railway and tourism

• Scholarly Community Encyclopedia
• Log in/Sign up

Video Upload Options

• MDPI and ACS Style
• Chicago Style

From the second half of the 20th century, numerous railways, especially in industrial and mining areas, were abandoned for economic reasons. The activism of the “railfans”, who are fond of trains, has made it possible to set up voluntary associations that have been the lifeblood of the beginning of projects for the recovery of the historic railway heritage and the promotion of it in a touristic sense. The railway tourism process always originates from a project for the restoration of railway heritage, possibly maintaining authenticity. The voluntary associations, along with their “railfans”, are the main stakeholder, not only preserving the rail heritage but also developing railway tourism activities. The touristic railway could regenerate the local community, with positive benefits on the local economy. Many tourists could be attracted by railway tourism destinations in that they wish to live memorable experiences related to the nostalgia of the past. 

1. Introduction

• R.S.1 What are the main dynamics in the recovery and management of railway heritage?
• R.S.2 What are the main trends in rail tourism?
• R.S.3 What are the main relationships between sustainability and rail tourism?

2. Railway and Tourism: Answers to the Three Questions

3. conclusions.

• Murphy, K.K.; Waxman, B. Orient express. Mark. Health Serv. 2007, 27, 10.
• Browne, J.R. Along the Old Ghan Line: A Guide to Discovering the Old Ghan Railway; Jeremy R Browne: Adelaide, Australia, 2020; pp. 1–283.
• Gross, S.; Klemmer, L. Rail in Introduction to Tourism Transport; CABI: Wallingford, UK, 2014; pp. 105–129.
• Casson, M. World’s First Railway System: Enterprise, Competition, and Regulation on the Railway Network in Victorian Britain; Oxford University Press: Oxford, UK, 2009.
• Dickinson, J.E.; Lumsdon, L. Slow Travel and Tourism, 1st ed.; Routledge: London, UK, 2010; pp. 1–232.
• UIC (International Union of railways). Guidelines on How to Increase Attractiveness for Rail Tourism 2020. Available online: https://toprail.org/IMG/pdf/20200331_guidelines_on_how_to_increase_attractiveness_for_rail_tourism.pdf (accessed on 29 August 2021).
• Reinius, S.W. A ticket to national parks? Tourism, railways, and the establishment of national parks in Sweden. In Tourism and National Parks: International Perspectives on Development, Histories and Change; Routledge: London, UK, 2012; pp. 184–196.
• Cinelli, I.; Anfuso, G.; Privitera, S.; Pranzini, E. An Overview on Railway Impacts on Coastal Environment and Beach Tourism in Sicily (Italy). Sustainability 2021, 13, 7068.
• Princz-Jakovics, T.; Vasvári, G. Tourism focused analysis of narrow-gauge railways in Hungary. Deturope 2019, 11, 80–92.
• Akbulut, G.; Artvinli, E. Effects of Turkish railway museums on cultural tourism. Proc. Soc. Behav. Sci. 2011, 19, 131–138.
• Amato, C.; Bevilacqua, G.; Ravagnan, C. The abandoned railway heritage: From problem to opportunity for the regeneration of minor historic centres. Smart Innov. Syst. Technol. 2021, 178, 1735–1745.
• World Tourism Organization. UNWTO Tourism Highlights 2, 18; UNWTO: Madrid, Spain, 2018.
• Hume, J. The railway heritage and Historic Scotland. In Conserving the Railway Heritage; Taylor & Francis: Abingdon, UK, 2014; pp. 155–164.
• Evans, A.K.B.; Gough, J.V. Tourism and the railways in Scotland: The Victorian and Edwardian experience. In The Impact of the Railway on Society in Britain: Essays in Honour of Jack Simmons; Routledge: London, UK, 2003; pp. 199–210.
• Flash Eurobarometer 463. Europeans’ Satisfaction with Passenger Rail Services; European Commission: Brussels, Belgium, 2018.
• Prideaux, B. Tracks to tourism: Queenland rail joins the tourist industry. Int. J. Tour. Res. 1999, 1, 73–86.
• Dang, L.; von Arx, W. How can rail use for leisure and tourism be promoted? Using leisure and mobility orientations to segment Swiss railway customers. Sustainability 2021, 13, 5813.
• Conlin, M.V.; Bird, G.R. Railway Heritage and Tourism: Global Perspectives; Channel View Publications: Bristol, UK, 2014; pp. 1–298.
• Giachino, C.; Pattanaro, G.; Bertoldi, B.; Bollani, L.; Bonadonna, A. Nature-based solutions and their potential to attract the young generations. Land Use Policy 2021, 101, 105176.
• Manhas, P.S.; Gupta, S. Synergizing Indian hospitality services and luxury: Augmenting perception and experience of Indian Luxury Trains. Indian J. Appl. Hosp. Tour. Res. 2017, 9, 69–76. Available online: https://bcihmct.ac.in/download/IJAHTR/IJAHTR-2017.pdf (accessed on 29 August 2021).
• Thirumaran, K.; Raghav, M. Luxury tourism, developing destinations: Research review and trajectories. Asian J. Tour. Res. 2017, 2, 2.
• Bonadonna, A.; Giachino, C.; Truant, E. Sustainability and mountain tourism: The millennial’s perspective. Sustainability 2017, 9, 1219.
• Serhat, G.; Uzuncan, B. Impossibility of authentic experience? The existential estrangement which turns to performance. J. Tour. Cult. Chang. 2020, 19, 681–695.
• Blancheton, B.; Marchi, J.-J. The three systems of rail tourism: French case. Tour. Manag. Perspect. 2013, 5, 31–40.
• Gilmore, A.; Carson, D.; Ascenção, M. Sustainable tourism marketing at a World Heritage site. J. Strat. Mark. 2007, 15, 253–264.
• Beltramo, R.; Peira, G.; Bonadonna, A. Creating a tourism destination through local heritage: The Stakeholders’ priorities in the Canavese Area (Northwest Italy). Land 2021, 10, 260.
• Reeves, C.D.; Dalton, R.; Pesce, G. Context and knowledge for functional buildings from the industrial revolution using heritage railway signal boxes as an exemplar. Hist. Environ. Policy Pract. 2020, 11, 232–257.
• Carson, S.; Pennings, M. Performing Cultural Tourism; Routledge: London, UK, 2017; pp. 1–192.
• Eimermann, M.; Mattsson, K.T.; Carson, D.A. International tourism entrepreneurs in Swedish peripheries: Compliance and collision with public tourism strategies. Reg. Sci. Policy Pract. 2018, 11, 479–492.
• Carson, D.A.; Carson, D.B.; Hodge, H. Understanding local innovation systems in peripheral tourism destinations. Tour. Geogr. 2014, 16, 457–473.
• Carson, D.; Carson, D. Why tourism may not be everybody’s business: The challenge of tradition in resource peripheries. Rangel. J. 2011, 33, 373–383.
• Prideaux, B.; Thompson, M.; Harwood, S. Renewing and re-invigorating settlements: A role for tourism? In Settlements at the Edge; Edward Elgar: Cheltenham, UK, 2016; pp. 337–356.
• Carson, D.A.; Prideaux, B.; Porter, R.; Vuin, A. Transitioning from a local railway hub to a regional tourism system: The Story of Peterborough, South Australia. In Perspectives on Rural Tourism Geographies; Koster, R., Carson, D., Eds.; Geographies of Tourism and Global Change; Springer: Cham, Switzerland, 2019; pp. 173–196.
• Chiaf, E.; Pezzagno, M. Sustainable tourism and land resources for non-motorised mobility. WIT Trans. Ecol. Environ. 2006, 97, 227–236.
• Schwieterman, J. Boxcar blues. Planning 2006, 72, 12–16.
• Yiamjanya, S. Industrial heritage along railway corridor: A gear towards tourism development, a case study of Lampang Province, Thailand. E3S Web Conf. 2020, 164, 03002.
• Stefanovic, K.; Koster, R. Railfans and railway heritage tourism. Railw. Herit. Tour. Glob. Perspect. 2014, 26–41.
• Wallace, T. Working of the Train Gang: Alienation, liminality and communitas in the UK preserved railway sector. Int. J. Heritage Stud. 2006, 12, 218–233.
• Muriel-Ramirez, M.J. Institutional foundations of heritage railways: The high cost of low trust in the preservation of merit goods. J. Econ. Issues 2017, 51, 663–687.
• Rhoden, S.; Ineson, E.M.; Ralston, R. Volunteer motivation in heritage railways: A study of the West Somerset Railway volunteers. J. Heritage Tour. 2009, 4, 19–36.
• White, L. Regional railway revival: Connecting heritage and tourism in the Spa Centre of Australia. Railw. Herit. Tour. Glob. Perspect. 2014, 214–226.
• Bird, G.R.; Conlin, M.V. No Terminus in sight: New horizons for heritage railways. Railw. Herit. Tour. 2014, 279–287.
• Rees, J.; Jarman, P.; Gwyn, D. The conservation of operational steam locomotives. Ind. Archaeol. Rev. 2010, 32, 91–102.
• Hamilton, K.; Alexander, M. Organic community tourism: A co-created approach. Ann. Tour. Res. 2013, 42, 169–190.
• Carnicelli, S.; Drummond, S.; Anderson, H. Making the connection using action research: Serious leisure and the Caledonian Railway. J. Heritage Tour. 2020, 16, 615–631.
• Hamilton, K.; Alexander, M. Spatial, temporal and social dimensions of a ‘destination-in-motion’. Eur. J. Mark. 2017, 51, 2101–2117.
• Kebede, M. Heritage-tourism resources of the Franco-Ethiopian railway in Dire Dawa, Ethiopia. Afr. J. Hosp. Tour. Leis. 2018, 7, 9.
• Coroiu, R.; David, D.-C.; Coroiu, O.; Ciupan, C. Inventory and state of conservation survey model for railway heritage: The case of Turda–Abrud (Romania). Ind. Archaeol. Rev. 2020, 42, 114–125.
• Zhang, C.; Dai, S.; Xia, H. Reuse of abandoned railways leads to urban regeneration: A tale from a rust track to a Green Corridor in Zhangjiakou. Urban Rail Transit 2020, 6, 104–115.
• Henderson, J. Railways as heritage attractions: Singapore’s Tanjong Pagar station. J. Heritage Tour. 2011, 6, 73–79.
• Hörz, P.; Richter, M. Preserved as technical monuments, run as tourist attractions: Narrow-gauge railways in the German democratic republic. J. Transp. History 2011, 32, 192–213.
• Bhati, A.; Pryce, J.; Chaiechi, T. Industrial railway heritage trains: The evolution of a heritage tourism genre and its attributes. J. Heritage Tour. 2014, 9, 114–133.
• Hoekstra, M.S. Iconic architecture and middle class politics of memory in a deindustrialized city. Sociology 2020, 54, 693–710.
• Mishra, S.; Chakrabarti, D. Design of a railway station: Creative expression of cultural heritage identity. Smart Innov. Syst. Technol. 2021, 221, 619–629.
• Su, M.M.; Wall, G. Destination and en-Route Experiences among Train Travellers to Tibet. Tour. Recreat. Res. 2009, 34, 181–190.
• Crapper, M.; Fell, M.; Gammoh, I. Earthworks risk assessment on a heritage railway. Proc. Inst. Civ. Eng.-Geotech. Eng. 2014, 167, 344–356.
• Baker, J.C. Mobility, tropicality and landscape: The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, 1881. J. Hist. Geogr. 2014, 44, 133–144.
• Lee, Y.-J. Creating memorable experiences in a reuse heritage site. Ann. Tour. Res. 2015, 55, 155–170.
• Halsall, D.A. Railway heritage and the tourist gaze: Stoomtram Hoorn–Medemblik. J. Transp. Geogr. 2001, 9, 151–160.
• Yeung, W. MTR Disneyland Resort Line—A tourism railway. In Proceedings of the IET International Conference on Railway Engineering 2008 (ICRE 2008), Hong Kong, China, 25–28 March 2008; pp. 100–103.
• Kuchiki, A.; Gokan, T.; Maruya, T. Railway-led formation of the agriculture-food-tourism industry cluster: Escaping the Middle-Income Trap. In A Multi-Industrial Linkages Approach to Cluster Building in East Asia; Springer: Cham, Switzerland, 2017; pp. 187–205.
• Michniak, D. Role of railway transport in tourism: Selected problems and examples in Slovakia. Quaest. Geogr. 2016, 35, 107–120.
• Bittnerová, D. Tourism of Czech railfans. Remembering the journeys to Romania in the 1980s. Narodop. Rev. 2020, 2, 112–124.
• Wallace, T. Went the day well: Scripts, glamour and performance in war-weekends. Int. J. Herit. Stud. 2007, 13, 200–223.
• Fei, L.; Jigang, M.; Xianghui, L. Residents’ perceived and expected value of linear cultural heritage: The example of the Yun-nan-Vietnam railway. Trop. Geogr. 2021, 41, 93–103.
• Taylor, P.; Frost, W.; Laing, J. Path creation and the role of entrepreneurial actors: The case of the Otago Central Rail Trail. Ann. Tour. Res. 2019, 77, 79–91.
• Van Goeverden, C.D. Explaining factors for train use in European long distance travel. Tour. Hosp. Plan. Dev. 2009, 6, 21–37.
• Dallen, J. Sustainable transport, market segmentation and tourism: The Looe Valley Branch Line Railway, Cornwall, UK. J. Sustain. Tour. 2007, 15, 180–199.
• Niedzielski, M.A.; Malecki, E.J. Making Tracks: Rail networks in world cities. Ann. Assoc. Am. Geogr. 2012, 102, 1409–1431.
• Wu, C.; Zhang, N.; Xu, L. Travelers on the railway: An economic growth model of the effects of railway transportation infrastructure on consumption and sustainable economic growth. Sustainability 2021, 13, 6863.
• Chaplin, I. Revitalizing community values through railway regeneration in the Asia Pacific region: A tourism research and education approach. In Railway Heritage and Tourism; Channel View Publications: Bristol, UK, 2014; pp. 115–134.
• Rovelli, R.; Senes, G.; Fumagalli, N.; Sacco, J.; De Montis, A. From railways to greenways: A complex index for supporting policymaking and planning. A case study in Piedmont (Italy). Land Use Policy 2020, 99, 104835.
• Dallen, J. The challenges of diverse visitor perceptions: Rail policy and sustainable transport at the resort destination. J. Transp. Geogr. 2007, 15, 104–115.
• Bowker, J.; Bergstrom, J.C.; Gill, J. Estimating the economic value and impacts of recreational trails: A case study of the Virginia Creeper Rail Trail. Tour. Econ. 2007, 13, 241–260.
• Taylor, P. What factors make rail trails successful as tourism attractions? Developing a conceptual framework from relevant literature. J. Outdoor Recreat. Tour. 2015, 12, 89–98.
• Jiang, P.; Shao, L.; Baas, C. Interpretation of value advantage and sustainable tourism development for railway heritage in China Based on the analytic hierarchy process. Sustainability 2019, 11, 6492.

