January 29, 201015 yr Trains have already been targeted by terrorists in the recent past. See: London, Tokyo, and Madrid. Any setting that has a large number of people crowded into a public place -- be it a train, airplane, shopping mall, nightclub, or cafe -- has been struck by terrorists and will likely be struck again. It's impossible to put metal detectors and body scanners on every train platform and building entrance, and I wouldn't want to live in a society where such invasive measures take place anyway. People need to accept that the mere act of getting out of bed and leaving the house involves a certain amount of risk. Amtrak and various other rail systems have already undertaken significant security measures since 9/11, but nothing will ever be completely fail-safe. Due to the specific nature of air travel, it's understandable why more stringent security measures are put into place. While it's possible for a terrorist to blow up a train car, doing so isn't likely to kill every single passenger on board the entire train, and to my knowledge, nobody has ever successfully hijacked a train and driven it into the side of a skyscraper. Also, if some guy on a train starts acting suspiciously or making threats, the train can stop and police can be summoned to deal with the situation. If some guy on a plane does the same thing, the crew and passengers are completely on their own until the plane can find a suitable place to land. Case in point: Ojore Nuru Lutalo Detained From Amtrak Train In Colorado After Talking About Terrorism Threats
January 29, 201015 yr Valid point about those foreign systems. That said, I think that in another few years, we'll have scanners advanced enough that we won't need to have endless (and endlessly irritating) lines at security checkpoints. If your concern is surveillance, period, then obviously that's small comfort; however, if your concern is minimizing the hassle at major transportation hubs (thereby making using such hubs more attractive to ordinary folks and increasing ridership), that will solve a lot of problems.
February 3, 201015 yr Top cruising speed is proposed to be 300 km/h (186 mph) but designed to travel as fast as 350 km/h (217 mph)........ Morocco Post Morocco on full-speed rail 2010-2015 February 2, 2010 http://www.moroccopost.net/politics/4514-morocco-on-full-speed-rail-2010-2015/ The CEO of the Moroccan National Railways, Mr. Mohammed Rabie Khlie, said that the Tangier-Casablanca high speed train will carry 8 million passengers per year. Said Magreb Arab Press Morocco’s official News Agency. With a capacity of 500 passengers, the new HST will be accessible to the average citizen with a departure in every hour and every half hour during periods of heavy traffic, Khlie told the second Moroccan channel “2M” on Monday. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
February 3, 201015 yr ^I love the description of the funding breakdown: the biggest piece is "loans with favourable terms and conditions."
March 10, 201015 yr If the widening of the Panama Canal by 2014 doesn't cause a major impact on American railroads, this project will. China’s rail link will eliminate the need for ships traveling to West Coast ports, transloading containers on trains, transporting them to East Coast ports and placing them back on ships to continue to Europe. The tsunami of freight will subside… Sydney Morning Herald China to build high-speed rail link to Europe March 10, 2010 By Nicky Phillips and Andrew West THE journey from London to Beijing by rail could take just two days under a Chinese plan to build an international network for trains that can travel almost as fast as aircraft. Three networks are planned, with the Britain to China route to be extended to Singapore, and built within a decade. Passengers on a second route would travel to the north of China and through Russia and on to Germany, where the network would join the European railway system. READ MORE AT: http://www.smh.com.au/travel/travel-news/china-to-build-highspeed-rail-link-to-europe-20100309-pvuf.html "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
March 12, 201015 yr British government unveils high-speed strategy Thursday, March 11, 2010 BRITAIN'S Secretary of State for Transport Lord Andrew Adonis has unveiled plans for the first stage of a 539km high-speed network linking London with central and northern England. The Y-shaped network will consist of an initial 190km phase called High Speed Two (HS2) linking London and Birmingham, with future extensions northwest to Manchester and northeast towards Sheffield and Leeds. The total cost of the project is expected to be around £30 billion, although the government says it will examine how construction costs can be reduced. READ MORE AT: http://www.railjournal.com/newsflash/british-government-unveils-high-speed-strategy.html "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
March 15, 201015 yr China Promotes Its Transcontinental Ambitions with Massive Rail Plan by Yonah Freemark | March 9th, 2010 The Transport Politic If China weren’t already halfway through the construction of the world’s largest high-speed rail network, it would be difficult to take this proposal seriously. But the most populated country on earth has shown no deficit of skill recently in undertaking massive public works projects, and its ambitions — and willingness to finance them — show no sign of slowing. Full report at: http://www.thetransportpolitic.com/2010/03/09/china-promotes-its-transcontinental-ambitions-with-massive-rail-plan/
March 15, 201015 yr This sounds far more like imperialism by rail than anything else. The British did this throughout the world in the 19C.
