Tuomo Viitala - Articles and news items

Energy efficiency in high-speed train operation

Issue 4 2010 / 4 August 2010 /

Reduction of energy consumption has become a global concern, and the EU is committed to reducing its overall emissions to at least 20% below 1990 levels by 2020. In the transport sector, measures are focused on planning, infrastructure, modal change, the renewal of vehicles and also programmes for efficient driving.

Factors such as the low friction wheel-rail that allows coasting for long distances, electric traction which may allow the use of renewable energy, a capacity to transport large numbers of people and the possibility of adapting the number of coaches to demand, make the railways an efficient mode of transport. Additionally, railway transport is a guided path transport mode which allows the existence of electrification and facilitates traffic control and the automation of driving. (more…)

Finnish slab track study for Airport Line

Issue 3 2009, Past issues / 15 May 2009 /

During spring 2008, a study of a slab track system for the new Ring Rail Line was conducted in Vantaa, Finland interlinked with the railway planning phase. The study concentrated on the seven kilometre long double tunnel system which would go under the Helsinki-Vantaa Airport area. The main task was to investigate the suitability of a slab track system as an alternative for a traditional ballasted track from the given starting points and in Finnish conditions. It was expected through international experience that slab track would present advantages concerning future maintenance, tunnel safety and also savings in tunnel excavations. The study was made for Finnish Railway Administration by Pöyry Infra Ltd and VR-Track Ltd Railway Consulting department.

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