Only part passenger but Czech republic extending tenders for plans to convert all 3 Kv DC CAT mainly in the north to 25Kv 50Hz. Will then be all one system. Note connects to Slovika in north which is already planning to convert all 3Kv to 25 Kv 50 Hz.
Very interesting concept. UK is reboring Farnworth tunnel using a TBM 9 meters ( ~ 30 feet ) in diameter. This is for adding double track 25 Kv 50 Hz CAT to line. Presently 2 tunnels but will just use this one rebored tunnel. Almost sound like double stack clearance ?
Guess that to keep the TBM going straight the tunnel was filled with foam concrete. Interesting concept. What is foam concrete ?
http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/uks-biggest-tbm-rebores-farnworth-tunnel.html
Foam concrete is injected with air to make it much lighter and easier to drill. I suspect they are filling the old tunnel with foam cement to keep it stable as they bore the new larger tunnel. A 30’ diameter bore, once it is lined, does not seem big enough for electrified double track.
Isreal opening another 70 Km line. Freight for a month to settle the track then up to 25 trains a day each way. Dave Klepper do you have access to a rail map there? Would be interesting as the towns are not familar.
Lotschberg base tunnel in Switzerland will be getting its second track finished. Tunnel is in three parts one section has only one track and will get second track,. Another section will get a new tunnel bored. third section is already 2 Main track.
China opens 281 Km HSR northernmost rail line
Askelion is south of Tel Aviv and has had passenger service to Tel Aviv, often running through north to Haifa and Naharia for many years. Beir Sheva is south and east of Tel Aviv, on the rail line to Demona, which is the probably point for continuation south to Elat. It also had through service to
Tel Aviv and north to Haifa, often to Naharia. The old line to Jerusalem branches off the Beir Sheva line at Naan Junction, south of Ramla, and goes east and a bit north to Beit Shemesh, then north to Jerusalem.
This new line is primarily an east-west line, will serve to allow industrial and mining traffic from Demona and other areas south and east of Beir Sheva to go directly to Ashdod and Ashkolon Ports, which together are now as important as Haifa, without first going north to Lod and then south.
Much of the line is in a zone that was impacted by rocket fire leading up to the hostilities with Hamas and during those hostilities. I suspect there is a real truce.
China to build another HSR line parallel to existing HSR line but faster.
Definately, this year TGVs and affiliated trains seem to be getting literally on fire. This time it was not a spanish AVE on french metals, bta TGV duplex on its own ‘metals’, in the Paris to Marseille HSL (wich off course caused a lot of gridlock, since there’s a train passing every 5 minutes or so). And this time the fire was under 25 Kv, AC cat (it seems to be in the main transfrmer of the power car, judging by the location). Here’s a link from a french tv station
http://www.francetvinfo.fr/economie/transports/incendie-d-un-tgv-800-passagers-evacues_1052297.html
Youtube link
And one more link, from the french version of The Huffington Post ;
Obviously, a Hot Train!
Another China HSR opening this one just over the Yula river to north Korea. Time for Trains mag to publish a map of lines in operation and under construction.
New high speed connection being built in Spain and a very important one, since it will allow full integration of the North HSL with the rest of the network, via a tunel between Madrid Atocha and Madrid Chamartin (the 3rd between these stations, track is already in place, only signals and catenary needs to be installed), and a new strech betwen Atocha and Torrejon de Velasco, some 27 kilometres South of the capital, wich will quadruple the present section of the South HSL, and also permiting independent paths for trains going to Valencia and Alicante (to be built on this phase, platform already in place)
Gottard tunnel ( world longest ) is now claimed by the Swiss to be coompleted. Testing to start Oct 1 with service sometime in 2016. Pictures very interesting.
http://www.businessinsider.com/worlds-longest-tunnel-switzerland-2015-8#ixzz3k21fTtCm
And it’s not the only big news. In December a new tunnel in Zurich under Zurich Hbf will permtit Intercity trains to take less 18 minutes between Geneve - Lausanne - Zurich and St. Gallen (presently these trains have to revert at the station). Also between Geneve and Lausanne there are some big works starting, with the prurpose of transforming today’s double and triple track route in to a 4 track main line allowing 15 minute intervals in commuter service. For this last reason, trains will get some extra 3 minutes added to their schedules.
China approved 3 new HSR routes totaling 1348+ Km today. Would be nice if trains mag could construct a map of China’s operational, under construction, & proposed HSR lines.
http://www.railjournal.com/index.php/asia/china-approves-three-more-new-lines.html?channel=540
Schedules and fares anounced for the new HSL Madrid - Leon, due to open on the 29 th of september (only the Madrid to Leon schedules are shown, but trains to/from Gijon and Ponferrada - dual gauge Talgos - will also use the line, chanibg gauge in one of the two ‘cambiadores’ (automatic gauge changers usable by series 130 and 730 Talgos, and also Caf series 120 high speed railcars) next to Leon’s classification yard).
Line reopening in Portugal for passenger service
Translation ; '3 years after service supression, on the 1st of january of 2012, the local railroad passenger operator, CP, is reinstating service on the ‘East’ line.
The new service is due to operate between fridays and sundays, and the first trip will take place on september 25 at 6:20 pm. This is now possible, since economical conditions in the country are better.
The trains will operate between Portalegre and Entroncamento calling at the following stations ; Crato, Chança (Alter), Torre das Vargens, Ponte de Sor, Abrantes, Tramagal, Santa Margarida, Praia do Ribatejo, Almourol, Tancos and Barquinha.
Presently, some minor interventions are being carried away by the infrastucture owner and the railroad at stations in order to reactivate it
China approves another 900 Km of new HSR and HrSR. Wonder if all this rail constructions will help China’s internal economic balance. Then the long range results will pay dividends man years into the future.
http://www.railjournal.com/index.php/asia/china-approves-another-900km-of-new-lines.html?channel=540
News totoday that it’s coming off hold.
Portugal’s infrastructure company IP launches international ‘building work contest’ for a new ‘high performance’ line (speeds up to 155 Mph)
http://www.vialibre-ffe.com/noticias.asp?not=15876&cs=inte
Basically the only real new section to be built will be the one between Evora-North and the border (circa 50 miles). The rest (existing lines) will be upgraded, or it’s already in use (for example Evora to Casa Branca, nowadays good for 125 Mph, but prepared for higher speeds). Also some track doubling will be done. This line will be for mixed traffic and of iberian gauge (but with multi gauge ties), with the main purpose of getting a much direct conection from the deepwater port of Sines to Spain and other points in Europe. However it’s also some sort of ‘missing link’ between Portugal’s network and Spain’s Extremadura HSL, presently under construction. There’s also a possibility of building a second railway crossing in Lisbon, but this one will be a very expensive one, since the tagus river is quite large in the place where this last one is planned to be built
China plans 2400 Km ( 1500 Sm ) Beijing - Hong Kong in ~ 8 hours including ~8 stops. This route will be built incrementally but can you imagine, WASH - HOU, NYP - DAL, WASH / NYP - DEN, SFO / LAX - DEN, in 8 hours. Of course never happen in the USA.
http://shanghaiist.com/2015/10/13/beijing_to_hk_in_8_hours.php