March 18, 201015 yr Edmonton Journal New high-speed rail network could trump air travel March 9, 2010 By Malcolm Moore A bullet train arrives at Nanjing Railway Station in Nanjing of Jiangsu Province, China. The nation's fastest train can run at a top speed of 250 kilometres per hour, according to state media. Railway passengers will be able to travel from King's Cross to Beijing in just two days on a journey that would be almost as fast as by airplane under ambitious new plans from the Chinese. China is in negotiations to build a high-speed rail network to India and Europe with trains capable of running at more than 320 kilometres per hour within the next 10 years. More at: http://www.edmontonjournal.com/travel/high+speed+rail+network+could+trump+travel/2660659/story.html
March 18, 201015 yr This sounds far more like imperialism by rail than anything else. The British did this throughout the world in the 19C. In their colonies, the British built railroads from inland natural resources to coastal ports, their purpose being to expedite the relocation of said resources to Britain. They made no attempt to conenct population centers or to encourage commerce among the colonies. That was the last thing they wanted, really. I'm not sure that's what China's doing here. I think they're going for a different kind of dominance, knowing that no one in this century will get away with what Britain did. China is building rail that does in fact serve the population around it. Maybe they don't all want to go to Beijing... but that's still different than Britain's m.o. of rolling into some country, installing a railroad from their mines to the sea, then claiming to own all of it.
March 18, 201015 yr They are doing the same thing. What do you think is going to run alongside those rail lines - gas lines, electrical lines, cheap Chinese exports, Chinese cultural, political, social, and most importantly economic power. There are a lot of natural resources along that line that China would love to get its hands on. Plus, China is beginning to have a lebensraum problem that this line would make easier to solve.
April 21, 201015 yr However, most trains in Europe aren't high-speed rail. They travel at 80-125 mph on the much larger "classic" rail system as it is called... One Winner in the European Air Disaster: High Speed Rail Posted on Tuesday April 20th by Melissa Lafsky A commenter on yesterdays post The European Air Shut-Down: A View From the Front Lines brought up an excellent point: Was the complete failure of aviation in Europe a boon for high-speed rail? With all those continental Europe flights canceled, it was certainly a golden opportunity for passenger rail to step in and save the day. And to a certain extent, it did. Progressive Fix reports that the U.K.s Eurostar added more trains to its daily roster of 32 trains from London to and from Paris, and 18 trains to and from Brussels. And since so much of travel in Europe is already covered by rail, PF notes, the aviation disaster had a silver lining for trains: In fact, if theres any winner in the crisis that began when a cloud of ash from an Icelandic volcano drifted over the continent, its Europes railways. They have operated with few disruptions at the same time air flight was grounded by authorities over safety concerns. Since trains handle a large portion of commercial traffic between many cities, the average European has not been hurt by the transportation tsunami. READ MORE AT: http://www.infrastructurist.com/2010/04/20/one-winner-in-the-european-air-disaster-high-speed-rail/ "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
May 3, 201015 yr More "railway colonialism" by the Asian powers... Karachi Circular Railway set for revival nternational Railway Journal Friday, April 30, 2010 PAKISTAN'S Ministry of Railways is set to resurrect the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) eleven years after it closed. The Japanese government has agreed to provide a Rs 128.6 billion ($US 1.53 billion) loan to fund the revitalisation of the three-line, 121km railway which opened in two phases in 1964 and 1970. Mr Haji Ghulam Ahmad Bilour, federal minister for railways, says that the loan agreement will be finalised in mid-2010 with the Japanese International Cooperative Agency (JICA) providing 93.5% of the funding required for the project through a 40-year loan charged at 0.2% interest. The Karachi Urban Transport Corp (KUTC) will provide the remaining 6.5%. READ MORE AT: http://www.railjournal.com/newsflash/karachi-circular-railway-set-for-revival.html "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
