsed the project to improve east- Poor connectivity between regional centres, 90 minutes of four or more major northern west rail connections between cities in which are relatively close together - cities. This compares with 2 million today. northern England. Manchester is 69km from Leeds and NPR and HS2 will also bring 8.7 million “This is not an either/or proposition,” Sheffield and 56km from Liverpool - is people to within 1h 30min of Manchester Johnson said. “Both are needed, and considered a key factor in restricting International Airport compared with 4 both will be built - as quickly and cost- business growth and opportunities. million currently. effectively as possible.” Regular users of the north’s network Transport for the North (TfN), Britain’s First proposed by the then chancellor, complain of severe overcrowding at first statutory sub-national transport Mr George Osborne, in 2014, Northern peak times and poor on time performance. body, which was established in 2018 to Powerhouse Rail (NPR) as it is now A series of infrastructure rationalisations make the case for strategic transport known, is a combination of existing line beginning with the Beeching cuts in the improvements across the north of upgrades and new infrastructure, which 1960s restricted the railway’s capacity. England, is working on a co-client basis together will dramatically improve The average speed between cities is just with the Department for Transport (DfT) journey times, connectivity and capacity 87km/h. And as passenger numbers to oversee development and delivery of between northern cities. have surged in the last 20 years, the the project. TfN’s board is made up of Northern leaders have long complained network is struggling to cope. New northern political leaders including that their region’s needs have been rolling stock is helping but the Northern metro mayors as well as local enterprise ignored by the government in London. franchise was taken into government partnerships and statutory bodies HS2 They accuse Westminster of prioritising ownership in February due to persistent Ltd, NR and Highways England. investment in the capital and the poor performance with the operator According to TfN’s 2018 Northern southeast over recent decades to the bemoaning the failure of Network Rail England Strategic Transport Plan, detriment of the north’s productivity, (NR) to deliver promised infrastructure demand for rail travel in the region is resulting in an ever-widening economic improvements. expected to grow from 178 million gap between north and south. NPR, a £39bn 200km/h electrified journeys a year to 760 million by 2050. Their claims do have merit. network equipped with ETCS Level 2 NPR will help to address this demand IRJ May 2020 21 May NPR_Layout 1 22/04/2020 17:03 Page 22

Britain | Northern Powerhouse Rail

we remain on programme and on budget.” Northern England The refreshed Strategic Outline Case up!Hmbthpx up!Fejocvshi New Lines will consider development plans for all HS2 seven corridors as well as the hubs and Newcastle Northern Powerhouse Rail Carlisle stations. It will also identify the preferred Existing lines network, support the development of To be upgraded for Sunderland touchpoints with HS2, and contain a Durham Northern Powerhouse Rail Other main lines number of phasing strategies. “It contains all of the narrative against all five [HM Treasury] green book cases of why this is an investable proposition, why the Opsui!Tfb government could spend up to £39bn in Darlington Middlesbrough 2015 numbers on this programme of work,” Wood says. “It will amplify the extra capacity and connectivity and also Scarborough talk about journey times and the N number of trains per hour.” Wood says the current journey time estimates and frequency improvements are based on the 2015 aspirational Lancaster 0 50 km condition outputs set by northern leaders and were included in the 2018 York Northern England Strategic Transport Blackpool plan. He expects some “substantial” Leeds Selby Bradford Hull enhancements in the new document. However, achieving the desired journey Preston times on the Manchester - Sheffield Scunthorpe Manchester corridor is proving difficult because of Huddersfield the restrictions of the current double- Wigan Doncaster Grimsby track Hope Valley line, which twists and turns through the Peak District Liverpool Warrington Stockport Sheffield National Park. The intention is for the NPR to deliver Manchester Airport each of the proposed upgrades within the £39bn budget, which has a 66% optimism bias. He says tests of several Chester options to achieve the conditional output Crewe Stoke-on-Trent are underway and the body will work hard to achieve those with its delivery Nottingham Derby partners. However, if this is not deemed up!Cjsnjohibn up!Mpoepo possible, Wood says the emphasis will IRJ East Midlands Hub be on delivering the most transformational by providing an extra 35,000 seats on refreshed Strategic Outline Business railway possible, focused on capacity trains operating across the region every Case for the project, which will be improvements rather than speed. hour. Improving rail connectivity could presented to the TfN board in January NPR was set to announce the winning help deliver an economic boost to the 2021. The board unanimously approved bidders for “multi-million pound” project region of up to £100bn and aid wider the initial Strategic Outline Business management/engineering contracts for decarbonisation efforts (see panel p24). Case in February 2019. early engineering development work as “NPR and HS2 are both economic Wood expects further funding to be IRJ went to press. NPR is also expected projects, and both are about allowing allocated in the government’s to significantly boost its staff over the the north to deliver its full potential,” Comprehensive Spending Review, next few months as the project ramps says Mr Tim Wood, NPR director at which is scheduled for the summer, up. This early work is set to prioritise TfN. “Together they will help to create although this might now be delayed by corridor upgrades in the east, specifically 850,000 new jobs by 2050 and give us the Covid-19 pandemic. This funding intrusive surveys on the Leeds - Hull, the extra capacity and connectivity will help support the delivery of the Leeds - Newcastle, and Hull - Sheffield which we absolutely need in the north outline business cases followed by the corridors. Wood says the main cost of of England. It will also offer improved Full Business Case and initial construction these programmes is in the ground - speed. When we use the train, we need work as the project gears up for the start whether this is purchasing land or a seat and we need to have basic of full construction in 2024. The goal is understanding ground conditions to connectivity. We need the train to leave to complete all work by the early 2040s. mitigate future risk - and taking these and arrive at its destination on time and “The really important thing is that steps early could save a lot of time I don’t think that is too much to ask in what we have asked for and what we down the line. the 21st century.” got has been the same,” Wood says. He adds that these procedures are NPR received £75m in government “When we asked for our £52m at the taking precedence because they are grant funding for 2020-21. Work is end of 2019-20, that is what we got. This more straightforward than the work currently focused on delivering a year we have got our funding because needed in the west, which relies on new 22 IRJ May 2020 May NPR_Layout 1 22/04/2020 17:03 Page 23

Corridor Corridor concepts Best current Best potential The seven NPR corridors under consideration with NPR HE proposed Northern Frequency Minutes Frequency Minutes* Powerhouse Rail network covers Newcastle - Leeds Significant infrastructure 3 88-95† 4 58 seven corridors, running from upgrades LiverpoolT in the west to Hull in the east Leeds - Hull Significant infrastructure 1 57 2 38 and Newcastle in the northeast. upgrades While the majority of the network Sheffield - Leeds Significant infrastructure 1 39-42 4 28 will use existing infrastructure, two upgrades and use of HS2 new lines are proposed: Liverpool - Sheffield - Hull Significant infrastructure 1 80-86 2 50 Warrington - Manchester, and upgrades Manchester - Bradford - Leeds, offering Manchester - Sheffield Significant infrastructure 2 49-57 4 40 an alternative to the existing upgrades Transpennine line. Leeds - Manchester A new line serving Bradford 4 46-58 6 25 In total NPR will harness 80km of the via Parkway or centrally new high-speed line with six using Diggle upgrades which touchpoints, including from Warrington are akin to new line to the new station at Manchester Liverpool - A new line, or Fiddlers Ferry 4 37-57 6 26‡ Airport and the spur to Manchester Manchester‡ upgrade, serving central Piccadilly. Other touchpoints in the east Warrington or a new line via include at Clayton, which would allow a Southern Parkway the existing Midland Main Line north *Journey times will depend on the final engineering options, the strength of the business case, and what can be timetabled in practice. of Sheffield to connect on HS2 to Leeds. † Typical journey times via York, Darlington and Durham. Fastest current journey time is 81 minutes. The Garforth touchpoint enables HS2 to ‡ Liverpool - Manchester via Warrington, journey time includes a call at Manchester Airport. A non-stop continue beyond Leeds and to use the service would take 21 minutes. East Coast Main Line to Newcastle. Transport plan. Assessment of Business Case process, which is set to These plans were put forward in the alternative concepts continues as part of be presented to the TfN board in 2018 Northern England Strategic the refresh of the Strategic Outline January 2021.

infrastructure and could require a we can have engineering horsepower which currently includes around 13km hybrid bill or development consent on it to make sure mitigation measures of electrification. order from government, a potentially are in place.” The Integrated Rail Plan is the lengthy process. However, with Johnson Another important element of the centrepiece of the government’s response requesting that improvements between early work is to identify the electrified to the Oakervee Review’s conclusion Manchester and Leeds are prioritised, railway’s possible power requirements that HS2 phase 2b must be considered Wood says the team is looking at how and to support the National Grid to as part of a single integrated plan to deliver this element “at pace.” provide sufficient power capacity. Wood alongside NPR, Midlands Engine Rail “What the intrusive surveys are doing says this process could take five, seven (p25), and other major NR schemes in is to give us some real tangible answers or even 10 years depending on what the region. The document, which is set so we can mitigate the risk quickly,” reinforcement is needed to build the to be published by the end of the year, Wood says. “What we don’t want is a bulk supply points. will harness an assessment by the project that becomes unwieldy because NPR’s demand for power must be National Infrastructure Commission of we set our goals in terms of numbers, placed within the context of the how best to integrate each of the projects we start to move forward, and then we requirements of HS2 Phase 2b as well as to deliver benefits more quickly, find in four or five years’ time that a the £2.9bn upgrade of the existing improve project efficiency and cut costs. piece of land might be full of mine Transpennine route between Manchester Wood’s hope is that the plan aligns shafts. We want to know that early so and York via Huddersfield and Leeds, each of the programmes’ objectives and

