škoda 2024

1/2005

iDTGV - Budget TGV Travel Debut
In December 2004 SNCF hotted up do-mestic air/rail competition by introducing its own novel low cost option for TGV travellers. Marketed as iDTGV (Intér-actif-Détente TGV) it offers passengers the possibility of acquiring discount fares through hassle-free, online booking as an alternative to buying conventional tickets at standard fares.
This is the 13.20 Paris Gare de Lyon to Avignon, Marseille and Toulon service formed by Duplex 247 as iDTGV train 7903 leading Duplex 235 as TGV train 6113. The location is Maisons Alfort, in the southern suburbs of Paris, the units heading towards the junction where the high speed line starts, and the date is 9 January 2005.
Photo: Gérard Lecleire
Bode - A Door Is Born
„Door: Hinged or sliding barrier usually of wood or metal for closing entrance to building, room, safe, etc.“ The Concise Oxford Dictionary (1966) definition of a device we all take for granted. But in the 21st century, vehicle doors have evolved into complex systems of electronic gadgetry, and have to fulfil demanding requirements ... Bode started by manufacturing doors for buses and trolleybuses, subsequently expanding into the rail vehicle market as well. Today the proportion of output destined for road and rail vehicle applications is 70/30 respectively.
The TransPennine Express Desiro Class 185 mock-up, showing the Bode sliding plug door which will be a standard feature on these new DMUs. TPE is one of the company’s latest contracts.
Photo: Eckhart Matthäus
LILO Orders More Stadler GTW 2/6 EMUs
In 1998 the Linzer Lokalbahn (LILO) ordered a batch of eight GTW 2/6 EMUs from a consortium formed by Stadler of Bussnang and Adtranz (now Bombardier). These 750 V DC units, delivered in 1999/2000, were designed for later conversion to dual-voltage, to enable them to venture onto the 15 kV 16.7 Hz ÖBB network. In September 2003 six more GTWs were ordered from Stadler, for delivery in 2005.
Winter reflections in a flooded field: ET 22 158 forming train 8019 from Linz Lokalbahn to Peuerbach, seen near Fraham, between Alkoven and Eferding, on 23 January 2005.
Photo: Tomáš Kuchta
TRAXX F140 AC2 Locomotives
In 1998 Railion Deutschland (formerly DB Cargo) ordered a batch of 400 Class 185 locomotives from Bombardier Transportation. These are now designated TRAXX F 140 AC. At the same time, it was decided to develop a technologically more sophisticated variant of the 185, 200 of which from January 2005 will be built by Bombardier as Class 185.2 (TRAXX F140 AC2), a direct follow-on from the earlier Railion order.
Roll out of 185 201 on 14 January 2005 at Bombardier’s Kassel works. On the right is 185 206. At that time locomotives up to 185 212 were nearing completion.
Photo: Jaromír Pernička
Innotrans 2004 Part 3
We enclose the exciting story of InnoTrans 2004. At this moment, infra-structure vehicles and bimodals are the main point, while their presence was so large, that this sector surelly merits separate part.
At InnoTrans Europool exhibited a Plasser & Theurer UNIMAT 09-32 4S Dynamic universal tamper, and an SSP 110 SW ballast distributor and profiler, built by the same company. On this photo there is a tried and tested track maintenance vehicle, but has now been even further improved, the main innovation being the use of monobloc wheels of 920 mm instead of 760 mm diameter. As a result it is expected that running quality will be enhanced.
Photo: Tomáš Kuchta
Mattstetten - Rothirst: Switzerland's First High Speed Line
The 1987 national-level referendum on rail transport policies gave the Swiss Government the go-ahead to embark on a radical modernisation of the State-owned rail networks, a project which had been on the drawing board since the late 1960s. It was made perfectly clear to voters that such a project would be very costly, and would require substantial public funding. In return, the travelling public was promised a network which offered faster, up to date trains, more frequent services, and enhanced service integration.
Looking northeastwards at Wanzwil, towards Gishübel tunnel (note the canteen carriages on the bridge). Tamping of point no. 112 is in progress. Point no. 111 for the Solothurn branch (right) is situated within the tunnel on the right.
Photo: Stanislav Holeček
And much more!
Cover of 1/2005
Poster

Features: 185 203 together with CFL 4017, which represents the earlier TRAXX P140 AC1 at Bombardier's Kassel works 14 January 2005.