higher speed rail higher speed rail known high performance rail higher performance rail high speed rail describe inter city passenger rail services speeds conventional rail high called high speed rail services term planners identify rail improvements increase train speeds reduce travel time alternatives larger efforts create expand high speed rail networks countries use term medium speed rail semi high speed rail instead definitions definitions high speed rail universal definition higher speed rail term government agencies government officials transportation planners rail industry media overlaps speed definitions countries established definition higher speed rail include canada according speed range higher speed rail mph india according minister railways speed range india higher speed rail mph indonesia government considering higher speed rail options referred medium speed railway speed range mph united_kingdom term higher speed rail upgraded tracks train speeds mph united_states term higher speed rail opposed high speed rail regional planners states describe inter city passenger rail services speeds mph mph equivalent definition emerging high speed rail defined defines higher speed rail rail services speeds mph defines rail services dedicated tracks speeds mph high speed rail state level departments transportation council governments use different definitions list known definitions higher speed rail use speed levels mph mph mph mph mph thailand higher speed rail called medium speed rail speeds mph speed limits canada assumption grade crossing operating higher speed rail services mph require improved levels protection acceptable areas united_states railroad tracks largely freight grade crossings passenger trains corridors run shared tracks freight trains trains limited speeds mph equipped automatic cab signal automatic train stop automatic train control positive train control system approved developing higher speed rail services safety systems additionally establishes classification track quality speed limits trains class class class class speeds mph mph mph mph respectively passenger train design safety standards ensure trains operate speeds mph mph comply tier standard trains operate speeds mph comply tier standard limitation safety grade crossings limits fast trains regulations set speed limits tracks grade crossings follows mph grade crossings permitted states railroads cooperate determine needed warning devices including passive flashing lights quadrant gates close entering lanes road long gate arms median barriers combinations lights gates activated circuits wired track track circuits mph permits crossings barrier blocks highway traffic train approaches mph crossings permitted europe limit mph grade crossings sweden special rule permitting mph barriers automatic detection road vehicles standing track russia mph permitted grade crossings limitations regional transportation planners focus rail improvements speeds mph proposing new higher speed rail service similar categories countries rail improvement projects later 20th century 2000s inter city rail services comparable speed ranges higher speed rail specifically called higher speed rail examples services operation europe services european countries speeds mph mph trains cross international borders usually designated reach similar speeds tracks allow japan mini japan upgraded lines narrow gauge allow pass speeds mph recognizes mini lines high speed rail spain inter city rail services operated state owned company classified high speed rail services iii vii speeds mph norway talked compared higher speed rail high speed rail rail network old sharp curves speeds lines oslo upgraded renewed planned sections like oslo ski built planned token norwegian trains locomotives speed called high speed line class class called high speed trains speed limits called high speed trains sweden swedish railways operates inter city rail services trains major routes country speeds mph operator brands high speed rail services recognizes mph line stockholm high speed rail line sweden planning stage germany regional trains munich high speed line built run specially designated trains use locomotives trains higher speed chosen mainly increase capacity rail improvement strategies types train support higher speed rail operation usually rail infrastructure needs upgraded prior operation requirements infrastructure signalling systems curve etc increase higher speeds upgrade higher speed standard simpler expensive building new high speed lines upgrade existing track currently use busy traffic segments makes challenges associated construction work potentially disrupt train services strategies regional transportation planners rail track owners rail improvement projects order start higher speed rail services signal upgrades australia increased speeds mph regional fast rail project required change signalling system account increased braking distance prior project system comprised mixture equipment pre mechanical signalling remote control systems 1980s cases operators needed telephone local operators manually control signal boxes new speeds signalling needed project employed solid state newly laid fiber communication components use computer systems control signals output computer differs system fail computer continue signal operations long computers consistent project deployed allows system automatically applies brakes sufficient distance stop train driver control speeds adequately project incorporated allow real time monitoring position trains united_states step increase speeds mph install new signal system incorporates approved positive train control system compatible higher speed rail operation based gps based systems currently use united_states mandate significant portion railroads united_states covered end track improvements support trains run regularly higher speeds rails need reliable freight tracks wooden ties cause rails slightly time wood splitting spike