DecCover:Layout 1 18/11/2015 2:56 PM Page 1

City centre revival Plastic fantastic Tomorrow’s world ’s ambitious plan Synthetic sleepers still New affordable elevated to halt urban sprawl performing after 30 years system targets congested cities

December 2015 I Volume 55 Issue 12 www.railjournal.com

IRJInternational Railway Journal

Peru’s peak performer

DecCover:Layout 1 18/11/2015 2:56 PM Page 1

City centre revival Plastic fantastic Tomorrow’s world Helsinki’s ambitious plan Synthetic sleepers still New affordable elevated to halt urban sprawl performing after 30 years system targets congested cities

December 2015 I Volume 55 Issue 12 www.railjournal.com

IRJInternational Railway Journal

Peru’s peak performer IRJDECXX (Plasser):Layout 1 05/11/2015 16:36 Page 1

HOCHLEISTUNG I PRÄZISION I ZUVERLÄSSIGKEIT HIGH CAPACITY I PRECISION I RELIABILITY

High-speed lines require increasing precision although less and less time is available for track maintenance. Plasser & Theurer - the partner for The basis of high performance railways around the world - meets these high demands by using the most up-to-date track maintenance technology. More than high-speed lines sixty years of experience, innovative know-how and the resulting outstanding quality have produced more than 15,600 Plasser & Theurer track maintenance machines supplied to 109 countries throughout the world.

www.plassertheurer.com ”Plasser & Theurer“, ”Plasser“ and ”P&T“ are internationally registered trademarks Dec Contents:Layout 1 18/11/2015 3:07 PM Page 3 Contents December 2015 Volume 55 issue 12

News 4 This month 12 Transit news 6 News 14 Financial news

Metros and 16 The networked city Can rail help Helsinki grow inwards? 22 Helsinki West to launch in 2016 27 How can cities meet future transit needs? The cost of delivering transit-oriented cities by 2050 32 Elevated ambitions Affordable infrastructure for under-served cities page 16 High Speed 37 High-altitude high-speed Also in this issue 51 Rendezvous ’s Alpine EMU prepares to enter service 53 Full contact list

City centre revival Plastic fantastic Tomorrow’s world Advertisers index Helsinki’s ambitious plan Synthetic sleepers still New affordable elevated 53 system targets congested cities South America to halt urban sprawl performing after 30 years December 2015 I Volume 55 Issue 12 www.railjournal.com 38 High hopes for Peru’s Andean railway 54 The last word IRJ International Railway Journal FCCA invests heavily in infrastructure and fleet 44 Chile’s EFE aims for 100 million passengers New three-year plan continues investment Front cover FCCA efforts to double traffic on its lines Track in Peru have enabled it to become profitable. It is also encouraging the 37 Synthetic sleepers still going strong government to take proposed rail projects more seriously. Photo: Keith Fender Peru’s RTRI investigates Sekisui’s FFU sleepers’ longevity peak performer

Contact us Advertising Sales Offices Editorial Offices Post 19 John De Mierre House Post 46 Killigrew Street, Falmouth Bridge Road Cornwall TR11 3PP, UK Haywards Heath Tel +44 1326 313945 Fax +44 1326 211576 West Sussex RH16 1UA, UK Web www.railjournal.com Tel +44 1444 849123 Fax +44 1444 458185 Editor-in-Chief David Briginshaw [email protected] Associate Editor Keith Barrow [email protected] International Area Sales Manager Louise Cooper Features Editor Kevin Smith [email protected] Tel +44 1444 849123 or 416368 [email protected] Data & Markets Editor Angus Hammond [email protected] Senior Designer Fiona Browning [email protected] International Area Sales Manager Julie Richardson Production Assistant Sue Morant [email protected] Tel +44 1444 849318 [email protected]

International Railway Journal (Print ISSN 2161-7376, Digital ISSN 2161-7368), is published monthly by Simmons-Boardman Publishing Corp, 55 Broad Street, 26th Fl, New York, NY 10004-2580, USA. Printed in Great Britain by Buxton Press and distributed in the USA by Mail Right International, 1637 Stelton Road B4, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA. Periodicals postage paid at Piscataway, NJ and additional mailing offices. COPYRIGHT © Simmons-Boardman Publishing Corporation 2015. All rights reserved. Contents may not be reproduced without permission. For reprint information please contact Editor-in-Chief. For subscriptions & address changes, please call +1 402 346-4740, Fax +1 402 346-3670, Email [email protected] or write to: International Railway Journal, Simmons-Boardman Publishing Corp, PO Box 1172 Skokie, IL 60076-8172, USA. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to International Railway Journal, PO Box 1172, Skokie, IL 60076-8172, USA.

IRJ December 2015 3 Dec TM:Layout 1 18/11/2015 2:00 PM Page 4

This month David Briginshaw Editor-in-Chief

We must balance increased security with the freedom to travel

HE appalling terrorist Litter bins were removed and equipment and hire and train Cross-border services are T attacks in on left-luggage offices were staff. Platforms will have to be also used by passengers November 13 and the closed temporarily. Such dedicated to international travelling domestically, but thwarted attack on an measures will surely be services so that they can be this is likely to be forbidden or - Brussels - Paris introduced at major stations made secure, which will have restricted severely as already train on August 21 will elsewhere in Europe. implications for station happens with . inevitably lead to calls for Going beyond this would be capacity and train operations. Barring passengers from greater security and the extremely problematic for Railways operate very travelling domestically would reintroduction of border railways. At present, only differently from airlines. jeopardise the economics of controls. Eurostar operates full airport- Aircraft mainly fly point-to- operating cross-border Security was stepped-up style security checks and point whereas very few services. A solution would be following the Thalys incident passport controls before passenger trains operate non- to conduct the security and when passengers overwhelmed passengers are allowed to stop. Take Thalys for example, passport checks at the border, an armed terrorist travelling on board trains. This has made it only seven of the 23 trains per but passengers would have to the train, with patrols by very difficult to expand weekday operating between disembark to do this which armed police at stations and Eurostar services outside a Brussels and Paris are non- would extend journey times baggage checks. The Paris small network because of the stop services between the two and make such services far attack will no doubt lead to prohibitive cost and difficulty capitals. All the remaining less attractive. more security measures. of providing such facilities at trains originate in either A further reduction or The future of the Schengen stations. Indeed, passengers Amsterdam or Germany. curtailing of cross-border area of 24 European countries returning to London on the While it might be possible to services would also be a where border controls have serious setback for the been eliminated is already Widespread introduction of airport-style security European Union and its desire under threat as countries would be extremely costly and is likely to result to create a single market for struggle to cope with the rail. It would undermine many massive movement of refugees in the removal of intermediate stops. of the objectives of the Fourth and migrants from the Middle Railway Package, part of East and Africa across Europe. service from Marseille have to create a secure area for Thalys which is expected to become Border controls have been leave the train at Lille to pass at Amsterdam Central and law next year. There is little temporarily reintroduced in through security and Rotterdam Central, as these point in trying to remove the , Sweden, Germany, immigration which adds 1h are large stations, it would be technical obstacles to Austria, Slovakia, and since 15min to the journey. extremely difficult to do so at international rail operations if November 13, in , while Following the Madrid Amsterdam Schiphol Airport the services have been cross-border rail services have commuter train attacks, Renfe and Central as both withdrawn anyway. been disrupted between introduced baggage scanners these stations have A far better solution would Germany, Austria, and at stations for long-distance underground platforms which be to step up covert Hungary. services but passengers and are used by numerous monitoring of passengers at At the very least we could their hand baggage are not domestic trains. Withdrawing stations and on trains using start to see the reintroduction screened, and Renfe shied stops at Schiphol and Antwerp intelligence gathered on of on-train passport control as away from introducing would be a serious financial suspected terrorists. As used to take place between security checks for commuter blow to Thalys. discussions over how to many countries prior to the services because of the large Indeed, widespread respond to the security threat introduction of the Schengen number of people and stations introduction of airport-style posed by terrorists intensify, agreement in 1995. While this involved, and the massive security would be extremely we must find intelligent would be costly, it would be disruption it would cause. costly and is likely to result in solutions to defeat terrorism the least disruptive to both Any proposals by national the removal of intermediate and not resort to measures railways and their passengers security agencies to introduce stops or the withdrawal of which will destroy a key of a range of potential security airport-style security checks at entire services. Many cross- element of rail travel in measures. stations for cross-border train border services have already Europe. The sight of armed police at services should be resisted by been withdrawn because of airports and major railway railways for several reasons. the perceived difficulty of stations has become common First, it will take time to create operating them or because place in Britain since the 2007 secure areas at stations and to railways have lost interest in terrorist attack in London. purchase and install the such services. [email protected] 4 IRJ December 2015 IRJDECXX ( MAN):Layout 1 11/11/2015 09:44 Page 1

/RZO\LQJGHVLJQ KLJKÁ\LQJH꿌FLHQF\ 6DYLQJVSDFHDQGIXHOZLWKFRPSDFW ORFRPRWLYHHQJLQHV:KRHOVHEXW0$1

:KHQLWFRPHVWRWKHUDLOZD\VRQHWKLQJLVFOHDUDQHQJLQH WUXVWHGWRJHWUDLOFDUVDQGORFRPRWLYHVIURP$WR%PXVWEH UHOLDEOHHIÀFLHQWDQGSRZHUIXO%XWPRGHUQWUDLQHQJLQHV PXVWEHFDSDEOHRIDORWPRUH$GGLWLRQDOUHTXLUHPHQWV LQFOXGHFRPSOLDQFHZLWKYDULRXVHPLVVLRQVVWDQGDUGVDQG IXHOTXDOLWLHVDVZHOODVEHLQJDEOHWRKDQGOHWKHVWUDLQRI FRQWLQXRXVRSHUDWLRQ7KHDQGF\OLQGHUGLHVHOHQJLQHV IURP0$1(QJLQHVRIIHUHIÀFLHQF\IRUWKHHQWLUHMRXUQH\ ZLWKXQLWVRIXSWRN:FRPELQLQJHFRQRP\VWUHQJWK DQGWRUTXHZLWKKLJKYROXPHUHOLDELOLW\HDV\PDLQWHQDQFH DQGWRSFODVVVHUYLFH:HDUHDOVRRQHRIWKHIHZPDQXIDF WXUHUVWRRIIHUFRPSDFWHQJLQHVWKDWFDQEHRSWLPDOO\ LQWHJUDWHGLQWRWKHWUDLQ·VV\VWHPVZLWKRXWZDVWLQJYDOXDEOH SDVVHQJHUVSDFH0DNHZD\IRUJUHDWHUHIÀFLHQF\7RÀQG WKHHQJLQHWKDWLVULJKWIRU\RXYLVLWPDQHQJLQHVFRP

0$1(QJLQHV

11724_54 210x290 motiv223_en.indd 1 10.11.15 17:05 DecNews6&7:Layout 1 18/11/2015 2:45 PM Page 6

News Eleven dead in TGV Est Phase 2 test train derailment Keith Barrow Associate editor

TGV carrying out tests on A the recently-completed second phase of the TGV Est high-speed line between Paris and Strasbourg derailed in the Bas-Rhin area of Alsace on November 14, killing 11 people and injuring 42, 12 of them seriously. The derailment occurred close to the village of Eckwersheim, 12km north of Strasbourg, near where the high-speed line joins the conventional line from Sarrebourg to Strasbourg and where the new line crosses the Marne-Rhine Canal. Separate investigations have been launched by Strasbourg’s prosecutor, the Office of Land Transport Accident Inquiries (BEA-TT), and French National Railways (SNCF), which says there is no Photo: Reuters/Vincent Kessler evidence at this stage to link injuries. The remaining 49 vertical, longitudinal, and maximum speed in transition the incident to the terrorist people on board were transverse acceleration. It had zones on links to the attacks in Paris on November traincrew and technical staff also been used to monitor the conventional network is 13. Strasbourg’s deputy from SNCF and Systra. operation of signalling (ETCS 160km/h and these sections prosecutor Mr Alexandre SNCF president Mr Level 2 and TVM 430), radio have been tested at up to Chevrier said on November Guillaume Pepy said on communications systems and 176km/h. After each phase of 15 that while criminal activity November 15 that the train’s -catenary contact. testing the results are has not been ruled out it is speed at the time of the Dynamic testing began on scrutinised by the test director not considered to be the likely derailment will only become the 106km high-speed line before continuing to the next cause. clear when onboard data from Baudrecourt to level. At a press briefing in recorders have been recovered. Vendenheim on September 28, Driver training was due to Strasbourg on November 16 “This accident is with the TGV test train take place between January Chevrier told reporters that unprecedented and brings a initially operating at up to and March with the line there were 53 people on the major shock and deep sadness 160km/h. Over the next seven opening to commercial traffic train, including four “guests” to the railway family,” he says. weeks speeds were on April 3. Mr Jacques aged between 10 and 15 years, The train involved in the incrementally increased to Rapoport, president of who were believed to be the accident was an instrumented 352km/h, 10% above the infrastructure manager SNCF children of railway employees. TGV Dasye set, 320km/h maximum operating Network, confirmed on All of the children survived which has been equipped with speed - a requirement of the November 15 that the opening and none sustained serious accelerometers to monitor certification process. The of the line will be delayed. Brazilian government reviews studies for two new lines TUDIES of two new lines transport of commodities to The Açailândia - Barcarena The projects are part of the S included in the first phase river ports in northern Brazil. section is a northern extension revised PIL programme of Brazil’s revised Investment Specifically the Lucas do Rio of the existing North - South announced by president Dilma Programme in Logistics (PIL) Verde - Miritituba line aims to railway from Açailândia to Rouseff in June which have been submitted by improve the transport of Anapolis and Estrela D’Oeste, envisages Reais 86.4bn Triunfo Participações e agricultural goods from Mato and is expected to cost Reais investment in rail Investimentos (TPI) to the Grosso via the Tapajós 7.8bn to complete. Studies for infrastructure. Under the new Ministry of Transport for waterway. The project is a southern extension from plan, Brazil’s National Bank review and to assist with the expected to require an Estrela D’Oeste to Três Lagoas for Economic and Social preparation of bidding investment of Reais 9.9bn were submitted in September, Development (BNDES) is able documents. ($US 2.59bn) and the study with each complementing to provide finance at low The broad-gauge lines, from includes technical-economic technical feasibility studies for interest rates for up to 70% of Lucas do Rio Verde to and environmental feasibility the projects already completed the cost of the projects as long Miritituba, and Açailândia to studies for the line and the by the National Land as there is a level of private Barcarena, will support the terminal facilities. Transport Agency (ANTT) investment. 6 IRJ December 2015 DecNews6&7:Layout 1 18/11/2015 2:45 PM Page 7

In brief

Hitachi completes purchase of Finmeccanica rail companies Algeria Algerian National Railways ITACHI announced on has paid ƒ30m for Mr Alistair Dormer, Hitachi ƒ (SNTF) and Systra signed a H November 2 that it has AnsaldoBreda and 9.50 per Rail Group’s global CEO. “The memorandum of completed the acquisition of share for Ansaldo STS which combination of Ansaldo and understanding to create a Italian train builder values this part of the deal at Hitachi’s complementary ƒ 49:51 rail engineering joint AnsaldoBreda and signalling 761m. Hitachi will now portfolios will also deliver a venture which will carry out specialist Ansaldo STS from launch a mandatory offer for unique opportunity to pursue studies as well as manage Finmeccanica. all the remaining shares in untapped growth potential in Algerian rail projects and Under the deal Hitachi has Ansaldo STS. new markets.” systems. purchased AnsaldoBreda, “With these acquisitions Hitachi recently completed apart from some revamping Hitachi will strengthen its its first train manufacturing Britain activities and certain residual position in signalling and plant outside Japan in Britain, Infrastructure manager contracts, and the 40% stake traffic management systems, so the acquisition of Network Rail (NR) has finally which Finmeccanica has in expand turnkey operations AnsaldoBreda will installed the first kilometre of Ansaldo STS, which is listed and enlarge its portfolio with considerably expand its train wiring on the delayed project on the stock market. Hitachi world-class products,” says building capacity in Europe. to electrify the Great Western Main Line between London entirely focused on rail as €12.4bn GE deal concludes and Bristol, Cardiff, Oxford LSTOM says that the it with a wider range of “Today represents a major and Newbury. A company is now entirely products, and give it better milestone in Alstom’s history,” Canada focused on geographic coverage. says Mr Patrick Kron, following the conclusion of the Negotiations are still chairman and CEO of Alstom. Ontario’s Ministry of sale of its energy divisions to continuing regarding a “We managed to secure a win- Transportation has appointed General Electric (GE) under a proposal for Alstom to receive win deal with General Electric former Canadian transport deal worth ƒ12.4bn. commercial support from GE, which protects the interests of minister Mr David Collenette The deal will also strengthen and for Alstom to assemble employees and customers in as its special advisor for high- Alstom’s position in the and service GE locomotives in the energy businesses while speed rail to develop options market as it will use ƒ700m of certain parts of the world. reinforcing Alstom’s for HSR on the Toronto - the proceeds to acquire GE’s Under the proposals, there positioning in the transport London - Windsor corridor. signalling activities involving could also be mutual or joint industry. Alstom will rely on a Croatia 1200 GE employees. The sourcing of components and solid financial base to support business has around ƒ400m of development of products and its growth strategy.” Infrastructure manager HZŽ sales, of which 60% is in North technology. Once the share buy-back Infrastruktura says it has America. Alstom said last Alstom will invest around and the final negotiations have selected a preferred bidder for year that the acquisition will ƒ2.4bn in three energy joint been completed, Kron will a contract to modernise the boost its own signalling sales ventures with GE and will step down as chairman and 38.2km Dugo Selo - Križevci by 40%, make it a leader in return between ƒ3.2bn and CEO and will be succeeded by section of the line from Zagreb North American freight ƒ3.7bn to shareholders. It also Mr Henri Poupart-Lafarge to Koprivnica and the border signalling, strengthen its plans to launch a public share who is currently group senior with Hungary near position in the new Positive buy-back offer followed by vice-president and president Gyékényes. The Kuna 1.5bn Train Control market, provide capital reduction. of Alstom Transport. ($US 225m) project includes track-doubling, resignalling, Hybrid shunter enters service at Audi car plant: The first of two and upgrading track for 22.5 Alstom H3 hybrid locomotives ordered by Audi for shunting tonne axleloads. Construction operations at its Ingolstadt automotive plant in Bavaria entered service will begin early next year and on October 30. The three-axle 100km/h H3 is powered by a 350kW EU the project will be completed stage IIIB-compliant diesel generator and batteries, and is expected to by September 2019. spend between 50 and 75% of its operational time in battery mode. Europe The International Union of Railways says there were 910 fatalities on its 22 European railway member networks in 2014, of which less than 1% were passengers and 2% staff. Tresspassers and level crossing users account for 97% of all fatalities, with 625 trespassers and 241 level crossing users killed. The overall number fell from 1042 fatalities in 2013 and 1022 in 2012. France The first intermodal terminal for direct loading of lorry semitrailers between rail and

