news
Network Rail calls for cable theft law reform
27 July 2012 | By Network Rail
Almost 1km of signalling cable was stolen from the railway between Luton and Bedford overnight...
List view / Grid view
Safety & Security
Railways face continued growth in passenger ridership numbers and increased demand for rail freight operations. To cope, rail systems must adapt to their changing environment and provide networks that are both safe and secure.
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150 years of Finnish railways – still a vital part of the transport system
8 June 2012 | By Merja Kyllönen, Minister of Transport, Finland
2012 marks a special occasion in Finnish railway history: our railways celebrate their 150th anniversary. Scheduled train services began on 17 March 1862 between Helsinki and Hämeenlinna, and ever since then, rail transport has had a huge influence on the development of our society and landscape. Over the years, a…
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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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The railway accident investigation process in Norway
8 June 2012 | By Kurt A. Olsen, Director, Head of Rail Department, Accident Investigation Board Norway (AIBN)
The Accident Investigation Board Norway (AIBN) is a Norwegian Government agency under the Ministry of Transport and Communications, responsible for investigating accidents and incidents in the transport sector. The history of the Board dates back to 1989. Earlier ad hoc investigation commissions only investigated fatal aviation accidents. At that time…
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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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The railway market in Latvia continues to grow
8 June 2012 | By Uģis Magonis, President, Latvian Railways
Latvian Railways (LDz) has been a leading Baltic freight transport company for the last few years. Considering the increase in Latvian Railways’ main freight groups – coal and oil products – and to keep up with growing demand, Latvian Railways is now seeking opportunities to develop infrastructure in the fastest…
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Keen to develop services to drive growth
8 June 2012 | By Damian Grabowski, Board Member & Commercial Director, Arriva Polska and President of the Management Board, Arriva RP
Arriva was the first, and remains, the only private rail company operating in the Polish market. Supported by over 150 employees, the company delivers 2.5 million train kilometres annually, serving over 100 stations and handling over two million passengers in the Kujawsko-Pomorskie and Pomorskie voivodeships. Arriva RP is committed to…
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2014 Winter Olympics construction projects of Russian Railways
8 June 2012 | By Vladimir Yakunin, President, Russian Railways
In February 2010, Russian Railways and the Sochi 2014 Organising Committee signed a partnership agreement, which gave Russian Railways official status as the general partner of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games. Organising such a major event necessitates a high level of arrangements, and transport accessibility plays one of the…
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Track Systems supplement 2012
This Track Systems supplement features: Optimising the wheel/rail interface: reducing forces for the benefit of all; RAILECT – development of an ultrasonic technique, sensors and systems for the volumetric examination of aluminothermic rail welds...
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Working together to find adequate solutions
11 April 2012 | By Dr. Libor Lochman, Executive Director, CER
he Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies (CER) brings together more than 70 European railway undertakings, infrastructure companies and vehicle leasing companies, including long-established bodies, new entrants, and both private and public-sector organisations. In EU, EFTA and EU accession countries, CER members represent approximately 75% of the rail network…
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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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Rail, Metro and Tram Networks in Russia
15 February 2012 | By Mack Brooks
Russia is currently undergoing fundamental changes to its national railway network – the second most extensive in the world...
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“The railway will be the transport mode of the 22nd century”
6 February 2012 | By Etienne Schouppe, State Secretary for Mobility, Belgium
“The railway will be the transport mode of the 21st century, if it survives the 20th.” I had to use this phrase on numerous occasions during my time as Chief Executive of the Belgian National Railway Company in the 1990s, in order to make my colleagues aware of the necessity,…
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Raising the profile of the SEETO Comprehensive Rail Network
6 February 2012 | By Nedim Begovic, Railway Expert, SEETO
The European Commission’s proposal on new TEN-T guidelines adopted on 19 October 2011 was welcomed by the Regional Participants, since it includes important achievement of South East European regional cooperation. For the first time, the SEETO (South East Europe Transport Observatory) Comprehensive Network was included in the TEN-T Comprehensive Network…
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Detection of wheel-rail contact conditions for improved train control
6 February 2012 | By Professor T X Mei, School of Computing Science and Engineering, Salford University, UK
The contact between wheels and track is fundamental to railway operations, but the contact conditions are affected by often unpredictable external sources of contamination such as fallen tree leaves, snow and rain which can substantially reduce the level of adhesion of the track that is essential to the delivery of…