Freight train to link Berlin and Moscow
 

A new freight train linking Berlin and Moscow via Minsk and Warsaw is scheduled to begin operations by the end of the year. Polish rail infrastructure is almost ready. CEOs of DB - Hartmut Mehdorn, RZD- Vladimir Yakunin and PKP - Andrzej Wach met in Sankt Petersburg and signed an agreement on the project.

CEOs also agreed that it is necessary to create a special working group to analyse all the potential obstacles and propose solutions to shorten the time of travel. What is most important is to eliminate customs and border crossing problems. There are also some technical difficulties with changing gauge between Poland and Bielarus in Brześć -Terespol crossing. The German network is supported by a different than Polish power system. The first meeting of the working group is scheduled for 20th September in Warsaw.

CEO of PKP Andrzej Wach says, that it is possible to run a testing train in November. Eliminating all the key obstacles will allow launching a regular connection.

Polish network is also almost ready for the train. E 20 line from German border in Kunowice to Belarus in Terespol, which is a part of Moscow - Minsk - Warsaw - Berlin corridor is already modernised between Kunowice and Siedlce. Works on the last section - between Siedlce and Terespol are in progress. Modernizations are scheduled to finish in 2008.

Well, break of gauge is still the most hampering point against establishing a concrete transcontinental freight service. Australia eventually solved this by conversion to standard gauge. This will never be feasible in Russia. It seems absurd, but the solution is building 5' gauge links in Central Europe! As a matter of fact there is the 250 mile polish line from Novovolynsk in Ukraine to Katowice, or close by, being extended to Bohumin on the Czech border. And there is the 5' gauge marshalling yard in the Port of Sassnitz for the Ferry from Klaipeda in Lithuania, and others (check the rinbad free-on line website).
I believe an extension from Katowice to Gorlitz in Germany must eventually be taken into consideration (5' gauge non-electrified allowing double-stack containers as in the USA). Time will tell if this prediction will materialise.
Bye for now - Dario.

Well the Finns manage to run doublestacked containers under wires so there should be no problems in Europe. More likely are single level containers on flat wagons with changeable gauge wheelsets, which are being trialed. They do work but more testing is necessary to see long term reliability and costs.

Well, the spanish S-120 EMU by CAF with changeable gauge is entering service now, after decades of similar devices on Talgo trains and on Transfesa refrigerator cars. This experience will hopefully extend to freight, but the problem is still the saturation of break-of-gauge stations, with trains waiting their turn. On the other hand, building new 5' gauge lines allows thru-running across borders. It's interesting that a catenary can be set at 20' from ground to allow double-stack containers, or fully laden lorries (so is the Eurotunnel too), but this would only be possible in the flat polish territory. We'll see!