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An Overview of High Speed RailAn Overview of High Speed Rail

David Randall PetermanDavid Randall PetermanCongressional Research ServiceCongressional Research Service

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Defining High Speed Rail in the Defining High Speed Rail in the U.S.U.S.

What is High Speed Rail?What is High Speed Rail?•• Allusions to worldAllusions to world--class European and Asian class European and Asian

systemssystemsBut most U.S. projects not likely to be like thoseBut most U.S. projects not likely to be like those

How Much Funding for High Speed Rail?How Much Funding for High Speed Rail?•• $8 billion (ARRA) + $5 billion requested $8 billion (ARRA) + $5 billion requested

FY2010FY2010--20142014But some of that money will go to regular intercity But some of that money will go to regular intercity passenger rail projectspassenger rail projects

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The general talk about HSR The general talk about HSR sounds like thissounds like this……

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But actual project proposals tend to But actual project proposals tend to look like thislook like this

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What is High Speed Rail?What is High Speed Rail?

Prevailing speed: 79 mphPrevailing speed: 79 mphImprove existing tracks: 90Improve existing tracks: 90--125 mph125 mphDedicated, gradeDedicated, grade--separated, separated, electrified track: 186electrified track: 186--210 mph210 mphMaglev: 268 mphMaglev: 268 mph““Service that is timeService that is time--competitive competitive with air and/or auto for travel with air and/or auto for travel markets in the approximate range of markets in the approximate range of 100 to 500 miles100 to 500 miles”” (FRA)(FRA)

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High Speed Rail is a SystemHigh Speed Rail is a System

TracksTracks•• StraightStraight•• No highway crossingsNo highway crossings•• Dedicated to passenger trafficDedicated to passenger traffic•• ElectrifiedElectrified

SignalingSignalingTrainsTrains

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HSR in Other CountriesHSR in Other Countries

Japan Japan –– since 1964since 1964France France –– since 1981since 1981Italy Italy –– since 1991since 1991Germany Germany –– since 1992since 1992Spain Spain –– since 1992since 1992Korea Korea –– since 2004since 2004Taiwan Taiwan –– since 2007since 2007China China –– since 2008since 2008

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Why no HSR in United States?Why no HSR in United States?

Differing structures of railwaysDiffering structures of railways•• Private (US) vs government (others)Private (US) vs government (others)

Economic geographyEconomic geography•• Size & population densitySize & population density•• Freight/passenger rail differencesFreight/passenger rail differences

Earlier shift to motor vehicles in USEarlier shift to motor vehicles in USGovernment policies regarding Government policies regarding transportation modestransportation modes

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High Speed Rail versus Other High Speed Rail versus Other ModesModes

Air Air •• High speed rail can be timeHigh speed rail can be time--competitive competitive

between downtowns <500 miles apartbetween downtowns <500 miles apart•• Requires more infrastructure than air travelRequires more infrastructure than air travel

HighwayHighway•• High speed rail can be faster than driving; High speed rail can be faster than driving;

more predictable (avoids congestion); safermore predictable (avoids congestion); safer•• But compared to driving, each additional But compared to driving, each additional

traveler in a group going by rail significantly traveler in a group going by rail significantly increases the trip cost of the groupincreases the trip cost of the group

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Proposed benefits of HSRProposed benefits of HSR

Energy efficiencyEnergy efficiencyReduced environmental impact of Reduced environmental impact of traveltravelAlternative to congested Alternative to congested roads/airportsroads/airportsDevelopment around stationsDevelopment around stations(These benefits apply mostly to (These benefits apply mostly to ““truetrue”” HSR)HSR)

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Proposed costs of HSRProposed costs of HSR

Development costs of Development costs of ““truetrue”” HSR are HSR are highhighRidership estimates are often Ridership estimates are often overstatedoverstatedMost corridors likely to require Most corridors likely to require ongoing operating supportongoing operating supportMay not be economically efficient May not be economically efficient investment in most corridorsinvestment in most corridors

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Costs of High Speed RailCosts of High Speed Rail

TrackTrack•• Improve existing shared track to enable Improve existing shared track to enable

7979--110 mph: c. $7 million/mile110 mph: c. $7 million/mile•• Dedicated ROW, speed > 110 mph: c. Dedicated ROW, speed > 110 mph: c.

