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Higher-speed rail (HrSR)[a] is used to describeinter-city passenger rail services that have top speeds higher than conventional rail but not fast enough to be calledhigh-speed rail services.[4][5] The term is also used by planners to identify the incremental rail improvements to increase train speeds and reduce travel time as alternatives to larger efforts to create or expand the high-speed rail networks.[6]
Though the definition of higher-speed rail varies from country to country, most countries refer to rail services operating at speeds up to 200 km/h (125 mph).[7]
The concept is usually viewed as stemming from efforts to upgrade a legacy railway line to high speed railway standards (speeds in excess of 250 km/h or 155 mph), but usually falling short on the intended speeds. The faster speeds are achieved through various means including new rolling stock such as tilting trains, upgrades to tracks including shallower curves, electrification, in-cab signalling, and less frequent halts/stops.[8]
As with thedefinitions of high-speed rail, the definition varies by country. The term has been used by government agencies,[9] government officials,[10] transportation planners,[11] academia,[12] the rail industry,[13] and the media,[14] but sometimes with overlaps in the speed definitions. Some countries with an established definition of higher-speed rail include:
| Agency / Council | Top speeds (mph) | Ref |
|---|---|---|
| California Department of Transportation | Up to 125 | [22] |
| Minnesota Department of Transportation | Greater than 90 but less than 125 | [23] |
| North Central Texas Council of Governments | 80–150 | [11] |
| Oklahoma Department of Transportation | 110–125 | [24] |
| Texas Department of Transportation | 110–125 | [24] |
| Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation | Up to 110 | [19] |
In Canada, the assumption about grade crossing is that operating higher-speed rail services between 160 and 200 km/h (99 and 124 mph) would require "improved levels of protection in acceptable areas".[25]
In the United States, railroad tracks are largely used for freight withat-grade crossings. Passenger trains in many corridors run on shared tracks withfreight trains. Most trains are limited to top speeds of 79 mph (127 km/h) unless they are equipped with an automaticcab signal,automatic train stop,automatic train control orpositive train control system approved by theFederal Railroad Administration (FRA).[26] In developing higher-speed rail services, one of those safety systems must be used.
Additionally, the FRA establishesclassification of track quality which regulates the speed limits of trains with Class 5, Class 6, Class 7 and Class 8 for top speeds of 90 mph (145 km/h),[27] 110 mph (175 km/h), 125 mph (200 km/h) and 160 mph (255 km/h), respectively.[28] The FRA also regulates passenger train design and safety standards to ensure trains that operate at speeds of 80 mph (130 km/h) up to 125 mph (200 km/h) comply with itsTier I standard and trains that operate at speeds up to 150 mph (240 km/h) comply with itsTier II standard.[29]
Another limitation is the safety ofgrade crossings (also known aslevel crossings,flat level crossings, non-grade-separated crossings) which limits how fast trains can go. FRA regulations set speed limits for tracks with grade crossings as follows:[30] Level crossings are generally the most dangerous part of the railway network with a large number of fatal incidents occurring at a grade crossing.
In Europe, the limit is often 160 km/h (100 mph) over grade crossings.[31] InSweden there is a special rule permitting 200 km/h (125 mph) if there are barriers and automatic detection of road vehicles standing on the track.[32] In Russia 250 km/h (155 mph) is permitted over grade crossings.[33] The United Kingdom has railway lines of 200 km/h (125 mph) which still use grade crossings.
With the above limitations, many regional transportation planners focus on rail improvements to have the top speeds up to 110 mph (175 km/h) when proposing a new higher-speed rail service.[21]
In countries where there had been rail improvement projects in the later part of the 20th century and into the 2000s, there are inter-city rail services with comparable speed ranges of higher-speed rail, but they are not specifically called "higher-speed rail". Below are some examples of such services that are still in operation.
Somecommuter rail services that cover shorter distances may achieve similar speeds but they are not typically called as higher-speed rail.[19] Some examples are:
There are many types of trains that can support higher-speed rail operation. Usually, the rail infrastructure needs to be upgraded prior to such operation. However, the requirements to the infrastructure (signalling systems, curve radii, etc.) greatly increase with higher speeds, so an upgrade to a higher-speed standard is often simpler and less expensive than building new high-speed lines. But an upgrade to existing track currently in use, with busy traffic in some segments, introduces challenges associated with the construction work that could potentially disrupt the train services. The followings are some strategies used by regional transportation planners and rail track owners for their rail improvement projects in order to start the higher-speed rail services.
