As early as the 1500s, wagonways utilizing horses to haul wagons along wooden rails were being used in Germany to facilitate the transport of ore tubs to and from mines. In 1804, the first steam locomotive revolutionized the transportation of people and goods. In the ensuing years, as rail technology improved, extensive networks spread throughout Europe and North America. By the 1890s, electric power became practical and more widespread, allowing for the electrification of many lines and the development of extensive underground subway systems. By the 1950s, diesel and electric power had replaced steam power on most of the world's railroads. Since then, the allure of high-speed passenger services has grown, and by the late 20th century, a number of state-of-the-art systems, including Shinkansen in Japan, Train à Grande Vitesse (TGV) in France and Eurostar in Western Europe, had been constructed.

Today, the vital need for advanced rail services remains, as highway congestion, overcrowded airports and rising fuel costs provide an increased incentive for the expansion of freight and passenger rail systems. Speed and limited delays and cancellations make rail an attractive option for passengers, while the low-cost transport of freight makes rail an ideal mode for moving high volume-to-value products. As a result, after 200 years, railroads remain a leading transportation mode in many countries. Canada's 49,422-kilometer-long railway network accommodates more than 60 million passengers and 350 million tons of freight annually. In India, over five billion passengers, including nearly seven million daily in Mumbai, and more than 350 million tons of freight are transported annually. Japan's railways carry more than 22 billion passengers and 52 million tons of freight annually. And, in China, 2.4 million passengers use trains daily, with over two billion tons of freight transported annually. Rail transport is also widespread in France, where 31,840 kilometers of rail lines exist; Great Britain, where there are 33,000 kilometers of rail; Germany, whose railway network exceeds 41,000 kilometers; and Russia, where there are 85,500 kilometers of rail. In the United States, railroads annually carry nearly two billion tons of freight, more than 40 percent of the nation's total freight transportation, and nearly three billion passengers on more than 200,000 miles (321,800 kilometers) of track.

Over the next 10 years, rail traffic is expected to grow 20 percent worldwide, and as demand increases, planners and engineers must embrace technological improvements to usher the rail industry into the future using state-of-the-art methods to increase the speed, safety and efficiency. This will include improving train utilization and schedules; the introduction of increased automation; advanced rolling stock and hybrid traction; new track tunnels and bridges; improved signalization and controls; and system electrification. To address environmental concerns, engineers must develop solutions to reduce power consumption and rights-of-way requirements, lessening the amount of land necessary for rail infrastructure, and better assess potential socioeconomic and adverse cultural resources and environmental impacts.

The Berger Group has successfully provided freight, rail and transit advisory services worldwide for more than 50 years, from designing ambitious new networks to providing innovative operational improvements. In this issue of BergerWorld, we highlight some of our most recent accomplishments in this increasingly important field.