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High-Speed Rail

 

High-speed railways provide an efficient mode of transport, but they are highly complex systems and must combine various elements if they are to operate successfully.

Our high-speed rail content explores projects currently under construction, projects at planning stages and how their vision is taking shape, the funding and financial issues around building new high-speed lines, the importance of understanding what passengers want from high-speed rail services, and how established high-speed lines can help boost economies.

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Norwegian railways enter a year of intensive planning

8 June 2012 | By Elisabeth Enger, Director General, Jernbaneverket

Since the beginning of 2012, three important reports on Norwegian railways have been issued in quick succession. First was the major high-speed study, followed by Jernbaneverket’s concept study for expansion of the InterCity network in eastern Norway. Subsequently, the central government agencies for sea, air, road and rail transport tabled…

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Opening up construction of Denmark’s first high-speed railway to competition

8 June 2012 | By Jan Schneider-Tilli, Project Director, Copenhagen-Ringsted railway, Banedanmark

The new Copenhagen-Ringsted railway is the largest civil engineering project in Denmark for well over 100 years. Not since the Vestvolden fortifications around Copenhagen were built between 1882 and 1892 as part of the city’s defences has Denmark been the setting for such an extensive building project: a new 60km…

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Turkey’s continuing developments

11 April 2012 | By Süleyman Karaman, Director General and Chairman of the Board, Turkish State Railways (TCDD)

The history of railways in Turkey can be analysed in four periods. First was the Ottoman Period between 1856 and 1922 when foreigners were granted concessions and 4,136km of railway lines were constructed. Second was the Republic Period between 1923 and 1950 when developments were fast and bright and 3,764km…

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Creating a fair and open rail market to compete with road and aviation is key

6 December 2011 | By Nicolas Petrovic, CEO, Eurostar

Over the coming weeks and months, EU policy-makers will lock horns in earnest over new rules to ensure fair and open competition in the European rail market, both freight and passenger. On economic grounds alone it is critical that the right rules are in place but it is equally important…

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Rhine-Rhône HSL: sustainable development in a rail sector environment

6 December 2011 | By Xavier Gruz, Project Director for the eastern branch of the Rhine- Rhône HSL, Réseau Ferré de France (RFF)

On 8 September 2011, Réseau Ferré de France (RFF) inaugurated the first part of the eastern branch of the Rhine-Rhône high-speed line. Included in the design and construction of this line, with its major socio-economic challenges, was a series of innovative environmental measures to ensure its long-term sustainability.

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CETEST: Test services for commuter, long distance and high-speed railway vehicles

6 December 2011 | By Igor Alonso-Portillo, Director for Strategy and Business Development, CETEST

CETEST Test and Analysis Centre is an independent accredited laboratory focusing on the testing of railway vehicles. With headquarters in the North of Spain, we are a global company serving a diversity of customers ranging from railway undertakings (operators), system integrators (vehicle manufacturers) to equipment sub suppliers. The tests we…

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The ambition to operate 250km/h trains on existing infrastructure

22 September 2011 | By Björn Westerberg, Director of High-Speed Train Project, SJ AB

When the tilting train X2000 was introduced 21 years ago, it dramatically changed the way of travel in Sweden. Travelling by rail took substantial market shares from airlines and road traffic. The key success factors were higher speed (200km/h on existing infrastructure), point-to-point travel, significantly reduced travel time, better comfort…

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ADIF’s Public Private Collaboration: High-speed lines to Galicia and Alicante

22 September 2011 | By Cristóbal Pérez Monjardín, Director of Financial Planning and Budget, Spanish Railway, Infrastructure Administrator (ADIF)

In 2010, the Infrastructure Extraordinary Plan (Plan Extraordinario de Infraestructuras (PEI)) of the Ministry of Public Works began, with expected tenders in the region of €17,000 million – the equivalent to 1.7% of Spanish GDP – which meant a turning point in the model used up until then in Spain…

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The Italian railway network looks to the future

4 August 2011 | By Michele Mario Elia, CEO, Rete Ferroviaria Italiana (RFI)

My last contribution to Global Railway Review was back in Issue 4 2008, when I was interviewed about the then current status and view of high-speed operations in Italy. Since then Italy has changed a great deal where infrastructure is concerned. The Italian High-Speed/High-Capacity (HS/HC) network Today, Italy is a…

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Turkey storms ahead with developments and investments

6 April 2011 | By Süleyman Karaman, Director General and Chairman of the Board, Turkish State Railways (TCDD)

When the worldwide and European Union transportation policies of the last 30-years are analysed, it will be observed that some radical changes have taken place elevating railways to a prioritised position so that the share of railways in the transportation sector increases and a balance between the transportation modes is…

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The SEA LGV concession between Tours and Bordeaux: can others follow suit?

10 December 2010 | By Pierre-Denis Coux, Director, South Europe Atlantic LGV Project, Ŕeseau Ferré de France (RFF)

The South Europe Atlantic high-speed line project (SEA LGV) is being built as the first railroad concession model in France. Under this model, industrial and financial partners will be responsible for building and operating the 300km-long high-speed line between Tours and Bordeaux. The contracts covering the financing of the project…

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Strengthening Sweden’s development through investments in very high-speed rail

20 September 2010 | By Sören Belin, Coordinator, Future Rail Sweden

Sweden is one of the European countries where railway has played an important role during the last two decades. Increasing railway traffic, more passengers and more freight transport is the result of improved quality and general awareness of the benefits of the railway. With more people commuting and more freight…