High speed train to Kharkiv coming in June.

[Rags]

New train to cut four hours off ten hour trip between Kyiv and Kharkiv (only $9 one way). It may be expanded to Crimea and Lviv if sucessful. http://www.thepost.kiev.ua/main/11051/

[Dmitry]

... in response to High speed train to Kharkiv coming in Ju..., posted by Rags on May 11, 2002

One of our girls works for the Ukrainian Railway Department and she told us that they are using some very new materials while building this high speed railway. And for safety reasons trains between Kharkov and Kiev will not be running faster than 120 km per hour, at least for the next year or so. She told us many other things about this, and all in all, I would recommend not to use this new train for a while, let's see how it goes....
regards
Dmitry

[Jack]

... in response to There is some background information..., posted by Dmitry on May 12, 2002

This is good information to know Dmitry.

[wsbill]

... in response to There is some background information..., posted by Dmitry on May 12, 2002

There ain't no way they can they can upgrade the trackage that fast.  Maybe for June 2003.

Even American RR with modern equipment.  If they're going to take on a high speed train their going to re-grade some roadbed and crossings.  

Sounds like their just going to cut out a bunch of stops.

That is alot of rail they'll have to come up with in 1/4 to 1/2 mile lengths.  When after all they've been use to using rail in 30 feet or 10 meters in length.  (clicky-clack). Lord, I hope they don't plan on welding all those joints which essentially bolt together, then add heat for fusion - which might develop stress cracks, etc.

In America I think our seamless rail is in 1/2 lengths.  So this is a whole new new ball of wax for maintenance people.

They were like ants (alot of physical labor brick by brick hauling up a ladder) building the new station and got it completed in time, so will see.  Buildings one thing, tracks another.

One thing going for them, they've got plenty of Iron & steel in their inventory.

[Rags]

... in response to Re: I would agree on that., posted by wsbill on May 12, 2002

If I read the article correctly, they already have most of the rail in place for the Kharkiv route. It is suppose to be "seamless" rail which means that unless they have a mobile foundry it will have to be welded sections (instead of bolted).

I'm sure that if they are going to put out the cash for high speed trains that they will use the latest techniques to join their rails. After all, it may be new to Ukraine but Japan has had high speed trains (operating at more than three times the proposed speed of these) running for decades now.

Our Amtrac trains run on old (bolted) rails at the speed that they propose to run (120 kph/75 mph) without problems except when there is a washout or out of control freighter coming at them. With separate tracks and new roadbed I would think that they are probably more concerned about the engines and cars than the rails.

[wsbill]

... in response to Re: "New"  high speed trains., posted by Rags on May 12, 2002

Have weld rail. Only in the rail yards and switch points will you find bolted track.

I've never been outside of Kiev to look at the mainline road beds of Ukraine RR.

But I have seen a couple of videos on Ukraine steam railroads where they aren't go faster than 50 mph on the run by's (for photos).  The track work didn't look to fancy.

I'd be very concerned if they're going to be bumping up those throttles...

You guys do know, I'm just 3 miles away from Cayce, Ky.  Boyhood home of John Luther Jones.... aka Casey Jones.

(The Illinois Central RR whom he worked for didn't know the correct spelling for his home town.)

[wsbill]

... in response to Re: I would agree on that., posted by wsbill on May 12, 2002

That is true... Their engines have "spoke wagon type wheels".  I thought that was the dang'est thing, I'd ever seen.

You've no doubt seen their engines that looks like a pumpkin on wheels with american automobile headlights, as well as the newer green boxy version.