IRJ December 2015 7 DecNews8&9:Layout 1 18/11/2015 2:31 PM Page 8

News Stadler set to acquire Vossloh Rail Vehicles China approves HE executive board of quarter of next year. In with Stadler Rail, we have Olympic HS line T Vossloh signed a purchase addition to the purchase price, found a buyer that is HE municipal government agreement with Stadler Rail in Stadler will also assume experienced in the industry, T of Zhangjiakou in China’s Zürich on November 3 for the ƒ124m in debt liabilities from and has a tremendous northern Hebei province sale of its Rail Vehicles Rail Vehicles. reputation,” says Dr Hans confirmed on November 3 that business unit for ƒ48m in cash. Based at Albuixech near Martin Schabert, chairman of China’s National Development Stadler describes the Valencia in Spain, Vossloh Rail Vossloh’s executive board. and Reform Commission has acquisition as a strategic move Vehicles designs and “We are convinced that the approved the construction of in response to the wave of manufactures LRVs, metro expertise, experience and the Yuan 58.4bn ($US 9.2bn) consolidation in the rolling trains and locomotives for business model of Rail Beijing North - Zhangjiakou stock industry triggered by the both the domestic and Vehicles and Stadler will high-speed line, a key recent merger between CSR international markets. The ideally complement one component of the transport and CNR, which created a plant is Iris and ISO 9001 another. Rail Vehicles can look infrastructure for the 2022 new market leader in the form certified and has capacity to forward to the prospect of Winter Olympic Games and of CRRC Corporation. The assemble up to 150 vehicles further development within Paralympics, which will be takeover will also take Stadler per year. The unit achieved the Stadler Group.” hosted by the Chinese capital. into the market for diesel- sales of ƒ223.2m in the 2014 The sale of Rail Vehicles is The 174km line will include electric locomotives and financial year and ƒ182.4m in part of a medium-term 10 stations and provide a fast provide access to Spanish- the first nine months of this strategy approved in link for spectators travelling speaking markets. year. December 2014 which will also from Beijing to Taizicheng near The transfer, which has Vossloh says that Rail see the disposal of Kiel-based Zhangjiakou, which is one of already been approved by the Vehicles’ management and all Vossloh Locomotives and two venues for skiing events. Vossloh executive board, came of its proven functions will Vossloh Electrical Systems in The line will be designed for into economic effect on July 1 remain in Albuixech, becoming Düsseldorf by 2017 as the 250km/h operation and and Vossloh says it expects to Stadler’s Latin Division. group refocuses on track construction will take four- reach financial close in the first “We are very happy that, products and activities. and-a-half years to complete. SBB aims to trim fat US railways win PTC reprieve as Senate passes extension bill with RailFit 20/30 HE US rail industry’s the roll out of PTC. Representatives on October 27, WISS Federal Railways T push to extend the HR 3819 gives Amtrak, also gives railways the option S (SBB) has launched a plan congressionally-imposed commuter rail operators and to seek a waiver granting an to address expected increases deadline for Positive Train the Class 1 freight railways additional two years beyond in the cost of operating its rail Control (PTC) implementation until December 31 2018 to December 2018 to install PTC. network and increasing yielded a breakthrough on complete PTC implementation The Rail Safety Improvement competition from other modes October 28 when the Surface across all lines carrying Act (RSIA) of 2008 required by cutting expenditure by SFr Transportation Extension Act products classed as toxic the installation of PTC across 550m ($US 552.2m) by 2020 2015 (HR 3819) was passed by inhalation hazards (TIHs) and 97,000 route-km by the end of and SFr 1.75bn by 2030. the Senate, authorising federal all lines used by passenger this year, but despite investing RailFit 20/30 is the result of funding for the Highway Trust trains. In addition, the nearly $US 6bn in the a review undertaken in Fund and giving the railways legislation, which was technology, the programme is cooperation with consultant three more years to complete approved by the House of still far from completion. McKinsey, with definitive answers on which areas will be cut back due to be made public next summer. SBB says that rising costs from its new services, infrastructure investments, additional maintenance and regulatory requirements as well as expected reductions in cost per passenger and tonne- km of competing modes requires it to achieve an improved price-performance ratio to retain a competitive position in the market. With only moderate or All Aboard Florida reveals Brightline brand: minor increases in fares All Aboard Florida, the inter-city passenger possible, RailFit 20/30 will look subsidiary of Florida East Coast Railway (FEC), announced on November 9 that its Miami - Fort at cutting costs in all areas and Lauderdale - Orlando service will be branded Brightline and also revealed the first artist’s will review current service and impressions of the fleet of Siemens trains which will enter service when the first phase of the operational concepts, including project is launched in mid-2017. The branding and product offering for Brightline has been increasing the utilisation of developed by architecture and interior design firm Rockwell Group, and is intended to create a SBB’s train fleet. “holistic hospitality experience for the Florida travel market.” 8 IRJ December 2015 DecNews8&9:Layout 1 18/11/2015 2:32 PM Page 9

In brief

ferry in France was launches £320m Oxford link inaugurated at the Port of ƒ HILTERN Railways began operating facility with 1500 parking spaces situated Calais on October 23. The 7m C London Marylebone - High Wycombe - alongside the A34 highway north of Oxford. terminal utilises the Lohr Oxford Parkway services on October 26 The existing station at Islip has also been system for the horizontal following the completion of a £320m project to rebuilt and several level crossings have closed. loading of freight units create a new link between the capital and Chiltern has contributed £130m to the without a crane or reach- Oxford. project through its franchise agreement with stacker. The project involved constructing a 1km the Department for Transport (DfT), which Germany chord at Bicester to connect the London - High runs from March 2002 to December 2021. The federal government has Wycombe - Banbury line with the Bicester - Network Rail provided the remaining £190m. concluded a ƒ423m financing Oxford line, which was doubled and upgraded Chiltern’s new timetable includes two fast agreement with German Rail for 160km/h operation. trains per hour throughout the day between (DB) for the upgrading and Two new stations have been constructed at Oxford Parkway, Bicester Village, and London electrification of the 52km line Bicester Village, near the former Bicester Town Marylebone, with the fastest morning peak from Oldenburg to the North station, and Oxford Parkway, a park-and-ride service offering a journey time of 56 minutes. Sea port of JadeWeserPort at Wilhelmshaven, the only deep- water port in Germany with a direct rail connection.  Open-access operator Hamburg-Cologne Express (HKX) announced on October 20 that it will extend selected Hamburg - Cologne services to Frankfurt (Main) from the start of the 2016 timetable this year. International Czech Railways (CD) has signed an agreement with Silesian Railways (KS) to improve cross-border regional rail links between eastern Czech Republic and southern Poland, including from this Photo: Jonathan Lewis month extending KS services which currently terminate at Crowdfunding to kickstart new Stuttgart - Berlin service Chalupki or Wodzislaw Slaski in Poland across the border to N what looks likely to be a much faster than the bus.” Heidelberg, Frankfurt Main Bohumin. rail industry first, Locomore, Locomore says it will need Station, Kassel Wilhelmshohe, I  The first trial run of a Far Germany, launched a to reach at least ƒ450,000 and Hannover, and Berlin Main East Land Bridge (Felb)- crowdfunding campaign on up to ƒ1m to make the Station. operated railfreight service to October 29 in a bid to finance service a reality. The company A five-year binding Hamburg using the northern a new Stuttgart - Berlin open- has already raised ƒ150,000 framework agreement for route of the Transsiberian access service, which could and expects to obtain a further track access has already been Railway began on October 30. begin operating in September ƒ60,000 in loans. The funding agreed with infrastructure The service is a joint initiative 2016. threshold for the manager DB Networks. between Felb and the Locomore refers to the crowdfunding campaign is Locomore says it only faces Shenyang government and initiative as “crowd ticketing” therefore set at ƒ240,000 and “normal start-up costs” aims to boost the transit of - each backer of the the funding target is ƒ780,000. including advance lease goods to Europe from crowdfunding campaign will The aim of the project is to payments for locomotives, northern China and Korea. effectively be purchasing a establish a co-operative preparation of ticket sales, ticket which can be used arrangement with passengers hiring staff, and the Israel flexibly without restriction where both sides benefit. If the modernisation of eight Israel Railways has signed a when the service is launched. service achieves load-factors of coaches. Shekels 1bn ($US 262m) A price of ƒ7 has been set for 75% or more a profit sharing Locomore is 61.5%-owned contract for 62 four-axle short-distance trips with a ƒ13 arrangement will be activated by entrepreneur Mr Derek 160km/h Traxx ac electric medium-distance fare and ƒ22 with a 3% discount on tickets, Ladewig, who was previously locomotives with an option for for long-distance journeys. rising to 7% if full capacity is involved in the development 32 additional units. The Locomore says it will use reached. of Hamburg-Cologne Express locomotives will operate in refurbished inter-city If the crowdfunding (HKX) open-access long- push-pull mode with eight compartment coaches with campaign reaches its target, distance services, as well as double-deck or 12 single-deck free passenger Wi-Fi and Locomore will launch a daily other team members (16%) coaches. They will have a power sockets. Trains will Stuttgart Main Station - Berlin and silent partners (22.5%). nominal output of 6MW and operate at up to 200km/h and Lichtenberg service on For more information on the deliveries will start at the end the 6h 47min journey time will September 4 2016, with crowdfunding campaign visit of 2017. be “almost as fast as ICE and intermediate stops including, www.startnext.com/locomore IRJ December 2015 9 DecNews10&11:Layout 1 18/11/2015 2:51 PM Page 10

News Dutch secretary of state resigns over failings Quintus Vosman and recouping its investment between the Dutch state and contract with AnsaldoBreda Regional editor in the high-speed line, while NS, in which obligations for the fleet and delivery NS was obsessed with concerning both operations was scheduled for 2007. NS UTCH secretary of state protecting its monopoly and finances could not be met. already knew the timetable for D for infrastructure Mrs position in the passenger rail The committee concludes that introduction was unrealistic Wilma Mansveld resigned on market. This led to a long and the government’s decision to and had concerns about October 28 following the destructive conflict between go ahead with a competitive quality, but, the option to publication of a report into the the two parties and prevented tender was irresponsible. cancel the contract was not Fyra high-speed fiasco, which the goal of achieving fast, With the poor state of Fyra exercised. The report criticises places the blame for the frequent, and direct services to services and high track access NS for failing to act responsibly debacle squarely with current Belgium from being reached. charges, HSA quickly ran into and for poor decision-making and former government Moreover, NS failed to reach financial difficulties and was throughout the procurement. ministers, Netherlands a solution with AnsaldoBreda bailed out by the government, In March 2012 NS decided Railways (NS) and Belgian to the technical problems which then decided to merge to start Fyra operations with National Railways (SNCB). plaguing the fleet of V250 the operation of services on the new V250 high-speed Mansveld says she has taken high-speed trains ordered for the high-speed line into the NS trains, even though it had little responsibility for her own Fyra services and the core network concession. experience of the new fleet failings as well as those of her committee accuses SNCB of According to the report, the and no contingency measures predecessors in the handling acting in its own interests and cost to the state was around were put in place. NS accepted of Fyra, but she was already neglecting the goal of ƒ1bn in unfulfilled concession the trains even though they under pressure to resign over establishing high-quality rail obligations. did not meet its requirements a number of other rail-related links between Belgium and The V250 trains could not and after a brief period of issues, including the finances the Netherlands. be based on existing products testing - deemed too brief by and performance of Prorail. The tender for the high- because of the unique and the committee - the trains were A cross-party parliamentary speed concession was poorly complex specification. delivered shortly before inquiry committee was set up organised. Initially an open AnsaldoBreda won the commercial operations were in December 2013 to public tender was held to find contract to supply the trains, due to start. Many important investigate the failings which an operator, but NS objected to but it appears the other requirements for operation in led to the collapse of Fyra in this and the transport minister shortlisted candidate, Alstom, the Netherlands were January 2013. According to the subsequently attempted to was not asked the same dropped, and as soon as the final report, Mansveld failed turn the contract into a direct questions in the tendering fleet entered service in to fully disclose information award. Ultimately an open procedure. Moreover, December 2012, technical about her ministry’s role in competitive tender was held AnsaldoBreda was able to problems began to surface. Fyra to the inquiry. for the operating contract, but make modifications to its bid It is suggested that NS The primary aim of the NS, in its High Speed Alliance and design after the official should have had a fallback committee was to establish (HSA) joint venture with final deadline for submitting option to avoid a total collapse why the planned services on KLM, submitted a high bid to bids. The report states that of the Belgian-Dutch cross- the HSL South high-speed line fend off the prospect of a the tendering procedure was border services. The Dutch failed, and the report competitor gaining access to poorly managed and NS made Ministry of Transport is also concludes that the Dutch HSL South. significant errors in the criticised for not supervising government was fixated on The result was an procurement. NS and failing to protect the maximising its financial return unworkable arrangement In 2004 NS concluded the interests of passengers.

First Belfast - Dublin Enterprise train refurbished: Translink Northern Ireland Railways and Irish Rail (IE) unveiled the first of three eight-car refurbished Enterprise trains, which operate between Belfast and Dublin, at Belfast Central station on November 16. The £12.2m project, which will be completed by the end of the year, is being funded through the European Union’s InterReg IVA programme, with support from Ireland’s Department for Regional Development and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport.

10 IRJ December 2015 DecNews10&11:Layout 1 18/11/2015 2:51 PM Page 11

In brief Second phase of Zürich cross-city link opens Italy NTV has awarded Alstom a HE second stage of Zürich’s hour operating at speeds of up to 120km/h. ƒ460m contract to supply and T Durchmesserlinie (DML) cross-city link The opening of stage 2 follows maintain for 20 years eight was inaugurated on October 26, when Swiss the inauguration last June of Löwenstrasse 250km/h tilting Federal Office of Transport director Mr Peter station, which is situated beneath the existing high-speed trains. NTV plans Füglistaler, Zürich cantonal councillor Mrs Main Station. to use the trains to boost Carmen Walker-Späh and Swiss Federal The SFr 2.1bn ($US 2.1bn) DML took eight frequency on its existing Railways (SBB) CEO Mr Andreas Meyer pulled years to build with the Swiss federal routes and serve destinations a ceremonial lever to launch the new line. government providing two thirds of the funds off Italy’s high-speed network. The 9.6km link, which crosses the centre of and the remainder coming from the canton of The new train fleet will be Zürich in a huge S-bend, will come into full Zürich. branded Evo. commercial operation with the start of the The final stage of the project, the completion  Italian Rail Network (RFI) 2016 timetable on December 13, the most of expansion and upgrading work at the has unveiled plans for a comprehensive new timetable since 2004. The eastern end of the link at Oerlikon, is ƒ120m project to upgrade the DML will enable the introduction of a third scheduled for autumn 112km Bologna - Rimini line, hourly long-distance service from Zürich to 2017. which will cut journey times St Gallen, and the DML will also be used by by eight minutes and increase S-Bahn Line S19 (Dietikon - Effretikon) and maximum speeds for Trenitalia S21 (Zürich Main Station - Regensdorf). Freccia high-speed trains to Stage 2 includes two major new structures: 200km/h. The work will be the 394m Kohlendreieckbrücke and the 1156m completed by 2018. Letzigrabenbrücke, which offers spectacular  Tuscany and Umbria have views across the city from its highest point. recommended Rigutino, south The two viaducts will be used by up to 24 of Arezzo, and Creti, in S-Bahn and long-distance trains per Cortona, as two potential locations for a ƒ40m project to add a new station to the Florence - Rome high-speed line. Russia Russian Post has awarded Transmashholding (TMH) subsidiary Tver Carriage Works (TVZ) a contract to supply 50 1520mm-gauge 160km/h mail coaches. The federal government is funding the order which comprises 24 type 61-4504 vehicles and 26 type 61-4505 coaches. New corporation to manage New York Hudson tunnel project Sri Lanka HE project to develop a Amtrak’s Gateway Program, Transit deteriorating and in Sri Lanka Railways has long-overdue new rail which aims to relieve the need of repair, particularly T commenced a feasibility study tunnel from New Jersey under bottleneck on the Northeast following damaged caused by for a new 10km line between the Hudson River to New York Corridor between Newark, Hurricane Sandy in 2012. Maradana and Battaramulla took a step forward last month New Jersey and New York An engineering report issued via Dematagoda. with the creation of a body City, by adding 25 paths in October 2014 said that while within the Port Authority of during the peak. The link will the tunnels remain safe for Turkey New York and New Jersey to parallel the existing alignment operation and that there is no Siemens is to invest ƒ30m in a oversee the scheme. and consists of building new evidence that the tunnel new light rail vehicle assembly The Gateway Development bridges in New Jersey linings remain unsound, plant in Gebze. It will begin Corporation (GDC) will Meadowlands, constructing chlorides and sulphates have, production in 2018. coordinate the project and will double-track tunnels beneath and are continuing to cause, be controlled by a four-member the river and converting the significant damage to tunnel United States board with representation James Farley Post Office components such as the bench Texas Central Partners has from the states of New York, adjacent to Amtrak’s New walls, track, signalling, and signed a $US 130m contract New Jersey, Amtrak and the York City terminus at Penn electrical systems. with Dallas to Houston Federal Department of Station in Midtown Manhattan However, Amtrak said that Constructors (DHC), a joint Transportation. As part of the into a new terminal station. it was unable to carry out the venture between Archer agreement to found GDC, the The scheme has been required rehabilitation until Western Construction and federal government and described as one of the most the new tunnel is operational Ferrovial Agroman, to carry Amtrak have committed to important infrastructure due to the impact on services. out engineering and pre- funding half of the estimated projects in the USA by federal The federal share of the new construction work on the $US 20bn project, with the two officials with the existing project could come from a proposed 385km Dallas - states funding the other half. century-old tunnel used by mixture of grants, Amtrak Houston high-speed line. IRJ The project will follow Amtrak and New Jersey revenue and federal loans. IRJ December 2015 11 DecTN:Layout 1 17/11/2015 11:38 AM Page 12