May 12, 201015 yr OK, so the train will go only 99 mph. That's faster than anything we've got in Ohio.... Africa's first high-speed train to open ahead of World Cup AFP Global Edition May 07, 2010 12:45 EDT The Gautrain, Africa's first high-speed rail line, will launch on June 8 in South Africa three days before the opening match of the 2010 football World Cup, the developers said Friday. French construction giant Bouygues said the train's first segment, linking OR Tambo International Airport and the posh Johannesburg suburb of Sandton, will open in time for the June 11 kick-off of Africa's first World Cup. The segment "will be handed over on June 8, three weeks ahead of our original schedule," said Christian Gazaignes, Bouygues' executive director. READ MORE AT: http://www.blnz.com/news/2010/05/07/Africas_first_high-speed_train_open_9229.html "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
May 13, 201015 yr China is pulling ahead in worldwide race for high-speed rail transportation May 12, 2010 By Keith Richburg QINGDAO, CHINA -- Last year, China surpassed the United States as the world's largest automaker. The country is aggressively making jets to compete with Boeing and Airbus. And in recent years, with little outside notice, China made another great leap forward in transportation: It now leads the world in high-speed rail. High-speed trains were once the preserve of Japan, with its "bullet train," and France, with its TGV. But China's trains are the world's fastest, its network of tracks the longest and its expansion plans the most ambitious. By 2012, just four years after it began its first high-speed passenger service, China will have more high-speed train tracks than the rest of the world combined. After years of major investment in highways, China is now investing billions in a cutting-edge network of trains and subways designed to boost exports and revolutionize the flow of people and goods in the world's fastest-rising economic powerhouses. READ MORE AT: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/11/AR2010051104950.html "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
May 20, 201015 yr Amazing what an impact an erupting volcano and threats of airline strikes can have.... it shows the value in having transportation options.... Record Numbers Flock to Trains as Air Disruption Strikes By Virgin Trains, PRNEMay 19th, 2010 LONDON, May 20, 2010 - Record numbers of airline customers have turned to Virgin Trains, with a 250% increase in passengers travelling between Glasgow and London in recent weeks, and a seven-fold increase in passenger numbers on its London to Holyhead route, which links with ferry services to Ireland. The dramatic recent rise - in the four weeks to May 1 - follows five years of continuing growth on Virgin Trains' long-distance routes where there is airline competition. Advance booking information suggests that many frustrated airline passengers have now turned their backs on domestic flights, with reservations for the summer already showing increases on last year. Full story at: http://blog.taragana.com/pr/record-numbers-flock-to-trains-as-air-disruption-strikes-19714/
June 9, 201015 yr South Africa (!) opens a new high(er) speed rail line (100mph) Africa's first high-speed train has started running - just in time for fans travelling to South Africa for the World Cup, which starts on Friday. Costing a massive 24bn rand ($3bn; £2.1bn), South Africa hopes that its revolutionary rapid transit system will bring some much needed change to its outdated and sometimes unreliable transport system. Its top speed is 160 km/h (100 mph) - a long way from the world's fastest trains but still far superior to the locomotives chugging along most of the rest of the continent's tracks, which mostly date from the colonial era. BBC News - Gautrain arrives in time for World Cup (with video)
June 10, 201015 yr Moved from "What other states are doing..." to here, unless the U.S. annexed South Africa to improve our chances in the World Cup! :-D "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
June 11, 201015 yr Spain, Portugal, France map HSR plans Thursday, June 10, 2010 At a meeting in Zaragoza, Spain, Wednesday, officials from Spain, France, and Portugal advanced a plan to coordinate high speed rail development among the three nations, using a template similar to that used by Belgium, France, Germany, and the Netherlands overseeing Thalys HSR service. READ MORE AT: http://www.railwayage.com/breaking-news/spain-portugal-france-map-hsr-plans.html "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
June 13, 201015 yr How Can Germany's High-Speed Trains Get Back on Track? http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,699847,00.html By Christian Wüst German ICE trains still underperform their zappy French TGV counterparts. Deutsche Bahn hopes its new high-speed train will improve Germany's record -- but old tracks and complex networks may put the brakes on the plan. Sounds like a discussion we've been having around here . . .
