Headline: The Global High-Speed Train Phenomenon: America Left Behind
Over the past five decades, high-speed trains have demonstrated their value worldwide. They have not only reduced travel times but also stimulated economic growth, generated employment, and bridged communities. This trend, pioneered by Japan with their Shinkansen “Bullet Trains” in 1964 and later fueled by France's introduction of the TGV in the early 1980s, is led by China, Japan, and Europe. However, the United States, despite being one of the wealthiest and most economically prosperous countries globally, is yet to embrace this revolution.
Americans largely rely on jam-packed highways and an often problematic airport and airline network. Meanwhile, China has constructed approximately 26,000 miles of high-speed railways since 2008 and plans to extend it to 43,000 miles by 2035. Contrastingly, the U.S. only has 375 miles of track approved for operations over 100 mph.
According to William C. Vantuono, the editor-in-chief of North America’s longest-running railroad industry publication, Railway Age, most Americans fail to comprehend the benefits of high-speed rail and remain trapped in a mindset dominated by highways and airlines.
Since the 1950s, cars and airplanes have dominated long-distance travel in the U.S., swiftly replacing a network of luxury passenger trains. Famous railroad companies such as the New York Central were largely bankrupt by the early 1970s, transferring their loss-making trains to Amtrak, the national passenger train operator established in 1971.
However, the tide seems to be turning. With escalating environmental concerns and worsening congestion, there is a growing push to improve railroads. This is evident in President Joe Biden’s $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill, which includes an unprecedented $170 billion for enhancing railroads.
Big plans are underway to reintroduce passenger trains to more cities across the nation, offering swift, sustainable travel to urban areas that have not seen a passenger train in decades. This includes private initiatives like Florida's Brightline operation, which plans to construct a $10 billion high-speed rail link between Los Angeles and Las Vegas by 2027.
Scott Sherin, chief commercial officer of train builder Alstom’s US division, believes it's a time of optimism for the rail industry. He affirms that the industry is ready to take the next step and focus on passenger rail.
While high-speed rail may not be the panacea for all transportation issues, it certainly holds a significant place in the transport matrix. It can offer high-quality jobs, stimulate the economy, and provide better connectivity than airlines.
However, there are still hurdles to overcome. A nationwide high-speed rail network in the US remains a distant dream due to a lack of political support and federal financial backing, as well as intense opposition from local landowners.
Despite these challenges, the International Energy Agency (IEA) asserts that urban and high-speed rail have tremendous potential to reduce global transport emissions.
Dr. Fatih Birol, the IEA’s executive director, argues that rail transport is often forgotten in public debates about future transport systems, especially in North America. However, he emphasizes that rail transport has continued to grow and prosper despite the emergence of cars and airplanes.
The United States lags significantly behind other countries in electrifying its rail routes. While more than 60% of rail networks in South Korea, Japan, Europe, China, and Russia are electrified, less than 5% of rail routes in North America have been electrified.
Although the vast size of the United States and its dispersed population may pose challenges to creating a unified network like those in China or Europe, there are several shorter inter-city travel corridors where high-speed rail could provide a viable alternative to air travel and highways.