pull spike gradually tie concrete ties replace intended track stable particularly changes temperature rail joints issue conventional rail lines use bolts join sections rail causes joint slightly time bolts ride higher speeds lengths rail form continuous rail continuous rails vulnerable stress changes temperature australia track condition project support trains speeds mph tracks mixture wooden concrete ties rail weight varies majority track upgrade project included changing use concrete ties use new standard rail weight order support new speeds mph restriction maximum operating speeds track geometry existing line especially curves route possible reduce travel time increasing speeds reducing length track straight routes possible reducing number curves lowering degree result higher speeds curves example elimination consecutive reverse curves favor larger curve raising considered sharp curves significantly limit speed higher speeds modified curves higher require track modification transition curves longer old need replacement allow trains run higher speeds united_states old speed limit mph newer rated speed limit mph significantly slow higher speed train passing sections high speed rated capable handling maximum speeds mph order minimize upgrade tracks track renewal train process replacing rails ties ballast rate miles day united_states track shared future higher speed rail service illinois area electrified track old need replaced fixed tension acceptable low speeds suitable regular higher speed rail services constant tension automatically maintained temperature changes cause length wire expand contract crossing improvements trains running higher speeds route safety grade crossings needs considered australia levels upgrade crossing rail improvements project based risk analysis improvements included flashing light protection automatic barriers protection pedestrian gates crossings project introduced use rubber panels crossings united_states limits train speeds mph barrier crossing speed grade crossings adequate means prevent collisions option grade separation cost planners opt grade crossing improvements instead safety improvements crossings combination techniques includes passive devices upgraded signage pavement markings low cost passive device median installed center line roadways extending approximately feet crossing discourage drivers running crossing gates active devices include quadrant gate blocks sides traffic lane longer gate arms cover roadway video cameras installed catch signal monitoring system installed alert crews crossing equipment norway grade crossings permitted speeds passing areas frequent interference freight passenger trains congestion causes passenger trains slow extensive improvements needed certain segments line areas need rerouted new track need laid avoid curves slow trains stretches heavy freight train traffic adding passing segment considered certain stations need bypassed electrification consideration electrification railway line major upgrade rail infrastructure equipment infrastructure requires lines built tracks new transmission lines needed carry power power plants required mile lengths reduce severe voltage losses need consider required power supply new power plants required locomotives new electric locomotives needed existing diesel electric locomotives electric locomotives complicated task factors cause electrification high initial investment costs advantages electric locomotives provide cleaner reliable operations diesel electric counterpart fuel consumption locomotive maintenance costs track wear electric locomotives lower furthermore electric traction makes operator independent oil price fluctuations imports electricity generated domestic resources energy major consideration electrification network electricity cheap plentiful domestically oil imported world market prices alternative lines use rail system semi continuous rigid conductor placed alongside rails railway track operating speeds type systems greater mph limitation power supply gaps grade crossings rail system generally higher speed rail example united_states involve electrification provide higher speed rail service pittsburgh segment corridor pennsylvania plan includes additional track new signal system electrification completed planned allow amtrak utilize electric power continuously service philadelphia pittsburgh segment main line electric locomotives speed mph operation australia concept project initiated goal provide express higher speed rail services main regional centres victoria melbourne initiative included key component upgrade rail infrastructure speeds mph development phase initiative finally services lines began speeds trains additionally considered higher speed rail china china higher speed railways railways officially high speed rail capable run speed ranging shorter distance regional rail lines long haul lines higher speed trains starting long distance trains regional rail trains high speed rail trains starting letter high speed rail chinese greece ongoing construction upgrade built higher speed lines capable speeds mph conducted called aims reduced journey times greece main cities athens improved rail connection greece yugoslav republic macedonia currently modernized lines athens airport operation maximum speeds mph united_states list current higher speed rail services east_coast west_coast florida based company building higher speed rail line connect orlando miami end stops speeds mph completed inter city rail handled amtrak denver discontinued earlier attempts canada different attempts higher speed rail high speed rail attempts hong_kong connect satellite cities city centres hong_kong line branches equipped train sets capable run mph ireland report commissioned mid term review transport irish infrastructure plan announced report recommended things development national rail provide higher speed rail services progress recommendation united_states long range visions establish