(Detailed PDF Map).
Source: Adapted from International Union of Railways.

World High Speed Rail Systems, 2010

High Speed Rail (HSR) systems are build to reinforce the accessibility and functional relations within well developed regional urban systems by filling a gap between short range mobility provided by cars and buses and medium range mobility provided by air transport. They were initially built as corridors between city-pairs and they growth eventually lead to an integrated system spanning an extended region. While services remain designed along corridors, nodes where it is possible to effectively switch from one corridor to the other are emerging. Like air transport, a good frequency of high speed services enables these interconnection to occur effectively. HSR is mainly found in three regions of the world:

• In Asia, Japan was the innovator and from 1964 a national integrated HSR system was build to service the major cities and three of the four main islands of the Japanese territory. Both South Korea and Taiwan have build HSR to service as a corridor their two largest cities. China has embarked in an ambitious plan to build a national HSR system that is showing a growing level of integration. With a 8,000 km network in 2010, China HSR system is already the world's largest and 13,000 km are planned to be operational by the end of 2012. It is expected that by 2020, China's HSR system will total 16,000 km. India has several high speed corridors planned, but high capital requirements and securing rights of way are serious challenges, like in many other parts of the world.
• In Europe, the setting of HSR systems has gradually permitted a growing level of integration, particularly between France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany. The completion of the Eurotunnel in 1994 enabled to link London to the European HSR system. Northern European countries (Norway, Sweden and Finland) have mostly developed their HSR system through the reconversion of exiting lines, a strategy that reflects the relatively short distances involved and lower population densities.
• In North America, only one high speed rail corridor is an operation between Boston and Washington, but technical requirements limit the speed along several segments of the corridor. The setting of HSR corridors linking regional urban systems has been debated for more than two decades, with many corridor projects clearly identified (e.g. Quebec-Toronto, Miami-Orlando-Tampa or Vancouver-Seattle-Eugene). Yet, the prominence of the road and air transport has been factors playing against the development of HSR systems.

Home | Contents | Media | Glossary | Links | About | Contact | Purchase

Copyright © 1998-2012, Dr. Jean-Paul Rodrigue, Dept. of Global Studies & Geography, Hofstra University, New York, USA.
This material (including graphics) cannot be copied or redistributed, in whole or in part, in ANY FORM (printed or electronic) and on ANY MEDIA. For specific uses permission MUST be requested and the material must be cited.