High-Speed Railways

Acela Express
Bombardier and Alstom are in partnership to build new US high speed trains.	The second Acela Express high speed trainset delivered to Amtrak in October of 1999.	The initial design for the new high-speed trains for the Northeast Corridor between New York and Boston.
The French TGV design influence can be seen here in the US high-speed train design.	The interior of an American train first class compartment.	The ACELA express power car at Bombardier's Plattsburg works will be powered with Alstom's traction equipment.
ACELA express power cars under construction.	The ACELA express coaches being assembled by Bombardier at Barre, Vermont.	The ACELA express coaches feature airline style designs such as the overhead luggage storage racks.
Configuration of Acela Express.	Acela Express at Baltimore/Washington International Airport Station.

Alaris Tilting Trains
The ETR460, forerunner of Spain's latest tilting train.	The first Alaris trainset after completion outside Alstom's Barcelona works.	In-cab displays are designed to provide extensive running information to the train crew.
The Pendolino production line at Fiat's Turin assembly plant.	Interior of a second class vehicle, showing the on-board video screens.	Diagram of a Pendolino train's tilting mechanism.
A Pendolino bogie, also showing the plate connecting it to the train's body.

Ankara-Istanbul High-Speed Train Project
CAF was contracted to construct ten new high-speed trains for the Ankara-Istanbul project with a maximum speed of 250km/h.	The new trains feature air-conditioning, like all other modern high-speed sets.	While other high-speed railways operate at 300km/h, including in Germany, the trains can also run on conventional lines. The Turkish high-speed line will have a maximum operational speed of 250km/h.
Overhead electric wires will supply 25kV AC power to the new trains between Istanbul and Ankara.

Argentine High-Speed Railway
Spanish and French high-speed railway practice will be used for the 300km/h route from Buenos Aires to Rosario.	Construction of the high-speed line will connect three of Argentina’s main cities.	Modern stations and trains will revolutionise rail travel in South America – the first high-speed line for the continent.
The future of Argentine rail travel? This is a Spanish high-speed set on which the new trains are likely to be based.	The main population centres of Argentina are served by the planned high-speed line between Buenos Aires and Cordoba.

Arlanda Express
The Arlanda link comprises 20km of double-track railway.	Seven new four-car electric multiple units have been built by Alstom.	Arlanda Express opened in time for the new millennium.
Spacious interiors and colourful designs along with wide windows allow for luxurious travel.	CAD image of the proposed upgrading of part of Stockholm Central station.	The airport station is utilised by SJ and airport train services.
Services on Arlanda Express are operated by Alstom EMUs.

AVE
The first route chosen for modernisation was that between the capital, Madrid, and Seville.	The trains comprise two power cars, with three first class and four turista (standard) class trailers, and a bar/buffet vehicle, and accommodate a total of 325 passengers.	The AVE trainsets are made in France with some Spanish components. It derives directly from the French TGV.
1st class accommodations onboard the AVE TGV.	The Ave trainset boasts modern technology including the latest doors.	German technology is at the heart of the operational control system. A cab signalling system is coupled with a continuous speed control facility.
A 25kV 50Hz traction power supply substation for the Madrid-Seville high speed line.	Talgo variable gauge power car for services running between 1,435mm and 1,668mm networks.

Bangalore High-Speed Rail Link
The railway link will connect the city centre with the new Bengaluru International Airport.	The construction of the new railway link is expected to reduce travel time from the city centre to the airport to 25 minutes.	The MG Road and Hebbal stations will have check-in facilities for passengers.

Beijing-Shanghai
A map showing the Bejing-Shanghai high speed route.	Construction of a dedicated high-speed Beijing-Shanghai line will alleviate conflicts with slower freight traffic.	A machine for assembling pre-stressed concrete bridge segments, developed by Chinese engineers, and expected to be used on the Beijing-Shanghai route.
The prototype high-speed locomotive developed for Chinese Railways.	The rake of coaching stock assembled for high-speed testing shown during trials.	Sweden's X2000 train has been the model for some of the new Chinese high-speed train technology.
Chinese Railways' prototype high-speed train power car has undergone extensive tests.

