List view / Grid view
4 June 2014 | By Dirk Beckers, Executive Director of INEA
The Innovation and Networks Executive Agency (INEA) is the successor to the Trans-European Transport Network Executive Agency (TEN-T EA), which was originally created by the European Commission in 2006 to manage the technical and financial implementation of its TEN-T Programme dealing with transport infrastructure and the TEN-T network. Over the…
Switches and crossings – or otherwise known as ‘set of points’ or ‘turnouts’ – provide a railway network with operational flexibility by enabling vehicles to be directed from one track (or line) to another. The most common switch and crossing (S&C) layout consists of a switch panel, a crossing panel…
Geometrical deficiencies in rail tracks tend to occur after a given period of time, all depending on how intense the traffic is or on how inherently instable the track foundation may be. The identification of such deficiencies through measurement and its correction is fundamental for the efficient and safe performance…
CAPACITY4RAIL1 is an EU co-funded research project that started at the end of 2013 within the 7th Framework Program and is planned for a total duration of four years. Under the coordination of the UIC, it brings together a wide range of stakeholders in an ambitious partnership. Laurent Schmitt, CAPACITY4RAIL…
SŽDC is a state-organisation tasked with the role of railway infrastructure manager for the Czech Republic. The country’s railway network has approximately 9,459km of lines which consist of 1,950km of double-and multi-tracks and 7,509km of single track lines operating with standard gauge. Only 23km of single-track lines are narrow-gauged. Approximately…
The openETCS® concept consists of two components: a commercial one, requesting open source licensed ETCS OBU software, plus a three-year openETCS® R&D project within the ITEA2 cluster of the EUREKA R&D framework. Now almost halfway through, the project has already reached one of its mayor milestones – providing a tools…
ERTMS development was launched in 1989. The objective was to shape a harmonised and unified system for signalling, train control and train communication. The main drivers of this decision were not only to facilitate interoperability across the European railway and to improve technical compatibility (e.g. compatibility between vendor solutions) but…
This issue features articles from the German Railway Industry Association, NETINERA, and the recently inaugurated Leipzig City Tunnel; A look at Bombardier’s FLEXX Eco Bogie, UNIFE’s EURAXLES project, and CETEST’s instrumented wheelsets work; Manfred Pisek and Stefan Gaider, ÖBB Infrastructure discuss signalling in Austria; Constructing the Copenhagen–Ringsted line and InterCity…
In our latest free-to-view Bogies/Wheelsets supplement, read articles from Eddie Searancke from Bombardier about the FLEXX Eco Bogie; CETEST’s developments into testing instrumented wheelsets; and the latest progress into UNIFE’s EURXALES project…
11 April 2014 | By James Abbott, Technical Editor, Global Railway Review
Railway liberalisation in the European Union took a big step backwards in February when the European Parliament threw out the Governance Section of the 4th Railway Package – built on earlier EU legislation requiring state railways to be split into infrastructure and operating units. The new section looked for total…
11 April 2014 | By Simon Fletcher, Coordinator – Europe, UIC
The rail sector’s vision is that railways, already vital to Europe’s social and economic well-being, will contribute even more in the future; an efficient rail system that is the backbone for the growth and competiveness of the European economy. Europe’s rail companies and stakeholders have collaborated to develop and publish…
11 April 2014 | By Ronald Pörner, Managing Director, German Railway Industry Association (VDB)
The German Railway Industry Association (VDB) purposefully and emphatically represents the interests of German railway technology manufacturers, thus contributing to the dynamics of the worldwide rail industry. The branch is very established in the international business arena with an export ratio of approximately 50%. Whether for rolling stock, rail infrastructure…
11 April 2014 | By James Abbott, Technical Editor, Global Railway Review
Capital expenditure by Deutsche Bahn AG (DB) is rising by over 5% annually, but certification problems are giving suppliers pause for thought. In late-February 2014, DB put on hold its proposed high-speed Frankfurt–London rail service – news that came as little surprise. The project has been dogged by delays ever…
11 April 2014 | By Oliver Mietzsch, General Manager, Greater Leipzig Railway Authority Association (ZVNL)
On 15 December 2013, the Leipzig City Tunnel was opened for commercial service. Despite some delays in completing the new underground infrastructure which ended up costing double the initially planned €450 million capital investment, statements from industry-officials made during an opening ceremony were full of pride about the completion of…
11 April 2014 | By Jost Knebel, CEO, NETINERA Deutschland GmbH
NETINERA is one of the largest private regional rail operators in Germany. Before 2011 it belonged to the British Arriva plc company until it was acquired by a financial consortium of the Italian national railway company, Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane (FS) and the French-Luxembourgian infrastructure company, Cube Infrastructure. In 2014,…
