123 April 2017 newsHelping ensure a sustainable future for UK rail freight www.rfg.org.uk UK rail freight goes global with China export train Britain’s first truly global rail freight export arrives in Yiwu.

The first ever UK to China export train The gathered group watched as the last three P.3 completed its journey on 1 May, having de- containers were loaded onto the wagons be- RFG publishes its parted on 10 April laden with Brit- fore seeing the train depart. annual rail freight ish goods bound for Chinese consumers. handbook This inaugural export train bound for China The 88-container block train ‘East Wind’ departed just under three months after the completed the 7,500 mile journey to Yiwu in first ever import train from China arrived in the the Zhejiang province of eastern China, with UK. The service is part of China’s One Belt, only a minor delay. It departed DP World Lon- One Road programme - reviving the ancient don Gateway’s state-of-the-art rail terminal Silk Road trading routes to the West. in South Essex and travelled through seven countries carrying drinks, vitamins, pharma- After passing through the ceuticals and baby products. into France and Belgium, the DB Cargo lo- comotive then called at Duisburg, Germany The train, hauled by DB Cargo on its first before InterRail hauled the cargo through Po- leg, had an amazing send off with gathered land, Belarus, Russia and Kazahkstan before P.4 dignitaries including Ms. Liming Liang, Vice the train crossed to Yiwu, China. Container First train arrives for Governor of the Zhejiang province, Rupert operator OneTwoThree Logistics oversaw Sirius Minerals Soames, the UK Prime Minister’s Business the transportation and booking of cargo for Ambassador for Infrastructure and Transport, the UK/China rail freight trains, in conjunction DP World Group Chairman and CEO, Sultan with Yiwu Timex Industrial Investments Co., Ahmed Bin Sulayem, the Mayor of Yiwu, Mr. which is running the service with China Rail- Shi Wenzhen and Xubin Feng, Chairman of way Container. Yiwu Timex Industrial Investment Co. Continued on page 3.

RFG Members enjoy another successful Multimodal exhibition and conference See page 6. P.7 Report on the 25th Annual Rail Freight Conference

P.15 Coming up with the goods - the story of rail freight Executive Director’s Update: Maggie Simpson email your comments to [email protected]

that there remains a strong appetite for continued change Looking back and growth. And in that regard, there must be strong parallels with the first conference back in 1992 on the dawn of rail but moving privatisation, where there can have been no greater certainty for customers and investors, as well as all those then em- forwards ployed by ’s freight sector. By Maggie Simpson, RFG Executive So political change is always with us, and we are now look- Director ing to the June General Election and working to set out rail freight priorities for any incoming Government. We are fortu- Last week we held our Annual Rail Freight Conference in nate to have good cross party support for growth, and must conjunction with Waterfront Conferences. With around continue to work to make the case for our sector in any rail- 100 delegates and a packed agenda, the event was a way reforms which might be proposed in manifestos, or as great success, and you can read more about it on page the new Government gets to work. 7. The conference also marked our ‘Silver Anniversary’, being the 25th annual event. Finally a reminder to look out for all our events across the year, details of which are on page 10. We try to ensure there The railways are notoriously good at looking backwards, is something for everyone in our programme, and if you are which is not always to our credit, and so we deliberately interested in attending, or presenting at a future conference didn’t linger on past conferences during the day. Instead, we or meeting do please get in touch. focussed on the challenges and opportunities of now, includ- ing Brexit, the changing market for rail freight, urban plan- ning and air quality and devolution both regionally and within . The combined effect of such developments is unsettling for the sector but it is clear from the discussions

Calling all budding rail photographers Rail Freight Group (RFG) is launching a new photogra- phy competition open to everyone. Whether it’s of lo- cos and cargo, ports and terminals, quarries or at dis- tribution centres, we want to see your best snaps of rail freight in action.

The winning photographs will be judged by the RFG team and announced in the next newsletter, where we will pub- lish a gallery of the winning images. There will be a prize for the winning entry. Please email your entries to us at [email protected]

RFG Awards 2017: Call for entries!

Don’t forget to get your entries in now for the prestigious RFG Awards, which recognise excel- lence in all aspects of rail freight.

This year we celebrate their 10th anniversary, so we will also be presenting a memento to all busi- nesses that have been members continuously for the past decade.

Go to www.rfg.org.uk for details or email Yvonne Mulder at [email protected] on how to enter.

2 RFG News Apr 2017

News in brief:

• “Freight network must be fit-for-purpose”. Read Maggie Simpson’s recent interview with . com here.

• GB Railfreight (GBRf) COO, David Knowles, has been appointed Managing Director of Hector Rail AB, in Sweden. David has 25 years’ experience in the Railfreight Industry and a wealth of operational and industry expertise, he has been a key member of the Executive team at GBRf for nearly 7 years. Continued from first page. it also welcomes its first regular container ships from Asia.” • The Port of Felixstowe This first consignment of cargo to go by has welcomed the first rail, which is far cheaper and much less re- Speaking at the train’s departure, Sultan call of a new weekly ser- strictive than air freight and faster than sea Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and vice connecting North Eu- freight, comes in the wake of the triggering CEO, DP World, said: “We are proud to be rope and Turkey. Known of Article 50 and the start of the formal pro- playing a key role in facilitating this signifi- as the ‘North Europe cess of leaving the European Union. It has of cant trade occasion between the UK and Turkey Express’ (NET). course placed a huge emphasis on the UK China. DP World is a leading enabler of to secure trade deals with countries all over global trade, with its network of marine and the world. inland terminals, industrial zones and logis- • British Ports Association tics and ancillary services to ensure nations (BPA) Chairman Rodney Greg Hands, Minister of State in the Depart- all over the world can move goods in, out Lunn has called for trade fa- ment for International Trade, said: “This new and inland efficiently and reliably.” cilitation, development and rail link with China is another boost for Glob- connectivity to be central to al Britain, following the ancient Silk Road Previously, the first ever direct rail freight Government’s post-Brexit trade route to carry British products around train from China had arrived in the UK on 3 trade and transport strate- the world. It shows the huge global demand January, carrying clothing, and was heralded gies, although said Govern- for quality UK goods and is a great step for as the start of a new era in trade between ment must provide the right DP World’s £1.5bn Port as Britain and China. • policy and regulatory frame- work and explore investment options for better connecting ports with national networks.

• The Port of Tilbury has RFG publishes new been awarded an AEO annual handbook for mark, thought to be the first multipurpose port in rail freight sector the UK to receive full sta- tus for security and cus- The Rail Freight Group (RFG) has now toms simplification. published its annual directory and hand- book ‘RFG Handbook 2018/19’. • GWI UK Acquisition Company Ltd has com- It includes an indepth editorial section from pleted the acquisition of many of the key voices across the sector Pentalver Transport from including Rail Minister Paul Maynard, Net- a subsidiary of APM Ter- work Rail, ORR, Freightliner, Hope Ce- minals. Pentalver’s oper- ment, Port of Felixstowe and Drax Power. ations are complementary to those of G&W’s Freight- The Directory section contains confirmed liner subsidiary, which and up-to-date information on all the key is the largest provider of stakeholders in the rail freight sector. Go to maritime container trans- www.rfg.org.uk and click ‘Handbook’. • portation by rail in the UK.

3 RFG News Apr 2017

per year - generating £2.5bn in exports and contributing First train arrives for Sirius £2.3bn to UK GDP.

