Monorail crash
 

I am surprised that no one has mentioned this http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/...pe/5370564.stm
Deadly crash on German monorail

That's terrible. :(

I remember seeing something about this system in an episode of 'Trainspotting'.

What I find unbelievable is that such a high-tech transportation system relies on human intervention to prevent trains from running when maintenance vehicles are on the track.

John.

What the TRANSRAPID is not: susteinable transportation.
There were analogous British projects 40 years ago, but common sense has shown their costs/benefits simply would not work.
The TRANSRAPID Shanghai airport link (less than 20 miles) is an exercise in stupidity.
The Japanese maglev remains just another expensive toy.
The common train has speed potential up to 515 km/h, in the same order of the maglev. So why bother? We have airplanes after all!
Let's hope the Germans will repeal the project, destroy that awful infrastructure supported (not suspended) on pylons, and restore the territory to woods.

You have made some very good points Dario.
I think that sometimes we are trying to make rail travel too much like air travel.
John.

But perhaps the rail companies think that by imitating the air travel companies they'll win back the market? No matter which way works best Branson will be happy!

Am I right in remembering reading somewhere that the German railways and the airlines are cooperating by running trains to specifically cut down on domestic flights?

You're right Trev. I think Lufthansa hired an ICE train because it was more economical for some journeys. I will have a search and see what details I can come up with.
John.

That's a great idea, it should be adopted over here. Cut pollution and force the government to sort out the railways a bit, what could be better?

Adam

We had this idea adopted in Italy by Alitalia, known as "surface flights" from Rome International airport to Naples and Florence, and viceversa, some years ago.
Alitalia then had financial troubles for various reasons, and the Alitalia trains were discontinued.
Another difficulty today would be the issue of a "railway operator"s licence.
In fact if Mr Branson would wish to extend operations in any Country in the European Continent, he could do it much easier than other enterprises.

a thought
 

Maybe 'regulatory encoragement' to those airlines that connect from provincial UK airports to overseas 'hubs' to operate dedicated - and branded - rail services. For example, plnning a trip to Jakarta, I discover that Emirates fly from several UK destinations to their Dubai hub that could be centralised on Gatwick. KLM or Air France could make better use of the tunnel link etc.

Just a thought over a glass of plonk or three.

I think this is what's known as 'joined up thinking'. Good idea Fruitgums.

Sorry about the delay in replying but this is what I came up with:-
The concept whereby the German national airline, Lufhansa and the German Railways, Deutsche Bahn (DB), co-operate is known as "AIRail". Originally a dedicated train in special livery was used but this was deemed too expensive so now normal service trains are used. "AIRail" operates between the main stations in Köln and Stuttgart and the airport station at Frankfurt. These services are operated by ICE high-speed trains and so the journey times by rail between these points is faster than using an equivalent air feeder service. The system enables airline passengers to actually check-in for their Worldwide flights at the railway stations in Köln and Stuttgart rather than wait until they get to Frankfurt Airport.
A similar system known as "Flyrail" operates between many railway stations in Switzerland and the airports at Zürich and Geneva but this does not offer a fast more enviromentally-friendly feeder service. It is simply a convenient way of checking-in at the railway station and then getting the railway company to carry your heavy luggage for you.:D