All In depth articles – Page 12
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In depthSpain: ‘Basque Y’ inches ahead
Located in a mountainous area presenting formidable engineering challenges, the Y-shaped 1 435 mm gauge high speed network linking San Sebastián, Vitoria-Gasteiz and Bilbao in Spain’s Basque region has been designed to handle both passenger and freight trains. Mike Bent reports.
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In depthComment: Wiring advocates push back
Following much focus in recent months about the role that alternative traction technology such as batteries and hydrogen fuel cells could play in decarbonising railways, there are welcome signs that the rail industry is increasing the pressure to deploy more conventional overhead electrification, suggests our Managing Editor Nick Kingsley.
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In depthTicketing: Fair play for fare payers
Automatic detection of fare dodgers has been evaluated on metro networks in Delhi and Lisboa.
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In depthSoutheast Asia: Philippines’ slow revival gathers pace
Development of the North-South Commuter Railway in Manila has lent fresh momentum to plans for rail and metro projects both in Luzon and elsewhere in the Philippines. David Carmona investigates.
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In depthUSA: Let the Games begin!
With Los Angeles selected to host the 2028 summer Olympic and Paralympic Games, Southern California’s commuter rail agency Metrolink has started an enhancement programme to handle increased ridership and deliver long-term benefits, as recently appointed CEO Darren Kettle explains to Dave Lustig.
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In depthSoutheast Asia: Tackling the break of gauge
Passenger and freight facilities are being developed in both Vientiane and Nong Khai to facilitate increased rail traffic across the Laos-Thailand border.
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In depthOnboard services: Building a real-time relationship with passengers
Now being rolled out following trials with two UK train operators, the Real-Time Journey Dashboard developed by Whoosh combines live travel information with entertainment and advertising through a platform that also offers CRM functionality.
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In depthSoutheast Asia: Progress falters with Thai projects
Construction of a new line through Laos from the Chinese border to the capital at Vientiane in just five years is in marked contrast to the halting progress being made by several rail schemes in neighbouring Thailand. Peter Janssen reports from Bangkok.
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In depthSoutheast Asia: East-West landbridge takes shape
Construction of Malaysia’s East Coast Rail Link linking Port Klang in the west with Kota Bharu in the northeast is now underway, offering the prospect of a landbridge alternative to the congested shipping routes through the Straits of Malacca. Michael Mackey reports.
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In depthComment: Brazil’s rail revolution
A series of regulatory changes has triggered what may turn out to be a vast expansion of Brazil’s rail network.
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In depthMy Life in Rail: Jay Sheth
Developing metros and millennials: Jay Sheth describes his urban rail career encompassing roles at London Underground and Mumbai Metro One, and sets out how rail organisations can attract and retain younger staff.
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In depthAzerbaijan: Developing a transit hub
After years of declining freight traffic, Azerbaijan’s national railway ADY is seeking to revive its fortunes by focusing on its potential as a hub for transit freight between Asia and Europe. It is also increasing investment in passenger services around Baku. Toma Bačić explains.
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In depthIsrael: Light rail is not the only fruit
Due to open later this year, Tel Aviv’s light rail Red Line is the first route in a planned six-line network to serve the rapidly expanding conurbation.
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In depthTurkey: Currency crunch dents metro expansion
An array of urban and suburban rail projects is underway across Turkey, but political squabbles between central government and city administrations and major currency fluctuations could yet hinder delivery of the investment, as David O’Byrne explains.
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In depthResearch: Extending the role of backup batteries
Projects in Chengdu and Moscow have confirmed that nickel battery technology, originally developed to provide onboard backup services on metro trains, can also provide a cost-effective source of power for emergency traction, eliminating the need to install separate battery packs.
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In depthResearch: Towards a low-carbon slab track
The inclusion of recycled plastic and other materials in precast and continuous in-situ concrete track slabs would help to reduce the environmental impact of track construction and could also deliver improved dynamic performance.
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In depthInterview: Turning Budapest into a European rail hub
A 20-year strategy for expanding Budapest’s regional and long-distance rail connections envisages the construction of new and upgraded cross-city links to alleviate the bottlenecks caused by the River Danube and the capital’s three termini, explains Budapest Development Agency CEO Dávid Vitézy.
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In depthResearch: Shifting to Europe’s Rail
Established under the EU’s Horizon Europe research programme, the Europe’s Rail joint undertaking came into effect on November 30, taking over from the Shift2Rail JU which has co-ordinated rail research for the past five years.
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In depthResearch: Putting R&D at the heart of recovery
The global rail community will gather in Birmingham in June for the 13th World Congress on Railway Research, providing a unique opportunity to discuss in person the role of rail R&D in a post-pandemic environment.
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In depthComment: Rail freight’s big battery booster
A string of recent orders for battery-electric locomotives from railways in North America and Australia offers hope of decarbonising the heavy haul freight sector, as well as the promise of innovations which railways elsewhere could adopt in the future.