Table-toppers improving
Reliability growth in New Train TIN-watch is slow, but there are more graduates on the horizon
ROGER FORD
Process delays £4m fleet sanding pilot
■ Salisbury highlights lack of urgency
■ Dual Variable Rate Sander offers adhesion-agnostic braking
■ Four months spent haggling over Class 323 fitment contract
■ Earlier ScotRail bid rejected
ECML upgrade: DfT jumps the shark
◾ IRP forecasts imply London to Edinburgh 3hr 35min timing
◾ Other timings equally improbable
◾ Benefits of 140mph overstated
◾ Final infrastructure upgrades completed by 2037
Signalling – competition review hits market reality
◾ ETCS focused
◾ Siemens the dominant player
◾ Limited new entrants available to challenge incumbents
◾ Hitachi sweeps up alternative potential ETCS suppliers
DfT outlines future role for operators
■ First PSC tendered next year – let in 2024
■ Includes responsibility for train procurement
Siemens challenges HS2 train contract award
▄ Preferred Joint Venture bid failed on technical assessment
▄ Injunction sought to halt ministerial approval
▄ Third legal challenge after CAF and Talgo
ELECTRIFICATION U-TURN - Taken to task on central direction
■ Centralisation deprecated all round
■ Industry proposes turnkey contracts
■ Informed sources put me straight
WIGAN – BOLTON ELECTRIFICATION - Business case trumps high cost
■ Six route miles tops GWEP unit costs
■ 17 bridges highlights civils cost challenge
■ National Electrification Efficiency Panel in challenge mode
GOVERNMENT RAISES TRAIN AIR QUALITY CONCERNS
■ RSSB research highlights complex problem
■ Hitachi bi-modes and Voyagers the worst offenders
■ More trains to be monitored
■ Swift action promised