2/2006

These Bombardier-built 200 km/h Class 222 four-car DEMUs have now been in service on the Midland Main Line for close on two years, and are achieving exceptionally high reliability levels. The lessons learnt from the earlier Voyager units have been put to good use. In summer 2005 the first of the nine-car trains also entered service, as did the four-car Pioneer units acquired by Hull Trains.

In R 1/06 we had a detailed look at the technical teething troubles experienced by the Class 680s during their first weeks in service. Here we examine the new trains from a different point of view - that of the passenger, and in particular that of the traveller who elects to patronise the refreshment facilities offered on board. These are provided by an outside caterer, JLV (Jídelní a lůžkové vozy). How does the service and fare offered on the new trains compare with that on other long-distance trains in the Czech Republic, and what difficulties are being experienced by those staffing the catering vehicles?

A new era has begun in the history of Stockholm’s suburban rail network with the arrival of the first of 55 Class X60 EMUs. Seven months after the first train entered commercial service, on 30 March 2006, ALSTOM was able to celebrate once again, when Storstockholms Lokaltrafik (SL) took up part of its option for up to 50 more trains of this type, by ordering a further 16.

The Rhätische Bahn’s Bernina Express operates from Chur in Switzerland to Tirano, in Italy - a breathtakinghly scenic run of over four hours. At Ospizio Bernina the line reaches an altitude of 2,253 m, this making it Europe’s highest adhesion-worked railway. Its hourly services, some marketed as Bernina Express, complement those of the Glacier Express between Zermatt and St. Moritz. In 2000 RhB ordered from Stadler ten new air conditioned panoramic carriages, both first and second class, and such is their popularity among travellers on this world-famous touristic route that a further ten were ordered in April 2004.

From 1998 the carriage works at Görlitz has been part of the Bombardier empire. It is here that seventy years ago the construction of double-deck carriages began. Subsequently many more such articulated rakes were built for operators throughout much of eastern Europe and today, the high-capacity double-decker’s popularity continues unabated. Here we provide you with an in-depth look at activities at Görlitz, both past and present.

On 3 February 2006 the Kolomna locomotive works, which is part of the Trans-mashholding group, unveiled its first new EP2K locomotive, EP2K-001. Designed for express passenger services, it is based on the TEP70 BS diesel-electric, and has a top speed of 160 km/h. RZD intends that the EP2K should replace its ageing fleet of Class ChS2 machines, built by ŠKODA Plzeň.

Following the opening of the Madrid to Sevilla high speed line on 21 April 1992, nearly a decade was to elapse before work started on building branches. The first to be completed was the 20.5 km link between La Sagra and the historic city of Toledo, inaugurated on 15 November 2005. Towards the end of 2006 trains will start using the first section of the Córdoba to Málaga branch, as far as Bobadilla, the inauguration of the remainder of this line being scheduled for late 2007.