Beijing-Tianjin High-Speed Commuter Link
The 300km/h Beijing-Tianjin Railway uses Siemens CRH 3 high-speed trains based on technology first used in German Railway’s ICE 3s.	The CRH 3 trains are closely based on the Velaro units which entered service in Spain in 2006.	Inside the cab of a Siemens Velaro unit, on which the trains for China's first high-speed line are based.
The Velaros feature a clean and spacious passenger cabin layout. The CRH 3 trains for the Beijing-Tianjin line seat 600 passengers.

Belgian High Speed Line Network
Connecting with the French LGV Nord, Belgian HSL1 begins 17km west of Brussels.	Just short of the HSL, dedicated tracks for high-speed trains pass to the south of Halle station.	The Forest flyover avoids conflicting movements for high-speed trains using the west-side platforms at Brussels Midi station.
The new Liège-Guillemins station is between two stretches of high-speed track on the key Brussels-Köln route.	The Thalys fleet uses all three Belgian HSL arms: Liège-Guillemins, May 2008.	The eastern end of Belgian HSL3 near Walhorn: journey times will halve between Liège and Aachen.
Seen from the original route, HSL3 takes a more direct path over and through the challenging terrain.	Opened in late 2007, the second Buschtunnel in Germany between Aachen and the Belgian HSL3: the original tunnel (to right) will re-enter service.	The complex and time-consuming Mechelen station area will be bypassed as part of the Brussels-Antwerp upgrading.
Antwerpen Centraal (pictured) and the North-South Junction projects are part of the Brussels-Amsterdam improvement programme.

Botniabanan
Heavier freight trains of up to 1,500t will be able to use the new line, improving the economics of cargo movement in the area.	The proposed Hornefors station.	The entirely new line will radically increase capacity and timings over what has become part of a trans-European rail route.
Likely to be concentrated in the more populous south, the tilting X2 class will remain the flagship Swedish motive power for several more years.	Seemingly due for completion in 2010, the Botniabanan project has been the largest on Swedish railways for several decades.	For delivery from 2010, a new 200km/h derivative of the Bombardier wide-bodied Regina range is likely to see service on the Botniabanan (X53 variant, Gothenburg).

California High-Speed Rail Network
The Route 99 corridor and extension alternatives.	The latest variant of the Siemens high-speed train.	An Alstom TGV for Korea.
Viaducts will be incorporated into the new line to keep the gradient profile as flat as possible.	A Siemens built Velaro high-speed train for service in Spain, on which the future trains of the California high-speed line may be partially based.

Class 390 Pendolino Tilting Trains
UK's fastest trains: Eurostar (right) mainly uses dedicated high-speed lines, unlike the Class 390 on the WCML.	WCML high-speed services are entirely operated by Class 390 Pendolinos.	As at Birmingham International with adjacent airport and National Exhibition Centre, the business market is important for Virgin Pendolinos.
Originating from SIG/Fiat, a Class 390 tilting bogie.	Dellner coupler-fitted Virgin Class 57 for Pendolino and Voyager haulage.	Subject to funding and platform lengthening, Pendolino capacity may be increased with extra coaches.
Pendolino competition with airlines is at its fiercest on the 400-mile London-Glasgow (pictured) route.	Liverpool is one of many destinations due for accelerated WCML services.	By the end of 2012 new and enlarged Pendolino sets should be serving key WCML markets like London–Manchester.

