TO: All APTA Members
FROM:
William W. Millar
President
DATE: April 29, 2005
SUBJECT: Summer 2005
Study Mission To France And Germany
I am pleased to invite
you to join a select group of APTA members who will take part in our study mission
this summer focusing on new light rail and DMU technologies and vehicles being
implemented in France and Germany, July 10-16. The participants in the mission
will meet in Paris on July 10 and conclude their program in Frankfurt on July
16. The study mission will also visit Bordeaux, France and the Vectus, Kahlgrundbahn,
Cologne, Kassel, and Frankfurt transit systems in Germany.
The mission will start out with a visit to Bordeaux, a city of 700,000 people
with a rich historical and architectural heritage, to view the new LRT system
serving the city. The system utilizes an innovative new ground level power source
to replace overhead power lines in architecturally sensitive areas. The next day
will be spent in Paris, hosted by APTA member RATP, where the group will tour
the driverless Meteor line, the new Line 2 LRT operations and learn about the
new vehicles transit riders will be using in Paris in the near future.
Moving on to Germany on Tuesday afternoon, the mission will stay in Cologne (Köln),
Germany's fourth largest city with one million inhabitants, for two nights. With
a transit network over 185 km long, the citizens of this 2000 year old Rhineland
city use LRT, metro and commuter rail trains to reach their destinations. From
Cologne, a visit will be made to the suburban commuter Westerwald-Tanus network,
which passes through some of Germany's most beautiful countryside which began
operations on four lines around the city of Limburg in 2004. We will also visit
Siemens Wegberg-Wildenrath test center that provides comprehensive rail automation,
infrastructure and rolling stock testing services of Siemens and other manufacturers.
The
concluding days of the mission will take the participants to Kassel to learn about
the innovative diesel-electric hybrid tram/trains being developed. These tram/trains
will enable passengers to travel by rail from suburban areas directly into the
city's center without having to change trains. The group will also visit Alstom's
Salzgitter plant where they are built. They will also visit transit operations
in Frankfurt, a city of 650,000, that is the financial and commercial capital
of Germany, and the suburban commuter services operated outside of Frankfurt by
Kahlgrundbahn.
SUMMER 2005 STUDY MISSION TO FRANCE AND
GERMANY 2
This study mission will be a unique cultural
and learning experience promoting information sharing, networking and business
opportunities for participating industry members. We hope to have a balanced mix
of transit system and business members participating.
The
cost of the study mission will be $2,500.00 including local and intercity transportation
in both countries, and first-class hotels, including breakfast. Several sponsored
meals are being planned during the study mission. Participants will also be responsible
for the cost of, and arranging for their own travel to and from Europe. APTA's
travel agency is available to assist with travel arrangements for mission participants
upon request. Participants should plan to arrive at the designated hotel in Paris
no later than 5:00 p.m., on July 10. A program booklet with system and city profiles,
as well as the mission itinerary, will be provided prior to departure.
The size of the study mission is limited to a maximum of 15 participants for logistical
reasons, and we expect the trip to be over subscribed. To ensure your space, we
ask that you complete the attached reservation form and return it to APTA no later
than May 20 with a deposit of $500. The balance is due June 10. The study mission
reservation deposit is refundable if the trip is cancelled or over subscribed.
If you have any questions, please contact Fran Hooper, APTA's Director of Member
Services, at 202-496-4876 or fhooper@apta.com.
We look forward to having you join us for this exciting opportunity.
WWM/mc
Enclosure
APTA INTERNATIONAL STUDY MISSION
July 10 - 16, 2005
Reservation
Forms
Word
Version (right click on link and save into your computer for editing)
Printable
pdf Version
Fran Hooper
Director-Member Services
American Public
Transportation Association
1666 K Street, N.W., Suite 1100
Washington, D.C.
20006
FAX - 202-496-4331
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