Transit news Quito metro construction contract awarded Stockholm completes Lidingö HE District line, electrical and mechanical contract to supply 18 six-car T of Quito and Quito Metro systems, and depot and trains and four maintenance Line reconstruction announced on October 27 stabling facilities. vehicles. UBLIC services have that they have selected a Quito Metro says the The $US 2bn project is being P resumed on Stockholm’s consortium of Acciona, Spain, consortium was selected funded by the Municipality Lidingö Line following the and Odebrecht, Brazil, as because it submitted the of Quito (63%) and the completion of a two-year preferred bidder for the $US lowest-priced bid that was Ecuadorian government project to comprehensively 1.54bn main construction fully compliant with the (37%) with financing from rebuild the 9.1km former contract for the first metro line technical specification. international institutions suburban railway as a in the Ecuadorian capital. The Phase 1 contract, which including the Development line. The Phase 2 contract will be covers construction of El Bank of Latin America The line runs from an signed by the end of this Labrador and La Magdalena (CAF) the Inter-American interchange with the metro month and encompasses the stations, was awarded to Development Bank (IDB), the at Ropsten to construction of tunnels, 13 of Acciona in 2012, and tendering World Bank, and the European Gåshaga, and serves 14 the 15 stations on the 22.5km began last year for a Investment Bank (EIB). stations on the southern half of Lidingö Island. In addition to track renewal and doubling, the project included resignalling, upgrading of electrification, and modernisation of stations. Services are operated by a fleet of seven new 40.6m CAF A36 low-floor LRVs, which accommodate up to 159 passengers, 102 of them seated. The line will eventually be linked to Stockholm’s City Line, which will be extended from Djurgårdsbron to Ropsten by 2020. Cairo awards equipment contract GYPT’s National Siemens LRVs enter E Authority for Tunnels (NAT) has awarded a service in The Hague consortium of Alstom, Thales, Colas Rail, Orascom, and HE Hague Tramways HTM awarded Siemens a LRV accommodates up to 238 Arabco contracts totalling ƒ T (HTM) launched its new €100m contract for 40 vehicles passengers with 70 seated. 187m to supply signalling, fleet of Siemens Avenio LRVs in November 2011, and In recent months Avenios telecommunications and on the morning of November subsequently exercised an have been tested extensively electromechanical equipment 2, when the first of the low- option for a further 20 units in on Line 2 and sections of lines for the phase 3 extension of floor vehicles entered March 2014. The vehicles are 3, 4, and 5. Trial operation has Cairo metro Line 3. passenger service on Line 2 being assembled at Siemens’ begun on Line 11 and the fleet The signalling contract is ƒ between Kraayenstein and Simmering plant in Vienna. will ultimately be deployed on worth 85m while the Leidschendam North. Each 35m-long bi-directional lines 1, 2, 9, 11, 15, and 17. infrastructure contract, which includes substations, ventilation, escalators and lifts Contractors chosen for Line M2 extensions is worth ƒ102m. HE management board of Five bids were submitted for four bids for this section. Phase 3, which is currently T has the contract to build the 3.4km Working as part of the AGP under construction and due to selected preferred bidders for western extension from Rondo Poland consortium, both be completed in 2022, involves contracts to construct the two Daszynskiego to Wolska, Astaldi and Gülermak were extending Line 3 by 17.7km second phase extensions of Moczydlo, and Ksiecia involved in the construction of from Attaba west to Kit Kat metro Line M2, which have a Janusza. Gülermak, Turkey, the initial 6.5km section from Square where the line will combined length of 6.5km. has been chosen as preferred Dworzec Wilenski to Rondo split. The northern branch will Warsaw City Council has bidder having submitted an Daszynskiego, which opened run via Embaba to Rod El- allocated a budget of Zlotys offer of Zlotys 1.14bn. in March. Farag, while the southern 3.17bn ($US 820m) for the The 3.1km eastern extension Like the initial phase, the section will serve Cairo second phase, but the two from Dworzec Wilenski to two extensions will run University. The extension will lowest-priced offers accepted Swedzka and Targowek will completely underground and add 15 stations to the network by Warsaw Metro have a be constructed by Astaldi, construction is due to be and will increase traffic on combined cost of just which submitted an offer of completed in the first half Line 3 to more than 1.5 million Zlotys 2.21bn. Zlotys 1.07bn, the lowest of of 2019. passengers a year. 12 IRJ December 2015 DecTN:Layout 1 17/11/2015 11:38 AM Page 13

In brief

Bergen construction of a 10km 14- Berlin Line U5 tunnelling completed station tram line along the UNNELLING has been 11m per day, rising to 28m The first of eight 42.1m-long western bank of the Golden T completed on the project per day under the best Stadler Pankow Variobahn Horn. Line T7 will run from an to connect Line U5 with Line conditions, and without any low-floor LRVs arrived at the interchange with Line T1 at U55 on the Berlin U-Bahn by accidents. Norwegian city’s port on Eminönü to Alibeyköy on the constructing a 2.2km The next phase involves October 19. The additional Mecidiyeköy - Mahmutbey underground link from construction of three vehicles were ordered in 2013 metro line, which is due to Alexanderplatz to intermediate stations at as part of a contract worth open in 2017. more than €100m which also Brandenburg Gate beneath Berliner Rathaus, the historic heart of the Museumsinsel and Unter den includes maintenance of the German capital. Linden, where Line U5 will existing fleet of 20 32.2m-long The state cabinet gave Work on the 10-year interchange with Line U6. Variobahns until 2026. the go-ahead for €525m project began in April Museumsinsel presents the Bremen Phase 1B on November 12, 2010 and is now at the greatest challenge as it will referring the Rs 20.2bn ($US halfway point. According to be constructed beneath a The Bremen senate has 306m) project to the Indian allocated Bremen Tramways government for final approval. Mr Stefan Roth from the canal with an entrance on € construction company each bank. (BSAG) 210m for the Phase 1B involves building an Implenia, the second tunnel The link is due to be acquisition of 67 new low- 11.2km branch, which would was bored at an average of completed in 2020. floor LRVs. A tender for the diverge from the initial north- contract will be launched early south line at Jawaharlal Nehru Go-ahead for Kuala Lumpur MRT Line 2 next year and the first pre- Stadium, running east through series vehicles are due to be , Chembumukku and delivered in 2018, with BSAG UALA Lumpur’s Mass Lama, and 38.7km of viaduct. Kunnumpuram before set to receive production Corporation There will be 37 stations, 25 of terminating at Infopark in K vehicles from 2019 onwards (MRT Corp) confirmed on which will be elevated with 11 . October 22 that the Malaysian underground stations and one Caracas Košice (Slovakia) government has given final built into a cutting. The president of Venezuela Mr approval for the 52.2km Klang The initial phase of the line The city is set to receive a Nicolás Maduro inaugurated € Valley MRT Line 2 enabling between Sungai Buloh and 38.6m grant from the the initial phase of Caracas construction to begin on the Kampung Batu is due to be European Union Cohesion metro Line 5 on November 3. € line from Sungai Buloh to operational by July 2021 and Fund to finance a 47.8m The 1.3km underground line Serdang and Putrajaya. the remainder of the line from order for 33 standard-gauge operates as an extension of The project has been given Kampung Batu to Putrahaya from Pragoimex, Czech Line 4 and links Zona Rental the go-ahead after a three- Sentral is scheduled to open Republic. Pragoimex is with Bello Monte, with a month public consultation, by July 2022. MRT Corp delivering 23 partially-low- journey time of less than five which concluded in August. forecasts daily ridership of floor VarioLF2plus trams to minutes between the two € The 52.2km line will include more than 500,000 passengers DPMK under a 33.3m order stations. a 13.5km underground section when both phases are placed early last year, which between Jalan Ipoh and Kuchai operational. Dalian includes 15 years’ maintenance support. The remaining 10 Trial operation began on vehicles will be an option from October 30 on the initial the initial contract. 16.5km phase of metro , which links Yaojia in the north Seoul of the city with Dalian North Seoul Metropolitan mainline station and Fuguojie Infrastructure has issued a in the south. A 12km southern tender notice for a contract to extension to Hekou is planned. supply additional trains for metro Line 5, which will be Delhi extended from Sangildong to ’s urban development Hanam by 2020. The order has minister, Mr M Venkaiah an estimated value of Won Naidu, and the chief minister 47.5bn ($US 41m). of Delhi, Mr Arvind Kejriwal, Turin inaugurated the northern extension of ’s Turin City Council has Yellow Line (Line 2) on approved a resolution November 10. The 4.37km authorising the start of extension from Jahangirpuri tendering for contracts to runs on viaduct for its entire construct the city’s second length and includes three new driverless metro line. Under a First look at metro trains: New South Wales minister stations. ministerial decree dated March € for transport Mr Andrew Constance unveiled a life-size model 4, 10m has been assigned to of the train for Sydney’s first metro line on the Mobility councillor’s office November 6. Alstom is supplying 22 driverless trains for the Istanbul Metropolitan as part of the government’s 36km Metro Northwest line from Cudgegong Road to Epping Municipality has launched an “Unlock Italy” programme for and Chatswood, which is scheduled to open in the first half environmental impact planning work on the line from of 2019. assessment into the Rebaudengo to Bengasi. IRJ

IRJ December 2015 13 Dec FN:Layout 1 18/11/2015 11:45 AM Page 14

Financial news finalises orders for 1800 locomotives NDIAN Railways (IR) has venture company, subject to a come online within three years. years at purpose-built depots I announced respective Rs maximum investment of Rs Alstom will supply 800 at Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh 220bn ($US 4.2bn) and Rs 1bn. In addition to production, double-unit Prima electric and Nagpur in Maharashtra. 230bn orders with GE the joint venture will be locomotives which will be built The IGBT-equipped Transportation and Alstom to responsible for maintaining the at a new production plant at locomotives will be used on supply a total of 1800 fleet for a period of 13 years Madhepura in Bihar with IR India’s future Dedicated locomotives from new from the start of production. again set to hold a 26% stake Freight Corridors and will help production facilities in India. The deal also includes clauses subject to a maximum IR to achieve its target of Specifically GE’s order for guaranteeing minimum levels investment of Rs 1bn. increasing average freight train 1000 diesel locomotives of performance and transfer of All except the first five speeds from 20-25km/h to 50- comprises 700 3.36MW and 300 technology. locomotives will be assembled 60km/h. 4.47MW units which it will Deliveries will take place at in India under a technology In addition to the build at a new joint venture a rate of 100 units per year at a transfer agreement. Delivery of locomotives for IR, both joint production facility at Marhoura basic price of Rs 146bn, the 120km/h 8.9MW units will venture companies will have in the eastern state of Bihar although only the first 100 take place between 2018 and the freedom to manufacture over the next decade. IR will locomotives will be purchased 2028 and Alstom will maintain locomotives for customers in hold a 26% stake in the joint outright. The plant is due to the fleet for a minimum of five other countries. Stadler and SNTF form Algerian JV LGERIAN National A Railways and Stadler Rail have signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a joint venture company in Algeria. Stadler will hold a 51% stake in the company which will begin operations in June 2016. Initially the company will maintain a fleet of 64 trains used on Algiers RER services, with a view to JR Central orders more N700A trains producing rolling stock for R CENTRAL confirmed on October 22 that it detection, enhanced ATC, and improved brake SNTF and the African market J will receive a further 20 N700A series discs. Sound absorption panels, used only in in the long term. Shinkansen trains between fiscal 2016 and Green Car vehicles on the N700, are used Egypt to procure fiscal 2019 to replace its remaining 700 series sets, throughout the 16-car N700A. which will be withdrawn by the end of the In 2013 JR Central began incorporating a long-distance decade. The first of the extra trains will be number of improvements from the N700As passenger trains delivered in the 2016 financial year. into the N700s and the remainder of the N700 GYPTIAN National The 300km/h trains are outwardly similar to fleet - a total of 111 trains - will also be E Railways (ENR) has the series N700, but feature a number of upgraded to this standard. JR Central says it is issued a general procurement technical improvements over their predecessors, investing around Yen 104bn ($US 866m) in the notice regarding its plans to including LED lighting, vibration upgrades and extra trains. upgrade the passenger service on the busy 208km Qube and Brookfield fight to acquire Asciano Cairo - Alexandria corridor and possibly on the 879km CONSORTIUM led by Qube’s bid follows the to control a further 4.3%. Its main line from Cairo south Australian logistics purchase of a 19.99% stake in A latest takeover bid only to Luxor and Aswan. company Qube Holdings has Asciano in October, which was requires 50.1% approval and it ENR was granted a É126m mounted a rival $A 9bn ($US in response to a previous appears that the deal now loan from the European Bank 6.32bn) bid for Australian rail Brookfield takeover bid that its hinges on whether Asciano for Reconstruction and and port operator Asciano, board recommended allows Qube to carry out due Development (EBRD) in May which holds Australia’s second shareholders accept. The diligence or pursues a buyout 2014 and it intends to use largest railfreight operator consortium said at the time that with Brookfield that Australia’s this to fund the procurement Pacific National, and appeared it did not support the current Competition and Consumer of a fleet of energy-efficient poised to sell to Canadian asset Brookfield scheme proposal Commission (ACCC) has locomotive-hauled passenger management company and “did not intend to vote in indicated that it may block. trains. The contract would Brookfield Holdings. favour of it,” although the bid ACCC, which has expressed also cover maintenance of Brookfield made a $A 9.22 per did require only 75% concern over Brookfield’s bid, the new trains. share bid on November 8, which shareholder approval. saying that it could lead to ENR plans to start the was endorsed by Asciano. Brookfield subsequently lower competition for rail tendering process for the However, the following day bought 14.9% of Asciano’s services in Western Australia, project before the end of this Qube made a counter offer of shares as well as an is due to rule on Brookfield’s year. $A 9.25 per share. arrangement which enables it proposal on December 17. 14 IRJ December 2015 Dec FN:Layout 1 18/11/2015 11:45 AM Page 15

In brief

Renfe launches high-speed train tender Australia Bombardier for 18 Traxx locomotives comprising 13 PANISH national train maintenance of the trains A consortium led by Multi-System units for central S operator Renfe has during 30 years, with an Bombardier, Alstom-led Europe, and five ac Last Mile launched its first open tender optional extension of 10 more Eureka Rail, and Evolution locomotives which will be for high-speed trains in a years. Rail comprising Downer EDI deployed in Sweden and decade, inviting bids for a Depending on the final and Changchun Rail Vehicles, Norway. É1.1bn-2.6bn framework options, the total value of the has been shortlisted by the contract to supply up to 30 contract could range from Victorian state government to Italy new sets with a maximum É1.1bn for 15 trains and 30 supply 37 six-car trains for the Open-access operator Italian speed of 320km/h. years of maintenance to Melbourne suburban network. Railway Company (CFI) has The procurement will be É2.6bn for 30 trains and 40 Austria announced that it is acquiring separated into two years’ maintenance, with a Italian railfreight operator independent blocks. The first É1.4bn pricetag for 15 sets and Viennese public transport RailOne for É8.6m from contract could be awarded as four decades of maintenance. operator Wiener Linien has Gruppo Toto. The acquisition soon as May 2016 and will The framework contract will awarded SPL Powerlines a will make CFI one of Italy’s include the supply of 15 new be awarded to a single bidder contract to install 750V dc third largest open-access operators high-speed standard-gauge and will now be progressively rail electrification on the with 14 locomotives, 650 trains to complement its developed under the new extension of U-Bahn Line U1 wagons and 136 employees. from Reumannplatz to Oberlaa. existing standard-gauge fleet administration following this Poland of 129 sets. The first units month’s general election. Bangladesh should be delivered starting in According to the Ministry of PKP has awarded PRKil a 2018. Public Works and Transport, The government has approved É91m contract to renew the This contract includes an É155m has been already Bangaldesh Railway’s planned Okecie - Czachówek line. option for a second block of 15 allocated for this purpose as Taka 21.08bn ($US 268m) Work includes renovating additional sets which could be part of the 2016 general budget. investment in 200 metre-gauge 27km of track, 75km of equipped with dual-gauge In a separate procurement and 50 broad-gauge coaches, catenary, 13 points, and to extend services process Renfe will contract the 10 metre-gauge diesel-electric stations at Warsaw Okecie, beyond the limits of the refurbishment of 10 sets of locomotives, two metre-gauge Piaseczno, and Czachówek, as standard-gauge high-speed coaches and the and two broad-gauge well as construction of four network. The framework manufacture of new power breakdown cranes, and a new bridges and seven contract will also include the cars. locomotive driver simulator. viaducts, and refurbishment of Britain drainage and power systems.  The region of Opole has Rolling stock leasor awarded Newag a Zlotys Porterbrook has ordered 80 51.3m ($US 13m) contract to class 387 Electrostar EMUs supply five 160km/h Impuls from Bombardier. The trains EMUs with an option for two will be built at Bombardier’s additional trains for use on plant in Derby and will be Wroclaw - Opole - Kedzierzyn- delivered between October Kozle services. Delivery will 2016 and June 2017. take place between July 2016 Germany and January 2018. Bavarian Railway Company Turkey (BEG) has selected Transdev Durmazlar has ordered a subsidiary Bavarian Regional further 60 PZB222 train Rail (BRB) to operate Augsburg monitoring and control Diesel Network 1, which systems from BBR encompasses 1.35 million train- Verkehrstechnik for use on the km per year on the Munich - Bursa metro train fleet. Füssen, Augsburg - Füssen and Augsburg - Landsberg lines. United States The contract will commence in Siemens has received orders December 2018 and run until for 34 Charger diesel-electric December 2030. locomotives from the states of  South Thuringia Railway, a California (14 units), Illinois subsidiary of Erfurt Railway (12) and Maryland (eight) Septa confirms Siemens locomotive order: South Eastern and Hessen State Railways under an option included in a Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (Septa) has signed a (HLB), has won a contract to framework contract for 222 contract with Siemens for 13 ACS-64 electric locomotives. The operate the South Thuringia units signed in 2014. contract includes the supply of spare parts and operation and diesel network, which covers 4  Toshiba International has maintenance training, and an option for up to five additional million train-km per year, awarded Westermo a contract locomotives, which could take the value of the contract to $US from December 2017 to to supply communication 154m. The units will be built at Siemens’ plant in Sacramento, December 2028. network equipment for the California, and are set to be delivered in early 2018. fleet of series 7000 trains being  Septa has also signed a $US 53m contract with Ansaldo STS International supplied by Kawasaki for to supply communications-based train control (CBTC) on the Leasing company Railpool has Washington Metropolitan Area Media and Sharon Hill lines of Septa’s light rail network. placed a É75m order with Transit Authority. IRJ

IRJ December 2015 15 DecHKL:Layout 1 17/11/2015 11:58 AM Page 16

Helsinki THE NET

A new light rail line to the island of Laajasalo would require the construction of one of the world’s longest public transport bridges. DecHKL:Layout 1 17/11/2015 11:58 AM Page 17

ETWORKED CITY Can rail help Helsinki grow inwards?

Finland’s capital has drawn up an ambitious long-term urban plan which seeks to accommodate population and employment growth while halting urban sprawl and reducing carbon emissions. Keith Barrow looks at why rail is central to this bold vision of a 21st century city.

