Once an almost impenetrable barrier between France and Spain, the Pyrenees are shortly to be climbed and pierced by an electric railway now under construction. A connecting link is being built between the Southern Railway of France and the Spanish railway system, joining France with the whole of Spain. It is planned to connect Toulouse, in France, with Barcelona direct, while further west a line is to be built linking Pau with the Spanish city of Jaca. The French portion of this line is to be electrified mainly on account of the many tunnels there encountered, the severe curves, and the almost continuous grade of 4.3 per cent. The electrification is being accomplished in two sections, one from Pau to Bedous, and the other forward from Bedous to Canfranc. The first section is already completed, the equipment including three sub-stations with 750kw., 1,575 volt direct current sets, each set comprising two rotary converters in series.

Progress in Switzerland.

While Spain and France are energetically pushing ahead with electrification proposals, much greater progress is being made in mountain-locked Switzerland, the greatest railway centre in Europe, whose railways form the pivot upon which depend trans-Continental services innumerable. The Budget proposals for the Swiss railways for 1928 provided for an expenditure of 49.7 million francs upon constructional works. The first stage of the Swiss Government Railways electrification will be completed this year, and this will enable considerable reductions to be effected in the outlay on the acquisition of material and construction. The cost of the current year's electrification is put at about 15 million francs, as compared with 40 millions for 1927.

At December 31, 1927, the Swiss Government Railways operated approximately 1,000 miles of electrified track, to which there will be added about 100 miles during 1928. By the end of the present year some 60 per cent. of the Swiss Government Railways will have been converted to electricity. After 1928 a pause will intervene in the electrification plan, this halt being designed to allow of a more gradual reduction in the staff and in the number of steam locomotives which are being replaced by electric traction in the new era. The Swiss Government Railways are among the most efficiently managed and operated transportation undertakings in the world. By means of electrification a great deal is being done to retain business to rail which would otherwise be captured by the road carriers, and trans-Alpine travel is also being immensely stimulated by the replacement of steam by electrification.

New Type Of Discharging Truck For The German Railways.

Development of Goods Wagons.

One of the most interesting features associated with the working of freight traffic in recent years is the steady growth which has been witnessed in the carrying capacity of goods wagons of all types. Of all the world's railways, those of America stand out as leaders in the employment of the high-capacity freight wagon, but in Britain and on the Continent of Europe generally a great deal has been accomplished in this direction. The London and North Eastern and Great Western Railways now utilise high-capacity wagons on a big scale for the conveyance of general merchandise and coal, and vast economies are thereby secured in operation. Across the Channel it is on the German railways that the greatest progress has been made in this field.

High-capacity wagons of a new type have recently been acquired by the German railways for the carriage of coal from Upper and Lower Silesia and the Ruhr to Berlin and other centres. These wagons are constructed of silicon-steel and have a tare weight of 19 tons and a carrying capacity of nearly 60 tons. The wagons are fitted with roller bearings and automatic brake equipment, and the base of the truck is of saddle-shape, and gives immediate total discharge of contents upon release of either side chutes. Seventeen loaded 60-ton wagons normally form a complete train, which has a total length of 190 yards, as compared with the 630 yards covered by 68 trucks of 15 tons capacity. Specially reduced conveyance rates are applicable to coal traffic carried in full train loads in this way, in a similar fashion to the rating privileges granted high-capacity wagon users at Home by the Great Western line.

Business Methods in Italy.

Under the government of Mussolini rapid strides have been made in recent times by the Italian Government Railways, which are now run on essentially business lines. In three years a railway deficit of £12,000,000 has been turned into a profit of £2,000,000, and all over Italy the most ambitious plans are under way for the development of the Government railway system.

The 12,500-mile Italian railway system of today broadly comprises two main trunk routes running north-west and south-west, one on either side of the land, an intricate network of lines serving the whole of northern Italy, a distinct system serving the island of Sicily, and a small self-contained railway system in Sardinia. In the past few months there has been great activity in railway construction in northern Italy, primarily with the idea of stimulating the trade of the great ocean gateway of Genoa. The Italian Government Railways are aiming at building a new trans-Alpine line, running through the Stelvio Pass and the district of Resia, to connect in the shortest and quickest manner Genoa and the capitals of Central Europe. It will also join the port of Venice with the principal European centres. The Italian Government Railways give employment to something like 173,000 workers, and the railways of the land are this summer being called upon to handle an exceptionally heavy tourist business.

Viborg Passenger Station, Finland.

The Land of a Thousand Lakes.

Next to Italy, the European country which is drawing probably the biggest amount of new business in tourist travel is picturesque Finland, “land of a thousand lakes,” and the near neighbour of stricken Russia. The railways of Finland are Government owned, and are about 4,000 miles in extent. The first railway opened in Finland connected Helsingfors with Hameenlina, and dates back to 1862. The management of the Finnish Government Railways forms a central board of government under the Ministry of Communications and Public Works. It consists of a president, a vice-president, and nine chiefs of departments. Passenger traffic forms 40 per cent. of the business handled, and all the through expresses include in their make-up the luxurious cars of the International Sleeping Car Company. Coal is a scarce commodity in Finland, and the traveller through this beautiful corner of Europe finds cause for constant wonder in the quaint-looking wood-burning locomotives, with their huge chimneys, which are largely employed for train haulage. Helsingfors and Viborg are the principal stations on the Finnish railway system, and an interesting feature of post-war development is the co-ordination of rail, road and water transport which has been accomplished everywhere throughout the country.