high-speed rail (HSR) , passenger train that generally travels at least 200 km (124 miles) per hour and can cruise up to 355 km (221 miles) per hour, though some have reached higher speeds. More than 20 countries, largely in Asia and Europe , have high-speed rail networks. Transportation researchers have found that traveling via high-speed rail in Asia and Europe is a competitive alternative to flying for trips up to about 1,000 km (620 miles).

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History

The first high-speed rail was Japan&#;s 515-km (320-mile) Shinkansen line connecting Tokyo and Ōsaka, inaugurated in advance of the Summer Olympics. Its inauguration was greeted by widespread international acclaim, and the Shinkansen was quickly dubbed the &#;bullet train&#; for the great speed the trains obtained and for the aerodynamic bullet shape of their noses. Many innovations, such as the use of prestressed concrete ties and 1.6-km- (1-mile-) long welded sections of track, were introduced in the line&#;s construction.

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railroad: High-speed passenger lines

Japan&#;s impressive high-speed rail helped inspire the spread of the technology to other parts of the world. Europe&#;s first high-speed line opened in Italy in , between Rome and Florence. It was followed by France in , with service between Paris and Lyon. In Canada, American-built turbo trains operated in the s between Montreal and Toronto but were eventually abandoned. Korean high-speed rail was first established in  on a section of the Seoul-Pusan line; the entire line was completed in . In the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL), also called High Speed 1, was opened to connect the Channel Tunnel with London, facilitating even greater movement of international passenger traffic between mainland Europe and the United Kingdom. In the Al Boraq line, connecting Casablanca and Tangier in Morocco, gave Africa its first high-speed railway. There are no high-speed rail lines operating in Latin America.

China, which had no high-speed rail at the start of the 21st century, aggressively built up these railways and now leads the world in this mode of transportation. With a network of lines covering roughly 38,000 km (24,000 miles), high-speed rail connects all of the country&#;s major megacity clusters. China plans to expand its high-speed railway network to nearly 70,000 km (43,000 miles) by . China&#;s ruling Communist Party has showcased the successful development of this modern transportation as evidence of the country&#;s economic power, technology, and improved standard of living.

The United States, which has focused more resources on highways than trains, has struggled to develop high-speed rail on a widespread basis, despite taking steps dating back to the s to do so. In Congress passed the High-Speed Ground Transportation Act, aimed at developing and demonstrating high-speed ground technologies. The initiative largely fell flat, however. Turbo trains operated in the s between Boston and New York City but were then abandoned. French-designed models were still operating in New York state in the mid-s but were also discontinued. In the first quarter of the 21st century, America had only a single high-speed rail line, the Acela in the Northeast, between Boston and Washington, D.C. The Acela travels at speeds up to 241 km (150 miles) per hour in some sections, but the corridor has structural challenges that keep trains from moving at that speed throughout the route. Those include curves, which slow down trains; some bridges and tunnels that are more than 100 years old; and having to share the tracks with other trains, including freight. Amtrak&#;s goal is to shorten the Acela&#;s trip between New York and Washington to less than two hours. Although voters in California, the most populous state in the U.S., approved a bond issue for a bullet train between San Francisco and Los Angeles, by construction had begun on only one section and the estimated cost had swollen to $113 billion&#;leaving its fate uncertain.

High-speed rail proponents in the U.S. were encouraged by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, a $1 trillion infrastructure law that provided $66 billion for rail. That money is aimed at modernizing Amtrak and speeding up train times, including replacing the vintage bridges and tunnels that slow down rail traffic. Alstom, a French train manufacturer, is building the trains for Amtrak in Hornell, New York, modeled on the French high-speed passenger trains (trains à grande vitesse; TGV). They will be the fastest in the United States, capable of traveling nearly 300 km (186 miles) per hour, although the trains will not hit that speed initially due to the corridor&#;s built-in limitations.

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In , the Gotthard Base Tunnel opened in southern Switzerland.  It is the world&#;s longest and deepest railway tunnel,  accommodating high-speed trains, reducing the travel time for freight and passengers between northern and southern Europe, and generating a host of safety and environmental benefits. 

What Are the Differences Between High-Speed Rail Tracks and Ordinary Train Tracks?

There are certain differences between high-speed rail rails and ordinary rail rails in terms of design, materials, manufacturing processes, use environment, and maintenance. These differences are mainly to adapt to different types of railway transportation needs.

The design of high-speed rail rails is different from that of ordinary rails. High-speed rail tracks adopt a more precise design, including gauge (the distance between two tracks), rail seats, sleepers, etc., to ensure the stability and safety of trains when traveling at high speeds.

High-speed rail rails are usually made of high-quality steel with high strength and wear resistance to cope with the operating requirements of high-speed trains. Ordinary rails may use more conventional steel or other materials.

The manufacturing process of high-speed rail rails is more stringent and precise than that of ordinary rails, including material selection, heat treatment, molding, polishing and other links to improve its quality and lifespan.

High-speed rail tracks are usually used in high-speed railways or rapid passenger railways, which have high requirements on speed and safety. Ordinary rails are widely used in low-speed railways, freight lines or industrial railways.

Due to the high-speed driving characteristics and usage environment of high-speed rail tracks, their maintenance requirements are relatively strict. Regular inspection, grinding or replacement are routine operations for high-speed railway maintenance. The maintenance of ordinary railway tracks is relatively simple, but routine maintenance work such as inspection and bolt tightening is still required.

The steel rail is the main component of the train tracks. It directly bears the repeated impact loads of the wheels of the rolling stock. It is also the basis for ensuring the safe, stable, and fast transportation of the train.

Features of high-speed rail

1. Track geometric design: High-speed rail adopts a larger track gauge and a smaller longitudinal inclination to reduce the lateral acceleration of the train when traveling on a curve and ensure passenger comfort and train stability.

2. Rail material selection and heat treatment: High-speed rail rails are usually made of high-strength, wear-resistant steel and undergo special heat treatment processes, such as quenching and tempering, to improve the hardness, strength and durability of the rails.

3. Manufacturing precision control: The manufacturing process of high-speed rail rails requires strict control of various dimensions and geometric parameters to ensure the flatness and symmetry of the track and keep the train stable when running at high speed.

4. Track installation and adjustment: The installation and adjustment process of high-speed railway rails requires high technical requirements, and precise track centering, gauge adjustment and other operations are required to ensure that the train does not sway sideways or deviate when running at high speed.

5. Data management and maintenance: The high-speed railway adopts an advanced data management system. Through regular inspection, testing and maintenance of railway equipment, potential problems are discovered and solved in a timely manner to ensure the safety and reliability of high-speed railway lines.

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