INLAND’s economy may be Vision 2050, a bold strategy which suburbanisation and the development F going through tough times, but outlines how the city can sustainably of non-urban centres have radically the country’s capital Helsinki is accommodate population and altered the capital’s spatial structure, a city gearing up for growth. With the employment growth over the next 35 with the role of the city centre population forecast to increase from years. The plan envisages densification diminishing and fragmentation of the around 600,000 to 820,000 and the of the city centre with 45,000 new urban area as the population has number of jobs within the city’s homes and 65,000 new jobs in this area. spread out over a wider area. There is municipal area expected to reach The inner city will be extended 3km now a consensus that Helsinki cannot 560,000 by 2050, the city is exploring northwards towards Pasila, with the continue growing outwards and can radical options to ensure it can development of a new business district only become a liveable low-carbon city support more homes and more jobs in along the Pasila - Vallila - Kalasatama in the future if it grows inwards. its central districts while maintaining axis. Sustainable mass transport is central or improving the quality of the urban Densification of the core is not a new to the success or failure of the environment for the people who live concept - as recently as the 1950s, most densification policy and rail therefore and work there. of Helsinki’s housing was located in plays a central role in the plan. With At the end of 2014 Helsinki City central districts. However, the plan the focus on humanising the city and Council issued its draft city plan notes that over the last half century, giving priority to pedestrians and DecHKL:Layout 1 17/11/2015 11:58 AM Page 18

Helsinki

cyclists, Helsinki is looking at Helsinki before terminating at Itäkeskus 80 drastically reducing vehicular traffic in the east. The 33-station line will Metro Tram and cutting road capacity in some areas closely follow the route of Line 550, while simultaneously enhancing public Helsinki’s busiest bus line with peak 70 transport to offer practical, attractive, services operating at intervals as short and flexible alternatives to the car. as three minutes. Line 550 carries up to 60

Helsinki already boasts an excellent 40,000 passengers per day, but the light Journeys (million) radial public transport network, with rail line would accommodate up to 50 tram, metro and commuter rail lines 80,000, running largely on a segregated 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 reaching outwards from the city centre, alignment with services operating at 5- Helsinki urban rail ridership. but the city suffers from a lack of high- 10 minute intervals. quality transverse links, which means “We are operating the maximum Lehmuskoski says. many journeys are made by car with number of services that can be A further east-west light rail line public transport users being funnelled realistically be operated using buses,” dubbed Jokeri 2 is also proposed further through city centre interchanges. The explains Helsinki City Transport (HKL) north, which would replace bus Line city plan envisages the construction of CEO Mr Ville Lehmuskoski. “This is 560. To the south, the “Science Tram” new light rail lines which will not only difficult to operate reliably and we need line would link Aalto University metro bind the radial routes into a cohesive more capacity, which could be achieved station in Otaniemi with the main line network but also help suburban centres through light rail.” With significant station in Pasila and the University of grow into vibrant urban hubs capacity constraints and the contract for Helsinki’s Kumpula campus, supporting more jobs and new the operation of the bus route due to intersecting en route with several key residential developments. By 2050, all expire by 2022, this line is considered a entry routes into the city. The Helsinki parts of the city should be within easy priority for early construction. Regional Transport System Plan reach by sustainable transport, with The cities of Helsinki and have envisages the conversion of this bus walking and cycling receiving the appointed Ramboll and WSP as route to light rail in the late 2020s. highest priority. planning consultants for the project and To the east of the city centre, a new In order to meet these goals, the light a final feasibility study and general plan 143 hectare residential district called rail network will be expanded is due to be completed this month, Kruunuvuorenranta is planned on the significantly with the addition of which will enable the two cities and the site of a disused harbour and oil several new lines. The 25km Raide- Finnish government to discuss when terminal on the island of Laajasalo, Jokeri line will link Keilaniemi, construction should start on the ƒ300m which could ultimately house up to Otaniemi and Leppävaara in the project. “There is a strong political will 15,000 people. Road links between neighbouring city of Espoo with Haaga, among the ruling parties to get this line Laajasalo and the mainland are limited Pakila, and Oulunkylä in northern built sooner rather than later,” and the existing bridges would not cope Helsinki Kplfsj!3 Metro Tram/LRT Main lines to Mellunmäki Existing N Being built Pakila Kontula Planned Options Kplfsj!2 Viks Forskarpark Oulunkylä Haaga Kplfsj!2 Myllypuro Leppävaara up !Wvptbbsj Kplfsj!2 Tdjfodf!Usbn

Itäkekus

Laajalahti Pasila Aalto University Herttoniemi OTANIEMI Kulosaari ESPOO Sörnäinen to Matinkylä Tdjfodf!Usbn Sompasaari Hakaniemi Laajasalo Keilaniemi Tapiola Main Station University Kamppi Ruoholahti Saaristolaivastonkatu- Haakoninlahdenkatu

Lauttasaari

IRJ 18 IRJ December 2015 IRJDECXX (Shaeffler):Layout 1 16/11/2015 09:40 Page 1

Reliability Made by Schaeffler

In an increasingly dynamic world, bearings and system solutions from Schaeffler not only help railways prepare for the challenges of the future, but also improve their safety. • Thanks to the cost-efficiency of our application solutions, you can make lasting savings in terms of your overall costs. • We constantly test the reliability of our components in our inde- pendent Schaeffler Railway Testing Facility for rolling bearings. • We manage the entire lifecycle of our products, right up to railway bearing reconditioning with certification. We have been a development partner for the sector for more than 100 years. Use our engineering expertise!

[email protected] · www.schaeffler.de/Railway DecHKL:Layout 1 17/11/2015 12:00 PM Page 20

Helsinki

with such a large increase in the island’s 1.2km Kruunuvuori Bridge, will be the whether to proceed with the project is population, which is likely to require a longest bridge in Finland and one of the due to be made early next year. new rail link. After ruling out a metro world’s longest public transport bridges Alongside the expansion of the extension as too costly, Helsinki City with pedestrian and bicycle lanes system, the existing network will be Council adopted light rail in 2008 as its running alongside the tram line. reshaped over the next decade to preferred option for linking the island The line is forecast to carry around maximise its potential and improve to the city centre. 30,000 passengers per day and will integration with other modes, reflecting The preferred alignment for the city form part of Helsinki’s core tram the impact of new infrastructure such as centre section has not yet been finalised, network with journey times of 10-25 West Metro and the recently-completed but the project will require the minutes between the city centre and . construction of three major bridges Laajasalo. Planning is now at an Following a public consultation, the totalling 2km. The longest of these, the advanced stage and a decision on board of Helsinki Regional Transport (HSL), which is responsible for New trams for challenging conditions providing public transport services in and around the capital, approved a plan in February this year for a phased recast of the network, providing a 5-6-minute interval peak service on sections in central areas of the city which are served by two or more tram routes. The programme will also simplify cross-city journeys, reducing the need for many passengers to change between routes, and is also intended to make operations more efficient. These changes are expected to deliver a 10-20% increase in tram ridership by 2025 and will also help to reduce journey times on a network where average speeds are slow by international standards. This would be a welcome development for a network which has seen a decline in tram ridership in recent years. “There are two major reasons why passenger numbers are INDING a low-floor tram delivered between 2016 and 2018. falling,” Lehmuskoski explains. “Firstly, F capable of operating reliably in Each 27.6m-long LRV accommodates the City of Helsinki has been encouraging low winter temperatures and on up to 199 passengers, 88 of them walking and cycling through its the sharp curves of central Helsinki’s seated, and features low-energy LED transport policy, and this has been very tram network has been a major lighting. successful. Tram trips tend to be short, challenge for HKL, one it hopes to Traction systems were supplied by so the bicycle is a competitor. The have solved with its latest-generation Voith, and a separate motor-gear unit second is the economic recession, which LRV, the Artic. with a continuous output of 65kW has led to a decline in employment in HKL took delivery of 40 24.4m-long drives each of the eight axles, which the city centre, reducing demand.” Bombardier Variotram LRVs between receive power via two EmCon double Perhaps the most audacious element 1998 and 2003 but the fleet suffered traction inverters. Voith also provided of the city plan - and also one of the numerous technical problems wheels, axles, bearings, drive-related most contentious - is the proposal to including cracks in bogies and vehicle control, and the diagnostics redevelop seven major entry roads into bodyshells, which have significantly system. the city within the Ring 1 orbital road as impeded availability. The vehicles are equipped with an mixed-use transport corridors. These In December 2010 HKL announced intelligent braking energy ƒ so-called City Boulevards would cut that it had signed a 113m contract management system, which enables capacity for car traffic to accommodate with Finnish rolling stock supplier braking energy to be stored in new tram lines, cycle paths, footpaths, Transtech (now part of Škoda specially-designed onboard heat and green spaces. Speed limits would Transportation) for 40 three-section exchangers for use in the heating be reduced to 50km/h and some Artic LRVs. Passenger feedback, system if it cannot be fed back to the flyovers and underpasses would be operational performance, and ease of grid via the overhead catenary. replaced with level intersections. This maintenance were key considerations, The Artic is also able to would be accompanied by high-density and these factors have been evaluated automatically prevent excessive development - the city plan envisages extensively during a two-year trial horizontal acceleration in curves by up to 80,000 of the 220,000 people with two pre-series vehicles. measuring the offset angle between the expected to move into Helsinki by 2050 HKL says reliability, availability and bogie and the vehicle to determine the will live along these corridors. customer feedback have been curve radius. If the vehicle is travelling In June Helsinki Regional Chamber of “extremely good,” with only minor too fast, a control device automatically Commerce dismissed the City changes to the specification for the limits the speed, minimising Boulevards plan as “unrealistic,” production vehicles, which will be centrifugal forces. arguing it would make the city centre 20 IRJ December 2015 DecHKL:Layout 1 17/11/2015 12:00 PM Page 21

less accessible, contrary to the objectives of the city plan, although the proposals have support from across the political spectrum, albeit with differences on certain details. “This divides people, and there is a lot of public discussion about whether we should go ahead with it,” Lehmuskoski says. “The business community is concerned that if you make it difficult to come into the city by car it will be bad for business. Young people generally support the City Boulevards and feel it will be positive for Helsinki. We believe better public transport means we can move more people into the city more quickly. There’s no doubt it will be a difficult decision but if the city says ‘yes’ it will be a big opportunity for public transport.” Helsinki City Planning Committee began discussing the proposals in October and approved it in November. A final decision on whether to adopt the plan - including the City Boulevards - will be made next year by the City Council.

The City Boulevards proposal sacrifices capacity for cars in favour of walking, cycling, Short-term investment and trams on key roads into the city centre. While debate continues over the ticketing infrastructure and passenger HKL is also looking at how it can longer-term aspirations of the city plan, information systems will be renewed to make services such as parcel collection a number of major investment projects provide real-time information and and grocery shopping part of the are already underway which will bring journey planning on mobile devices. everyday commute. “What can we do improvements to the light rail, metro Social media also plays an increasingly to make passengers’ lives easier?” and suburban rail networks in the prominent role in communicating with Lehmuskoski asks. “We have lots of free shorter-term. passengers. “This is becoming more and space at our metro stations which On the metro, HKL is taking delivery more important as a way of getting would enable us to develop click and of 20 new four-car M300 trains from information out there quickly and collect services for parcels or groceries. CAF in preparation for the launch of reacting to service failures,” We are working with passengers and the 13.9km West Metro from Ruoholahti Lehmuskoski says. “We have to universities to come up with new ways to Matinkylä in Espoo, which is due to recognise this is the way people interact of developing our services.” open in August 2016 (pX). The now and as transport operators we Unlike many cities, Helsinki has extension of the metro to Matinkylä is have to take advantage of it.” benefited from a long-term and stable expected to increase public transport’s HSL is also involved in another political consensus that urban rail market share by 1.1% or around 11,000 groundbreaking project, which brings investment is a good thing, but with passengers per day. together 23 organisations in Finland to pressure on the public finances, it is by HSL signed a five-year operating provide tailor-made mobility services to no means certain that the city will be agreement for the suburban rail consumers based on their individual able to fund all of its proposed projects. network with VR Group earlier this needs. Mobility as a Service (MaaS) “All the political parties in Helsinki year, which starts in April 2016 and takes over the task of working out how support public transport and as a result seeks to achieve efficiencies of ƒ30m to get from A to B, enabling the user to we have seen continuous, positive compared with the current contract (IRJ plan, book and pay for any multi-modal policy since the late 1960s,” October p38). The deal will also trip through a single smartphone or Lehmuskoski says. “At the moment accelerate the introduction of new tablet app. politicians are very keen to support trains, which are being procured by Such integrated solutions can only be public transport investment, and while leasing company Junakalusto from achieved with open-access to timetables, there are risks, HKL looks positively to Stadler. This means all Helsinki real-time location information, and the future. West Metro will double our suburban services will be operated by payment systems of all partners - metro traffic and there’s strong growth new trains by 2017. potentially a massive undertaking for ahead, which isn’t typical of the overall By 2018 Helsinki Regional Transport many cities, but one which could situation in Finland right now. Staff feel (HSL) plans to introduce a new zonal overcome many of the barriers limiting motivated that they are part of an regional fares structure based on intermodality. Indeed, Helsinki sees exceptional situation and we should municipal boundaries, superseding the MaaS as a step towards its target of feel happy that we are working for a existing distance-based system, while achieving on-demand mobility by 2025. city that embraces rail transport.” IRJ IRJ December 2015 21 DecFinWest:Layout 1 17/11/2015 11:48 AM Page 22

Helsinki Helsinki West Metro on sc Deep beneath the streets of Espoo, Finland’s second city, the finishing touches are being applied to the first phase of West Metro, the country’s largest infrastructure project. Keith Barrow profiles the project and assesses its impact on public transport in the region.

ELL-known among urban gives Espoo an 85% share and Helsinki platform layout and signage are planners around the world as 15%. However, the Finnish government uniform at all stations to aid navigation. one of Europe’s first post-war has agreed to contribute up to ƒ200m Lauttasaari is located beneath W ƒ new towns, the garden city of Tapiola towards the 1bn cost of phase 1 and Lauttasaarentie shopping centre in the 10km west of Helsinki, is entering a ƒ240m towards phase 2, which has an middle of Lauttasaari island 5km west new phase of development. A ƒ1bn estimated pricetag of ƒ801m. The of the centre of Helsinki with platforms regeneration project, which has project is being managed by Länsimetro, 30m below the surface. Koivusaari is attracted private as well as public a public company owned jointly by the the only sub-sea station on West Metro funding, is transforming the centre of cities of Espoo and Helsinki. and at 30m below sea level is also the Tapiola into a commercial hub with a Construction of the initial 14km phase deepest. The station has been residential development, which will from the current constructed under Vaskilahti bay south house more than 2000 people and a new terminus at Ruoholahti to Matinkylä in of the Länsiväylä highway and will shopping centre. Espoo is on schedule for completion serve the western side of Lauttasaari as An equally transformative project is this month and testing is expected to well as the neighbouring island of taking place below ground. Finland’s begin in February, with public Koivusaari. The line then continues into largest infrastructure project, West operation starting in August 2016. Espoo, serving the commercial area of Metro, will extend Helsinki’s 21km east- Phase 1 has eight stations, only two of Keilaniemi before reaching Aalto west metro line 20km into Espoo, the which are located within the city of University station, which is situated country’s second-largest city, Helsinki, and is forecast to increase beneath the centre of the technical accelerating regeneration and drawing metro ridership by around 100,000 university campus. investment and employment into its passengers per day. Tapiola station will become an southern districts. Each station will have its own unique important interchange with the bus The cities of Helsinki and Espoo and distinctive architectural identity, network and construction of the metro agreed to meet the costs of construction making it easy for passengers to is being carried out in parallel with within their own boundaries, which recognise their stop, but access routes, major new residential, commercial and

Urheilupuisto is one of eight stations on Phase 1 of West Metro. Architectural finishes vary between stations to reflect their locality, but standardised layouts and signage have been adopted to aid navigation.

22 IRJ December 2015 DecFinWest:Layout 1 17/11/2015 11:48 AM Page 23 n schedule for 2016 launch retail developments, which will transform this area over the next five Helsinki West Metro years. New developments are also Existing metro HELSINKI N Aalto University emerging around Niittykumpu station, Phase 1 being built Phase 2 being built while the terminus of phase 1 at Tapiola Keilaniemi Matinkylä will become a major public Kamppi Urheilupuisto transport interchange for southern Koivusaari ESPOO Niittykumpu Ruoholahti Espoo, with the area above the station Efqpu undergoing redevelopment with a new Lauttasaari bus station, shopping centre, housing Kivenlahti Matinkylä Espoonlahti and offices. Finnoo The bus network will be revised to Kaitaa feed into the metro and there will be no Soukka IRJ daytime buses between Espoo and tunnels each have an internal diameter ballasted track and 750V dc Kamppi bus terminal in central of 5.6m to accommodate 1.2m-wide electrification will be used throughout Helsinki, which is currently one of the trackside emergency access walkways, a both phases of the extension. city’s busiest bus corridors. requirement for now-deferred driverless Tracklaying proved to be a logistical Preliminary construction began at the operation (see panel on p24). Cross- challenge because the lack of access end of last year on the 7km five-station passages are located at 150-200m from the surface meant the 120m-long second phase from Matinkylä to intervals and the deepest escape shaft rails could only be delivered using the Kivenlahti and the first station and the is 55m below the surface. existing metro line. Furthermore, the first tunnel excavation contract was As the geology is primarily granite, only suitable loading site was in the awarded in September, when tunnel construction is largely drill-and- east of the city and rail trains could Länsimetro signed a ƒ26.9m deal with blast with shotcrete lining. Most of the only operate during maintenance Skanska Infra covering 1.5km of twin- line runs at depths of between 20 and periods between midnight and 05.30. bore tunnels, one escape shaft, and the 30m, but reaches almost 60m on the All stations are designed for the station box at Soukka. sub-sea section between Ruoholahti and installation of 1.7m-high platform Like phase 1, residential Lauttasaari stations. Phase 1 required screen doors, but these will not be developments are planned or underway the excavation of 4 million cubic metres installed in the short-term on phase 1 around several of the stations on phase of rock, the equivalent of 400,000 due to the cancellation of the 2, which is expected to bring an extra lorryloads of material, which is being automation contract with Siemens. 70,000 passengers per day onto the used for land reclamation in Helsinki. To provide additional fleet capacity metro when it opens in 2020. The new A number of challenges were for the expansion of the network, line will provide a journey time of 19 encountered in tunnelling which Helsinki City Transport (HKL) awarded minutes from Helsinki Central Station pushed the cost up by ƒ50m and CAF a ƒ140.4m contract in 2012 for 20 to Matinkylä and 29 minutes to delayed the project by six months. four-car M300 trains, the first of which Kivenlahti. Geological conditions were poorer than was delivered in March. Each 90m-long anticipated in several areas and the four-car set accommodates 576 surface of the rock was lower than passengers. Tunnelling challenge expected, which meant additional At present the Helsinki metro only West Metro will run underground for concrete reinforcement was required. has one depot, which is located at its entire length and the two running As with the existing line, conventional Roihupelto near Itäkeskus station,

A complete, modular and scalable signaling solution. ECM’s HMR9® web based interlocking offers today the key to railway signaling management of tomorrow with unprecedented flexibility and ease of implementation. Fully compatible with ETCS (European Train Control System), HMR9® architecture takes advantage of IP protocol allowing for maximum compatibility with any existing device supporting Ethernet (or Radio, Dedicated Fiber Optic) technology. HMR9® components are all hot swappable, drastically reducing installation and maintenance costs and times. Take a peek into the future of signalling, you won’t be disappointed.

IRJ December 2015 23 DecFinWest:Layout 1 17/11/2015 11:49 AM Page 24

Helsinki

where the two eastern branches Automation down but not out diverge. A second 600m-long underground depot will therefore be constructed at Sammalvuori north of Espoonlahti station to provide maintenance, cleaning and stabling facilities at the western extremity of the line.

