international passenger news

[schlimm]

Buslist

Some photos appeared on Face Book this weekend of (I wouldn't say substantial yet) rust damage on Eurostar coaches and powercars. I keep forgetting that they are around 20 now. Eurostar has announced that they will scrap some of the TGV based sets as the ICE s are phased into service. Presumesbly they will mix and match cars between train sets to keep the best cars in service.

 

Is that from salt-sprayed air?

[Buslist]

Some photos appeared on Face Book this weekend of (I wouldn't say substantial yet) rust damage on Eurostar coaches and powercars. I keep forgetting that they are around 20 now. Eurostar has announced that they will scrap some of the TGV based sets as the ICE s are phased into service. Presumesbly they will mix and match cars between train sets to keep the best cars in service.

[Buslist]

MidlandMike

What is a guard?  Is that the person who checks the tickets?

 

a conductor on this side of the pond .

[MidlandMike]

What is a guard?  Is that the person who checks the tickets?

[Buslist]

Not being reported on this side of the pond but many passenger passenger services in the U.K. are being severely disrupted. The reason is the plan by several of the franchise holders to eliminate guards and go to one person operation. The RMT, the union representing the guards is striking (on and off?) these operators including the Southern, a major component of the south of the river third rail network. Scott land seems to be affected as well. I tried to find a good summary article, may somebody will have better luck.

Meanwhile Trenitalia ( the major Italian operator,) has purchased the C2C operation, the old London, Tillbury and Southend.

[schlimm]

New China HSR line opens.  

"The final section of the Kunming-Shanghai service opened on December 28, 2016. This new high-speed line finally connects the Yunnan Province of Southwest China to the nation’s high-speed rail network. 

The distance between Kunming and Shanghai is 1,500 miles. This is comparable to traveling from Chicago to Salt Lake City, which currently takes 34 hours by train on the California Zephyr. This new high-speed line in China cuts travel time from 35 hours to a half days journey (11 hours). "

[schlimm]

Victrola1

"While China’s railway system has gone a long way in breaking records for length andspeed, experts are now warning of new challenges, given that two factors crucial to the original success have shifted."

http://en.people.cn/n3/2016/1215/c90000-9155329.html

Will China's position as a major player in high speed rail be challenged?

 

 

The shifts do not sound harmful to their competitiveness.

[MikeF90]

Victrola1

Will China's position as a major player in high speed rail be challenged?

Quite possibly by the Japanese SCMaglev technology.  The latest episode of NHK Japan Railway Journal featured the maglev which just broke 600 kph in a test run.

[Victrola1]

"While China’s railway system has gone a long way in breaking records for length andspeed, experts are now warning of new challenges, given that two factors crucial to the original success have shifted."

http://en.people.cn/n3/2016/1215/c90000-9155329.html

Will China's position as a major player in high speed rail be challenged?

 

[blue streak 1]

The UK's electrification of the west coast lines has come under fire for mismanagement.  One big item was the attitude that the experienced engineers did not know that things had changed.  So it is over engineered and the costs have sky rocketed and completion dates moved out or might never be complete. ( another re inventing the wheel ? )  As well EMUs and electric train sets are almost idle with no CAT to run under.

There also may be requirement to purchase dual mode locos ( diesel & electric ) to pull some train sets with the problem of not being able to make proposed electric schedules. 

https://www.nao.org.uk/report/modernising-the-great-western-railway/

 

[schlimm]

Buslist

 

 

schlimm

But they only deferred some sections (some of which are branches), not the whole project.

 

 

 

 

http://www.europeanrailwayreview.com/30882/railway-extra/delays-rail-infrastructure-projects/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ERR%20-%20Newsletter%2050%202016&utm_content=ERR%20-%20Newsletter%2050%202016+CID_9e02b1b5d410ec02dbe95a5aaf4c9a1a&utm_source=Email%20marketing&utm_term=Read%20full%20storyMore details on the extent of the delays and cost overruns.

 

Interesting!  I wonder how much is a consequence of the Brexit disaster and subsequent pound crash?

[Buslist]

schlimm

But they only deferred some sections (some of which are branches), not the whole project.

 

http://www.europeanrailwayreview.com/30882/railway-extra/delays-rail-infrastructure-projects/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ERR%20-%20Newsletter%2050%202016&utm_content=ERR%20-%20Newsletter%2050%202016+CID_9e02b1b5d410ec02dbe95a5aaf4c9a1a&utm_source=Email%20marketing&utm_term=Read%20full%20storyMore details on the extent of the delays and cost overruns.

[MikeF90]

A little more detail on the opening of Gotthard Base tunnel passenger service from Deutsche Welle:  http://www.dw.com/en/first-passenger-train-travels-through-gotthard-base-tunnel-the-worlds-longest-rail-tunnel/a-36725053?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf

Bravo!