East Coast Main Line
A tradition of high-speed operation on the ECML has been encouraged by long sections of straight track and gentle gradients.	Edinburgh is the northern end of the ECML, although the long-distance franchise operator has services west and north from the Scottish capital.	An important interchange, Network Rail-managed Leeds station has been radically remodelled. A marked growth in passenger numbers is forecast to continue.
After years of decline, freight has recovered on the southern ECML section, also heavily used by First Capital Connect services south of Peterborough.	Extra platform faces scheduled for Peterborough will help alleviate conflicting movements at this busy station.	The King's Cross improvement project will run up to 2013. This southern concourse in front of Cubitt's façade will be replaced by a larger one to the west.
National Express East Coast will inherit GNER HST and Class 91/Mark 4 trains pending replacement under the Intercity Express Programme from 2012.	Hull Trains Class 222 (seen at Biggleswade) is joined on the East Coast by another open access operator, Grand Central, from 2008.	Grand Central is planning to start its new Sunderland-London service from the beginning of 2008 with newly-refurbished High Speed Train sets.

Evergreen Line Rail Project,
The Evergreen Line connects Lougheed to Cequitlam and Douglas College.	The transit network in Vancouver.	The Evergreen Line at the tunnel portal, Port Moody
Coquitlam Centre Station.	Lougheed town centre.	An aerial view of Lougheed town centre.

Finland Pendolino Tilting Trains,
Pendolino trains are being marketed as the flagship of an integrated rail network, bringing with them improvements in services on secondary routes.	The Pendolino S 220 trainset.	Interior arrangements of the Pendolino S 220 trainset.
Pendolino S 220 trainset composition.	The Pendolino S220 represents the third generation of the Italian-designed and developed variant of tilting train.	The high speed network offers some of Finland's finest views.
A power car being fitted out at Oy Transtech's plant in Oulu.	The Fiat-Parizzi traction motor.	Intermediate coaches under construction at Fiat's plant in Savigliano.
The Pendolino S 220 trainset carrying bogie.

Florida High-Speed Rail
The first phase of the Florida HSR will connect Tampa and Orlando.	On 28 January 2010, the federal government committed to award $8bn for HSR projects across the US from ARRA.	Phase 2 is being planned to run alongside Florida’s Turnpike or the I-95.

Frankfurt-Köln
The Frankfurt-Cologne line is seen as the third vital link in Germany's ICE network, after the Nuremburg-Hannover, and Hannover-Berlin routes.	Work on the new interchange station at Frankfurt Airport.	Work on the Limburg Tunnel, one of the toughest sections of the new route.
The forerunner of the latest ICE developments - an ICE-2 unit (right).	ICE-3 units on display.	Passengers even have a dramatic forward view from the ICE-3's leading coach.
In-cab video displays shows drivers information on the train's progress.	The futuristic, aerodynamic ICE-3 units.	Coupled pairs of ICE3 sets can carry over 800 passengers between Köln Hbf to Frankfurt Airport in under an hour.
The new line and Frankfurt(M) Flughafen Fernbahnhof were built between the autobahn and the airport.	Not on the Neubaustrecke itself, the Köln/Bonn Airport station is considered part of the project.	ICE services from the north and west feed onto the Neubaustrecke south of Köln.

Gare du Nord, Paris
Gare du Nord station as seen from the Thalys platform.	The front of Gare du Nord railway station.	Gare Du Nord interiors.
Panoramic view of the Gare du Nord arrival hall.

Germany InterCity Express
Germany was some way behind its main European compatriots when it came to developing a network of high-speed railway lines, but now, with its InterCity Express (ICE) concept, it has been quickly making up for lost time.	With a clear screen separating passengers from the driver ICE 3 gives passengers a clear impression of speed.	The DM250m InterCity station at Laatzen nearing completion.
Interior of the BSmz 803 second class car complete with telephone, typing machine, fascimile, and photcopier.	Man-machine interface of the Hannover electronic interlocking.	A AVmz 801 first class car with two saloon modules and one compartment module with only three seats per seat row.
ICE-T electric multiple-unit train set.	An NS-owned ICE3 at Mannheim, near the start of one of the earliest NBS sections, the 100km to Stuttgart.	The tilt-equipped ICE-T can make best use of older track formations. Class 411 at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf.
Also served by Regional and S-Bahn trains, the Köln/Bonn airport line and station were part of the Köln-Frankfurt NBS project.	ICE services dominate at Frankfurt Airport's new station. The Fernbahnhof. Regional and S-Bahn services use the earlier low-level station.	An ICE3 parallel high-speed run was part of the opening publicity for the Nürnberg-Ingolstadt NBS in 2006.

