In numbers:

1964

On 1 October 1964, the world’s first high-speed train service from Tokyo to Osaka began operations

1,600 million

The number of passengers carried every year by high-speed trains

603km/h

The top speed achieved in testing by the SCMaglev high-speed train in Japan

29.22%

The percentage of China’s railway network covered by high-speed tracks

3,100km

Spain boasts the biggest high-speed rail network in Europe, with over 3,000km of track and a further 1,800km under construction

€10

In April 2013, France launched the low fare high-speed rail service Ouigo, costing as little as €10 for a journey from Paris to southeastern France

20,000km

The total length of the Trans-European Transport Network, which is expected to be fully operational by 2020

$19bn

The total cost of India’s high-speed line between Gujarat and Mumbai, which will be partly funded by a Japanese loan

 In News

The Dallas-Fort Worth Regional Transportation Council (RTC) announced that it will explore hyperloop technology for two major transportation initiatives across the state. “The RTC is all about bringing innovation to the transportation system in the Dallas-Fort Worth region and hyperloop would be an exciting technology to add,” said Gary Fickes, chair of the RTC. “I think the future’s very bright for hyperloop and its use in the […] region.”


Source: Construction Equipment Guide

Italy’s new populist government has moved to scrap a new high-speed railway line that would reduce travel times between London and Milan by three hours. The country’s new infrastructure minister, Danilo Toninelli, said he was placing the under-construction railway, which was approved by a previous government in 2015, under review, with a view to its cancellation.


Source: The Independent


Technology company Continental has developed an air spring system that enables maintenance and response vehicles to travel quickly between rail maintenance and construction sites. The system will enable China to maintain, service and expand its high-speed rail network as efficiently as possible.


Source: Automotive World

Malaysia is planning to negotiate with Singapore to postpone the construction of the high-speed rail project linking the two countries. Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said earlier this year that the project will be scrapped due to rising national debt. As of May, Singapore had invested over $184.4m into the high-speed line, which would enable travel between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore in just 90 minutes.


Source: Railway Technology