Minerals’ Yorkshire mine Neil McShane, AV Dawson rail manager said: “Hundreds of thousands of tonnes of aggregates are needed for a project The first train has arrived at AV Dawson to support the of this size. With these volumes we’re keen to promote rail construction of a new polyhalite mine in North Yorkshire. wherever we can for the increased efficiencies and environ- The ambitious £2.4bn project includes the construction mental benefits it can provide. We’ve been in discussion with of the recently named Woodsmith Mine near Whitby and the various teams involved in this project for a while now. It’s a 23-mile tunnel to transport the mined ore to process- ing and harbour facilities on Teesside. really exciting to see this first train bringing aggregates into our rail terminal in preparation for the start of construction...”• AV Dawson is providing its logistics expertise and local knowledge to support Sirius Minerals and several contrac- tors involved in the construction of the facility, which at full production is forecast to produce 20m tonnes of polyhalite

decline in coal. The working arrange- ments such as new wagons, terminal DB Cargo ments of employees will also be up- enhancements and combining our dated and modernised. core function of delivering goods by agrees terms rail with bespoke in-house IT solu- Hans-Georg Werner, CEO of DB Car- tions, to give our customers the best with unions go UK, said: “I would like to thank service and make it easy for them to ASLEF, RMT, TSSA and Unite for their do business with us.” DB Cargo UK says it has reached continued dialogue with us. Under the successful agreements with the pressures of the market we were able As the coal sector for rail freight re- four trade unions representing a to find agreements acceptable to all duces, other markets including aggre- majority of its workforce, meaning parties and avoid industrial action. gates and steel remain buoyant. it will launch its future business We regret that some colleagues will model on 2 July, as planned. be leaving us but treating our people Werner added: “There is a strong fu- fairly to secure a business that will be ture for rail freight in the UK because ASLEF, RMT, TSSA and Unite have successful in the future has been at it offers benefits that its competitors been in discussions since October the heart of our discussions. (mainly road) cannot. It’s efficient, it’s 2016 with DB Cargo, when the com- quick and it removes congestion from pany announced proposals to cut 893 “We will now move forward with our our roads because a train can carry jobs (almost a third of its workforce) plans to lead the next generation of much more volume than a truck.” • in a restructure triggered by the rapid rail freight which includes key invest- 4 RFG News Apr 2017

HGVs are responsible for 21% of ni- Rail freight can trogen dioxide emissions while only Lineside survey accounting for 5% of vehicle miles. play key role in will help cut delays “Rail freight should be part of the Instances of train delays caused by cutting pollution solution as it produces up to 15 times trees falling onto the tracks could less nitrogen dioxide emissions than Rail freight should be part of air pol- dramatically reduce as Network HGVs for the equivalent journey. Rail lution solution, say campaigners. Rail rolls-out its national ‘tree cen- already does bring freight into the sus’ database, which targets spe- heart of cities, where the air quality In response to the Government’ draft cific problem trees to monitor. problems are most acute, but it needs air quality strategy published on 5 more rail freight hubs to expand the May, Philippa Edmunds, Freight on More than 10 million trees growing traffic to help clean up our cities.” Rail Manager, Campaign for Better next to the railway have been cat- Transport said: “The Government’s alogued as part of a sophisticated Click here for the DfT Freight Carbon own figures show the extent of road aerial survey covering 20,000 miles of Review. • freight’s nitrogen dioxide emissions; Britain’s track. •

GBRf’s MD John Smith named as Multimodal’s Personality of the Year John Smith, Managing Director and founder of GB Railfreight (GBRf), was named Multimodal Personality of the Year at the event’s awards evening in Birmingham.

Smith, who founded GB Railfreight in 1977, was recognised for his inspira- tional leadership and support of young people in the industry. Dachser was recognised as Multimodal Exhibitor of the Year, Beth O’Neill of Howard Ten- ens won the Young Logistics Profes- sional Award, Peel Ports Group won Howden’s Joinery and the John Lewis nean Shipping Company, Maritime the Innovation in Infrastructure Award Partnership were both championed by Transport, DP World Southampton, and Virgin Atlantic Cargo was named FTA for their green initiatives. Awards and DSV. • Air Cargo Operator of the Year. also went to Freightliner, Mediterra-

“This is a real win-win and has truly been a collaborative piece of Unlocking freight capacity work with the freight operators. Capacity has been freed up for the whole railway but essential capacity is reserved for freight on the network operators. This is important given the need to support the growth of freight on the network to support the economy.” Network Rail’s timetable shake-up is being implemented after a two-year collaboration with the rail freight sector and in- Russell Mears, chief executive of Freightliner and Chair of the dustry-wide review into more efficient operations. Some Rail Delivery Group, said: “The freight operators and Network 4,700 reserved but unused slots were identified for new ser- Rail have worked together in an effective and pragmatic way for vices, freeing up additional capacity. the wider industry good. Whilst retaining some key paths as stra- tegic capacity to support future freight growth the release of other Paul McMahon, Network Rail’s managing director for freight and residual paths is essential in helping the government get the best national passenger operators said: “It is important the whole rail value for money from our capacity constrained railway.” • industry works together to make best use of existing capacity, to minimise the need for additional expensive capacity enhance- ment schemes. 5 RFG News Apr 2017

RFG at Multimodal: The role of rail freight in UK trade

This year’s RFG meeting at Mul- how it can help increase productivity. between Chengdu and Poland. An timodal got off to a positive start “The only way to move large amounts export service from the UK to China is with Maggie Simpson, RFG Exec- of goods around the country is by rail. also set to operate in mid April. utive Director, reporting that inter- I am convinced there is a huge role for modal traffic in the UK had recently rail freight. You just have to define it John Keefe, Director of Public Affairs, experienced a record high quarter, and grasp it,” he told the 80 attendees. Eurotunnel, said “faster than sea and with 1.72bn tonne-km moved, up cheaper than air” had been Euro- 5.2% on the same quarter in the If the government wants the private tunnel’s model for the last 20 years. previous year. sector to take the lead, then the £750 The company’s huge investments in million which Mersey Ports has in- security meant the trains and shut- vested in a variety of projects, includ- tles now ran uninterrupted by migrant ing the Liverpool 2 container terminal, activity and there was a huge poten- is clear evidence that this is happen- tial for more rail freight. He stressed ing, said Warren Marshall, Group that “Brexit means that we need au- Planning Director, Peel Ports. And tomation of the border at every level, the Northern Powerhouse project is integrating Customs, immigration and being supported by ports in the north security”. working together to “make a nuisance of ourselves to get a better deal for freight”, including rail freight.

The theme of the meeting was ‘The Ruptesh Pattanayak (pictured), Busi- Trading Future – the role of rail freight ness Development Manager, Trans- in driving UK exports and imports’. port Sector, Fujitsu, said the logis- Mike Noakes (above), Head of Rail/ tics industry needed to embrace the Infrastructure, Department for Busi- digital transformation to grow – even ness, Energy, and Industrial Strategy to survive. “There is a high availabil- (BEIS), talking about Government’s ity of digital technology in the UK but new approach to industrial strategy lower rates of adoption that in other said they were always asking “what countries. We need a hyperconnect- can you do to help us meet our ed world where everything is in real The last speaker, Steve Rhymes goals?”. So the rail freight industry time as this allows us to make better (above), Head of Freight Network needed to look at the government’s decisions.” Management, Network Rail explained priorities and explain, for instance, that the UK is part of the North Sea A new connection, of a more tradi- – Mediterranean strategic freight cor- tional kind, was the arrival of the first ridor and Brexit made no difference to ever direct freight train from China to that. “We still fully support the corridor the UK earlier this year. David Cross, as the best way of growing business Head of Intermodal, DB Cargo said in the long-term. The corridors give trains had been running between Chi- customers a one stop shop and allow na and Germany for five years and us to optimise the network and meas- had since been extended to Spain ure and analyse train performance.” • and now into the UK. He noted that the train really comes into its own (compared with sea freight) when you are looking at central China to central Europe, with an 11 day transit time 6 RFG News Apr 2017 25th Annual Rail Freight Conference highlights key successes and change

