Russian Railways

Plans to give Russian Railways a fleet of modern diesel and electric locomotives are being implemented as part of a two-phase network expansion strategy.

In July 2008 the Russian government approved The Strategy for Railway Development in the Russian Federation to 2030. Drawn up by Russian Railways, this important document sets out the details of a policy to modernize the 86,660 km national network and renew the agеing motive power fleet. The programme is in two phases, the first of which runs to 2015. Emphasis in the first phase is firmly on the replacement of out-of-date rolling stock, while the second, which runs from 2016 to 2030, is geared mainly towards expansion of the network, with as much as 20,700 km of new line proposed for construction. Phase 2 also envisages completion of the rolling stock renewal process.

Although Russian Railways (RZD) has been affected by the global financial downturn since the plan was approved, leading to an 11 % reduction in the volume of freight transported, this is not expected to impact on long-term development. According to the President of Russian Railways the primary objective for every manager across the company would be to reduce operational expenditure and attract business – notably freight – to the railway. But it should be noted that the 2030 strategic plan would not be changed, although there might have to be some adjustments to the investment schedule. While the strategy defines broad policy for the next 21 years, technical development was outlined in a white paper published in 2007. This specifies the requirements of future information and operational control systems as well as the development and manufacture of advanced motive power using asynchronous traction motors. The white paper forms the basis for a programme of innovations that will permit Russian Railways to catch up with technical advances in other countries.

Stage 1 of the programme is designed to raise the performance and productivity of locomotives now in service and to develop and test prototypes designed during the «transition period». Stage 2 envisages expansion of motive power manufacturing capacity, with extensive modernization of production facilities. Stage 2 should also see the start of series production of locomotive designs developed during the transition period, while prototypes for the future generation of motive power with asynchronous motors will be built and tested.

Chinese Railways

Having mastered heavy haul and high speed technology, China is planning to develop its national rail network at an astonishing pace over the next decade. In the intervening 16 years technology transfer agreements with Japanese and European companies have given China’s railway supply industry the know-how to build rolling stock ranging from 350 km/h EMUs to heavy haul locomotives with a continuous power rating approaching 10,000 kW. Matching advances have been made in track and signaling technology, again with the help of western expertise. Chinese Railways the rail mode to further strengthen China’s economy. «Railways offer high capacity at low cost, and they are the material and technical foundation for growth» handled 3.3 billion tones of freight and carried 1,46 billion passengers in 2008. under the long-term plan the network would extend to 120,000 route-km by 2020 and that 50% of this would be double track with 60 % electrifies 12.000 route-km in western China that will double the size of the present network there. The completion of these railways will not only provide reliable transport for the provinces of western China, but it will also promote the flow of people and materials between the west and the east and central regions, turning China’s western resources to economic advantage.

In parallel with the new construction projects, modernization and upgrading of the existing network will continue as 25.000 route-km is electrified and 19.000 route-km double-tracked. To ensure that congestion does not build up at key nodes, numerous stations and yards across the network will be remodelled. Given the use of modern technologies such as ballastless track on the PDLs, together with the frantic pace of new construction, the need for specialist maintenance techniques and equipment is considerable. For this reason CR is setting up four large infrastructure maintenance bases at Beijing, Shanghai, Wuhan and Guangzhou which will be completed by 2013.

CR has made rapid progress in adopting modern communications technology. A derivative of the European Train Control System known as CTCS is being installed with a form of cab signaling on the PDLs, and GSM-R is gradually replacing earlier radio systems. Zheng informed delegates that coverage would extend to 16.700 km of double-track routes by 2012. CTC is also being applied across the network, mainly on PDLs and other inter-city routes, as well as on the coal corridors. The total route length with CTC will reach 18,820 km by 2012.