June 14, 201015 yr In my experience with DB, if it improved its customer service they might do better. The Germans' rail infrastructure is pretty damn good and their ICE trains are awesome. Engineering isn't their problem. The abruptness (and some rudeness) of their employees, inability to sufficiently stock their trains' bistro cars and do the little things in regards to caring about customers once they're onboard. In fact, if it wasn't for the fast trains, frequent departures among regional/intercity services, new trains and extensive rail infrastructure, I would have sworn I was riding on Amtrak. But that shows that public investment can make a big difference -- as can good management. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
June 28, 201014 yr Learning from Eurostar, Where London Meets Paris June 28, 2010 by Mark Reutter PPI Fellow Mark Reutter is the former editor of Railroad History and author of Making Steel: Sparrows Point and the Rise and Ruin of American Industrial Might (2005, rev. ed.). It’s a curious truth, though not yet widely understood, that we pay for high-speed rail whether we have it or not. We pay not only in congested highways, delayed air flights and disastrous oil spills, but also in a cumulative national slowdown that might be called arrested development. This point is conveyed by a sharply reported article in the Financial Times that describes the business, cultural and even culinary changes in London 15 years after the start of high-speed Eurostar service to Paris. Full story at: http://www.progressivefix.com/learning-from-eurostar-where-london-meets-paris
June 28, 201014 yr Terrific article. Here's the direct link: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/4281ed12-7d1f-11df-8845-00144feabdc0.html This was my favorite paragraph: These trains are more than just amenities for spoiled travellers. Western Europe’s unique selling point has always been fast travel between cities. The region’s good luck is what the historian Norman Davies calls a “user-friendly climate”: it is mild and rainy. Because of that, the land is fertile, allowing hundreds of millions of people to inhabit a small area. That creates networks. For centuries now, the interconnected peoples of western Europe have exchanged ideas fast. The “Scientific Revolution” of the 16th and 17th centuries could happen in western Europe because its scientists were near each other, debating and networking. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
June 30, 201014 yr Let's see... America, which was the world's largest oil producer before 1970 and now must import two-thirds of its oil, continues to spend 90 percent of the taxpayer-funded transportation budget on roads as if nothing has changed. But Gulf Cooperation Council countries in the Middle East are now spending 90 percent of their infrastructure budgets on rail. Who do you think is building for future and who is building for the 1950s? GCC infrastructure projects now worth US$119.6 billion Scottrade – 06/29/2010, 23:23 pm The GCC countries will invest over US$119.6 billion in infrastructure projects over the next ten years, of which rail projects account for over 90% of the investment, according to a recent study by research company Business Monitor International (BMI). "Regional government policy and spending over the next ten years will define the region's transport infrastructure. The amount allocated for investment in rail projects clearly demonstrates the region's strategy for mass transit," said Richard Pavitt, Exhibition Director of the Roadex-Railex exhibition. The biennial Roadex-Railex event, the largest exhibition for the road, rail and public transport sectors in the Middle East, takes place in Abu Dhabi this year. Transport infrastructure specialist from all over the world will converge on the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) on 28 - 30 November 2010 to participate in the event which focuses this year on road and rail infrastructure, public transport and parking. READ MORE AT: http://research.scottrade.com/public/markets/news/news.asp?docKey=100-181c2684-1§ion=headlines "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
September 20, 201014 yr Ottawa Chamber of Commerce backs LRT Friday, September 17, 2010 The Ottawa Chamber of Commerce has issued a statementbacking the city’s C$2.1 billion (US$2.7 billion) Light Rail Transit Plan. The backing is considered politically significant, given the contentious nature of the project stretching across many years. ...Last June the federal government committed C$600 million (US$783 million) in funding for the project, which includes a two-mile tunnel in downtown Ottawa. Ontario committed another C$600 million to the project last December. READ MORE AT: http://www.railwayage.com/breaking-news/ottawa-chamber-of-commerce-backs-lrt.html "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
September 24, 201014 yr BTW, for those who don't appreciate incrementalism, this entire corridor had 80-100 mph trains operating over it since the 1970s. The last section to be upgraded was Brussels-Cologne in 2006-08 which previously offered a three-hour run time for this 160-mile segment when I rode it in 2007. Today it is less than 2 hours... Deutsche Bahn HSR may serve London by 2013 Thursday, September 23, 2010 Germany’s Deutsche Bahn AG has signed a cooperation agreement with High Speed 1 Ltd., the owner of the right-of-way linking London with the Channel Tunnel, opening the possibility of direct rail service between the United Kingdom and Germany, beginning in 2013. ...Direct trains from London to Frankfurt might take about five hours, DB said, suggesting such travel time could be competitive with air travel given the increasing security measures and overcrowding at airports. READ MORE AT: http://www.railwayage.com/breaking-news/strong-intermodal-gains-continue-aar-reports.html "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
October 4, 201014 yr Questions: would America still be building this project with these kinds of protests? Is America too skittish or willing to let extremism stand in the way of overall progress? Merkel urges calm after Stuttgart 21 clashes Friday, October 01, 2010 GERMAN Chancellor Angela Merkel has called for calm after riot police were called in to disperse crowds demonstrating against the construction of a new central station in Stuttgart. According to local press reports police used water cannon, pepper spray and batons to break up the protest in the Schlossgarten, where around 100 trees are due to be felled to make way for the new station. Police say 130 people were injured and 16 required hospital treatment, while 26 protestors were arrested. READ MORE, SEE PICTURE AT: http://www.railjournal.com/newsflash/merkel-urges-calm-after-stuttgart-21-clashes.html "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
October 4, 201014 yr I think the protestors would question whether this is progress (it is mostly environmentalists fighting this).
