February 2010: Contents
Feature headlines
- The curse of project management
The difficulties faced by Tube Lines on the Jubilee Line upgrade are not dissimilar to those faced by other major rail projects. But, Robert Wright wonders, can lessons of the past be applied to the Jubilee Line?
- Passenger-focused franchising
Ashwin Kumar explains what Passenger Focus would like to see in the specifications for upcoming franchise competitions
- Northern light rail
After years of inactivity when it comes to investment and expansion of light rail in the UK, 2010 promises to be one of the biggest years ever. Manchester is busy expanding in all directions, Edinburgh’s new system is well on the way to becoming reality and in Blackpool, a major upgrade programme has begun. Peter Plisner reports
- Keeping Manchester moving
A short-term secondment running GMPTE has turned into a five-year role for David Leather. And with an alternative plan needed to fund Manchester’s public transport expansions after the failure of the congestion charge referendum, he has his work cut out, as he tells Alan Salter
- Making advanced fares Raileasy
Website www.raileasy.co.uk is only the second third-party ticket vendor to begin trading online. But, despite taking almost three years to get the approval needed to go live, the site still isn’t able to sell all rail tickets, as Katie Silvester explains
- Freight depot debate fails to take off
A new freight terminal has been proposed to go on the site of Radlett airfield in Hertfordshire, but local objections have prevented plans from going much further. Phil Mortimer argues that, instead, we should be thinking along the lines of several smaller terminals
- Chiltern strikes gold
Chiltern Railways, led by Adrian Shooter, has consistently been one of the best-performing and most innovative franchises…
- Love me tender: Network Rail’s supplier list
How do businesses wanting to work for Network Rail go about it?
- IRO hosts service disruption debate
The IRO South East Area’s Service Disruption Debate attracted a record 117 attendees, along with representatives from Network Rail, train operators, Atoc and Passenger Focus. The aim of the gathering was to discuss how well the rail industry manages service disruption. Chris Howard reports
- Risk assessment: Does it mean what it says on the tin?
The scope of risk assessments is outlined in health and safety regulations, but a court ruling in a case where London Underground was sued by an employee shows that the regulations may not go far enough. Paul Debney explains
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