Furrer+Frey AG Overhead contact line engineering Design, manufacturing, installation Thunstrasse 35, P.O. Box 182 3000 Berne 6, Switzerland Furrer Frey ® www.furrerfrey.ch O v e rhead con tact lines IRJ May 2020 23 May NPR_Layout 1 22/04/2020 17:03 Page 24

Britain | Northern Powerhouse Rail

dirty boots and getting out on site when it is pouring with rain, this is about software engineers of the highest quality creating digital twins, creating the signalling systems of the future. NPR and HS2 are There are an awful lot of digital opportunities for young people here.” both economic As for what NPR might look like and “ the benefits it will bring, Wood says projects, and both are HS1, the link from London to Kent and about allowing the the Channel Tunnel, provides a fitting example. In particular, the housing and north to deliver its business developments which have popped up along the corridor, the full potential. resilience of the railway to recent flooding, and the availability and Tim Wood attractiveness of using the service for both commuters and leisure travellers. With the Conservative party keen to hang onto the northern seats which delivered a majority in the December ultimately speeds up delivery. He also urges contractors to send their “A not B General Election, investment in northern hopes that it encourages early or C teams” because the project is infrastructure is probably more likely collaboration between various partners moving quickly and they cannot afford now than ever before. Even with the working on the different projects - to wait for people to catch up. He adds uncertainty caused by the coronavirus whether this is the joint planning of that NPR and the other programmes pandemic, with TfN and NPR working diversions to minimise disruption to must support training establishments diligently to develop resilient plans, existing services as construction takes emerging to serve the country’s future there is a sense of optimism that a once place, or to promote a closer working megaprojects. If not, there is a risk that in a generation revitalisation of the relationship with suppliers, something only a small number of competent north’s railway is just around the corner. he is keen to foster as director of NPR. people will be available, putting “We have been waiting for decades Wood says that before joining TfN he pressure on available resources and for this kind of investment to come to worked for contractors to the rail industry resulting in wage inflation. the railways in the north of England,” for 23 years, invaluable experience, “NPR is for the north and we really Wood says. “We are not going to lose which puts him in an advantageous want to see it built by the north,” he the opportunity to really amplify the position. He says he understands what says. “We need to be out there in the benefits of those programmes coming a contractor wants to know as a project schools and colleges telling the together and being delivered in a develops and is able to answer a lot of youngsters - because these are the coordinated way, offering value to the engineering questions a prospective people who are going to be building it money for the British taxpayer, and contractor might have, helping to speed and finishing it off - what a fabulous allowing the north of England to really up the process. For example, by industry we have here. It is not about thrive.” IRJ addressing the power supply question now rather than in five years’ time, possibly starting work on the new NPR supports railway decarbonisation OOD says decarbonisation of the transport network has shot to the top stations early, or supporting NR with of the political agenda in the last 12-18 months, and NPR is ready to infrastructure upgrade work in the next capitalise on this momentum few years that might benefit NPR seven As well as delivering an entirely electrified network, Wood is not dismissing or eight years down the line. W the potential of hydrogen and battery rolling stock to offer clean connectivity on “We want to be the most open project, branch lines and disused lines which the government is looking to reopen. the most collaborative project, particularly He also says that as the developer, NPR must be mindful of implementing the with the supply chain and the consultants project in an environmentally friendly and carbon-neutral way. because quite frankly they have got “We know that there is a lot of equipment on the market now that is battery- most of the answers,” Wood says. powered and by the time we start construction we hope that refinements have Greater collaboration and integration been done there to improve performance,” Wood says. “That could be something will similarly provide a consistent flow we play with in our tenders, asking contractors and consultants to use electric of work. Wood says the British rail vehicles; using excavators powered by batteries.” sector must finally move away from the NPR is aiming to take 64,000 cars off the north’s roads every day. Critical to “boom and bust approach” to major achieving this is improved first and last mile connectivity to the NPR network. project development, particularly Wood says there is an emphasis on promoting active travel, such as cycling and electrification, witnessed over the past walking to get to the station, and where this is not possible boosting mass transit 20 years. This will help to sustain the options to improve connectivity with stations. supply chain. It will also provide “We are also looking at developing tram-train,” Wood says. “We already have consistency of work required to support this between Sheffield and Rotherham and we want to develop that further. I a new generation of engineers. think that is a way of still being able to move around at pace but segregated from Like any project, NPR will only be as our mainline services. good as the people delivering it. Wood 24 IRJ May 2020 May Midlands Connect_Layout 1 23/04/2020 13:17 Page 25

Britain | Midlands Engine Rail Improved capacity and connectivity fuels Midlands Engine Rail plan After securing funding in the British government’s 2020 budget, the Midland’s Rail Hub and the wider Midlands Engine Rail project are striding forward. David Burroughs looks at what’s next for these schemes and how they will improve rail services in central England. S development on High Speed 2 (HS2) steps up with the issuance of the formal notice to proceed withA detailed design and construction last month, plans are under development to make best use of the new level of service, speed and capacity that the high-speed network will bring. The £3.5bn Midlands Engine Rail initiative, comprising seven projects, is a programme of improvements designed to deliver a step-change in rail connectivity across central England, spanning from Herefordshire in the west to Lincolnshire in the east. The project is being spearheaded by Midlands Connect, a cross-county partnership established in 2015 comprising 22 local authorities, nine Local Enterprise Partnerships, East Midlands and Birmingham airports, and multiple chambers of commerce. The partnership also includes the Department for Transport (DfT), Network Rail (NR), Highways England and HS2 Ltd. The flagship project is the £2.02bn Midlands Rail Hub, an ambitious programme of new and upgraded infrastructure to be implemented in phases by 2033 that will strengthen rail links between Birmingham, Leicester, Derby, Nottingham, Coventry, Worcester and Hereford. The average speed on the Leicester - Birmingham and Nottingham - Birmingham routes is currently less than 80km/h, while Coventry and Leicester, two major cities with a combined population of over 600,000, have no direct train service. Direct services between Birmingham and Hereford run just once per hour. The “Hub” title is a bit of a misnomer, says Midlands Connect head of technical programmes, Mr Simon Statham, as the project involves 15 different elements across the region. Work includes construction of the Bordesley Chords, two viaducts running south from Birmingham Moor Street, which will create new paths to the East midlands and southwest; the The plans free-up capacity at Birmingham New reinstatement of direct services between Street, a major pinchpoint on the British network. Coventry, Leicester and Nottingham via IRJ May 2020 25 May Midlands Connect_Layout 1 23/04/2020 13:17 Page 26

Britain | Midlands Engine Rail

The Bordesley Chords to connect the Central England King’s Norton - Birmingham New up!Mffet up!Nbddmftgjfme up!Tifggjfme Street line to Birmingham Moor Street up up!Dsfxf- Stoke-on-Trent !Mjodpmo where another two platforms will be Nbodiftufs!boe! built will increase connectivity and !Mjwfsqppm WCML Derby Nottingham Utoxeter capacity at Moor Street station, which is East Midlands Hub adjacent to the future Birmingham Curzon Street HS2 station. “They’re Burton-on-Trent Loughborough about half the cost of the whole project, Stafford but they are the two elements that bring

Shrewsbury the whole project together,” Statham Telford says. “Without the viaducts there is no up!Bcfsztuxzui rail hub because they’re the things that Leicester get you the extra capacity.” Wolverhampton WCML A Strategic Outline Business Case for HS2 the Hub was submitted to the government HS2 conventional compatible services Nuneaton in June 2019, and the project was MC conventional compatible services Interchange Market Harborough Midlands Rail Hub services BIRMINGHAM subsequently allocated £20m in the MC wider rail programme International March budget for the development of Other lines up!Cfegpse King’s Norton Solihull WCML Coventry an outline business case over the next Bromsgrove two years. 0 20 km This will develop the engineering

N Leamington Spa elements of the project, as well as Worcester consider the costs, the land required, and how long it will take to implement. Worcestershire Parkway Asked whether there is sufficient Great Malvern capacity within Britain’s rail industry to Banbury develop the project at the same time as Hereford HS2, Statham says this will also be considered during the outline business up!Pygpse!boe case phase. !Sfbejoh up!Mpoepo up!Csjtupm!boe!Dbsejgg Cheltenham An Outline Business Case has already IRJ been developed for the Birmingham Project Current Stage Next stage Estimated Delivery Estimated Capital Cost Airport Connectivity project, which was Midlands Rail Hub Strategic Outline Outline 2022-2033 £2.02bn due to be submitted to the government Business Case Business Case in March. The project will look to Birmingham Airport Outline Full Business In line with HS2 £150m capitalise on the 49 minute journey time Connectivity Business Case Case Phase 1 between London and Birmingham Midlands Connect Strategic Outline To be led by In line with HS2 £170m++ offered by HS2, positioning the airport Conventional Compatible Business Case the DfT Phase 2 as an alternative to London. Birmingham HS2 Services International Airport currently operates Necessary Electrification N/A - Ahead of HS2 £600m for Conventional Network Rail Phase 2 at 50% capacity on average, and could Compatible Services developed scheme step in to provide the extra capacity HS2 East Midlands Strategic Outline Advanced In line with HS2 £330m required following the successful Hub (EMH) Business Case Strategic Outline Phase 2 challenge against the construction of a Station Connectivity Business Case third runway at Heathrow. Derby - Stoke - Feasibility Study Strategic Outline 2022-2033 £50m++ As the project advances, Statham says Crewe Business Case elements will need further examination Birmingham - Feasibility Study Strategic Outline In line with HS2 £200m to ensure they offer the best value for Shrewsbury Business Case money. Nottingham - Lincoln Feasibility Study Strategic Outline 2022-2026 £50m “We’ll be fighting tooth and nail to Business Case (Line speedimprovement) keep it as one programme for as long as In line with HS2 Phase 2 possible so things that might look too (Extra service) difficult or offer lower value for money Total cost: £3.57bn aren’t discarded too early,” he says. Current estimate, more detailed breakdown of costs will be developed as research moves to a more One such upgrade is the reinstatement advanced stage (++ Operational costs to be calculated at a later stage) of the fourth platform at Birmingham a dive under, flyover or reversal at passenger trains an hour. These Snow Hill station. The project won’t Nuneaton; new track and improved improvements will bring 1.6 million provide any new services to the station, signalling to increase line speeds, more people to within an hour of the but will improve capacity at Moor reduce journey times and avoid region’s biggest towns and cities by Street station by allowing more services network congestion; and additional public transport. With four of Britain’s to terminate at Snow Hill. track to create extra capacity for freight. five busiest rail freight routes running The most difficult element of the The plans will increase line capacity through the midlands, the plans will project so far has been unifying the by six million additional rail journeys a also benefit freight. Services south to support from local authorities across the year, creating space for up to 24 extra Bristol and Cardiff will also benefit. east and west midlands to ensure the 26 IRJ May 2020 May Midlands Connect_Layout 1 23/04/2020 13:17 Page 27