Procurement In order to achieve competition between bidders, design and construction procurement was divided into numerous small contracts. For phase 1 Länsimetro let 17 contracts for tunnelling, 12 for construction, nine for electrical works, nine for ventilation and more than 20 for design works. Single contracts were let for track (awarded to Destia Rail, Finland) and third-rail (SPL Powerlines). “Typically construction contracts were worth ƒ20-30m each, which was a The new M300 metro trains from CAF are equipped with removable driver’s desks to good size for Finnish bidders and a aid future conversion to driverless operation. good size for us to manage,” explains Mr Tero Palmu, Länsimetro’s project N 2008 and 2009 HKL signed Länsimetro subsequently awarded manager for tunnels and track. “We felt contracts with Siemens for the Mipro, Finland, a ƒ19.7m contract to we got stronger bids this way, and automation of the existing 21km supply automatic train supervision I dividing contracts up resulted in more east-west metro line from Mellunmäki and electronic interlockings, together competition and better value. It’s also and Vuosaari to Ruoholahti and the with passenger information systems, about risk management - we wanted to extension to Espoo. for both phases of West Metro with an keep everything in our hands and we Unattended Train Operation (UTO) option to supply equipment for the can control lots of small contracts more was initially scheduled to start on the existing line. easily than one or two big contracts.” existing line in 2013 and on West HKL is now seeking damages from Another advantage of this structure is Metro in 2014. However, the project Siemens in a legal battle which is likely that it embeds many of the functions soon ran into difficulties because of the to rumble on for several years. that might normally be carried out by need to retrofit a mixed fleet of older “The board of HKL decided it won’t the managing authority within the M100 and M200 trains, which will automate the metro in the near future contractors - Länsimetro only has 10 staff, operate alongside the new M300 sets but everyone agrees it is the only five of whom are project managers. By currently being delivered by CAF. The solution in the long-term because we contrast, project management consultant M300s are equipped with removable need the capacity,” says HKL CEO Mr Sweco employs up to 60 staff and cabs to enable straightforward Ville Lehmuskoski. “We can achieve supervises all planning and tendering as conversion to driverless operation, but 2.5-minute headways in normal well as supervising construction works. door spacing differs between the old operation but it is clear that in the 2020s However, lots of contractors and new trains, which created further we will need to automate the metro.” inevitably means dealing with multiple challenges around the installation of Current traffic forecasts indicate that interfaces. “Managing interfaces is the platform screen doors. maximum peak capacity will be biggest challenge in our project,” Palmu HKL says these problems led to a exceeded on the western section of the says. “It’s true we have had problems major disagreement with Siemens over existing line by 2022 and on the and it can be challenging to control the the cost of completing the work. In eastern section by 2024. flow of information and define the 2012 the project specification was According to a study completed responsibilities of each party. It’s a revised, with full UTO dropped in earlier this year, the line could be complicated network but we’ve been favour of a driver controlling relieved by stepping up parallel bus doing this for six years and we’ve learnt passenger doors and other functions. services, and building the Laajasalo a few things. It’s working well now.” However, escalating costs and the tram line could bring some degree of West Metro will almost double Helsinki increasing risk of delay to the opening relief, but these are not viewed as metro ridership and will plug Espoo of West Metro led to the abandonment alternatives to automation. into the capital’s rail network, which of the project earlier this year. In Pushing back automation will looks set for significant expansion if January Siemens made a further overcome the issue of retrofitting older Helsinki City Council’s long-term urban proposal to HKL, which involved a trains, which are due to be replaced by plan comes to fruition. It also provides phased introduction of driverless new rolling stock in the next decade. the sustainable transport links that operation, but this was rejected and However, HKL expects to operate the will be vital to support the growth of the HKL board decided to terminate second phase of West Metro with UTO population and employment in the contract in June. HKL and from the outset. Finland’s second-largest city. IRJ 24 IRJ December 2015 IRJOCTXX (TUC):Layout 1 18/09/2015 12:43 Page 1

Creative Rail Technology for Sustainable Mobility

In December 2015, the new railway tunnel Schuman-Josaphat in Brussels, at which TUC RAIL has worked since 2008, will be placed in service. Our engineering and project management office carried out the studies, management and follow-up for this major construction project, one of the largest the city has ever seen. The technical challenges were enormous. Building a new tunnel in the densely populated center of the European capital with minimal disruption to traffic and local residents required creative and innovative solutions. The new tunnel will connect the heart of the European district directly with Brussels Airport and all major cities of the country. It is a project which looks ahead to the future.

A future where rail technology plays an important role in every sustainable vision on mobility. Flexibility, technical expertise, creative solutions: that’s TUC RAIL from top to bottom. Today we have projects in the pipeline for opening up seaports, airports and major cities, for the modernisation of existing lines and for capacity augmentation, for re-electrification of important international corridors and for large-scale updates, such as the modernisation of signal boxes and ERTMS implementation.

When it comes to creative technology for sustainable mobility, TUC RAIL is both a trend-setter and a pioneer. TUC RAIL wants to deploy these advantages every day for new challenges from clients all over the world. Our 1,000 driven employees are already looking forward to it!

www.tucrail.be - [email protected] Dec p26:Layout 1 16/11/2015 3:38 PM Page 26

CST F 08.05. – 09.05. P-CST 13460 124 67:44 04:32 10:36 06:20 13441 Sjuk 10.05. F 08.05. P-CST D 13441 2727:26 42:50 03:26 09:42 1362020 1361369191 13610 -CST P-CSTP-CST P-CST P-CST 1362020 1361369191 13610 16:16:3232 20:04 21:05 05:02 11:0811:08 0303:40:40 08:5808:58 05:02 09:53 06:58 1257012570 14590 Semester 09.05. – 12.05. P-CSTT P-CSTP-CST 1257012570 14590 117:427:42 09:2809:28 18:5318:53 12:3512:3 21:51 1442014420 14750 16460 P-CSTP-CST P-CSTP-CST P-CST 1442014420 14750 16460 1313:23:23 20:52 20:5 114:274:27 2323:23:233 12:4612:4 19:09 16:01 23:00 13835 1381381515 13650 13710 PP-CST-CST P-CST P-CST 13835 1381381515 D 13650 13710 1818:03:03 5:5:585 9:32 19:00 3:09 09:329:32 03:3503:35 10:0210:02 16:00 20:00 05:32 10:01 05:01 10 13805 14790 P-P-CSTCST F 09.05. 13805 14790 28:3028:300 46:33 3:11 08:588:58 113:28 22:54 13865 1313540540 12670 P-P-CSTCST P-CST 13865 1351354040 12670 18:18:1212 21:52 26:04 3:25 09:3209:32 03:4403:44 09:3909:39 07:31 13:30 12760 13590 13420 P CST P CST P CST 07.05. M ZC 08.05. Ti-To ZC 09.05. Ti-To ZC 10 39 133 134 3 14415 13410 14770 13876 14400 12 P-CST P-CST P-CST P-CST P-CST P-CST 3 14415 13410 14770 13876 14400 12 06:27 14:16 22:51 04:57 10:39 16:49 20:43 03:07 09:32 15:34 00:20 06:27 53 16798 13710 16460 13710 14770 13876 P-CST P-CST P-CST P-CST P-CST P-CST 53 16798 13710 16460 13710 14770 13876 07:28 15:21 23:00 05:01 10:01 16:01 23:00 05:01 10:01 16:49 20:43 03:07 09:3 3 16799 13610 11810 12640 13835 P-CST P-CST P-CST P-CST P-CST 3 16799 13610 11810 12640 13835 06:21 15:21 23:00 05:02 09:53 17:04 01:39 08:04 17:32 03:09 09:3 3 16797 13420 11690 14650 13441 P-CST P-CST P-CST P-CST P-CST

Zertifiziert nach DIN ISO 9001 und IRIS

Primary and secondary suspension systems for rail vehicles Rubber–to–metal bonded suspension elements for noise and vibration reduction

Liechtersmatten 5 · 77815 Bühl · Germany · Tel. +49 72 23 804-0 · www.gmt-gmbh.de GERMANY · IRELAND · SWITZERLAND · ENGLAND · MALAYSIA · USA · CHINA · INDIA · FRANCE

26 IRJ December 2015 Dec UC Davis:Layout 1 18/11/2015 3:43 PM Page 27

Metros and light rail How can cities meet tomorrow’s transit needs? What should the cities of 2050 look like? And what investments in public transport infrastructure are required to meet future demand and improve wellbeing? Dr Lewis Fulton* and Kevin Smith review a study by researchers at University of California Davis and the Institute for Transportation Development and Policy which attempts to answer these questions and more.

ORLD leaders are currently will offer a sustainable and more infrastructure which will serve their facing three major concurrent environmentally-friendly future. requirements effectively and provide W policy dilemmas: how to Whether this is achieved remains to the conditions for continuing economic manage climate change, how to be seen, but for many building and development. In addition, transport in advance equitable and environmentally- operating enhanced urban public urban areas accounted for about 2.3

sustainable economic and social transport infrastructure based on trains, gigatonnes of CO2 in 2010, almost a development, and how to manage buses and bikes is critical to solving third of all transport emissions. And unprecedented urbanisation. each of these issues and should form a with continuing rapid urbanisation, Reaching a consensus to overcome key element of any global strategy. particularly in India and China, and these challenges is one of the major The UN estimates that two-thirds of questions of our time. This month’s the world’s population, or 6.3 billion *Dr Lewis Fulton is the co-director of COP 21 conference on climate change in out of 9.6 billion people, will reside in the NextSteps Program at the Paris offers a further opportunity to cities in 2050, so there is a pressing need University of California Davis’ reach agreements on key policies that to develop urban transport Institute of Transportation Studies. Dec UC Davis:Layout 1 18/11/2015 3:43 PM Page 28

Metros and light rail

investments in public transport. Table 1: Rapid Transit to Resident (RTR) ratio A Global High Shift Scenario is the 2010 2050 first study to consider how changes in BRT Metro Tram Commuter Total Baseline High Shift major transport infrastructure and LRT Rail Total Total transit system investments worldwide USA/Canada 0.4 5.4 5.1 21.0 31.9 30.7 60.5 would affect urban passenger transport Mexico 2.5 2.2 0.7 0.3 5.7 8.7 35.2 emissions as well as mobility by OECD Europe 0.4 7.5 20.0 56.2 84.2 84.4 117.8 different income groups. It provides an OECD Pacific/Other 0.9 7.8 2.6 66.6 78.0 81.0 106.6 understanding of what these systems Non-OECD Europe 0.0 2.1 39.7 3.2 45.0 50.8 79.9 might look like, their potential impact, Russia 0.0 4.6 34.8 4.744.1 51.0 77.8 China 0.8 3.4 0.4 0.1 4.7 7.6 43.3 and, for the first time, an idea of what it India 0.3 0.7 0.2 4.1 5.3 6.1 37.5 could cost to implement the study’s Other Asia 0.5 1.0 1.1 2.2 4.8 5.1 19.3 recommendations. Middle East 0.8 2.2 0.2 0.2 3.4 5.2 30.9 At the heart of the study are two Africa 0.2 0.2 0.5 1.9 2.9 4.0 19.0 scenarios. The first is a “baseline” Brazil 1.7 2.0 0.0 4.4 8.0 10.8 32.4 scenario calibrated to International Other Latin Am/Carib 1.4 1.1 0.2 8.5 11.2 13.2 32.4 Energy Agency (IEA) 2012 Energy Technologies Perspectives 4o°scenario, which is the expected future path for 4455 wwaallkk the world’s development given current 4400 ccyyccllee trends, and the second “High Shift” 3355 (HS) scenario which was specially ee--bbiikkee//ssccooootteerr 3300 developed for the study. HS considers CCommuter Rail the global outcome of implementing 2255 TTrraamm//LLRRTT the policies and investments currently 2200 MMeettrroo in place in countries with the most 1155 MMiinniibbuuss A key aspect of HS’ 1100 BBRRTT 55 BBRRTT FFeeeeddeerr bu buss projections is growth in 00 UUrrbbaann bu buss urban rapid transit, 22001100 200550 2 0 22005500 22001100 200550 2 0 22005500 nnual Passenger Kilometers (trillions) A nnual Passenger IICCEE 2W 2Wss BBaassee HHSS BBaassee HHSS particularly metros, light LLDDVV OOEECCDD nnoonn--OOEECCDD rail, commuter rail and bus Figure 1: Total passenger-km of urban travel in 2010 baseline and 2050 high shift scenario. rapid transit systems. rising car ownership, this figure is set to the next decade and other voluntary efficient urban transport systems. It double by the middle of the century commitments to expand public emphasises far greater travel by urban unless major changes in policy emerge. transport, the Institution of public transport and non-motorised Inspired by the 2012 Rio+20 Transportation Studies at University of modes than in the baseline, and a voluntary commitment by eight California Davis and the Institute for decrease in levels of road construction, multilateral development banks to Transportation Development and Policy parking garages and other ways in provide $US 175bn towards more (ITDP), developed a study of how these which car ownership is encouraged. sustainable transport investments over issues might be addressed through To become an efficient, transit- oriented city, an urban area needs to Three countries that stand out provide a sufficiently high level of rapid  transit services. As a result a key aspect United States: Currently the world leader in urban passenger transport CO2 emissions, with 670 megatonnes annually, the US is projected to lower these of HS’ projections is growth in urban emissions to 560 megatonnes by 2050 because of slower population growth, higher rapid transit, particularly metros, light fuel efficiencies, and the decline in driving per person that has already started as rail, commuter rail and bus rapid transit people move back to cities. But with more sustainable transport options outlined systems. To project the extent of these under HS, this would drop by half to 280 megatonnes. systems in cities by 2050, the study  estimated their extent today and China: CO2 emissions from transport are expected to mushroom from less than 200 megatonnes annually today to nearly 1200 megatonnes in 2050, due in large developed targets for their expansion part to the explosive growth of China’s urban areas, the growing wealth of and new construction up to 2050. An Chinese consumers, and their dependence on automobiles. However, this increase analysis of city size was conducted in can be slashed to fewer than 700 megatonnes under HS by developing extensive conjunction with data on system BRT and metro systems. Passenger-km does not drop significantly for China in HS location and extent to identify patterns, and the latest data shows that China is already sharply increasing investments in while incorporating a UN projection public transport. of total urban population by 2050 to  extend the UN projection of city size India: CO2 emissions are expected to leap from about 70 megatonnes today to over 500 megatonnes in 2050 because of growing wealth and urban populations. by 2030 up to 2050. But this increase can be limited to only 350 megatonnes under HS by addressing To achieve a reasonable approximation crucial infrastructure deficiencies in India’s public transport systems and slowing of these services, the study identified the the growth in car use. kilometres of urban rail and high-quality bus rapid transit trunk lines currently 28 IRJ December 2015 Dec UC Davis:Layout 1 18/11/2015 3:43 PM Page 29

OECD member countries North America Finland Slovenia Canada France Spain United States Germany Sweden Mexico Greece Switzerland Hungary Turkey South America Iceland Chile Ireland Middle East Europe Italy Israel Austria Luxembourg Belgium Netherlands Pacific Britain Norway Australia Czech Republic Poland Japan Denmark Portugal Korea Slovakia New Zealand Estonia Figure 2: Passenger travel by rail type, scenario and region. available and the frequency and capacity of these services. HS focuses in part on increasing the ratio of rapid transit kilometres per million urban residents (rapid transit per resident, or RTR) in emerging economies closer to the levels found today in advanced developed economies and further boosts in wealthier countries where it falls short of current global best practice (see table 1).

Growth For example, in China in 2010, the RTR was about five and is projected to Figure 3: CO equivalent emissions for selected countries. grow to nearly eight by 2050 in the 2 baseline, while in HS the RTR would grow to 21 by 2030 and to 43 by 2050. Similarly in 2010 the RTR in Brazil and Mexico was 8 and 5.7 respectively and is forecast to increase very slowly in the baseline. However, under HS it reaches 19 and 20 respectively by 2030 and 32 and 35 by 2050. By comparison, the RTR in the United States and Canada in 2010 was 32, and in the European members of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) (see panel), 84, the highest of any region, with both projected to remain flat under the baseline up to 2050, but to grow to 61 and 118 respectively by 2050 under HS. Figure 4: 2010 and 2050 high shift rapid transport system length by mode and region. It is noteworthy that in the US existing then compared with total travel in the per capita converges around 8000 rapid transit systems are relatively baseline, for each of the regions and passenger-km per person per year, underutilised with low passenger countries in the IEA’s Mobility Model suggesting more equal levels of loadings, which contributes to a very (MoMo). mobility than exist today or in the high car share. In HS, this performance Growth rates in non-OECD countries baseline scenario. aspect rises over time, contributing to were adjusted to support a target 50% HS’ underlying analysis suggests that much higher transit ridership, and is a reduction in private light-duty vehicle urban travel needs in most parts of the shift which occurs to a lesser extent in travel, except in the United States and world can, in principle, be met with a all countries in HS. Canada, where the 50% reduction is combination of travel modes that cut To achieve the HS projection of urban much greater than a plausible offset urban light-duty vehicle (LDV) passenger travel, the increase in travel from increased transit and non- kilometers by half. The required extent by each mode was combined (with motorised transport. and use of mass transit and non- consideration given to how much each These figures show that in 2010 motorised modes in all areas in 2050 of these modes could logically increase residents of OECDs travelled almost does not exceed the use in certain areas given increases to the others, and twice as much as someone from non- of the world today. However, given the considering the starting points) and OECDs, while by 2050 in HS, the travel rapid urbanisation occurring between IRJ December 2015 29 Dec UC Davis:Layout 1 18/11/2015 3:43 PM Page 30

Metros and light rail

including all market costs to private users and agencies. Overall the cost of the baseline is $US 500 trillion ($US 200 trillion in OECD and $US 300 trillion in non- OECD) whereas the costs under HS are about $US 400 trillion ($US 160 trillion in OECD and $US 240 trillion in non- OECD.) HS trims overall costs by approximately $US 110 trillion, or 22%. The results indicate that in the baseline, investments in road and parking space dominates all other investments. However, in HS the number of roads and parking spaces drops dramatically while in the OECD Figure 5: Summary of cost estimates 2010-2050 by type, scenario and mode. between 2030 and 2050 infrastructure costs “go negative,” reflecting a reduction in the need for roads due to less traffic (see figures 5 and 6). These findings show that a high- transit, high non-motorised-vehicle scenario which provides similar mobility in passenger-km to a more car- dominated scenario is likely to be less expensive to construct and operate over the next 40 years. Unmanageable growth in motor vehicle use threatens to exacerbate growing income equality and environmental ills.

Figure 6: Infrastructure cost estimates, annual averages for 2010-2030, and 2030-2050 by Indeed, the study shows that type, scenario, and mode. unmanageable growth in motor vehicle use threatens to exacerbate growing now and 2050, this will require public Pacific. Metros and light rail feature income equality and environmental ills, transport offerings to be typically 2-3 more in OECD countries whereas BRT while choosing a model that emphasises times higher in 2050 in HS than in the appears more in non-OECD countries, sustainable transport delivers access baseline, and in some regions many although all regions grow this to some for all. In addition, it will also offer a

times higher than today in places where extent. Commuter rail systems expand significant reduction in CO2 and today’s public transport levels of across the world as a key part of harmful emissions which will limit service are very low. development strategies for metropolitan both the effects of global warming A key goal of the HS scenario is to regions (see figure 2). and improve public health. improve the equity of mobility, which The report’s findings should help to is achieved as all regions begin to support wider agreements on climate converge toward 8000 passenger-km Cost estimates policy, where costs and equity of the per capita per year by 2050, with Africa The projections used to estimate cleanup burden between rich and poor and parts of Asia achieving higher system size required in HS were also countries are key issues. However, they mobility rates in HS via investments in used to develop infrastructure cost emphasise it is only one example, and public transport that are closer to other estimates. The findings show that for is not a prediction of the future. With world regions, especially for buses. OECD countries the increase for each the high rates of public investment So what could HS mean for rail mode is significant, but not huge, apart required, HS may be extremely investment? from BRT which is tiny in 2010. challenging to achieve. It will require In the baseline, there is only slow However, in non-OECD countries, the very strong commitments from growth in urban rail ridership around required growth rates are far higher governments and funding agencies to the world due to the construction of very and would require major sustained build the systems, with the quality and few systems and greater emphasis on investments over the coming decades. capacity levels, envisaged in HS. As a road investments. In HS, there is a The study subsequently estimated result an important purpose of A Global steady growth in the number of rail the major direct cost and investment High Shift Scenario is to serve as a basis systems and ridership to reach the implications of HS relative to the of further studies to expand its findings desired levels. However, in many areas baseline from 2010 to 2050 in and investigate how they might be these do not match Europe and OECD cumulative and annual fashion achieved. IRJ 30 IRJ December 2015 Project3:Layout 1 16/11/2015 4:08 PM Page 1

MODULAR SWITCH MULTI TASKER - HIGH CAPACITY CRANE FOR MULTIPLE USES. SWITCH TILTER - FOR MODERN SWITCH AND CROSSING LOGISTICS. TRACKLAYER - THE QUICKEST AND SAFEST WAY TO REPLACE TURNOUTS. WWW.KIROW.DE

KIROW IS A MEMBER OF KRANUNION.