InVictoria, Australia, the increased top speeds from 130 to 160 km/h (80 to 100 mph) in theRegional Fast Rail project required a change to the signalling system to account for increased braking distance. Prior to the project, the system comprised a mixture of equipment from pre-World War I mechanical signalling to the remote control systems of the 1980s. In some cases, operators needed to telephone the local operators to manually control the signal boxes. With the new speeds, the signalling needed to be computerized. The project employed theSolid State Interlocking with the newly laidfiber-optic communication between the components to use three computer systems to control the signals. When the output of one computer differs from the other two, the system will fail that computer and continue the signal operations as long as the outputs from the other two computers are consistent. The project deployed theTrain Protection & Warning System which allows the system to automatically applies the brakes at a sufficient distance to stop the train if the driver does not control the speeds adequately. The project also incorporated Train Control and Monitoring System to allow real-time monitoring of the position of trains.[49]
In the United States, the first step to increase top speeds from 79 mph (127 km/h) is to install a new signal system that incorporates FRA-approved positive train control (PTC) system that is compatible with higher-speed rail operation.[50] They are bothtransponder-based andGPS-based PTC systems currently in use in the United States. By a mandate, a significant portion of the railroads in the United States will be covered by PTC by the end of 2015.[51]
To support trains that run regularly at higher speeds, the rails need to be reliable. Most freight tracks havewooden ties which cause rails to become slightly misaligned over time due to wood rot, splitting andspike-pull (where the spike is gradually loosened from the tie).[52] Theconcrete ties used to replace them are intended to make the track more stable, particularly with changes in temperature.[53] Rail joints are also an issue, since most conventional rail lines use bolts and fishplates to join two sections of the rail together. This causes the joint to become slightly misaligned over time due to loosening bolts. To make for a smoother ride at higher speeds, the lengths of rail may be welded together to formcontinuous welded rail (CWR). However, the continuous welded rails are vulnerable to stress due to changes in temperature.[54]
In Australia, the track condition before the Regional Fast Rail project could only support trains up to speeds of 130 km/h (80 mph). The tracks are with mixture of wooden and concrete ties. Therail weight varies but with majority being 47 kg/m (95 lb/yd). The track upgrade in the project included changing to use concrete ties and to use new standard of rail weight at 60 kg/m (121 lb/yd) in order to support the new top speeds of 160 km/h (100 mph).[55]
There may be restriction in maximum operating speeds due totrack geometry of existing line, especially on curves. Straightening the route, where possible, will reduce the travel time by increasing the allowable speeds and by reducing the length of track. When straight routes are not possible, reducing the number of curves and lowering thedegree of curvature would result in higher achievable speeds on those curves. An example is the elimination of three consecutivereverse curves in favor of one larger curve. Raisingsuperelevation may be considered for sharp curves which significantly limit speed. The higher speeds on those modified curves, together with the higher superelevation, will require track modification to havetransition spirals to and from those curves to be longer.[56]
Oldturnouts may need replacement to allow trains to run through the turnouts at higher speeds. In the United States, some old turnouts have speed limit of 20 mph (30 km/h). Even with newer turnouts (rated #20), the diverging speed limit is still at 45 mph (70 km/h) which would significantly slow down the higher-speed train passing through those sections. High-speed turnouts (rated #32.7) are capable of handling maximum diverging speeds of 80 mph (130 km/h).[57][58][59]
In order to minimize the downtime to upgrade tracks, atrack renewal train (TRT) can automate much of the process, replacing rails, ties, and ballast at the rate of 2 miles per day. In the United States, a TRT is used byUnion Pacific Railroad on the track shared with future higher-speed rail service in Illinois area.[60][61]
For electrified track, the oldcatenary may need to be replaced. The fixed-tension catenary which is acceptable for low speeds may not be suitable for regular higher-speed rail services, where aconstant tension is automatically maintained when temperature changes cause the length of the wire to expand or contract.[62]
With trains running at higher speeds throughout the route, safety at all at-grade crossings needs to be considered.
In Australia, the levels of upgrade of the crossing in the rail improvements project were based on the risk analysis. The improvements included flashing light protection,automatic full barriers protection, and pedestrian gates crossings. The project also introduced the use of rubber panels at the crossings.[49]
In the United States, the FRA limits train speeds to 110 mph (175 km/h) without an "impenetrable barrier" at each crossing. Even with that top speed, the grade crossings must have adequate means to prevent collisions. Another option isgrade separation, but it could be cost-prohibitive and the planners may opt for at-grade crossing improvements instead.[30]
The safety improvements at crossings can be done using combination of techniques. This includes passive devices such as upgraded signage and pavement markings. Another low-cost passive device ismedian separators which are installed along the center line of roadways, extending approximately 70 to 100 feet from the crossing, to discourage drivers from running around the crossing gates. More active devices include thefour-quadrant gate, which blocks both sides of each traffic lane. Longer gate arms can cover 3/4 of the roadway. Video cameras can also be installed to catch the violators. A signal monitoring system can also be installed to alert the crews when the crossing equipment has malfunctioned.[63]
In Norway, grade crossing speed are not permitted to exceed 160 km/h (100 mph).[64]
In areas where there is frequent interference between freight and passenger trains due to congestion which causes the passenger trains to slow down, more extensive improvements may be needed. Certain segments of the line in congested areas may need to be rerouted. New track may need to be laid to avoid many curves which slow down the trains. In stretches of heavy freight train traffic, addingpassing sidings along the segment should be considered. Sometimes certain stations may need to be bypassed.[65]
Another consideration iselectrification. Electrifying a railway line entails a major upgrade to the rail infrastructure and equipment. On the infrastructure side, it requirescatenary lines to be built above the tracks. New transmission lines are needed to carry power from the power plants.Substations are required for each of the 40-mile (64 km) lengths to reduce severe voltage losses. There is also a need to consider the required amount of power supply and new power plants may be required. For locomotives, new electric locomotives are needed or existingdiesel-electric locomotives can be retrofitted into all-electric locomotives, but it is a complicated task.[66] These factors cause electrification to have high initial investment costs. The advantages of all-electric locomotives are that they provide quieter, cleaner and more reliable operations than the diesel-electric counterpart. The fuel consumption, locomotive maintenance costs and track wear of all all-electric locomotives are also lower.[67] Furthermore, electric traction makes the operator more independent of oil price fluctuations and imports, as electricity can be generated from domestic resources or renewable energy. This was a major consideration in the electrification of theGerman Democratic Republic network, aslignite (and therefore electricity) was cheap and plentiful domestically whereas oil had to be imported at world market prices.[citation needed]
An alternative to catenary lines is to use athird rail system which has a semi-continuous rigid conductor placed alongside or between the rails of a railway track. However the operating speeds of this type of systems cannot be greater than 100 mph (160 km/h) due to its limitation of the power supply gaps at turnouts and grade crossings. Therefore, the third rail system is not generally used for higher-speed rail.[68]
One example in the United States that does involve electrification is the Keystone Improvement Project to provide higher-speed rail service along theHarrisburg–Pittsburgh segment of theKeystone Corridor inPennsylvania. The plan includes additional track, a new signal system and electrification. If completed as planned, this would allowAmtrak to utilize electric power continuously on service fromPhiladelphia to Pittsburgh. The first segment ("Main Line") has already been usingelectric locomotives with a top speed of 110 mph (175 km/h).[69]
This is the list of the current higher-speed intercity and long-distance trains. For the list of trains with a top speed 110 mph (177 km/h) and above, seeHigh-speed rail in the United States.