This year’s Rail Freight Conference provided an oppor- of telematics in delivering improved information, be that to tunity for delegates to debate current topics affecting customers or to enhance maintenance. the sector from Brexit to innovation in wagon design and service delivery. RFG Chairman Tony Berkeley wel- Neil Sime, MD, Victa Rail Freight, outlined how Victa were comed delegates and explained that the Rail Minister, looking to exploit efficiencies and reduce costs to customers. Paul Maynard, who had agreed to give the keynote ad- He explained that it was important to use the right equipment dress, could no longer attend due to the restrictions and resources for the right task to maximise resources. “We placed on them by the forthcoming snap General Elec- should use the big expensive kit for trunking and then use tion. “This also means that for the next six weeks we will older kit for localised and internal movements.” It could oper- have no Ministerial involvement in rail freight – which ate a bit like the deepsea services calling at major ports, with some might say is an advantage!” smaller shortsea and coastal feeders taking the cargo to the final destination, he said. Paul McMahon, MD, Freight and National Passenger Op- erations (FNPO), Network Rail, gave an overview of rail James Day, MD, Day Group, stressed the need to safeguard freight performance over the year. He was pleased with the existing rail-linked aggregate and other industrial sites. This progress of the Service Plan Review in helping operators includes make sure that local planners not only understand run longer, heavier trains and with the programme of iden- the importance of the site itself, but that they also ensure tifying unused freight paths which were then either returned nearby developments are appropriate – to avoid expensive to ‘white space’ or selected as strategic capacity for future housing developments next door where residents will lobby freight growth. He urged delegates to engage with Network to have the site shut down. Rail in its plans for CP6 (2019-2015) so that when the they are submitted to the regulator at the end of the year “it is a For Duncan Clark, Head of Strategic Development at GB document the sector can support and be proud of.” Railfreight, the biggest challenge in growing intermodal rail freight is finding a balanced trade. “You need an average of The regulator he mentioned is the Office of Road and Rail 75% loaded back or it destroys the economics.” He said that (ORR) and its CEO Joanne Whittington was the next speak- GB’s main competitors are road hauliers, not other FOCs, er. She said she fully supported the Network Rail strategy and that competition was very tough, especially as fuel duty of devolving to the eight regional routes, with FNPO as the had been frozen since 2011 and Modal Shift Revenue Sup- ninth. “The challenge is for Network Rail to get closer to its port funds are being reduced by 20% this year. customers and build on the possibilities of the route-based structure to help drive improvement.” Lucy Hudson, Lead Officer - Freight and Logistics, Transport for the North (TfN), explained that TfN involves 19 local gov- A panel looking at the implications of Brexit for rail freight ernment and 11 local enterprise partners as well as four de- comprised Laura Wright, Head of European Policy at the Rail velopment partners including Network Rail. “This will ensure Delivery Group (RDG); Andrew Meaney, Head of Transport a coherent and integrated approach, including co-manage- at Oxera and Maggie Simpson. ment of the North’s rail franchises and identifying rail priori- ties.” She outlined the latest research on freight which is due Laura Wright explained that the RDG had set out seven key to be published later this year. principles for Brexit outcomes, ranging from no compromise on safety to measures to allow the railways to access the re- The last speaker was Alfred van Wyk from PD Ports who ex- quired workforce. Andrew Meaney said Brexit should not be plained that Teesport is the fifth largest port in the UK by vol- thought of as a sudden impact on the economy but more of a ume and that rail is an integral part of its strategy. A regular slow drip. Maggie Simpson welcomed the focus which Brexit service to Scotland is already operating, and they are already has put on trade – and consequently on freight and logistics planning a second daily service to Scotland and will launch – which helps rail freight gain a higher profile generally. a new rail service to Daventry in the last quarter of this year.

One European company which is entering the UK market Tony Berkeley summed up by requesting that the Secretary for the first time is Swiss provider of freight wagon systems of State for Transport, whoever that is after the election, Wascosa and CEO Peter Balzer outlined some of the in- gave freight an equal status to passengers on the railways novative designs which help increase productivity through and “did not come up with any wacky schemes that involved higher payload or faster turnaround times. The modular wag- another complete reorganisation”. on, for instance, separates the underframe from the super- structure so that a product requiring a different wagon design Thanks to all our speakers, and particularly to Waterfront for can be carried on a return journey. He also outlined the role their organisation and Freshwater for their sponsorship. • RFG News Apr 2017

RFG tackles the issues impacting Scottish freight

Removing modal shift grants could result in halving each other.” the number of cross-border rail freight traffic flows and “see a return to road haulage with the regrettable loss During the panel discussion, Neil McNicholas, Business of economic, environmental and social benefits being Development Director, Freightliner, acknowledged that road achieved”, according to Humza Yousaf MSP, Minister freight sets the benchmark for price and suggested that rail for Transport and the Islands. He was speaking at RFG’s needs a 15-20% cost reduction to attract new customers. annual Scottish Conference, this year held in Edinburgh on 1 March, with more than 50 people attending. Bill Reeve, Director of Rail, Transport Scotland, said he’d been away from rail freight for a few years and it was a bit Mr Yousaf said the Department for Transport’s plans to re- depressing to see the same issues being discussed. “We move the Modal Shift Revenue Support (MSRS) grants need longer, faster, heavier trains with better paths to drive threatened three of the six routes between England and down costs.” Scotland and that he strongly urged the DfT to revisit this decision. Chris Hemsley, Deputy Director Markets & Competition, ORR, provided an update on ORR’s plans for periodic re- He wants the rail freight industry to work more closely with view 2018, which include a review of access charges. He his department and said he was keen to hear proposals highlighted how ORR will be looking to Network Rail to move which would help modal shift and maybe attract grant funds. decisions closer to the customers and end users to make “There is a real opportunity here, but there is no point us cre- the rail market less regulator-led and more focussed on the ating an incentive if it is not responsive to business needs.” customers. Scotland has a strong track record of incorporating freight alongside passenger requirements into its project specifica- Chris Swan, Senior Manager Rail & Shipping, Tarmac, said tions, Mr Yousaf explained. And there was already the com- that rail is not good at doing things at the last minute, so mitment of a £5 billion package of transformative improve- it was important that operators should engage early in the ments to infrastructure and services in Scotland’s railways planning of any projects. He explained that Tarmac has a up until 2019. pro-rail executive board and the company has invested a lot in new terminals and connections and so “we want that “Specifically, the £30m Scottish Strategic Rail Freight Invest- reflected in future charging so that we are not punished for ment Fund is supporting the industry as it looks towards un- that.” locking the capacity and capability of the rail freight network in support of growth and capitalising on new market oppor- Neil Amner, a transport and environment lawyer and Presi- tunities.” dent of the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, explained that manufacturers and others are getting frustrated by the focus Jonathan Pugh, Head of Strategy & Planning, Network Rail on Brexit and talk of a second referendum and had more Scotland, said we need to think of rail as part of the logistics pressing issues such as cash flow and margins. With chang- chain and in terms of cost, reliability and convenience. “In ing retail patterns they also need to ask ‘are we moving the Scotland we have good collaborative relationship between right stuff to the right place?” Network Rail, the government and trains operators but we have to recognise we do not always deliver what rail freight David Spaven, RFG’s Scottish Representative, reviewed needs. We need to ensure the availability of routes that are the group’s work over the last year, including collaboration ‘clean’, fast and convenient.” with Transport Scotland and other industry partners in the Scotland Freight Joint Board to follow through on Transport Debbie Francis, Managing Director, DRS, called on Network Scotland’s Delivering the Goods rail freight strategy: notably Rail to be more efficient in the way it delivers projects, such the new guide to rail freight for potential customers, entitled as connections to customer sites, to make it more attractive Delivering Your Goods. Another key development was Net- for (potential) rail freight customers. “I would also like to see work Rail’s review of Strategic Freight Sites, to which RFG rail freight operators work more closely together. We should was also contributing analysis of key potential sites outside be collaborating operationally and also share learning. We rail industry ownership. • have to recognise our main competition is road freight, not 8 RFG News Apr 2017

