Rail fleet
Trans Polar Railways super train fleet.
Rated at 600km/h after a major upgrade, the ICX, Orbis and TGX fleet are known amongst railfans as land-jets because of fast journey times which average out at 400km/h for a trip from Valeria Port Aurora to South Sands in the south. During the off-peak times, Trans Polar run a the service from South Sands to Valeria Port Aurora with just one stop at Peace Valley, to cover the 550kms takes just 1 hour 15 minutes.
ICX v1
ICX v2
TGX v1
TGX v2
TGX v3 - Diesel powered TGX
Orbis
Orbis Diesel
Orbis R300
Orbis R300 early livery
Orbis R400
comuter trains
These are also international certified, and have the capability to serve nations surrounding the Confederacy, serving lesser lines
Electric Multiple Units.
MEA- multiple electric articulated
M4E
M3E
Diesel Multiple Units
2DM - 2
2DM-5 5-car DMU
Locomotive based trains
3E2 hauled train
2E2-2 hauled passenger service
2E2-2 hauled articulated passenger carriages
2E3-2 HST
2E3-3 HST
2E3-4 HST
2E2-5 HST (sleeper train)
2E2-7 HST
2E2-9 talgo
2E2-10 locomotive hauled train
ICX/2E2 hybrid HST
In the 1950s and 1960s, with the jet age and the age of nuclear power, Trans Polar was not to be left out, an experimental turbine powered HST was developed along with plans for a nuclear powered steam locomotive, though that concept never left the paper stage. a full scale mock-up however was built in 2009 for the Peace Valley Railway museum to show visitors what the locomotive would have looked like. The turbine powered HST however proved to be quite successful, though only 3 were ever built, they remained in service until 2005, two were cut up for scrap, The third HST remains as a museum piece and is on display at the Peace Valley Railway Museum along side the Prototype Orbis and X-train. This HST, despite it being a museum exhibit is however still capable of being run and periodically gets run as a tourist train.
As well as regular and high speed services serving all cities of the Aurora Confederacy, The premier service of Trans Polar Railways is the NORTHERN LIGHTS EXPRESS which runs from Novaya Zemlya every 2 hours to Valeria Port Aurora which only stops at the following stations:
Khayr Zemlyalsk (end of line)
Khayr Rai'lal
Khayr South Sands
Khayr Peace Valley International Airport
Khayr Valeria Port Aurora (end of line).
The service gives passengers plenty of time to take in the scenery on the limited stop high speed service, as due to speed restrictions on the bridge, the 600km/h HSTs that serve the line are restricted to 320km/h, once in the valleys of the main islands the speeds are allowed to rise, with the service reaching its 600km/h top speed between Khayr Rai'Lal and Khayr South Sands. On the west coast, the speed is generally around 300 to 400km/h due to the west coast line being busy with other traffic.
Each seat has its own power point and USB connection for charging of mobile phones and power supply for Laptop computers, as well as internet connectivity. The main difference betwen First and Standard class is First class cars sit 3 abreast with wider seats, with tables having table lights.
Electrical power provided is 110 volts Direct Current, the standard electrical voltage found in Aurora Confederacy domestic homes
Do not use AC appliances without an invertor
For those who do not have mobile phones, each car comes equipped with a payphone in the vestibule area, charges are 10 Northern Dirham per minure (0.10 Northern Dinars) for a call to a geographic land line within the Aurora Confederacy, 15 Northern Dirham per minute for a call to a cell phone, and 30 Northern Dirham for an international call.
To keep passengers comfortable, coaches are double glazed and air conditioned, keeping the temperarure within comfortable lmits, and to smooth out the ride, all cars have bi-ride running gear, giving coil suspension between the axles and the truck bodies, and either steel or air suspension between the truck bodies and the carriage itself, this makes for a very smooth ride. Talgo coaches of the ICX and TGX, along with the Orbis family also tilt into corners, improving passenger comfort on twisty routes and allowing for a slightly faster journey time.
Food:
seen here is a plate of steak and fries, typical of the meals you can expect to be served on the Northern Light Express, such a meal with a cup of tea or coffee will cost a mere 5 Northern Dinars, around $6USD.
Ethnic meals are also catered for, as are vegatarian meals, all of which are cooked to the highest standard. Furthermore you do not have to be in first class to get the meal brought to your seat.
Typical prices:
330ml Can of soda- 60Dirham
500ml Can of soda- 1 Northern Dinar
pot of tea- 130 Dirham
cup of tea - 80 Dirham
cup of coffee - 90 Dirham
600ml glass of soda 120 dirham
bar of chocolate - 60 dirham
3 course meal - 5.00 Northern Dinars
There are 100 Dirham to the Dinar
Security and Safety
Safety is something that TransPolar prides itself with, each train is fully inspected every 2 weeks to ensure that each train is in tip top condition. Added to that, each train has 9 on board security attendants, each attendant is fully trained in first aid and safe restraint. All luggage is stored in blast proof lockers so you're in safe hands.