$35 million/mile$35 million/mile

Cost estimates tend to be Cost estimates tend to be understatedunderstated

Cost estimates from National Surface Transportation Policy Cost estimates from National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission, Passenger Rail Working and Revenue Study Commission, Passenger Rail Working Group, Vision for the Future: U.S. Intercity Passenger Rail Group, Vision for the Future: U.S. Intercity Passenger Rail Network Through 2050, December 6, 2007Network Through 2050, December 6, 2007

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Congressional interestCongressional interest

Passenger Rail Investment and Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 created Improvement Act of 2008 created new programsnew programs•• High Speed Corridor Development Grant High Speed Corridor Development Grant

Program (authorized $1.5 b/5 years)Program (authorized $1.5 b/5 years)•• Intercity Passenger Rail Development Intercity Passenger Rail Development

Program (authorized $1.9 b/5 years)Program (authorized $1.9 b/5 years)•• Congestion Mitigation Grant Program Congestion Mitigation Grant Program

(authorized $325 m/5 years) (authorized $325 m/5 years)

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Congressional Funding for High Congressional Funding for High Speed Rail Speed Rail

FY1990FY1990--2007: $4.17 billion total2007: $4.17 billion total•• Annual Average $232 millionAnnual Average $232 million•• Mostly to NECMostly to NEC

2009: $8 billion2009: $8 billion (ARRA)(ARRA)

$5 billion $5 billion requested FY2010requested FY2010--FY2014 (DOT FY2014 (DOT appropriations acts)appropriations acts)

$50 billion $50 billion proposed FY2010proposed FY2010--FY2015 (surface FY2015 (surface transportation reauthorization)transportation reauthorization)

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Federal Funding: Available vs RequestedFederal Funding: Available vs Requested

Available:Available:•• $8 billion now$8 billion now•• Possibly $5 billion Possibly $5 billion

over next 5 yearsover next 5 years•• =$13 billion=$13 billion•• (Potentially as (Potentially as

much as $50 billion much as $50 billion more over next 6 more over next 6 years)years)

Requested in first Requested in first year: year: •• $102 billion $102 billion (278 (278

prepre--applications)applications)

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Current U.S. High Speed Rail CorridorsCurrent U.S. High Speed Rail Corridors

CorridorCorridor Length Length (Miles)(Miles)

Motive Motive PowerPower

Max Max SpeedSpeed

Avg Avg SpeedSpeed

LALA--San DiegoSan Diego 130130 DieselDiesel 9090 5555

ChicagoChicago--Detroit/PontiacDetroit/Pontiac

304304 DieselDiesel 9595 5353

NYCNYC--Albany, NYAlbany, NY 158158 DieselDiesel 110110 5656

PhilPhil--HarrisbHarrisb’’g, PAg, PA 104104 ElectricElectric 110110 6666

NEC (DCNEC (DC--Boston)Boston) 454454 ElectricElectric 150150 6969

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FederallyFederally--Designated HSR Designated HSR CorridorsCorridors

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Funding for StateFunding for State--Supported Amtrak Rail RoutesSupported Amtrak Rail Routes14 states, $177 million total (2008)14 states, $177 million total (2008)

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HSR PlayersHSR Players

Congress Congress –– $, Programs$, ProgramsWhite House White House –– Signature IssueSignature IssueFRA FRA –– Regulations, GrantsRegulations, GrantsStates States –– $, Implementation$, ImplementationFreight Railroads Freight Railroads –– Own the tracksOwn the tracksAmtrak Amtrak –– Train OperatorTrain OperatorIndustry Industry –– ContractorsContractors

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ChallengesChallenges

FundingFunding•• AdequacyAdequacy•• ConsistencyConsistency

Interstate coordinationInterstate coordinationExpertiseExpertiseProject managementProject management

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Challenges (cont.)Challenges (cont.)

Freight network capacity limitsFreight network capacity limitsRegulatory requirementsRegulatory requirements•• HSR trains must be designed for tracks HSR trains must be designed for tracks

shared with freight trainsshared with freight trains

Uncertain ridership forecastsUncertain ridership forecastsDiffusion of federal fundingDiffusion of federal funding

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OpportunitiesOpportunities

Funding availableFunding availableWidespread supportWidespread supportPositive Train Control (PTC) required Positive Train Control (PTC) required on passenger rail lines by 2016on passenger rail lines by 2016

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Acela on NECAcela on NEC