Sunday, September 5, 2010

From Lightning train to InterCity



That is the translation of the title of this book marking 75 years of Danish high speed train services between major cities in the country. The first Lyntog diesel-powered multiple unit sets were introduced in 1935, undoubtedly influenced by the Flying Hamburger sets introduced on German railways two years previously.

The famous DSB poster from 1937 made a feature of the sets' 120 km/h speed, which has been increased about 50% in Denmark in the years since, and a lot more by the electric multiple unit high speed trains in France and Germany, the TGV and ICE respectively. Transport in Denmark has always been hampered by the expanses of water between its many islands; 1935 also saw the opening of the Lillebælt (Little Belt) bridge between Jutland and Funen -- but it was another 63 years before the Storebælt (Big Belt) bridge between Funen and Zealand was opened, thus enabling trains to travel from Copenhagen to Jutland without the need for a ferry trip. This was further improved with the opening of the Øresund bridge between Copenhagen and Malmö (Sweden) in 2000.

In its 192 pages this hardback book manages to present an impressive number of historic and more recent photos, plans and memorabilia in colour and b/w which provide a visual feast of railway interest for those who can't read the Danish text.

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