NEW GENERATION GO WIRELESS! BT New Bluetooth generation  Wireless full contact measurement  Compact soft edge design DIGITAL PROFILE MEASURING  Brand new modern-age software

Full contact - Your way to valid and reliable data www.miniprof.dk Dec LCSTS:Layout 1 17/11/2015 12:09 PM Page 32

Metros and light rail Elevated ambitions A new elevated infrastructure solution for metros is touted as an affordable and sustainable way to bring much-needed public transport to some of the world’s worst-served cities. Mercury Rail gave Kevin Smith an exclusive insight into its new Low Cost Sustainable Transport System (LCSTS).

ANY cities around the world population expected to increase to 35 The expense and complexity of are facing a conundrum. With million by 2020, these problems will building new infrastructure in areas M populations increasing and only deepen. with high population density are the demand for public transport services Lagos, Addis Ababa, Hanoi, Delhi, major challenges to delivering the high- intensifying, they are struggling to Lahore, Baghdad, Kuala Lumpur, and capacity public transport networks build new infrastructure fast enough to Johannesburg suffer from similar these cities so badly need. However, keep up. problems and were all rated as having Mercury Rail, and Anglo-Australian The problem is particularly pertinent below average public transport alliance, believes it has come up with an in the developing world where for offerings in the International Public answer to this problem with a new many years governments have lacked Transport Association (UITP) and concept for an affordable and the means to develop adequate consultant Arthur D Little’s Future of sustainable elevated rail infrastructure infrastructure. Urban Mobility 2.0 study issued in 2014 system. Jakarta is the epitome of this. With an (IRJ June 2014 p40). Mr Ian Saul, director of engineering estimated population of 10.2 million in Jakarta is attempting to address its solutions, at Mercury Rail, says the the city, and 28.2 million across the issues by constructing a new metro line company recognised that elevated metropolitan area, which has grown and . However, these railways utilise huge structures which from 8.2 million in 1970, its limited and projects have been fraught with delays are over-designed for rail applications, ageing commuter rail network is unable and will not go far enough to provide a take up too much space, and are to serve the city’s needs. The streets are viable alternative to the car. It’s a expensive. As a result he says the team consequently jammed with traffic, similar story in Lagos where a plan to at Mercury decided to come up with an which makes getting around extremely introduce a limited commuter service alternative concept which incorporates difficult, and with the metropolitan has stalled. sustainable elements, is low-cost,

Mercury Rail’s LCSTS system requires significantly less space than conventional elevated railways. 32 IRJ December 2015 IRJSEPXX (Evraz):Layout 1 11/08/2015 4:07 PM Page 1 Dec LCSTS:Layout 1 18/11/2015 12:55 PM Page 34

Metros and light rail

embedded steel dowels says Mr Nigel Walrond, principal with steel bracing consultant, integrated systems, at 1 installed around the Mercury Rail. “Its design also means four columns 1m below that you won’t have to close down the surface. On top of roads for weeks at a time as the the columns, two split structure is built, which can turn the cradles are installed public against a project. This is what which include a happened in Jakarta with its metro line. specialist rail housing The system minimises the impact on the unit, which consists of a public and existing buildings and hard-wearing polymer structures.” to prevent degradation For station platforms the support and has a lifespan of 25 structure is a lattice design which years, and a vibration allows passage underneath while mitigation layer, which maintaining the same longitudinal is encased in steel to footprint as the track structure. Figure 1 reduce the degradation Retrofitting a platform area to the 1) Removable E-Crete walls with recess for third rail if required of the polymer. elevated structure requires an 8.5m 2) Modular E-Crete dual box beam superstructure for single track Installation of each superstructure to allow passage under 3) Steel split cradle support to connect superstructure with supporting columns pile location is carried the 4m pile spread, a 2.35m-wide out within a 180m-long increases safety for construction moving work area which minimises workers and passengers, and delivers disruption to pedestrians and road socio-economic benefits. users. The road is only closed during Saul says Mercury’s solution, the Low the installation of the beam, which takes Cost Sustainable Transport System place at the end of a predefined pile (LCSTS), is a modular design consisting construction section of 10-20 pile of four main components, which are locations. easily-transportable, straightforward to At this point the mobile construction assemble, require less space than rig carrying the individual superstructure conventional elevated systems, and are section is driven into place. Using the rig flexible to the requirements of any enables the very precise installation of project, whether it is standard or the beam while surveying beacons are narrow gauge, single or double track. used by a surveyor during the superstructure installation to identify any small movements. Once in place steel Excavation bracing is installed 500mm below the The double-track standard-gauge split cradles for stable support before the viaduct requires a 4m-wide area (2.5m walls are lifted into position and secured. Figure 2 for single track), which can be a 4) Vibration-reducing polymer Where wayside equipment is required, 5) Bracing for four piles which is mirrored below footpath or road central reservation, to one wall is replaced by a steel grid ground level install 2x550mm-diameter piles platform which is braced against the 6) Support column (2x400mm for narrow gauge). The piles columns with an option for additional are supported by a precast block columns available for heavier equipment. platform area, a 6m escalator approach positioned within a 3m2³excavation area “As it is a modular system, it is easy to the platform, and space for passenger which is connected to the piles using to put up and it quickly pays for itself,” channelling, which is dependent on the expected usage of the station. Passengers can only access the platform when a train is approaching with platform screen doors separating passengers from railway infrastructure, improving safety. The platform itself is 25% smaller than conventional elevated platforms because of the proposed reduction in train size for the system. Saul says that while the trains are smaller they will be designed to maximise space to provide comparable capacity with existing systems. He added that Mercury is in discussions with manufacturers about developing a suitable solution. “We have a strong relationship with a rolling stock manufacturer and have Figure 3 worked on how the weight of the 7) Steel connection brace bar rolling stock would impact the system,” 34 IRJ December 2015 Dec LCSTS:Layout 1 18/11/2015 12:55 PM Page 35

Saul says. “We have found that it is The modular design of the structure considered key target markets, and more than capable of accommodating also reduces construction costs and Saudi Arabia another attractive 22 tonne axleloads, and to go any simplifies the process with only six proposition. “They are more interested higher than this it would simply require engineers required to install a single in the safety aspects of the system’s increasing the pile size.” section of the structure. The city is able approach than the low-cost element,” Another important consideration for to fund construction in stages enabling Saul says, adding that in general the the project for Saul and Walrond is its the generation of revenue when only a reception for LCSTS has been capability to provide socio-economic portion of the infrastructure is complete. overwhelmingly positive. “We have had payback. Saul says that the simplicity of Reductions in material costs are a lot of feedback from presentations and LCSTS’s design means that installing the similarly possible by removing walls, they are encouraged that we are looking system is within the capabilities of local which reduces the weight of the to do things differently, and taking a workers with up to 95% of the labour structure and are attractive for fresh approach to this problem.” required for the project available locally. applications outside of urban areas. In Saul’s experiences in the rail industry this case communications and began with Jarvis Rail in Britain in 2000 “We have had a lot of signalling cables are relocated to the and he has subsequently worked in base of the structure from conventional Saudi Arabia and Australia. Walrond feedback and they are application in the box-section void. has a similar background, beginning encouraged that we are Maintenance outlay is also reduced by with Docklands Light Rail in the 1990s, adapting equipment used for then spending time in Asia, before looking to do things construction such as the construction moving to Australia. differently, and taking a rig for track inspection and by utilising Both say they see Mercury Rail as an the latest techniques and affordable but opportunity to give something back to fresh approach.” state-of-the-art inspection vehicles. the industry and “to provide a solution Ian Saul There are also options to tailor the that makes a difference.” They would structure’s design to a particular not reveal who is backing Mercury Rail The structure also uses sustainable environment and meet cities’ concerns financially, but emphasised that the materials, specifically E-crete, a low- about how it will look within the project’s investors are “100% carbon concrete for each superstructure, existing environment. “Traditionally committed” to making it a success. wall and column component. This again low-cost structures are not as With their drive and determination to can be produced locally and the aesthetically pleasing so we have deliver, LCSTS is likely to be a new production process is proven to reduce looked at designing the façade of the consideration for urban rail developers

CO2 emissions by 60% compared with structure to fit in with the local as they let contracts in the next few conventional Ordinary Portland situation,” Walrond says. “This will years and may become a key feature of Cement-based concrete. increase the time it takes to build and efforts to combat congestion, The cost of the system is of course the cost, but it is an option to deliver particularly in areas where the cost of dependent on the location. However, something that suits the local doing so have proven prohibitive. compared with traditional elevated surroundings.” “Many people work in the railway structures, LCSTS uses 60% fewer industry and have ideas, but tend to materials, which reduces costs focus on something that will look significantly, without sacrificing Official launch good,” Saul says. “They don’t often get stability. “If one pile gets hit by a car or Saul says Mercury is targeting LCSTS the chance to do something that is a a truck, you have still got three to at projects in the Middle East, Africa legacy project and will still have value provide the support,” Saul says. and Asia, with Malaysia and Vietnam in 50 years.” IRJ

Figure 4: Platform and escalator access 8) Escalator entrance access 9) Disabled access and emergency escape stairs 10) Entrance/exit segregation door 11) Exit escalator access 12) Open-ended station platform 13) Standard polished steel façade 14) Insulation within the structure 15) Replaceable rubber dampener 16) Steel split cradle system 17) Vibration reducing polymer 18) Steel brace 19) Column 20) Below-ground steel brace 21) Structural pad feet

IRJ December 2015 35 IRJDECXX (UIC):Layout 1 10/11/2015 12:00 Page 1

Save the date! 29 Feb. 2 March 2016

“ERTMS – Managing long term safety investment in a rapidly changing world” UIC, the International Union of Railways, together with INFRABEL, is pleased to organise the 12th UIC ERTMS World Conference in Brussels.

The 12th UIC ERTMS World Conference, “UIC ERTMS During the 2016 ERTMS World Conference, the railways 2016”, following the successful previous editions in and supply industry will come together to showcase the Istanbul (2014) and Stockholm (2012), is due to take latest achievements of ERTMS and prove their commit- place at “Square – Brussels meeting Centre”, an attrac- ment to further development and progress. The technical tive location in the centre of Brussels city, prized for its exhibition will convincingly demonstrate the supply position and practicality, situated in the cultural quar- potential and the application of leading technologies ter of Brussels in front of the Central Station, with easy within the ERTMS concept. access to train connections and accommodation.

INFRABEL, the Belgian Rail Infrastructure Manager, is The technical visit, organised closely involved in the implementation of the by the host of the conference INFRABEL, unified ETCS train control system on its network. A big national project is called “ETCS 2022”. will take place on 29 February 2016.

More information regarding the exhibition, sponsoring www.ertms-conference2016.com possibilities, registration, please contact : Barbara Mouchel, Communications Advisor for UIC Major Events [email protected] DecChinaHS:Layout 1 17/11/2015 12:05 PM Page 37

High speed High-altitude high-speed China’s Alpine EMU to enter service this month

HE 1776km high-speed line from radiation and heavy snowfall. Ensuring ventilation system ensures onboard air T Lanzhou to Urumqi in the rolling stock could meet the demands of quality is maintained. An anti-roll device Xinjiang region of northwest operating safely and reliably at speeds ensures lateral stability in strong winds. China must rank alongside the Qinghai of up to 250km/h was one of the key Electrical equipment has been Tibet Railway as one China’s greatest engineering challenges of this configured to minimise the risk of engineering achievements of recent remarkable railway, and CRRC damage from lightning strikes, and years. The 31-station line crosses the Corporation has spent three years traction motors, converters, and Gobi desert and the Qilian Mountains, developing a high-speed train transformers have been configured for reaching a summit of 3607m above sea specifically for operation in this high- operation in low ambient temperatures. level in the Qilianshan No 2 Tunnel, altitude environment. CRRC says the use of protective film on making it the world’s highest high- CRRC confirmed last month that the windows and windscreens reduces speed line. the CRH2G EMU has been approved UV penetration to less than 1% and UV- This is an environment defined by by China’s National Railway resistant materials have also been used extremes, from high desert winds and Administration and the fleet is expected to protect exterior paintwork and sandstorms to intense ultraviolet to enter service on the Lanzhou - rubber insulators. Urumqi line this month. In order to validate the performance Specification: CRH2G The 250km/h trains are being of the trains in extreme conditions, a Formation: 8-car (4 powered/4 trailer) supplied to China Railway Corporation driving vehicle and trailer from the Maximum speed: 250km/h (CRC) by CRRC’s Qingdao Sifang prototype set was shipped to Europe in Voltage: 25kV 50Hz ac subsidiary and are designed to operate autumn 2014 to undergo tests in the Total length: 201.4m in temperatures ranging from -40 to Rail Tec Arsenal climatic chamber in Traction power: 4.8MW +40oC as well as sandstorms, high- Vienna. Regenerative power: 9.28MW Total passenger capacity: 613 winds, and intense ultraviolet light. The train seats 565 passengers in Axleload: 15.45 tonnes Bogies have been adapted to prevent standard class and 48 in first class, with Average acceleration frost, snow, and ice accumulation while a wheelchair space and accessible toilet (0-120km/h): ≥ 0.39m/s2 the sealed bodyshell reduces the risk of in one of the intermediate standard- Deceleration (service brake): ≥ 0.74m/s2 failures caused by condensing meltwater. class cars. The 3.3m-wide car-body Driving car length: 25.45m Underfloor equipment cabinets are enables the train to accommodate 2+3 Intermediate car length: 24.5m Floor height above rail: 1300mm pressure-sealed to minimise sand and seating in standard class, with a 2+2 dust ingress and a sediment control layout in first class. IRJ IRJ December 2015 37 DecPeru:Layout 1 17/11/2015 12:44 PM Page 38

Peru High hopes for Peru’s Andean railway Private concessionaire FCCA, which has been operating and maintaining the world’s second-highest railway in Peru since 1999, has invested heavily in both the infrastructure and its fleet. As Keith Fender reports, from Peru, this is now paying off as freight traffic has more than doubled and the railway is making an operating profit.

Photos: Keith Fender DecPeru:Layout 1 17/11/2015 12:45 PM Page 39

HE 480km standard-gauge Traffic is expected to reach 4 million FCCA railway connects the tonnes annually by 2018, and the T Pacific Ocean port of Callao near imminent reopening of one of the with the mining centre of La country’s main copper processing Oroya and Huancayo located in the plants in La Oroya, which closed in high-altitude Mantaro valley with 2009 due to financial and environmental branches to Jauja and Cerro de Pasco problems, should add up to 1 million high in the Andes. The initial 173km tonnes a year. ay section climbs from sea level to an Under the concession contract, FCCA altitude of 4783m and is entirely adhesion is supposed to provide capacity for worked despite ruling gradients of 4.5%. open-access operators. So far the Operation of trains requires real skill extreme operating conditions have as the altitude, combined with the steep proved a deterrent, as Mr Jaime Blanco, gradients, imposes considerable strain FCA’s general manager, explains: “One on both locomotives and their crews. To new entrant did look at operating but gain height six zig-zags, some several decided not to do so after kilometres long, are provided where understanding what is involved.” complete trains reverse. As a result, Nevertheless there is open-access trains are normally restricted to 17 passenger operation in Peru on the wagons. 914mm-gauge line serving Machu For most of its life the railway has Pichu. been operated by private Safety prior to the FCCA takeover concessionaires, apart from a period of was poor, and derailments and other state ownership between 1972 and 1999, accidents were common. Such incidents when Peruvian National Railways have now become very rare as (Enafer) ran the railway. standards both for the track and train FCCA comprises two companies: operation have improved enormously, Central Andina Railways (FVCA), the backed up by better staff awareness of official concessionaire, which acts as safety. Operating staff now have infrastructure manager and manages personal protective equipment such as relations with government, while steel-tipped boots which previous Central Andino Railway (FCA) is the operators had regarded as unnecessary. operator. Both concessionaire and Around 800 people work for FCCA, operating company share senior substantially less than the 1900 personnel, and major Peruvian previously employed by Enafer. shareholder Dr Juan Olaechea is The concession agreement signed in chairman of the two companies. FCCA 1999 was for 30 years, with the option has a number of other shareholders, to extend it at intervals. So far the notably Railroad Development concession has been extended twice, Corporation, United States, plus several and now runs until 2040. partner or customer companies from Upgrading the infrastructure to US the Peruvian mining and cement Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) sectors. However, several financial Level II standards was a requirement of investors involved at the start of the the original concession. Blanco says that concession have exited at substantial the improving performance of the profit during the last decade. concession led to an agreement with the The railway’s staple traffic is a government to re-invest payments from mixture of minerals, especially zinc, the concession in further upgrades to copper and lead, from mines high in the the infrastructure to meet FRA Level III Andes, cement and a high volume of standards. “In some parts, the railway sulphuric acid in the Lima area. Whilst now exceeds this,” Blanco says. the mineral traffic is transported largely As a result of concession amendments to Callao port, construction materials in 2009 and 2014, FCCA agreed to and diesel fuel are also conveyed from improve the condition of the core the Lima area to the mines. When the 222km Callao - Oroya section to FRA concession started, the railway was only Level III which concerns track condition carrying 900,000 tonnes a year. FCCA and maintenance standards. Nominally has benefited from rising global Level III allows for 64km/h freight and demand for technology and other 96km/h passenger operation although products, much of which uses the the tortuous nature of the FCCA line copper, zinc and other metals found in means train speeds rarely exceed the Andes, which led to an expansion of 50km/h. mining close to the FCCA route. As a The track has been substantially result, traffic has grown to 2.5 million improved with 115lb (52kg) rail tonnes in 2014 while revenue has replacing older 70 or 80lb (32 or 36kg) increased to around $US 50m a year. rail. Whilst the rail is purchased in 24m 39 DecPeru:Layout 1 17/11/2015 12:45 PM Page 40

