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What will the European high-speed rail network look like in 2020?
Including both new and upgraded lines, it's going to be nearly twice the size it is now. But it's not just the size of the network that matters, it's the sort of connections it makes.
If you look back to the first high-speed rail projects, the focus was on improvements to national rail networks. These were essentially ‘islands' of high-speed travel that stopped at national boundaries.
The emphasis now is increasingly placed on joining these national ‘islands' together to create a truly international high-speed rail network for Europe. This will provide seamless cross-border travel in the same way that airlines do now.
The next milestone will be the liberalisation of international rail passenger services in 2010. Opening up the market will attract new players and incumbent national operators will have to adapt quickly. Some of the new passenger rail operators might well be owned by airlines and we could see the emergence of low-cost rail carriers.


What are the main challenges for the high-speed rail sector?
Safety is the primary obligation of all railway operators and will always remain so. Traditional signalling systems provided safety and security for passengers, but that was all. Modern signalling adds value. It includes train control and it includes traffic management. The European Train Control System (ETCS) is the standard for Europe. It allows interoperability; the ability for trains to travel anywhere using standardised cab signalling. It also makes exploitation of the infrastructure more efficient.Revenue management is another important area of opportunity. Thales provides the technological tools to make this happen, as it has done with the Revenue Management System created for Eurostar. As new rail operators emerge, the demand for solutions of this sort will increase. Adapting high-speed rolling stock to the needs of European travellers is another challenge. This means that the ROSCOs - rolling stock leasing companies - will play an increasingly important role in the value chain.
And then there is the environmental dimension. We should not ignore the fact that rail is the most energy efficient mode of transport. Making rail user-friendly will enhance its appeal. Technology is a big part of this. ETCS allows seamless operations across borders; revenue management transforms booking. Thales is a leader in both these fields.