What are some of the benefits and consequences of high speed rail?

Proposed “high speed” rail projects have the potential to reduce transportation costs, cut oil use, relieve highway and air traffic congestion, enhance other forms of public transportation, increase land values, and spur economic development in large and small communities.



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High-Speed Trains Provide Environmental, Social Benefits, Study Says. Bullet trains fuel real-estate booms, improve quality of life, reduce air pollution and traffic congestion, and provide a “safety valve” for crowded cities, especially in the developing world, according to a study by Chinese and U.S. economists.

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High-speed rail is generally regarded as the pinnacle of attractive and green transportation. But all too often, it makes train travel more expensive and less flexible. In the end, costly high-speed lines may just push more people into cars.

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This paper highlights that HSR can help achieve accessibility of rural area and poverty alleviation simultaneously. An understanding of the effect is critical for policymakers to promote intra-regional development, balancing efficiency and regional equality.

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Rail, high speed or not, is one of the safest ways to get around. According to a National Safety Council review of 10 years of transportation fatalities, for every mile traveled, car drivers and passengers are more than 10 times as likely to die in accidents as passenger rail riders.

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Implementing high-speed rail will keep billions of dollars in the U.S. economy by decreasing the amount of oil that the U.S. consumes. According to the International Association of Railways (UIC), high-speed rail is eight times more energy efficient than airplanes and four times more efficient than automobile use.

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As a result, rail transport has many advantages such as high carrying capacity, economy, reliability, environmental impact, safety and independence from traffic congestion. It is a preferred method of transport, especially when large volumes and long-distance cargoes are to be transported.

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High-Speed Rail is the Solution. Shifting drivers to trains creates fewer greenhouse gas emissions, since trains are far more energy efficient than cars (or planes).

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The empirical results from the difference-in-differences method show that HSR connection does not promote tourism revenue but does boost tourist arrivals, leading to a negative effect of HSR connection on tourism revenue per arrival; these results are further confirmed by the instrumental variable method to address the ...

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High-Speed Trains Provide Environmental, Social Benefits, Study Says. Bullet trains fuel real-estate booms, improve quality of life, reduce air pollution and traffic congestion, and provide a “safety valve” for crowded cities, especially in the developing world, according to a study by Chinese and U.S. economists.

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Eurostar estimates that a one-way train trip emits around 10 pounds (4.5 kilograms) of CO2 per passenger, making it a much more sustainable choice compared to flying.

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Thus, during their long construction phases, high-speed rail projects add greenhouse gases. Adding lanes to existing highways also generates greenhouse gases, but to the extent that recycled asphalt is used for road paving climate impacts can be somewhat reduced.

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There are risks and disadvantages of transporting your goods by rail including:
  • routes and timetables available can be inflexible, especially in remote regions.
  • rail transport can be more expensive than road transport.
  • mechanical failure or industrial action can disrupt services.


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Building high-speed rail systems require steel and concrete, the manufacturing of which typically generates greenhouse gases. Trucks, bulldozers, and other construction site equipment also consume energy. Thus, during their long construction phases, high-speed rail projects add greenhouse gases.

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