Features & Analysis – Page 9
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In depth
Norway: Follobanen is ready to open
As well as increasing capacity on the main rail corridor running southeast from Oslo, the Follobanen which opens next month is spurring sustainable development in the surrounding suburbs, as Bane Nor Project Director Per-David Borenstein explains to Chris Jackson.
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Comment: Taking the pulse in Berlin
The global rail sector gathered in Berlin in September for InnoTrans for the first time in four years, in what the organisers termed ‘a spirit of optimism’. Our Executive Editor Nick Kingsley reflects on the week and the mood among the supply chain as the industry grapples with an era of macro-level instability.
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Saudi Arabia: SAR seeks international partners as expansion and privatisation plans develop
Dr Bashar bin Khalid Al Malik, CEO of Saudi Arabia Railways speaks exclusively to Railway Gazette International about plans to expand the network, develop a regional supply sector and prepare for privatisation as part of the national Vision 2030 strategy.
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Czech Republic: Piecemeal modernisation makes steady progress
A further tranche of CEF funding from the EU will enable Czechinfrastructure manager Správa Železnic to progress numerous projects in its multifaceted modernisation of the country’s principal rail corridors. Toma Bačić investigates.
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Belgium: Double-deck power cars enter service
SNCB has put into operation the first of 90 double-deck power cars ordered to operate with its M7 push-pull coaches. Dr Harry Hondius reports.
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Eastern Europe: Adding capacity in Poland’s capital
Modernisation of the busy east-west cross-city route and construction of a second cross-city tunnel in the Polish capital during 2023-27 will generate much-needed capacity. Elsewhere in the Mazowieckie voivodship surrounding Warszawa, there are plans to build new lines and reopen old ones. Benjámin Zelki reports.
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Eastern Europe: War and supply chain turmoil put rail growth at risk
A deal which closed in January to create a joint venture with Slovenia’s state railway to run the SŽ-Tovorni Promet freight business is the latest in a series of expansionist moves by Czech private operator EP Logistics International. But future growth is under threat as the market outlook worsens, Executive Director Zbigniew Klepacki explains to Nick Kingsley.
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Viewpoint: California’s high speed programme is back on track
After years of twists and turns, the most ambitious and controversial high speed rail project in America is moving purposefully towards fruition. Andy Kunz, President & CEO of the US High Speed Rail Association, and Ezra Silk, Co-Founder of the US High Speed Rail Coalition, explain how the programme has reached this point.
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Global Trends: World market will return to growth
Following a slight decline in 2019-21 as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, the global railway supply market is projected to grow strongly in the next six years, according to the latest edition of UNIFE’s World Rail Market Study.
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Viewpoint: We cannot afford another failure
The European rail sector risks sleepwalking into an existential crisis if it cannot accelerate the funding and deployment of the Digital Automatic Coupler, argues Dr Jürgen Wilder of Knorr-Bremse.
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Smart Stations: Modular approach reshapes fit-out process
London’s Elizabeth Line and Brisbane’s Cross-River Rail Link are two major schemes where station design and fit-out is being influenced by trends towards modularity, repeatability and off-site production, as Julian Maynard of Maynard Design Group explains to Nick Kingsley.
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Viewpoint: Institutional fragmentation has undermined Rail Baltica
On paper Rail Baltica is a perfect match for the EU’s Connecting Europe Facility programme. But three issues need to be addressed, argues Kaspars Briškens, who recently stepped down as Head of Strategy & Development at the standard gauge railway project.
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Technology: Unlocking the next level of MaaS
Advanced technical functionalities are already available to support a One-Stop-Shop for Mobility as a Service, offering a viable multi-modal alternative to private car use, but greater collaboration and regulatory reform are needed to harness the opportunities.
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Comment: Energy efficiency at all costs
As an energy crisis looms for many of the world’s railways, our Executive Editor Nick Kingsley asks whether lessons can be learnt from the 1970s oil crisis, and urges the industry to redouble its efforts in maximising its energy efficiency.
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Europe: Overcoming the language barrier
Developed by UIC and RailNetEurope with funding from the Shift2Rail joint undertaking, the Translate4Rail tool offers hope that the thorny problem of drivers and dispatchers speaking different languages on cross-border routes in Europe can finally be resolved. Toma Bačić explains.
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Germany: Farm shop concept spurs freight tram revival
Initially developed as a student project, a mobile ‘farm shop’ retail and freight service using a converted tram-train is being proposed for use on the regional rail network around Karlsruhe. This in turn could offer a more viable business model for other cargo tram initiatives.
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Germany: Wendlingen - Ulm poised to open as Stuttgart21 costs rise again
Deutsche Bahn will open the Wendlingen – Ulm high speed line in December with the controversial Stuttgart 21 project following in stages from 2025 onwards. Toma Bačić reports.
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Technology: Keeping track of tram-trains
Enhanced control and supervision tools have been deployed to improve the operation of tram-trains around Karlsruhe, where portion working is a common but complicated process.
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In depth
Viewpoint: Legacy railways need cybersecurity too
Rail professionals are increasingly aware of the risks posed by cyberattacks and how to mitigate them, but much of this attention focuses on new assets and infrastructure, rather than legacy equipment. The industry cannot let this become a major oversight, believes Nicolas Goupil of Cylus.
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In depth
Freight: Pulling the right levers to boost modal share
Governments around the world are keen to improve rail’s share of the freight market, although there are stark contrasts in start points and end goals between regions. Nevertheless, consultancy Roland Berger believes a comprehensive set of levers can be pulled to boost rail freight globally.