• Terms and Conditions
• Privacy Policy
• Advisory Board

• UIC on Twitter
• UIC on LinkedIn
• UIC YouTube channel
• UIC on Pinterest
• UIC on Instagram
• RSS feed (latest updates)
• Railway Publications

Rail Tourism (TopRail)

Visit TopRail website: https://toprail.org/

TopRail Objectives

In the context of steadily growing international tourism, TopRail is a UIC project that actively promotes railway tourism products by increasing the visibility of service offerings. This is accomplished by fostering close collaboration between stakeholders and their customers to encourage railway tourism opportunities. Railway tourism is able to offer a wide range of tourism alternatives combining exclusivity, technology, luxury and sustainability whilst contributing to fostering local economies.

In 2016, UIC launched TopRail.org , created using the latest information directly provided by its own railway companies, with the ambitious goal of presenting a global overview of the existing leisure experiences by rail.

TopRail Scope

Tourism by railway is heterogeneous and attractive to all types of customers (young people, adults, active, retired people, families, railway enthusiasts, domestic and international tourists) and the opportunities to develop and enjoy leisure by rail are many and varied.

Some of these include:

• Trains as tourism products (journey or cruise trains) such as the Orient Express, the Bernina Express, the Transcantábrico, the Shiki-Shima, etc.
• Trains running on scenic lines such as the Tibet train, the Hirondelles (”Swallow line”), the Trans-Siberian railway, etc.
• Trains providing mobility at a tourist destination connected to mainline services: urban tourism, eco-tourism, culture, spots, wine, gastronomy, etc.
• Heritage railways, e.g. steam trains

TopRail and Sustainable Tourism

During the International Year of Sustainable Tourism the TopRail group identified:

• Strengths of railway tourism, and effective means of communicating with the market
• Sustainability risks and appropriate management approaches
• Key indicators, measurement and tools to support communication and benchmarking

TopRail members took the opportunity to publish the “TopRail Guidelines on Sustainable Tourism” which was reinforced by a Charter on Sustainable Tourism signed by the CEOs of TopRail members.

TopRail Publications

View on TopRail website

In 2020 the focus was on “Benchmarking on new technologies for enhancing Digital Passenger Experience” to be published in 2021.

TopRail Workshops

Governance of transport services requires consensus, which is essential for the image of a country as well as the tourism and railway industries. Improving communication between stakeholders and promoting collaboration at international level is crucial.

The TopRail workshops will address key challenges and new tourism trends to provide an overview of the various dimensions of railway tourism projects and services:

Sustainable tourism : well-designed and well-managed railway tourism products relate to the three pillars (social, environmental, economic) of sustainable development and can contribute solutions to sustainable tourism challenges.

Regional development : railways have always been closely linked to regional development. This segment will provide insight into the impact of accessibility in tourist destination choices and the importance of partnerships in the creation of successful railway tourism projects.

Heritage protection : by protecting heritage, we acknowledge its importance. Railway tourism projects play a vital role in enabling increased awareness of nature and railway heritage.

Academia.edu no longer supports Internet Explorer.

To browse Academia.edu and the wider internet faster and more securely, please take a few seconds to  upgrade your browser .

Enter the email address you signed up with and we'll email you a reset link.

• We're Hiring!
• Help Center

Railway and Tourism: A Systematic Literature Review

2022, Tourism and Hospitality

From the second half of the 20th century, numerous railways, especially in industrial and mining areas, were abandoned for economic reasons. The activism of the “railfans”, who are fond of trains, has made it possible to set up voluntary associations that have been the lifeblood of the beginning of projects for the recovery of the historic railway heritage and the promotion of it in a touristic sense. This topic is worthy of attention, and during recent years it has been the focus of several research papers. A systematic literature review was performed using the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyzes) methodology. This tool is a minimal set of evidence-based elements aimed at helping authors to carry out a systematic literature review. This systematic literature review sought to consolidate knowledge on the subject. The research team formulated three research questions related to the dynamics of railway heritage recovery, the dynamics of railway t...

Related Papers

Abhishek Bhati , Taha Chaiechi , Josephine Pryce

Ersa Conference Papers

Nick Bogiazides

International Tourism Congress ITC2022 TOURISM – GOING BACK/FORWARD TO SUSTAINABILITY

Eunice Duarte

ECTP-CEU Young Planners workshop

Theodora Papamichail

Peloponnese synthesizes a unique spatial entity of landscapes of exceptional natural beauty, significant archaeological and historical sites, monuments, outstanding cultural events for all kinds of tourists and travellers. In addition to this, the railway network in the Peloponnese had been considered a key driver of economic and spatial development of the peninsula since 19th century. However, due to the socioeconomic crisis in Greece, most of the network was closed down in 2011. Hence, the concept of tourism-oriented railway development delineates the twofold role of railway; first as a driver to develop new models of sustainable tourism and to explore the existing cultural heritage, and second, as part of the cultural heritage of the Peloponnese. Since such a multi-functional concept involves a great number of actors and social groups, the attainment of synergies between railway, tourism and cultural heritage highly depends on decision-making. The Albula/ Bernina Railway Lines in Switzerland is seen as a valuable example of synergies among sustainable tourism, cultural heritage and key actors from which the lessons for the Greek context can be learnt. After an introductory section, a brief overview on the spatial conditions of the Peloponnese identifies those potential tourism and cultural enclaves. Observed through the lens of informal planning as supplement to formal planning processes, the paper finally highlights the required synergies for enhancing cultural heritage experience, improving future dynamic alliances among key-stakeholders and promoting sustainable regional development.

