Excellent idea to practice for train accidents. More needs to be done in Canada. Yes these exercises are costly to put on but they do save lives.

At a time of development planning and uncertainty over the country's future economic direction, the rail system retains a centrality in Russia's security and economic position. Despite developments in transportation over the 20th century - the evolution of modern vehicles and airplanes, and the increasing access of the world's population to inexpensive car ownership and flight - sea and rail are still the most efficient ways to carry large quantities of goods over long distances. Passenger rail is also essential to economic growth - not just for travel and tourism, but also for mobility of the labor force, said officials and analysts at last month's Passenger Forum at RIA Novosti. For urban development in particular, integrated "intermodal" transportation systems are necessary to relieve Moscow's notorious congestion. "The main thing is access, quality and comfort of passenger services, toward which the developed transportation strategy project i

In case you have not seen it yet. Page 30 and 31 say it all. For twenty years I have told them their fares are too high. Finally they are starting to listen. Of course cutting routes ( frequency adjustments!)is a swell way to decrease ridership. http://www.viarail.ca/2012annualreport/docs/via-annual-report-2012.pdf

They are already a hundred years ahead of North America. Watch this pitch for even more high speed rail in Europe.

This study on the structure of major rail systems outside Europe analyzes rail structures in the US, Canada, Japan, Russia and China, which together account for 80% of global freight transportation by rail and 50% of passenger rail travel. The major railroads in these countries are all integrated systems: infrastructure operator and railway undertaking are combined in a single company. The study finds that these rail systems have significantly improved their traffic volumes, asset and personnel productivity and investments over the last ten years. Our analysis of international rail systems took place in the run-up to the Fourth European Railway Package. The study was trigged by the current debate about potential complete separation of infrastructure operators and rail transportation companies in Europe. http://www.rolandberger.com/media/pdf/Roland_Berger_Railways_Outside_Europe_20121015.pdf

Chinese firm involved in two mega projects

High speed rail spread around the globe from the 1960s when the first bullet trains took off in Japan. Rear Vision looks at why previous attempts to introduce high speed rail in Australia have failed. Japan opened the world's first high-speed rail line - between Tokyo and Osaka - in time for the 1964 Olympics. Japan’s ‘Bullet Train’ was the first to run on a dedicated line – a high speed service for passengers only. Over the last 30 years, millions of dollars have been spent in Australia on studies and proposals but is a fast train service on the east coast any closer? LISTEN HERE TO BROADCAST