Gold Coast Rapid Transit System
Surfer's Paradise Community Information Session held between 31 August and 4 September 2010.	Sod turn event at Graffith University Hospital.	Gold Coast University Hospital Station shell construction.

Haramain High Speed Rail Project
The Haramain project will connect Mecca and Madinah in Saudi Arabia, via Jeddah and Rabigh.	With a high volume of pilgrims visiting Mecca, as well as the number of citizens living in the area, a new form of transport was required, so the Haramain rail project was conceived.	The Haramain rail link is expected to ease congestion in busy areas of Saudi Arabia.

Hefei-Fuzhou High-Speed Railway Line
The Hefei-Fuzhou rail route connects Central China to southeast China.	The Anhui section of the Hefei-Fuzhou high-speed railway line will have the longest river rail bridge, at 52km, spanning the Yangtze River.	A CRH1 train at Fuzhou Railway Station.

High Speed 1
The roof of the classic St Pancras station has been extended for its new international and domestic role.	Direct Eurostar services to Paris and Brussels now use the main train shed at St Pancras International.	The track layout at the entrance to St Pancras has been remodelled to allow it to curve over the East Coast Main Line.
Ebbsfleet International is a new intermediate station serving the Thames Gateway commercial regeneration area.	Engineers have completely reconstructed the interior of St Pancras station with new platforms, and renovated the arched 1868 Barlow roof.	The sweeping viaduct over the River Medway in Kent is one of most impressive structures on the new high-speed line.
Park and ride facilities are a valuable means of persuading North Kent passengers to use High Speed 1 for both international and domestic services.	Journey times from the UK to mainland Europe have been slashed.	In December 2009, Ebbsfleet International added domestic 140mph (225km/h) 'Javelin' services to those by international Eurostars on HS1.
The new low-level platforms at St Pancras are part of the extensive rail interchange adjoining or very close to the HS1 Eurostar terminus area.	Within weeks of St Pancras becoming the London HS1 terminus, passenger bookings were showing substantial increases over past levels.

High Speed Rail Operations
The functional interior of an ETR 500 compartment.	Fiat Ferroviaria (now Alstom) supplied the dual-voltage (3kV DC/25kV AC) ETR480 trains. Their tilting capacity is used to best advantage on classic lines with frequent curves.	Both the ETR 500 trainsets and Pendolino trains are the rolling stock for the Eurostar Italia Service.
The ETR 460 Pendolino tackles a curve on the Italian State Railways network.	The driver's cab of an ETR 500 high-speed train.	Now joined by hauled stock under the Cisalpino brand, ETR470 tilting trains link northern Italy with Switzerland.
As here east of Milan, some 'TAV' lines follow alignments of conventional railways.	ETR500 sets are the mainstay of domestic Eurostar Italia services.	Branding for Eurostar Italia Alta Velocità.
ETR485 tilting sets work the limited stop Milan-Rome T-Biz services aimed at the business market.

HSL Zuid
The new line will be the first to incorporate what is expected to become the international-standard ERTMS signalling.	This diagram shows the U-shaped concrete trackbed design, aimed at substantially reducing noise.	Model of the Ansaldobreda sets for HSL Zuid.
Like Benelux services, high speed Amsterdam-Brussels will be a joint Dutch-Belgian operation.	Like the whole route, the Hollandsch Diep crossing features passenger evacuation exits.	For busy locations like Dordrecht, freight paths will be increased by passenger capacity shifting to HSL Zuid.
Featuring a new dedicated platform for HSL services, Breda is part of the HSL service pattern.	A layout of the HLS Zuid route map.	An upgrade programme is due for Thalys sets on Paris-Brussels-Amsterdam services prior to their transfer to HSL Zuid and the Belgian high-speed lines.
Now rebranded as part of Hispeed, the joint Dutch-Belgian Benelux service may survive in some form after the new lines open.