Summer Steam
Steam specials sell for around 50Northern Dinars for a circular trip from Peace Valley to Rai'lal, then returning via Freedom City and Khayr Angelsk, running via Longyearbyen and sell out very quickly, so because of popular demand throughout the summer, there are around 15 such steam specials. Typically such a trip will take 36 hours, so the rear half of each train is comprised of sleeper cars, though the last car is an observation car with an open rear deck, allowing passengers if they fancy to ride outside, and yes some passengers do.
Future plans:
Trans Polar Railways hopes to secure services from the Aurora Confederacy, to all destinations across Russia, using Russian Gauge tracks (accessed by Talgo/Renfe designed Gauge switching equipment) to span ALL of Russia, as well as standard gauge links down into Europe and eventually right down into South Africa, however due to the narrowness of Cape Gauge, Trans Polar will have to lay its own tracks. Currently the political situation does not permit such an extention of service beyond southern Europe.
TRANS POLAR AIRWAYS
Trans Polar's airline operation dates back to 1928, flying mail and government VIP and personnel, Originally flying Ford Tri-Motor and later Boeing 314 Clipper for international and Douglas DC3 for domestic services, the company prided itself on its first class service, and quickly gained a reputation for high quality service. During the second world war, operations ceased for civilians, but the company continued flying government personnel. In December 1945, operations began again, flying the Douglas DC4, DC3 and Boeing 314 clipper aircraft. These were all phased out when Boeing brought out the 377 Stratocruiser, which remained in service until the 707 came to the market place. These were replaced in the mid 1980s with the Mc.Donnell Douglas DC10-30.
During the Boeing 707 era, Trans Polar operated 16 707 and 8 ex BOAC Dehaviland Comet jet airliners, however the 707 proved to be the better aircraft though 2 comet MK4 still remain in service as special use aircraft. The Boeing 377 that was kept by Trans Polar has been returned to airworthy condition and during its rebuild every part was remapped allowing replacement parts to be made by Project Aurora.
Airline fleet
Fleet:
76 Mc.Donnel Douglas DC10-30
2 Dehaviland Comet 4 (historic)
1 Boeing 377 Stratocruiser (historic)
The two Dehaviland Comet aircraft have been repainted in the original BOAC livery that the aircraft wore before coming to Trans Polar, including their original UK registrations. These aircraft fly during the summer, though between Summer 2008 and 2010 the two aircraft were grounded for restoration. these aircraft were built in 1959 and 1962 and have many hours under their wings, so Transpolar took the decision to completely rebuild them to keep these Historic birds flying. Trans Polar generally keeps these aircraft for the movie industry.
From anywhere within the Aurora Confederacy, an on line ticket can be booked to any Trans Polar destination, allowing you to use use the rail system to get to the airport on your airline ticket, passengers inbound can also book onward destinations with Trans Polar to allow them to take the train, bus or taxi to their final destination after leaving the airport.
With the regular freezing over of ports in winter, and the sinking of the MV Mystic Allure, a passenger ferry that was sailing between the port of Rai'Lal to Novaya Zemlya, Trans Polar started on the construction of what has to be one of the biggest engineering projects of the day, a bridge covering the 300m deep Arctic Ocean from Rai'lal to Novaya Zemlya, and a bridge from Novaya Zemlya to the Russian mainland. This bridge took over 10 years to build and openned in to traffic in the 1980s, today it carries 8 trains per hour, with freight trains reaching up to 5 miles in length. It has two high speed tracks and two low speed tracks for freight trains.
Khayr Rai'lal is also the city needed to book a tour of the bridge, from the observation centre there are excellent views in clear weather of the city and the ocean, as well as the brige going off to the eastern horizon. During the polar night, you can also view the northern lights from the observation lounge that is above the revolving restaurtant 500m up from the ground.
The operating home of Trans Polar is Khayr Peace Valley with the rail maintainance yard being based there along with the Aircraft maintainance hangars, The airport at Peace Valley is situated on top of the railway station, allowing passengers to move quickly and efficiently between plane and train. The Airport is also in the heart of the city, giving passengers a view of the city as they fly in or depart. For a link to the airport visit www.peacevalleyinternational.fly for more information.
OOC: Pony and fantasy nations, note; fantasy beings (dragons, ponies, non humans (including cyborgs) etc), can't cross into this universe and write from their perspective, as it's based on modern day Earth