[blue streak 1]

The new Gotthard base tunnel the longest rail tunnel in the world begins service tomorrow morning about 0600 local (  its already Sunday there ) 

http://www.rtands.com/index.php/track-structure/worlds-longest-rail-train-tunnel-ready-to-begin-service.html?channel=

 

[blue streak 1]

blue streak 1

Sydney Australia having capacity problems.

https://www.railpage.com.au/news/s/sydney-trains-almost-all-over-capacity-in-morning-peak-hour-transport-data-reveals?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=top-stories-this-week-on-railpage

 

Now NSW is ordering more double deck EMUs

 

http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/passenger/single-view/view/sydney-emu-order-to-cope-with-growth.html

[PNWRMNM]

blue streak 1

Sydney Australia having capacity problems.

Nothing a fare increase or two can not fix!

[blue streak 1]

Sydney Australia having capacity problems.

https://www.railpage.com.au/news/s/sydney-trains-almost-all-over-capacity-in-morning-peak-hour-transport-data-reveals?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=top-stories-this-week-on-railpage

[blue streak 1]

Hey let us reinvent the wheel (coupler in this case ) .  OOPS did not expect that !.

http://www.railjournal.com/index.php/rolling-stock/coupling-defects-lead-to-withdrawal-of-nob-fleet.html?channel=529

 

[blue streak 1]

China approves another 1200+ Km of HSR ( pres take note )

http://www.railjournal.com/index.php/asia/china-approves-five-more-new-lines.html?channel=540

 

[Buslist]

schlimm

But they only deferred some sections (some of which are branches), not the whole project.

 

No one ever said they did. But the delays have resulted in the necessity to convert the entire order for 800 series train sets to bi mode.

And the estimated cost is now more than £2.1B than originally planned.

http://www.railjournal.com/index.php/financial/great-western-modernisation-to-cost-%C2%A321bn-more-than-planned.html

[schlimm]

But they only deferred some sections (some of which are branches), not the whole project.

[Buslist]

http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/infrastructure/single-view/view/great-western-electrification-projects-deferred.html

 

More delays and cost over runs on the Great Western Main Line electrification.

[schlimm]

Buslist

 

 

blue streak 1

Eurostar to cut service and jobs.With a dip in passenger travel the company is cutting some jobs and capital projects.

http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/high-speed/single-view/view/eurostar-to-cut-services-and-jobs.html

 

 

 

 

 

This isn't really unexpected. What are the capital projects? Didn't see them mentioned, did I miss them? Eurostar doesn't have many they are like Amtrak, a tenant on other folks Railways.

 

I wonder if they are thinking ahead to the possible impact of Brexit on travel between the UK and the EU?

[Buslist]

blue streak 1

Eurostar to cut service and jobs.With a dip in passenger travel the company is cutting some jobs and capital projects.

http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/high-speed/single-view/view/eurostar-to-cut-services-and-jobs.html

 

 

This isn't really unexpected. What are the capital projects? Didn't see them mentioned, did I miss them? Eurostar doesn't have many they are like Amtrak, a tenant on other folks Railways.

[blue streak 1]

Eurostar to cut service and jobs.With a dip in passenger travel the company is cutting some jobs and capital projects.

http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/high-speed/single-view/view/eurostar-to-cut-services-and-jobs.html

 

[BaltACD]

blue streak 1

China is at it again.  Going to build a large HSR station directly under the great wall.  This line being built for the 2022 winter Olympics.  Just think only 5+ years from concept to completion ?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2016/09/29/china-plans-worlds-deepest-high-speed-rail-station-right-under-the-great-wall/

No Enviornmental Impact Statement to litigate.

[blue streak 1]

China is at it again.  Going to build a large HSR station directly under the great wall.  This line being built for the 2022 winter Olympics.  Just think only 5+ years from concept to completion ?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2016/09/29/china-plans-worlds-deepest-high-speed-rail-station-right-under-the-great-wall/

 

[schlimm]

Reaction from the Brussels terrorist bombing, I suppose.  But it would severely damage multi-country trains.  In the days before the EC and elimination of passport checks at borders, the next country's border agents got on the train at the station prior to the border and got off at the first station past. This would require X-rays and magnetometers.  Seems a misguided effort.

[blue streak 1]

Belgium trying  to apply airline type screaning on cross border trains which could kill train travel.

http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/policy/single-view/view/passenger-name-regulation-could-destroy-cross-border-rail.html

 

[blue streak 1]

China reaches 20,000+  KM  HSR or ~ 12,500 miles.  Just took 3+ years to double number of KMs.  12.5k miles in the USA would cover what ?

http://www.railjournal.com/index.php/high-speed/chinese-high-speed-network-reaches-20000km.html