benefits are as widespread as possible. good will and economic benefit you can with HS2, with some projects such as “This project started life before we generate for £3bn in the midlands over the Birmingham Airport Connectivity got our hands on it as the Central a 10 or 12 year period, I can’t see why and Birmingham - Shrewsbury elements Birmingham Rail Capacity Study, which any government wouldn’t get behind it.” making use of released capacity. isn’t a very catchy name, but it’s also Many of the other elements are designed not a name that the East midlands or to provide better, faster connections to Herefordshire can get behind,” Statham HS2 integration the HS2 East Midlands Hub in Toton, says. “The greatest value that Midlands While the Rail Hub will benefit from which is half way between Derby and Connect has added is that we’ve stitched HS2 bringing a greater number of Nottingham. that Central Birmingham Capacity passengers into Curzon Street station, Conventional compatible lines, which element with journey time changes the Hub does not need to wait for will be able to carry HS2 trains, will along corridors out to the East midlands completion of the high-speed project to enable passengers to travel from and other parts of the West midlands realise some benefits. Leicester and Nottingham city centres towards Bristol and Cardiff, to show Indeed, many of the benefits included onto the high-speed network without that this is a pan-regional project and in the business case come from the changing trains. not just a central Birmingham project.” direct connection it will provide from This will also reduce journey times The project, or at least the Hub element, Herefordshire, Worcestershire, southwest across the region, with Leicester - Leeds has received government support. The England and Wales to the high-speed dropping from 2 hours to 45 minutes; Conservative Party included the project network via Birmingham. Nottingham - Birmingham falling from in its General Election manifesto and “The way that we sometimes describe 1h 15min to 33 minutes; and Derby - awarded funding in its budget on it is that we change the ‘Y’ of HS2 into Crewe reduced from 1h 19min to 59 March 11. Statham says he expects this an ‘X,’ because we’re going to get minutes. support to spread to other elements of quicker and more frequent services To deliver the full range of benefits on Midlands Engine Rail. down to the southwest, Worcestershire, offer in the Midlands Engine Rail “We do keep saying that Midland Hereford, Bristol, Cardiff, and so on,” programme, the scheme will require the Connect proposals are a bargain,” he Staham says. “While it’s not a direct backing of government, industry and local says. “Even the full Midlands Engine train these are still very easy connections authorities. If this happens, the programme Rail is just over £3bn, which compared to make.” will provide a much-needed improvement with some other proposals around is The wider Midlands Engine Rail project, for people travelling to, from and great value. For the amount of political however, requires closer integration through central Britain by rail. IRJ

IRJ May 2020 27 May Austin_Layout 1 23/04/2020 16:26 Page 28

Urban rail | Austin Rail to ease congestion in Texan capital Austin has launched Project Connect, a $US 9.6bn plan to build two light rail lines, a BRT line which could be converted to light rail, and a second commuter rail line. David Briginshaw reports on this ambitious scheme. station in the city centre with Leander to the northwest. The Red Line is 51.5km long with nine stations and is operated by a fleet of 10 Stadler GTW DMUs. It is already over capacity at peak times and ridership is continuing to grow. Work started in March 2019 on a $US 30.7m project to expand the original single-platform Downtown station to three tracks. The objective is to create a public plaza that ties together Downtown station, the adjacent Convention Centre and surrounding hotels and businesses. The new Downtown station is completed in spring 2021. Incidentally, Capital Metro is in the final stage of testing Positive Train Control (PTC) on the Red Line. Plans include adding a passing loop and new station on the northern section of the Red Line. This will facilitate an increase in train frequency during peak periods from 20 to 15 minutes. Any further improvements to frequency would require additional track doubling. The Red Line carries about 2600 HE state capital of Texas, Austin, is analysis and came to the conclusion passengers per day and by 2025 it is the 11th largest city in the United that we should use light rail for the expected to attract nearly four times States with a population of 2 principle high-capacity lines, with a this number. million.T The region is growing rapidly network of MetroRapid express bus routes The second phase of upgrading the with 4500 people arriving every month running at a 10-minute frequency, together Red Line includes extending station and the population is forecast to double with a total upgrade of the fares system.” platforms, more track doubling, and by 2040. It was originally planned to approve upgrading the maintenance depot to Capital Metropolitan Transportation the overall system and potential cope with a larger train fleet with two Authority (Capital Metro), which operates investment programme this month with to four additional trains planned. the city’s bus network and commuter a view to holding a referendum on the Project Connect includes a second rail line, and is responsible for developing project in November. However, the commuter rail line, the MetroRail Green public transport in the area, says the coronavirus pandemic has cast doubt Line, which will connect neighbourhoods road network will not be able to expand over the timetable. “Our primary focus east of central Austin with Downtown, fast enough to cater for the increased at present is providing essential bus again using an existing freight railway. demand. “Like other big cities, we need services in the Austin area,” Couch Both lines are owned by Capital Metro. a strong public transit system which says. “We are still moving forward with The initial 43km service would run accommodates growth and supports Project Connect, but not at the same from Downtown via Plaza Saltillo on our quality of life,” Capital Metro says. schedule. We are working from home to the Red Line northeast to Manor, with a “That’s how we can protect what we progress different portions of the potential extension to Elgin. The Green love about Austin and what makes it a system and we plan to hold a virtual Line would serve four new stations great place to live.” open house in May using the Project initially at East Austin, Colony Park, The $US 9.6bn Project Connect plan is Connect website. People will be able to the Wildhorse Development and Manor. designed to cater for this growth by see what we would have shown them Between six to eight trains will be investing heavily in light rail, commuter in reality and make comments. This will needed to operate the Green Line, rail and buses, rather than building allow us to make an overall response. depending on how many phases of the more roads. We still hope to make the referendum in project are completed. “We started Project Connect about November.” If this is successful, the three years ago by looking at potential project could be launched in 2021. routes and ridership,” Mr David Couch, Austin’s first foray into rail transit Light rail Project Connect’s programme director, happened a decade ago when it Two new light rail lines - the Orange told IRJ on April 15. “We were initially launched a commuter rail service - the and Blue lines - are at the heart of looking at bus rapid transit (BRT) and Red Line - on an existing freight Project Connect, plus the Gold Line light rail. We carried out a very detailed railway linking a new Downtown which will start out as a bus rapid 28 IRJ May 2020 May Austin_Layout 1 23/04/2020 16:26 Page 29

