List view / Grid view
26 September 2009 | By James Abbott, Technical Editor
In July the British government announced a major programme of railway electrification, taking in the Great Western main line from London to Bristol and Swansea. To many Continental European readers, it must seem astonishing that such an important artery on the British rail network is still diesel worked.
26 September 2009 | By Åsa Torstensson, Minister for Communications, Ministry of Enterprise, Energy & Communications, Sweden
Growth of population, urbanisation, trade and economics as well as the environmental and climatic challenges calls for sustainable and efficient transportation solutions. Development of the railway is essential to meet these demands. We have to improve efficiency, quality and maintenance of existing systems as well as invest in new infrastructure,…
26 September 2009 | By Tilo Brandis, President and CEO, RAIL.ONE GmbH
Since March 2008, Tilo Brandis has been President and CEO of RAIL.ONE GmbH. After his studies at various universities in Europe and at Harvard Business School, Brandis began his career at HBS Consulting Partners as a Project Manager and Management Consultant...
26 September 2009 | By Alf Karlsson, Head of the Infrastructure Department and Manager of the Handover Subproject, Botniabanan AB and Jan Bergman, Communications Manager, Botniabanan AB
The Bothnia line consists of 190km of new railway, with 140 bridges and 25km of tunnels. Botniabanan AB has been commissioned by the Swedish government to build the Bothnia Line, a railway running from Nyland, north of Kramfors, via Örnsköldsvik to Umeå. Ground-breaking for the project took place on 14…
26 September 2009 | By Gunnar Alexandersson, Senior Policy Adviser, ASTOC
The Association of Swedish Train Operating Companies (ASTOC) acts on behalf of Sweden's train operators. It seeks to represent the interests of commercial rail traffic in its dealing with the Government and Parliament, authorities, business principals, the media and other bodies. ASTOC also assists in increasing the rail industry's know-how…
26 September 2009 | By Craig Waters, Global Railway Review
On 8 and 9 September 2009, Global Railway Review, together with its sister publication Eurotransport, welcomed leading industry personnel to Berlin, Germany, for Public Transport Security 2009 - an important conference to share knowledge and experience of providing safe and secure public transport systems.
26 September 2009 | By Eckart Jäde, Team Leader – Technical Calculation, Voith Turbo Scharfenberg GmbH & Co. KG
Voith Turbo Scharfenberg GmbH & Co. KG (SCHAKU) is a world wide known manufacturer of couplers for rail vehicles. Beyond their traditional business, SCHAKU has become an established supplier of complete front end systems. With the introduction of the EN15227, a crash suitable design for the front end of trains…
26 September 2009 | By Sergio Alexandre Malaghães Tormenta, Railway Electrification Department Manager, Neopul
Neopul, in conjunction with two Spanish companies, has won the contract for the project to build a new high-speed railway line in Spain between Barcelona and the French border. To this end, a joint venture has been formed in which Neopul has a 38.25% stake. The project consists of the…
26 September 2009 | By
The year 2008 was the 160th anniversary of railways in Spain, which is all the more significant because now in the 21st Century, railways have clearly been modernised and this modernisation process will continue in the coming years. In accordance with the Strategic Infrastructures and Transport Planes (PEIT), prepared by…
26 September 2009 | By António Rodrigues Viana, General Director of Strategic Planning, REFER
Each year in Europe, the number of victims from accidents at level crossings (LCs) is approximately 600. It is a disturbing number, which not only demonstrates that this is a problem affecting all countries, but should also prompt awareness and education campaigns on the rules and good practices when crossing…
26 September 2009 | By Francisco José Cardoso dos Reis, CEO, CP (Comboios de Portugal, E.P.E.)
In October 2006, the Portuguese government issued the Strategical Guidelines for the railway sector, which aims at empowering the railway competitive advantages in terms of performance and efficiency in the frame of the transportation system and enhance the sector's sustainability as a contributor to the economical development and to the…
26 September 2009 | By Stefan Knittel, Project Manager, Rhomberg Bahntechnik
The new Citytunnel in Malmö is the next major step to connect the City centres of Malmö (Sweden) and Copenhagen (Denmark) even closer. The new line, connected to the Öresund-bridge and the Malmö Main Station will go underneath the centre of Malmö, crossing sensitive areas with hospitals, theatres and private…
21 July 2009 | By Max Friedli, Director, Federal Office of Transport, Switzerland
On 20 February 1994, a major political surprise occurred when, against all expectations, the Swiss voting population agreed upon a popular initiative to protect the Alps from transit traffic. This popular decision set the tone for a new Swiss transport policy. From then on, the goal of shifting freight transport…
21 July 2009 | By Philippe Gauderon, Head of SBB Infrastructure
Mr. Philippe Gauderon took up his new position as Head of SBB Infrastructure and Member of the SBB Management Board at the start of 2009. After studying law at the University of Fribourg, Mr. Gauderon initially worked as a lawyer until 1985. Between 1985 and 1995, he held numerous senior…
21 July 2009 | By Renzo Simoni, CEO, AlpTransit Gotthard Ltd
The year 2008 was highly successful for AlpTransit Gotthard Ltd. The work continues as scheduled and as things stand today, there is nothing to prevent the opening of the Gotthard Base Tunnel at the end of 2017 and the Ceneri Base Tunnel in 2019 as planned.