Agustín Azkarate

HoST - Journal of History of Science and Technology

Breno Borges

The wide railway universe, with its particular and peculiar characteristics, requires the implementation of criteria to improve the identification and conservation of cultural goods. Recently concepts of authenticity, integrity and cultural significance have been identified as fundamental in the selection of the cultural heritage of humanity. Although we find these concepts being analyzed in theory as independents, through a theoretical-methodological reflection, this PhD research argues that, in practice, they are interconnected, and therefore should be approached together. Following the contemporary theory of conservation, my doctoral research aims at contributing to the conservation of railways’ heritage using this new approach, by proposing new indicators as assessment tools so that conservation institutions will be able to identify railway goods as cultural heritage. The research uses the Railway Complex of Barreiro, in Portugal, as a case study.

Leanne White

Ekonomiczne Problemy Turystyki

Grażyna Rosa

Quaestiones Geographicae

Daniel Michniak

Transport is a very important part of activities in the tourism sector. In addition to the transport of tourists to and within a destination, transport itself can be a tourist attraction. The aim of this paper is to analyse selected problems of railways in Slovakia (a decrease in the importance of railways for passenger transport in Slovakia in the past 20 years, discontinued passenger transport on certain railway tracks and the modernisation of other tracks, and zero-fare public rail transport services for certain categories of passengers), and to present good examples of the use of narrow-gauge railways for the purposes of tourism (the Tatra Electric Railways and the Kysuce-Orava Forest Railway).

Marie Delaplace

The aim of this paper is to propose a state-of-the-art about the interactions between High-Speed Railway systems and the tourism market. Because of changes in accessibility, provided to the territories supplied by these systems, the actors expect a dynamic economy, in general, and of the tourism in particular. Although expectations are important in France as abroad, a literature review of studies carried out ex-post shows that the effects are not systematic, since they depend on the implementation of the High-Speed Railway service and on the characteristics of the territories. It can be noted that, if the high speed rail allows, in some cases, the increase in the number of tourists, a decrease of the stay may follow. To understand the role of High Speed Railway, it is necessary to take into account the changes of accessibility, but also its effects on the image of the destination and on the coordination of the stakeholders.

RELATED PAPERS

Richard Jarrard , Craig Morgan

Diah Ayu Melenia

Rodger Young

Amadine Travel Wisata Turkey Eropa

Revista Latino-Americana de História

CARLOS HENRIQUE ARMANI

Computers & Education

Stephen P Mulligan

Indonesian Journal of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

MohaMeD NaBil

International Journal of Nutrology

Aline Guerra Correia Nobrega

Rejuvenation Research

Pierre Lang

Yahaya Musa

Developing Country Studies

ELAINE FACHINI

Physical Review D

Fabrizio Canfora

Cadernos Brasileiros De Medicina

Rogerio Motta

Photonics Letters of Poland

Roman Ostrowski

威大斯托特分校毕业证 UW–Stout毕业证书

Microbiology

Hamza Elbuhaisi

TEM Journal

Amer Hamzah Jantan

原版复制芝加哥大学毕业证 chicago毕业证本科文凭证书留信认证原版一模一样

Sakshi Singh

TopRail: promoting sustainable rail tourism

Can rail travel be re-visited as a means of sustainable tourism? The International Union of Railways has launched TopRail to raise awareness of cruise and heritage railways, and scenic train routes around the world. With a series of workshops underway as part of the UN’s International Year of Sustainable Tourism, Frances Marcellin talks to TopRail about how these sessions will help promote rail travel.

• Share on Linkedin
• Share on Facebook

Recommended Buyer's Guides

Top Guide for Bogies, Suspension, Wheels, and Axles

Top guide for railway track engineering and construction.

Pic courtesy Alexander Kesselaar

Go deeper with GlobalData

Clean Technology in Defense Industry - Emerging Trends and Outlook

Future of the austrian defense industry – market attractiveness, co..., premium insights.

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more

Related Company Profiles

Unesco, ltd., austrian federal railways, ferrocarrils de la generalitat de catalunya.

With 2017 officially declared as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development by the United Nations World Tourist Organisation (UNWTO), the International Union of Railways (UIC) launched TopRail in 2016 to actively promote sustainable railway tourism. Its aim is to enable close collaboration between stakeholders and their customers in order to grow railway tourism opportunities.

“Tourism and transport are intrinsically linked, and tourism represents 10% of global GDP and one of every 11 jobs,” says Vanessa Pérez, TopRail project manager. “Travel and tourism experience a continued expansion and have become one of the fastest-growing economic sectors in the world.”

Recognising that tourism has connections beyond economics , the UNWHO measures its sustainability by its impact on the environment and society, as well as economics. Analysis includes the environmental impacts of tourism, such as energy use and disruption of ecosystems; dependency of tourism on the environment e.g. energy requirements and quality ecosystems; the social impacts of tourism activities; and the dependency on social infrastructure, such as local workforce and transport infrastructure.

With just 2% of international tourism using rail networks , there is significant growth potential for railways, especially as UNWTO forecasts an increase of 3.3% of international tourist arrivals year-on-year. This would equate to an estimated 1.8 billion tourists travelling the world in 2030.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

Supporting sustainable rail tourism

Tourist railways are attractive products that have much to contribute to sustainable development, decentralisation, diversification and management of tourist flows ,” explains Pérez, adding that it appeals to all types of customers, from the young to retirees and families, as well as rail enthusiasts. “Supporting sustainable tourism using railways is not only a strategic framework for ensuring a positive image of railways, but also a way to answer to social concerns, create a competitive advantage and manage risk.”

All operators and networks with tourism potential are the focus of TopRail’s mission: cruise trains, such as the Orient Express; trains providing mobility at a tourist destination connected to a mainline, from cultural hotspots to wine and gastronomic venues; trains running in scenic areas, for instance the Tibet train and the Train des Hirondelles; and heritage railways, including steam trains.

Enhancing and promoting the visibility of top quality rail services, along with focusing on how railways can contribute to sustainability challenges, was the focus of three of UIC-run meetings last year in Paris, Vienna and Madrid. As a result, TopRail was created to facilitate these goals through 2017 and beyond.

In terms of deliverables in 2017, TopRail aims to issue a reporting handbook, which is currently under review, and a formal best practices publication.

Workshops are on the right track

The first TopRail workshop was held at the 13th UIC Sustainability Conference, in October 2016, in Vienna. The session saw four organisations presenting different approaches to rail-based sustainable tourism initiatives.

“The four approaches formed the basis of a facilitated group discussion to move the TopRail collaboration forward,” says Pérez, adding, “It became evident that well-designed and well-managed railway tourism products and services make a substantive contribution to the three pillars (social, environmental, economic) of sustainable development and can address key tourism challenges.”

These are not the only companies collaborating with TopRail. Others include RZD (Russian Railways), KoRail (South Korea’s national railroad), Irish Rail, ÖBB (Austrian Federal Railways), Trainose, a Greek railway company, MÁV-START (Hungarian Railways), Slovenske Železnice (Slovenian Railways), Comboios de Portugal, Rail Canada and Tren de Ecuador.

Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya

Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya, or FGC, is a public entity attached to the Department of Territory and Sustainability, which also operates commuter lines in Barcelona, rack railways in Núria and Monserrat, tourist railway services and five ski resorts in the Pyrenees.

Carles Casas, executive senior advisor to the Director General at FGC, explained that FGC approaches tourism and rail from three sides, namely, tourists on conventional trains, historical heritage preservation and tourist-orientated products.

Since 1931 the rack railway has provided an alternative to road traffic up to the famous Benedictine monastery of Santa Maria in Montserrat. FGC also operates in other fragile environments, such as the Vall de Núria (Valley of Núria) in north Catalonia. Other than by foot, tourists can only access this mountain and ski resort by the railway as the area has no roads and is 2,000m above sea level.

FGC’s sustainability programme focuses on footprint reduction, waste management, energy saving and water quality improvement. It also supports local businesses and connects with local schools, which contribute to the sustainability of these remote areas.

East Japan Railway Company

Pérez explains that Nami Mizuguchi’s presentation for JR-East (East Japan Railway Company), showed how the company encourages sustainable tourism by developing trains based on new concepts and revitalising local industries, such as successfully expanding sales for local produce in the Tokyo metropolitan areas.

“They have tourist trains all around the country and in each one they show the best of the region culturally, especially with music and gastronomy,” she says. “For example, they have the ‘Ekiben’ concept (railway-boxed meals), which is a specific type of Bento-boxed meal, which always uses local products and is different in each part of the country.”

Overall, the network spans 7,472km, consists of 1,700 stations and supports 17 million passengers a day. The Gono-Line, in northern Japan, stretches 147.2km along the coastline of the Sea of Japan and to the Shirakami mountains, a world heritage site.

Rhaetian Railways in the Alps

Rhaetian Railways (RhB) operates the Bernina Express, the highest railway across the Alps, and the Glacier Express – a 62km climb between Thusis and St Moritz which reaches 1,775m altitude.

At the workshop, RhB’s Dieter Dubkowitsch highlighted the range of the company’s sustainable development and tourism work. Its programme includes sustainable procurement, including energy and fair-traded products,  pollution reduction and the management of a secure daily operation.

“ RhB run their trains in a special environment, which is part of a UNESCO world heritage site,” says Pérez. “They have specific action plans regarding environmental responsive behaviour (energy saving, reduction of environmental pollution and waste disposal).”

RhB’s energy-saving programme includes using 100% power from local hydroelectric power stations and supplying all buildings with hydroelectric power. In terms of the rolling stock, Dubkowitsch says the company’s energy-management measures save 8,000MWh a year, and in workshops and buildings traditional lighting has been replaced with LEDs.

Regarding the infrastructure, with more than half of the 115 tunnels on the line requiring renovation, a unique restoration procedure has been devised which increases safety and has extended tunnel life from 30-50 years to 70-100 years.

The European Federation of Museum & Tourist Railways

John Fuller of the European Federation of Museum & Tourist Railways (Fedecrail) presented the Ffestiniog Railway (FR) and Welsh Highland Railways (WHR). Renowned for being a technical pioneer of narrow-gauge railways back in the 19th century, FR has been a tourist railway for over 60 years.

WHR, which was built in 2011, spans 40km and provides tourists with access to the Snowdonia National Park. Fuller showed how the railway’s sustainable development is managed across economic, social and environmental goals, in line with UNWTO’s sustainability measurement method.

By surviving on the income it generates, FR is economically sustainable and provides skills training and experience to young people. Utilising bought-in services also means that it is supporting local employment. FR minimises adverse environmental impacts by providing safe access to s pecial areas of conservation (SACs) – defined by the EU as designated areas that protect natural habitats and species – in the Snowdonia National Park.