transit (BRT) line with potential for conversion to light rail operation in the Austin Orange and Blue Lines future. LRV length Frequency Daily capacity Up Lakeline Commuter Rail Minutes Passengers The Orange Line will be 32km long Mfboefs Existing line 3-car 10 73,000 with 21 stations. The north-south line Planned line Light Rail 4-car 10 97,000 will run from North Lemar Transit Tech Ridge Planned lines Howard 3-car 5 144,000 Centre, along the North Lamar/ N Proposed extensions Parmer Bus Rapid Transit 4-car 5 192,000 Guadalupe corridor, via the University Planned line of Texas campus, through the city IRJ Project Connect centre, to Lady Bird Lake and along Sfe!Mjof budget South Congress to Stassney Lane. LRVs Psbohf0Cmvf!Mjof Manor will connect with Metrorapid bus route North Lamar Transit Centre Main components Cost Orange, Blue (including $7.9bn 801 at North Lamar transit Centre to Crestview Downtown tunnel) reach Tech Ridge in the north and at up!Fmhjo and Gold lines Highland Wildhorse Stassney to reach Slaughter in the south. Triangle MetroRail - Green Line $510m These bus links will be a precursor to MetroRail - Red Line $445m extending the Orange Line to Tech Hsffo!Mjof Government Hpme!Mjof MetroRapid bus $170m Loyola/Jonny Morris Ridge and Slaughter in the future. Centre Medical School network The 24km Blue Line will have 20 Republic Capitol East MetroExpress and $200m stations and will run from Austin- Square Downtown East US183 Park & Ride Bergstrom International Airport along Plaza Saltillo Neighbourhood bus $3m East Riverside Drive in the southeast, circulators Riverside Cmvf!Mjof Maintenance facility $300m across Lady Bird Lake to Downtown Metrocentre improvements Psbohf!Mjof station and then along 4th Street to Fare collection $30m Republic Square. It will then head north systems Qspqptfe!mjof!up Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and share track with the Orange Line to Stassney Tmbvhiufs Total $9.6bn North Lemar Transit Centre. LRVs on each line will run at 10-minute will run at a five-minute frequency to light rail, batteries combined with rapid headways. Capital Metro says the LRT achieve a daily capacity of 65,000 charging at stations, and power starter system could require as few as passengers. regeneration. He is also aware that the 14-18 LRVs to maintain this frequency. Couch says they are still trying to technology is developing rapidly. However, due to the high expected assess the infrastructure level to which ridership on the two lines, between 24 the Gold Line will be built. “We are still and 28 LRVs may be warranted to meet at the concept stage examining the pros Funding peak service demand. By 2040, daily and cons, while trying to keep the cost In common with other US transit ridership on the Orange and Blue lines down,” he says. “The more segregation projects, the funding burden now falls is expected to exceed 68,000. and preparation for light rail you have, mainly on local resources, as Couch “Dedicated transit-ways will be the higher the cost.” explains. “Many years ago the funding provided from intersection to intersection, To complement the rail network, split was 80% federal government to with priority for LRVs at intersections seven new high-frequency Metrorapid 20% local, but of late the federal share is and queue jumping of other traffic,” bus routes with priority treatments are now in the low 40% area leaving Couch says. planned covering around 160km with around 60% to be raised locally, and An underground section is planned in 200 stops, plus eight new Metroexpress that is what we will be looking at in the the city centre with stations at Downtown/ bus routes, as well as improvements to referendum.” Convention Centre and Republic Square, conventional bus services. There are The local commitment to Project and possibly one or two more currently 16 park-and-ride facilities in Connect is expected to be around $US underground stations such as Government the Austin area and under Project 5.6bn with the Federal Transit Centre. Downtown/Convention Centre Connect another 24 will be built. Administration’s 40% share amounting station will be the hub of the network The objective under Project Connect to $US 3.8bn. There are other one-time and will be served by the Blue Line, the is to have a zero-emission rail and bus funding sources which are available Gold Line BRT and the two commuter network. This will involve replacing such as the Capital Expansion Fund rail lines. The cost of the tunnel is Capital Metro’s 400 buses and 10 DMUs which could generate $US 60-70m. estimated at between $US 2bn and $US with electric vehicles. “We tested Couch says Project Connect faces a 2.5bn depending on the final length of battery buses with overnight trickle number of challenges, such as gaining the tunnel and the number of stations. charging last summer and the air- sufficient understanding and The tunnel will be used by Orange conditioning worked well in the Austin knowledge to form a team with the and Blue line LRVs and will cut journey summer heat,” Couch says. “We will right governance structure. Educating times and reduce conflicts with other look at different types of power supply the public will also be important as road users. Capital Metro says it will systems, but we want to use proven Austin has never had this type of transit also future proof the network. technology - we don’t want to be the system before. The Gold Line BRT will also have a test bed for everything.” “Having the right people with the dedicated transit-way. It will be 9.7km Couch says the conventional right knowledge and getting public long with 10 stations and will run north approach for rail in the United States is understanding will be key to the from Downtown via Capitol East and 25kV ac overhead electrification, but he success of Project Connect,” Couch the Medical School to Highland where has been looking at technologies such says. “It is a challenging project, but it it will connect with the Red Line. Buses as Alstom’s ground power supply for will be a great benefit to Austin.” IRJ IRJ May 2020 29 May Dublin_Layout 1 27/04/2020 13:21 Page 30

Urban rail | Dublin Irish capital updates metro plan Following the publication of a preferred alignment, Dublin is moving closer to beginning construction of its first metro line. David Burroughs looks at the progress made and how public opinion has helped the plan evolve.

RBANISATION is set to increase especially on key routes such as the feature major interchanges with rail across the world in the coming M50, where high value economic trips services at Glasnevin and Tara stations. decades, with the percentage of such as transporting food and other Metro services will operate with 40 pUeople living in cities expected to grow freight are at the mercy of heavy 60m+ long trains running at Grade of from 50% today to 60% by 2030 as the commuter traffic. Automation 4 (GoA4), providing overall global population increases by In order to address the situation, the capacity for up to 20,000 passengers an around 6% from around 8 billion today National Transport Authority (NTA) hour and up to 50 million riders to 8.5 billion. developed the Transport Strategy for annually. The line will be capable of The urbanisation of Dublin is set to the Greater Dublin Area 2016-2035 - a operating 24 hours a day, with increase even faster, with the population framework for transport development automation allowing dynamic forecast to expand by around 15% from across the wider Dublin area for the management of service levels. 1.3 million today to 1.5 million by 2040. next 20 years. The plan proposes three All services will operate from Dublin is experiencing strong levels of major infrastructure projects to provide Charlemont to the airport, while only employment, or at least it was before attractive, affordable and reliable public some trains will operate the full length the Covid-19 pandemic hit, and this is transport: MetroLink, a new automated of the line from Charlemont to Estuary. likely to continue with large companies metro line; BusConnects, an enhanced While the metro will be designed for such as technology giants Google and bus network; and the expansion of Dart 80km/h operation, the commercial Facebook locating their offices in the commuter rail services. operating speed is expected to be Docklands area of the city. The emerging preferred route for a 40km/h. Ireland ranks within the top 20 north-south, high-frequency metro line countries in the world in metrics such linking Swords, Dublin Airport, Irish as quality of life and environmental Rail (IE), Dart, Dublin Bus and Luas Public consultation performance, but Dublin sits outside the light rail services was published by Around 67% of responses from the top 30 cities in the world for liveability. NTA and Transport Infrastructure public consultation were related to the Environmentally sustainable public Ireland (TII) in 2018 (IRJ July 2018 p16). use of Griffith Park, the home of the Na transport has been identified as a The proposal merged two existing Fianna Gaelic Athletic Association necessity to amend this. projects - Metro North and Metro South (GAA) club, to launch tunnel boring The Irish capital’s already busy road - which had been proposed for more machines (TBM). TII announced in network - more than 70% of all trips are than two decades. The emerging preferred March 2019 that it would relocate made by road - is struggling to meet route has since undergone public Griffith Park station after it rethought demand. The city has now reached consultation, which attracted more than the tunnel design. critical levels of road congestion, 7000 responses both in support of the TII initially proposed twin bore proposed alignment and with concerns tunnels from north of Dublin Airport to Dublin about the impact of some aspects. Glasnevin where TBMs would be DUBLIN up!Esphifeb TII published the updated preferred extracted and a second pair of TBMs 1 O'Connell Street Estuary route in March 2019 with significant launched to build the southbound 2 Connolly Swords 3 Docklands Central changes to the overall scope of the tunnels. However, this would require 4 Tara Malahide project. an extensive construction site on the 5 The Point The line was initially designed to run playing grounds and the loss of

IRJ u s

Dublin Airport b 26km from Estuary, north of Swords, community sports amenities for up to N E via the airport and the city centre, seven years as well as a significant rise terminating at Sandyford in the south of in lorries carrying excavated material up!Evocpzof Howth Junction boe!Nbzoppui the city. This involved connecting the from the site. Howth su metro line to the Luas light rail Green Instead, TII will proceed with a single Broombridge Eb Glasnevin Line at Charlemont and upgrading the bore tunnel, which will vastly reduce Heuston 2 southern Charlemont - Sandyford the scale of works and the impact on 1 3 up 5 !Dfmcsjehf 4 section to metro standards (see panel). the city. A TBM will enter the ground In the updated preferred route, the south of Dublin Airport and bore a St Stephen's Green Charlemont Charlemont - Sandyford section has short 2.4km tunnel northwards under D a to Tallaght r been dropped following concern from the airport, before being extracted and and Saggart t Blackrock the community and politicians that the relaunched at Northwood to tunnel the upgrade would result in a four-year full 10.1km to Charlemont. The Metro Dun Laoghaire Planned line closure of the light rail line, limiting remaining section will comprise 1.8km Light rail lines Sandyford Green Line transport options. The new 19.1km at grade or elevated and 5km cut and Red Line metro line will now have 16 stations, cover or retained sections. Main lines Electrified lines up nine less than previously proposed. The new launch site at Northwood up! !Hsfztupoft Non-electrified Csjeft! The Park and Ride facility at Estuary will take much of the lorry activity out lines Hmfo will have 3000 spaces, and the line will of the city, while the southern launch 29a IRJ May 2020 May Dublin_Layout 1 27/04/2020 13:21 Page 31

