international passenger news

[blue streak 1]

China is now #1 in high speed trains.

 

https://www.railwaygazette.com/news/news/single-view/view/china-out-in-front-with-the-worlds-fastest-trains.html

 

[Jones1945]

Overmod

It's as if, in a Chuck Jones cartoon parody of Star Wars, Wile E. Coyote's bumbling Sith apprentice was an opossum.

With Augie Doggie's Doggie Daddy's nose.

I think Augie Doggie was cute! I bet you never heard about Moomin in "The Moomins."

Anyway, I think that "World's fastest bullet train of Japan" is another case of given up esthetics in favor of engineering...

[Overmod]

Jones1945

World's fastest bullet train with a 72ft nose is unveiled in Japan 

It's as if, in a Chuck Jones cartoon parody of Star Wars, Wile E. Coyote's bumbling Sith apprentice was an opossum.

With Augie Doggie's Doggie Daddy's nose.

[JOHN PRIVARA]

Re:  Hey  USA what would 

Don’t forget, you can’t compare any other country to the US because we are so unique.

1)  We’re the best.

2)  The eastern part of the US is only as densely populated as France and Spain, so HSR would never work due to our spare density.

3)  The US enjoys decimating its cities with freeways to ensure cars move fast enough to negate the need for HSR,  other countries don’t because they hate freedom.  

You can’t compare apples to orangutans when it comes to HSR.

[blue streak 1]

SNCF reports 14% growth on TGV network.  Soome from new service to Bordeaux region but overall still more growth.  Hey  USA what would happen if awe had some network in high density population areas such as NEC, CHI, LAX, SFO ?

https://www.railwayage.com/passenger/high-performance/sncf-reports-strong-high-speed-growth/?RAchannel=news 

[Jones1945]

World's fastest bullet train with a 72ft nose is unveiled in Japan 

https://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/infrastructure/a27457041/japans-new-bullet-train-can-hit-224-mph/

The *operating speed of it would be 360kph(224mph) which is merely 10kph faster than China's CR400AF/BF operating speed. Since it is set to be put into service by 2030, let's see how China react to it. 

Meanwhile, somewhere in China...... 

 

[blue streak 1]

Russian rail is significantly increasing its electrification.  Article does not specify how much traffic will go to electric operations ?

https://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/russian-railways-to-increase-electric-operation.html 

[BaltACD]

Egyptian incident

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-47401140

[blue streak 1]

Irish rail over crowded until probably 2023.  Looking to buy or lease rolling stock.

https://www.herald.ie/news/train-overcrowding-will-get-worse-before-new-carriages-arrive-37731053.html 

[blue streak 1]

Russian Railroad is buy a few new coaches noted to replace some old ones.  Wonder where all the cars will go?

https://www.railwaygazette.com/news/traction-rolling-stock/single-view/view/russian-railways-awards-long-term-coach-contract.html 

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

MidlandMike

There have been cases where diesels operating in electric territory have electric pick-ups for signal rasons.

 

Pacific Electric is the prime example of such an arrangement, with EMD and Baldwin switchers equipped with trolley poles to activate signals.

[MidlandMike]

There have been cases where diesels operating in electric territory have electric pick-ups for signal rasons.

[blue streak 1]

UK has modified some EMUs to carry mail and express packages.  Not quite clear diesels have been added so they can run in non electrified territory.  Picture does seem to show 3rd rail pick up shoe ? So we have a dual mode EMU - Diesel ?

https://www.railwaygazette.com/news/traction-rolling-stock/single-view/view/electro-diesel-multiple-units-ordered-for-postal-services.html

 

[blue streak 1]

Danish graphic about 1/2 way down link

https://politiken.dk/indland/art6945125/Politiet-opjusterer-dødstal-Otte-er-dræbt-i-togulykken 

[blue streak 1]

Balt is correct.  Some items do not add up .  Note the attached link pictures.  TOFC trailers usually do not blow off and no picture shows any trailer off of a carrier.  However there is a wheel showing between tracks that came off one trailer.  Where did it come from ?

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6546741/Several-people-killed-train-crash-bridge-linking-islands-Denmark.html 

[BaltACD]

Danish incident kills six

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-46734728

 

a lot of statements don't add up.

