A high speed future
| speed compared to the world’s existing railways. The average speed of high speed railways in Japan is 243 kph, 232 kph in Germany, and 277 kph in France. In a TV news program, to demonstrate how smooth the train is, the correspondent put a cigarette upright on the table when the train was running. The cigarette didn’t move a bit. However, high speed train travel, in many cases, is not economically feasible. Ticket price is the major complaint from the public about the Wuhan-Guangzhou rail line. The lowest fare is 490 yuan ($72), while the airline price for the same journey starts from 250 yuan ($37). There will predictably be more direct competition between airlines and railways. It doesn’t seem to be an uncommon problem of rail lines. For example, it’ s cheaper to take a plane than a Eurostar train between Paris and London. However, travelers may choose to take the train for a combination of many reasons. For example, rail stations, unlike airports, can be located in the city’s central area. It can save overall travel time. The advantages of high speed rail over road travel and air travel are more than that. Travel experience is an important factor, as I mentioned earlier. Trains also consume less fuel per passenger per kilometer. And compared to air travel, rail travel is much less affected by severe weather conditions such as heavy snow, fog, and storms. The Wuhan-Guangzhou railway is only a small part of China’s ambitious plan. China already has the world’s first operational maglev (magnetic levitation) train service that was inaugurated in 2002. By 2012, a 13,000-kilometer high speed rail network will be completed. That’s more than half of all high speed lines currently on the planet. The total construction cost of the rail system is $300 billion. By 2020, China will have the largest and fastest railway network in the world. Can we have high speed railways in the U.S.? It’s a complicated matter. The U.S. mainly invested in highways and airports, for good reasons. A big difference between North America and Europe and Asia is population density. Railways are more competitive in areas of higher population density. And railways work better with connections to other mass transit systems. Our public transportation system isn’t as extensive as other developed countries. Suppose we have a rail line between Madison and Chicago which takes only half an hour for the trip. No taking shoes off at security check, no turning off cell phones, no seat belts, no lost baggage. It sounds very attractive, but we have to take everything into account. Because population density is relatively low and places are sparsely located, trains, buses and metro lines can’t conveniently carry me from where I live to the places I go. I would drive to the rail station where I would pay for a parking fee. When I arrive in Chicago, I would rent a car (and pay a rental fee, of course) and then drive to the places I want to visit. On the other hand, if I choose to drive from Madison to Chicago by myself, it takes longer but costs much less and is convenient. Having said my concerns, I see many potentials of a high speed rail system in the U.S. Whether the system turns out to be a success or a failure depends on how it’s designed, implemented and operated. I dream to have a modern rail station in our city. That is a high speed future I’ m looking forward to. |
Shang Zuo's column
By Shang Zuo
When I was a student in China, I rode the train every year for this or that reason. Now it has become a
rare experience. The last time I took a train was in Italy. I walked into the rail station, easily and quickly
checked in, and saw my train quietly waiting there. The train looked like an old and reliable friend to me. It’s
going to take me to a fun place far away.
We mostly travel by car, by air, or by train. I like them all. They all have their advantages. Traveling by
train is a unique and comfortable experience. No harsh security checks. You don’t have to get to the rail
station two hours before the departure time. Trains are mostly on time. Hopping on it one minute before it
leaves is just fine. You don’t have to turn off your cell phone when the train is leaving or approaching a
station. Carriages are much more spacious than planes. Your luggage is with you. You can get your
belongings when you need them. No lost luggage. Trains slide on their rails, smoothly and quietly. When the
train stops and rests at a small station for a while, you can take the time to explore the environment and
people. Traveling by train is easy, because it’s natural.
Trains are no longer the old fashion trains I used to see. On Dec 26, 2009, the world’s fastest train
service started operation between Wuhan and Guangzhou. It traveled 1,100 kilometers (684 miles) within
three hours. The average speed of the train is 350 km per hour, with a maximum speed of 394.2 km per
hour. The speed described by passengers was “like flying over the ground.” It’s a significant increase in
When I was a student in China, I rode the train every year for this or that reason. Now it has become a
rare experience. The last time I took a train was in Italy. I walked into the rail station, easily and quickly
checked in, and saw my train quietly waiting there. The train looked like an old and reliable friend to me. It’s
going to take me to a fun place far away.
We mostly travel by car, by air, or by train. I like them all. They all have their advantages. Traveling by
train is a unique and comfortable experience. No harsh security checks. You don’t have to get to the rail
station two hours before the departure time. Trains are mostly on time. Hopping on it one minute before it
leaves is just fine. You don’t have to turn off your cell phone when the train is leaving or approaching a
station. Carriages are much more spacious than planes. Your luggage is with you. You can get your
belongings when you need them. No lost luggage. Trains slide on their rails, smoothly and quietly. When the
train stops and rests at a small station for a while, you can take the time to explore the environment and
people. Traveling by train is easy, because it’s natural.
Trains are no longer the old fashion trains I used to see. On Dec 26, 2009, the world’s fastest train
service started operation between Wuhan and Guangzhou. It traveled 1,100 kilometers (684 miles) within
three hours. The average speed of the train is 350 km per hour, with a maximum speed of 394.2 km per
hour. The speed described by passengers was “like flying over the ground.” It’s a significant increase in