COMMERCIAL PRESSURES CHALLENGE THE ENGINEERS

This article examines some key trends that have influenced high-speed train development, since Japan introduced really fast intercity trains in 1964. France, Japan, Spain and Germany already operate some commercial services at at least 210kph. The UK and several other countries are preparing to run such trains. Rolling stock engineers are working hard to reconcile the conflicting demands of economics and the environment on high-speed train design. Commercial restructuring of railways has increased demands for lower running costs and higher productivity. A table gives comparative operating data for high-speed trains under construction or with orders announced at 31 August 1995. Most of the trains are for France, Germany, Italy and Japan; there are also three each for the UK and Sweden, two for Spain, and one each for Belgium, Finland, Norway, Russia and South Korea. Another table shows the main features of several recent high-speed train designs.