<span class="" id="parent-fieldname-description"> One year for CBH and Watcoâs partnership Distracted drivers caused 2011 collision ATC wins final Crossrail contract New carriages for worldâs steepest railway KiwiRail extends Coastal Pacific service Rio installs new Cape Lambert shiploader, targets 290mtpa </span> <p><u>One year for CBH and Watco’s partnership</u></p><p>Grain group CBH and railroad company Watco have celebrated a year of working together in WA.</p><p>Over the past 12 months, Watco has moved nearly five million tonnes of grain on WA’s network.</p><p>The WA Farmers Federation (WAFarmers) congratulated the companies on a successful first year.</p><p>“WAFarmers would like to congratulate CBH and Watco on a job well done over the last 12 months,” WAFarmers president Dale Park said.</p><p>“These two companies are showing the value in our grain rail network and that with appropriate investment from government and industry, the grain rail network can continue to be utilised to transport the state’s grain crop.”</p><p><u>Distracted drivers caused 2011 collision</u></p><p>A collision between two trains in October 2011 was a result of a driver-in-training and supervising co-driver becoming distracted, the ATSB has found.</p><p>Just after 1am on October 11, 2011, an empty ore train being operated by Specialised Bulk Rail passed a signal displaying a stop indication at Dry Creek Junction in South Australia, the ATSB said.</p><p>That train subsequently collided with a loaded grain train, operated by Genesee and Wyoming Australia, that was travelling in the opposite direction.</p><p>The collision was at low speed and there was no injury to the train crew of either train, but there was significant damage to the crew cab of the lead locomotive of the empty ore train, and to the grain wagons of the other train, which were struck during the collision.</p><p>“The investigation revealed that a combination of individual actions and systemic issues contributed to the collision,” the ATSB said.</p><p>“The driver’s lack of route knowledge, combined with an expectation of a clear run through the area probably influenced his failure to observe signal 135 at caution.”</p><p><u>ATC wins final Crossrail contract</u></p><p>The final major construction contract for London rail upgrade Crossrail has been awarded to Alstom, TSO and Costain (ATC).</p><p>The joint venture will fit out London’s new rail tunnels with 40km of track, overhead power equipment and ventilation and drainage systems.</p><p>“Construction of the new rail tunnels under London continues to advance,” Andrew Wolstenholme, Crossrail chief executive said.</p><p>“As tunnelling concludes work will get underway to turn the tunnels into an operational railway with new track installed as well as power, drainage and ventilation systems.</p><p>“Tunnel fit-out is one of the largest contracts to be let by Crossrail and will create hundreds of new job opportunities as well as providing a welcome boost to regionally-based manufacturers and suppliers.”</p><p><u>New carriages for world’s steepest railway</u></p><p>Scenic World, the major attraction of the Blue Mountains town of Katoomba, has entered new carriages into its service as part of a $30 million redevelopment.</p><p>The new carriages, designed in Switzerland, allow passengers to choose how steep they would like to ride, with a 20 degree differentiation available.</p><p>The line, already the world’s steepest at 52 degrees, can therefore now be taken anywhere between 44 degrees and 64 degrees, at passengers’ discretion.</p><p>Also part of the redevelopment is track refurbishment, a new winch system and a new ticketing system.</p><p><u>KiwiRail extends Coastal Pacific service</u></p><p>New Zealand rail operator KiwiRail has announced the Coastal Pacific train between Picton and Christchurch in New Zealand will operate as an extended summer service in the seven months between October and April.</p><p>This seasonal service is expected to be in place while Christchurch rebuilds its tourism infrastructure.</p><p>“The Coastal Pacific is losing almost NZ$3m annually, due in most part to a significant drop in the tourism and domestic travel market to and from Christchurch after the earthquake. These losses are highest through winter,” KiwiRail’s general manager, passenger, Deborah Hume said.</p><p>“Winter demand for KiwiRail Scenic’s long distance passenger services (May through September) is much slower than the summer tourist season.</p><p>“For the Coastal Pacific service, the drop in demand in these winter months is even more pronounced than the TranzAlpine, as this train serves a less well known and travelled route. Added to this, since the February 2011 Christchurch Earthquake, travel to and from the city has dropped significantly due to the loss of tourist related facilities and accommodation.”</p><p><u>Rio installs new Cape Lambert shiploader, targets 290mtpa</u></p><p>Rio Tinto has taken a major step forward in the expansion of its Pilbara operations, with the installation of a new shiploader with a nominal 55mtpa capacity on its new wharf at Cape Lambert, WA.</p><p>The shiploader was swung from the BigLift vessel and placed directly on to its rails on the wharf, which will eventually extend 1.4km from shore.</p><p>Rio Tinto’s Pilbara projects chief operating officer, Michael Gollschewski, said the shiploader was a major component of infrastructure in the expansion programme.</p><p>“The last time we received a new shiploader was in 2007, also at Cape Lambert, on the existing wharf as part of the capacity expansion to 220mtpa&hellip we are progressing rapidly towards reaching our interim target of achieving 290mtpa capacity for the Pilbara operations,” he said.</p>
