High-speed rail systems operate at significantly higher speeds than normal trains, offering fast and efficient transportation. The definition of high-speed varies, with the EU requiring speeds over 125 mph and the US over 90 mph. Japan’s Shinkansen, or bullet train, was one of the first high-speed rail systems and currently holds the world speed record at 361 mph using maglev technology. High-speed rail has gained renewed interest in the US due to environmental concerns, with plans for new systems in California, Texas, and Chicago.
High-speed rail systems are trains that operate at a significantly higher speed than normal trains, although the exact definition of speed varies between experts and agencies. Found in many urban areas, high-speed rail offers passengers a fast and efficient alternative to other modes of public transportation. Although extremely popular in Europe and parts of Asia, high-speed rail is conspicuously absent in most of the United States, due to the overwhelming preference for automobile-using personal transportation.
Governing and authorizing bodies offer different definitions of what constitutes a high-speed rail system. The European Union railway authorities limit the term to trains regularly traveling at speeds of more than 125 miles per hour (200 kilometers per hour), though the limit is higher for trains built on newer track. In the United States, high-speed trains must travel faster than 90 mph (145 kph) to be classified as high-speed.
High-speed rail developed in the mid-20th century, gaining considerable popularity after the end of World War II. Japan was one of the first countries to incorporate high-speed rail into its public transportation system. Shinkansen, or the bullet train, opened in 1964 as a service between the greater Tokyo and Osaka areas. Since then, the railway has been a fast, safe and efficient travel model that spans most of the country.
As with any speed-based technology, it’s only natural that experiments continually test how fast trains can travel. Using the newest technology, Japan currently holds the world speed record, at 361 mph (581 kph). The train that achieved this speed, the MLX01, is powered primarily through magnetic levitation technology. This new method of moving trains, often called maglev, uses magnets to pull the train at blinding speeds thanks to reduced friction. Although few maglev trains currently operate, Japan plans to safely implement the technology across its entire high-speed rail system by 2025.
As environmental concerns grow in the wake of global warming, high-speed rail has gained renewed interest in the 21st century. The United States, a country that has typically eschewed railways in favor of ever-larger highways and new car technology, has begun plans to build several high-speed systems in different states. Following the example of the successful Acela line linking New York City and Washington, DC, voters have approved plans and budgets for similar high-speed rail lines in California. Commissions in Texas and Chicago are also involved in studies on the potential benefits of new high-speed lines.
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