October 4, 201014 yr I'm sure they are questioning whether it's progress. My question is, would such a project even be moving forward in the U.S. with such large and violent protests? "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
October 5, 201014 yr Please note the UK plans to invest £2 billion ($3 billion US) per year in HSR from 2015-2020 in a nation of 60 million. That's more than the U.S. plans to invest here in a nation of 300 million. Of course the two routes proposed already have 125 mph trains departing every half-hour, covering the 400-mile London-Edinburgh distance in just over four hours with hundreds of daily commuter trains mixed in, bound for everywhere. Evolution, people. Evolution.... British government outlines high-speed plans Monday, October 04, 2010 HIGH-SPEED rail will become the "mode of choice" for travellers in Britain according to the country's transport minister Mr Philip Hammond, who today outlined the government's vision for a Y-shaped high-speed network linking London with central and northern England. Speaking at the Conservative Party conference, Hammond said consultation will begin next year on the core London-Birmingham section and announced the government's preferred option for continuing the line to northern England. This will involve the construction of two lines, one running north-west to Manchester and the other north-east to Leeds via the East Midlands. There will be connections to the West Coast Main Line and East Coast Main Line to allow services to run to destinations such as Glasgow and Edinburgh. READ MORE AT: http://www.railjournal.com/newsflash/british-government-outlines-high-speed-plans.html "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
October 5, 201014 yr BTW, I've seen a lot of the UK, and some of it by 125 mph trains Bristol-London-Bristol and York-London, 80 mph trains London-Southend-London, and visited stations and routes in many other parts of the country. This is a nation with 20,000 passenger trains per day -- with traffic and ridership now higher than at any other time in the UK's history... The branch lines typically have passenger trains every other hour. Some of the busiest mainlines have trains as often as every 10 minutes. Here's a map of the National Rail System (doesn't include urban or regional lines) so just ignore the engineering works planned... "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
October 13, 201014 yr Want to know why high-speed lines designed for 200+ mph trains have to have their tunnels designed differently? Because when a high-speed train enters a tunnel, it displaces so much air so quickly in a confined space that it creates a sonic boom of sorts. Windows of buildings near the tunnel have been known to shatter from the sudden shockwave of air. A videographer caught the "tunnel boom" in this video, heard at 3:06 (the increasing roar of this 186-mph train is pretty awesome too). Enjoy... "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
October 29, 201014 yr Thailand to negotiate with China on high-speed proposal Thursday, October 28, 2010 THE Thai parliament has voted in favour of starting negotiations with China on a proposal by the Chinese to construct a national network of high-speed lines in Thailand. As a result, transport minister Mr Sohpon Zarum says discussions with the Chinese will start soon. The proposal is for China to build five lines designed for 250km/h operation radiating from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, Nong Khai, Ubon Ratchathani, Rayong and Padang Besar. Nevertheless, Sohpon says Thailand is open to proposals from other countries to build new lines in Thailand. He also says that the high-speed project will be separate from a Baht 170 billion ($US 5.7 billion) project to upgrade the existing network. READ MORE AT: http://www.railjournal.com/newsflash/thailand-to-negotiate-with-china-on-high-speed-proposal.html "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
November 16, 201014 yr United States investment in high-speed rail: $8-billion China's investment in high-speed rail (and counting): $120-billion From NPR's Morning Edition: http://www.npr.org/2010/11/16/131351045/china-leads-other-nations-in-high-speed-rail-tracks