Kuala Lumpur Airport Express
The route of the Kuala Lumpur Express Rail Link.	The new terminal at KL Sentral in the heart of Kuala Lumpur.	The interior of one of the new ERL trains.
A cable laid between the rails transmits signalling data.	Kuala Lumpur's commuter rail network offers an intensive service, with which the new airport express trains connect.	Siemens' test track at Wildenrath, Germany, saw extensive proving trials for KL's newest trains.
The control centre uses electronic interlocking to ensure the continuity of the signalling system.

LGV Est Européen
LGV Est Europeen map.	TGV network map.	Deutsche Bahn ICE3 stock will become a familiar sight on TGV Est.
Although linked to Paris with TGV services and with station improvements under the project, Strasbourg remains over 100km from the end of the new LGV.	Regional services by units like the TER 2N-NG will be increased to feed TGV Est and make up for reduced through-services for some destinations.	The bulk of LGV Est services are operated by TGV Réseau formations.
LGV Est is connected with the Jonction Est LGV east of Paris serving Marne-la-Vallée and Charles de Gaulle airport (pictured).	An LGV Est Paris service at Luxembourg City – the Grand Duchy was one of the line's sources of funding.

Lisbon-Porto High-Speed Line
The top speed is set to rise from 180km/h to 220km/h as work is progressed on upgrading the entire line for higher speeds.	The Alfa Pendular's aerodynamic front end is designed by Giugiaro.	Bodyshells under construction at Fiat's Savigliano factory.
The ergonomic cab features a 'wrap-around' driver's instrument display.	Luggage racks are provided at each carriage end.	A view showing the video screens which transmit in-journey information and entertainment.
Bogies are interchangeable between motor and trailer vehicles.	An integral fold-out lift can help passengers with access to wheelchair spaces.

Lyon-Turin Base Route
Passenger and freight traffic will use the new base tunnel to reach Italy via a new direct route.	Tunnel boring for the 53.1km base tunnel will take five-and-a-half years, with 17 machines working from different points.	Locomotives from both Italy and France will use the route when it opens at the end of the next decade.
The construction plan of the tunnel with access points marked.	‘Railway motorway’ rail vehicles transporting lorries are expected to account for up to 10 million tonnes of freight traffic on the new route.

Mokpo High-Speed Railway
A second line is being added to the Korea Train Express network.	The first section of the route will share tracks with the Seoul-Busan high-speed services.	A total of 230km of new railway will be built to reach the port city of Mokpo.
A new high-speed train – the HSL-350X – is being developed in Korea to run alongside the Alstom built TGV style units on the Seoul-Busan line.

N700 Shinkansen
The N700 is the latest development in Japanese high-speed trains.	The front of the N700 has been designed using airplane technology to produce a dynamic and highly aerodynamic nose.	The N700 is based on the earlier 700 series trains. The main differences are the nose design, bogie skirts and lighting position.
Older ‘Bullet Trains’ are where the grass roots of the N700 lie.

Nuremberg-Munich High-Speed Line
Before revenue services began, Siemens OBB 1216.050 set a locomotive world speed record on the Munich-Ingolstadt NBS (seen on Netherlands HSL Zuid).	As near the two intermediate stations, the NBS is bundled with the A9 autobahn to constrain environmental impact – Allersberg (Rothsee).	Germany's fastest regional train is the Class 101-powered 200km/h Nuremburg-Munich service.
To encourage commuter use, RB and RE services provide an hourly service between Nuremburg and Allersberg's park & ride station.	Slab track helps reduce noise levels on most of the NBS section.	Traffic levels increase south of Ingolstadt (pictured) on the ABS section towards Munich.
Greater journey time reductions between Munich and Berlin will follow when VDE projects north of Nuremburg are completed.

