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Russia’s growing high-speed rail network poses threat to domestic airlines
DestinationsWhile transportation remains one of the biggest issues for Russia, the country is trying to add speed to its trains, the most beloved way of travelling for most Russians. A high-speed railway connecting Moscow with the Urals is the latest initiative. The first high speed railway project between Moscow and Saint Petersburg is now being [...]
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Video: A look inside China’s expanding high-speed rail network
Destinations“Flights out of Beijing are always delayed,” Chen said. “Door to door, high-speed trains are often faster than flying for me. For this young journalist who frequently travels for work, [high-speed trains have] become part of an increasingly appealing routine amid worsening air traffic congestion at major airports across China. At $85, her second-class seat [...]
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California governor turns to Chinese to fund his high-speed dreams
TransportGov. Jerry Brown’s trade mission to China this week is intersecting with one of the most controversial issues of his governorship: California’s $68-billion bullet train. The governor has staked part of his legacy on the rail network, a centerpiece of his vision for California. He is hoping that China, which is enjoying an economic boom [...]
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Eurostar will have tough time beating 2012 profits without Olympic boost
DestinationsChannel Tunnel operator Groupe Eurotunnel SA said it will struggle to match the traffic surge that triggered a threefold profit increase last year given the comparative absence of big-ticket events in 2013. Eurotunnel’s net income rose to 34 million euros ($44 million) in 2012 from 11 million euros a year earlier as the London Olympics [...]
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The coming trend in European train travel: High-speed goes low cost
DestinationsExploring France’s countryside from the comfort of the world’s fastest conventional train is about to get a little easier — and cheaper. The French national train network, SNCF, has unveiled its new low-cost high-speed train dubbed Ouigo last month, with service starting April 2. In just over three hours, travelers can go from the Paris region to Marseille [...]
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French rail operator launches budget high-speed line out of Paris
DestinationsThe French national rail operator SNCF is offering a new low-cost long-distance service to passengers, in a bid to compete with budget airlines and cars. Tickets went on sale this week for Ouigo, a train service with numerous similarities to no-frills carries such as Ryanair and easyJet. Trains depart from Marne-la-Vallée to the east of [...]
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The high-speed rail line that could connect NYC and LA in 18 hours
DestinationsWhile high speed rail is on the up-and-up in the state of California, advocacy groups such as the U.S. High Speed Rail Association are continuing their focus on countrywide expansion. Led by U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, the USHSR has released a plan that maps out a 17,000 mile national high speed rail system [...]
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The “missing link” in Europe’s high-speed rail network out of service one month after launch
DestinationsThe new Fyra train connecting Amsterdam and Brussels was called the “missing link” in Europe’s high-speed rail network when it was proudly unveiled. Now the Italian-built trains are missing in action. Technical problems have dogged the trains — which can go 250 kph (155 mph) — since they came into service last month. That has [...]
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California and Amtrak join forces to tackle cost of high-speed rail together
TransportThe two biggest players in the nation’s pursuit of high-speed rail said Thursday they’ll work together to search for trains that will operate at up to 220 miles per hour along both coasts of the United States. Officials with Amtrak and the California High-Speed Rail Authority said they envision that the two systems will purchase [...]
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Amtrak CEO seeks relaxed safety regulations to make way for high-speed trains
TransportAmtrak will recommend new U.S. rail- safety regulations to allow it to replace its Acela trains in the Northeast U.S. with lighter, faster equipment, Chief Executive Officer Joseph Boardman said. U.S. crashworthiness standards force Amtrak to use trains that have locomotives on both ends and are slower and heavier than bullet trains used in Europe [...]