During the second workshop, held in Paris in March, a first draft of the guidelines was presented and discussed. “The methodology in developing the draft of TopRail guidelines was detailed and the indicators comprising the proposed guidelines were itemised,” says Pérez. “A step-by-step implementation programme was outlined, starting with qualitative indicators maturing to quantitative indicators.”

Steaming ahead to the future

In terms of how railway tourism could thrive over the next few years, Pérez is positive that the combination of rail’s vital role in a country’s economic development and current tourism trends support rail tourism’s opportunities for growth. She cites modern consumers’ needs and digitalisation as two areas that can help support TopRail’s global vision.

“Customers are more empowered than ever before in shaping their tourism experience,” she explains. “New trends in tourism cater to ‘slow travellers’, who want to create their own journey and who are concerned about the kind of tourism they participate in. They look for special, unique and quality products as a way to discover, enjoy and share their travel experience.

“Railway tourism providers can attract new customers by creating quality products, and by focusing on the needs and expectations of the leisure traveller, thereby generating positive stimuli and quality experiences related to trains.”

Sign up for our daily news round-up!

Give your business an edge with our leading industry insights. 

More Relevant

Cairo Monorail

Alula tramway, saudi arabia, santiago metro, chile, mexico city rapid transit metro, mexico.

Give your business an edge with our leading industry insights.

Sign up to the newsletter: In Brief

Your corporate email address, i would also like to subscribe to:.

Railway Technology In Brief

Future Rail : Railway Technology Focus (monthly)

I consent to Verdict Media Limited collecting my details provided via this form in accordance with Privacy Policy

Thank you for subscribing

View all newsletters from across the GlobalData Media network.

• Business & Money

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required .

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

Image Unavailable

• To view this video download Flash Player

Railway Heritage and Tourism: Global Perspectives (Tourism and Cultural Change, 37) Paperback – May 8, 2014

Purchase options and add-ons.

This is the first book of its kind to examine railway heritage in the context of tourism in a comprehensive, internationally relevant manner. It explores the challenges faced by developers and operators of railway heritage destinations including financial, legal and managerial sustainability in the modern tourism industry. These themes are exemplified by a variety of case studies of railway heritage in tourism from regions around the world including North, Central and South America, the Caribbean, Europe, and Australasia. The volume will be of particular interest to scholars of cultural tourism as well as researchers and practitioners of industrial heritage tourism, along with graduate and senior undergraduate students.

• Part of series Tourism and Cultural Change
• Print length 320 pages
• Language English
• Publisher Channel View Publications
• Publication date May 8, 2014
• Dimensions 5.85 x 0.67 x 8.27 inches
• ISBN-10 1845414373
• ISBN-13 978-1845414375
• See all details

Editorial Reviews

Railway Heritage and Tourism provides a great resource for understanding the importance of railway heritage and its importance to tourism development in certain regions of the world. The book gives a great tribute to this great and sometimes forgotten mode of transport. The observations and analysis presented in this book will give readers a broad view and understanding of the importance of railway heritage to tourism.

To many people, railway travel encapsulates a romantic era of tourism, spanning little more than a century before being pushed sideways by the automobile and jet aircraft. This wonderful book belies this perception!! Rail travel as heritage is alive and well in contemporary tourism and these fascinating accounts illustrate the durability of this bewitching form of transport.

The editors have brought together a fascinating collection of cases from around the world that provide both practical and theoretical perspectives on the history, growth, challenges of heritage railways, offering insights into the sector's sustainability. For many of us railfans, myself included, this book also speaks personally to the importance of heritage railways as a vehicle for self-actualization and the expansion of one's individual world, both real and imaginary.

About the Author

Michael V. Conlin is a professor in the Okanagan School of Business, Canada. His research focuses on cultural and heritage tourism and industrial cultural heritage. Recent publications include Mining Heritage and Tourism (edited with L. Jolliffe, 2011).

Geoffrey R. Bird is a professor at Royal Roads University, Canada. His research interests include cultural and heritage tourism and remembrance tourism. He is the co-author of Transforming Communities through Tourism (with C. Fisher, B. White & T. Hood, 2009).

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Railway heritage and tourism, global perspectives, multilingual matters.

Michael V. Conlin and Geoffrey R. Bird

Introduction

Ever since childhood, when I lived within earshot of the Boston and Maine, I have seldom heard a train go by and not wished I was on it.

Theroux (1975: 7)

It would be difficult to summarize our fascination, love and even obsession with trains and train travel any better than Paul Theroux did in his seminal work The Great Railway Bazaar: By Train Through Asia. As a child in England after World War II, one of your editors would sit for hours on pedestrian bridges spanning the great railway marshaling yards in Stockton, County Durham, England, covered in soot and grime and meticulously marking off steam locomotives in a trainspotting book. Growing up in Canada, your other editor remembers travelling from Ottawa to Vancouver in the comfort of a Canadian National sleeping car, venturing outside at whistle stops to have a good look at the engine pulling his family across Canada's immense landscape. Beginning in our childhoods, like Theroux, we have had a fascination with trains and particularly steam trains, a fascination that predates the withdrawal of steam locomotives from regular service – at least in Europe and North America – but which seems to grow stronger the longer we move beyond their presence in everyday life.

This book, with its collection of chapters about heritage railways from around the world, seeks to understand and explain our relationship with these relics of another age. From both a practical and a theoretical perspective, the history, growth, challenges and future of heritage railways within the context of tourism will be explored. In doing so, the following chapters will consider the principal issues which define and challenge railway heritage and its relationship with tourism. They will look to some well known and some not so well known examples of railway heritage to illustrate these issues. In doing so, they will inexorably focus on what seems to work with railway heritage and, inevitably, what does not. The book will end with a summary of the key issues and some lessons about success and failure in the railway heritage field in the context of tourism, which may offer insights into how to make this specialized and costly tourism experience sustainable.

What is Railway Heritage?

Like so much of our world, things which seem fairly simple are usually significantly more complex than they appear. This is true of railway heritage and its relationship with tourism. Unlike some other forms of industrial heritage tourism, such as motoring heritage, the very scale and immensity of railway infrastructure militates against private ownership and operation of heritage railways. In this sense, heritage railways have a lot in common with mining heritage attractions. Many of the issues facing heritage railways mirror those in the mining heritage niche (Conlin & Jolliffe, 2011: 3–6), including but not limited to:

• preservation versus commercialization and the related issues of commodification and replication;

• the financing of heritage attraction development and the operation and maintenance of the attractions;

• skill retention and training in vanishing trades and crafts;

• land and infrastructure ownership;

• health and safety of employees, volunteers and visitors;

• and the now ubiquitous focus on sustainability in all its varied facets.

These practical considerations are critical elements in the development, maintenance and operation of successful heritage attractions and especially heritage railway attractions. But they are not the only considerations for professionals and enthusiasts, planners and volunteers. All of these practical considerations must be viewed through the theoretical and very real prism of the visitor and her or his motivations, expectations and experiences.

As a starting point for our exploration of this topic, defining heritage railway tourism will provide a framework for examination. Hudson in his discussion of railway hotels inChapter 2 provides a framework to explain the role of hotels in the development of early railway travel and their current role in heritage railway tourism. In doing so, he highlights the expansive nature of the niche; it is not simply locomotives but the entire range of infrastructure that supports the building and operation of railways. Stefanovic and Koster in Chapter 3 seek to define 'railfans', Themes, Issues and Trends their characteristics, their motivations and, importantly, their impact and influence on railway tourism development. Porterfield in Chapter 8 explores the further commercialization of train travel by defining the unique culinary experience which is a large part of many heritage railway attractions. In varying ways, the other authors also provide examples of railway heritage which explain the movement and its role in tourism.

Industry and professional associations also provide definitions of railway heritage. The European Federation of Museum and Tourist Railways (FEDECRAIL) defines heritage railways as including:

historic or preserved railways, museum railways and tramways, working railway and tram museums and tourist railways, and may extend to heritage trains operating on the national network and other railways. (FEDECRAIL, n.d.)

The Heritage Railway Association in the UK defines the niche to include heritage and tourist railways, tramways, stations and maintenance buildings, museums, railway preservation groups, rail cableways, and steam centers and cliff lifts (Heritage Railway Association, n.d.). These definitions and frameworks, drawn as they have been from the development of the heritage railway movement over the past 60 years, serve to remind us just how broad, complex and fascinating the world of heritage railways is. This perspective is well supported by the range of heritage railway attractions discussed in the following chapters.

The Origins of Railway Heritage

The origins of the modern heritage railway movement can be traced back primarily to the technological development of diesel electric motive power by most railroads in developed economies, a period which ironically parallels the switch from propeller-driven aircraft to jet propulsion, namely the 1950s and the early 1960s. During this period, these two major transportation modalities changed dramatically, both in terms of technology and, it can be argued, in terms of culture. Two early examples of a recognition of this momentous change and the consequent rise in interest in preserving the past for both modalities can be found with the preservation movement directed at saving the Puffing Billy line in Australia in the 1950s and the impetus to preserve locomotives and other railway infrastructure in the UK in the early 1960s. The Puffing Billy Preservation Society was founded in 1955 and over the past six decades has grown into a successful management structure which underlies what is arguably one of the world's most successful heritage railways (Puffing Billy Preservation Society, n.d.). The development of the modern UK heritage railway movement was motivated in no small part by the Beeching report of 1963 – what was known colloquially as the 'Beeching axe' – which led to the demise of the steam era in the UK.

None of these frameworks and definitions, however, explains fully our fascination with heritage railways. There is a sense of nostalgia and romance associated with steam train travel that has not translated into modern railway travel. Collison's discussion of the downturn in ridership on the Grand Canyon Railway (Chapter 12) can be linked, at the very least anecdotally, with that line's move away from steam to diesel propulsion. As the following discussion shows, there is clearly more to this experience than vintage equipment, infrastructure and artefacts. As we have said above, these are important, and without them we would not have heritage railways. But by themselves, these collections of locomotives, passenger cars, stations and hotels, bridges and railway rights of way, documents and posters would simply be rich and interesting but nonetheless static displays of this specific aspect of our industrial transportation heritage. Underlying this broad focus on what are essentially management issues is another purpose of the present volume: to consider the meaning of railways to the human condition as a way to gain insight into why many are attracted to railways and, indeed, some might argue, entranced by them.

