TRACCS Transit & Rail Association’s Post

Bravo. [Opinion statement] Congrats to Mr. Percy, this is a very good move for Toronto commuters and Ontario transit industry at large. Let's hope he sticks. With 47 years experience in Canadian transit / rail industry, I feel strongly there is a false premise that European rail expertise and skills specifically in rail engineers and electrification are best for Canadian projects is a ridiculous premise. Let's hope Greg Percy continues in a permanent role - we certainly don't need anymore Germans, Brits or Americans in our Canadian transit / railway industry. What we need is a Canada first talent policy - and enforce it. In my opinion Toronto (Ontario and Canada) has seen enough of American and European transit / railway professionals who effectively took high paying roles funded by Canadian taxpayers at all levels - when Canadians would have done as good or better. I share this opinion about NHL hockey jobs / leadership careers. Taxpayers that fund millions of dollars on Metrolinx / TTC spend must demand transparency on the citizenship / primary residency of executive and leaders - let's see that 'sunshine' list of salaries over $100k. I feel strongly that Canadian transit / railway agency leadership roles, good paying engineering careers and contractor consultants must be awarded exclusively to Canadian professionals and sustained by Canadian educated talent - first. Shop Canada First for transit and railway jobs and careers.

This is good news - credit to all involved in these discussions since the Government kicked the 'northern leg' of #HS2 into touch. Let's be clear - this proposal was not put on the table by the Government - it has been worked up by the regions and the private sector to fix a serious challenge for the country's connectivity. As Andy Burnham states "“There is a viable option to build a new rail line between Lichfield and High Legh, connecting HS2 to Northern Powerhouse Rail, with almost all of the benefits of HS2 delivered quickly and, crucially, at a significantly lower cost.” Maybe the Government may have actually made the right call in stopping the never ending credit card for HS2?? I would argue though that for the previous Government not to have this kind of viable alternative as the replacement offer was the absolute final nail in the 'Levelling Up' coffin! #transport #infrastructure #hs2 #regions #devolution #policy #network #connectivity #rail Centre for the New Midlands

The Great British Railway! 🚂 We've all heard about it, but what is it and what is it going to achieve⁉ The answer is no one (including the DfT) knows! 😕 "Six years of UK rail reform has ‘achieved very little’, say MPs" as reported by the Financial Times. They report that MPs say they have not seen any evidence that plans for Great British Railways, the new public body intended to oversee services and infrastructure, would be any different from previous reform attempts over the past 20 years... 😳 MPs have concluded that "no one is putting the needs of passengers and taxpayers first" 🤯 Does anyone have faith in GBR and what it is trying to achieve? 🤔 Bryony Stamper Nathan Holcroft Callum Munn Caitlyn Fisher Oliver Gooch Blayne Cahill Brooke Stell Amy West Olivia Woods #GBR #railreform #financialtimes #DtF #railindustry #railnews

Today's rail headlines - #InTheNews: Impact of the cut of the Restoring Your Railway fund, All-Island Strategic Rail Review, works to upgrade a North London Underground station have been put on hold, and c2c (Trenitalia c2c Ltd) Secure Station Scheme. Listen here: #UKrail #railways #headlines

We are now four years on from the announcement of the Restoring Your Railway Policy pledging £500m to re-open the closed Beeching Lines. A lot has happened in that time, not least Covid massively reducing the number of people using the railway with a varied recovery of passenger numbers across the UK. There were 3 rounds of the Restoring Your Railway Ideas Fund with 141 bids being put forward. From this there has been some publicity on the re-opening of the Dartmoor Line, running the first passenger service down the Waterside Line in Totton, new stations at Reading Green Park and Portway Parkway and the recent launch of the “Get on Board” forum. Now four years on, times have indeed changed since the announcement of the policy – the pandemic and cost of living as two significant factors. At announcement there was significant discussion on whether this £500m was new money and as we enter into Control Period 7 (Network Rail’s next five-year funding period) it is an interesting juncture in the future of the railways. There remains a commitment for new stations, re-opening lines and expanding the network (HS2 aside) yet Network Rail are looking for £3.8bn of efficiencies over CP7 and from 2019 through to 2027 are aiming to reduce costs by 23% and deliver £12bn in savings. This will be a hard task whilst ensuring customers have a reliable, affordable and high-quality rail service and a palatable level of investment from taxpayers who are not regular train users. I will be watching closely, it’s a challenge that will need fresh thinking and approaches that have likely not been seen in the rail industry before and will likely be a great source of innovation for the industry over the coming years. #railindustry #rail #beeching #RYR #networkrail #innovation

One wholeheartedly fully supports the plan for the Midlands-North West Rail Link, as published today in a report commissioned by the Mayor of the West Midlands and the Mayor of Greater Manchester. It won't be quite as quick as HS2 (High Speed Two) Ltd between the West Midlands and Greater Manchester as was originally planned, but the 50 Mile route between Lichfield and Warrington will connect to HS2 in Lichfield and thus still be A GAME CHANGER in terms of helping capacity right across our existing routes, enabling it to become a real force for Economic Growth in many communities. I urge HM Treasury and the Department for Transport (DfT), United Kingdom to back this plan in the October 30th Budget and thus show some real ambition to Get Britain Moving, in a quicker, cleaner and greener way! #Railways #HighSpeedRail #WestMidlands #NorthWest #HS2 #FridayThoughts https://lnkd.in/ejUntX32