Oslo Airport (Gardermoen) Rail Link
Norway's busiest station, Oslo Sentralstasjon, is the city terminus for Flytoget non-stop services from Gardermoen Airport.	Single and two three (to be increased to four) car formations of dedicated BM71 stock operate Flytoget services.	Ten minutes slower and less expensive, NSB services like this one from Oslo to Lillehammer provide competition with Flytoget for Gardermoen business.
Alternate Flytoget services call at the junction and interchange station at Lillestrøm.	The Oslo S-Lillestrøm section is Norway's busiest main line, handling suburban, regional and intercity traffic as well as Flytoget.	Flytoget's BM71 (right) and NSB's initially troublesome four-car tilt-equipped BM73 EMUs (left) were both built by Adtranz Strømmen.
Alternate services proceed west from Oslo S to serve the city centre with limited stops to current western Flytoget terminus at Asker.	For onward travel in the city, tram services and the central bus station are immediately outside Oslo S, plus an adjoining T-bane (metro) station.

Perpignan-Figueres
The new route will diverge from an existing line west from Perpignan station.	The slower classic route via Cerbère-Portbou with its change of gauge is bypassed by the new Perpignan-Figueres 1,435mm line.	AVE stock seems unlikely to connect with the new infrastructure through the Pyrenees until at least 2012.
Motive power for freight as far south as Figueres is likely to provided mainly by SNCF.	As the French LGV is years from completion west of Montpellier, Perpignan-Figueres will initially be an isolated high-speed operation.

Queensland High-Speed Line
The Queensland Rail map.	The streamlined new trains are the leaders in a new era in Australian rail travel.	Two six-car tilting trains are being supplied by a consortium led by Evans Deakin Industries.
With a speed of 170km/h and a gauge of 1,067mm, Queensland Rail claims the trainsets to be the fastest narrow-gauge trains in the world.	The spacious, air-conditioned coaches have video screens at each seat, with individual audio control panels, which offer passengers a range of entertainment.	Queensland Rail's new tilting trains have cut seven hours off the journey time between Brisbane and Cairns.
QR has bought 50 new 2800 Class locomotives from Goninan.	The ABB Electric Intercity Express plies between Brisbane and Rockhampton (600km).

Rail Runner Albuquerque-New Mexico Express Rail
The Rail Runner at Belen Station.	Rail Runner at Waldo Canyon between Albuquerque and Santa Fe.	Rail Runner at Albuquerque NM.
The RailRunner in Valencia County crossing the Rio Grande.	The Rail Runner at Santa Fe Railyard.	Interiors of the Rail Runner.

Saudi Landbridge Project
The Saudi Landbridge Project will use new high-speed tracks to create the first rail link between the Red Sea and the Gulf.	The new rail lines created through the Saudi Landbridge Project will allow cargo freight to be imported from East Asian Countries to Saudi Arabia.	With the construction of the Jeddah–Riyadh rail link the time taken for passenger transport will be six hours, cutting the previous bus journey time nearly in half.

Shanghai-Hangzhou Maglev
Shanghai is home to the world's only commercial high-speed maglev line.	The Shanghai maglev has been used as the template for the Shanghai-Hangzhou intercity route.	The new route will be the fastest commercial maglev route in the world, with trains capable of 430km/h.
Maglev presents a modern face to passengers in Shanghai.

Shinkansen
The ultra-streamlined JR500-Series train running on the Shinkansen network.	JR Central's series 300 Nozomi, has a maximum operating speed of 270km/h and takes only two hours 30 minutes between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka.	The E2 train was operational on the Shinkansen network early in 1998.
A Maglev test train reached a speed of 550km/h. Maglev transport intends to achieve operating speeds of 500km/h.	The superconducting Maglev high-speed vehicles have been fitted with aerodynamic brake panels.	The JR West series 500 trainsets operating on the Shinkansen network have regained the high-speed train speed record.
The Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen general control centre.	The unusual cusp-nosed design was part of the 300X development project aimed at minimising noise.	Another of the 300X series trains with aerodynamic styling and a smooth, quiet body.

