Features & Analysis – Page 42
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Velaros ready to run Olympic shuttles
CHINA: With 6 227 km of route already completed for operation at speeds of 200 km/h and a further 6 100 km of high speed line under construction during 2007, China's Vice-Minister of Railways Lu Chunfang told delegates at UIC Highspeed in Amsterdam that work was about to start on ...
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Global debate as projects forge ahead
More than 1 300 people from 44 countries participated in the UIC Highspeed 2008 congress in Amsterdam on March 16-19, debating the technical, social and political issues surrounding the global development of high speed rail
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São Paulo - Rio tenders next year
BRAZIL: 'This is a favourable moment to change the transport metrics in Brazil', announced the Governor of São Paulo state José Serra, addressing the opening session of the UIC Highspeed 2008 congress. Emphasising the importance of high-quality infrastructure to support the country's rapidly-growing economy, he insisted that Brazil needed to ...
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NewsCheaper trains through supplier-led standardisation
Rolling stock engineers gathered in Paris on April 2 to mark the conclusion of a European Commission-backed project to cut life-cycle costs through the industry-led standardisation of subsystem interfaces
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Wi-fi at 320 km/h
FRANCE: SNCF is investing in satellite-based on-train internet access to give its TGVs a competitive edge in the liberalised passenger market after 2010. Jean-Paul Masse reports
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Tackling the barriers to progress
Competitors are making their presence felt in the Italian market as the national railway prepares to step up the range and quality of its freight and passenger services. Chief Executive of FS Holding SpA Mauro Moretti talks to Nick Kingsley and Murray Hughes
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'Our most critical year'
Francesco Grotti of Rail Traction Company tells Nick Kingsley that Italy's first open access operator is optimistic about the future despite uncertainty over train control technology, crew deployment and locomotive procurement
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NewsExpanding to exploit an open market
RUSSIA: The country’s second biggest freight operator has announced an IPO and listing on the London Stock Exchange. Globaltrans Chief Executive Sergey Maltsev told Andrew Grantham how he views the opportunities presented by market liberalisation.
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Synergies drive growth in traction components market
Harry Hondius visits ABB's 'power electronics triangle'
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NewsUkrainian Railways on the path to renewal
UKRAINE: With traffic volumes and customer expectations increasing, Ukrzaliznytsya has started to renew its rolling stock and upgrade its infrastructure. Structural reform would allow the railway to become more commercial and raise funding for investment from external sources.
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State funding deal
USA: Responding to an 88% increase in ridership on state-supported inter-city services between 1996 and 2006, the Department of Transportation has unveiled a grant programme to support efforts by individual states to fund enhancements to passenger rail operations. 'Rail passengers demand improved service and quality and this grant programme will ...
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Indian Railways moves towards Vision 2025
Presenting his 2008-09 budget to parliament on February 26, India’s Railway Minister Lalu Prasad outlined a picture of continuing investment in modernisation and upgrading. Raghu Dayal reports
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Regulation tops the freight agenda
Delegates attending the freight day at EuroRail 2008 focused on the regulatory and capacity issues facing the sector as it works to realise the EU's vision of an open, liberalised and inter-operable market.
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NewsThrough ticketing is the missing element
Jean-Marc Charoud, Director for Network Development at French infrastructure company RFF, told EuroRail 2008 delegates on February 26 that trains 'will completely kill air traffic between Paris and Bordeaux' once the LGV Sud-Atlantique project is completed. This prediction is undoubtedly correct, but it is worth recalling that timings of around ...
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NewsHigh speed operators spread their wings
Europe's well-established high speed sector is broadening its horizons to improve access to its services. Speakers at Terrapinn's EuroRail 2008 conference in Milano explained how high speed rail can benefit from improved integration both on the ground and in the air
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'Reduce the flexibility of ERTMS'
Speaking at Terrapinn's EuroRail 2008 event in Milano on February 27, Swiss Federal Railways' Head of Train Protection Dr Thomas Staffelbach called for Europe's railways to recognise that less flexibility in the design of ERTMS would be for their own benefit
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Software aids timetable architects
CAPACITY: While planning software and simulation tools continue to facilitate the train pathing and dispatching process, delegates at the IT08.rail conference were told that integration and preparation are essential for a successful timetable. Nick Kingsley reports from Zürich.
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Driverless trains to support a prosperous future
DUBAI: With the first line opening next year, Dubai’s automated metro network will provide a superior alternative to the emirate’s increasingly clogged roads. Dominic Ellis looks at one of the Middle East’s most eagerly-awaited engineering projects, underpinning the city’s future economic development
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Sprinter on the start line
NETHERLANDS: Harry Hondius MSc rides the first of NS Reizigers' new-generation of Sprinter EMUs, which are due to enter service between Den Haag and Utrecht this year.
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NewsCross-city expansion gets underway
LONDON: Network Rail has begun work on the long-planned upgrade of the Thameslink cross-city route, where tendering is now in hand for major works due to commence in January. Under a two-stage programme costing a total of £5·5bn, platforms will be lengthened to accommodate 12-car trains operating at a frequency ...