Railway Improvements in France.

The intimate working arrangements in operation between the English and French railways render of especial interest a most comprehensive improvement plan just launched by the French Ministry of Public Works. This plan involves the spending of something like #35,000,000 on railway betterments during the next eight years, and covers almost every branch of railway engineering and operation.

First of all the overhaul of the whole of the French signalling system is to be undertaken. Then, the quadrupling of many of the principal main traffic arteries, and the reconstruction of the principal freight marshalling yards is to be tackled. The Paris passenger termini are to be enlarged and brought into line with modern requirements, while much station rebuilding is to be undertaken in the provinces. Steel passenger carriages are to be built to replace existing wooden stock, and new freight cars of special design are to be introduced. The abolition of level-crossings is another aim, while last but not least there is to be a complete overhaul of the train despatching arrangements throughout the country. Railway transport in France already attains a very high standard. On the completion of the new betterment plan France will be the happy owner of a railway system second to none throughout Europe.