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Rail authorities aim for high capacity improvements to cut noise and emissions.
GERMANY – The country's rail authorities, which have been much criticised both before and followingthe Rastatt incident, appear to be moving on long awaited improvements to the network of tracks which will facilitate the ensure the possibility for the wider use of the standard European 740-metre long freight trains which currently only a reported 11% of German trains can access due to physical restrictions of various types.
Last year’s Rail Freight Masterplan from the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure, and developed with a host of the country’s industry partners, has some very ambitious objectives, amongst which is the promise to ensure a high capacity intermodal infrastructure is made available. This includes new, lengthened stretches of double track where necessary to accommodate the longer trains, together with relocated signals.
Realigning the tracks in this fashion has been estimated to cost around €400 million but the vision is to put Germany at the heart of a reinvigorated European rail network, both increasing the efficiency of transport services whilst assisting the country to meet ever more rigid pollution targets. Read more
Source: HANDY SHIPPING GUIDE