As this book demonstrates, the static display of equipment, infrastruc ture and artifacts is not sufficient to satisfy our fascination with this aspect of our heritage. We need to see the equipment in motion, we seek the sounds of the train whistle and the clanking of passenger cars being coupled, and we crave the unique smells of heritage railways and most particularly, the smell and sensation of steam. Above all, we desire the impact of the railway journey, if only for a short and fleeting time. It is this journey that captures the past for us and rekindles the nostalgia for rail travel that is the fundamental sustaining factor in this experience. In short, this final part is what fully defines heritage railways and explains in large part, our fascination with them.

The Railway Visitor's Experience

In their account of the relationship between landscape, tourism and meaning, Knudsen et al. (2008) argue that it is important to understand the attraction, those who are attracted, and the meaning they associate with a place. This theoretical perspective is adapted here in terms of railways as the tourist attraction, a product involving the train and associated buildings and artifacts as well as the passing landscapes that are viewed along the journey. This conceptualization allows us to consider the experience of the railway traveler as shaped and defined by the experience and the landscape, not only with regard to gaining insights into visitor motivations and product positioning, but at a deeper level: what does he or she strive to capture with this experience that is distinct from other heritage experiences? For the mindful tourist (Moscardo, 1997), train travel may involve nostalgia, or a flight of childhood imagination, as Frost and Laing explore in Chapter 4. As Stefanovic and Koster note in Chapter 3, there are many different personas of tourists attracted to railways, including those seeking nostalgia. In addition, there are passengers who enjoy the opportunity to live in the present, gazing through the carriage window while grazing on a sandwich from a backpack or something more sumptuous in the dining car, as Porterfield examines in Chapter 8. The experience involves physical movement, sightseeing at a leisurely pace and allowing one to dwell in the present. Traveling by rail provides the unique opportunity to do nothing but reflect while watching the world go by, no small matter in the 21st century, characterized by speed and detachment.

What is most distinct about trains is the journey itself, the seemingly effortless movement offering passing vistas that capture the sense of adventure that is travel. Flying from Singapore to Paris, one can leave in the late evening and 14 hours later enjoy a croissant and coffee for breakfast in France – quite magical indeed. And yet the gradual geographical and cultural transition from Asia to Europe, the essence of 'the journey', will have been missed. In his epic four-month round trip train journey from Europe to Southeast Asia, Theroux (1975) captured this contrast magnificently in The Great Railway Bazaar. Reading the book nearly 40 years since it was first published, one can skip through time to peek not only into the world of rail travel in the 1970s, but the places, vistas and cultures of that era. In short, rail travel is a mode of travel celebrating as much the experience of motion, the passengers aboard as well as the passing landscapes and peoples as it is about reaching the destination. This may well explain why heritage railways attract such a widespread and devoted following, whereas the fascination with propeller-powered aviation prior to the introduction of jet propulsion, while vibrant, nostalgic and significant, has never reached the levels of interest in and commitment enjoyed by heritage railways.

Railways as Heritage Tourism

As is the case with other aspects of cultural heritage and industrial heritage development, railway infrastructure is often seen as an economic panacea for destinations with depressed or declining economies (Hospers, 2002; see also Firth, 2011). Many railway sites have been rejuvenated or converted to alternative tourist use, such as bike and walking trails, a topic explored by Reis and Jellum in relation to the development of the Otago Central Rail Trail in New Zealand in Chapter 7. Issues relating to economic viability (Orbasli & Woodward, 2008; see also Firth, 2011), market and product development and management (Hughes & Carlsen, 2010) and sustainable development (Landorf, 2009) abound in the field of railway tourism. This book examines a number of them: Collison discusses the recent ridership and financial challenges faced by the Grand Canyon Railway inChapter 12; Yan and Xingcheng's examination in Chapter 16 of the economic, social and political process currently underway with respect to the Yunnan–Vietnam Railway illustrates the complex web of interests and constituencies challenging heritage railway development; and Found's discussion of myriad challenges faced in establishing the St Kitts Scenic Railway and its subsequent success in Chapter 17 are all excellent examples.

In contrast, other jurisdictions struggle to create or even maintain a foothold in establishing an economically viable operation without ongoing government support, leaving rail projects economically vulnerable to cutbacks. Conlin and Prideaux in Chapter 18 bring the reader's attention not only to the early successes enjoyed by the West Coast Wilderness Railway in Tasmania but, perhaps more importantly, the urgency of continued government support for the project after a decade of what seemed like a very successful operation. Investment is a challenge, and without investment in infrastructure and maintenance there is little chance of establishing a railway as a tourism product. Such issues of economic viability and funding are directly or indirectly linked to the list of critical success factors (CSFs) drawn up by Hughes and Carlsen (2010: 21) for commercially viable heritage tourism sites. Their nine CSFs are:

(1) agreed objectives and clear concepts (for the organization);

(2) financial planning for budgeting, capital raising and price setting;

(3) effective marketing strategies based on sound market research;

(4) monitoring of proximity to major markets and visitor flows;

(5) effective human resource management, including paid staff and volunteers;

(6) planning for product differentiation, life cycles and value adding;

(7) quality and authenticity of products and experiences;

(8) engagement of cultural heritage and tourism expertise in conservation and promotion;

(9) interpretation as an integral part of the heritage tourism experience.

To that list, we could add the role of volunteers in sustaining heritage railway operations. Several chapters in this book offer further insight into the range of opportunities and challenges facing heritage railways.

As an industry, tourism is aware of the general fascination with train travel, highlighted by epic journeys such as the Ghan (Adelaide to Darwin, Australia), the Blue Train (Pretoria to Cape Town, South Africa), or the Trans-Siberian (Moscow to Vladivostok, Russia). Railways have provided escape to the picturesque countryside from industrial and urban growth since the mid-1800s (Atkinson, 2012). Often regarded as the first major form of mass transport, railways hastened the formation of tour operators such as Thomas Cook and Son in 1841 (see Williamson, 1998). Worldwide, railways initiated the development of destinations marked by momentous architecture in the form of stations and grand hotels (see Hart, 1983; Minnis, 2011). As Hart argues, the Canadian Pacific Railway was fully engaged in tourism as early as the 1880s, when William Cornelius Van Horne stated 'If we can't export the scenery, we'll import the tourists' (Hart, 1983: 7). The construction of railways involves epic stories in themselves, as in the case of Australia's railway employing camels (see Adam-Smith, 1974), or the traversing of canyons and valleys in British Columbia's Cascade Mountains by Andrew McCulloch and the Kettle Valley Railway (Sanford, n.d.) and, of course, Van Horne's hotel creations examined by Hudson in Chapter 2.

Weaving throughout this book is a story that speaks to the formation, sustenance and growth of communities, regions and nations. In this way, railways are often seen as an extension of the nation's ambition, their steel and iron embodying industrial power and geographic reach. As a heritage attraction, Graham et al. (2000) note the railway's continued significance in conveying national identity. Whereas many preservation railways may be seen as benign, there are those that do speak to the issue of nationalism. Henderson's exploration of the interesting issues surrounding the Singapore and Malayan railways in Chapter 13illustrates this point. Yan and Xingcheng's discussion of the Yunnan–Vietnam Railway makes this point even more dramatically and in a clearly historical context. Even so, wondering who controls railway heritage may be seen to be a lost leader, so it is not typically such a concern as finding the resources and support to maintain it. Nonetheless, if we think back to the notion that many of our heritage railway attractions have, do and will continue to rely to varying degrees on public funding and support, this issue is not irrelevant.

Product details

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Channel View Publications (May 8, 2014)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1845414373
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1845414375
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 14.7 ounces
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.85 x 0.67 x 8.27 inches
• #2,733 in Transportation Industry (Books)
• #3,729 in Railroad Travel Reference
• #5,663 in Railroads (Books)

Customer reviews

Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.

To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.

No customer reviews

• Amazon Newsletter
• About Amazon
• Accessibility
• Sustainability
• Press Center
• Investor Relations
• Amazon Devices
• Amazon Science
• Sell on Amazon
• Sell apps on Amazon
• Supply to Amazon
• Protect & Build Your Brand
• Become an Affiliate
• Become a Delivery Driver
• Start a Package Delivery Business
• Advertise Your Products
• Self-Publish with Us
• Become an Amazon Hub Partner
• › See More Ways to Make Money
• Amazon Visa
• Amazon Store Card
• Amazon Secured Card
• Amazon Business Card
• Shop with Points
• Credit Card Marketplace
• Reload Your Balance
• Amazon Currency Converter
• Your Account
• Your Orders
• Shipping Rates & Policies
• Amazon Prime
• Returns & Replacements
• Manage Your Content and Devices
• Recalls and Product Safety Alerts
• Conditions of Use
• Privacy Notice
• Consumer Health Data Privacy Disclosure
• Your Ads Privacy Choices

40 Facts About Elektrostal

Written by Lanette Mayes

Modified & Updated: 01 Jun 2024

Reviewed by Jessica Corbett

Elektrostal is a vibrant city located in the Moscow Oblast region of Russia. With a rich history, stunning architecture, and a thriving community, Elektrostal is a city that has much to offer. Whether you are a history buff, nature enthusiast, or simply curious about different cultures, Elektrostal is sure to captivate you.

This article will provide you with 40 fascinating facts about Elektrostal, giving you a better understanding of why this city is worth exploring. From its origins as an industrial hub to its modern-day charm, we will delve into the various aspects that make Elektrostal a unique and must-visit destination.

So, join us as we uncover the hidden treasures of Elektrostal and discover what makes this city a true gem in the heart of Russia.

Key Takeaways:

• Elektrostal, known as the “Motor City of Russia,” is a vibrant and growing city with a rich industrial history, offering diverse cultural experiences and a strong commitment to environmental sustainability.
• With its convenient location near Moscow, Elektrostal provides a picturesque landscape, vibrant nightlife, and a range of recreational activities, making it an ideal destination for residents and visitors alike.

Known as the “Motor City of Russia.”

Elektrostal, a city located in the Moscow Oblast region of Russia, earned the nickname “Motor City” due to its significant involvement in the automotive industry.

Home to the Elektrostal Metallurgical Plant.

Elektrostal is renowned for its metallurgical plant, which has been producing high-quality steel and alloys since its establishment in 1916.

Boasts a rich industrial heritage.

Elektrostal has a long history of industrial development, contributing to the growth and progress of the region.

