V.A. Profillidis is Professor of Transportation Engineering at Democritus Thrace University, Xanthi, Greece. He has acted as a consultant on many railway projects, with 30 years of research, teaching, and professional experience in Railway Planning, Management, and Engineering. He has published 10 books and over 200 papers in scientific journals and conference proceedings. He has served as advisor to the Greek Ministry of Transport, the Greek Railways, and the Greek Ministry of Public Works. He has also been a research associate in the Research Department of the International Union of Railways (UIC) and in the French Railways (SNCF). He holds a Diploma in Civil Engineering, a Diploma in Law, both from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, a D.E.A. and a Ph.D. from Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées of Paris, France.

Preface, List of Abbreviations, 1. Railways and Transport, 2. High Speeds, Magnetic Levitation and Hyperloop, 3. Policy and Legislation, 4. Forecast of Rail Demand, 5. Costs and Pricing, 6. Planning and Management of Railways, 7. The Track System, 8. Mechanical Behavior of Track, 9. Subgrade - Geotechnical and Hydrogeological Analysis, 10. The Rail, 11. Sleepers - Fastenings, 12. Ballast, 13. Transverse Effects - Derailment, 14. Track Layout, 15. Switches, Tracks in Stations, Marshaling Yards, 16. Laying and Maintenance of Track, 17. Slab Track, 18. Train Dynamics, 19. Rolling Stock, 20. Diesel and Electric Traction, Hydrogen Trains, 21. Signaling - Automations - Interoperability, 22. Safety - Level Crossings, 23. Enviromental Effects of Railways, List of References, Index