News
Zürich, 20.10.2011
Visit to the Transrapid Test Line in Emsland (TVE)
Together with partner companies as well as representatives from politics and the press, the SwissRapide consortium visited the Transrapid Test Line in Germany (TVE). Also on board were five representatives from Turkey, who are evaluating a project to construct a high-speed Maglev line between Istanbul and Ankara. The guests from SwissRapide could ride in the newest maglev vehicle TR09 and were impressed how smoothly the maglev train levitated. The visit included two runs on the test line at speeds up to 320km/h, the inspection of the technical systems, the guideway and the point systems. Unfortunately, the future of the 30 year old test track is uncertain, since the German government is no longer willing to cover the operational costs of the test line and even considers a dismantling of the facility. Thus this may have been the last visit to the Transrapid Test Line.
See also the following NZZ article, which was released based on the SwissRapide visit.
Daejeon, Korea, 11.10.2011
SwissRapide AG at the Maglev 2011 International Conference
With over 200 delegates and experts from 5 continents around the world, Niklaus H. Koenig, President and CEO of SwissRapide AG, presented the status of the SwissRapide Express® Project as well as the unique PI2 financing model developed by SwissRapide AG together with its partner companies. With the set-back of the extension project in Shanghai, the SwissRapide Express® Project has now become one of the most advanced Maglev railway projects in the world. Project financing was one of the central themes at the 4-day conference in Korea, with several delegates from other Maglev projects worldwide showing considerable interest in the SwissRapide PI2 financing model. Also included in the conference programme was a visit to the Korean Urban Maglev system, currently under development by the Korean Institute of Machinery & Materials in co-operation with Hyundai Rotem.
Basel, 19.10.2010
The SwissRapide Express® at Global Energy Basel
SwissRapide AG has been chosen to make a unique presentation of the SwissRapide project to international banks and investors at the first ever Global Energy Basel “Sustainable Infrastructure Financing Summit” on 11th / 12th January 2011. SwissRapide was chosen both for its ground-breaking concept to bring Swiss cities together via ultra-fast connections thus creating “Switzerland, the Big City”, as well as for the focus on sustainable mobility throughout the life-cycle of the project. Other key sustainable infrastructure projects worldwide chosen to be presented include the California High Speed Rail project, Bangalore Metro and the Desertec project. Guest speakers to the summit include Michael Bloomberg, Mayor of New York; David Miller, Mayor of Toronto; John Jackman, Director, Macquarie Capital Advisors; Amitabh Kant, CEO & Managing Director, Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor Development Corporation and Christoph Frei, Secretary General, World Energy Council.
Zurich, 13.09.2010
New partners for the cost calculation
On Wednesday 18. August the kick-off workshop between representatives of STRABAG Switzerland, Züblin Stuttgart, and SwissRapide AG took place. The workshop was in order to discuss the collaboration on the detailed cost calculation for the construction of the SwissRapide route from Zurich to Berne. Project director and CEO Niklaus H. König: “This is a very important step for the SwissRapide project regarding the feasibility study and concerning the acquisition of the concession at the Swiss Federal office of Transport (BAV). We thank you our partners cordially for this cooperation and for the generous provision of experts for these duties.” In accordance with the agreement the detailed cost calculation should be completed by the end of this year.
Lausanne, 30.06.2010
SwissRapide Express® West
This month, SwissRapide AG, together with its partner companies Swiss Railway Engineering SRE GmbH and Farner Consulting AG, launched the SwissRapide West Maglev Project between Lausanne and Geneva. The aim of the project is to plan and construct a high-speed maglev line reducing travel time between Lausanne und Geneva from 35 minutes today to only 10 minutes. With departures every 5 minutes in dense traffic times, SwissRapide West also will provide at least 6 times more capacity than today, in order to satisfy the high demand between these two cities. The preliminary concept also foresees the extension of the line from the Geneva main train station to the international airport in the city. This project supplements the SwissRapide Central project between Berne and Zurich, for which the preliminary feasibility study, the financing model and business case as well as the business plan have been completed to date.
Zürich, 17.03.2010
ThyssenKrupp and Max Bögl join SwissRapide
On 17th March 2010, ThyssenKrupp Transrapid and Max Bögl have joined the project as partner companies.
Zürich, 17.12.2009
Presentation of SwissRapide project to Swiss Federal Office
On 17th December 2009, the SwissRapide project was presented to the Swiss Federal Office of Transport (BAV). Discussions were held concerning the future co-operation between the federal government and SwissRapide.
Zürich, 07.12.2009
SwissRapide AG becomes a member of Swiss Cleantech Association
On 7th December 2009, SwissRapide AG became founding member of the Swiss Cleantech Association. Swiss Cleantech President Nick Beglinger and SwissRapide AG President & CEO, Niklaus H. König, agreed on a continuing close co-operation between the two organisations
Zürich, 06.10.2009
Farner Consulting supports project
Farner Consulting is supporting the SwissRapide project in the areas of communication, public relations and marketing, as of 6th October 2009.
Winterthur, 19.06.2009
SwissRapide "Going Public"
After three years of intensive project work, the SwissRapide project held its first public media conference at the "Unjurierten" in Winterthur on Friday, 19 June 2009. At the same event, the sculpture "SwissRapide and The Big City" by Chris Pierre Labüsch was launched as part of the SwissRapide Sponsoring Platform.
Zurich, 02.06.2009
Award for SwissRapide
IDEE-SUISSE honoured the SwissRapide Project with the Swiss "Innovation of the Month" award. In addition, SwissRapide has been nominated for the "Golden Creativity Award 2010" by IDEE-SUISSE. Project Director Niklaus H. König: "We would like to thank IDEE-SUISSE for this excellent award and for the recognition of our innovative work in many areas of the project."
Lathen, 29.05.2009
Visit to the Transrapid Test Line in Emsland (TVE)
Representatives of the SwissRapide consortium and partner companies visited the Transrapid test line in Germany (TVE) and were the first public visitors to ride on the new TR09 maglev vehicles. The visit included two runs on the test line at speeds close to 400 km/h, a viewing of the guideway and point systems as well as strategic talks with representatives of IABG mbH, owner and operator of the TVE.
Zurich, 21.07.2008
SwissRapide Consortium, New Gold Member
IM Ingegneria Maggia SA became new Gold Member of the SwissRapide consortium. Thanks to Mauro Pellegrini, CEO of IM Ingegneria Maggia SA and President of Swiss Engineering STV, contact to the Project could be made. We welcome IM Ingegneria Maggia SA who bring a high level of competence and a broad range of experience to the project.