Government reportedly set to back high speed rail to Euston Department for Transport (DfT), United Kingdom also reportedly considering taking HS2 (High Speed Two) Ltd under direct control The government is poised to commit to building HS2 to Euston and could bring the state-owned company responsible for delivering the line under direct control, according to newspaper reports. Plans for a new 10-platform station, which would have been the high-speed line’s London terminus, were shelved under the previous Conservative government as part of broader cuts to the scheme on the back of rising costs. Former transport secretary Mark Harper announced last March that the station would be redesigned to have just six platforms and that the project would not progress until private funding could be found. Labour has said it is reviewing the scheme, but has previously indicated that it would also require private funding to move forward with the scheme. It is unclear whether any such funding has emerged, but The Sunday Times reported over the weekend that the government was now set to approve the scheme in the upcoming autumn budget. “HS2 just wouldn’t work if the terminus was not at Euston. The station is also well overdue for investment and has become a dystopian mess and a stain on London,” a government source reportedly told the newspaper. The decision to pull the plug on the Euston scheme meant HS2 had to write off £153m in costs on the scheme. A joint venture of Mace and Dragados had been building the scheme. Mark Reynolds, chief executive of the former firm, called the decision to mothball it “absolutely shameful”. As it approaches a decision on the Euston terminus, the government is also reportedly mulling another major change to the project. Quoting Whitehall and industry figures, the Financial Times has reported that HS2 Ltd could be brought under direct state control. According to the newspaper, the Department for Transport (DfT) has asked James Stewart, former chair of global infrastructure at advisory firm #KPMG, to lead a review into governance and accountability at the state-backed firm. A DfT spokesperson said: “While we do not comment on speculation, we have been clear before that we will thoroughly review the position we have inherited on HS2, including decisions taken by previous governments, and will set out next steps in due course.” In May this year, HS2 Ltd announced it had appointed the former chief of Crossrail as its new chief executive. Mark Wild’s appointment follows the departure of Mark Thurston, who led HS2 for six-and-a-half years up to the end of September 2023.

As part of the notes issued last week, Transport for London's Programmes and Investmentee has raised concerns relating to the the HS2 tunnel between Old Oak Common and Euston. They noted... "The pause of the Euston programme will mean that Old Oak Common station will be the London temporary terminus for around 10 years. This is a key interchange station for HS2, the Elizabeth line, and other existing rail services, as well as a site of major regeneration. The use of the station as a temporary HS2 terminus has the potential to significantly affect the Elizabeth line. It also reinforces the need for level boarding to be provided at Old Oak Common station for passengers interchanging between HS2 and Elizabeth line trains." What are your thoughts on this? Does the delay represent a challenge to the growth in the region? What more could or should be done? Let us know your thoughts below👇 #RIAMember https://lnkd.in/eF5gX9a8

Rail Leaders Push for #HS2 Extension — Extending to #Euston and #Crewe Could Be a £20 Billion Opportunity The HS2 project, once considered the future of Britain’s #highspeedrail network, has faced multiple challenges, from rising costs to political uncertainty. Recent analysis by the High Speed Rail Group (#HSRG) suggests that extending the line to #Euston in #London and #Crewe in Cheshire could unlock its full financial potential. With the UK government weighing the future of this extension, rail industry leaders argue that the additional investment required could result in long-term savings. According to HSRG, building the line to central London and Crewe would enable the government to lease the operating rights for much more than it could under the current plan, which would terminate at Old Oak Common and Birmingham. The Financial Logic Behind Extending HS2 to Euston and Crewe At the core of HSRG’s proposal is the significant increase in long-term value that a full extension would bring. As it stands, the HS2 line is valued at only £5 billion if it ends at Old Oak Common and Birmingham. Extending the line to Euston and Crewe could increase its value to £20 billion, making the additional £11.5 billion investment a sound financial decision. HSRG recommends selling the rights to operate the line through long-term concessions, similar to how the HS1 route was handled. In 2017, the government sold the concession for HS1 to private investors for £3 billion, and a similar strategy for HS2 could significantly boost returns. This approach would also ensure that the line is fully utilized, delivering greater value for both the government and taxpayers. #Infrastructure Costs vs. Future Benefit Building the HS2 line to Euston and Crewe involves a large upfront investment, but rail experts argue that the long-term benefits far outweigh the costs. An extension would not only enhance the value of the project but also improve the overall efficiency of the UK’s rail network. The National Audit Office has cautioned that ending the line at Old Oak Common would lead to capacity issues on the West Coast Mainline, as high-speed trains would merge onto already congested tracks. Completing the line would create more seamless connections between London, the Midlands, and Northern England, reducing travel times and alleviating pressure on existing rail services. This would also boost the overall economic productivity of these regions, helping to rebalance the UK’s economy and reduce the north-south divide. https://lnkd.in/eEDvMees

Transport Secretary Louise Haigh MP has initiated #rail reform, prioritising passengers in a new era for our railways. An article by railbusinessdaily.com explores this transformative move. The question remains: when will we witness tangible change? #RailReform