FAST INTERCITY SERVICES

LIAISONS RAPIDES INTERVILLES

The Fast Intercity Services working party of the UIC Planning Committee has been entrusted with the task of analysing present schemes to introduce new very high-speed services or cross natural obstacles by new lines of transnational importance so that the eventual values of a study of fast intercity services can be assessed. This report contains the results of an inquiry carried out among the European Railways to determine the position of their studies and achievements in this sphere. Several Railways not only intend to improve and extend their existing systems but also to obtain the maximum advantage of the technical potential of the wheel/rail system and to construct entirely new lines for very high-speed traffic. These schemes, which also naturally concern rolling stock, are aimed to increase rail transport capacity over the heaviest loaded lines and reduce journey times by running trains at speeds up to 250/300 km/h, while at the same time ensuring that the new lines or projects are technically compatible with the present systems to which they will be linked. In this way, all traffic categories can, if necessary, benefit from the improvements thus obtained. Economic research is also featured on the study programme. However, it transpires that so far the Railways are mainly directing their attention to the natural sector. The technical solutions advocated are sometimes profoundly different. Much work still has to be done to define homogeneous characteristics so that an international network of fast services can be introduced. A documentary analysis of the main projects in the USSR, Japan and USA is appended.

• Corporate Authors:

  Societe Nationale des Chemins de Fer Francais

  92 rue Bonaparte
  75 Paris 6e,   France 
• Publication Date: 1972-1

Language

• French

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 3
• Serial:
  • REVUE GENERALE DES CHEMINS DE FER

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: High speed rail; Passenger service
• Identifier Terms: Societe nationale des chemins de fer francais
• Subject Areas: Operations and Traffic Management; Passenger Transportation; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00047780
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: International Union of Railways
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Dec 13 1973 12:00AM