| Service name | Route | Operator | Current Top speed | Average speed | Route length (miles) | Equipment | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas Eagle | Chicago–Los Angeles | Amtrak | 100 mph (161 km/h) | 55 mph (89 km/h) | 2,728 | Diesel-electric locomotive-hauled coaches | [70] |
| Southwest Chief | Chicago–Los Angeles | Amtrak | 90 mph (145 km/h) | 55 mph (89 km/h) | 2,256 | Diesel-electric locomotive-hauled coaches | [71] |
| Pacific Surfliner | Los Angeles–San Diego | Amtrak | 90 mph (145 km/h) | 55 mph (89 km/h) | 130 | Diesel-electric locomotive-hauled coaches | There is a study in place to increase maximum speed to 110 mph (177 km/h) when funding is available.[72] |
In 1999, the concept ofRegional Fast Rail project was initiated by the government of Victoria with a goal to provide express higher-speed rail services between four main regional centres of Victoria (Geelong,Ballarat,Bendigo and theLatrobe Valley) andMelbourne. The initiative included a key component to upgrade rail infrastructure to have top speeds up to 160 km/h (100 mph). The development phase of initiative was between 2000 and 2002. Finally, the services on four lines began between 2005 and 2006 with top speeds of 160 km/h usingVLocity trains.[73] Additionally,Queensland Rail'sTilt Train, theProspector andNSW TrainLink's XPT all have a top service speed of 160 km/h (99–100 mph).[74][75][76]
The New South Wales XPT (short for Express Passenger Train) is the main long-distance passenger train operated by NSW TrainLink on regional railway services inNew South Wales, Australia fromSydney toDubbo,Grafton, andCasino as well as interstate destinations,Brisbane andMelbourne. The XPT is based on theBritish Rail designedHigh Speed Train and entered service in April 1982. It came to fruition in January 1978 when thePublic Transport Commission invited tenders for 25 high-speedrailcars similar to theProspector railcars delivered byComeng to theWestern Australian Government Railways in 1971. Comeng's proposal for a train based on the InterCity 125 was announced as the successful bidder in October 1976.
The Tilt Train is the name for two similartilting train services, oneelectric and the otherdiesel, operated byQueensland Rail on theNorth Coast line fromBrisbane toRockhampton andCairns. In May 1999 theElectric Tilt Train set an Australian train speed record of 210 km/h (130 mph) north ofBundaberg, a record that still stands.[77][78]
TheTranswa WDA/WDB/WDC class are a class of railcars built byUnited Goninan,Broadmeadow forTranswa in 2004–05 to replace theWAGR WCA/WCE class railcars on theAvonLink andProspector services inAustralia. They are capable of high-speed operation.
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In China, higher-speed railways are railways that are not officially categorized as high-speed rail but allowCRH EMUs run on it with speeds up to 200 km/h.[79] Typically these lines are classified as Grade I conventional railways and are used by both passenger and freight services.
Note that the majority of high-speed lines are also called "passenger-only"(Chinese:客运专线) lines. Inside mainland China this word invokes a sense of higher-speed rail but the wording usage is inconsistent.
Identifiers starting with G indicates at least part of the train's route operates at a maximum 300 km/h or above (this is a characteristic of the line rather than the precise maximum speed of this exact train) and not running at deliberately reduced speed on any section. Other sections of the route may have lower speeds as low as 160 km/h.
Identifiers starting with C indicates short-distance travel using CRH trains, the maximum speed is irrelevant (ranging from 160 km/h Ürümqi-Korla service to 350 km/h Beijing–Tianjin (via intercity) service).
Identifiers starting with D indicates CRH services with maximum speed 265 km/h or less, including overnight sleepers on 310 km/h Beijing–Guangzhou line (running them 310 km/h overnight not only causes noises but also disturbs sleeping patterns of passengers. This is an example of deliberately reduced speeds).
Identifiers starting with S indicates metropolitan services using CRH rolling stock and have a different fare system to the national one. Their maximum speed is 160 km/h.
Note: The start and end station in the following lists accounts only CRH services.* denotes some section of this line doesn't have 160 km/h CRH services.