Speedrail
Speedrail map.	A computer montage of a Speedrail trainset at Sydney Central station.	An artist's impression of the Speedrail trainset at speed.
Nine trains, each comprising eight vehicles, will use their 320km/h capability on the new purpose-built sections of the route.	Alstom's involvement includes the design and construction of the trains.	French TGV Reseau technology was at the heart of the Speedrail project.

Stuttgart 21 Project
Presently a terminus, Stuttgart is a focal point in Germany's rail network.	Redeveloping the Stuttgart approaches will contribute to financing the Stuttgart 21 project.	This yard is part of the 100ha of railway land that will be put to other uses.
Turned through 90°, sub-surface main line platforms will parallel the current concourse orientation.	Carrying north-south S-Bahn services, a heavy rail tunnel already passes beneath the Hbf at this point.	Main line will run east-west beneath ground immediately north of the present concourse.
The distinctive stone terminus building will be integrated with the development.	With new lines and no reversals, most Stuttgart-routed services will markedly accelerate.	Stadtbahn light rail tracks and stations will need relocation and replacement.
Presently on an S-Bahn spur, Stuttgart's airport will gain a new station and join the ICE network.

Swiss Tilting Trains
The Tilting Train Network route.	SBB has committed itself to a long-term vision of rail travel in Switzerland, entailing major efficiency improvements over the system as operated in the final years of the 20th century. This includes half-hourly services in each direction on all significant routes.	This reduced-length early production Swiss Tilting Train unit is pictured on a test run.
Two locomotives including the latest Lok 2000 haul one of the new Tilting trainsets through Swiss countryside prior to testing.	Flow chart of the ICN electrification power system supply.	The ICN tilting train is the latest showpiece of Swiss railway technology.
The pantograph of an ICN unit, which collects the 15kV overhead current manufactured by Adtranz.	An ICN unit is towed past typical Swiss scenery while on delivery from Adtranz.	Close-up of the ICN train's bogie, fitted with the new tilting mechanism manufactured by Fiat-SIG.
Switzerland's new ICN tilting trains being built at one of the Adtranz assembly workshops.	The ICN is styled by Italian design house Pininfarina.	ICN sets frequently run as coupled pairs, as seen at St Gallen.
The Cisalpino consortium operates a different style of tilting train on international services.

Taiwan
The Taiwan High Speed route.	Schematic track laying features.	An artists impression of the plush interior of the new high-speed trains.
The trains will be controlled from the most modern and technologically advanced signalling centre.	The first new Taiwan high speed train, built by Kawasaki.	Pre-fabricated slab track has been employed throughout.
Japanese technology was chosen for the new trains.	Stations are built to withstand trains passing at 350km/h.	The sturdy overhead is capable of upgrading to 30kV AC.
The fleet of 30 trains is now undergoing rigorous testing before the likely 2007 opening date.	Trains will travel at 300km/h, cutting journey times from four hours to just 90 minutes.	The undulating nature of the trackbed is clear to see in this view.
Over 300km of the route is built on viaducts or in tunnels.

TGV
Originally orange liveried, a first-generation TGV set at Lyon, one end of the first LGV service opened in 1981.	Double-deck TGV Duplex sets were a way of putting more capacity onto the LGV infrastructure.	To cope with growing demand between Paris and Lyon, Duplex pairs are now used to provide over 1,000 seats per train.
Seen in 1996, the classic route south of Bordeaux towards the Spanish border may be joined by an LGV by 2020.	SNCF feeder services to LGV have benefited from stock renewal in recent years.	Gare de Saint-Exupéry TGV at Lyon Airport is one of several stations that has not enjoyed the same success as the network overall.
West of Lille, LGV Nord mainly handles Eurostar traffic for London via the Channel Tunnel.	Passing beneath runways to serve Charles de Gaulle Airport, Interconnexion Est now links three LGV around the eastern edge of Paris.	Opening Phase 1 in 2007, LGV Est attracted finance from neighbouring Luxembourg.
With TGV Duplex on order and with the eastern extension due for a 2015 completion, earlier doubts about the success of TGV Est have been banished.	By the time Paris-Nice (pictured) is LGV throughout, the AGV is likely to be a mainstream part of French high-speed operations.