Founded in 1916.

The city of Elektrostal was founded in 1916 as a result of the construction of the Elektrostal Metallurgical Plant.

Located approximately 50 kilometers east of Moscow.

Elektrostal is situated in close proximity to the Russian capital, making it easily accessible for both residents and visitors.

Known for its vibrant cultural scene.

Elektrostal is home to several cultural institutions, including museums, theaters, and art galleries that showcase the city’s rich artistic heritage.

A popular destination for nature lovers.

Surrounded by picturesque landscapes and forests, Elektrostal offers ample opportunities for outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, and birdwatching.

Hosts the annual Elektrostal City Day celebrations.

Every year, Elektrostal organizes festive events and activities to celebrate its founding, bringing together residents and visitors in a spirit of unity and joy.

Has a population of approximately 160,000 people.

Elektrostal is home to a diverse and vibrant community of around 160,000 residents, contributing to its dynamic atmosphere.

Boasts excellent education facilities.

The city is known for its well-established educational institutions, providing quality education to students of all ages.

A center for scientific research and innovation.

Elektrostal serves as an important hub for scientific research, particularly in the fields of metallurgy , materials science, and engineering.

Surrounded by picturesque lakes.

The city is blessed with numerous beautiful lakes , offering scenic views and recreational opportunities for locals and visitors alike.

Well-connected transportation system.

Elektrostal benefits from an efficient transportation network, including highways, railways, and public transportation options, ensuring convenient travel within and beyond the city.

Famous for its traditional Russian cuisine.

Food enthusiasts can indulge in authentic Russian dishes at numerous restaurants and cafes scattered throughout Elektrostal.

Home to notable architectural landmarks.

Elektrostal boasts impressive architecture, including the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord and the Elektrostal Palace of Culture.

Offers a wide range of recreational facilities.

Residents and visitors can enjoy various recreational activities, such as sports complexes, swimming pools, and fitness centers, enhancing the overall quality of life.

Provides a high standard of healthcare.

Elektrostal is equipped with modern medical facilities, ensuring residents have access to quality healthcare services.

Home to the Elektrostal History Museum.

The Elektrostal History Museum showcases the city’s fascinating past through exhibitions and displays.

A hub for sports enthusiasts.

Elektrostal is passionate about sports, with numerous stadiums, arenas, and sports clubs offering opportunities for athletes and spectators.

Celebrates diverse cultural festivals.

Throughout the year, Elektrostal hosts a variety of cultural festivals, celebrating different ethnicities, traditions, and art forms.

Electric power played a significant role in its early development.

Elektrostal owes its name and initial growth to the establishment of electric power stations and the utilization of electricity in the industrial sector.

Boasts a thriving economy.

The city’s strong industrial base, coupled with its strategic location near Moscow, has contributed to Elektrostal’s prosperous economic status.

Houses the Elektrostal Drama Theater.

The Elektrostal Drama Theater is a cultural centerpiece, attracting theater enthusiasts from far and wide.

Popular destination for winter sports.

Elektrostal’s proximity to ski resorts and winter sport facilities makes it a favorite destination for skiing, snowboarding, and other winter activities.

Promotes environmental sustainability.

Elektrostal prioritizes environmental protection and sustainability, implementing initiatives to reduce pollution and preserve natural resources.

Home to renowned educational institutions.

Elektrostal is known for its prestigious schools and universities, offering a wide range of academic programs to students.

Committed to cultural preservation.

The city values its cultural heritage and takes active steps to preserve and promote traditional customs, crafts, and arts.

Hosts an annual International Film Festival.

The Elektrostal International Film Festival attracts filmmakers and cinema enthusiasts from around the world, showcasing a diverse range of films.

Encourages entrepreneurship and innovation.

Elektrostal supports aspiring entrepreneurs and fosters a culture of innovation, providing opportunities for startups and business development .

Offers a range of housing options.

Elektrostal provides diverse housing options, including apartments, houses, and residential complexes, catering to different lifestyles and budgets.

Home to notable sports teams.

Elektrostal is proud of its sports legacy , with several successful sports teams competing at regional and national levels.

Boasts a vibrant nightlife scene.

Residents and visitors can enjoy a lively nightlife in Elektrostal, with numerous bars, clubs, and entertainment venues.

Promotes cultural exchange and international relations.

Elektrostal actively engages in international partnerships, cultural exchanges, and diplomatic collaborations to foster global connections.

Surrounded by beautiful nature reserves.

Nearby nature reserves, such as the Barybino Forest and Luchinskoye Lake, offer opportunities for nature enthusiasts to explore and appreciate the region’s biodiversity.

Commemorates historical events.

The city pays tribute to significant historical events through memorials, monuments, and exhibitions, ensuring the preservation of collective memory.

Promotes sports and youth development.

Elektrostal invests in sports infrastructure and programs to encourage youth participation, health, and physical fitness.

Hosts annual cultural and artistic festivals.

Throughout the year, Elektrostal celebrates its cultural diversity through festivals dedicated to music, dance, art, and theater.

Provides a picturesque landscape for photography enthusiasts.

The city’s scenic beauty, architectural landmarks, and natural surroundings make it a paradise for photographers.

Connects to Moscow via a direct train line.

The convenient train connection between Elektrostal and Moscow makes commuting between the two cities effortless.

A city with a bright future.

Elektrostal continues to grow and develop, aiming to become a model city in terms of infrastructure, sustainability, and quality of life for its residents.

In conclusion, Elektrostal is a fascinating city with a rich history and a vibrant present. From its origins as a center of steel production to its modern-day status as a hub for education and industry, Elektrostal has plenty to offer both residents and visitors. With its beautiful parks, cultural attractions, and proximity to Moscow, there is no shortage of things to see and do in this dynamic city. Whether you’re interested in exploring its historical landmarks, enjoying outdoor activities, or immersing yourself in the local culture, Elektrostal has something for everyone. So, next time you find yourself in the Moscow region, don’t miss the opportunity to discover the hidden gems of Elektrostal.

Q: What is the population of Elektrostal?

A: As of the latest data, the population of Elektrostal is approximately XXXX.

Q: How far is Elektrostal from Moscow?

A: Elektrostal is located approximately XX kilometers away from Moscow.

Q: Are there any famous landmarks in Elektrostal?

A: Yes, Elektrostal is home to several notable landmarks, including XXXX and XXXX.

Q: What industries are prominent in Elektrostal?

A: Elektrostal is known for its steel production industry and is also a center for engineering and manufacturing.

Q: Are there any universities or educational institutions in Elektrostal?

A: Yes, Elektrostal is home to XXXX University and several other educational institutions.

Q: What are some popular outdoor activities in Elektrostal?

A: Elektrostal offers several outdoor activities, such as hiking, cycling, and picnicking in its beautiful parks.

Q: Is Elektrostal well-connected in terms of transportation?

A: Yes, Elektrostal has good transportation links, including trains and buses, making it easily accessible from nearby cities.

Q: Are there any annual events or festivals in Elektrostal?

A: Yes, Elektrostal hosts various events and festivals throughout the year, including XXXX and XXXX.

Elektrostal's fascinating history, vibrant culture, and promising future make it a city worth exploring. For more captivating facts about cities around the world, discover the unique characteristics that define each city . Uncover the hidden gems of Moscow Oblast through our in-depth look at Kolomna. Lastly, dive into the rich industrial heritage of Teesside, a thriving industrial center with its own story to tell.

Was this page helpful?

Our commitment to delivering trustworthy and engaging content is at the heart of what we do. Each fact on our site is contributed by real users like you, bringing a wealth of diverse insights and information. To ensure the highest standards of accuracy and reliability, our dedicated editors meticulously review each submission. This process guarantees that the facts we share are not only fascinating but also credible. Trust in our commitment to quality and authenticity as you explore and learn with us.

Share this Fact:

Reduce Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation; target of Rs 811: Prabhudas Lilladher

Prabhudas Lilladher's research report on Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation

We cut our FY25E/FY26E EPS estimates by 1%/2% and downgrade Indian Railway Catering & Tourism Corporation (IRCTC IN) to ‘REDUCE’ (earlier HOLD) as we 1) re-align margin assumptions for the internet ticketing division given rising UPI share and 2) tweak our depreciation forecast amid capitalization of the new office building. IRCTC’s operational performance was below estimates with EBITDA margin of 31.4% (PLe 34.2%) led by a margin miss in the catering and internet ticketing divisions. We expect PAT CAGR of 8% over FY24-FY26E led by growth in the catering, rail neer and tourism divisions. IRCTC trades at 63x/60x our FY25E/FY26E EPS estimates, and we believe current valuations are expensive in light of 8% PAT CAGR over the next 2 years.

We downgrade to ‘REDUCE’ with a TP of Rs811 (earlier Rs825) after assigning a multiple of 47.5x (unchanged) over FY26E EPS. Earnings delta arising from catering division can result in earnings upgrade and is a key risk to our call.

For all recommendations report, click here

Disclaimer: The views and investment tips expressed by investment experts/broking houses/rating agencies on moneycontrol.com are their own, and not that of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.Indian Railway Catering and Tourism - 30052024 - prabhu

Most Americans are in support of public transit, but 3% use it to commute.

The COVID-19 pandemic took a massive toll on public transit, as commuter buses and trains were nearly empty during the early months of the pandemic. Passenger fares and other transit agency revenue dropped by 30% between 2020 and 2021. The federal government intervened, spending more than $69 billion in relief funds – five times the amount spent on public transportation in 2019, according to the Congressional Research Service.

This action saved thousands of jobs in an industry that employees more than 430,000 workers, according to American Public Transportation Association.

Although a majority of Americans are in support of public transportation and passenger rail, the share of people who use public transit everyday to commute to work is miniscule: 3.1%, to be exact.

Part of the reason that percentage is so small is because close to half of all Americans have no access to public transportation.

Here's a breakdown of public transit ridership and how Americans utilize transit:

How do people get to work?

The most recent year of commuter data shows that 3.1% of Americans used public transportation to travel to work. A majority of Americans drive alone to work. That percentage has been relatively consistent for the past decade up until 2020 when the pandemic shifted many jobs online.

According to the American Community Survey, in 2019, 75.9% of workers drove alone to work, compared to about 67.8% in 2021.

Although the rate increased slightly in 2022, it is significantly less than the share of Americans driving alone to work prior to the pandemic.

Carpooling was the second most common method of commuting to work between 2010 and 2019.

