High-speed Rail
High-speed rail (HSR) is a transportation system designed to move passengers and goods at significantly higher speeds than traditional trains, typically operating between 200 and 350 kilometers per hour (124 to 217 miles per hour), with some systems achieving even greater speeds. These rail systems are primarily used for passenger transport, especially in urban areas, and they can help alleviate road congestion while offering a more environmentally friendly alternative to air and road travel. The first high-speed rail line was introduced in Japan in 1964 with the famous "bullet train," and since then, HSR has expanded globally, particularly in Asia and Europe, with China boasting the largest network as of 2021.
High-speed rail technology includes both electric trains, which often rely on overhead power supply, and diesel-electric locomotives. In recent years, maglev systems have also emerged, utilizing magnetic levitation to achieve even higher speeds. While HSR systems offer numerous benefits, such as energy efficiency and economic growth, challenges remain, including the high costs of building dedicated tracks and integrating with existing transportation infrastructure. Nevertheless, regions with established high-speed rail networks have experienced enhanced accessibility and economic development, making HSR a compelling mode of transportation for many.
High-speed Rail
High-speed rail refers to a transportation system that uses technology to move people and goods much more quickly than traditional train systems can. High-speed rail systems operate between 200 and 350 kilometers per hour (km/h), or between 124 and 217 miles per hour (mph); some can achieve even higher speeds. Both the rails used and the trains themselves may be specially designed and built for speed.
Most high-speed rail systems are designed to move passengers, especially commuters in urban areas. Ready access to efficient, quick rail systems generally reduces congestion on city roadways. High-speed rail systems also are generally more environmentally friendly because they are more energy efficient than air or road transportation.
History
The first high-speed rail system debuted in 1960. French Railways' 200 km/hr (124 mph) Le Capitole serviced the Paris to Toulouse route. Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States soon added faster trains, and other European nations quickly followed.
The most well-known of the early rapid transit trains was the "bullet train" in Japan. A special electrified line was built to deliver visitors to Tokyo for the 1964 Summer Olympics. Construction of 515 km (321 mi) of dedicated tracks began in 1959 and was completed in 1964. Though the population vehemently opposed the expensive project, the people soon embraced the high-speed rail system. The bullet trains, with engines that resemble bullets, traveled at up to 210 km/h (130 mph) and could complete the run in three hours and ten minutes. Later modifications expanded the rail network and increased the train speeds. Fifty years after the first bullet train began its run, Japan's passenger rail system transported tens of millions of people a year, according to Next City.
In Europe, the focus was on developing trains that could use existing rail lines rather than on building a system from scratch. The 1981 Train à Grande Vitesse in France set a new world speed record of 380 km/h (236 mph). In 2007, a French TGV train set the world record for fastest rail speed on steel wheels at 474.8 km/h (357.2 mph). The record still stands as of 2022.
The creation and opening of the Channel Tunnel in 1994 further fueled the demand for high-speed rail in Europe. The tunnel under the English Channel connected the United Kingdom to France and, therefore, the rest of Europe. While the tunnel was under construction, France built an electrified rail line. In the United Kingdom, however, the track system dated to the Victorian era; it was 2007 before the new High Speed 1 line improved these tracks.
The US railway system is also hampered by old, existing rail lines. Experts say the cost of building dedicated track systems is too high to be profitable or practical. High-speed train travel in the United States is limited to sections of existing lines where trains can reach up to 241 km/h (150 mph). One such route is between Washington, DC, and Boston.
High-speed rail systems have undergone tremendous expansion in many parts of the world, especially Asia and the Middle East. China in particular has greatly expanded its high-speed rail systems.
In September 2017, six years after a fatal collision prompted lowering of operating speeds, a Beijing-Shanghai train resumed operations at 350 km/h (217 mph), which remains the top operating speed for passenger rail in the world. In 2021, China reportedly had the largest high-speed rail network in the world, with 150,000 kilometers (93,200 miles) of track.
Types of High-speed Systems
Most diesel locomotives are diesel-electric engines because they have electric transmissions. The engine produces mechanical energy, and a transmission system coverts it to electrical power. Traction motors use the electricity to turn the train's axles or wheels. Diesel-electric trains are most practical where construction of overhead power supplies for electric trains is too costly.
Many electric trains rely on overhead power supplies. The engines themselves generate no power; a power station generates power and feeds it to the system through cables called catenariesand contact wires. The engine is fitted with a power-collector device. Electric trains are common in Europe and many other parts of the world. The Class 395 Javelin made in Japan has been designed for a variety of situations. It may use an overhead power supply or third-rail electricity. The Javelin has a power car at the front and another at the back.
Maglev (magnetic levitation) systems have no axles, gear transmissions, or wheels; no rails; and no overhead power supplies. These monorail trains rely on magnetic force between pairs of electromagnetic coil arrays. The coils in the guideway walls create a magnetic field that works with the coils in the track to propel the train. Though the idea is quite old—it was patented in 1934—a maglev system was not tested until 1987. In 2015, an experimental maglev in Japan set a new speed record of 603 km/h (374 mph) during a test run, breaking its previous record of 581 km/h (361 mph) in 2003. The record stands as of 2022
Environmental and Economic Factors
Several factors hinder development of high-speed rail systems. One significant concern is the track system. In many countries, high-speed trains travel on existing tracks, which they share with slower passenger and freight trains. While building dedicated tracks for high-speed trains is enormously expensive, these systems are generally more successful because the faster passenger trains are able to proceed more quickly. At the same time, when freight trains do not have to share their track systems, traffic is often more efficient. Experts estimate that by removing one high-speed passenger train from a line, three freight trains can be added to the dedicated freight lines. Other significant factors include the cost of construction and connection to other infrastructure, such as public transit in city centers. The high-speed rail authority in California has faced several lawsuits over these factors, as well as for not mitigating its environmental impact, that have stalled the state's ability to build a high-speed rail.
High-speed rail systems offer several advantages. According to the Environmental Law & Policy Center, high-speed rail systems are safer than other forms of travel. They are also more energy efficient on a per-passenger basis: three times as energy efficient as cars and six times as efficient as planes. Even trains that burn fossil fuels produce fewer carbon emissions than other forms of transportation. Emissions are greatly reduced in areas where commuters would otherwise drive short and medium distances every day. In many parts of Western Europe and East Asia, high-speed rail service is competitive with air travel in terms of travel time and pricing for distances under one thousand kilometers, or about six hundred miles.
In Japan, where high-speed rail systems have been in operation the longest, many businesses have chosen to locate along the bullet train network. As regions become more accessible via the fast trains, more tourists visit them, bringing local economic benefits.
Quality of life in Japan has also improved due to the high-speed rail systems. Bullet trains not only have improved transportation and the economy but also have given residents of far-flung towns and villages access to cultural events including art exhibitions, concerts, and theater.
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