Schenley Investments, LLC’s Post

The Vancouver Island Railway is a unique Public-Private partnership between the Island Corridor Foundation (owned by the 14 First Nations and 5 Regional Districts it passes through since 2005) and its partner operator, Southern Rail of Vancouver Island (SVI) under contract to deliver freight, passenger, and maintenance services on behalf of the Island Corridor Foundation (ICF). After an extensive array of independent analysis of the railway contracted by the BC government in recent years, a viable business case has been put forward for the public to see. View the following for yourself: 👉 A condition assessment of the entire railway corridor including the ballast, rails, ties, bridges and Trestles: https://lnkd.in/ghVcarph 👉 A Business Case put together from that including public engagement: https://lnkd.in/gPeqav2z 👉 A freight analysis completed just before the 14th of March last year that has only improved since then due to freighter restrictions in the Georgia Strait and potential transit fees for freighters moving through Juan de Fuca: https://lnkd.in/gPEFAKHu ⚠️What I fail to see, in any meaningful capacity anyway, is the Federal Government on the scene to resolve long standing First Nation concerns with certain sections of the corridor as articulated in the First Nations engagement document, so all of us can enjoy the benefits of rail on Vancouver Island again. https://lnkd.in/ggaPY5Xv This is why we need to keep pressing on the Federal Government, and give them a kick in the caboose to get out here and fix this situation for the nearly 1 million people living here congested, and fed up with having our needs ignored for decades. Restore Island Rail https://chng.it/HTPJ25CqPr

“Economic regulation of a railway corridor and/or market for investments” is intepretated by “TRANSNOMICS in Effect” in an article we shall be publishing within the first quarter of 2024. The fundamentals remain on understanding and facilitating “the rail market” consumer and producer benefits. 🎯 #railindustry #investmentstrategies #railsafety #transportation #economicregulation #servicequality #marketgrowth

Trans-Alpine rail freight traffic is facing serious difficulties. Two of the tunnels which rail freight is reliant on, namely the #Frejus and #GotthardBaseTunnel, remain totally or partially closed. Strategic support measures are required to ensure these temporary restrictions in capacity #TCRs will not have a severe negative impact on #railfreight operators and the sector: 1) Reopening of both tunnels as quickly as possible. 2) Prioritising rail freight in case or remaining restricted capacities. 3) Reviewing planned construction works in case of delayed prolongations. 4) Looking at track access charges and especially mark-ups in Italy. 5) Supporting railway undertakings via ad hoc economic measures. Conor Feighan Dirk Stahl Silvia De Rocchi

The Federal Railroad Administration is set to distribute over $153 million in grants for passenger rail operations costs through its Restoration and Enhancement Grant Program. This funding supports new, restored, and enhanced passenger rail services across the U.S., covering initial operating expenses for up to six years. Applications will open soon, and submissions are due 75 days after the Federal Register is published: https://lnkd.in/gJyq_Yk3 Eligible projects include new route services, restoration of discontinued routes, and enhancements to existing routes. Investing in our passenger rail infrastructure not only improves travel experiences but also boosts economic growth and promotes sustainability. #PassengerRail #InfrastructureInvestment #Sustainability #EconomicGrowth #Transportation #FederalFunding #RailwayDevelopment #PublicTransport

A loud debate is emerging around VIA Rail’s planned upgrade to its current Toronto-Quebec City corridor by the addition of a High-Frequency Rail (HFR) route. What do you think? An HFR with a maximum speed of 200 km/h or an High-Speed Rail (HSR) corridor with speeds over 250-300 km/h? Pros and Cons? #railindustry #HFR #HSR #viarail #viahfr #siemensmobility

For #RailFreight to be able to meet the modal shift objectives of increasing rail freight volumes by 50% by 2030 and doubling volumes by 2050 , it needs to be cost competitive with other modes of transport, particularly road. This will require the implementation of #TrackAccessCharge regimes which looks to ensure parity in cost for road and rail. Recent experiences have shown a fragmented approach to infrastructure charging throughout Europe. In several Member States, Infrastructure Managers are continuously adjusting infrastructure rates to increasingly allow rail to #compete. In other cases, the opposite is being observed, where rail is becoming more #expensive compared to road, undermining rail freight's ability to compete. More in our press release ⤵ Conor Feighan Alberto Mazzola Gilles Peterhans Ralf-Charley Schultze Carole Coune Adina Valean Heiming Monika

One of the major questions facing transport policy makers over the coming years is how to increase rail freight volumes. The European Commission has a goal to increase rail freight volumes by 50% by 2030 and double volumes by 2050. With stagnant growth today, its clear the status quo will not achieve this. One of the key tools to achieve this, which is often overlooked as an enabler for modal shift, is track access charges. These are the basic infrastructure charges railway undertakings pay to operate. Track Access Charges should be: - viewed as a strategic tool in achieving modal shift - only be based upon the direct costs of operating trains - be reduced to a comparable level with other transport modes to allow for fair competition European financial mechanisms, such as EU-ETS, should be used to compensate infrastructure managers who reduce infrastructure charges to enable modal shift. Read more in the ERFA position below.

Our report into the Freight train derailment at London Gateway, Essex, on 24 December 2021 https://lnkd.in/e3nXm3W6 #Thurrock #Essex makes three recommendations:    • One is directed to VTG Rail, the owner and developer of the triple-wagon, covering the need to identify and implement any necessary design changes and operating restrictions.   • The second is directed to GB Railfreight, the operator of the train, covering the need to develop instructions and best practice guidance for its operations staff.   • The third is directed to RSSB covering the need to raise the rail industry’s understanding of the derailment risks associated with longitudinal compressive forces and the management strategies that need to be introduced.    Read the full report and find out more about the investigation at gov.uk/raib 

Who thought about the "Iron Highway" or "Pacific Gateway" first? Was it that Island Rail Corp? Nope. Was it me? Nope. It was the Island Corridor foundation working with the 14 First Nations and the 5 regional districts the railway passes through. Right in the Executive summary they talk about it without calling it by name. "freight operations throughout the entire Island, with particular emphasis on our ports." Port Alberni wants to build a Trans Shipment Hub 30 km's down the Alberni inlet called PATH https://pathbc.ca, and they already have berths for freighters now. Southern Rail of Vancouver Island, the Island Corridor Foundations contracted operator already has a Seaspan Rail ferry birth at Wellcox Yard in Nanaimo on Vancouver Island, and on Annacis Island in Vancouver. https://lnkd.in/gR9SFDNr The BC Freight Analysis suggested building a spur out to Duke Point to connect with DP Nanaimo's short sea shipping operation https://lnkd.in/ghkG7bnY "Developing a rail connection to Duke Point would provide synergetic benefits for the area and the Island Rail Corridor" So when you hear "Iron Highway" or "Pacific Gateway" know that it is owned by the Island Corridor Foundation, and supporting them is the only way we will every see it come to fruition. Restore Island Rail We need change https://chng.it/HTPJ25CqPr

Discover SilverRail’s Vice President of UK Rail, David Pitt’s predictions for the rail industry for 2024💡 1. 2024 is the year government must act on its Great British Railways plan 🚆 2. Rail must become less fragmented and more centralised 🤝 3. Ticket purchasing will become possible on UK high streets 🛍 4. Price hikes stunting full UK rail revival 📉 5. The need to replace outdated tech in the UK rail industry 🔧 Read the full article: https://buff.ly/3UwmT0Q #railtech #railindustry #2024predictions #railtrends #railtransport #railtechnology