Between 2019 and 2021, the rate dropped from 8.9% to 7.8% in 2021.

Working from home was relatively uncommon until 2020. By 2022, it was the second most common response to the ACS commuting survey, behind driving alone.

Public transit ridership declined after the pandemic

About 70% of public transit commuters in the U.S. live in one of the following metro areas:

• Los Angeles
• Philadelphia
• San Francisco
• Washington, D.C.

Public transit ridership took a sharp decline after the COVID-19 pandemic and has yet to bounce back to pre-pandemic numbers.

The New York metro area has the most public transit commuters of any other U.S. metro area. Between 2019 and 2022, commuter ridership dropped by 700,000. A similar trend affected the Washington, D.C. metro area.

The number of transit commuters in 2022 was less than half of total commuters in 2019, according to the American Community Survey.

What occupations are popular among public transit riders?

Of the small portion of daily commuters who used public transit, a quarter were employed in education, health care or social service industries.

About 13% of public transit commuters worked in arts, entertainment, and food services.

Those working in armed forces had the smallest share of public transit commuters, with less than 1% representation.

• Yekaterinburg
• Novosibirsk
• Vladivostok

• Tours to Russia
• Practicalities
• Russia in Lists

Rusmania • Deep into Russia

Out of the Centre

Savvino-storozhevsky monastery and museum.

Zvenigorod's most famous sight is the Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery, which was founded in 1398 by the monk Savva from the Troitse-Sergieva Lavra, at the invitation and with the support of Prince Yury Dmitrievich of Zvenigorod. Savva was later canonised as St Sabbas (Savva) of Storozhev. The monastery late flourished under the reign of Tsar Alexis, who chose the monastery as his family church and often went on pilgrimage there and made lots of donations to it. Most of the monastery’s buildings date from this time. The monastery is heavily fortified with thick walls and six towers, the most impressive of which is the Krasny Tower which also serves as the eastern entrance. The monastery was closed in 1918 and only reopened in 1995. In 1998 Patriarch Alexius II took part in a service to return the relics of St Sabbas to the monastery. Today the monastery has the status of a stauropegic monastery, which is second in status to a lavra. In addition to being a working monastery, it also holds the Zvenigorod Historical, Architectural and Art Museum.

Belfry and Neighbouring Churches

Located near the main entrance is the monastery's belfry which is perhaps the calling card of the monastery due to its uniqueness. It was built in the 1650s and the St Sergius of Radonezh’s Church was opened on the middle tier in the mid-17th century, although it was originally dedicated to the Trinity. The belfry's 35-tonne Great Bladgovestny Bell fell in 1941 and was only restored and returned in 2003. Attached to the belfry is a large refectory and the Transfiguration Church, both of which were built on the orders of Tsar Alexis in the 1650s.  

To the left of the belfry is another, smaller, refectory which is attached to the Trinity Gate-Church, which was also constructed in the 1650s on the orders of Tsar Alexis who made it his own family church. The church is elaborately decorated with colourful trims and underneath the archway is a beautiful 19th century fresco.

Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral

The Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral is the oldest building in the monastery and among the oldest buildings in the Moscow Region. It was built between 1404 and 1405 during the lifetime of St Sabbas and using the funds of Prince Yury of Zvenigorod. The white-stone cathedral is a standard four-pillar design with a single golden dome. After the death of St Sabbas he was interred in the cathedral and a new altar dedicated to him was added.

Under the reign of Tsar Alexis the cathedral was decorated with frescoes by Stepan Ryazanets, some of which remain today. Tsar Alexis also presented the cathedral with a five-tier iconostasis, the top row of icons have been preserved.

Tsaritsa's Chambers

The Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral is located between the Tsaritsa's Chambers of the left and the Palace of Tsar Alexis on the right. The Tsaritsa's Chambers were built in the mid-17th century for the wife of Tsar Alexey - Tsaritsa Maria Ilinichna Miloskavskaya. The design of the building is influenced by the ancient Russian architectural style. Is prettier than the Tsar's chambers opposite, being red in colour with elaborately decorated window frames and entrance.

At present the Tsaritsa's Chambers houses the Zvenigorod Historical, Architectural and Art Museum. Among its displays is an accurate recreation of the interior of a noble lady's chambers including furniture, decorations and a decorated tiled oven, and an exhibition on the history of Zvenigorod and the monastery.

Palace of Tsar Alexis

The Palace of Tsar Alexis was built in the 1650s and is now one of the best surviving examples of non-religious architecture of that era. It was built especially for Tsar Alexis who often visited the monastery on religious pilgrimages. Its most striking feature is its pretty row of nine chimney spouts which resemble towers.

Plan your next trip to Russia

Ready-to-book tours.

Your holiday in Russia starts here. Choose and book your tour to Russia.

REQUEST A CUSTOMISED TRIP

Looking for something unique? Create the trip of your dreams with the help of our experts.

• State Bank Of India share price
• 905.80 9.12%
• Tata Steel share price
• 174.25 4.25%
• ICICI Bank share price
• 1,160.30 3.63%
• HDFC Bank share price
• 1,572.10 2.69%
• Power Grid Corporation Of India share price
• 337.70 8.97%
• HDFC Bank Share Price
• Reliance Industries Share Price
• TCS Share Price
• Infosys Share Price
• HUL Share Price

Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Railway stocks soar on exit polls; IRFC, RVNL among top gainers

Other railway stocks that saw gains included ircon international (6.26 per cent), rites (3.52 per cent), indian railway catering and tourism corporation (3 per cent), and texmaco rail & engineering (5.28 per cent)..

Indian railway stocks surged by over 13 per cent on Monday after several exit polls forecasted a decisive victory for the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government in the Lok Sabha Elections 2024. Leading the gains were Titagarh Rail Systems, reaching a 52-week high, along with Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) at 11 per cent, Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC) at 12.5 per cent, and Jupiter Wagons .

RVNL shares reached a new record high, and the company's market capitalisation surged to ₹ 85,000 crore.

Also read: Exit Polls Impact: 7 BSE Power stocks surge to record highs; Adani Power, NTPC lead with gains up to 19%

Other railway stocks that saw gains included IRCON International (6.26 per cent), RITES (3.52 per cent), Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation or IRCTC (3 per cent), and Texmaco Rail & Engineering (5.28 per cent).

If the Modi government retains power, the railways sector is anticipated to be a leading beneficiary. Many railway stocks have given multibagger returns in the last 12 months.

According to an average of 12 exit polls, the NDA is likely to win at least 363 seats this time. Although the NDA might not reach its ambitious goal of 'Abki Baar 400 Paar,' traders anticipate that the Nifty index will surpass 24,000 this week.

Also read: Suzlon Energy stock hits 5% upper circuit as Morgan Stanley sees 17% upside

Although exit polls place the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in a leading position, the final results are still pending. According to Hong Kong brokerage CLSA, a favourable outcome could boost investor confidence in India’s economic growth. This increased confidence might motivate investors to expand their investments beyond just stocks that are directly influenced by government policies.

Following the exit polls, it was anticipated that the market's reopening would trigger a bullish surge. The headline index, Nifty, reached a new all-time high of 23,338.70, climbing over 800 points. Meanwhile, the S&P BSE Sensex soared by 2778 points, achieving a new peak of 76,738.89.

INDIAN RAILWAY FINANCE CORPORATION

Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world 🌏 Click here to know more.

You are on Mint! India's #1 news destination (Source: Press Gazette). To learn more about our business coverage and market insights Click Here!

Get the best recommendations on Stocks, Mutual Funds and more based on your Risk profile !

Wait for it…

Log in to our website to save your bookmarks. It'll just take a moment.

You are just one step away from creating your watchlist!

Oops! Looks like you have exceeded the limit to bookmark the image. Remove some to bookmark this image.

Your session has expired, please login again.

Congratulations!

You are now subscribed to our newsletters. In case you can’t find any email from our side, please check the spam folder.

Subscribe to continue

This is a subscriber only feature Subscribe Now to get daily updates on WhatsApp

Open Demat Account and Get Best Offers

Start Investing in Stocks, Mutual Funds, IPOs, and more

• Please enter valid name
• Please enter valid mobile number
• Please enter valid email
• Select Location

I'm interested in opening a Trading and Demat Account and am comfortable with the online account opening process. I'm open to receiving promotional messages through various channels, including calls, emails & SMS.

The team will get in touch with you shortly

Wondrous Xinjiang: Thriving tourism in multi-ethnic street

Source: Xinhua

Editor: huaxia

2024-05-31 21:01:45

Residents of Russian ethnic group perform folk dance on Liuxing Street in Yining City, Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, May 28, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Fei)

URUMQI, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Strolling through the historic Liuxing Street, tourists are greeted by the sweat echo of traditional folk tunes, accompanied by joyful dance performances from local residents and the aroma of freshly baked bread.

Located in Yining City, Kazak Autonomous Prefecture of Ili, in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Liuxing Street features a unique hexagonal layout designed by a German engineer and built in the mid-1930s.

Over the past century, residents from various ethnic groups, including Han, Kazak, Hui, Uygur, Russian and Tatar, have lived harmoniously together here. Currently, it is home to more than 3,000 residents.

In 2014, the local government allocated an investment of 30 million yuan (about 4.2 million U.S. dollars) to initiate the protective and upgrade renovation project for the old street. Five years later, an additional 130 million yuan was pooled into the preservation and restoration of Liuxing Street and the city's culture and tourism department invested over 50 million yuan in 2022 to facilitate the development of tourism, according to Ma Liying, general manager of a tourism company in charging of the operation and management of scenic spot in Liuxing Street.

Today, the old neighborhood has been transformed into an ethnic cultural area, centered around historical buildings, traditional ethnic crafts as well as music and arts.

"We've seen an increasing number of tourists from across the country, as well as foreign visitors in recent years," said Ma, adding they came here to experience the integration of multiple ethnic communities.

The surge in tourism has also benefited the local economy. During this year's May Day holiday, Yining City received 692,700 domestic tourists, an increase of 27.55 percent year-on-year. This generated a tourism revenue of 433 million yuan, which represents a year-on-year growth of 59.88 percent.

At present, the scenic spot of the street hosts more than 300 guesthouses, dining establishments, handicrafts shops, hotels and specialty product stores. These businesses have created jobs for over 1,100 local employees, 890 of which are from different ethnic groups.

In the first quarter of 2024 alone, 21 new businesses were established, creating over 50 new jobs.