| Line name | Line name (Chinese) | start station | end station | Train identifiers | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Xinjiang* | 南疆线(吐库二线段) | Turpan/Turpan North | Korla | C T K Y none | |
| Lanzhou–Xinjiang (West)* (includingSecond track) | 兰新线西段(北疆线) | Ürümqi | Bole | C T K Y | Bole station where Boltala Prefecture branch splits is no longer a passenger stop.[80] |
| Jinghe–Khorgos | 精伊霍铁路 | Jinghe South | Khorgos | C T K Y | |
| Boltala Prefecture branch | 博州支线 | Bole | Boltala | C T K Y | |
| Liuyuan–Golmud* | 柳格线柳敦段 | Yumen | Dunhuang | D K Y none | No CRH train from/to Dunhuang stops at Yumen. |
| Changchun–Baicheng Baicheng–Arxan* | 长白·白阿线(长乌段) | Changchun | Ulanhot | C Z K | |
| Hohhot–Ordos | 呼鄂线 | Hohhot East | Ordos | D Z K | |
| Beijing Suburban: Huairou–Miyun | 北京市郊怀密线 | Qinghe | Gubeikou | S | |
| Beijing Suburban: Sub-Center | 北京市郊副中心线 | Liangxiang | Qiaozhuang East | S | |
| Tianjin–Jizhou | 津蓟铁路 | Tianjin | Jizhou North | S | |
| Beijing–Qinhuangdao | 京秦线(京哈线) | Beijing | Qinhuangdao | D Z T K Y | Bothconventional andhigh-speed services has some detouring to Tianjin instead. |
| Xiong'an Area | 雄安地区动车 | Shijiazhuang | Beijing South | D Z T K Y | Section betweenXushui East andBazhou West is high-speedTianjin–Baoding intercity railway(mixed traffic). G class trains running solely on aforementioned section is not counted. Section between Shijiazhuang and Xushui East isBeijing–Guangzhou railway. Section between Bazhou West and Beijing South isBeijing–Kowloon railway. |
| Northern Tongpu Quadruple Track* | 北同蒲三四线 | Huairen East | Yuanping West | D Z K | Part ofDatong-Xi'an high-speed line. |
| Beijing–Shanghai Overnight Sleepers | 京沪动卧 | Beijing | Hangzhou | D | 2/1/3 pair(s) of trains between Beijing and Shanghai/Nanjing/Hangzhou daily. Trains to Hangzhou have section between Kunshan and Hangzhou runs viaShanghai–Kunming railway and does not stop at Shanghai. |
| Longkou–Yantai | 龙烟线 | Longkoushi | Yantai | D | |
| Nanjing–Qidong* | 宁启线南启段 | Nantong | Qidong | D | Section between Nanjing and Nantong is 200 km/h |
| CR Shanghai Suburban (Shaoxing) | 上海局市域(绍兴) | Qianqing | Shangyu | S | Locally administered |
| CR Shanghai Suburban (Ningbo) | 上海局市域(宁波) | Ningbo | Yuyao | S | Locally administered |
| Dazhou–Chengdu* | 达成线成遂段 | Dazhou | Suining | D Z T K | Section between Suining and Chengdu is 200 km/h |
| Xiangyang–Chongqing* | 襄渝线达渝段 | Dazhou | Chongqing North | D T K | |
| Nanchong–Gaoxing | 南高线 | Nanchong | Gaoxing | D | Gaoxing station connects to Dazhou-Chongqing but is not a passenger stop |
| Shimen County–Changsha | 石长线 | Shimenxian North | Changsha | D T K | |
| Kunming–Hekou* | 昆玉河铁路(标准轨) | Yuxi | Hekou North | C K | CRH service between Yuxi and Kunming South run onKunming–Yuxi intercity railway (200 km/h) |
| Shanghai–Kunming* | 沪昆线宣昆段 | Xuanwei | Kunming | C Z T K none | |
| Litang–Zhanjiang* | 黎湛线贵玉段 | Guigang | Yulin | D T K none | |
| Shejiang–Shantou* | 畲汕线潮汕至汕头 | Chaoshan | Shantou | G D K |
| Line name | Line name (Chinese) | start station | end station | Train identifiers | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shanghai Area: Jinshan | 金山线 | Shanghai South | Jinshanwei | S[81] | |
| Zhongchuan Airport intercity | 中川机场城际 | Lanzhou West | Zhongchuan Airport | C D | Lanzhou Area only except a single round trip to/from Tianshui South. |
| Beijing Subway Daxing Airport Express | 北京地铁大兴机场线 | Caoqiao | Daxing Airport | Not exist | Not part ofChina Railway System. |
| Baotou-Xi'an* | 包西线西延段 | Xi'an | Yan'an | D Z T K | Different fromBaotou–Xi'an high-speed railway (under construction). |
| Nanjing–Chengdu* | 宁蓉线宜凉段 (宜万铁路) | Yichang East | Liangwu | G D Z K | Passenger service branches atLichuan. |
| Lanzhou–Chongqing | 兰渝铁路 | Lanzhou | Chongqing North | G D Z K | |
| Changsha–Zhuzhou/Xiangtan | 长株潭城际铁路 | Changsha West | Zhuzhou South/Xiangtan | C | |
| Guiyang–Kaiyang | 贵开城际铁路 | Guiyang North | Kaiyang | C | |
| Guiyang Loop Line | 贵阳市域铁路环线 | Loop Line | C | ||
| Guangzhou-Shenzhen (quadruple track) | 广深线(城际线) | Foshan West | Shenzhen | C D | Through operation toHuaiji (Guiyang–Guangzhou high-speed line), it operates at 180 km/h. |
| Line name | Line name (Chinese) | start station | end station | Train identifiers | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jining–Baotou quadruple track* | 集包第二双线 | Jining South | Hohhot East | Z T K none | The section between Hohhot East and Baotou is high-speed rail. The section between Jining South and Hohhot differs fromZhangjiakou–Hohhot high-speed railway (all of this line's D class service is transfterred to it). |
| Taiyuan–Zhongwei/Yinchuan Corridor | 太中银通道 | Taiyuan | Zhongwei/Yinchuan | Z T K none |
This section lists the deliberately reduced scenarios mentioned in "train identifiers" section above.
