Interstate High Speed Rail Competitors

Global Economic Competitors are building their version of Interstate High-Speed Rail and Rapid Transit systems faster than America. They do so because it yields massive benefits to society and the environment. America delays HSR, Regional Rail, and Rapid Transit construction at its competitive peril.

Throughout history, transportation advances have accelerated economic growth for cities, regions, and nations. In 1811, England pioneered the first practical train service between cities and seaports. In 1863, London built the world’s first Metro Rail subway system. Both transportation advances helped England’s economy outpace every other nation.

Passengers traveling within regions power their economies as much as freight movements. When passenger travel is delayed due to traffic congestion, their economic productivity slows. When Transportation Productivity lags in today’s competitive global economy, millions of jobs are at stake.

Our Global Economic Competitors accelerated construction of electric-powered Passenger Rail minimizes their need for intercity highway and airport expansion while increasing economic productivity. In 1964-65, the High-Speed Rail (HSR) version of Passenger Rail was delineated as 124+ mph (200+ kph). Regional Rail typically ran at 81-112 mph (130-180 kph).

With technical advancement since then, most Global Economic Competitors consider HSR to be 149-217 mph (240-350 kph) and Regional Rail typically runs at 112-143 mph (180-230 kph). This short video illustrates the progress of nations building 124-217 mph electric-powered Passenger Rail. Note that 1000 kilometers equals 621 miles.

America is being left in the dust. In 2024, we will have less than 300 miles operating at 125-160 mph in the Northeast Corridor and another 30-35 miles operating at 125 mph in Florida. Even with a recent commitment to Passenger Rail Infrastructure, America will operate less than 700 miles of 125-220 mph Passenger Rail by 2030.

Global Economic Competitors Enjoying More Passenger Rail Benefits

America’s Global Economic Competitors are quickly expanding HSR and Regional Rail for these massive Transportation benefits:

1. High Capacity, Space-Efficient Alternative to Highways: A modern 186 mph HSR route can transport as many passengers as a 10-lane freeway plus two airports.

CAPACITY: Passenger Rail vs. Highway + Airports

PASSENGER CAPACITY: Passenger HSR vs. Highway + Airports; source U.S. High Speed Rail Association

2. Time-Saving Alternative to Regional Flights: HSR time savings convert most regional flyers in 150-550-mile corridors to train riders.

3. HSR lets Airports & Airlines Focus on Longer Flights over 550 Miles: Which reduces taxpayer-funded airport expansions.

4. Regional Rail trains can use HSR Track: HSR infrastructure also enables better regional train service to smaller cities every 25-50 miles.

5. Expand Access to Affordable Housing: HSR & Regional Rail let workers commute from further distances where housing is cheaper.

6. Safer Travel: The HSR, Regional Rail, Commuter Rail, Metro Rail & Trams combination saves millions of lives from automotive accidents each year.

7. Transportation-Oriented Development: HSR, Regional Rail, Commuter Rail, Metro Rail & Trams at intermodal transportation centers attract retail, office & hotel development in cities.

8. Less Imported Oil for Transportation: HSR, Regional Rail, Commuter Rail, Metro Rail & Trams reduce oil consumption and cuts national trade deficits from imported oil.

Many passengers have learned that HSR Travel up to 3 1/2 hours saves time vs. Air Travel. The latter averages 3.75 hours when you combine Flight Time with Airport Queue Times (baggage check, security, wait to board, on-boarding, runway taxi before the flight, runway taxi after the flight, off-boarding, baggage claim, walk to curb for pick-up by car OR wait for car rental bus, rent a car, then drive to a central city destination).

Global Economic Competitor: CHINA

China opened its first 67 miles of 186 mph HSR service to connect venues for the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics. In 2023, China leaped to 26,100 miles of 155-217 mph Regional Rail & HSR transporting over 1 billion passengers per year. That nation continues investing $46 billion/year in Regional Rail & HSR with the goal of 43,000 Regional Rail & HSR miles by 2035. By then, China plans to anchor a Trans-Asia HSR Network spreading to India, Southeast Asia, North Korea, Russia, and Turkey.

China High Speed Rail Network 2020

China High Speed Rail Network 2020; source Wikipedia

Global Economic Competitor: JAPAN

From 1964 to 2023, Shinkansen HSR system in Japan has grown to 1759 miles operating at 149-199 mph top speeds. Since opening day, it has transported over 10 billion passengers through an earthquake and typhoon country with zero passenger fatalities. Its ridership is a resounding success.

In late 2024 or 2025, Japan will introduce the ALFA-X train that better adapts to weather extremes and earthquakes. It will likely operate up to 217 mph on Japan’s straightest HSR route while consuming the same energy as today’s Shinkansen at 199 mph.

