My New Job (Was: Social Thurs 8 Jan 2009)

[Abigail]

On Fri, Jan 30, 2009 at 02:36:44PM +0100, Robin Berjon wrote:
> On Jan 30, 2009, at 14:26 , Nicholas Clark wrote:
>> On Fri, Jan 30, 2009 at 11:39:07AM +0100, Abigail wrote:
>>> Over here, the goverment only wants to best and newest. So everything
>>> is delayed and over budget. However, the tracks have been ready for  
>>> quite
>>> a while. Even the signalling is installed. The newest and greatest  
>>> signalling.
>>> Decised upon late in the project ("Oh, there's a *new* standard!  
>>> Shiny!
>>> We got to have it!"). But it got there. Except they never bother to  
>>> tell
>>> the train manufacturer they switched signalling systems.
>>>
>>> So we now have shiny new tracks. With a top notch signalling system.
>>> And no trains that can work with it.
>>
>> Whereas the Channel Tunnel Rail Link* is a TGV line.
>> It's the French system. Known to work. (A most pragmatic and  
>> diplomatically
>> expedient solution)
>
> The Brussels-Amsterdam line is also a TGV line, it's supposed to be the 
> continuation of the Paris-Brussels line (1h25). Except they decided to 
> upgrade it...


It's a TGV line in the sense TGV trains run over the tracks. But it's
basically tracks build in the late 19/early 20 century (except the 
part Leiden-Schiphol-Amsterdam which dates from the 1970s) that carry
regular trains as well. The TGV trains (Thalys) are restricted to the
same speed normal trains are limited to (120/140 km).



Abigail