| Line name | Line name (Chinese) | start station | end station | Train identifiers | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southeast coastal sleepers | 沪广动卧 | Shanghai Hongqiao/Shanghai | Guangzhou South/Zhuhai | D | Section between Shanghai and Hangzhou usesShanghai–Kunming high-speed line. Section between Shenzhen North and Zhuhai usesGuangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong high-speed line andGuangzhou-Zhuhai intercity line. |
| Beijing–Guangzhou sleepers | 京广动卧 | Beijing | Guangzhou South and others (see note) | D | Overnight service toShenzhen North,Zhuhai,Zhanjiang West andKunming usingBeijing–Guangzhou–Shenzhen, Guangzhou-Zhuhai,Xinhui–Maoming–Zhanjiang and Shanghai–Kunming high-speed lines. |
Since 1997, ongoing construction to upgrade and built higher-speed lines capable of speeds of up to 200 km/h (120 mph) is conducted. The P.A.Th.E. Plan (Patras-Athens-Thessaloniki-Evzonoi), as it is called aims at reduced journey times between Greece's main cities (Athens, Thessaloniki and Patra) as well as an improved rail connection between Greece andNorth Macedonia. Currently, only the modernized lines ofDomokos–Thessaloniki,Athens Airport–Kiato, andThessaloniki–Strymonas are in operation at maximum speeds of 160 km/h (99 mph).[82]
TheGatiman Express was India's first semi-high speed train.[83] In October 2014, therailways applied for safety certificate fromCommission of Railway Safety to start the service. In June 2015, the train was officially announced. The train was launched on 5 April 2016 and completed its maiden journey between Nizamuddin and Agra Cantt within 100 minutes. But due to low occupancy, Indian Railways first extended this train from Agra toGwalior on 19 February 2018 and then toJhansi on 1 April 2018.[citation needed]
TheTejas Express was Introduced byIndian Railways in 2017. It features modern onboard facilities with doors which are operated automatically. Tejas means "sharp", "lustre" and "brilliance" in many Indian languages. The inaugural run of Tejas Express was on 24 May 2017 fromMumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus toKarmali,Goa. It covered 552 km in 8 hours and 30 minutes.[84] On 1 March 2019, second Tejas Express of the country was flagged off betweenChennai Egmore andMadurai Junction by Prime MinisterNarendra Modi. It covered 497 km in 6 hours and 30 minutes.[85]Lucknow–New Delhi Tejas Express, which was inaugurated on 4 October 2019, is India's first train operated by private operators,IRCTC, a subsidiary ofIndian Railways.[86] The Ahmedabad–Mumbai Tejas express, also operated by IRCTC was inaugurated on 17 January 2020.[87] From 1 September 2021, the trainLHB Rajdhani Rakes are replaced with LHBTejas Sleeper Rakes. This increased the speed of the train to 130 km/h. The train can travel at a top speed of 160 km/h making it a Semi-High Speed Train.
In 2021,Indian Railways started to upgradeRajdhani Coaches toTejas coaches. This replaced its traditionalLHB Rajdhani coaches On 15 February 2021, theAgartala Rajdhani Express was upgraded with Tejas livery Sleeper Coaches. On 19 July 2021, theMumbai Rajdhani Express was upgraded to Tejas class smart coaches.LHB Rajdhani coaches.[88][89] On 1 September 2021 theRajendra Nagar Patna Rajdhani Express was upgraded to Tejas rakes. This increased the speed of the train to 130 km/h. The train can travel at a top speed of 160 km/h.[90]
In 2019,Vande Bharat Express, also known asTrain 18,[91] was inaugurated. This is an Indian higher-speed railintercityelectric multiple unit.[92] It was designed and built byIntegral Coach Factory (ICF) atPerambur,Chennai under the Indian government'sMake in India initiative over a span of 18 months. Theunit cost of the firstrake was given as₹1 billion (US$12 million), though the unit cost is expected to go down with subsequent production.[93] At the original price, it is estimated to be 40% cheaper than a similar train imported from Europe.[94] The train was launched on 15 February 2019, fromDelhi toVaranasi.[95] The service was named 'Vande Bharat Express' on 27 January 2019.[96] On 5 October 2019, a secondVande Bharat Express was opened fromDelhi toKatra[97] On 30 September 2022, Prime MinisterNarendra Modi inaugurated a 3rd Vande Bharat Express rake connectingMumbai andAhmedabad passing throughSurat. This rake was an upgraded second generation version.[98] an other second generation rake was inaugurated from Delhi toUna passing throughChandigarh.[99]
TheDelhi Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS), also known asRapidX, is a semi high-speed rail project inaugurated in 2023. Trains, calledNamo Bharat trains, can reach speeds of up to 180 kilometers per hour.
Inaugural run and entry into service
The train flagged off for an inaugural run by Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi, on 15 February 2019,[100] with its commercial run started from 17 February 2019 onwards.It will be running on the Delhi-Varanasi route,[101] viaKanpur andPrayagraj, connecting the holy city ofVaranasi to the Capital city, reducing travel time along the route by 15 percent.[92] The train's regenerative brakes are also expected to allow a 30% savings in electricity costs as compared to its predecessor.[102] At an operating speed of 160 kilometres per hour (99 mph), it will outpace theShatabdi Express by 30 kilometres per hour (19 mph).[101] Although the trainset has been tested for speeds up to 180 km/h, it is capable of running at speed of 200 km/h. Every other car on the train is motorised.[103] The 8-hour journey from New Delhi to Varanasi station has the Chair Car CC Class fare of ₹1,755.00 and covers the total distance of about 762 kilometers.[104]
TheSkyliner limited express train service betweenTokyo andNarita Airport in the fastest non-Shinkansen rail service in the country, with a speed of 160 km/h (99 mph).[105]
Before 2015, theHakutaka limited express train service on theHokuhoku Line inNiigata Prefecture also matched the speed of 160 km/h (99 mph). However, after the opening ofHokuriku Shinkansen on 14 March 2015, the maximum speed limit of the line was reduced to 130 km/h (80 mph).[106]
Great Train eXpress (GTX), acommuter rail network in theSeoul Metropolitan Area, has a speed of 180 km/h (110 mph). Only one line, GTX-A, is currently operating. Two more lines, GTX-B and GTX-C, are scheduled to open in 2030.[107] Three other lines, named GTX-D, GTX-E and GTX-F, are currently being planned.[108]
Passenger trains on the 2021 opened Boten–Vientiane railway travel at speeds of up to 160 km/h,[109][110] however the railway has been described as 'high-speed' as well.[111] Some sections of the railway were planned to allow speeds of up to 200 km/h, however this was downgraded to 160 km/h in the final design.[112][113]
There have been several different attempts at higher speed rail in theQuebec City–Windsor Corridor, and several high speed rail attempts as well.[5]
In 2010, a report was commissioned by theChartered Institute of Logistics and Transport as a mid-term review ofTransport 21, an Irish infrastructure plan announced in 2005. The report recommended, among other things, the development of national rail to provide higher-speed rail services.[114] However, there has been no progress towards implementing the recommendation.