commissioning of the new bi-mode growth across several regions. I’m GBRF signs deal intercity trains, part of the Intercity Ex- pleased that GB Railfreight has the press Programme (IEP). opportunity to extend its relationship to test Hitachi with Hitachi to ensure that these electric trains The first two electric only test trains trains are tested and commissioned for the ECML arrived at Hitachi’s new- so that they are ready to deliver im- GB Railfreight (GBRf) has won a ly constructed Doncaster depot in proved services for rail passengers.” contract with Hitachi Rail Europe February. As part of the new contract, to test their newly built electric due to run until April 2020, GBRf will Andy Rogers, IEP Programme Direc- intercity trains on the East Coast provide train crew for all aspects of tor at Hitachi Rail Europe, said: “We Main Line (ECML). the testing and commissioning pro- take great pride in watching our new gramme. intercity trains run on the UK rail net- Testing of Hitachi’s electric trains be- work. We look forward to working with gins in Spring 2017. Since September John Smith, Managing Director of GB GB Railfreight as we reach our next 2013 the companies have worked to- Railfreight, said: “The state-of-the-art test milestone of running electric only gether to facilitate the testing and IEP trains will transform rail travel in trains on the .” • the UK and create opportunities for

David Spaven scoops another rail book award

The RFG’s Scottish Representative David Spaven has won an award for his latest book, scooping the national ‘Railway Book of the Year’ award for his political, social and business history of the Far North Line from Inver- ness to Wick and Thurso. He was announced as the cat- egory winner at a ceremony held by the Railway & Canal Historical Society in Exeter.

Writing in his personal capacity, Edinburgh-based David is building a great reputation for his work, having published Highland Survivor: the story of the Far North Line in 2016 by Kessock Books.

The Society, which encourages the writing of ‘well-re- searched, interesting and readable books in the field of transport history’, has been making annual awards since 2004 and this is the second occasion on which Spaven has been an award winner. His first book, Mapping the Railways (which has sold 70,000 copies) was awarded ‘Popular Trans- distinct geographical sections it skirts estuaries, climbs be- port Book of the Year’ in 2013. tween mountain ranges and runs along a dramatic, unspoilt coastline. This is a hidden gem waiting to be discovered. The Society’s citation for Highland Survivor states: ‘The fo- cus of this book is the story of the line’s survival since the “I began a working life spent in and around the rail indus- 1950s told by someone who, for much of that time, has try on the Far North Line in 1973, and it has been a real been closely associated with it in a professional capacity as pleasure to produce the first detailed account of its remark- a railway manager and consultant…The author writes with able escape from the Beeching axe in 1964 and its subse- enthusiasm and authority, advocating local management to quent chequered history. My aim was always to produce a enable the line’s continued survival, and emphasising the well- researched and readable political, social and business importance of developing local traffic south of Tain and pro- history – rather than a traditional railway book focussing on moting tourism on the northern section. It is important read- locomotives and engineering – so it’s a wonderful accolade ing for those interested in railway history.’ Mike Constable, a to receive this prestigious award from the Railway & Canal member of the awards panel, said: “I couldn’t put it down.” Historical Society. He added: “It’s also fitting that the awards are made possible by a legacy from the late David St John David said: ‘I’m delighted that this award will bring addition- Thomas – author of numerous books himself and well-known al focus to a much-neglected railway, which deserves the as a founder of the David & Charles publishing house – who same kind of attention as the better-known classic Highland spent the latter decades of his life in Nairn and took a keen tourist lines to Kyle, Fort William, Mallaig and Oban. ScotRail interest in Highland railways.” and tourist bodies should be applying to the Far North Line the same kind of transformative marketing as the highly suc- David’s books are available from Kessock Books cessful North Coast 500 road campaign. The railway pene- www.kessockbooks.co.uk • trates territory where no road goes, and over its half a dozen

9 RFG Events Apr 2017 RFG Events Calendar 2017

7 February - RFG Members’ Party Truckles, Central London On 7 February RFG hosted its popular Members’ Party at Truckles, Central London. The Members’ Party is always great fun and brings together RFG members and their guests to network and create new business opportunities while catching up with old friends.

1 March - Scottish Conference Macdonald Holyrood, Edinburgh The RFG’s Annual Scottish Conference will take place on 1 March 2017 at the MacDonald Holyrood Hotel in Edinburgh. We are pleased to announce that Humza Yousaf MSP, Minister for Transport and the Islands, Scottish Government, has agreed to be our keynote speaker.

4 April - Multimodal Group Meeting Multimodal Birmingham Rail freight has always been closely linked to international trade, be that though ports or Channel Tunnel. With the renewed focus on a post Brexit economy, the importance of these routes is greater than ever. At our seminar at Multimodal 2017 we will be discussing how rail freight can play a part in driving UK trade, looking at recent developments, technological change and Government and industry priorities. Speakers will be announced shortly.

26 April - Rail Freight Conference Annual Rail Freight Conference, venues - Victoria, London The Rail Freight Group Conference returns for its 25th year, convening the entire industry to explore how to respond to emerging opportunities and overcome the biggest challenges facing the sector in 2017 and beyond. Call 0207 067 1597 to book.

27 - 28 June - Summer Group Meeting & BBQ Orsett Hall, Essex The RFG Summer Group Meeting will be held at Orsett Hall, Essex, the popular RFG Summer BBQ will take place on the previous evening Tuesday 27 June. If you are planning on attending the BBQ and meeting you are advised to book your hotel accommodation. Call 01375 891402 and quote The Rail Freight Group, room rates are £102 to £127, rooms are limited and will be held until 27 May.

12 September - RFG Awards Dinner The 10th Annual RFG Awards dinner will be held on 12 September at Shendish Manor. RFG is pleased to announced that Pete Waterman has agreed to be our guest speaker, we look forward to hearing about not only his thoughts on the rail industry but also his interesting music career. To celebrate our 10th anniversary, in addition to our Awards presentations, we will be also presenting a memento to all RFG members who have been members for 10 years or more in appreciation of their support.

