HighSpeedRail

This railway will reduce travel time between Istanbul and Bulgaria, benefiting both passengers and freight services. It serves as a vital link between Europe and Asia, enhancing regional trade.

Currently, the railway accommodates 600,000 passengers annually, but this figure will rise significantly. By 2028, the number of passengers is projected to reach 3.4 million annually.

Designed for a maximum speed of 350km/h, the new line will have more than 30 bridges and viaducts and a 2km tunnel. Upon completion, the Seville - Huelva journey time will be cut from 1h 30min at present to 30 minutes, including a stop at the line’s only intermediate station at La Palma del Condado.

During its Jan. 23 meeting, the Regional Transportation Council approved spending $1 million — to be issued in $250,000 increments — for a potential legal fight over a Fort Worth to Dallas high-speed rail route.

The 45-member council, an independent policy group of the North Central Texas Council of Governments composed of elected and appointed officials, decided to allocate the funding “in preparation for potential litigation” by Dallas-based Hunt Realty Investments Inc. related to an environmental assessment for high-speed rail in the Fort Worth-Dallas area.

The funding request — the group’s first-ever preemptive legal response — was approved in a 42-3 vote at the council’s meeting in Arlington.

The Xi’an-Shiyan High-Speed Railway achieved a significant milestone with the completion of the Tianzhushan No. 2 tunnel. This 4,118-meter tunnel presented complex engineering challenges, addressed using advanced technology.

This railway, spanning 256 kilometers, will cut travel time between Xi’an and Shiyan to under one hour. It also halves the travel time from Xi’an to Wuhan, improving regional accessibility.

A new high-speed rail network is emerging from the sands of Egypt, over 2000km in length and connecting cities with hitherto remote regions. The network being built by consortium leader Siemens Mobility and its partners, Orascom Construction and The Arab Contractors, is set to transform the country’s transport landscape and become the world’s sixth-largest high-speed rail network. It will provide safe, efficient and, in particular, environmentally-friendly transport for nearly 90% of the Egyptian population.

To ensure successful operation in harsh desert conditions, the Velaro has been specially adapted for Egypt, with specific modifications to combat sand, dust and extreme heat to offer both high levels of performance and passenger comfort.

Several features have been incorporated to resist sand and dust infiltration. These modifications include sealed external gaps and special covers for vulnerable components, coupled with innovative brushes and aerodynamic spoilers that actively deflect sand and dust away from critical areas. They protect the train’s mechanical and electronic systems from the abrasive effects of desert sand, extending the life of the train and minimising the need for frequent maintenance.

Other modifications include an advanced filtration system to ensure that only clean air enters the train, providing a constant flow of dust-free air to both the passenger areas and critical onboard electronic systems, reducing the risk of dust accumulation that could impair performance. The improved filtration system not only ensures passenger comfort, but also extends the life of the train by keeping sensitive equipment free from dust.