site for the Dublin Airport section is nearer the M50. This also removes the need to launch TBMs at Griffith Park and allows for the construction of a smaller station under the grounds of the Home Farm football club, which neighbours the GAA fields. The tunnel will have an external diameter of 9.2m, with an average depth of 17m. TII is considering a number of TBM tunnelling methods for the project, including EPB Shield, Slurry Shield and Multi-Mode. Other changes include a decision to relocate the sub-surface O’Connell Street station to a nearby site, which is due to be developed as a shopping centre, in an effort to reduce the impact on bus, Luas and car traffic. When the emerging preferred route was first published, concerns were raised about the location of Dublin Airport station, with feedback that it was located too far from the terminals. TII says this is still under consideration, The new metro line will provide a much-needed boost in rail capacity in Dublin. and it is in contact with stakeholders realistic and reliable figures to be on board feedback from a recent market along the route, including at Dublin calculated. consultation. A public-private Airport, with the project team set to In March, TII appointed SNC-Lavalin procurement (PPP) model is being consider this feedback. Rail & Transit as operations advisor to considered for some of the MetroLink lead the development of an operational package, but a decision on whether this strategy for the project. SNC-Lavalin will be the final procurement model has Procurement will also review and critique the design not been made. While the Irish government set aside of rolling stock and provide consultancy TII’s procurement guidelines call for É3bn for the project in its 10-year services and develop a business case for interface and systems integration risk to Capital Plan announced in February deployment of the GoA 4 train control be minimised, with this placed with 2018, TII says a robust cost estimate will system. “those parties best able to manage risk.” not be available until the design has TII is currently developing a The strategy will also aim to incentivise progressed to a stage that will enable procurement strategy, which will take collaborative behaviour and effective and efficient project delivery, while Luas light rail upgrade postponed but not dropped maximising cost certainty on the basis HE omission of the Charlemont - Sandyford light rail upgrade to metro rail of mature designs with minimal whole is one of the biggest divergences from the emerging preferred route for the life cycle cost. metro. The project will likely be offered in TThe need to upgrade the line to service expected future demand was first large packages to avoid a high number identified in the Greater Dublin Area Transport Strategy 2016-2035. of complex contract interfaces and Funding for the Green Line Capacity Enhancement (GLCE) project was dependencies. For example, the tunnels, approved by the government in November 2017. The project was designed to stations and fit-out will be combined optimise the public transport network along Dublin’s southeast corridor and cater into a single package while civil for the future demand for services, ensuring optimal use of existing infrastructure engineering and systems will be in advance of other major public transport investments. separate packages. This is being achieved by lengthening existing 43m-long LRVs to 55m, along The procurement strategy was due to with the purchase of eight new LRVs to allow a northbound peak hour frequency be developed in the first quarter of of 24 vehicles per hour. 2020, with a notice published in the During the development of the GLCE, it was acknowledged that further official journal of the European Union capacity enhancement of the Green Line would be required by 2030. With in the third quarter. An invitation to MetroLink and BusConnects due to influence the pattern and level of passenger tender is due to be published in the demand on the Luas Green Line, it was decided that the timing, nature and scale second quarter of 2021, with the first of any future upgrade should not be considered until further detail of the design contract expected to be awarded by the and implementation of these schemes was known. end of that year following the issuance Modelling has since indicated that upgrades to Green Line infrastructure and of an Enforceable Railway Order. additional vehicles to provide a 30 LRVs-per-hour service in the morning peak Provided the effects of coronavirus do could accommodate passenger demand on the corridor for up to 20 years not impact procurement and following the opening of the metro line between Swords and Charlemont. construction of the line, within a decade This means the upgrade to metro standards, or some other less-intrusive form Dublin will have the greater transport of upgrade, is still planned but not now likely to take place for decades. capacity required to support its ever growing population. IRJ IRJ May 2020 29b May VLR_Layout 1 23/04/2020 12:24 Page 30

Urban rail | rolling stock Very Light Rail Vehicle project prepares for testing Testing of innovative lightweight and low-cost mainline and light rail vehicles is on course to begin within the next 12 months. The projects could support the business case for reopening disused lines and for low-cost light rail projects in smaller cities in Britain and elsewhere. Kevin Smith visited WMG at the University of Warwick to learn more.

ETTING people out of their cars centre. Another proposed route would and onto public transport to connect the station with the University combat pollution and ease of Warwick. congestionG is a challenge facing cities all Ultimately the city council hopes to over the world, including the British develop a network which links major city of Coventry. residential, industrial and commercial Coventry was among the 28 British areas across the city as well as with the towns and cities identified by the future HS2 station at Birmingham government in 2017 as having NO2 Airport. levels which are set to exceed legal To get there, the city tasked WMG at limits in 2021. The city council has since the University of Warwick to develop a embarked on a strategy to combat these concept for a lower cost vehicle and high emissions with short-term measures track structure. The university to improve road, cycle and pedestrian subsequently published a feasibility connections approved in February. study in late 2017, indicating that there The council is also looking further was no reason why the costs could not ahead at ways to enhance its public be reduced, and WMG set about doing transport network. Light rail, as exactly this after it was awarded a demonstrated in the neighbouring cities research and development contract during a visit to the WMG campus, that of Birmingham and Nottingham, is an from the council in April 2018. the project for Coventry is divided into effective way of doing this with both The Coventry & Warwickshire Local four elements: the vehicle, which WMG networks reporting steadily increasing Enterprise Partnership is contributing is overseeing; the track structure, which traffic flows as well as economic uplift £2.5m towards the first phase of the WMG is working on in cooperation in the areas served. R&D project while the West Midlands with Dudley Metropolitan Borough However, funding for such a major Combined Authority is providing Council; the operations element, which undertaking is in limited supply, £12.2m. The Coventry project is now the is led by Transport for West Midlands; particularly for Coventry, which has a second element of the Very Light Rail and development of the route, which population of 350,000. Light rail projects Vehicle (VLR) project underway at the Coventry City Council is leading. are not cheap - the latest 11km extension university in cooperation with the The concept for the Coventry project of Birmingham’s Midland Metro from Revolution VLR consortium of industry is for an 11m-long battery-powered Wednesbury to Brierley Hill is costing partners, Eversholt Rail, Cummins, vehicle, which has capacity for 50 £449.5m, or £40.9m per kilometre, an RDM Group, Transcal Engineering and passengers, 20 seated and 30 standing. increase of over £100m from the initial WMG. Removing the need for catenary is a cost estimate when the project began. A Very Light Rail Vehicle is defined as significant cost saving while developing Horror stories over cost increases weighing less than 1 tonne/m3 with an a single vehicle fits with the plan to run experienced during the high-profile axleload of around 4 tonnes. The rationale services at short headways to encourage project in Edinburgh have also put some for developing such a vehicle is to a turn-up-and-go approach for the British cities off pursuing the technology. reduce both the capital cost so it is more future service. Nevertheless, Coventry City Council comparable with a road vehicle - a light But with a large fleet required and believes it can get the same benefits at a rail vehicle typically comes in at £1-2m drivers representing a significant cost much lower cost - around £10m per compared with £150,000-300,000 for a burden, research is underway on kilometre for an initial line. The first bus - and to reduce operating costs by developing autonomous operation with proposed route runs from Coventry cutting energy consumption. teams analysing various obstacle station to University Hospital Coventry Dr James Winnett, a senior research detection technologies already trialled and Warwickshire via Coventry city fellow in the VLR project, told IRJ or available. 30 IRJ May 2020 May VLR_Layout 1 23/04/2020 12:24 Page 31

An artist’s impression of the Revolution VLR vehicle. The developers are targeting deployment of the hybrid vehicle on branch lines and disused lines which are earmarked for reopening.

Design of the demonstrator vehicle is earmarked for reopening under its = Coventry-based RDM, an automotive now largely complete with manufacturing strategy announced earlier this year. manufacturer, which is building the by RDM set to begin soon. The hope is Revolution is a follow on from a vehicle to complete this in the autumn ahead of project launched in 2014 to develop a = Prose, which is providing support the start of testing early next year. self-powered bogie which utilised an with Finite Element Analysis In addition, Winnett says a tender to integral, hybrid propulsion system and = Cummins, which is providing identify a partner for the track research kinetic energy recovery system. The propulsion equipment element of the project was recently project was part of Britain’s Railway = Transcal Engineering, which is completed. The research project will Research and Standards Board (RSSB) supplying metal fabrications investigate and identify the optimal Future Railway Enabling Innovation = Eversholt Rail, which is an investment material to use for the trackform. Team (EIT) initiative, which was funded partner, and However, with the project aiming to by the Department for Transport (DfT). = WMG. eliminate the need for utility diversion Winnett says the project was a success Avid, Britain, is also working as a to save construction time and costs, the and funding was sought to further the subcontractor and is supporting WMG slabs will be designed for removal work by developing a demonstrator with testing the diesel powerpack and within 90 minutes to allow for vehicle. However, rather than simply batteries. Wabtec has also supplied straightforward access to utilities. putting a lightweight structure onto the bogies for the vehicle. bogie, the partners felt that developing WMG has developed twin diesel- a powerpack solution was more electric hybrid power-packs with Revolution appropriate. lithium titanate energy storage for The forerunner to the Coventry Transport Design International is regenerative braking and zero-emission scheme is Revolution, a project to develop designing the vehicle and, as it was in departures from stations. The group has a lightweight and low-cost hybrid vehicle the 2014 project, is the lead partner in identified a body structure that uses for mainline applications, which also got the Revolution VLR Consortium. The multiple materials, is lightweight and underway in 2018. The developers are consortium partners are matching the modular to reduce manufacturing costs targeting regional and rural routes, DfT’s £2.75m funding for the project and has a target market price of less including those that the government has and consist of: than £1m. IRJ May 2020 31 May VLR_Layout 1 23/04/2020 14:53 Page 32