Peru

lengths it is normally welded to lengths in locations known to be prone to flash changes to the concession agreement. of 48m or longer to reduce the number floods. While nothing happened, as the of rail joints and consequent wear. The Blanco believes that given the current government did not regard the railway track upgrades coupled with bridge growth in business and further as a national priority, there is a glimmer strengthening have increased axleloads expansion of Peru’s mining industry of hope. Chinese Premier Mr Li from 20 to 32 tonnes. substantial investment in the route Keqiang visited Peru in May to discuss The Pacific coast of the Americas is could be possible “within a decade.” proposals for a new trans-continental prone to extreme weather, especially Top of the list are spiral tunnels to railway linking Santos near São Paulo due to the El Niño phenomena, often replace the zig-zags and enable in Brazil with the northern Peruvian resulting in significant damage to operation of longer trains. port of Paita. FCCA has previously railways. The impending El Niño in In 2006 FVCA presented plans for a expressed interest in participating in 2015-16 is widely forecast to be one of 23.2km base tunnel under the Andes this project along with construction the most damaging for years and FCCA from Rio Blanco to Arapa which would firms, GE, Brazilian operator ALL, and has built large flood defences and have replaced the existing summit Korean operator Korail, but how this reinforced embankments this year with tunnel and three of the six zig-zags. The proposal fits with the plans by the the aim of minimising potential damage PPP project would have entailed Chinese to fund or build the new line is unclear. FCCA inherited a mixed fleet of older Alco and EMD locomotives from Enafer. FCCA has taken advantage of a clause in the concession agreement which returns surplus assets to the Peruvian government by disposing of its older locomotives. Most of the 28- strong locomotive fleet are GE models rebuilt for operation in Peru after service in the United States or elsewhere. FCCA is currently completing the conversion of 15 GE C39-8 locomotives bought secondhand from Norfolk Southern for use on its network. The diesel engines were removed for overhaul in the United States prior to shipment. The work, which is being done at FCCA’s Chosica depot, located around 50km east of Lima, includes reducing the size of the locomotives’ bodies to enable them to fit through the small Andean tunnels and installing a second air-brake system. More than 700 wagons are in service on the FCCA network, some of which are now owned by customers. Trinity Rail was chosen to supply 220 bogie ore concentrate wagons and has also supplied 90 sulphuric-acid tank wagons. FCCA resumed limited passenger services from Lima to Huancayo in 2002. Operation is a challenge as the trains need to carry oxygen and a doctor onboard, as well as police for security. The trains run six to eight times a year and as they normally sell out, the company plans to increase the frequency to twelve trains a year from 2016. FCCA undertook the conversion of the 914mm-gauge line from Huancayo to Huancavelica to standard gauge. The $US 33m scheme was funded by the Peruvian government and the Development Bank of Latin America. Although the re-gauging work was Trains meet at a passing loop on the mountainous section of the railway. completed in late 2010, passenger 40 IRJ December 2015 DecPeru:Layout 1 17/11/2015 12:45 PM Page 41

Peru FCCA line up!Dfssp!ef!Qbtdp La Oroya IRJ Other lines N

A Height above sea Galera Tunnel Huari level in metres B Gradient Chacapalpa Rumichaca Tambo Rio Blanco El Mantaro Llocllapampa Matucana up! Ivbodbwfmjdb Corcona Galera Chosica Tunnel Rumichaca Chacapalpa El La Oroya Tambo Mantaro Huari Llocllapampa Huancayo Callao Santa Clara Rio Blanco Lima Matucana

Corcona Santa Clara Callao Lima

A 0 150 731 1234 2388 3503 4782 4399 3725 3606 3544 3463 3358 3311 3260 B 2.16% 2.79% 4.1% 4.13% 4.37% 4.32% 4.27% 3.91% 1.4% 1.68% 1.5% services operated on behalf of the unhappy with the proposed tender contract conditions.” Huancavelica regional government did conditions. The outlook for rail in Peru is a lot not resume until September. In recent years FCCA has presented a brighter now than it was just a few Now the the line is connected to the number of proposals to the government years ago. Blanco says that discussion existing FCCA network, there is for rail investment away from the of new trans-continental lines and the potential to carry mineral traffic from concession’s main route and it is still development of the metro network in mines near the route. While the interested in future opportunities. For Lima mean that “interest in rail has government is re-tendering the example, Blanco says FCCA may look at been awakened in the wider population concession for the route, Blanco says participating in the new metro Line 3 and investors are starting to become FCCA is unlikely to participate as he is project in Lima “depending on the seriously interested in possibilities.” IRJ

A freight train passes through Chosica where FCCA has its main workshops.

IRJ December 2015 41 IRJDECXX (IRITS):Layout 1 17/11/2015 16:33 Page 24

S International Railway Summit powered by 17-19 February 2016, Vienna

Find business partners who are looking for you

What is International Railway Summit? S One-to-one meetings based on matchmaking between buyers and experts Conference programme curated and chaired by International Railway Journal G High-level networking over site visits, coffees, lunches and dinners S

Why should I attend? S Save time and meet decision makers directly S Meetings are guaranteed: meet the delegates that you request Buyers’ procurement requirements are shared with participants Reduce travel costs: up to 15 meetings over 2 days Make friends, not contacts, over a full networking programme T S

Contact us

Participant enquiries Speaker enquiries Visit our website Jules Omura David Briginshaw irits.org Managing Director - IRITS Events Editor-in-Chief - International Railway Journal Follow us on Twitter +44 20 7112 5397 | [email protected] +44 1326 313945 | [email protected] @railsummit S IRJDECXX (IRITS):Layout 1 17/11/2015 16:33 Page 25

Speakers include:

Chairman David Briginshaw Alain Flausch Editor-in-Chief, IRJ Secretary General, UITP

Philippe Citroën Andy Doherty Director General, UNIFE Chairman, ERRAC and Director, System Engineering, Network Rail

Ichiro Takahashi Troels Løve Hannecke Executive Director, CEO & CTO, Supeo Brussels Branch, JR East

Maria Leenen CEO, SCI Verkehr

Headline Sponsor

Gold Sponsors

Silver Sponsors

Tech Review Sponsors

r Design Sponsor Dec EFE:Layout 1 17/11/2015 1:23 PM Page 44

Chile Photo: Felipe Bustamante

Chile’s EFE aims for 100 million passengers Chilean State Railways’ latest three-year development plan continues the country’s ambitious investments in infrastructure to boost suburban passenger services. Ian Thomson-Newman reports from on how the railway is aiming to achieve its growth target. Dec EFE:Layout 1 17/11/2015 1:23 PM Page 45

TATE-owned Chilean State of the current Railways (EFE) is responsible for MetroTren Chile some 2100 route-km, and its main suburban service S IRJ activities comprise supervising which operates on

infrastructure maintenance contractors the main line Pacific Ocean and running suburban services through between Santiago’s La Calera wholly-owned subsidiary companies. Alameda (Central) Two privately-owned concessionaires station and the city Quillota Rio Blanco also operate railfreight services on of Rancagua, some EFE’s tracks: Ferrocarril del Pacìfico 81.5km to the Limache (FdP) and Transportes Andrés Pirazzoli south. The project Til-Til (Transap). EFE itself operates no freight is behind schedule Valparaíso services, although it has plans to do so, but should be Batuco possibly in 2016, using infrastructure completed in the N owned by its Arica to La Paz Railway first quarter of (FCALPSA) subsidiary. The line is 2016. It will offer a separated from EFE’s southern core four-minute peak La Errrázuriz Santiago network by almost 2000km and it has frequency service Cartagena Maipú Valledor carried only internal service trains in as far as Nos, 20km the past 10 years. from Alameda, and Melipilla Nos EFE´s current passenger operations a 15-minute service San Antonio are limited to less than 1% of all public onwards to transport in Chile due to suspension of Rancagua using some services due to infrastructure Alstom Xtrápolis works. This includes the MetroTren trains. Work has suburban service over the 81.8km required the stretch between Santiago and Rancagua, suspension of both Existing commuter line and the twice-daily 397.6km Santiago - MetroTren Lines being upgraded Chillán service. Operations continue on operations and the Lines proposed for upgrading Rancagua the 43.2km Valparaíso Regional Metro sparse interurban Proposed new line to Chillán (Merval) service between Valparaíso service to Chillán. Other lines and Limache, BioTren surburban The project is services in the Concepción area, and estimated to cost $US 545m and early next year with forecast ridership three low-frequency rural services, from services should have an annual of 3.5 million annual passengers. The Concepción to Laja, Victoria to Temuco ridership of 23 million passengers due suburban trains will access the city of and Talca to Constitución. in part to the inclusion of Nos Express Concepción via a single-track, 124-year- EFE draws up three-year in the TranSantiago integrated fare old bridge over the Biobio River, which development plans, which must be structure, thereby permitting is the longest in Chile. The bridge is approved by the Finance Ministry if passengers to continue their journeys also used by freight trains transporting they involve state-funded by metro or bus without having to pay cellulose and other products, and with disbursements, which they invariably an extra fare or, at least, paying only a the traffic set to increase, construction of do. Projects must meet the Social minimal surcharge. an additional bridge is under Development Ministry’s criteria for  The Valparaíso Regional Metro consideration. project evaluation, which, in principle, (Merval): The current Merval suburban are quite conservative, not admitting, service, inaugurated in 2005, operates for instance, benefits from greater on a 43km corridor between Valparaíso Master plan willingness to pay for improvements in and Limache. With ridership of In addition to its three-year plans, service quality unrelated to journey 22 million annual passengers, Merval is EFE also has a longer term Master Plan, time savings. finally reaching the initially forecast which consists of 18 projects valued at On the other hand, the financial levels, and should increase further due $US 7.6bn, which are in different stages resources available for transport projects to an integrated fare structure for all of evaluation and design. in regions away from Santiago have electrically-powered public transport in One of the most advanced is what is mushroomed since Congress insisted the Valparaíso area. To meet this popularly known as the Melitren, a that, as a quid pro quo for approving a demand, Alstom is delivering an suburban service over an existing right- funding law for TranSantiago, the additional eight Xtrápolis trains, with a of-way which is planned to link capital’s deficit-ridden public transport further five under consideration. The Santiago´s Alameda station with the system, equivalent financing must be investment cost is $US 75m. dormitory town of Melipilla, 61km made available for transport projects  The Concepción area BioTren: This southwest of the capital. This was elsewhere in the country. However, this involves the electrification of the 17km unsuccessfully tendered in the 1990s, has created a situation in which stretch of line from the current and fell foul of a disagreement between investment funds are looking for projects suburban railhead at Lomas Coloradas EFE and the company. rather than the other way around. to Coronel, a former coal mining town For cost reasons the former wanted to The main projects which EFE is and now a satellite of Concepción. The locate the city terminus at Alameda. currently developing are: project, which is budgeted at $US 88m, However, the latter argued that a new  Nos/Rancagua Express: This was reported as 60% complete in intermodal terminal at Quinta Normal amounts to a thorough modernisation August and is due to be completed was necessary to avoid overburdening IRJ December 2015 45 Dec EFE:Layout 1 17/11/2015 1:23 PM Page 46

Chile

the EFE-Metro interchange facilities at town of Batuco, and a 24km extension of is estimated to cost $US 1.2bn. Alameda and to encourage EFE´s the Merval service to La Calera, would One difficulty of implementing the passengers onto metro Line 5 rather push the total beyond 100 million. project is to combine high-speed than Line 1, which has no spare peak intercity trains and greatly increased capacity. The result was the partial freight movements with the frequent building of the intermodal terminal but Restricted Merval suburban service between without a new tunnel to connect it to One of the features of EFE´s network is Limache and Valparaíso. A study of a the line to Melipilla. that the distance by rail from the capital possible link to Santiago’s international The new Melitren service, which is to Valparaíso/Viña del Mar and airport from the existing line is also estimated to cost $US 1.07bn to realise, Talcahuano/Concepción - the second and underway. will not be tendered but instead operated the third most important urban The new line to Concepcíon would by EFE. The potential overload problem agglomerations in the country - are, diverge from the main line to the south at Alameda has not gone away, and to respectively, some 60% and 13% greater at Rucapequén, a few kilometers some extent has become more critical. than the corresponding distance by road. beyond Chillán, and would essentially Although some of the Melitren’s Speeds are restricted, with the railway follow a secondary line which was in 31 million annual passengers and the climbing at 2.5% through sharp curves on use until around 20 years ago but never Nos/Rancagua Expresses’ 23 million the Valparaíso/Viña del Mar line and for inter-city services. would switch to metro Line 6 at stations winding around the northern banks of Railfreight traffic in Chile is close to a short of Alameda, most would prefer to the Biobio River to reach Talcahuano/ historical high, mainly due to the change to Line 1, which serves both the Concepción. Both lines are also mainly transport of minerals by privately-owned city centre and more recently-developed single track, meaning that the railway is railways in the north, and so too is business districts further east. As a result, at a competitive disadvantage for passenger traffic. However, rail’s modal the Transport Ministry is currently trying daytime passenger traffic. share remains low in both cases, and this to find a suitable solution through a A new railway to Valparaìso has been is what EFE is aiming to address. dedicated working group. proposed almost from the moment the For financial, economic, and technical Once completed, these projects will existing one was opened 152 years ago reasons the entire package of 18 projects increase EFE´s annual ridership from an and the EFE Master Plan includes a has no chance of complete average of 30 million in recent years to prefeasibility study of a direct tunnelled implementation by the plan’s 2022 nearly 100 million. The implementation route via the scenic La Dormida pass target deadline, but some of them will of other projects included in the Master through the coastal mountain range. get off the ground, which will provide a Plan, such as a 27km suburban service The line would link stations at Til-Til real boost for rail in the country, and from Quinta Normal to the north-easterly and Limache on the existing route and take ridership to new heights. IRJ

Ridership on Merval services is expected to increase following the adoption of an integrated fares system in Valparaíso. Photo: Merval 46 IRJ December 2015 IRJDECXX (EMD):Layout 1 16/11/2015 14:15 Page 1

GT46AC Locomotive

SD70ACe Locomotive

SD70ACe-BB Locomotive

EMD Locomotives Power and Performance Designed for Brazil – Built in Brazil

Committed to Brazil. EMD offers the broadest range of locomotives tailored for Brazil’s rail operations. Our portfolio for Brazil includes GT46AC, SD80ACe, SD70ACe and our new eight-axle SD70ACe-BB locomotives — providing flexible designs for a wide range of clearance diagrams, axle loads and gauges.

progressrail.com 15099 Project1:Layout 1 16/04/2013 10:27 Page 1

GLOBAL RAIL TENDERS

Turning Opportunities into New Business Get up-to-the-minute business intelligence by subscribing to GlobalRailTenders.com

Quickly find thousands of Receive customised daily new project opportunities email alerts with new tenders and full rail tenders

Generate new business Access platform remotely opportunities with real-time anywhere, any time information, customised to your search criteria

Powered by

Subscribe at www.GlobalRailTenders.com Dec Sekisui:Layout 1 17/11/2015 1:20 PM Page 49

Track Synthetic sleepers still going strong after 30 years

Sekisui’s FFU synthetic sleepers have been deployed on 1400km of switch and bridge track sections in 16 countries since they were introduced over 30 years ago. Japan’s Railway Technical Research Institute returned to two early installations in Japan to evaluate the sleepers’ performance.

EKISUI’s fibre-reinforced foamed manager Infrabel, which also completed One of the major benefits of the urethane (FFU) sleepers were a bridge installation earlier this year. sleepers is their longevity. This was S devised as a synthetic alternative FFU is produced by compressing recently demonstrated in a study to traditional wood sleepers that would single strands of glass fibre with conducted by Japan’s Railway Technical offer the same performance but a far polyurethane foam using a high- Research Institute (RTRI) on behalf of longer life span and with better pressure extraction press. The Sekisui of FFU synthetic short sleepers resistance to the elements. manufacturing process is initiated by and FFU synthetic bridge sleepers FFU sleepers were first installed in mixing the base materials polyole and which have been in service in Japan for 1980, and are now in use on more than isocyanide with several additives, and the last 30 years. 1400km of track sections at switches, after compounding and extrusion, the Specifically the study looked at bi- tunnels and bridges in 16 countries. raw mixture is reinforced with long block or short sleepers used in the FFU’s latest customers are British glass fibres. Foaming and curing then Kanmon tunnel on the Sanyo Main Line infrastructure manager Network Rail, takes place before the finished product on Kyushu Railway, and bridge sleepers which introduced the sleepers for the is cut to a standard length of 12m for on the Miomotegawa bridge on JR first time on two bridges in September further processing and sizing to any East’s Uetsu Line. 2014, and Belgian infrastructure length determined by customers. In total 74 sleepers consisting of 37 IRJ December 2015 49 Dec Sekisui:Layout 1 17/11/2015 1:20 PM Page 50

Track

FFU sleepers are produced by of screw spikes under JIS E 12031. longitudinal direction of the specimen compressing single strands of Tests of the screw spike unfastening was parallel to the fibre direction and glass fibre with torque were also conducted which the specimen measured 30x30x520mm. polyurethane foam consisted of fixing a short sleeper to a The load was applied perpendicular to using a high- test bench to unfasten the screw spike the fibre direction and had a 420mm pressure with a wrench and measure the support span. extraction press. torque of the moment. The The maximum set bending stress was measurement was continued until 70, 75, 80, 90, and 95N/mm2² and the the unfastening torque on the number of vibrations was up to 100 screw spike started to decline. Like million. the torque tests, the screw spike unfastening torque fell within the The results of the physical range of 163 to 336Nm with an property tests show that the average torque of 223.7Nm. The required torque to unfasten a sleepers continue to meet screw spike varied between screw JIS E 12031 and ISO 12856-1 spikes, but according to the comparison it was roughly equal to that obtained standards. from the result of a survey of sleepers after 10 years in service. Consequently, Besides the bending fatigue tests, any drop in torque to unfasten screw static bending tests were conducted spikes is hardly noticeable. with the objective of collecting data in pairs were installed in Kanmon tunnel, The results of the physical property order to convert the stress acting on with dimensions of 120x240x590mm, tests show that the sleepers continue to each specimen in the bending fatigue with 60kg rails and gate-type rail meet JIS E 12031 and ISO 12856-1 test to an equivalent specific gravity. fasteners used. The alignment is standards. In addition, when comparing The static bending tests were conducted straight with a 2.2% gradient and the the average specific gravity of five times on one piece of each sleeper. passing tonnage per year is 18.9 million specimens by years in service, the The dimensions and support span of tonnes, which equates to 52,000 tonnes average after 15 years with 680kg/m3 the specimens used to conduct the tests per day, and in the past 30 years, 580 was almost the same as that of the were the same as those used to conduct million tonnes. specimens used in the latest tests. the bending fatigue tests. Kyushu Railway Company has If the results of FFU sleepers in service carried out the following maintenance after 30 years are compared with the procedures on the short sleepers since Bridge tests results of bending fatigue tests on the installation: Tests were also carried out of bridge bridge sleepers after 15 years in service  1984: replaced sleeper plates sleepers on the Miomotegawa bridge. In and on the new synthetic sleepers, it is  1985: replaced rails total 18 200x200x2700mm sleepers were clear that the strength of the bridge  1991: replaced rails installed on the line in 1980, with 50kg sleepers under the bending fatigue tests  1996: replaced rails rails with F-shaped rail fasteners fixed is declining. The stress on the bridge  2002: replaced rails, and with dog spikes used for the straight sleepers is 77.8N/mm2² while the new  2005: replaced sleeper plates alignment, which has a gradient of 4.4‰. synthetic sleepers is 94N/mm2. The survey results show that after 15, Annual passing tonnage on the This demonstrates that the strength 20, 25, and 30 years in service the short bridge is 6.1 million tonnes, which deteriorated by 16.2N/mm2² in the past sleepers exhibited no cracks and means the sleepers have carried 180 30 years. However, since the results of warping, no changes in the colour of million tonnes over the last 30 years. the tests on the bridge sleepers after 15 the surface layer, and no loose screw According to the past survey results years in service exhibited a 78.9N/mm2² spikes, and overall were in good fixed and data from JR East, no track stress that did not vary significantly condition. Furthermore, the sleeper maintenance was performed for a from the results of these tests, no plates were in good fastened condition, period of 20 years after the sleepers noticeable deterioration in the strength while no peeling or cracks, or loose were installed. was observed. sleepers were found during The survey results show that the Furthermore, if it is assumed that the observations of the bonded portions bridge sleepers exhibited no cracks and axleload applied to the Shinkansen was from the ditch side. warping on their surface and no peeling 170kN, and the bridge sleepers were In addition, screw spike pull-out tests of the bonded surface in the bonded subjected to repeated stress due to were carried out. These consist of area. Even though some of the dog trains passing at a frequency equivalent drilling an 8.5mm-diameter pin hole in spikes had loosened, and the dog to that for sleepers in service for 50 the head of the screw spike, inserting a spike’s head had reduced due to years (or the originally estimated pin in the hole to use it as a pull-out jig, corrosion, the FFU bridge sleepers were durability), the fatigue fracture-resistant and then connecting the pin to the generally in good condition. strength of the bridge sleepers after 30 embedded plug pull-out testing The tests also show relatively strong years in service came to about equipment. The results indicated that correlations between the specimens 74.8N/mm2. This greatly exceeds the the pull-out strength of screw spikes of used. stress tolerance of 25N/mm2² normally the FFU short sleepers fell within the Bending fatigue tests were conducted generated on bridge sleepers, and range of 23.3-50.4kN with an average of at three sleepers under the following shows that the current FFU bridge 32.5kN, which exceeds the average conditions. The specimens were cut out sleepers will remain reliable for the next value of 30kN of the pull-out strength from bridge sleepers so that the two decades. IRJ 50 IRJ December 2015 DecRendez2:Febrrend 18/11/2015 2:04 PM Page 51

