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Rail Articles

Infrastructure maintenance and extension

14 February 2006 | By Jean-Marie Raviart, Director General of Infrastructure at Infrabel

Jean-Marie Raviart, Director General of Infrastructure at Infrabel, was interviewed by Global Railway Review to comment on Infrabel’s investment policy and the major Belgian railway projects.

The ProRail outsourcing way

14 February 2006 | By James Abbott, Technical Editor

ProRail, the owner of the Dutch railway network, has gone further than most European rail infrastructure companies in putting maintenance and renewal work out to tender. James Abbott, Global Railway Review’s Technical Editor asks the questions that matter to two of ProRail’s employees – Mr. Jan Swier, Strategic Advisor for…

Survival of Croatian Railways

14 February 2006 | By Davorin Kobak, B.Sc.E, President of the Management Board, hrvatske zveljeznice

The restructuring and modernisation of Croatian Railways are a part of the comprehensive preparations for the accession of Croatia to the European Union. €1.9 billion will be invested in rolling stock and infrastructure from 2006 and 2010. The majority of that amount is to be invested in the modernisation of…

SZ – competitive progress

14 February 2006 | By Dr. Jozve Jurkovic, General Director, Slovenske zveleznice

Slovenia is a small central-European country and Slovenian Railways (SZ) is a small railway company. With just over 1,200 kilometres of railway tracks and 8,100 employees, Slovenian Railways are among the smallest of European railways. The above mentioned numbers, however, only tell part of the story about the company and…

The Finnish fleet

14 February 2006 | By Markku Pesonen, Director of Rolling Stock Maintenance Department, VR

The Finnish rail network measures 5,800km consisting of approximately 50% electrified lines and over 90% single-track lines. Both passenger and freight trains, featuring different operating speeds, run on the same network. Roughly 40% of the network is over 30 years old, and due to insufficient financing, the development needs have…

SJ’s communication installation

14 February 2006 | By Magnus Jonasson, Vice President Fleet Management Division, SJ

The X 2000 is one of SJ’s leading trains. Compared with other means of transportation it offers its passengers the possibility to use their travel time to work or be entertained. To extend this advantage, SJ have started to develop a system for seamless communication. It has two purposes: the…

The call for tender

14 February 2006 | By Oliver Bratschi, Manager of Railway Engineering, AlpTransit Gotthard AG

AlpTransit Gotthard is creating a flat rail link for future travel through the Alps. At the heart of the new transalpine rail route is the world’s longest tunnel – the 57km Gotthard Base Tunnel. This pioneering achievement of the 21st Century will bring major improvements to travel and transportation systems…

Network safety – caring for the future

14 February 2006 | By Hans Vogt, Head of Safety and Susanne Stierli, Project Manager of Safety, SBB

Network safety is an issue for both railway undertakings and infrastructure managers, not only with regard to ensuring railway safety but also with regard to establishing a manage-ment system that will guarantee safety remains affordable.

Innovative trainsets for cross-border traffic

14 February 2006 | By Dr. Dietrich G. Möller, Head of Trains Division, Siemens Transportation Systems

The German railway industry has long been considered a world leader with its innovative products. This also underscores the economic success in a generally difficult market. During the first half of 2005, the German rolling stock industry delivered more than half of its vehicles to foreign customers.

Collaborative approach to GSM-R

14 February 2006 | By Paul Jenkins, Programme Director, GSM-R Project, Network Rail

Global Railway Review has previously featured articles which have dealt with the in-depth technical nature of GSM-R1. In this report, Paul Jenkins summarises the progress made by Network Rail, the national owner and operator of the railway in the UK, and outline the next steps being taken to implement the…

Geogrids under dynamic loading

14 February 2006 | By Helmut Zanzinger, SKZ-TeConA GmbH, Würzburg, Germany

The bearing performance of railway embankments on soft ground can be improved by high strength geosynthetic reinforcement products. Under operating conditions, the reinforcement is submitted to static and dynamic forces. The geosynthetic reinforcement products are made out of polymer materials, which show visco-elastic behaviour. Their long term deformation and strength…

Some developments on the UK Network

3 November 2005 | By Andrew McNaughton, Chief Engineer, Network Rail & Member of Global Railway Review Editorial Board

These are exciting times for the UK rail network and for its infrastructure manager, Network Rail and the next five years will lay the foundation for the next 50.

Britain’s new look rolling stock

3 November 2005 | By George Muir, Director General, Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC)

During the last few years, Britain’s railways have seen a massive investment in new rolling stock to replace around 40% of the national fleet.

The Irish rail network transformation

3 November 2005 | By Dick Fearn, Acting Chief Executive, IE

Fast, frequent Intercity services operated by modern rolling stock. A commuter network which maximises capacity and plays the fullest role possible in meeting the transport needs of the Greater Dublin area. Enhanced local services. These are the three strands of development in what is the most exciting era for Ireland’s…

Delivering track renewals

3 November 2005 | By Paul Wiseman, Head of Investment Efficiency, Network Rail

Network Rail faces a challenging set of targets in delivering its £2 billion per annum investment programme. These challenges are particularly daunting in respect of its track renewals programme, where it needs to drive 30% efficiency out of its cost base by the end of the current Regulatory control period…