Urban rail | rolling stock

route between Stourbridge and Walsall. Work will involve relaying a single line test track. A second 350m test track incorporating a 15m radius curve is planned specifically to support the development of the Coventry vehicle and track structure. The Midland Metro extension to Brierley Hill is set to serve the area and work is underway on a £4.33m retaining wall, which was due to be completed by the end of this month. Initial testing could start in summer 2021. Inevitably once the tests are completed, and presuming that they prove successful, attention will shift to commercialisation of the vehicles. The proposed design for the Winnett says that with a couple of years Coventry VLR concept. work, he does not think it is beyond the realms of possibility that something Winnett says WMG’s element of the coming up with solutions, Winnett says akin to the Revolution vehicle could project has considered methods used in the partners have tried to think outside enter operation. Coventry City Council the automotive sector and how they of the box to develop a concept that is also set to lead the push for a might be applied in a railway setting. delivers the fundamentals but doesn’t commercial application of the light rail The development process has involved necessarily stick to established standards. vehicle. testing at all stages. An engine “I remember when we started with While changes to the materials and generator that was on test at the facility Revolution, the emphasis was very systems used in the demonstrator are has been shipped to RDM to see how it much on being radical,” Winnett says. now unlikely, they could still occur at performs under a reasonable duty cycle. “In a way that was nice because we the manufacturing and commercialisation A battery remains on test at the facility could play and think about what could stage. Winnett says WMG is working and is due to be shipped shortly. be done differently. But now, knowing with RSSB as well as the Office of Rail The vehicle itself will be approximately this needs to go through the approvals and Road to understand what is 18m long with capacity for 56 standing process and the different stages of that, required to get the vehicle through a and 60 seated passengers. Components we have not stepped back massively, possible approvals process. In addition, have been chosen to minimise costs there is still quite a bit of innovation in WMG is looking at how it might where possible - for example two seats there, but it has taken a slightly introduce some economies of scale into weigh just 20kg but are certified for use different route.” potential manufacturing processes, on the railway. However, Winnett says again looking at methods used in the throughout the development process, automotive sector. the team has emphasised using the Trials “At WMG we look at bringing things “right material in the right place.” With manufacturing underway, the closer to market,” Winnett says. “We “This is exactly what we are doing goal is for trials with the Revolution aren’t involved in commercialisation, here when considering the mechanical vehicle to begin in the autumn, more that is the role of the industry, we are performance, the economic than likely at the nearby Long Marston just here to bridge that gap, and as it performance, and the carbon emissions site. These will be combined with a moves closer to commercialisation, our over the lifetime of a vehicle,” Winnett series of off-vehicle tests, the programme input is less.” says. “We have done some initial work for which has already been finalised. With old lines set to reopen and in the automotive sector on shifting to Testing of the vehicle could also take demand from smaller cities for carbon fibre but over the course of the place at the new Very Light Rail sustainable and attractive public lifetime of a vehicle you don’t get much National Innovation Centre (VLRNIC) transport solutions, the potential is of a benefit from moving from steel. under development at Castle Hill in significant. And if the concepts prove Whereas if you have a longer lifetime Dudley, which has been earmarked for their worth, the chances are that this you start to repay that deficit.” testing both the Coventry vehicle and innovation from central Britain might “We call ourselves material agnostic,” the track structure. have appeal among the industry Winnett continues. “To an extent, I The £28m VLR Innovation Centre heavyweights as they tap into this don’t mind what material is used, project is funded by Local Enterprise demand. whether it is high-strength steel or Partnership and European Research and “I don’t see a reason why this couldn’t aluminium as long as it does the right Development Funding and is located at be taken forward by one of the big job, considering the mechanical the site of the former station in Dudley. players,” Winnett says. “Whether they performance for single and lifetime As well as an innovation and want to - whether they see the market - loading, which is key, along with administration centre, line testing will I don’t know. That comes down to how lifetime carbon cost.” take place on the 2km Castle Hill - it is sold to them. Also, it comes down Much of the development is now Cinder Bank line which runs via the to whether the consortium wants them complete and Winnett says the 700m Dudley Tunnel. The link was to be involved moving forward. If RDM materials used are fairly-well defined. closed to passenger traffic in the 1960s see themselves as a rail OEM, they Safety remains the top priority but in but remained in service as a freight might want to keep this in-house.” IRJ 32 IRJ May 2020 May Evraz_Layout 1 05/05/2020 12:25 Page 33

Track | rails New alloy improves rail performance in tough conditions Evraz North America has developed a patented rail alloy which is designed to improve performance in areas ranging from shallow curves in arid climates to severe curves on mountainous high-tonnage lines with punishingly cold temperatures, such as the North American Rocky Mountains. M D Richards, G R Lehnhoff, G Velarde and J V Kristan from Evraz North America in Pueblo, Colorado, explain how the alloy is able to achieve exceptional hardness and ductility.

S traffic volumes increase, new therefore decided to develop a new or high strength with rail surface rail steel metallurgies are being metallurgical approach to improve rail hardness minimums of 310HB, 350HB, developed to meet demand for strength and hardness to combat wear and 370HB respectively. Although there longerA rail service life, improved track and rolling contact fatigue (RCF) is no defined performance level beyond safety, and better performance in severe resistance, while simultaneously high strength rail, a hardness threshold operating conditions while offering improving ductility, fracture toughness of 400HB is a reasonable metric on improved maintenance efficiency. and weldability. which to base next generation rail The conventional approach to extend The development of the new Apex performance. rail life during the last century was to G2HH ultra-premium strength rail Increases to the strength of pearlitic increase hardness by increasing the rail grade has been completed. It involved microstructures are achieved by refining carbon content. Improvements to rail advances in rail manufacturing the pearlite inter-lamellar spacing, λ, hardness and performance were practices including steelmaking, alloy increasing the pearlitic carbide fraction achieved in the 1980s and 1990s by strategy, rail rolling, and head hardening. by raising the carbon content, and applying head hardening to existing To demonstrate the improvements we increasing the strength of the pearlitic steel grades. The use of hyper- will compare the performance of Apex ferrite through solid solution or eutectoid rail steel compositions G2HH against a current generation precipitation strengthening. further improved resistance to premium rail grade (DS) commonly Modifications to rail alloy wear in the most severe used in cold weather environments on systems are used to conditions. The increase in North American heavy-haul lines and a increase strength carbon content beyond the near- non-head-hardened standard strength by eutectoid level also introduced (SS) rail grade. compromises in ductility and The American Railway Engineering fracture toughness, which is and Maintenance-of-way Association typical of many materials. (Arema) best practice guidelines define Evraz North America rail strength as standard, intermediate May Evraz_Layout 1 05/05/2020 12:25 Page 34

Track | rails

manipulating the austenite to pearlite were performed for each rail grade. phase transformation during the head This method has been shown to provide hardening process. The G2HH grade excellent characterisation of wear was designed with higher levels of behaviour. alloying elements that promote a fine Figure 3 shows accumulated mass pearlite microstructure and a carbon loss versus accumulated cycles data for level that complies with Arema guidelines. the G2HH, DS, and SS grades while Figure 1 shows that the average Table 1 includes wear rate and R2. The surface hardness of the G2HH grade is wear test results exhibit linear behaviour approximately 430HB, a significant in which the slope of the accumulated increase compared with high-strength mass loss versus accumulated cycles DS rail. Interior hardness measurements data represents the wear rate of the also show that the hardness of the material. Comparing the DS and SS G2HH grade is significantly higher than data in Figure 3 shows that head the high-strength DS grade, with the hardening decreases the wear rate. hardness at the rail head centre line and The modification of the alloy system gauge corners at a depth of 10 and and head hardening procedure used to Figure 1: Average surface hardness of 11mm, respectively, exceeding 405HB produce G2HH results in a further G2HH grade. on average. reduction in the wear rate compared Figure 2 shows the tensile yield with DS. strength and ductility for the G2HH grade compared with the high strength DS grade and SS rail. The beneficial Fracture resistance effect of head hardening is also evident. As the consequences of derailments The yield strength increase between become increasingly dire, factors that non-head hardened SS grade and DS is govern railway safety become significant for similar nominal alloying increasingly important. The fracture strategies; the head hardening process resistance of the rail material represents also provides a benefit to the tensile a last defence against rail breaks, ductility as shown by the increased because increases to the rail fracture reduction of area in tension. The G2HH toughness raise the flaw tolerance of the grade exhibits an additional increase in rail under a given load. The ability of yield strength compared with the high the rail to tolerate larger flaws means it strength DS grade, which is also will take longer (more loading cycles) accompanied by a substantial increase for flaws to reach a critical size and in the tensile ductility. cause a rail fracture, while larger flaws While strength was the focus of the are more likely to be detected by development for the G2HH alloy inspection vehicles. system, the hardenability of the alloy The test specimen is oriented Figure 2: G2HH tensile yield strength and system was also designed to ensure that transverse to the longitudinal direction ductility compared with DS and SS rails. desirable microstructures form in rail of the rail, with the crack oriented welds. Hardenability defines the ability towards the surface to ensure the crack of a steel alloy to achieve hard, front is positioned close to the running martensitic microstructures in heat surface of the rail head and close to the treating operations. rail foot for the base specimen. Wear resistance testing was performed Testing was performed in accordance using a twin disc testing machine in with ASTM E399-17. The specimen rolling-sliding contact. Rail test featured a compact tension geometry, specimens were machined from the C(T), with a width of 38.1mm. Plane head of the rail with a 39.5mm disc strain fracture toughness tests were diameter and 3mm specimen width. performed on rail head and rail base The opposing discs were machined samples for the G2HH and DS materials from rail material that approximates at 24oC, 0oC, and -40oC, and triplicate railway wheel steel. The material is specimens were evaluated for each fully pearlitic with a similar hardness condition. and chemical composition to that of Both the DS and G2HH grades exceed Class C wheels used in North America. the required minimum fracture The wheel sample was cylindrical with toughness values required to meet the a diameter of 46.2mm. EN 13674 specifications for the A constant initial Hertzian contact R350LHT and R370CrHT. The G2HH pressure of 1300MPa was maintained. A also exceeds the requirements for the constant slip ratio of 10% was maintained R400HT grade based on strength level by controlling the rotational speed of while the DS and G2HH grade exceed Figure 3: Accumulated mass loss versus the two disc samples. During the wear the requirements of the R350HT grade accumulated cycle data for G2HH, DS and test, the sample mass was measured at EN 13674 specification, which has a low SS grades. specific cycle intervals. Triplicate tests strength requirement compared with 34 IRJ May 2020 May Evraz_Layout 1 05/05/2020 12:25 Page 35

