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Issue 5 2006, Past issues / 15 September 2006 /
Historically, the Pyrenees have acted as a natural barrier for the communications between France and Spain, concentrating them at both extremes of the mountain range, through the coastal plains. The increasing cross-border traffic flow has produced consequent traffic congestion.
In 1992, the governments of France and Spain started detailed discussions in order to create a competitive rail link connection between both countries. Encouraged by the projected growth in traffic the governments signed an accord (‘The Madrid Agreement’) on 10 October 1995, with the intention of developing a double tracked, standard gauge, High-Speed Link through the Pyrenees linking Perpignan (France) with Figueras (Spain).
The rail link known as the ‘International Section’ will cover a distance of approximately 44.4km, including the 8.2km double-bore Perthus tunnel through the Pyrenees. The link forms and will became part of the ‘Ligne à Grande Vitesse sud-Européenne’, which features in the list of priority projects adopted by the European Council at the Essen and Corfu summits. The new high-speed line will be constructed under the European standard gauge, with twin tracks that will carry passengers and freight.
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Issue 5 2006, Past issues / 15 September 2006 /
What is currently Europe’s most powerful diesel-electric locomotive is being presented by Vossloh Transportation Systems for the first time at InnoTrans 2006. Built by Valencia-based Vossloh España, the EURO 4000 is powered by a 16-cylinder two-stroke 3,178-kW engine from Electro-Motive Diesel Inc. (EMD), USA.
Flexibility, power and efficiency – these are the criteria to which the new locomotive has been engineered. Available in options for passenger or goods haulage, the EURO 4000 will operate on both national and international routes since it modifies to match all European signal systems. It is also fully fitted with the European Train Control System (ETCS). The associated homologation work will soon be completed. It is precisely this European cross-border traffic that is to become the main field of application for the EURO 4000, enabling rail operators to exploit electrified and non-electrified routes without having to change locomotives. (more…)
Issue 4 2006, Past issues / 28 July 2006 /
By decision of the Portuguese Government, a High Speed Transportation System shall be developed which offers both international high-speed and national high-speed train services (passenger and freight) accommodating the increasing requirements for cross-border mobility and which contributes to the strengthening of the economic position and social cohesion, in particular between neighbouring regions of Portugal and Spain.
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Issue 4 2006, Past issues / 28 July 2006 /
On 15 July 2005, the Spanish Government approved the Infrastructure and Transport Strategic Plan 2005-2020 (PEIT). Infrastructure is considered the indispensable support for citizens to have quality transport services, and also an efficient instrument to foster economic development as well as social and territorial cohesion.
The PEIT predicts a total investment cost amounting to €250,000 million, which implies an annual average of €15,500 million, and an average investing effort of approximately 1.5% of the GDP as long as the period lasts.
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Issue 3 2006, Past issues / 31 May 2006 /
GSM-R is a communication system for railway operations based on the standard ETSI GSM of public radio with additional railway features defined in the EIRENE (FRS, SRS) and MORANE specifications.These specifications have been developed by mandate of UIC and in collaboration with ETSI, to ensure interoperability between railway networks of different countries.
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Issue 3 2005, Past issues / 23 August 2005 /
The precedent Spanish government started an ambitious plan for the construction of new high speed lines and the upgrade of some existing ones. Now, the new government (which came into power midway through 2004), has decided to continue the project, albeit with some changes.
The frame for all actuation is called PEIT (Plan Español de Infraestructuras de Transporte) and was presented last December to local authorities and media as a draft in order to be discussed and agreed. At the end of discussions – and once all have agreed on possible modifications – this draft will become the definitive plan and will include real timing.
The purpose of the PEIT is to obtain a total network of 10,000km of lines at ‘height performances’, modifying today’s radial structure and placing 90 per cent of the Spanish population (excluding Balear and Canary Islands) at less than 50km of this network. The Plan not only involves railways, but also roads and motorways, airports, ports and some cases of mass transit and intermodality.
One of the aspects of the PEIT having special political and strategic importance is the many links with Portugal, now under discussion with the government of that country.
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