There have been long-range visions to establish high/higher-speed rail networks in different regions of the United States but without adequate funding. During theAmerican Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, there was a surge of interest to apply for grants from thefederal government to start those projects. However, many proposals have been put on hold or cancelled after failing to secure funding or support from the public or key local politicians.[115][116]
Amtrak Cascades, a 467-mile (752 km) intercity rail service, stretches fromEugene, Oregon, through theState of Washington toVancouver, British Columbia, in Canada. As of 2010, the long-term goal of this corridor was to have the top speeds of the segment of Eugene, Oregon, toBlaine, Washington, with top speeds in the 90 to 120 mph (145 to 195 km/h) range, and eventually 150 mph (240 km/h) on a dedicated track.[117] However, as of 2012, theWashington State Department of Transportation plans for its 300-mile (480 km) stretch to have top speeds of only 79 mph (127 km/h),[118] and the plan in Oregon is to limit the speeds to 79 mph (127 km/h) as well, with safety and other freight service concerns voiced by the track owner,Union Pacific Railroad.[119] This essentially halts the plan to provide a higher-speed rail service on this corridor in the near future.
TheNorthern Lights Express project, in the planning stages and proposed to begin construction in 2017, would upgrade the BNSF trackage betweenMinneapolis andDuluth to support service up to 90 mph (145 km/h).[120]
Other higher-speed rail proposals are periodically considered, but would need to pass through neighboring states, which have thus far not agreed to cooperate. Minnesota transportation planners proposed a higher-speed rail service called theRiver Route, with top speeds of 110 mph (175 km/h), between Minneapolis–Saint Paul, Minnesota, and Chicago, via Milwaukee, Wisconsin, which follows theEmpire Builder route.[121] The service would eventually open in 2024 as theBorealis, though with a top speed of only 79 mph (127 km/h).
Another alternative that has been discussed is to have a new route that heads south to Iowa to join the rail link from Iowa to Chicago.[122] There was a report in 2011 that Iowa would halt its involvement in high/higher-speed rail projects.[123] However, theIowa Department of Transportation andIllinois Department of Transportation continue to pursue the study of rail link between Chicago andOmaha, Nebraska, through Iowa with top speeds of 110 mph (175 km/h).[124][125] Therefore, the status of the proposal to link Minneapolis–Saint Paul with Chicago via Iowa is unknown.
In 1998,New York State initiated a $185 million program in partnership withAmtrak to increase the speeds of theEmpire Service to 125 mph (200 km/h) by reconstructing all sevengas-turbineTurboliner trainsets, originally built in 1976–1977, to the newRTL-III specification. The reconstructed trains, coupled with track improvements, would cut the travel time between New York City andAlbany by 20 minutes. However, the project ran into many problems including issues with the trains and the unsuccessful implementation of required track improvements.[126] New York ended the rehabilitation program in 2005 after spending $70.3 million.[127] Fallout over the program led to litigation between New York and Amtrak; Amtrak would eventually pay New York $20 million and commit to funding $10 million in track improvements.[128] New York auctioned off its surplus Turboliners in 2012 for $420,000.[129]
The Ohio Hub, a rail improvement project proposed by theOhio Department of Transportation, is aimed at revitalizing passenger rail service in the Ohio region. The proposal was to increase the top speeds to 110 mph (175 km/h) in the network connectingCleveland,Columbus, andCincinnati, commonly referred as the 3-C corridor.[130] The project is currently in an unknown state after the U.S. government rescinded the federal funding from Ohio and redirected it to other states.[115]
In October 2009, theWisconsin Department of Transportation adopted theConnections 2030 plan which is the long-range plan for state transportation needs. The plan includesWisconsin Rail Plan 2030, the twenty-year plan to improve the state railroad system by 2030. In the rail plan, there is a multi-phase project to upgrade the rail service from Chicago, toMilwaukee andMadison, Wisconsin, with top speeds of 110 mph (175 km/h). The latter phases of the project will expand the same service toMinneapolis–Saint Paul in Minnesota and another route toGreen Bay, Wisconsin.[131] There was a reaction against the project in 2010, and the $810 million grant the state originally received for the project from the federal government was rescinded.[115] As of 2012, the rail plan is postponed indefinitely.[132]
The threeBaltic states have been working with theEuropean Union as part of theTrans-European Transport Networks (TEN-T) initiative on a study to build a higher-speed rail line in theRail Baltica corridor to connectWarsaw, in Poland, andTallinn, in Estonia.[133]
Bangladesh Government has taken initiatives to develop high-speed rail (HSR) in between its two major cities – Dhaka, the National Capital City and Chattogram (former Chittagong), the second largest and the principal Port City of the country. Bangladesh Railway (BR), the Government-owned and-managed transportation agency of the country, signed a contract of BDT 102 crore on 31 May 2018 with a Consortium of China Railway Design Corporation (CRDC), a Chinese Company and Mazumder Enterprise (ME), a Bangladeshi Pvt. Ltd. Company for feasibility study and detailed design for construction of proposed Dhaka-Chattogram via Cumilla/Laksam HSR line.