the strengths achieved in either the DS trains and preventative and profile rail show a distinct advantage of the G2HH or G2HH grades. Furthermore, the grinding. At the time of this report, the rail over the DS rail. fracture toughness of both the DS and total accumulation of traffic was The G2HH grade offers improved G2HH grades at -40oC exceed that of approximately 175 million gross tons track safety from several aspects: the standard SS rail at room (MGT) and the measurements were = the increased strength and hardness temperature. This demonstrates that made at approximately 150MGT. improve resistance to RCF damage head hardening also improves fracture The DS and G2HH rail profile resulting from accumulated plastic toughness. measurement data for the high and low deformation rails demonstrate statistically significant = the increased ductility and fracture differences between the two grades as toughness translate to improved flaw Revenue trials verified by means of the two sample T- tolerance - the fracture toughness of the The Apex G2HH grade rail is being test with a p-value threshold of 0.05. G2HH rail at -40oC exceeds that of SS tested in numerous locations in North The high rail gauge face (W2) and rail at room temperature, and exceeds America including low radius curves in gauge corner (W3) values show the EN 13674 requirements for mountainous terrain as well as less reasonably high losses, while the low intermediate and high strength rails at - severe environments. For example, the rail W2 and W3 position values were 20oC, while exceptional low Apex G2HH grade rail was installed low enough to lack statistical temperature fracture toughness means along with the DS grade rail in a 563.5m significance, indicating that the curve Apex G2HH can be used in cold radius curve with a 1.1% gradient on a remains in high rail flanging contact. climates despite its high strength, and North American heavy-haul line. Both Figure 4 shows the revenue service = the alloy system was designed to not high and low rails were electric flash performance improvements of the only enhance strength, ductility, and butt welded into 439m lengths, G2HH grade relative to the DS grade. toughness, but also to increase the alternating between the two rail grades In all the measurement positions in robustness of welding through a at 24.4m intervals. Rail profiles were which statistical significance could be decrease in hardenability; the low measured periodically, including the established, the G2HH rail outperformed Jominy hardenability of G2HH extends total metal removal caused by passing the DS rail. the allowable range of weld cooling Figure 5 shows representative rates that produce fully pearlitic weld photographs of the running surface of microstructures. the low rail at 150MGT. The operator of Management of track safety and the test curve elected to extend the interval service life is of paramount importance between grinding cycles to evaluate the for the continued operation of heavy- relative RCF resistance of the G2HH haul railways, and high performance grade compared with the DS grade. rail offers a significant advantage for At the time of this evaluation the high such railways. The new Apex G2HH rail showed no RCF damage. The low rail grade provides enhanced wear rate in the low rail, combined with performance in severe track and a lack of preventative grinding due to environmental conditions, including the extended grinding interval, resulted low temperatures. Ultra premium in the initiation of RCF damage along strength levels are achieved through the running surface of the DS rail. state of the art alloying and heat However, the G2HH rails showed no treatment. The alloy design also indication of RCF damage. promotes the formation of desirable In conclusion, increased strength and weld microstructures. Increased hardness substantially improve rail hardness provides better wear Figure 4: Revenue service performance wear resistance, which greatly extends resistance, longer track life, and RCF improvemts of G2HH grade. rail life. The revenue service test data resistance. Greater strength and hardness are achieved without compromising safety performance metrics such as fracture toughness. The new rail grade is a significant milestone in rail development, providing simultaneous improvements to hardness and fracture toughness - the previous advance in technology to achieve this result was the head hardening process itself. IRJ

Table 1: Wear rate and determination coefficient Grade Wear Rate Determination mg/cycle coefficient R2 SS 0.03814 0.995 DS 0.02213 0.995 G2HH 0.01221 0.998 Figure 5: The running surface of the low rail at 150MGT. IRJ May 2020 35 May Rendez_Febrrend 22/04/2020 16:36 Page 35

Rendezvous

8 Simmons Boardman, New September 2020 October 2020 May 2020 York, USA. 5-7—Dubai, UAE 12-14—London, Britain 1-3—Poznan, Poland www.railwayage.com/insights NEW DATE: UITP/MENA Infrarail Exhibition POSTPONED NEW DATE: Rail Freight Summit Transport Congress & Exhibition until 2021 8 ProMedia, Breda, Netherlands. 30-July 3—Beijing, China UITP, Brussels, Belgium. Mack Brooks, St Albans, Britain. https://events.railfreight.com/ 8 8 UIC World Congress on High www.menatransport.org/events/ www.infrarail.com/2020 railfreight-summit-2020 Speed POSTPONED mena-transport-congress- UIC, Paris, France. exhibition 14-15—Perth Australia 8 9-10—Albury-Wodonga, www.uichighspeed2020.com UIC Asia-Pacific Conference on Australia Inland Rail Conference 8-9—Berlin, Germany Digital POSTPONED NEW DATE: Composites in Rail 8 UIC, Paris, France. July 2020 8 ARA, Canberra, Australia. 1-3—Berlin, Germany https://ara.net.au/events-and- 8 AMI, Bristol, Britain. https://uic.org/events/uic-asia- www.ami.international/events/ pacific-conference-on-digital COMPRAIL 2020, 17th Railway networking/inland-rail- Engineering Design and conference event?Code=C1070 Operation Conference 12-15—Changsha, China June 2020 8 Wessex Institute of 13-16—Dallas, USA 2-4—Riga, Latvia Maglev International Conference Technology, Southampton, NEW: World Rail Festival UIC Global Rail Freight Hunan Maglev Research, Britain. AREMA Conference & Expo 8 Conference POSTPONED 8 Changsha, China. www.wessex.ac.uk/conferences/ AREMA, Maryland, USA. 8 UIC, Paris, France. www.maglev2020.com https://uicgrfc.org 2020/comprail-2020 https://conference.arema.org 20-22—Kyiv, Ukraine 3-4—Valenciennes, France August 2020 22-25—Berlin, Germany NEW: Rail Expo 25-26—Johannesburg, South NEW: Rail Industry Meetings InnoTrans Conference & PromGruz, Dnipro, Ukraine. Africa 8 8 ABE, Paris, France. Exhibition POSTPONED until https://railexpoua.com/en www.railindustrymeetings.com NEW DATE: Africa Rail Spring 2021 Conference & Exhibition 8 Messe Berlin, Berlin, Germany. 27-28—Sydney, Australia 17-18—Frankfurt, Germany 8 Terrapinn, Bryanston, South www.innotrans.com NEW: RISSB Safety Conference NEW: RailTech Infra Forum Africa. 8 RISSB, Melbourne, Australia. Virtual Conference www.terrapinn.com/exhibition/ 30—Paris, France www.rissb.com.au/events/rissb- 8 ProMedia, Breda, Netherlands. africa-rail NEW: International Railway rail-safety-conference-2020/ https://events.railtech.com/rail- Standardisation Conference infrastructure-forum-2020 26-28—Jakarta, Indonesia 8 UIC, Paris, France. 28-30—Singapore NEW DATE: Railway Tech https://uic.org/events/3rd- NEW DATE: SITCE 2020 17-18—Chicago, USA 8 GEM, Jakarata, Indonesia. international-railway- 8 UITP, Brussels, Belgium. Rail Insights Conference www.railwaytech-indonesia.com standardisation-conference www.uitp.org/events/sitce-2020

Have you got the tools to succeed?

Projects Fleet Tenders

With connually updated and searchable content, IRJ PRO gives you a unique and up-to-date perspecve on investment in new railways and rolling stock as well as the latest global rail tenders. IRJ To find out more visit irjpro.com or contact Chloe Pickering, [email protected], +44 1326 313945 P R O