high higher speed rail networks different regions united_states adequate funding surge interest apply grants federal government start projects proposals hold cancelled failing secure funding support public key local politicians mile rail service stretches eugene oregon state washington vancouver british_columbia canada long term goal corridor speeds segment eugene oregon washington speeds mph range eventually mph dedicated track plans mile stretch speeds mph plan oregon limit speeds mph safety freight service concerns voiced track owner essentially plan provide higher speed rail service corridor near future minnesota northern lights express project planning stages proposed begin construction upgrade minneapolis support service mph higher speed rail proposals periodically considered need pass neighboring states far agreed cooperate minnesota transportation planners proposed higher speed rail service called speeds mph minneapolis minnesota chicago illinois milwaukee wisconsin follows route current progress project cancellation funding wisconsin alternative discussed new route heads south iowa join rail link iowa chicago report iowa halt involvement high higher speed rail projects continue pursue study rail link chicago nebraska iowa speeds mph status proposal link minneapolis saint paul chicago iowa unknown new_york initiated million program partnership amtrak increase speeds mph seven gas turbine originally built new iii specification reconstructed trains coupled track improvements cut travel time new_york_city albany minutes project ran problems including issues trains unsuccessful implementation required track improvements new_york ended rehabilitation program spending million fallout program led litigation new_york amtrak amtrak eventually pay new_york million commit funding million track improvements new_york auctioned surplus ohio rail improvement project proposed aimed passenger rail service ohio region proposal increase speeds mph network connecting cleveland columbus cincinnati commonly referred corridor project currently unknown state government rescinded federal funding ohio states wisconsin october adopted connections plan long range plan state transportation needs plan includes plan year plan improve state railroad system rail plan multi phase project upgrade rail service chicago illinois milwaukee madison wisconsin speeds mph phases project expand service minneapolis saint paul minnesota route wisconsin reaction project million grant state originally received project federal government rescinded rail plan postponed indefinitely current efforts baltic states baltic states working european_union initiative study build higher speed rail line rail corridor connect warsaw poland estonia canada rail route connect detroit michigan united_states higher speed rail plan proposed alternative study route canada consider high speed rail speeds mph politicians windsor area proposed having higher speed rail connection windsor detroit consideration feasibility study ongoing connect boston montreal trains speeds mph greece project railway network greece ongoing new alignment designed avoid mountainous new line speeds mph india october minister railways announced day international technical conference high speed rail travel low cost solution focus india rail improvement implement lower cost solution meet immediate needs providing higher speed rail services step dedicated track high speed rail achieved india higher speed rail range mph july trail run new speeds mph successfully completed journey delhi new service operation march cut travel time minutes current trains speeds mph minutes indonesia september indonesia plan build high speed rail china japan build new rail line september government indonesia announced cancellation project coordinating minister economy gave reason distant cities short distant hard sustain speeds mph justify high construction cost build high speed rail line government focus medium speed railway cities range mph thailand government thailand considers plan build high speed rail corridors alternative high speed trains government considers medium speed trains speeds mph united_states partial list ongoing higher speed rail projects east_coast west_coast study includes higher speed rail alternatives speeds options mph high speed rail options speeds mph march tier eliminated high speed rail options build alternatives higher speed rail range numbers table represent mph alternative alternatives non electrified track average speeds mph option option option study includes main alternatives higher speed rail alternative called shared use speeds mph second alternative called speeds mph high speed rail alternatives study speeds mph numbers table represent higher speed rail alternatives study includes higher speed rail mph high speed rail mph options proposed routes addition ongoing projects proposed routes reached feasibility study stage pennsylvania rail advocacy group started fund raising efforts obtain preliminary study additional feasibility study route pittsburgh proposal mph express train services directly link cities alternative intermediate stops ohio cities including warren heading pennsylvania ohio rail advocacy group works local political leaders ohio indiana illinois consider higher speed rail line cincinnati chicago response advocacy group indiana gained funding columbus ohio chicago route feasibility study stage group persuaded government ohio advocate study county commissioners unanimously voted september pursue feasibility study possible route goes states kentucky indiana county ohio kentucky indiana regional council governments help fund feasibility study michigan feasibility study sponsored environmental group progress new rail line detroit proposal trains running speeds mph state transportation department interested study ready study texas east texas corridor council proposed higher speed rail route dallas trains operate speeds mph mph
Higher-speed rail