Since Japan has completed over 90% Shinkansen HSR system and is a linear nation, it had the luxury of simultaneously developing a 311 mph MagLev line between Tokyo and Nagoya slated to open by 2028, followed by an extension to Osaka by 2038. No other wealthy democratic nation has a combination of a near-complete HSR System and a hyper-dense population (65+ million) in a sub-300-mile corridor to cost justify MagLev construction before 2050.

Japan HSR Map 2017

Japan HSR Map 2017; source Wikipedia

Global Economic Competitor: SOUTH KOREA

In 2004, South Korea opened the first HSR line between its two largest cities, Seoul and Busan. In 2023, South Korea expands to 763 HSR miles. By 2035, South Korea will have over 1000 miles of 155-217 mph HSR blanketing its high-population corridors.

Global Economic Competitor: INDIA

India has a 199 mph, 316-mile HSR route under construction planned to open in 2026, followed by the second stage in 2028. That densely populated country is using Japanese technology to build four more 199 mph HSR routes for an additional 2,070 miles anticipated to open in 2031 and significantly more mileage by 2041.

India High-Speed Rail National Plan

India High-Speed Rail Plan as of 2023; credit Footy2000/Wiki Commons 3.0

Global Economic Competitor: SOUTHEAST ASIA

Using Chinese funding, Indonesia just opened its first 217 mph, 89-mile HSR route with a longer extension in planning. As part of its Belt & Road Initiative, China is helping to fund a Kumming-Singapore HSR route connecting China, Laos, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore by the mid-2030s.

Global Economic Competitor: EUROPE

Most American visitors are amazed by transportation lifestyles in advanced Asian and European nations, where residents have higher usage of HSR, Regional Rail, Commuter Rail, Metro Rail, Trams, local buses, and bikeways. They should also know that HSR is “Apex Ground Transportation Infrastructure” that sets schedules for Regional Rail, Commuter Rail, Metro Rail, Trams, and local buses.

France: This nation, centering European HSR, will have 1740 miles of 186-199 mph HSR in time for the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics. By 2035, France will blanket its nation with over 2700 miles of 186-224 mph HSR connecting with thousands of 137 mph Regional Rail miles to smaller cities. Hundreds of European cities will be within a 3.5-hour HSR or Regional Rail ride from France’s two largest metro areas, Paris and Lyon.

Spain: No European nation has embraced HSR more than Spain, which opened its first HSR line in 1993. Building an astonishing rate, Spain’s AVE HSR Network passed 2251 miles of 186-193 mph service in 2022. By 2040, Spain will blanket its nation with 3045 HSR miles of 186-217 mph service, two HSR connections to France, two HSR connections to Portugal, plus several hundred miles of Regional Rail service.

Italy: In 2022, Italy had 605 miles of 155-186 mph HSR. Its oldest high-speed line (Rome-Florence) is being upgraded to 168 mph and more frequent service. By 2032, an LGV line under the Alps from France to Italy open. Italy is on pace for 1000 miles of 155-186 mph HSR along with a thousand miles of 137 mph Regional Rail blanketing its nation by 2040.

Germany: In 2022, Germany reached nearly 1900 miles of 155-186 mph service. By 2035, about 2500 miles of 155-186 mph ICE HSR plus several thousand miles of 137-143 mph ICE Regional Rail will blanket the nation. By 2040, Germany will connect more 143-186 mph Passenger Rail to France, Belgium, Switzerland, Denmark, Austria, Czechia, and Poland.

Switzerland. In 2020, this small nation opened three lengthy tunnels supporting 124-143 mph Regional Rail through the Alps to shrink travel times. By 2035, Switzerland will have nearly a thousand miles of 124-143 mph Regional Rail interconnecting France, Italy, Germany, and Austria.

Belgium & Netherlands: In 2020, these Dutch countries reached 417 miles of 155-186 mph HSR service. By 2035, Belgium and the Netherlands will have over 500 miles of 155-186 mph HSR, including interconnections to France and Germany.

United Kingdom: In 2023, the UK has a 186 mph Eurostar HSR to Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam, a 143 mph Regional Rail to the western UK, and a bevy of 124 mph routes. In 2031, the 220 mph London-Birmingham HSR route opens. By 2040, the UK will have 1500+ miles of 124-217 mph Regional Rail & HSR.

Europe High-Speed Rail Map 2023

Europe High-Speed Rail Map 2023; source Wiki Commons

Portugal, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Ireland, Austria, Poland, Czechia, Greece, and Turkey have several HSR lines in operation, under construction, and planned. By 2040, Europe will have over 50,000+ electric Passenger Rail miles running 124+ mph.

Part 3 of this series illuminates a more compelling rationale to accelerate the construction of HSR, Regional Rail, and Rapid Transit infrastructure worldwide.

Part 3: Interstate High Speed Rail Rationale

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