Central Eastern European countries stress the need for modern rolling stock in their railways

A Seminar on the development of modern rolling stock and the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) technology, organized jointly by the UNECE-sponsored Trans-European Railway (TER) Project and Alstom Ferroviaria, and supported by the Union of European Professional Railway Engineers (UEEIV), was held on 23 June 2003 in Torino (Savigliano), Italy.

The Seminar, which was attended by representatives of Ministries of Transport and railway companies from 10 TER member countries, came to the following conclusions:

• The upgrading of the railway infrastructure in Central and Eastern European countries in order to ensure the running of modern rolling stock is underway.
  
• For this purpose, financial resources are being made available from public funds or international financial assistance.
  
• However, while necessary, upgraded networks are not sufficient for ensuring railway efficiency and high quality services.
  
• The introduction of new rolling stock should accompany the process of modernization of infrastructure in order to ensure the overall efficiency of the railway operators.
  
• Financial assistance is also needed in order to replace the old rolling stock.

The participants received information on: Tilting Trains – Pendolino, Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) and Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU), European Rail Traffic Management System – European Train Control System (ERTMS-ETCS), consultancy in planning, and supply of such equipment. A visit to Alstom factory in Sangliano illustrated the successful development of the European Railway industry.

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Ref: ECE/TRANS/03/N04