Afghanistan plans to join the Asian rail network

Good news: Afghanistan has developed a national rail plan based on the lines that are already being built and the international support that those lines have already received. The Asian Development Bank is financing most of the cost of a freight line from Hayratan, Uzbekistan to Mazar-i-Sherif in northern Afghanistan.

There are plans to extend this line to a line being built by Iran to the Afghan border near Herat. There might be a branch to Turkmenistan. Northern Afghanistan is relatively stable, so this line is realistic.

In addition, the Chinese may finance a line from Mazar-i-Sherif to Kabul that would continue on to Jalalabad and the border with Pakistan. This line would have to go through area where there is fighting which reduces the likelihood of its ever being built. However, if the Chinese provide grants )like for the line that is being built to Mazar-i-Sherif) construction might inject enough money into the local economy to create stability.

(This post was based on several articles from the Railway Gazette International.)

Future Express: A TV show that takes place on trains

Future Express is a series of documentaries that show on Link TV. Each show is made up of interviews on a train ride through a single country. Usually the filmaker Rob Hof, rides from one end of the country to the other.

Click the links to watch the shows that cover Asia:

Indonesia - Silent Anger

India - Path to My Dreams

Turkey - Rejected Love (I particularly like this one.)

Rob Hof has also done a 13 episode documentary about a train trip from Vietman to Turkey that I have not seen yet. If anyone has, I would love to hear what they think of it.

Solar and Water Conservation Together in One Station

Taiwan's Central News Agency reports that the new Nanke Station, Tainan is entirely powered by solar energy during the day. The sun also provides natural light inside the station.

TRA to open first solar powered railway station

It looks like the Taiwan Railways Administration (TRA) is letting the high-speed rail line concentrate on transporting cross-country passengers while the TRA shifts to transporting more people inside provinces. This is probably a good thing as public transportation in Taiwan has traditionally been inadequate in Taiwan. In addition to the new station, there is going to be free shuttle service to and from the nearby Southern Taiwan Science Park as well as a bicycle rental shop in the station area.

The station also saves water. The roof will be able to collect rainwater and store up to 210 cubic meters of water.

A Guide to Using the Shanghai Metro

Here is a guide to using the Shanghai Metro written by Ted and posted to the social networking site Multiply.

上海: Shanghai Metro

Vietnam's Future Rail Plans

There is money available from foreign donors for upgrading rail within Vietnam as this would help the economies of eastern Asia as a whole as improve the natural environment. Currently, both Korea and Japan have offered their own development plans. Korea is offering less money than Japan, but that money is grant money. Also, the money can be used for upgrades to conventional speeds or to high speed. The Japanese have been offering a lot more money, but the money is all loans and the Vietnamese would be required to buy Japanese made equipment. There is also at least 2 billion in potential aid from other sources to build a rail connection to Cambodia, some coming from Australian business groups. China may also be a source of aid money.