1 November - AGM and Autumn Group Meeting The RFG now hosts its Annual General Meeting, Annual Policy Meeting and Autumn Group Meeting at the same event. Details to follow

13 December 2017 - Christmas Lunch Lancaster London Details to follow

To book your place at any of the RFG’s excellent events throughout the year, please call Phillippa O’Shea on 020 3116 007, email her at [email protected] or visit our website www.rfg.org.uk/events for more details and booking forms. RFG News Apr 2017

GBRf showcases refurbished coal hoppers for Tarmac deal

GB Railfreight (GBRf) has convert- from Arcow and Swinden quarries. mand for delivery of high quality con- ed 49 wagons to move aggregates struction materials. from Tarmac quarries. John Smith, managing director, GB Railfreight, said: “GB Railfreight is de- Chris Swan, Head of Rail at Tarmac, The re-purposed coal hoppers, also lighted to work with Tarmac, hauling said: “Increasing rail freight capability known as Vulcan wagons, have been aggregates from its quarries, and the supports our underlying commitment converted by removing the middle refurbishments we have been able to sustainability, enabling us not only section to make them an appropri- to do as part of this service. We are to lower the whole life carbon foot- ate length for aggregate use whilst very pleased to have been able to re- print of customers projects but also retaining their 102-tonne maximum furbish and upgrade 49 new wagons, reduce our transport CO2 levels. gross laden weight. An initial set of 24 and continue to find innovative ways Efficient wagons have a key role to wagons has been converted and they to support our customers. By being play in delivering these ambitions and are working trains from Tarmac’s Ar- able to take such innovative meas- so it’s good to see the repurposing of cow quarry to Bredbury, Agecroft and ures and have positive relationships materials and equipment with the ar- Leeds. A second set of 25 wagons has with our customers like Tarmac, we rival of this latest wagon set from GB now been converted and these will be are able to proudly call ourselves one Railfreight.” • working further services from Arcow of the leaders of our industry.” and Swinden quarries. The newly-fit- ted wagons will convey a range of dif- The arrival of the latest new wagon ferent size aggregate materials. sets highlights the ongoing success of Tarmac’s rail operations as the lead- GBRf is one year into a five-year con- ing construction solutions business tract with Tarmac, hauling aggregates responds to increasing customer de-

The programme, which includes both interactive theory and RFG welcomes rail practical elements of loading and unloading rail wagons and working in sidings, has been designed by rail freight oper- safety training designed ations specialists Victa Railfreight and courses are offered nationwide by Mentor Training Solutions. for construction Safety has been a high priority in the rail and construction A new training course offering rail safety awareness industries for many years but specialist training can be dif- training to the construction materials industry has been ficult for individual companies, spread over many sites, to welcomed by Rail Freight Group. organise themselves, so this provides an ideal opportunity, says Ms Simpson. “With increasing volumes of aggregates and other building materials being delivered to construction sites by rail, this is More than 40% of the construction materials used in London an excellent time to launch a training course on rail safety is delivered by rail, with more than 20m tonnes transported for those working in the construction industry,” says Maggie annually throughout the UK. Simpson, RFG executive director. For more details on training courses, contact: www.mentor- “We are delighted that the initiative, which came from RFG’s trainingsolutions.co.uk. • construction working group and is supported by the Mineral Products Association (MPA), has been taken up by some of our members and developed into an on-going series of train- ing courses.”

11

RFG Opinion Apr 2017

Corridor feasibility study launched to examine Borders extension

By David Spaven

Following the successful re-opening of the Borders with an 8-mile branch thence to Kielder. Detailed plans were Railway from Edinburgh to Tweedbank for passenger on the point of being lodged at Westminster, when services, Transport Scotland has now commissioned a – who had previously been supportive – got cold feet, and corridor feasibility study which will examine the scope then the price of domestic timber (and the transport costs it to push the railway onwards to Hawick and Carlisle. could bear) dropped sharply in response to a flood of imports So, how realistic are the proposals for extension from from the Baltic countries. Tweedbank, and could there be any openings for rail freight? ‘A freight line to Riccarton would leave ‘just’ 13 miles of empty traffic-less country to connect with a Hawick-Tweed- RFG’s Scottish representative, David Spaven – writing here bank-Edinburgh passenger railway. If the missing link were in a personal capacity – summarises the prospects which he ever completed, then the prospects for running through ex- explores in more detail in the forthcoming new edition of his press passenger trains from Edinburgh via the Borders (with book, Waverley Route: the battle for the , to associated regional economic benefits) to key destinations be published by Stenlake Publishing this summer: such as Manchester and Liverpool would be enhanced – but could only be achieved with a substantial upgrade of the ‘From the outset, the new Borders Railway was envisaged sub-optimal current Borders Railway, which was designed as a passenger-only operation, and this is the core market to accommodate just a ‘one size fits all’ service calling at all for any extension to the towns of Melrose, St Boswells and stations. At present, with constraints on public spending like- Hawick – the latter just 18 miles from Tweedbank. While ly to extend far into the future, that may seem like a big leap there are significant engineering challenges getting to Haw- of faith – but with political will, progress could be made on ick, none of these are on the scale, for example, of the Ed- some or all of such enhancements even before an extension inburgh City Bypass barrier and the completely new 2-mile from Tweedbank to Hawick. railway through Shawfair which today’s Borders Railway had to face. ‘So perhaps the old Waverley Route corridor, which until its closing days in 1969 was dominated by Anglo-Scottish train- ‘South of Hawick, several major structures have gone, and loads of cars, cement, chemicals and general merchandise, – critically – the rail corridor traverses largely unpopulated will once again see rail freight. Ironically, the one commodity countryside. Given that the Victorians had their doubts about which the line did not carry was the timber which now sur- the viability of constructing a railway through the ‘Debatable rounds the corridor and is the key to a through route ever Lands’ by Riccarton and Newcastleton, how realistic is it to returning!’ hope for a modern railway from Hawick to Carlisle? From my perspective, this hinges fundamentally on the prospects [Photo caption: Freightliner Heavy Haul No. 66 605 eases a for timber being moved by rail from the Kielder, Wauchope, returning empty ballast train down the 1 in 70 Borthwick Bank Newcastleton and Kershope Forests to markets in England on 3rd November 2014, overlooked by Borthwick Castle, – and that is not an unrealistic aim, as back in the late 1990s which dates from the 15th century. The laden ballast trains the Borders Transport Futures company came close to re- operating during the construction of the Borders Railway – at alising an FFG-assisted 23-mile freight-only line from Long- 2,900 tonnes ‘gross trailing load’ – were by far the heaviest town (served from the ) to Riccarton, freights in Scotland at the time. Photo by Bill Roberton] •

