In line with world globalisation tendencies, it is estimated that 4.5 billion people will live in cities by 2020, which means 60% of the world’s population. This will further accentuate the urban transport demand in these areas as they become dependent on intelligent transport networks for facilitating journeys and the transport of goods and services in the mega-cities that will develop in the future.
Who wouldn’t want to get rid of gasoline and diesel fuel? Especially since prices are soaring and the future is obscure. Experts estimate that the oil and gas reserves will be consumed in half a century. However, if we are to compare the acquisition of an electric vehicles on batteries and a train or other electric public transport modes, on the long-term, the train or the electric public transport mode will count its pluses. Why? It’s quite simple: it’s true that, although the electric vehicle is less expensive than an electric train, on the long-term, the train will definitely win in terms of cost amortization or its life-expectancy, which is an average 20-25 years for trains, as well as as regards maintenance costs.
As regards the transport capacity, it is no longer necessary to say that the train wins again, as it is capable to carry several hundreds passengers, while the electric vehicle only five.
Less pollution and noxious gas are a plus for both means of transport, in case the train also runs on electrified infrastructure, but the resolution of the problem concerning the reduction of urban congestion cannot be assigned to the vehicle, be it even electric, while the train or the electrified urban public transport, is the best solution for easing the traffic choked by road transport.
In long-distance transport, the electric train has a new plus compared to the electric vehicle, the latter not being capable to ever compete with high-speed trains, for example.
As of 2008, 52% of the total European mainline network was electrified with the top-five economies namely France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK holding 53.3% of all electrified lines. These nations have been the primary targets for rail electrification projects in Europe and they still possess large opportunities for further electrification. With over 90% of electrified mainline lines, Switzerland, Sweden and Belgium are the most saturated markets.
According to estimates, Western Europe is expected to remain the most active region for further mainline electrification projects with projected growth of over 4% until 2015. Great Britain has initiated an electrification program for the main network worth GBP 1.1 Billion in the period 2009-2017. The majority of projects will be carried out from 2015 to 2020, with over 4,000 km due for electrification.
Currently, about 2,570 kilometres of high-speed lines are under construction and another 7,000 kilometres are under planning. Most of these sections require upgrading or renewal of current electrified infrastructure to high speed standards and the rest requires completely new electrified infrastructure. The leader in this sector is Spain who plans the construction of 8,400 km of railways until 2020. Funds of EUR 108 Billion have been allocated for this project in the period 2005-2020.
France, Germany, Italy and Portugal are the other West European countries investing heavily in high speed infrastructure that is to drive the electrification market.
East European countries such as Turkey, Poland, Bulgaria, Romania and Hungary have also stipulated plans of building a total of 1,600 kilometres of high speed lines in this region which will require installation of new electrification infrastructure.
Share on:
