permits the test duration to be cut by even five times, and clears the way for carrying out life expectancy tests of five different product modifications. In this case, such a benefit also results in cost saving when implementing developmental and control tests. VÚKV — The railway vehicle research institute offers not only design work and technical calculations, but also expert consulting and testing of dedicated components. Recent activities include supporting the development of trams for Istanbul and Kayseri, fatigue tests of bogie frames and testing of the Rgns freight wagon. VUZ (Railway Research Institute) offers expert services and comprehensive solutions in the field of assessment, testing activities, and consulting for the railway system and rail transport.
ACRI represents the Czech rail manufacturing industry. The Association gathers over 50 of the Czech Republic’s leading large and SME rail supply companies active in the design, manufacture, maintenance, and refurbishment of rail transport systems, subsystems and related equipment. ACRI represents its members’ interests at the national level and via membership of UNIFE also at a European level. ACRI is a unique Centre of Technical Standardisation acting in the railway sector, involved in European technical standards transfer to the Czech national standards system.
PROSPECTS FOR THE CZECH RAILWAY INDUSTRY
MARIE ALŽBĚTA VOPÁLENSKÁ General Director ACRI – Association of Czech Railway Industry E-mail: vopalenska@acri.cz www.acri.cz
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The Czech railway industry has tremendous potential. Investment in this sector will have a multiple effect on domestic economic development. Specifically, it will have a favourable impact on employment, will improve the quality of transport services and lead to a higher
culture of travel, while also raising the export performance of enterprises. In general, Czech railways will require considerable investment in the next few years to attain the desired standards. In particular, this means investment in the development of the railway infrastructure, in addition to the completion of the railway corridors and the modernisation of key railway junctions. Nor must we forget about regional railway lines. To be competitive, we must fit the main corridors with the ERTMS/ ETCS European train control system, modernise freight corridors passing through the Czech Republic, harmonise the costs of all types of transport, invest in the modernisation and purchase of new carriages and, last but not least, start preparations for the construction of high-speed lines that will make the conventional lines available for freight transport.
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2018