36 IRJ May 2020 May Ad Index_Ad Index 24/04/2020 15:06 Page 37

Contacts | editorial Fresh faces

Ms Karin Zipperer has taken over the management of 46 Killigrew Street, Falmouth, Cornwall TR11 3PP, UK Austria’s Eastern Transport Network (VOR) traffic Tel +44 1326 313945 association, working alongside Mr Wolfgang Schroll, Editor-in-Chief Kevin Smith MA [email protected] following the resignation of Mr Thomas Bohrn. The Consulting Editor/Associate Publisher association coordinates inter-regional public transport David Briginshaw CMILT [email protected] across Vienna, Lower Austria and Burgenland. News & Features Writer David Burroughs [email protected] Sales Executive Chloe Pickering [email protected] Market Analyst Oscar Sinclair [email protected] Production Manager Sue Morant [email protected] French National Railways (SNCF) has appointed Ms Isabelle Delon as deputy general manager in charge of customers and services general management. Regional editors Delon succeeds Mr Jean Gherida, who joins Keolis. Australia Mark Carter Tel +61 8 8367 8572 [email protected] Chile Ian Thomson Newman [email protected] Germany Keith Fender [email protected] Italy Marco Chiandoni [email protected] Japan Yoshihiko Sato Tel +81 3 5721 6616 [email protected] The Ukrainian government has appointed Mr Ivan New Zealand Richard Worrall [email protected] Spain Ferran Torga [email protected] Yuryk as acting chairman of the management board of Switzerland Anitra Green Tel +41 61 461 4536 Ukraine Railways (UZ), after removing Mr Zeljko Marcek USA/Canada William C Vantuono Tel +1 212 620 7240 from the position. Yuryk was appointed to UZ’s supervisory [email protected] board in June 2018, and was subsequently selected as CFO Correspondents and member of the management board in June 2019. Argentina Jorge Waddell Israel Jeremaya Goldberg Austria Erwin Reidinger Korea Andy Tebay Brazil Renata Passos Netherlands Quintus Vosman Mr Tobias Harms took over as CEO of Southwest German Denmark Denis Bowers Pakistan Naeem Qureshi/Rashid Ali Transport (Sweg) on April 1. The 47-year-old succeeds Hungary Ferenc Joo Poland Mykola Zasiadko Mr Johannes Müller, who retired. Harms has been a India Srinand Jha Ukraine Alexander Kava member of the Sweg executive board since 2016, where he was responsible for the technical department, overseeing the operation, vehicles and infrastructure divisions. Executive offices Simmons-Boardman Publishing Corp Norfolk Southern (NS) has appointed Ms Vanessa 88 Pine Street, 23rd Floor, New York, NY 10005, USA Allen Sutherland as executive vice-president and chief Tel +1 212 620 7200 Fax +1 212 633 1165 legal officer. Allen Sutherland joined Norfolk Southern President & Chairman A J McGinnis in 2018 as vice-president law, before being promoted Publisher, Rail Group Jonathan Chalon to senior vice-president government relations and Circulation Director Maureen Cooney [email protected] chief legal officer in 2019.

Ms Virve Laitinen, president and CEO of Finnish Contacts | advertising pharmaceutical company Orion Corporation, has been appointed as a member of VR’s board of directors. Laitinen was appointed at an extraordinary general For all areas except those listed below contact: meeting in Helsinki on April 14. Jerome Marullo, Business Development Manager Tel +1 732 887 5562 [email protected] 88 Pine Street, 23rd Floor, New York, NY 10005, USA Rolls-Royce Power Systems has expanded its Austria, Germany, German-speaking Switzerland, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, management board, appointing Mr Otto Preiss as Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia and Serbia. chief operating officer (COO), effective May 1. Preiss Michael Boyle, Dorfstrasse 70, 6393 St Ulrich, Austria previously spent more than 30 years at ABB, where he Tel +43 676 708 9872 and +49 163 830 8088 [email protected] was most recently group senior vice president, acting ITALY & Italian-speaking SWITZERLAND in the role of COO - digital. Dr Fabio Potestà, Elda Guidi Mediapoint & Communications srl, Corte Lambruschini, Corso Buenos Aires 8, Vo Piano, Int 7, 16129 Genova, Italy Tel +39 010 570 4948 Fax +39 010 553 0088 [email protected] To feature your new executive in the Fresh Faces section, JAPAN contact David Burroughs at [email protected] Katsuhiro Ishii, Ace Media Service Inc 12-6, 4-chome, Nishiiko Adachi-ku, Tokyo 121-0824, Japan Tel +81 3 5691 3335 Fax +81 3 5691 3336 [email protected] Advertisers Index CHINA and AL, IL, KY, WI Jonathan Chalon, 88 Pine Street, 23rd Floor, New York, NY 10005, USA Tel 212 620 7224 [email protected] AK, AZ, CA, CO, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, LA, MI, MN, MO, MT, ND, NE, NM, NV, OH, Furrer + Frey 23 OR, SD, TN, TX, UT, WA, WI, WY, Canada (Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan) Goldschmidt Thermit IFC Heather Disabato (Chicago Office) Tel 312 683 5026 hdisabato@sbpub- Chicago.com IRJ Pro 36 CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, MA, MD, ME, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, SC, VA, VT, Linsinger 19 WV, Canada (Quebec & East Ontario) Jerome Marullo, 88 Pine Street, 23rd Floor, New York, NY 10005, USA Plasser & Theurer BC Tel 212 620 7260/732 887 5562 [email protected]

Classified Advertising Sales Platform Basket 27 Jennifer Izzo (New York) Tel 212 779 7172 [email protected] Ultimate Europe 13 IRJ May 2020 37 May TLW_Layout 1 23/04/2020 18:45 Page 38

The last word | Covid-19 pandemic Coronavirus and the rail industry: UIC coordinates global response The International Union of Railways (UIC) is coordinating a bi-weekly meeting of railways and rail operators from around the world to discuss combating the continuing spread of Covid-19 and ultimately the industry’s recovery from mass shutdowns. UIC director general, François Davenne, and passenger coordinator, Marc Guigon, reveal to Kevin Smith what the meetings have involved. HE International Union of Railways’ (SNCF) use of high- railways already operating these practices are likely to Railways (UIC) promotes speed rolling stock as “hospital limited services, attention is remain in the sector long after itselfT as both the global railway’s trains” (p6). shifting to what is next and the current pandemic subsides, back office and a forum to “Every network has its own the industry’s recovery. with the world not quite being share experiences and best way of thinking and it was “The situation will evolve, the same again. practice. With the coronavirus very interesting to see how the but in different parts of the pandemic prompting an others managed stations and world this will not take place international crisis unlike relations with the public,” says at the same speed or the same Reflection anything seen in living Mr François Davenne, UIC time,” Guigon says. “It really Davenne adds that the crisis memory, the association’s role director general. “When you is a tricky question. China was is offering people a time to in bringing railways from are alone in your country it is the first to suffer and a lot of reflect. With fewer cars on the around the world together has always difficult to see all the countries have followed. But street and less pollution, and never been so relevant. aspects of the question. To we will also see this in some people working remotely, he Mr Mark Guigon, the UIC’s have the experience of another weeks in other continents like says there may be less emphasis passenger director, is leading continent or undertaking will Africa, where there is a time- on travel in the future, which the Covid-19 taskforce, which help you better understand lag after Europe.” could be both advantageous for was launched in February. He what you have to do. In China, which is steadily the environment and railways says 22 people attended the first “For example, we were recovering, Guigon says there as a mass transport mode, which online meeting on March 5. happy to see that the are already noticeable is available when required. This was followed by around experience was welcomed by differences in how railways “We as a sector will continue are managing the use of to request a level playing field,” stations and trains as well as Davenne says. “It is a sanitary passenger interactions at ticket crisis and it doesn’t change the To have the experience of another offices. “It shows that the fact that we need to have system, although it is an open modal shift to less emitting continent or undertaking will help you system, is able to cope with modes. Politically speaking it those constraints with handling is necessary to invest in “ better understand what you have to do. the pandemic,” Guigon says. mobilising more capacity. Davenne says that at the “We need to recover fast Marc Guigon end of the crisis the UIC will and I hope what we are doing 80 on March 17, with participants the Japanese, who are isolated produce a document outlining within the UIC with this spread from North America, with a very specific system. the practices implemented by taskforce will help to rapidly Europe, Iran and Turkey, The reason for that is because members at stations, onboard return services, and that we China, Korea and Japan. the railway is an open system trains and among operating will come back to normal - Further meetings were held and when dealing with a staff to combat the spread of normal being that we need on March 31 and April 14 and sanitary crisis in an open the virus. He says many of more investment.” IRJ membership is now at 115 from system, you need a lot of more than 50 rail companies as collaboration, and that is what well as 12 international we have tried to provide.” organisations, including the The UIC has published a International Association of document, Nbobhfnfou!pg Public Transport (UITP), Dpwje.2:;!Hvjebodf!gps!Sbjmxbz Community of European Tublfipmefst, which summarises Railways and Infrastructure the exchanges of the early Companies (CER), and the meetings and establishes best Association of American practice for combating the Railroads (AAR). spread of the virus. The Guigon says representatives association is set to release an from Italy, where the virus was update of the document “soon.” exploding at the time of the Guigon says the UIC is also early meetings, found it useful encouraging its members to to exchange experiences with fill in a questionnaire to collate colleagues from China, a trend responses to the pandemic and that has continued. Similarly, will continue to use this Spanish operator Renfe has method to gather information. The UIC’s Covid-19 taskforce has brought the global railway community learnt about French National With many of the world’s together via online video conference calls. 38 IRJ May 2020 IRJ webinar ad_Layout 1 24/04/2020 15:11 Page 20

Webinars

Keeping the railway world connected

= No travel required

= Sales leads from attendees

= Promotion to IRJ readers included

= Flexible options for presentations

= Live Q&A session

For more information, contact Jerome Marullo, [email protected] or IRJInternational Railway Journal Michael Boyle, [email protected]

Catch up on recent webinars To view, IoT and Analytics: The fast track to safer and more efficient railways, presented by IRJ and Nokia, visit railjournal.com/webinarwhitepaper IRJMAYXX (Plasser)_Layout 1 15/04/2020 13:18 Page 1

HIGH CAPACITY I PRECISION I RELIABILITY

Quintessential quiet

Quiet rails reduce the noise a train makes when it rolls away. This improves the quality of life for lineside residents. We offer a new method of rail care that stays true to time tables, specially designed for urban track surroundings. It extends the service life of the track and reduces track possessions. If you would like to fi nd out more, come and visit Plasser & Theurer at InnoTrans in Hall 26/270 and at the outdoor exhibition grounds.

www.plassertheurer.com ”Plasser & Theurer“, ”Plasser“ and ”P&T“ are internationally registered trademarks