With 320.79 km length, Dhaka-Chattogram is the main business corridor and life line of BR, and at present, the railway route is a circuitous way through Tongi-Bhairab Bazar-Brahmanbaria-Cumilla-Chattogram. The proposed shorter route, which would be Dhaka-Cumilla/Laksham-Chattogram, will cut short the length by about 91 km, making the total length around 230 km. The expected speed of the proposed HSR would be above 300 km/h (yet to determine) and it would take less than one hour to reach Chattogram from Dhaka, which currently takes more than five hours. Under the 18-month contract, the Consortium's responsibilities will include identifying alternative alignments, assessing the viability of the project, preparing detailed engineering design, and cost estimation.[134]
For a rail route to connectWindsor, Ontario toDetroit, Michigan in the United States, a higher-speed rail plan was proposed as an alternative after a study on the Windsor toQuebec City route in Canada was to consider only high-speed rail with top speeds of 200 km/h (125 mph) or more. Politicians in Windsor area proposed in 2012 that having higher-speed rail connection between Windsor and Detroit must be part of the consideration.[25][135][136]
Another feasibility study is ongoing as part of the Northern New England Intercity Rail Initiative to connect betweenBoston andMontreal trains at top speeds of 90 mph (145 km/h).[137]
A project to modernize railway network in Greece is ongoing. A new 106 km (66 mi) alignment betweenTithorea andDomokos is designed to avoid the mountainous part. The new line will have speeds of 160 and 200 km/h (100 and 125 mph).[138]
In October 2013, theMinister of Railways announced at the two-day international technical conference onHigh Speed Rail Travel; Low Cost Solution that the focus of India's rail improvement was to implement a lower-cost solution to meet immediate needs by providing higher-speed rail services as an incremental step before dedicated-track high-speed rail can be achieved. India's higher-speed rail would be in the range of 160 and 200 km/h (100 and 125 mph).[7] On 3 July 2014, a trial run with new top speeds of 160 km/h (100 mph) was successfully completed on a journey of 200 km (125 mi) betweenDelhi andAgra. The new service, operational since 5 April 2016, cut the travel time from 126 minutes (compared to standard trains) with a top speed of 160 km/h (99 mph) to 99 minutes.[139]
In 2019, the government approved 3 rapid regional railways including theDelhi–Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System with speeds up to 160 km/h.[140]
In June 2020, the government ofKerala approved theThiruvananthapuram–Kasargode Semi High Speed Rail Corridor or Silver line, a Semi-High speed rail line connecting the state.[141]
In July 2021, the Government announced plans to create 10 newVande Bharat Express lines connecting over 40 cities. This is planned to be done by 2022.[142]
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TheKTM ETS is aninter-city rail service operated byKeretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad utilizing electric multiple units. The KTM ETS is the second electric train service to be operated by the Malaysian railway company, after theKTM Komuter service.
Commencing in August 2010, the ETS is the fastestmetre gauge train service inMalaysia and operates along the electrified and double-tracked stretch of theWest Coast Line betweenGemas andPadang Besar on theMalaysia–Thailand border by the Malaysian national railway operator,Keretapi Tanah Melayu.
The rail service is operated by KTM Intercity Division. It was previously operated by ETS Sendirian Berhad, a fully owned subsidiary ofKeretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad. The operation speed for this train is 140 km/h with the maximum possible speeds for the trains at 160 km/h.
Advocacy group Greater Auckland proposed the Regional Rapid Rail initiative in 2017, including tilt trains with a maximum speed of 160 km/h.[143] This network would linkAuckland withHamilton,Tauranga andRotorua. In December 2018, the government of New Zealand committed funding to reintroducing a five-year trial rail service betweenPapakura in southern Auckland to Hamilton, starting in 2020.[144]
China claimed to invest capitals into 160 km/h rail corridor, total length would be 491 km.[145]
The state-ownedPhilippine National Railways plans to rebuild its historic South Main Line fromManila to theBicol Region in the southeastern tip ofLuzon. The agency will build 639 km (397 mi) of track, with the main line itself leading toMatnog, Sorsogon and a spur line leading toBatangas City. It will be astandard-gauge railway served by Chinese-builtdiesel multiple units with a maximum speed of 160 km/h (100 mph) and an average speed of 107 km/h (66 mph) including stops.[146] The project will start construction in mid-2020 and is set to open partially by 2022.
In January 2022, PNR general manager Junn Magno defined the agency's futurehigh-speed rail projects to be electrified railways with a maximum speed of at least 200 km/h (120 mph). The high power costs and resulting expensive ticket prices resulted in the operation of high-speed rail in the country to be marked as infeasible. The agency then resorted to semi-high speedexpress trains for its new standard-gauge lines.[147]
This is a partial list of ongoing higher-speed rail projects from theEast Coast to theWest Coast.