14 Guest Article - 4709 Project Apr 2017

Coming up with the goods - The story of freight

By Paul Carpenter, 4709 Project Engineer Manager, Great Western Society Didcot

Outside of the rail community it is not widely known that providing an insight into life as a railway worker in the 1920s. the railway companies of the 19th and 20th Centuries made their profits, not from passenger receipts but from An important part of the work is the preservation of craft skills freight revenue. Coal for fuel, steel for construction and and knowledge from Britain’s industrial past. This project will food to feed the nation were all transported by rail at contribute to this aim by providing training opportunities for a time before the road infrastructure was able to offer apprentices where ‘hands on’ engineering skills are needed competition. for locomotive construction, wagon restorations and Goods Shed building. After the First World War the Government demanded fast- er transportation of perishable goods from the docks to the Locomotive construction is underway at the Llangollen Rail- London markets and the Great Western Railway (GWR) way where considerable expertise and experience exists Chief Mechanical Engineer, G.J. Churchward, designed a for such projects and where an excellent apprenticeship new type of locomotive for this specific duty. Using standard scheme is now established. components, Churchward produced the GWR Class 47xx 2-8-0 heavy freight locomotive. Only nine of this class were We are always happy to arrange works visits to inspect pro- ever produced but they proved a highly versatile and effec- gress and our website provides a complete history, photo- tive design which could be considered as the ‘Alpha’ in the graphs and additional technical information of our work. rail freight traction story of which the latest locomotive de- signs, perhaps the Class 68, is today’s ‘Omega’. Funding to date has mainly been provided by individual do- nations and this controls the rate of progress. We have a The Great Western Society (GWS) was established in 1961 small but strong engineering team which now seeks sup- and is a registered charity. It exists to conserve and preserve port in the fields of marketing, fund raising and sponsorship. the history and artefacts of the Great Western Railway and Without doubt, such projects are all about the money! We its successor, the Western Region of British Railways. It op- have achieved a great deal in a short time and at least cost. erates Didcot Railway Centre, a former locomotive depot We are keen to accelerate the project and would welcome in Oxfordshire, where many steam locomotives, carriages, help and support. goods wagons and small items are preserved. As well as the original engine shed, demonstration lines have been estab- The 4709 locomotive project is unique amongst the wide lished on the site and railway structures, including stations, range of exciting new build and restoration projects under- have been brought to Didcot from all parts of the GWR sys- way at the present time. At its core is the reconstruction of tem for reconstruction. the UK’s first high speed freight locomotive and the opportu- nity to highlight the major contribution that high speed freight Sadly, none of the 47xx locomotives survived into preser- has made to the UK’s economy and way of life over the last vation and so to complete their collection, the GWS is con- century. structing a tenth member of the class. We are replicating Churchward’s approach of using standard components from We hope that No.4709 will be a flagship locomotive and a scrapped engines as far as possible to help recreate this valuable centrepiece in telling the story of freight to help pro- extinct but historically significant locomotive type. mote the rail freight industry of today and into the future. The team is looking forward to forging new contacts within the The society is also keen to tell the ‘Story of Freight’ and so Rail Freight Group and working with its members to help us will also restore a train of historic freight wagons and build complete the project and show future generations how our a typical GWR Goods Shed to provide an interactive and industry is still ‘coming up with the goods’. • educational experience for visitors at their Didcot base. Our Class 47xx, 4709, is being constructed to mainline standards For all enquiries please contact which will allow it to travel around the national network and Paul Carpenter at [email protected] or go to visit heritage railways to promote the story of rail freight whilst www.4709.org.uk RFG SPONSOR PARTNERS 2017

The Rail Freight Group (RFG) would like to thank each of its Sponsor Partners for 2017. These companies come from within the core RFG membership and have chosen to provide additional support for the group’s activities and events throughout the year. Together they represent a wide range of key stakeholders and RFG would like to sincerely thank all of them for their commitment to the group and ongoing support to the UK rail freight sector. Planning update - Burges Salmon Apr 2017 West London. Goodman suggested that as part of the Planning update delivery of Colnbrook there was an inevitability that a Green Belt location is essential to meet the need specified By Elizabeth Dunn, Partner and in the NPS; due mainly to the absence of appropriate SRFI Stephen Humphreys, Solicitor, Burges Salmon sites in London and the South East. This argument was rejected by the Court, predominantly on the basis that there As part of this month’s infrastructure and planning is no exception in the NPS or NPPF policy supporting an update, we look at the recent High Court case of Goodman ‘inevitability’ argument which diverges from Green Belt Logistics, which challenged the refusal of consent protection. for the Colnbrook Strategic Rail Freight Interchange; providing a clear reminder of the strength of Green Belt It was conceded in proceedings that the SoS (and his protection. We also look at impending changes to the inspector in her decision letter) had made an error of law Environmental Impact Assessment regime which all as they failed to take into account visual impact as a factor developers should be aware of. reducing harm on the openness of the Green Belt. However, notwithstanding this legal error, the Court refused to quash Goodman Logistics Developments (UK) Ltd v Secretary the SoS’s decision as it considered that had the SoS applied of State for Communities and Local Government and the correct legal test he would have come to the same Another conclusion and consider that the harm to the Green Belt outweighed the benefits of the scheme. The recent High Court case of Goodman Logistics, which concerned refusal of consent for the Colnbrook SRFI, is a This decision demonstrates the difficulty with site selection, reminder of the strong protection afforded to the Green Belt especially when there is a need for SFRIs to be located in in both national and local policy. areas with good interconnectivity and near to conurbations (often on the edge of large cities). Given that the NPS The Colnbrook planning application was submitted in 2010 recognises that selection in London and the South East is to Slough Borough Council (SBC) and, following refusal by limited, with sites being small scale and poorly located, the SBC, was appealed and listed for a public inquiry. However, decision demonstrates the Government’s real reluctance to as the Radlett Aerodrome SRFI inquiry was due to be interfere with Green Belt policy when it comes to determining considered around the same time, the Secretary of State was SRFIs and the difficulties facing a developer trying to concerned that Radlett could have significant implications on overcome harm caused to the Green Belt. the Colnbrook inquiry. As such, he decided to postpone the Colnbrook inquiry. New Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations New EIA Regulations are due to come into force on 16 Following the issue of the consent for Radlett, the appeal May 2017 which will impact both EIA development under process for Colnbrook resumed to inquiry in 2015. As an the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (TCPA) and the appeal recovered by the Secretary of State (SoS), refusal of Planning Act 2008. Both the Town and Country Planning the appeal was first recommended by his appointed planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017 inspector. Aside from some minor differences, the SoS (which apply in England only) and the Infrastructure Planning followed his inspector’s recommendation to refuse consent. (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017 Goodman issued a statutory challenge to the SoS’s decision (which extend to Wales and Scotland) will be introduced. raising three grounds of challenge (two of which are dealt The purpose of these Regulations is to transpose the 2014 with below). amended Environmental Impact Assessment Directive into UK Law. The site is under the 60 hectare threshold to be a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project under the Planning Act While there has been a lot of speculation about how extensive 2008 and was therefore determined through the TCPA the amendments would be, the government took the decision regime. As part of the inquiry, it was agreed that significant to adopt the minimal changes necessary in order to conform weight should be given to the detail within the National Policy to the Directive. Nevertheless, these new requirements Statement: National Networks (NPS) (notwithstanding the stipulate additional information in most instances and all NPS being prepared for the purpose of the DCO regime). developers, especially those looking to develop sensitive rail or Strategic Rail Freight Interchange projects should be As we have previously written, the NPS does not provide aware of them. The key changes to be aware of are: any exception to Green Belt policy. Nor does it afford more favourable treatment of SRFIs which, through the NPS, have Screening procedures a ‘compelling need’ to be delivered. It was agreed that the The list of information to be submitted with a screening NPS shows clear Government policy favouring a network request is mandatory in the new Regulations, and more of SRFIs. The NPS does not provide granularity or specific detailed. Additional information to be submitted includes a site preference, (as other NPSs do, for example, the NPS description of the following: for nuclear development) preferring sites to be delivered • the physical characteristics of the development and any through private sector promotion. demolition works; • the location of the development and environmental The Green Belt policy test, found in the National Planning sensitivity of the affected areas; and Policy Framework, and often emphasised in local planning • the environmental aspects which are likely to be affected by policy, is stringent. It requires an applicant to show ‘very the development and where available, those resulting from special circumstances’ to outweigh Green Belt protection. expected residues, emissions and the production of waste The Green Belt concerned in Colnbrook is the Green Belt and the use of natural resources. (and locally protected Strategic Gap) between Slough and

17 Planning update - Burges Salmon Apr 2017 The existing three week time frame for receiving a screening ensure that a coordinated approach is taken for EIA projects opinion will remain, but will be subject to a 90 day limit for that are also subject to assessment under the Habitats an extension of time, to be agreed in writing between the Directive. parties. Decision process Binding scoping opinions The decision maker must be satisfied that the Environmental At present, it is good practice for an Environmental Statement is up to date before determining the application. Statement to comply with a scoping opinion. Under the new And a new article sets out the content of decision notices Regulations, the Environmental Statement must be based including consideration of whether monitoring measures are on the scoping opinion, where one has been requested (as required. they do remain voluntary). What happens to existing EIA applications in the system? Environmental factors The existing Regulations will be revoked from 16 May 2017, The list of environmental factors to be considered as part subject to the following instances where they will continue of the EIA process has changed – “human being” has been to apply: replaced by population and human health, “fauna and flora” • Where an Environmental Statement has been submitted or has been replaced by biodiversity. There is also a new a scoping opinion has been requested before 16 May 2017 requirement to consider the effects on the environment • Parts 1 and 2 apply to requests for screening opinions arising from the vulnerability of the development to the risks and directions, screening opinions adopted by the planning of major accidents and disasters as well as impacts from authority or made by the Secretary of State where the waste or use of natural resources, impacts on and resilience request was made or the opinions or directions were made to climate change and impacts on cultural heritage and before 16 May 2017. landscape. Developers should therefore consider whether there is any How assessments of vulnerability to risks of major accidents advantage in submitting scoping requests before 16 May and disasters will be assessed remains to be seen. Often, 2017 in order to operate under the existing Regulations. • other licensing regimes cover the requirements to ensure that emergency procedures and accidental risks are covered, though it is likely that detailed assessment of these risks will be required through the planning process.