Zhang Xinyu, who opened a guesthouse in August 2021, now runs 14 rooms and offers meals, coffee and wine on the first floor. The guesthouse employs 10 workers from diverse ethnic backgrounds.

Other services such as car rentals, travel photography and customized itinerary planning have been provided for tourists.

Zhang said her guesthouses received about 3,000 tourists last year, including foreign travelers from Kazakhstan, Britain, the United States, Germany and Japan, which generated nearly 3 million yuan in revenue.

"The Belt and Road Initiative has brought more tourists and investors to Ili, boosting tourism and economic development. Additionally, by promoting the culture of the Silk Road, it has helped more people understand Xinjiang. This has greatly contributed to the economic development of Xinjiang," Zhang said.

"I really like the cozy neighborhood and enthusiastic residents here in Liuxing Street. I would like to come again and bring my family to explore the beauty of the vast Xinjiang," said Sun Li, a tourist from Shanghai. She chose to travel around the region by train with her daughter for a fresh and different experience.

"Increasingly convenient transportation linking the inland region, especially the opening of new flights and railway routes, has greatly benefited Yining. It has diversified travel options for tourists, particularly with the introduction of tourist trains, which have made positive contributions to the development of Xinjiang's trade, logistics, and tourism industries," Ma said.

Among the efforts to boost the tourism, Xinjiang's railway departments have been improving its services over the years. They plan to operate 106 tourist trains this year. As of May 30, 27 trains have already successfully operated, according to China Railway Urumqi Group Co., Ltd.

Xinjiang's tourism development has shown strong momentum in recent years. In 2023, Xinjiang received 265 million tourists, an increase of 117 percent. The tourism revenue reached 296.7 billion yuan, a growth of 227 percent. ■

Tourists enjoy a performance at an accordion museum on Liuxing Street in Yining City, Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, May 28, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Fei)

Explore Reutov

Explore our great value fares

Essential reutov.

Reutov Is Great For

Art & history.

Eat & drink

• LIVE DISCOURSE
• BLOG / OPINION
• SUBMIT PRESS RELEASE
• Advertisement
• Knowledge Partnership
• Media Partnership

Railways’ Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya signs MoU with Nokia, Plasser India, Jacobs to boost job skill

Gati shakti vishwavidyalaya, a vadodara-based central university of indian railway, signed three memorandums of understanding with nokia, plasser india and jacobs on monday at rail bhawan here to significantly strengthen the partnership between industry and academia..

Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya, a Vadodara-based central university of Indian Railway, signed three Memorandums of Understanding with Nokia, Plasser India and Jacobs on Monday at Rail Bhawan here to significantly strengthen the partnership between industry and academia. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who is the first Chancellor of Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV), thanked the three companies for coming forward for a collaboration that will benefit the students.

"I am glad that GSV is emerging as an institution at par with IITs in the country in such a short time. Today, three MoUs are being signed. It is an important milestone. I thank Nokia, Plasser India and Jacob for coming forward. Our approach is to focus on intense industry-academia partnerships. This will enable students to be job ready by their final year in the GSV institution," Vaishnaw said.

The first MoU, signed between Prof Manoj Choudhary (Vice-Chancellor, GSV) and Raghav Sahgal (President – Cloud and Network Services, Nokia), aims at focusing on collaboration with research in the domain of 5G/6G communications targeting air, land and sea transportation.

Prof Choudhary signed the second MoU with Siegfried Fink (Managing Director of Plasser India), which will provide an opportunity to collaborate in the area of track technology, promote industry experience and training for members of each party.

''It will also explore joint research opportunities in the transport and rail sector; provide internship and placement opportunities for the students of GSV,'' a senior railway official said.

Anil Relan (Vice President and Whole-time Director of Jacobs and Prof Choudhary inked the third MoU to enhance advancement in the field of research, teaching, and training activities pertaining to transport, rail and semiconductor sector. ''The MoU will also help in establishing center(s) of excellence in semiconductors, electronics manufacturing, and railways, including development of laboratories,'' the railway official said. Besides Railway Minister, the Chairman and CEO, Railway Board Jaya Varma Sinha and senior officials were present on the occasion. Experts from the field of rail transportation are of the view that with tremendous growth in the transportation and logistics sector as well as telecommunication sector, along with recent focus on semiconductor manufacturing in India, these MoUs are expected to create manpower for significant employment opportunities. GSV, which is an industry-driven and innovation-led university, entered into several collaborations with leading institutions and industries across the world such as AIRBUS, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, Nippon Koei, Siemens DPIIT, Karmayogi Bharat,VLSI Society of India, and Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport.

It has also partnered with IIM Mumbai, BITS Pilani, IIT Gandhinagar, IIT Jodhpur, NITTTR Bhopal, PGUPS Moscow, Indian Maritime University for academic support. GSV Vadodara was established through an Act of Parliament in 2022, for creating best in class manpower and talent for the entire transportation and logistics sectors.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

• READ MORE ON:
• Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport
• Karmayogi Bharat
• Jaya Varma Sinha
• NITTTR Bhopal
• Raghav Sahgal
• Memorandums
• Plasser India
• BITS Pilani
• Railway Board
• Siemens DPIIT

MoU signed among Extra C, AICTE, IIM Mumbai, and IIT Madras

Putin approves rostelecom's acquisition of nokia's jv stake, putin approves rostelecom's acquisition of nokia stake amid political tensions, nokia and gati shakti vishwavidyalaya collaborate on 5g/6g transportation research.

Global Health News: Breakthroughs in Cancer, Vaccines, and Biotech Issues

Saudi Arabia's Aramco Shares: Unexpected High Demand

Zelenskiy's Singapore Sprint: Securing Support and Peace

Global Security Dialogue: Dong Jun and Zelenskiy Take Center Stage

Latest news, countdown to decision: assam's lok sabha vote results day, study finds how low-dose aspirin eases inflammation caused by sleep loss, claudia sheinbaum: mexico's first female president, palestinians apply for ''state of palestine'' to join south africa's case at top un court accusing israel of genocide, reports ap..

OPINION / BLOG / INTERVIEW

Future of rural road infrastructure: building resilient road systems in nigeria, central asia embraces circular economy: a path to sustainable growth, from robots to problem-solving: effective teacher training for computational thinking, telemedicine and beyond: transforming public healthcare in peru with digital technologies, connect us on.

• ADVERTISEMENT
• KNOWLEDGE PARTNERSHIP
• MEDIA PARTNERSHIP
• Agro-Forestry
• Art & Culture
• Economy & Business
• Energy & Extractives
• Law & Governance
• Science & Environment
• Social & Gender
• Urban Development
• East and South East Asia
• Europe and Central Asia
• Central Africa
• East Africa
• Southern Africa
• West Africa
• Middle East and North Africa
• North America
• Latin America and Caribbean

OTHER LINKS

• Write for us
• Submit Press Release
• Opinion / Blog / Analysis
• Business News
• Entertainment News
• Technology News
• Law-order News
• Lifestyle News
• National News
• International News

OTHER PRODUCTS

Email: [email protected] Phone: +91-720-6444012, +91-7027739813, 14, 15

© Copyright 2024

• WEB STORIES New
• ENTERTAINMENT
• CAREER & CAMPUS
• INFOGRAPHICS
• T20 World Cup 2024

• Manorama Online
• Manorama News TV
• ManoramaMAX
• Radio Mango
• Subscription

Teenagers trapped near Alingal Falls safe: Rescue official explains why visiting waterfall can be risky

When six teenagers from Vadakkancheri began their journey on Sunday evening to Palakkad's Alingal waterfall, they probably hoped for a fun weekend. However, like in the film 'Manjummel Boys', a team of rescue officials had to bring them safety at night after a 1.5-hour-long operation. The boys, who had to cross the Kadappara stream (Kadappara thodu) to make it to the falls, got stuck on the other side after it was flooded in the evening rain.

Alingal Waterall aka Kadappara Falls is a popular spot among travel buffs on social media; the videos and photos attract a large number of likes and shares. The property where the water falls is nestled between Kadappara and the Thalikakkallu tribal colony and it's also located around 11 km from the Mangalam Dam. 

According to officials, the waterfall attract around 30 visitors daily, mostly from Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The boys headed to the falls around 5.30 pm and were rescued around 8.30 pm. While its stunning beauty can lure travellers, a visit to the spot can be risky if you do not take precautions, explains ASI Haries Babu of the Mangalam Dam Police Station, who was part of the rescue team. Here's what you should know before heading to the Alingal Falls. 

Frequent animal sightings Babu explains that the route till Mangalam Dam Junction is quite clear. "The topography changes from the Mangalam Dam Jn and frequent sightings of wild boars and elephants are often reported. While metal fences have been erected to prevent these animals from threatening the safety of tourists, visitors have to always keep an eye out for any wild animal."

Just two buses connect the busy Kochuveli railway station to Thampanoor: Why?

Monsoon schedule for trains on Konkan rail route released

Getting to the waterfall is also a tortuous affair as it involves crossing the Kadappara stream, which can get flooded any time during the monsoon season, he says. "While the waterfall becomes increasingly active and appealing during monsoon, we often advise tourists not to visit the place during torrential downpours. Incidents of people getting trapped on the other side of the stream have also happened in the past," said the official. 

Do not go after 5.30 pm After it gets dark, the stream and the forest surrounding it can be risky to people unfamiliar with the place. "Since there are no guides, people can get lost in the area after dark. We had asked the property owner earlier this year to set up barricades to deter people from visiting the spot in the rainy season, but apparently it was washed away in the flood waters," he said.

The number of visitors is going up in this area, every year. "If at all you wish to visit the place, it's better to go in August as the risks of flashfloods and animal sightings are minimal," the officer adds.

• Kerala Destinations
• Manjummel Boys

Mohanlal's birthday: Kerala tourism 'gifts' him Kireedam-fame Vellayani Bridge

Munnar's Escape Road: The legend of an interstate highway that disappeared

Meesapulimala beckons adventure lovers to its scintillating peaks

Munnar tourist season: Record temperature hits hill station, visitors disappointed

Thrissur Pooram: Kudamattam celebrates the festival with vibrant parasols

Explainer: What is Thrissur Pooram and how can tourists enjoy it?

Premalu, Manjummel Boys and Gaganyan to feature on Thrissur Pooram fireworks: Details

Thrissur Pooram on April 19: Details on tourist pavilions, safety arrangements, fireworks and more