INTERVIEW 17
Developing the Thai railway system with the support of German expertise Dipl.-Ing. Axel Schuppe Germany is considered a pioneer in rail development with its advanced rail technology, and Thailand has benefited from the expertise of the German rail industry for decades. This interview features Dipl.-Ing. Axel Schuppe, General Manager of the German Railway Industry Association (VDB) discussing the railway development in Germany with regard to zero-emission transport and digitalization, and how this development can also be driven forward in Thailand. He also explains how, with the help of VDB, these developments can be supported both in Germany and in Thailand.
What are the major transitions and challenges in railway technology up the 21st century? I think that the biggest challenge is global warming and climate change. As a provider of railway technology and railway transport solutions, we don’t want to be part of the problem. However, we are and we want to be a part of the solution and contribute to the fight against global warming by making transport greener and emission-free. What are the key differences between the German and Thai railway systems in your opinion?
melting pot with – I assume - huge transportation issues. So, there are other challenges.
There are three main areas I would like to discuss – passenger transportation in urban areas, passenger transportation on long distance main lines and freight transportation by rail. If you look at the mass transport situation, I think Germany does not have huge urban areas like Bangkok with its population of more than 15 million inhabitants. In Germany, the biggest city is Berlin with almost 4 million inhabitants. You may compare Bangkok with the whole State of North Rhine-Westphalia with 12 million inhabitants, but Bangkok is a large
Regarding the main lines, Europe and Germany have larger networks, while Thailand's network may have opportunities to be expanded. Thailand’s focus should be on the mainline rail routes within South-East Asian countries to connect the major urban
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