[blue streak 1]

China opens 5 new HSR routes in two days.

https://www.railwaygazette.com/news/high-speed/single-view/view/five-new-lines-open-in-two-days.html 

[blue streak 1]

China keeps ordering more HSR train sets.  Note the dates of last order from Bombardier and final delivery.

https://www.railjournal.com/passenger/high-speed/china-railway-orders-more-cr400af-high-speed-trains/ 

[BaltACD]

Head on collision and derailment in Turkey - 9 dead

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2018/12/12/turkey-train-crash-dead-injured-capital-ankara/2298010002/

[blue streak 1]

The UK  Network Rail (NR) is being pushed to make sure the next schedue change will work..   We  have to wonder if the rail system is near or at operatiomal capacity not what theory says can be run ?   It may be that NR needs to bite the bullet to lenghten platforms on heavier routes to allow for longer trains ?  Of course longer trains means just a fewer trains on capacity restricted routes !

https://www.railjournal.com/policy/orr-sets-out-recommendations-to-avoid-repeat-of-timetable-chaos/ 

It would be nice if the NEC had that situation .

[Deggesty]

I am reminded of a picture in Life magazine at the time of the definite rupture in Korean relations--a soldier is standing at the border between North and South; he standing by a railroad track that has a tree branch laid at the border. 

Unless the northerners relaid the tracks to a different gauge, it seems to me that the same gauge still prevails in the North.

[BaltACD]

blue streak 1

1st south Korean train to go into north formany years is on an 18 day inspection trip for future service north and south.Train is carrying its own fuel for whole trip. Guess north doesn't want to use its large reserves ?  All South officials will stay on train and not get off ? 

Must expect to have very reliable equipment for the trip ? Isn'tthe guage standard ?  What air brake and couplers does the south use ?

https://www.railjournal.com/regions/asia/south-korean-train-set-to-begin-18-day-inspection-of-the-north/ 

I suspect the South may not trust any fuel the that the North may provide.

[blue streak 1]

1st south Korean train to go into north formany years is on an 18 day inspection trip for future service north and south.Train is carrying its own fuel for whole trip. Guess north doesn't want to use its large reserves ?  All South officials will stay on train and not get off ? 

Must expect to have very reliable equipment for the trip ? Isn'tthe guage standard ?  What air brake and couplers does the south use ?

https://www.railjournal.com/regions/asia/south-korean-train-set-to-begin-18-day-inspection-of-the-north/

 

[Overmod]

MidlandMike

They could expand electric at the north end to close the gap near Auckland. However, at the south end, the Wellngton commuter rail is DC (3kV ?), and the mainline electrification is 25kV AC.

Do I need to say anything more suggestive than "Thalys"?

Admittedly there's a bit more concerned with providing multipower compatibility for freight service than for subsidized passenger, but in this age where both 25kV and 3kV DC would both go through a common lower-voltage DC link as part of AC synthesized drive, I don't see much difficulty for new construction or even reasonable rebuilding.

[MidlandMike]

blue streak 1

KIWI rail ( New Zeland ) has decided to retain their electric freight locos.  Although not passenger it may indicate future passenger electric service /  As well KIWI studying expansion of electrification.  Main problem we see with them is it is a narrow guage operation limiting size of freight and passenger cars.

 

They could expand electric at the north end to close the gap near Auckland.  However, at the south end, the Wellngton commuter rail is DC (3kV ?), and the mainline electrification is 25kV AC.

[blue streak 1]

Interesting use of a RR track paving for a temporary road detour !

https://www.railwaygazette.com/news/news/uk/single-view/view/signalling-changes-reduce-delays-where-road-traffic-uses-rail-alignment.html

 

[blue streak 1]

KIWI rail ( New Zeland ) has decided to retain their electric freight locos.  Although not passenger it may indicate future passenger electric service /  As well KIWI studying expansion of electrification.  Main problem we see with them is it is a narrow guage operation limiting size of freight and passenger cars.

[BaltACD]

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-45932991

[BaltACD]

Indian railroading

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/india-train-crash-today-dozens-killed-crowd-religious-festival-amritsar-2018-10-19/

[blue streak 1]

China approves another HSR passenger line .

https://www.railjournal.com/passenger/high-speed/china-approves-shanghai-huzhou-high-speed-line/