November 20, 201014 yr Middle Eastern governments have pledged $100 billion for building up their rail networks while America, the biggest oil addict on the planet, has no national rail investment plan. Result: we don't have options to driving so we end up giving more oil money to the Middle East so THEY can build them for themselves! What is the rule drug dealers try to follow? "Never get high on your own product." ------------ Gulf Arabs on track with rail network RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Nov. 19 (UPI) -- Saudi Arabia and its Persian Gulf partners are driving to develop a railroad grid across the Arabian Peninsula that would reduce the strategic threat to their exports of oil, gas and other resources. The plan is to link the oil-rich region's network to Jordan to connect it to the rest of the Arab world and even Europe through Turkey. That's a grandiose version of the Hejaz Railway that ran from Damascus to Medina in Saudi Arabia, built by the Ottoman Turks in 1900-08 and a favorite target of Lawrence of Arabia and his desert warriors 10 years later. READ MORE AT: http://www.upi.com/Science_News/Resource-Wars/2010/11/19/Gulf-Arabs-on-track-with-rail-network/UPI-69511290193251/ "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
November 23, 201014 yr This single $2.7 billion 66-mile project exceeds the United States' entire 2010 high-speed rail capital budget ($2.4 billion, which exceeded all years of America's HSR spending prior to 2009 combined). And its just one of Europe's many improvement and development projects for high-speed AND conventional-speed trains... Construction starts on TGV Est Phase 2 International Railway Journal Thursday, November 18, 2010 A CEREMONY was held today in Steinbourg, France, to mark the start of civil works on the second phase of the TGV Est high-speed line. The 106km extension from Baudrecourt to Vendenheim is due to open in 2016 and will reduce Paris - Strasbourg journey times from 2h 20min to 1h 50min, and Luxembourg - Strasbourg from 2h 10 min to 1h 25min. READ MORE AT: http://www.railjournal.com/newsflash/construction-starts-on-tgv-est-phase-2.html "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
December 3, 201014 yr China passenger train hits 300 mph, breaks record By ANITA CHANG, Associated Press Anita Chang, Associated Press – Fri Dec 3, 4:18 am ET BEIJING – A Chinese passenger train hit a record speed of 302 miles per hour (486 kilometers per hour) Friday during a test run of a yet-to-be opened link between Beijing and Shanghai, state media said. The Xinhua News Agency said it was the fastest speed recorded by an unmodified conventional commercial train. Other types of trains in other countries have traveled faster. A specially modified French TGV train reached 357.2 mph (574.8 kph) during a 2007 test, while a Japanese magnetically levitated train sped to 361 mph (581 kph) in 2003. Full story at: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101203/ap_on_hi_te/as_china_high_speed_rail
December 13, 201014 yr Morocco signs contract with Alstom for high-speed trains Friday, December 10, 2010 MOROCCAN National Railways (ONCF) has signed a contract with Alstom worth €400 million for the supply of 14 double-deck high-speed trains. The Duplex trains are scheduled to enter service in December 2015 and will operate between Tangiers and Casablanca. READ MORE AT: http://www.railjournal.com/newsflash/morocco-signs-contract-with-alstom-for-high-speed-trains.html "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
December 17, 201014 yr High-speed rail comes to TOLEDO!!!! Royal opening for Madrid - Albacete HSL Thursday, December 16, 2010 SPAIN'S Crown Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia officially inaugurated the Euros ($4.6 billion) 314km (195-mile) Madrid - Cuenca - Albacete high-speed line yesterday. December 18 will also witness the launch of AVE services between Madrid and Valencia with the opening of the new 124km line between Motilla del Palancar, just beyond Cuenca, and Valencia. From December 19 three return AVE high-speed services per day will connect Albacete with Madrid and Toledo, and the line will also be used by Alvia variable gauge emus operating between Alicante and Madrid. AVE services to both Valencia and Albacete will be operated by Series 112 trains (pictured) supplied by Bombardier and Talgo, which seat 365 passengers with 294 in tourist class and 71 in club. READ MORE AT: http://www.railjournal.com/newsflash/royal-opening-for-madrid-albacete-hsl.html "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
December 20, 201014 yr Prime Minister affirms support for HS2 Posted: 16th December 2010 THE Prime Minister has confirmed the Government's support for new domestic High Speed lines connecting London with Birmingham, Leeds and Manchester, while the chief executive of the West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive – Centro – has predicted that the new link will encourage firms in the 'overheated South East' to relocate. David Cameron said the network would help alleviate the economic north-south divide. During Prime Minister's question time, he told the Commons: “For 50 years we have been trying to deal with the north-south divide, we have been trying to have a more effective regional policy. READ MORE AT: http://www.railnews.co.uk/news/general/2010/12/16-prime-ministert-affirms-support-for.html "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
December 25, 201014 yr In contrast to Ohio's incoming governor...... Despite Economic Woes, Spain Continues Investment in Trains By RAPHAEL MINDER Published: December 22, 2010 MADRID — Spain overtook France this month as the country operating Europe’s biggest high-speed rail network, underlining the extent to which infrastructure spending has been at the heart of the country’s boom-and-bust economy. Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero and King Juan Carlos last Saturday opened a high-speed railroad linking Madrid, the Spanish capital and largest city, and Valencia, the country’s third-largest city after Barcelona. On Monday, a new rail passage across the Pyrenees mountains was inaugurated between Figueres, in Spain, and Perpignan, on the French side — a significant step toward completing a cross-border, high-speed rail link connecting Paris, Barcelona and Madrid. READ MORE AT: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/23/business/global/23rail.html?_r=1&emc=eta1 "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
January 5, 201114 yr Smooth rides on the rails of Europe By Ann Lombardi and Wendy Swartzell, Special to CNN Editor's note: Ann Lombardi and Wendy Swartzell are The Trip Chicks, long-time travel agents and adventurers. (CNN) -- Europe by rail is hard to resist. Who hasn't dreamed of soaking up eye-popping scenery and old world charm, all from aboard a sleek European train? With Rail Europe's current promotions, you might be tempted to cross the pond sooner than you thought. Train travel is fairly easy, but the rail school of hard knocks does dole out some tough lessons. Here's what to know before you go: Ignorance ain't bliss We used to count the kinds of rail passes on one hand. Now choices can be baffling. For the biggest bang for your train pass buck, trust an experienced travel agent. Don't pay for rail pass days or countries you won't need, and avoid shelling out money for point-to-point rail tickets in Europe because -- oops -- your pass ran out too soon. Read more at: http://www.cnn.com/2011/TRAVEL/01/05/europe.rail.travel.tips/index.html?hpt=C2
January 5, 201114 yr What is a travel agent? :-P "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
January 31, 201114 yr In the nation overseas that's most like the U.S., there are up to 20,000 passenger trains per day (versus about 2,000 in the U.S. among Amtrak and regional commuter railroads). OK, this is probably one of the most stark differences between the U.K. and the U.S.: Record demand for British passenger rail services RIDERSHIP on Britain's passenger network increased by 6.9% in 2010 with 1.32 billion journeys made, according to figures released today by the Association of Train Operating Companies (Atoc). The figures show that the railways carried more passengers than at any peacetime year since the 1920s with a record 33.3 billion miles travelled by train. Ridership was also up by 37% compared with 2000. Growth was higher in the summer months with an 8% year-on-year rise. Demand was also up in the final quarter despite two instances of heavy snowfall in December that severely impacted services. A 15% rise in the cost of petrol in 2010, more frequent services on some routes and high punctuality are being cited as some of the reasons that more and more people are using the train along with an improvement in the economy. READ MORE AT: http://www.railjournal.com/newsflash/record-demand-for-british-passenger-services.html "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
February 9, 201114 yr February 9, 2011 The Year of the Metal Rabbit: China's High-Speed Rail Network In 2011, China plans to unveil the key links of a bullet-train network stretching across the country, which should have major economic benefits By David C. Michael It is now the Year of the Rabbit in China. Indeed, it is actually the Year of the Metal Rabbit, as it is a year in which the Chinese earth element Metal aligns with the Chinese zodiac symbol Rabbit, a rare occurrence that typically marks historic moments. The upcoming year will be a truly historic one for China because its fleet of "metal rabbits"—its bullet trains—and their network of tracks will begin to race across the full expanse of the nation, pulling China forward into the next phase of its blindingly fast progression. It is staggering to think that China already has more than 5,000 kilometers (3,106 miles) of high-speed rail in operation. The trouble is that these rail lines are in various segments, and to date they have not linked together the country's most well-known cities. In 2011, however, this will change dramatically. In the months ahead, China will progressively unveil many of the key links to form a true bullet-train network stretching across the nation. Full op-ed at: http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/feb2011/gb2011027_953097.htm
