BOStrab and VDV Publications - Exceedingly Good

Dear Readers,

Every three months, I ask myself what could interest you in the Editorial. This time round, I was talking to a new member of staff in our subsidiary in Bridgeport, PA, USA about tram and streetcar technology. I recommended he familiarize himself with the German ordinance on the Construction and Operation of Street Railways, which we call BOStrab.

I also suggested he read the recommendations and rules published by the Association of German Transport Companies (VDV). It was when recommending these rulebooks that I was reminded of the significance of these great works, and I thought they would be a good topic for this Editorial.

The BOStrab is a unique set of rules for light-rail vehicles and tramways used by public transport companies in Germany and also worldwide by transit operators and industrial companies like HANNING & KAHL.

New public transport companies or relatively young operators always have questions about technology, maintenance, safety and other topics. BOStrab and the related VDV publications provide a solid basis for their daily work. The Association of German Transport Companies has done a great job, for which we can be very grateful.

It is astonishing that I had to travel to the USA to be reminded of this. Truly amazing!

Christian Schmidt
Managing Director