All In depth articles – Page 5
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In depthResearch: Developing a data interface standard
The IDX4rail research initiative aims to create an open-source data converter to mitigate the challenge of differing interface standards for data transfer in the German urban and main line rail sectors.
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In depthGermany: A digital platform to manage freight flows
Having raised €3·6m in an investment round earlier this year, German company Rail-Flow is growing its range of digital tools to ease access to rail freight services.
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In depthInterview: Making trains even greener
Wabtec Transit CEO Pascal Schweitzer explains to Nick Kingsley how the tier one supplier is innovating in areas such as brake design and air-conditioning agents to further enhance the sustainability of rolling stock.
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In depthTraction: Intermittent wiring could form path to decarbonisation
Is there a feasible way to decarbonise North America’s railroads? Partial electrification matched with battery-powered traction may offer an answer.
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In depthUSA: Coastal corridor offers a growth blueprint
With Amtrak seeking to develop medium-distance corridor services linking selected city pairs across the USA, Dave Lustig looks to southern California, where inter-city passenger trains offer an attractive alternative to gridlocked highways.
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In depthPolicy: Data sharing is essential to build the ‘Internet of Trains’
The vision of an ‘Internet of Trains’ is bringing together many players in the railway industry, but a genuine data economy based on digital business models will succeed only if there is a pan-European data sharing infrastructure.
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In depthTechnology: SBB extends automated passenger counting
Thanks to data available from automated passenger counting equipment, Swiss Federal Railways is improving occupancy and passenger distribution forecasts, writes Toma Bačić.
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In depthIndia: IR’s digital journey
Indian Railways has embarked on a further wave of digitalisation as it continues to transform its operations and services, explains Raghu Dayal.
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In depthAsia-Pacific: Riding a tidal wave of digital transformation
Railways across the Asia-Pacific region are grappling with the challenges of digitalisation, but the UN believes that taking a co-ordinated approach and establishing partnerships within a regional ecosystem offers the prospect of greater benefits. Raghu Dayal reports.
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In depthCanada: PPP model underpins High Frequency Rail aspirations
Canada’s High Frequency Rail programme is now at the procurement stage as the government seeks a PPP partner to deliver mostly dedicated tracks for inter-city passenger trains in the 1 000 km corridor between Toronto and Québec City by the mid-2030s. Nick Kingsley reports.
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In depthComment: Rail safety credentials matter
Politicians contines to raise doubts with rail safety, despite railways being one of the safest forms of land transport. Benjámin Zelki considers that while continuous improvement is welcome, sweeping claims about rail safety may not always align with the evidence.
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In depthItaly: Bringing rail and air closer together
Infrastructure manager RFI is embarking on a programme to complete rail links to airports in Venezia, Bergamo, Brindisi, Olbia and Alghero by the end of 2026, while a major reconfiguration of the rail network around Milano Malpensa is also in hand. Benjámin Zelki reports.
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In depthItaly: Deadline catalyses enhancement programme
No less than €24·7bn has been allocated to rail investment from the EU’s Recovery & Resilience Fund, giving RFI the opportunity to accelerate a vast programme of enhancements across the network. However, the RRF funding comes with a strict 2026 deadline for project completion. Benjámin Zelki investigates the largest elements of the plans.
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In depthSouth Korea: Next-generation high speed trains on test
Korail is now testing the first two of 19 eight-car EMU-320 trainsets that will presage an expansion of services on South Korea’s main north-south main line. Benjámin Zelki reports.
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In depthFreight: Alpine corridors reflect rail’s struggle for modal share
Anchored in Italy, three north-south Rail Freight Corridors provide significant opportunities for modal shift in line with the European Commission’s Green deal objectives. However, the transalpine routes still face many challenges that need to be addressed, suggests Reinhard Christeller.
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In depthTraction technology: Bridging the gap from diesel
Equipping existing diesel passenger fleets with battery‑based energy storage technology can improve vehicle efficiency while reducing local noise and pollution, argues Edgar Keller of ABB Traction Systems.
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In depthChina: High speed fleet production peaks
In an analysis of the world market for high speed rail, SCI Verkehr finds that construction of high speed trains for China’s huge network has now peaked but after-sales activity is growing in importance as the fleet starts to age.
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In depthEurope: Approach route impasse threatens Lyon – Torino link
Plans to boost rail traffic between France and Italy through the Mont Cenis base tunnel maybe in jeopardy as the French government dithers over the choice of approach route. Christian Scasso reports
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In depthPassenger trains: OECD study highlights distortion in the world rolling stock market
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation & Development has found that governments across the globe intervene in the rolling stock market in numerous ways to support their own industries.
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In depthComment: Trains on the tourist trail
As summer moves into autumn in the northern hemisphere, a debate is beginning over the future of tourism, catalysed in part by the searing heatwaves and wildfires that have been sweeping across much of the planet.