| Corridor / Segment | Length | Top speed | Avg speed | Current status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston –Springfield, Massachusetts –Montreal, Canada | 408 mi (657 km) | 90 mph (145 km/h) | 55 mph (89 km/h) | Feasibility study | A study of higher-speed rail options with top speeds of 90 mph (145 km/h) in 3 sections along the route.[137][148][149] |
| New York City –Niagara Falls, New York | 463 mi (745 km) | 125 mph (200 km/h) | 85 mph (137 km/h) | Tier 1 EIS | Fully electrified track, and straightened Hudson River route. See[note 1] |
| Washington, DC –Richmond, Virginia | 115 mi (185 km) | 90 mph (145 km/h) | Tier 2 EIS | [151][152][153] | |
| Richmond –Newport News, Virginia | 90 mph (145 km/h) | Tier 1 EIS | [153] | ||
| Richmond –Norfolk, Virginia | 110 mph (175 km/h) | Tier 1 EIS | [153] | ||
| Richmond, VA –Raleigh, North Carolina | 160 mi (257 km) | 110 mph (175 km/h) | 87 mph (140 km/h) | Tier 2 EIS | Top speeds from Richmond, VA, to south ofPetersburg, Virginia, will be 90 mph (145 km/h) and changed to 110 mph (175 km/h) after that.[154] |
| Raleigh –Charlotte, North Carolina | 180 mi (290 km) | 90 mph (145 km/h) | Construction | [153] | |
| Charlotte, NC –Atlanta | 245 mi (394 km) | 110 mph (175 km/h) | Tier 1 EIS | A 110 mph (175 km/h) option is considered along with 150 mph (240 km/h) high-speed rail.[153] | |
| Atlanta –Macon, Georgia –Jacksonville, Florida | 408 / 368 mi (657 / 592 km) | 90–100 / 130 mph (145–160 / 210 km/h) | 77 / 94 mph (124 / 151 km/h) | Tier 1 EIS | See[note 2] |
| Atlanta –Chattanooga, Tennessee /Nashville, Tennessee –Louisville, Kentucky | 489 / 428 mi (787 / 689 km) | 90–100 / 130 mph (145–160 / 210 km/h) | 72 / 85 mph (116 / 137 km/h) | Tier 1 EIS completed | See[note 2] |
| Atlanta –Birmingham, Alabama | 176 / 150 mi (283 / 241 km) | 90–100 / 130 mph (145–160 / 210 km/h) | 64 / 90 mph (103 / 145 km/h) | Tier 1 EIS | See[note 2] |
| Atlanta –Columbus, Georgia | 116 mi (187 km) | 79–110 mph (125–175 km/h) | 60 mph (97 km/h) | Feasibility Study | Higher-speed rail was one of the 3 alternatives in the feasibility study completed in 2014. Funding is not yet available to begin Tier 1 EIS phase.[157] |
| Columbus, Ohio –Fort Wayne, Indiana – Chicago | 300 mi (483 km) | 110 mph (175 km/h) | Feasibility Study | Initial operating speeds up to 110 mph (175 km/h).[158] Study funded by local governments and organizations, not by state governments.[159] | |
| Ann Arbor, Michigan –Traverse City, Michigan | 250 mi (402 km) | 90–110 mph (145–175 km/h) | Feasibility Study | Three alternatives with 2 higher-speed rail alternatives at top speeds of 90 mph (145 km/h) and 110 mph (175 km/h)[160] | |
| Kalamazoo, Michigan –Albion, Michigan | 45 mi (72 km) | 110 mph (175 km/h) | Operation starts 25 May 2021 | [161] | |
| Chicago –Milwaukee | 86 mi (138 km) | 90 mph (145 km/h) | 59 mph (95 km/h) | Environmental Assessment | The top speeds of 90 mph (145 km/h) is one of the alternatives under consideration.[162] |
| Chicago –Omaha, Nebraska (viaIowa) | 474–516 mi (763–830 km) | 110 mph (175 km/h) | Tier 1 EIS | [124][125] | |
| Minneapolis –Duluth, Minnesota | 152 mi (245 km) | 90 mph (145 km/h) | Environmental Assessment completed | Known asNorthern Lights Express, receivedFinding Of No Significant Impact on Tier 2 Environmental Assessment in February 2018, and cleared to seek federal funding for design and construction.[163] | |
| St. Louis –Kansas City, Missouri | 283 mi (455 km)[164] | 90 mph (145 km/h) | Construction | New sidings betweenJefferson City andLee's Summit for 90 mph (145 km/h) service[165] | |
| Oklahoma City –San Antonio | 850 mi (1,368 km) | 110 mph (175 km/h) | Feasibility Study | See[note 3] | |
| Dallas/Fort Worth –Houston | 239 mi (385 km) | 110 mph (175 km/h) | Feasibility Study | See[note 3] | |
| Phoenix –Tucson, Arizona | 120 mi (193 km) | 125 mph (200 km/h) | 66 mph (106 km/h) | Tier 1 EIS completed | Three alternatives finalized by Arizona Department of Transportation.[167] The Yellow Corridor Alternative was selected as the preferred alternative at the completion of Tier 1 EIS.[168] |
Notes
| |||||
In addition to ongoing projects, there are proposed routes that have not reached the feasibility study stage yet. In Pennsylvania, a rail advocacy group started fund raising efforts in 2014 to obtain $25,000 for a preliminary study and additional $100,000 for feasibility study of the route fromErie toPittsburgh. The proposal is for 110 mph (175 km/h) express train services to directly link the two cities. An alternative is to have intermediate stops in Ohio cities includingAshtabula,Warren, andYoungstown before heading back toNew Castle, Pennsylvania.[169]
In Ohio, a rail advocacy group works with local political leaders in Ohio, Indiana and Illinois to consider a higher-speed rail line fromCincinnati toChicago. This is in response to another advocacy group in Indiana that gained funding for theColumbus, Ohio –Fort Wayne – Chicago route that is already in feasibility study stage. The group persuaded theHamilton County government in Ohio to advocate for the study.[170] Thecounty commissioners unanimously voted in September 2014 to pursue a feasibility study. As a possible route that goes through the states of Kentucky and Indiana, the county expects thatOhio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments will help fund a feasibility study.[171]
In Michigan, a feasibility study sponsored by an environmental group is in progress for a new rail line betweenDetroit andGrand Rapids. The proposal is to have trains running at speeds between 79 and 110 mph (127 and 177 km/h). The state transportation department is interested in the study but is not ready to move beyond this study.[172]
In Texas, the East Texas Corridor Council proposed a higher-speed rail route betweenLongview andDallas. The trains will operate at speeds of 80 mph (130 km/h) and 110 mph (175 km/h).[173]
In 2018, Vietnam planned to build a higher-speed rail line in the northern part of the country to link betweenHaiphong,Hanoi, andLào Cai which is then connected to China. The 391-kilometre (243 mi) line will run parallel to the existing regular speed railway. The top speeds for the new services will be up to 160 km/h (100 mph).[174]
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