February 12, 201114 yr Meanwhile, in India, it's railways creak along, but that could soon be changing and in a big way.... Railways puff slowly to private sector reform By Matthias Williams NEW DELHI | Fri Feb 11, 2011 2:35pm IST (Reuters) - Tentative reforms and some eye-catching projects could herald a private sector-driven shake-up of India's creaking railways, but deeper change is needed to tackle the supply bottlenecks that still crimp growth. Once seen as a shining legacy of the British Raj and still one of the world's biggest employers, India's rail network crams 18 million people a day on to its ageing trains running from the foothills of the Himalayas to the southern beaches of Kerala. Decades of low investment and policy stagnation mean India has fallen far behind emerging market peer China in building a network fit for Asia's third-largest economy. ...There are some signs of change. The Indian government has initiated multi-billion dollar projects including a $90 billion freight corridor to connect Delhi and Mumbai, with world-class industrial and commercial hubs to be built alongside. READ MORE AT: http://in.reuters.com/article/2011/02/11/idINIndia-54823020110211 "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
February 24, 201114 yr Kazakhstan can afford HSR but America cannot? Kazakhstan Railways signs MOU with China to build HS line Wednesday, February 23, 2011 THE president of Kazakhstan Railways (KTZ), Mr Askar Mamin, has signed a memorandum of understanding with China to build a 1050km 350km/h railway between the capital Astana and the country's largest city Almaty. The MOU, which will allow a feasibility study to be conducted, was signed during a state visit to China by Kazakhstan's president Mr Nursultan Nazarbayev. The railway will be built using Chinese technology. About 65% of the line will be at grade with 370km elevated. It is hoped to complete the project in 2015, and the railway is expected to carry 5 million passengers a year. READ MORE AT: http://www.railjournal.com/newsflash/kazakhstan-railways-signs-mou-with-china-to-build-hs-line.html "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
February 25, 201114 yr "Bill Nye, once known as "The Science Guy" thanks to his incredibly successful TV series of the same name, thinks the U.S. "should be embarrassed" at its lack of a high-speed rail system..." Short article and video at link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/24/bill-nye-high-speed-rail_n_827738.html?ref=fb&src=sp
February 26, 201114 yr It's hard for people who think America is a religion, not just a nice address, to admit America is second-rate at anything. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
February 28, 201114 yr This shows how far behind America really is in the world when it comes to transportation.... Feb 28, 2011 11:08 ET High Speed Rail Industry to Reach $907 Billion By 2015 ROCKVILLE, MD--(Marketwire - February 28, 2011) - MarketResearch.com has announced the addition of SBI's new report, "High Speed Rail Infrastructure Component Manufacturing," to their collection of Railway Equipment market reports. For more information, visit http://www.marketresearch.com/product/display.asp?ProductID=2496796. The successful installation of a fast moving transportation system is beneficial on two levels. First, it would decrease the nation's reliance on depleting fossil fuels and secondly, HSR will stimulate local economies and drive growth across the U.S. According to SBI Energy's new industry study High Speed Rail Infrastructure Component Manufacturing, the accumulated market value of global HSR manufacturing sectors was $244 billion from 2005 to 2009 and will grow to reach $907 billion between 2010 and 2015. Nations around the globe are increasing their roll out of high-speed rail initiatives during 2010, making them an integral part of the overall transportation infrastructure. Several countries in Europe, for example, currently lacking an HSR system have made commitments to begin construction by the end of the year. In Asia, a multitude of HSR development projects are underway with anticipated completion dates between 2015 and 2020 and of the 17,000 miles of planned HSR track implementations worldwide, nearly 10,000 is allocated for Asia, SBI Energy reports. READ MORE AT: http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/High-Speed-Rail-Industry-to-Reach-907-Billion-By-2015-1402964.htm "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
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