International Railway Journal - July 2008 - (Page 6)

News ORR tells Network Rail to cut costs B RITAIN’S Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) has told infrastructure manager Network Rail it must cut its operating, maintenance and renewals costs by 21% by 2014. ORR has ruled that Network Rail will need £26.5 billion in income between 2009 and 2014 to deliver significant improvements in reliability, safety and capacity, £1.6 billion less than its revenue income in 2004-09 and 10% lower than Network Rail’s forecast of £29 billion. £7.5 billion has been allocated for capacity enhancements, compared with the £9 billion Network Rail says it needs. “This is a big challenge for Network Rail, but we believe it is achievable,” says ORR chairman Mr Chris Bolt. “This is only the start. The industry needs to become cheaper, closer to the needs of customers, quicker to respond to changing needs, and better at planning for the future.” Network Rail responded by warning that the settlement would put a number of planned infrastructure improvements at risk. “Demand for more and better services continues to grow. It is vitally important that we get the right level of funding to meet passenger and freight needs,” said chief executive Mr Iain Coucher (pictured right). “I am extremely concerned that the funding settlement will put our plans to meet this demand at risk.” Between 2009 and 2014, Jamaica plans rail revival AMAICA plans to invest $US 300 million on reopening parts of its moribund rail network. The Kingston to Montego Bay and Spanish Hotel to Ewarton lines could be resurrected, almost 16 years after they closed. Eighteen stations could be built, and the tracks will be relaid with 105lb rail to increase the maximum axleload. The government, which plans to rehabilitate the railways with help from China, wants to encourage modal shift of freight and passengers from road. Five new locomotives, 45 passenger coaches, and 68 freight wagons will be ordered. Jamaica Railway Corporation ceased operations in October 1992, abandoning 207km of the standard-gauge network, although 65km is used for industrial operations. J Network Rail will be required to increase punctuality to 92.6% in England and Wales, and 92% in Scotland. Delays to freight trains must also be cut by 25% compared with 200809 levels. SJ orders 20 intercity emus Eurovia bids for Vossloh tracklaying division OSSLOH says it has received a binding bid from Eurovia, France, for the takeover of its Infrastructure Services (VIS) business unit, which carries out installation and maintenance of track, catenary, power distribution, and signalling. Eurovia, a subsidiary of the Vinci Group, has submitted a ƒ150 million offer for a 100% stake in VIS, V which Vossloh says is worth ƒ185 million. Vossloh’s supervisory board has yet to decide on the takeover bid, which must also be approved by the relevant competition authorities. VIS had sales of ƒ210 million last year and employs around 1500 people. It was created when Vossloh took over the Cogifer Group in 2002. IRJ appoints Donna Edwards advertisement manager AVING indicated earlier this year that it would buy new intercity emus, Sweden’s national passenger operator SJ has placed an order for 20 four-car Regina trains with Bombardier. The delivery of the 200km/h emus in 2010 will allow SJ to replace X2000 trains on slower and less busy routes. The X2000 fleet will be concentrated on SJ’s key routes from Stockholm to H Gothenburg, Malmö, and Sundsvall, where additional capacity is urgently required. The ƒ221 million contract includes options for a further 20 trains. Around 70 Regina emus are already in regional service with various operators in Sweden, and Bombardier is testing one of the trains at speeds of up to 275km/h as part of its Green Train programme. I RJ is delighted to announce the appointment of Donna Edwards to the position of advertisement manager. Her appointment follows the decision by Leo Kembery to step down as advertisement manager to follow a new direction in his career. Edwards joined IRJ in 1998 as area sales manager, and was promoted to deputy advertisement manager in 2000. She gained a bachelor of arts degree in history in 2004. 6 IRJ July 2008

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International Railway Journal - July 2008 Contents This Month News Transit News Market News/Technology News News Analysis Conference Report Korean Railways Face a Bright Future Korean Exports Surge Ahead Ready to Roll in China Velaro Shows Eastern Promise Are You Sitting Comfortably? Compin Meets New Challenges The Fabric of Society Grinding Out a Result Rendezvous Full Contact List The Last Word

International Railway Journal - July 2008

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