TGV Rhine-Rhone
High speed trains will operate on the Eastern branch of the TGV Rhine-Rhone, including the TGV Duplex units.	TGV Rhine-Rhone will enable massive reductions in journey times between major European cities in Germany, France, and Spain.	In total, 160 bridges and 12 viaducts will be built on the 140km alignment of TGV Rhine-Rhone.
Around 40% of the new route will be in forests. Areas of population will get noise reduction barriers.	The eastern branch is the first of three lines that make up TGV Rhine-Rhone.

TGV South Korea
The trainsets are powered by 25kV 60Hz AC current, supplying 12 three-phase asynchronous traction motors.	The body of a South Korean TGV power unit.	A South Korean TGV trainset under construction.
The aerodynamic nose of a South Korean TGV.	The second class interior of the South Korean TGV.	A brand new South Korean TGV.
First class passengers enjoy luxurious and comfortable surroundings.	Delivery of the first 12 trainsets took place in March of 1998.

Thalys
Brussels Midi is the focal point of Thalys operations, with frequent services to Amsterdam, Cologne and Paris.	The renewal of Brussels Midi and the previously run-down surrounding area has contributed to the high-quality image of the Thalys international service.	Thalys PBKA sets use TGV Duplex-style power cars and can carry 377 passengers.
Opened in 2007, the new low-level at the rebuilt Antwerpen Centraal will allow high-speed trains to serve the city centre.	Delays with HSL Zuid and fitting compatible signalling equipment means that Thalys sets will use the congested Dutch classic routes for longer than projected.	Thalys services to the eastern terminus of the service, Cologne (seen here), will be accelerated with completion of the high-speed line west of Aachen.

Tilting Trains
The Swiss ICN tilting train is allowing SBB to achieve its service targets.	Italian railway FS was the first to introduce a regular tilting train service.	Virgin will introduce its Pendolino in June 2002.

Tren Urbano
Original models of the planned Tren Urbano rolling stock.	The first of the new trains began testing in December 1999.	Tracklaying in progress opposite the maintenance depot at Las Lomas.
Part of the test track under construction.	Building work underway at Martinez Nadal station, close to the site of the main maintenance depot.	An artist's impression of one of Tren Urbano's elevated sections.
Information, control and signalling systems will be integrated in a system installed by Matra Transportation International.

West Coast Main Line
The new West Coast Pendolino under construction.	Track laying at Proof House, Birmingham.	The sophisticated controls of the Pendolino trainsets.
The Pendolino's aircraft-style features include onboard video.	Each train has a shop rather than a traditional buffet, selling food and drink, magazines, CDs and headphones.	The upgrading of old signalling equipment is a central feature of the West Coast modernisation programme.
The new Proof House railway.	An artist's impression of the West Coast Main Line in 2003.

X2000
Each X2000 formation consists of two 4400hp power cars, powered at 15kV ac. Each unit can be made up of up to 16 intermediate vehicles with a maximum capacity of 1,600 passengers, but a typical train will only have five intermediate trailers.	Sweden's X2000 fleet of tilting trains has been a major catalyst for the renewed interest in this type of technology.	An X2000 tilting train pulls into station.
The new rolling stock will replace loco-hauled passenger trains within a few years.	An X2000 train alongside a light rail Variotram at Gothenburg.	Active passenger car tilting technology.
The front ends of X2000 trains are painted with a large area of white for high visibilty.	The X2000 trains feature an aerodynamic bullet nose.	The tilting operation of an X2000 in sequence.

Zhengzhou-Xian High-Speed Railway
The Zhengzhou–Xi'an passenger dedicated line marked with red on the Xulan PDL from Xuzhou to Lanzhou.	The location of Zhengzhou in the Henan province of China.	Location of Xi'an within the Shaanxi province of China.

Browse Projects