hkskyline
July 7th, 2005, 02:50 AM
EU head office to spend EUR5 billion on single Europe-wide rail system
4 July 2005
BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) - The European Union head office said Monday it wants to spend euro5 billion (US$6 billion) to upgrade European railway networks, setting up a single rail signaling system on transnational rail routes to improve service.
EU spokesman Stefaan De Rynck said national rail networks still posed technical problems to creating a seamless rail system across the continent.
"Currently we have more than 20 different signaling systems in Europe, speed control systems that operate on trains," said De Rynck.
He said the European Commission was willing to help pay for 50 percent of the investment cost to set up the so-called European Rail Traffic Management System, which will lay out a single network so trains can cross borders without having to switch locomotives.
De Rynck said the Commission was looking to invest euro500 million (US$604 million) a year over 10 years -- totaling euro5 billion (US$6 billion) -- to upgrade some 20,000 kilometers (12,400 miles) of rail track. He said some of that money would have to come from the railway sector.
The Commission hopes to get its share of the funding from the EU's 2007-2013 budget, but negotiations over the new budget collapsed at an EU leaders summit last month.
The Commission has said using one signal system will provide more effective and speedier rail transport for cargo and passenger services and will reduce maintenance costs. It said however substantial investment was needed to get as many EU countries to make the switch as soon as possible to make the new network feasible.
The new signals system would also benefit from the EU's global satellite navigation system, Galileo, which is to be launched later this year. Trains equipped with new signaling software will be able to use the navigation system to determine their speed and location.
New lines are set to open first in Spain, Italy, Germany and the Netherlands later this year. Between 2007 and 2008 other projects in France, Britain and Greece are expected to come on line.
4 July 2005
BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) - The European Union head office said Monday it wants to spend euro5 billion (US$6 billion) to upgrade European railway networks, setting up a single rail signaling system on transnational rail routes to improve service.
EU spokesman Stefaan De Rynck said national rail networks still posed technical problems to creating a seamless rail system across the continent.
"Currently we have more than 20 different signaling systems in Europe, speed control systems that operate on trains," said De Rynck.
He said the European Commission was willing to help pay for 50 percent of the investment cost to set up the so-called European Rail Traffic Management System, which will lay out a single network so trains can cross borders without having to switch locomotives.
De Rynck said the Commission was looking to invest euro500 million (US$604 million) a year over 10 years -- totaling euro5 billion (US$6 billion) -- to upgrade some 20,000 kilometers (12,400 miles) of rail track. He said some of that money would have to come from the railway sector.
The Commission hopes to get its share of the funding from the EU's 2007-2013 budget, but negotiations over the new budget collapsed at an EU leaders summit last month.
The Commission has said using one signal system will provide more effective and speedier rail transport for cargo and passenger services and will reduce maintenance costs. It said however substantial investment was needed to get as many EU countries to make the switch as soon as possible to make the new network feasible.
The new signals system would also benefit from the EU's global satellite navigation system, Galileo, which is to be launched later this year. Trains equipped with new signaling software will be able to use the navigation system to determine their speed and location.
New lines are set to open first in Spain, Italy, Germany and the Netherlands later this year. Between 2007 and 2008 other projects in France, Britain and Greece are expected to come on line.