CONTENTS Foreword by Ph. Roumeguere xxvii Preface xxix 1. Railwaya and Transport 1 2. High Speeds and Magnetic Levitation 24 3. Policy and Legislation35 4. Forecast of Rail Demand 55 5. Costs and Tarification 75 6. Planning and Management of Railways 100 7. The Track System 133 8. Mechanical Behaviour of Track 151 9. Subgrade - Geotechnical and Hydrogeological Analysis 175 10. The Rail 202 11. Sleepers - Fastenings 233 12. Ballast 256 13. Transverse Effects - Derailment 276 14. Track Layout 289 15. Switches and Crossings 309 16. Laying and Maintenance of Track 322 17. Slab Track 341 18. Train Dynamics 350 19. Rolling Stock 370 20. Diesel and Electric Traction 382 21. Signaling - Safety - Interoperability 406 22. Environmental Effects of Railways 426 List of References 433 Abbreviations 455 Index 456