All In depth articles – Page 8
-
In depthBelgium: SNCB refines its rolling stock strategy
Procurement of a new fleet of single-voltage EMUs including a BEMU variant will enable the Belgian national operator to consolidate its rolling stock fleet into three main types by 2030. Dr Harry Hondius explains.
-
In depthSwitzerland: Second Albula tunnel to open in 2024
Tracklaying will begin in June in the replacement Albula tunnel on the Rhätische Bahn main line from Chur to St Moritz. Murray Hughes reports.
-
In depthAlgeria: Urban projects back on track
Flush with higher revenues from oil and natural gas exports, Algeria has restarted extensions to the capital city’s metro and is unfreezing tram projects that had been put on ice. Christian Scasso reports.
-
In depthSweden: Investment volte-face exposes fragility of EU rail vision
The decision last December by the incoming Swedish government to scale back radically the national high speed rail programme and remove the routes from the pan-European TEN-T network has raised profound questions about the country’s commitment to EU rail ambitions, as Nick Kingsley explains.
-
In depthEuropean Policy: Making the case for cross-border rail
As part of the vision for a Single European Railway Area, a coalition of member states and European institutions is pushing to revitalise and expand cross-border passenger services as a key element in driving modal shift to rail and decarbonising the EU transport sector. Chris Jackson investigates.
-
In depthWorld Speed Survey 2023: China retains the lead in post-pandemic recovery
After the disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, most of the world’s high speed railway services have returned to a more normal operating pattern, although many of the best timings have been eased slightly, finds Jeremy Hartill.
-
In depthComment: Greek train crash highlights a tragic system failure
A horrific head-on collision at Evangelismos on the Athens – Thessaloniki main line raises many questions about investment in railway safety and the human factors implications facing front-line employees.
-
In depthEgypt: Building a Suez Canal on rails
Siemens Mobility is playing a vital part in construction of a 2 000 km high speed network in Egypt. Siemens Mobility’s CEO for Turnkey, Middle East & Africa Léon Soulier outlines the company’s role, its partnerships, and the impact of this huge investment.
-
In depthMorocco: High speed lines spearhead ONCF’s development programme
Christian Scasso assesses proposals to expand the Moroccan national network, including a further 1 300 km of high speed line.
-
In depthCompetition and co-operation in the spotlight as high speed rail sector recovers from Covid
With many railways seeing a rapid return in traffic post-Covid, the latest UIC World Congress on High Speed Rail in Marrakech on March 8-11 focused on questions of on-rail competition and co-operation with aviation. Benjámin Zelki reports from Morocco.
-
In depthHigh Speed: Keeping track of new line costs
Bane Nor and Civity have conducted econometric research into the factors influencing how far high speed rail project costs can be kept under control, with a view to learning lessons for future major rail schemes in Norway and elsewhere.
-
In depthPoland: Airport scheme catalyses high speed network plan
Government plans to build a central airport and make it the hub of a revamped passenger network for Poland will require the construction of 1 981 km of new lines, almost half of which will be dedicated high speed corridors. Work on the Warszawa – Łódź route is due to start next year. Benjámin Zelki reports.
-
In depthComment: Money alone is not enough
The Indian government is pouring money into rail investment in record quantities, but cash alone will not be enough to ensure that policymakers’ ambitious aims for railway development are achieved.
-
In depthHigh Speed: The right speed for our planet
More than 1 500 delegates and exhibitors from around the world will be converging on Marrakech this week for the 11th UIC World Congress on High Speed Rail.
-
In depthTechnology: Expanding the scope of condition monitoring tools
Swedish company Railway Metrics & Dynamics has developed a low-power monitoring unit initially aimed at addressing rolling stock faults such as wheel flats. Now, as CEO Jan Lindqvist explains, the company is exploring how infrastructure can be monitored more effectively as well.
-
In depthNurminen sees opportunities for growth following acquisition of Operail Finland
FINLAND: Nurminen Logistics says its purchase of Estonian national freight operator Operail’s Finnish business has attracted great interest from its customers in Finland, central Europe and China. Nurminen announced the completion of the transaction on February 14, saying it was now a full-service rail freight operator ...
-
In depthUSA: Hurricane-resistant workshop inaugurated
A ‘storm-resilient’ depot has opened to serve New York City Transit’s Staten Island Railway.
-
In depthFleet Management: DB invests to keep ICE fleet in trim
By 2030 Deutsche Bahn plans to spend around €2bn on new and expanded maintenance workshops to keep pace with its steadily expanding fleet of ICE trainsets. Murray Hughes investigates.
-
In depthFrance: Developing concepts to revive rural lines
France’s policy of abandoning rural lines has been halted and the stage is set for a revival of lightly used or closed routes. Driven partly by efforts to decarbonise the economy, several low-cost operating and maintenance concepts are being developed with state support, reports Reinhard Christeller.
-
In depthFrance: Start-ups energise the passenger market
Open access passenger operators have so far had limited success in penetrating the French market, but a medley of ambitious entrepreneurs is now tackling the task. Jérémie Anne reports.