Issue 1 2006

Bright future for Belgium

Issue 1 2006 / 14 February 2006 /

In an interview with European Railway Review, CEO Luc Lallemand openly talks about Infrabel, the manager of the Belgian railway infrastructure. During this conversation the CEO, among other things, talks about the main tasks, the investments, the major projects and the challenges of Infrabel.

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Tagged with: Belgium, Funding, Infrabel, Luc Lallemand, Rail infrastructure, SNCB

Infrastructure maintenance and extension

Issue 1 2006 / 14 February 2006 /

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

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Tagged with: Belgium, Infrabel, Jean-Marie Raviart, Rail infrastructure

The ProRail outsourcing way

Issue 1 2006 / 14 February 2006 /

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, European Railway Review’s Technical Editor asks the questions that matter to two of ProRail’s employees – Mr. Jan Swier, Strategic Advisor for Maintenance and Renewals and Mr. Anthonie Bauer, Director of Infrastructure Management.

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Tagged with: Anthonie Bauer, James Abbott, Jan Swier, Milling & grinding, ProRail, Safety, The Netherlands

Survival of Croatian Railways

Issue 1 2006 / 14 February 2006 /

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 HZ lines that are Croatian sections of Pan-European Traffic Corridors, in the procurement of modern traction vehicles and rolling stock, and the automation and computerisation of business operations. Thus, Croatian Railways will be ready for the liberalisation of Croatian lines and their access to other railway carriers (operators) since they will be well prepared for the market competition on their own lines; they will also be ready to appear as an operator on the lines of neighbouring countries.

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Tagged with: Croatia, Davorin Kobak, hrvatske zveljeznice, Rail infrastructure, Rolling stock

SZ – competitive progress

Issue 1 2006 / 14 February 2006 /

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. These numbers, however, only tell part of the story about our company and the area in which we conduct business.

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Tagged with: Dr. Jozve Jurkovic, Rail infrastructure, Slovenia, Slovenian Railways, Slovenske zveleznice

The Finnish fleet

Issue 1 2006 / 14 February 2006 /

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 failed to be reached.
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Tagged with: Finland, Markku Pesonen, Rolling stock, VR

SJ’s communication installation

Issue 1 2006 / 14 February 2006 /

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 possibility to use cell phones and to surf the Internet.

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Tagged with: Magnus Jonasson, Rolling stock, SJ, Sweden

The call for tender

Issue 1 2006 / 14 February 2006 /

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 in the heart of Europe.

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Tagged with: AlpTransit Gotthard Ltd, Oliver Bratschi, SBB, Switzerland, Tunnelling

Network safety – caring for the future

Issue 1 2006 / 14 February 2006 /

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.

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Tagged with: Hans Vogt, Safety, SBB, Switzerland

Innovative trainsets for cross-border traffic

Issue 1 2006 / 14 February 2006 /

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.

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Tagged with: Dr. Dietrich G. Möller, ETCS, Rolling stock, Siemens Transportation Systems, United Kingdom

Collaborative approach to GSM-R

Issue 1 2006 / 14 February 2006 /

European 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 system.

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Tagged with: ERTMS, GSM-R, Network Rail, Paul Jenkins, United Kingdom

Geogrids under dynamic loading

Issue 1 2006 / 14 February 2006 /

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 depend on their creep behaviour under static loads and on their endurance properties under repeated cyclic traffic loads. In addition to short term tensile tests and creep tests, appropriate tests under cyclic loading have to be carried out in order to evaluate the long term response of geosynthetic reinforcement to dynamic actions.

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Tagged with: Embankments, Helmut Zanzinger, SKZ-TeConA GmbH, Track maintenance & engineering