Consultation timeframes The current minimum timeframe for public consultation is 21 days for TCPA projects and 28 days for Development Consent Contact: Order projects. This will increase to a period of “no shorter Elizabeth Dunn, Partner than 30 days” for both new applications and the submission [email protected] of further or additional environmental information (i.e. further/ additional environmental information submitted voluntarily by the applicant or requested by the Local Planning Authority or Stephen Humphreys, Associate Secretary of State). [email protected] www.burges-salmon.com Coordinated procedures There is a new requirement for the consenting authority to

by rail to Avesta and Degerfors in hind the scenes. There will be some- DB Cargo and Sweden. Steel transported to the Port thing for everyone including a range of Liverpool will be exported to the of locomotives on show, including the Outokumpu American markets. new Class 88 and the friendly DRS celebrate 40 staff will be on hand providing tech- DB Cargo UK first began moving nical information. Industry experts will years together Stainless Steel on behalf of Outokum- once again be advising you how to pu in 1977, when the melting shop in stay safe and there will be plenty of DB Cargo UK and Outokumpu Sheffield was first built. • exhibitors selling railway memorabilia are celebrating working 40 years galore. together after a contract renew- al sealed their ongoing partner- DRS Charity Tickets are available on the DRS ship. Three to four services will Shop website or you can pay at the run each week from Sheffield open Day 2017 gate. Entry £5.00 (Under 16’s FREE to Immingham and one a week - must be accompanied by an adult at The annual to Liverpool for the contract, all times) (DRS) Charity Open Day will take with each train carrying around place at its Kingmoor depot in Carl- 1,300 tonnes of Stainless Steel. If you would like to exhibit at the open isle on Saturday 22 July. day, or would like to request disabled The steel arriving at Immingham will parking (space limited) please email Bring the family along for a fun day be carried by ship to Gothenburg in [email protected]. • out as it invites you to have a look be- Sweden, where it will then be moved

17 Westminster Update - JR Consulting Apr 2017 Slimmed-down electrification and HS2 By Jonathan Roberts, MD JR Consulting

More criticism of railway infrastructure costs and project passengers but the Government has a duty to determine if, in management are the main headlines arising currently in fact, these benefits can be delivered in a more timely and cost- Parliament, ahead of the snap General Election which effective way.” causes a ‘double purdah’ - there is one in force already for the May 4th local authority elections, and this will be The PAC highlights that, even if the DfT is right that many extended until after the 8th June national election. benefits of electrification can be obtained without electrifying a whole route, it raises questions about whether full electrification A lot has already been said about Network Rail’s poor control is the most appropriate way to achieve benefits for passengers, of Greater Western electrification design, planning and cost- and value for money for taxpayers. In the PAC’s view, this estimating. The latest criticism has come from the House of cannot detract from the £330m additional costs that the delays Commons’ Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in its 3rd March to electrification will incur. Observers consider that the current report, which it headlined as “Failings on Great Western commentary potentially signals the end of the current intention upgrade raise concerns over future rail projects”. We’ll keep for widescale electrification, if options such as bi-mode or to the headlines here, as most details have been covered battery-powered trains are available ‘off balance sheet’. previously. HS2 update Link to the report are below: The main parliamentary headlines have been the quizzing on • report summary 19th April of Transport Secretary Chris Grayling MP and HS2 • report conclusions and recommendations Chairman Sir David Higgins, about procurement and award • full report: Modernising the Great Western Railway issues arising with the design partner contract for HS2 Phase 2b (Crewe to Manchester & the North West, and Birmingham Interchange to Leeds). There are also emerging concerns Concerns over management of future rail projects about total project costs and other project risks, but progress The biggest emerging concerns raised by the PAC are the with Phase 1 project delivery elements including trains and implications for other electrification projects, including the preliminary station designs. planned electrification schemes on and TransPennine routes. The PAC warns that the significant flaws The withdrawal of engineering company CH2M from the Phase identified in the GW project raise concerns about the ability 2b design partnership, following the potential conflict of interest of the Department for Transport as well as Network Rail to within the duration of the tendering process of one individual manage similar projects in future. who had previously been in a senior role at HS2 Ltd, was the subject of a on-off session of the House of Commons’ Transport The Committee makes a series of recommendations to Committee. The contractual process for tendering was a Government intended to safeguard taxpayers’ money and standard Government requirement, that bidders should bar support the timely delivery of passenger benefits on future rail from their tendering teams people who might be in position to schemes. The estimated cost of the Great Western Main Line apply previously confidential information to advantage their bid. electrification programme rose by £1.2 billion in the space of a [This does not bar such people from working on an awarded year—an increase described as “staggering and unacceptable” contract which has been won fairly – it is the tendering team by the Committee. “It is still unclear whether the Great Western involvement which matters.] electrification project can be delivered to the revised target of December 2018 and budget of £2.8 billion.” HS2 had been ready to pull the CH2M preferred award, once the risk was known, but CH2M acted first. The remedy for future The PAC is emphatic that NR must ensure: tendering now adopted by HS2 Ltd – which could have wider • “All risks to the project are identified, monitored and controlled” repercussions in the construction world – was that in future, • “Robust and detailed plans are in place for infrastructure bidders would additionally “need to disclose to HS2 who they projects before starting construction”. intend to use on the tendering.” HS2 Ltd will have more chance to scrutinise the conflict risks themselves. Recommendations involving the DfT state that: • “The Department and Network Rail must plan major Sir David Higgins commented: “It is something we will tighten developments to rail services in a way which brings together in our tendering process, but that tendering process is standard trains, infrastructure work and the operation of services, practice. It is used on every major engineering and civil obtaining independent assurance on their plans.” contract in the country to date. I have to say, with the publicity • “The Department should also reassess the case for that surrounds this, that there will not be a contractor or an electrification section-by-section and fund schemes ‘only where engineering firm in the UK that will not be very focused on the worthwhile benefits for passengers could not be achieved issue of declaring conflicts of interest.” otherwise at lower cost’ “. Other topics have also arisen with HS2. PAC Chair’s comments • The 19th April inquiry revealed (Question 3) that HS2 intends a Meg Hillier MP, Chair of the PAC, commented that “the Phase 2b Hybrid Bill to be submitted to Parliament in 2½ years time Department should urgently review its plans for electrification— - i.e., Autumn 2019. This is what the design partnership tender, not just on the different sections of the Great Western route, now being awarded to Bechtel, is intended to work up in detail. but also on the Midland Main Line and TransPennine routes. Electrification was heralded with the promise of benefits to Continued over the page. 18 Westminster Update - JR Consulting Apr 2017

• Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said on 19th April that “The • There are pre-General Election press reports of differing House authorities are currently doing a review of the hybrid government positions on HS2. The Sunday Express on 23rd Bill procedure to try to simplify it. It is something I support and April reported that George Freeman MP, “the Prime Minister’s something I was involved in when I was Leader of the House. It policy chief who is helping to draw up the party’s manifesto, told is certainly the case that the hybrid Bill process is too convoluted a group of Tory MPs on Wednesday that cancelling HS2 is up and extended… I hope and expect, as a result of the work that for consideration. The MPs, led by Andrew Bridgen and Cheryl is being done on this, that by the time we come to future hybrid Gillan, had argued that the task of dealing with Brexit meant Bills, and particularly 2b, we will have a simplified process. I the bill needed to approve the second phase of the scheme do not think it is a question of having a queue. At the moment, between Birmingham and Crewe would be delayed - adding we do not sit here with an expectation that HS2, 2b is going to at least an extra £10 billion to the project’s ballooning budget.” start, and then several years down the track Crossrail 2 is going Mr Bridgen said: “I had a meeting in Parliament with George to start. We are working hard to develop those projects and I Freeman to discuss the manifesto. He agreed that cancelling hope we will have a streamlined and simplified parliamentary HS2 would be included for consideration.” process that enables us to get the infrastructure projects we need into the system.” • However the Yorkshire Post on Monday 24th April reported that Transport Minister Andrew Jones “promised there would • An OJEU tender notice was issued on 20th April for the ‘£2.75 be no back-tracking on the Conservatives’ commitment to billion, 60-train’ HS2 phase one rolling stock procurement. HS2 delivering HS2 when the party publishes its manifesto.” • intends “a single fleet of rolling stock that will be capable of operating on HS2 Network and the Conventional Rail Network (CRN), referred to as the ‘Conventional Compatible’ or ‘CC’ fleet”. Initial specifications are shown ina Pre-Qualification Technical Summary. Level boarding between the new trains and conventional UK platform heights is not planned. Contact: Jonathan Roberts, MD, • HS2 Phase 1 costs are reportedly around £48 billion, according JR Consulting to Lord Berkeley, based on detailed research by eminent QS 07545 641 204 Michael Byng. He has costed information supplied by HS2 Ltd [email protected] and the DfT. The Treasury-set limit for all Phases is £55.7bn, www.jrc.org.uk so it is argued that there is a risk of much higher total costs arising. Lord Berkeley says that there “needs to be an urgent and independent audit of scope of project and costs before any more major expenditure is committed”.

“Our aim is to secure affordable and attractive freight and New railway association passenger rail traffic and to promote the advantages of our environmentally friendly rail sector. We support all initiatives launched to act for private for an attractive and future oriented legislation and regula- rail companies in Europe tion.”

A new European rail association has been officially Current issues the association will be addressing include the launched to act on behalf of private railway companies. implementation of the 4th Railway Package’s market open- ALLRAIL, the Alliance for Rail New Entrants, brings to- ing agenda; an open data approach to rail, also on ticketing; gether non-incumbent rail companies from the freight non-discriminatory financing and access to rail rolling stock; and passenger rail markets. competitive track access charges and non-discriminatory ac- cess to all rail facilities. It was formed publicly launched on 20 April and was founded by ERFA, the current home of 30 private and independent It went on to add: “As independent, future oriented, fast rail freight companies, together with the biggest players in and efficient regulatory decisions are key for a rail market Europe’s non-incumbent passenger rail market today: LEO opening, we work constructively and closely with national rail Express, MTR Nordic, NTV, Regiojet, Trainline and WEST- regulatory bodies to ensure effective action in favour of rail bahn. competition and non-discriminatory market conditions. We are only too aware of the huge disparities between national A joint letter from Erich Forster, ALLRAIL President and Vice rail regulators and are keen to work with the EU Commission President Tony Berkeley, stated: “Our association forges a and MEPs to develop an information system highlighting strong alliance between private freight and passenger com- from the point of view of rail companies the importance of panies, who are committed to advancing the European Com- effective and speedy decisions by regulatory bodies.” mission´s vision for a single European railway market. We want to invest in rail, setting up new routes and new types of services, attracting more and new customers to choose rail as a transport mode. We believe that fair competition and open markets are the only way to successfully shift freight and passenger from road to rail and to win over new customers.”

19 European News Apr 2017

News in brief:

• A broad alliance of organ- isations from the Pro-Rail Alliance, BUND (Friends of the Earth) and the DUH (German environmental organisation) are taking le- gal action to prevent longer heavy goods vehicles from operating freely on German roads. The Federal Trans- port Ministry’s general ap- proval for the longer trucks, which can measure over 25 metres, came into effect on 1 January. and smaller consignments, the automatically Next generation rail driven NGT CARGO trains will be made up of • HSL Logistik has been single wagons and powerful end cars, automat- banned from operating freight unveiled ically coupled together as required. freight services in The Netherlands. Its Dutch Transport researchers at the German Aer- It said that to make single-wagon transport fit for safety certificate has been ospace Center have developed a next-gen- the future, intelligent freight wagons in the NGT withdrawn by the national eration concept that they say will make rail CARGO concept have a separate drive based transport safety body. It is freight more appealing to businesses across on electric motors and a battery that stores en- the first time such a meas- Europe. The NGT CARGO includes a high ergy recovered during braking. This makes it ure has been taken in The level of automation, intelligent handling and possible for the single wagons to shunt autono- Netherlands against a rail high speeds. mously, without the need for shunting staff and freight operator. shunting locomotives or overhead lines. • Focusing on revolutionising single-wagon loads • The Rail Cargo Group (RCG) is launching a new rail freight service trans- Geert Pauwels, CEO of Lineas: “We are porting wooden houses B Logistics changing name because we have changed – or more specifically the identity as a company. After years of re- wooden panels they com- becomes Lineas structuring, we have become one of the prise – between Austria, biggest and most dynamic private rail oper- Sweden and Norway. The Belgium’s B Logistics has transformed ators in Europe. Our ambition is clear: get agreement with Stora Enso, itself to become one of the largest pri- trucks off the road and shift those volumes one of Scandinavia’s big- vate rail operators in Europe, now with to rail. We have developed a pioneering rail gest renewable materials the new brand of Lineas. product based on the needs of our custom- providers, cements RCG’s ers. We are expanding this Green Xpress position as central Europe’s The company said it has managed to turn Network rapidly throughout Europe. I am largest timber transporter. a virtually bankrupt department into a finan- extremely proud that our organisation which cially sound, private growth company over achieved the impossible in recent years is • SNCF Logistics has forged eight years in the midst of an economic cri- tackling our new ambitious challenge with an alliance with multimodal sis. In 2016, Lineas improved its financial the same passion and motivation. We want tracking specialist Traxens result for the 7th year in a row (EBITDA of to make a difference and offer rail a future to create the so-called digital €27m compared with €15m in 2015). again.” • freight train. SNCF says the new partnership follows a year of research and testing to develop the ‘connected container’, which provides Contact the RFG Team: key real-time information such as the location of wag- Tony Berkeley, Chairman, 07710 431 542 ons and temperature of the Maggie Simpson, Executive Director, 07737 007 957 containers. Phillippa O’Shea, Administration Manager, 07931 763 081 James Falkner, Media Officer, 07753 271 110 Robin Smith, Welsh Representative, 07968 488 905 David Spaven, Scottish Representative, 07917 877 399 Mike Hogg, North of England Representative, 07833 402 804 Yvonne Mulder, Project Manager, 07887 767 666

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