Rendezvous

29-Mar 1—Berlin, Germany December 2015 4th Railway Forum & Exhibition 6-8—Dubai, UAE  IPM, Hannover, Germany. MENA Signalling and Train Tel: +49 511 4731 4790 Control Summit Fax: +49 511 4731 4791  IQPC, Dubai, UAE. [email protected] Tel: +971 4 364 2975 www.railwayforumberlin.com/ [email protected] http://bit.ly/1ITs8uE 29-Mar 2—Brussels, Belgium UIC ERTMS World Conference 9-10—London, Britain  UIC, Paris, France. 4th Annual Rolling Stock Fleet Tel: +33 1 4449 2020 Maintenance Congress [email protected]  London Business Conferences, www.uic.org London, Britain. Tel: +44 800 098 8489 March 2016 [email protected] 1-3—Karlsruhe, Germany www.rolling-stock-maintenance. IT-Trans Conference & Exhibition com/ Call for papers.  Hicham Badran, UITP, 10—Madrid, Spain Brussels, Belgium. MERLIN Project Final Conference Tel: +32 2 661 3186  UNIFE, Brussels, Belgium. Fax: +32 2 660 1072 Tel: +32 2 642 2324 [email protected] [email protected] www.it-trans.org  UIC, Paris, France. Tel: +33 1 4449 2020 3-5—Istanbul, Turkey [email protected] Eurasia Rail Exhibition www.merlin-rail.eu/  ITE, Istanbul, Turkey. Tel: +90 212 291 8310 January 2016 Fax: +90 212 240 43 81 21-22—, India [email protected] NEW: Rail India Conference www.eurasiarail.eu  Messe Frankfurt India, New Delhi, India. 8-9—Dubai, UAE Tel: +91 8860 55 9553 Middle East Rail Conference & [email protected] Exhibition .com  Terrapinn, Dubai, UAE. www.india-railway.com/ Tel: +971 4 440 2535 Fax: +971 4 445 8475 24-27—Doha, Qatar [email protected] MENA Rail Facilities www.terrapinn.com/exhibition/ Management & Operational middle-east-rail/ Readiness Summit  IQPC, Dubai, UAE. 22-23—, China Tel: +971 4 364 2975 Asia Pacific Rail Conference & [email protected] Exhibition http://bit.ly/1j2Ug6g  Terrapinn, Singapore. Tel: +65 6322 2701 26-27—Istanbul, Turkey Fax: +65 6271 2052 Smart Rail & Metro Eurasia [email protected]  Global Transport Forum, www.terrapinn.com/exhibition/ London, Britain. asia-pacific-rail/ Tel: +44 20 7045 0916 Stephen.Scott@globaltransportfor 22-23—Washington, DC, USA um.com SafeRail Congress www.smartraileurasia.com/  Global Transport Forum, London, Britain. 26-27—London, Britain Tel: +44 20 7045 0916 NEW: European Rail Safety Forum stephen.scott@globaltransportfor  London Business Conferences, um.com London, Britain. www.SafeRailCongress.com Tel: +44 800 098 8489 info@london-business-conferences. April 2016 co.uk 5-7—Turin, Italy www.rail-safety-passenger-growth. Expo Ferroviaria Exhibition com  Mack Brooks, St Albans, Britain. Tel: +44 1727 814400 February 2016 Fax: +44 1727 814401 17-19—Vienna, Austria [email protected] International Railway Summit – a www.expoferroviaria.com/ joint IRJ/IRITS event  Jules Omura, IRITS Events Ltd, 5-8—Sardinia, Italy London, Britain. NEW: International Conference Tel: +44 20 7112 5397 on Railway Technology [email protected]  Civil-Comp, Stirling, Britain. www.irits.org Call for papers. IRJ December 2015 51 DecRendez2:Febrrend 18/11/2015 2:04 PM Page 52

Rendezvous

Tel: +44 17 8687 0166 26-27—London, Britain Thailand. August 2016 [email protected] NEW: World Metrorail Congress Tel: +66 2684 6894 28-31—Orlando, Fl, USA www.civil-comp.com/conf/rw20  Terrapinn, London, Britain. [email protected] NEW: AREMA Conference & 16/rw2016.htm Tel: +44 20 7092 1000 www.exporail-southeast asia.com/ Exposition Fax: +44 20 7242 1508  AREMA, Landham, MD, USA. 12-14—London, Britain [email protected] 19-22—Phoenix, AZ, USA Tel: +1 301 459 3200 Infrarail Exhibition www.terrapinn.com/conference/ NEW: APTA Rail Conference Fax: +1 301 459 8077  Mack Brooks, St Albans, Britain. metrorail/  APTA, Washington, DC, USA. [email protected] Tel: +44 1727 814400 Tel: +1 202 496 4800 www.arema.org/ [email protected] 29-Jun 2—Milan, Italy Fax: +1 202 496 4324 www.infrarail.com NEW: World Congress on [email protected] September 2016 Railway Research www.apta.com/mc/Pages/Future. 11-14—Los Angeles, CA, USA 19-20—Amsterdam, Netherlands Call for papers. aspx NEW: APTAAnnual Meeting NEW: SmartRail Europe  Ega, Rome, Italy.  APTA, Washington, DC, USA.  Global Transport Forum, Tel: +39 0632 8121 28-29—Johannesburg, South Tel: +1 202 496 4800 London, Britain. Fax: +39 0632 22006 Africa Fax: +1 202 496 4324 Tel: +44 20 7045 0916 [email protected] NEW: Africa Rail Conference & [email protected] stephen.scott@globaltransportfor [email protected] Exhibition www.apta.com/mc/Pages/Future. um.com www.wcrr2016.org  Terrapinn, Bryanston, South aspx www.SmartRailEurope.com Africa. 30-31—Hanoi, Vietnam Tel: +27 11 516 4022 20-23—Berlin, Germany 25-27—Dubai, UAE NEW: Railway Infrastructure Fax: +27 11 463 6903 NEW: InnoTrans Exhibition NEW: MENA Transport Congress Summit [email protected]  Messe Berlin, Germany. & Exhibition  Advanced Business Events, www.terrapinn.com/exhibition/ Tel: +49 30 3038 2376  UITP MENA, Dubai, UAE. Boulogne, France. africa-rail/ [email protected] Tel: +971 4 290 5584 Tel: +33 1 4186 4170 www.innotrans.com [email protected] Fax: +33 1 4604 5761 July 2016 www.uitp-mena.com/ www.railmeetings.com/accueil/ 19-21—Madrid, Spain November 2016 railway-infrastructure-summit- NEW: Comprail 2016 conference 7-10—Chengdu, China May 2016 vietnam.html Call for papers. NEW: International Wheelset 16-18—Melbourne, Australia  Wessex Institute, Southampton, Congress NEW: CORE Conference June 2016 Britain. Call for papers.  EECW, Perth, Australia. 8-10—Bangkok, Thailand Tel: +44 238 029 3223  IWC, Chengdu, China. Tel: +61 8 9389 1488 NEW: Exporail South East Asia Fax: +44 238 029 2853 Tel: +86 28 6131 5190 [email protected] Exhibition [email protected] [email protected] www.core2016.org/  Mack Brooks, Bangkok, www.wessex.ac.uk/comprail-2016 www.iwc2016.com/dct/page/1

SUPPORTED BY

25-27 JANUARY 2016 • INTERCONTINENTAL DOHA, QATAR

SPECIAL OFFER FOR IRJ SUBSCRIBERS! REGISTER ONLINE BEFORE 10 DECEMBER WITH THE PROMO CODE 26622.001_IRJ TO ENJOY A 15% DISCOUNT OFF PRICE! MEET THE MIDDLE EAST’S RAIL OPERATORS FIRST-CLASS SPEAKER LINE-UP INCLUDING: With over US$200bn being yy, y, Q RAILWAYS COMPANY invested in the Middle East’s Eng. Abdullah Balhaddad, Vice President of rail sector, make sure your Operations, SAUDI RAILWAYS ORGANIZATION brand is top of the mind. Sean Derry, Director of Operational Readiness and ƫ+*0 01/0+ 50+ü*  Facilities, QATAR RAILWAYS COMPANY out how you can gain Mr. Eisa Khalid Al Ali, Deputy CEO, DB exposure as a sponsor! and more...

Knowledge partner Media partners: developed by:

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO REGISTER TEL: +971 4 364 2975 • EMAIL: [email protected] • WWW.RAILOPERATIONALREADINESS.COM

52 IRJ December 2015 DecAdIndex:Ad Index 18/11/2015 2:12 PM Page 53

Editorial contacts Classified

46 Killigrew Street, Falmouth, Cornwall TR11 3PP, UK Tel +44 1326 313945 Fax +44 1326 211576 To advertise products or services in the Editor-in-Chief/Associate Publisher classified section of IRJ, please contact David Briginshaw CMILT [email protected] Associate Editor Keith Barrow BA (Hons) [email protected] Louise Cooper on +44 1444 416368 Features Editor Kevin Smith MA [email protected] Data & Markets Editor Angus Hammond BA (Hons) [email protected] or email [email protected] Senior Designer Fiona Browning [email protected] Production Assistant Sue Morant [email protected] Design Assistant Corey Richards For US companies contact: Regional editors Jeanine Acquart on +1 212 620 7211 Australia Mark Carter Tel +61 8 8367 8572 [email protected] or email [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] New Zealand Richard Worrall [email protected] Expressions of Interest? Tenders? Southern Africa John Batwell [email protected] Spain Fernando Puente [email protected] Requests for Proposals? Switzerland Anitra Green Tel +41 61 461 4536 USA/Canada William C Vantuono Tel +1 212 620 7240 If you are planning one of these for [email protected] your project then advertise it in the Correspondents next issue of IRJ. Argentina Jorge Waddell Israel Jeremaya Goldberg Austria Erwin Reidinger Netherlands Quintus Vosman Take advantage of the attractive packages Brazil Gustavo Ferrari Pakistan Naeem Qureshi/Rashid Ali Denmark Denis Bowers Spain/Portugal Barry Cross available, combining our printed and East & West Africa Shem Oirere Taiwan Glenn Smith electronic versions with the IRJ website. Hungary Ferenc Joo Ukraine Alexander Kava India Raghav Thakur Zimbabwe Ed Chikuni

Executive offices Simmons-Boardman Publishing Corp 55 Broad Street, 26th Floor, New York, NY 10004-2580, USA Tel +1 212 620 7200 Fax +1 212 633 1165 President & Chairman A J McGinnis Publisher, Rail Group Jon Chalon Circulation Director Maureen Cooney [email protected] For more information, contact Advertising contacts Louise Cooper on +44 1444 416368 or by email at For all areas except those listed below contact: [email protected] Louise Cooper, International Area Sales Manager Tel +44 1444 849123 [email protected] Julie Richardson, International Area Sales Manager Tel +44 1444 849318 [email protected] 19 John De Mierre House, Bridge Road, Haywards Heath, West Sussex RH16 1UA, UK Advertisers Index ITALY & Italian-speaking SWITZERLAND ECM 23 Dr Fabio Potestà, Elda Guidi Mediapoint & Communications srl, Corte Lambruschini, Evraz 33 Corso 8, Vo Piano, Int 7, 16129 Genova, Italy Global Rail Tenders 48 Tel +39 010 570 4948 Fax +39 010 553 0088 [email protected] Greenwood Engineering 31 JAPAN Katsuhiro Ishii, Ace Media Service Inc Gummi Metall Technik 26 12-6, 4-chome, Nishiiko Adachi-ku, Tokyo 121-0824, Japan Huawei BC Tel +81 3 5691 3335 Fax +81 3 5691 3336 [email protected] IQPC Middle East (Mena Rail Facilities) 52 NORTH AMERICA IRITS 42/43 AL, AR, IN, KY, LA, MI, MS, OH, OK, TN, TX Marc Condon, 20 South Clark Street, Suite 1910, Chicago, Illinois 60603 IVU Traffic Technologies 26 Tel 312 683 5022 Fax 312 683 0131 [email protected] Kranunion (Kirow) 31 AK, AZ, CA, CO, IA, ID, IL, KS, MN, MO, MT, ND, NE, NM, NV, OR, SD, UT, WA, MAN Engines 5 WI, WY, Canada (Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan) NRE IBC Heather Disabato (Chicago Office) Tel 312 683 5026 [email protected] Plasser & Theurer IFC CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, MA, MD, ME, NC, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, SC, VA, VT, WV, Progress Rail - EMD 47 Canada (Quebec & East Ontario) Schaeffler Technologies 19 Jerome Marullo, 55 Broad Street, 26th Floor, New York, NY 10004-2580 Tel 212 620 7260 [email protected] Sekisui 51 TUC Rail 25 Classified Advertising Sales Jeanine Acquart (New York Office) Tel 212 620 7211 [email protected] UIC (ERTMS Conference) 36 IRJ December 2015 53 Dec TLW:Layout 1 17/11/2015 1:01 PM Page 54

The last word Operators strive to remain relevant in the digital world

What does digitisation mean for the urban public transport services of the future? Kevin Smith reflects on how rail operators are responding to these challenges from views expressed during the International Public Transport Association’s (UITP) international rail conference held in Munich at the end of October.

URING the opening keynote address that transport operator, but a demand, and within one year D session of the UITP digitisation has opened up complete service provider for will be saturated,” Flausch World Congress in Milan in streams of competition that transport in the city. says. “It is crucial then that June, Mr Carlo Ratti of existing operators could not “In today’s mobility market operators push to accelerate Massachusetts Institute of predict just a few years ago. our customers have new the decision making process or Technology’s Sensable Cities Rudhart says services like attitudes,” König says. “They risk being bypassed.” lab presented a new vision of Uber and car-sharing schemes are multi-modal people and transport in cities based on a have become attractive new players are emerging with “In this environment network of autonomous because of their cost- new business models and we can no longer be a driverless cars. effectiveness, usability and ways of offering public mere transport carrier Communicating via smart their ability to offer customers transport which are attractive technology, these vehicles are greater understanding of to this new generation. It is so we need to be a programmed to avoid collisions quality control. However, he clear that in this environment service provider first, through intersections and was keen to point out that rail we can no longer be a mere minimise stops to travel at good operators should not fall into transport carrier so we need to which meets the speeds and deliver passenger the trap of imitating tech be a service provider first ambitions of our directly to their destinations. companies and new players in which meets the ambitions of customers.” Ratti said the on-demand the marketplace. our customers and our service could transform car “Being in love with municipality.” Herbert König utilisation from individual to technology is the wrong MVG’s focus is demonstrated communal ownership. And direction to head as you can in a new motto: “Quite Simply Rudhart argued that access with several key breakthroughs lose sight of what you are Mobility” and in a new bike- to dedicated infrastructure already made, he added that it doing,” Rudhart says. sharing scheme. It is also provides rail with a significant was no longer an issue of if this “Attempting to compete with involved in car-sharing advantage over road. While type of service would appear, Google will end in failure but initiatives by partnering with building new infrastructure is but when. you can learn from what they five companies operating in the preferable, it is expensive and “Cars are in use are doing and build it into city. time consuming so utilising approximately 5% of the time, your daily concept and MVG is allowing these digitisation tools can play an and for the remaining 95% business model so that you companies to share real-time important role in making they are parked,” Ratti said. might develop better services information with MVG’s users better use of what you already “Many cities’ infrastructure is for your customers. through its smartphone app, have. For example by designed for the car but it is Transporting passengers from which is consistently at the top increasing capacity through clear we could use it much A to B safely, securely and of the download charts enhanced train control and better. In New York City sustainably is the mission. reflecting MVG’s success at improving passenger deploying this notion of Digitisation is just a tool for becoming the first choice for information to offer viable shared mobility could satisfy achieving this.” all transport information in the alternatives when things do go the transport needs of all city. wrong, Rudhart believes rail citizens with only 20% of the “Being in love with can attract new passengers. This is increasingly cars currently in use.” technology is the Lessons For the rail operators in the wrong direction to important amidst aggressive room it was a stark reminder One of the lessons which competition from other modes, of the potential threat posed head as you can lose Munich and MVG offers other with older non-rail users a by a new generation of sight of what you are public transport operators particular target as they may services and what according to UITP secretary be unaware of how services “digitisation,” the process of doing.” general Mr Alain Flausch is its have improved since they last converting information into a Manfred Rudhart strong relationship with the used them. Rudhart says the digital format, might mean for city’s politicians and decision challenge now is to embrace the future of transport. Munich was an apt location makers. what is available to improve Speakers returned to the for the conference given local He says this is crucial in the offering, so rail can issue at the opening session of public transport operator delivering the long-term continue what it does best. the UITP Rail Conference in Munich Transport’s (MVG) infrastructure improvements “It is essential that our Munich on October 28. Dr apparent success at adapting and expansions that will business models adapt to Manfred Rudhart, DB Regio to the digital age. Indeed MVG sustain the future of urban rail changing demand,” he says. CEO, who will soon take up CEO Mr Herbert König told transport. “We will always “There is no need to run away the reins at DB subsidiary delegates that MVG no longer have the issue that projects from what we are doing, but , pointed out during his considers itself as just a public will be late in meeting to do it even better.” IRJ 54 IRJ December 2015 IRJDECXX (NRE):Layout 1 16/11/2015 09:31 Page 1 IRJDECXX (Huawei):Layout 1 23/11/2015 9:58 AM Page 1