5120 x 3407 px | 43,3 x 28,8 cm | 17,1 x 11,4 inches | 300dpi
Data acquisizione:
11 maggio 2004
Ubicazione:
Kent, England, UK.
Altre informazioni:
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Rail automation is a key factor for the efficient operation of modern rail transportion as a whole because, without high technology solutions for the supervision and control of rail network, railways would be forced to run at a slower and more inefficient pace. High-tech systems for operations management on lines are essential if requirements for safety, speed and capacity are to be met. The Eurostar is Europe's first international train. Taking advantage of the Channel Tunnel, it provides a high-speed rail service between the UK and destinations in Continental Europe. It began service in 1994 and is operated by a consortium comprising French Railways (SNCF), Belgian Railways (SNCB) and Eurostar UK Ltd. Eurostar is the world’s longest passenger train, comprising 20 cars and is around 400m long (quarter of a mile) but unlike a conventional TGV, it’s designed to be able to be broken in the middle for safety reasons when within the Channel Tunnel. Eurostar’s train length is to do with passenger capacity. Because of height constraints in the Channel Tunnel, it cannot grow upwards (like double-decker trains) but only in length. Eurostar shares many French TGV features but its technology is equally shared between French and British manufacturers. Eurostar’s distinctive nose was designed specially for operation in the Channel Tunnel where aerodynamic considerations are vital and it has to operate in the UK, Belgium and France under seven different signalling systems and several different power supplies. All in all, Eurostar is exceedingly complex train and each one costs around 24 million GBP.
