High Speed Rail

With the likely increase in the future prices of oil, it makes sense to return to
railways as the primary means of transport for medium and long distance
journeys. The last half century has seen the introduction of high speed rail, and
then the elaboration and expansion of high speed rail networks. The first
recognised high speed train network was introduced in Japan in the 1960s. This
was partially due to the extremely high density of population living within the
catchment area of the high speed rail link. But other considerations were
important too. Capacity on the existing network was nearly full; the motorways
were also extremely congested, so the decision was made to explore the
possibilities of high speed rail. Other countries have followed suit; China and
Taiwan are other South-East Asian countries that now have high speed rail
services, while several European countries now also boast high speed rail. So
what are the main advantages of high speed rail? What are the main
drawbacks? What is the current state of play? And what is the likely future
expansion of said networks?
High speed rail has many points in its favour. It is extremely fast (obviously),
reducing travel time between destinations served on its route. It is more
environmentally friendly than cars or airplanes, as it electrically powered. It can
also carry many people on one trip, meaning that, per person, it is much more
environmentally friendly than if all of these people travelled to their destination
by car or by plane. It also represents a sizeable investment on the part of the
Government that builds it. This means that construction of the lines acts as an
economic stimulus, especially beneficial at the moment as many young people
who used to work in the building trade find themselves currently out of work,
giving these people jobs that suit their skills. It makes the country more
attractive for investment, both in terms of foreign direct investment, and also for
investment by domestic companies. The values of homes close to stations
serviced on the lines also rise in value. This means that people may commute
to a countrys capital city, even though they may live in a city or town up to 150
kilometres away. This has the double advantage of breathing new life into
moribund cities that have lost out to investment in a countrys capital city that is
relatively close (in terms of more people opting to move to these cities), while
also meaning that fewer people have to live in the capital city. This is especially
attractive as capital cities tend to be huge, expensive and overcrowded (such as
London, Paris and Madrid, to name but a few). Thus fewer people will have to
move to capital cities (where most of the best jobs are), even though they are
still working in the capital. High speed rail is also an investment in the future.
Even though they are being built in the present, they will be of huge benefit to
future generations. So money being spent today, will still be beneficial in the
22nd century and beyond (consider that the first underground network, in
London, was opened in 1869, and these lines are still in use).
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However, there are also many cons associated with high speed rail. They are
hugely expensive to build. As an example, the British Government recently
announced plans to build a Y shaped high speed rail network, linking London
to Scotland via Birmingham, with a spur linking Manchester to the main line.
This is expected to cost around 33 billion pounds sterling a huge sum in these
times of austerity. They also tend to disfigure the countryside. This obviously
depends on the route taken by the train, but there has been strong opposition
on these grounds in Britain, as the proposed line would run through the
Chilterns, an area of outstanding natural beauty. Also, as the line would be
brand new (i.e. not using or upgrading lines currently in use), many dwellings
would have to be demolished, while farms that lie in the path of the railway
would be cut in half, as the line would bisect them. Towns and cities that lie
close to the line, but do not have stations on the line tend to stagnate. This is
because cities that are served by high speed rail attract residents and
businesses, to the detriment of nearby cities that are not on the network. Other
people argue that the massive investment required of high speed rail is
unnecessary, as existing rail, motor and airline services provide adequate
transport options.
So what is the current state of play in Europe with regard to high speed rail?
France was first off the mark, launching the TGV from Paris to Lyon in 1981.
But the current market leaders are Spain, which is in the middle of a hyperambitious project to expand the AVE (as the Spanish high speed rail network is
known) throughout Spain and beyond. The plans call for all of the capitals of the
autonomous regions to be connected to Madrid, with a journey time of less than
four hours. The aim is also to be able to travel from all of the regional capitals to
Barcelona in less than six hours. By 2020, when the network is due to be
finished, 90% of the population of Spain will reside less than ten kilometres from
a station on the network. Currently, you can take the AVE from Madrid to
Barcelona, from Madrid to Seville and from Madrid to Valladolid. On the 19th of
December, the AVE will begin the service from Madrid to Valencia. With the
opening of this line, Spain will be second to only China in terms of the amount
of Kilometres of high speed rail in usage a startling achievement for a medium
sized country. Plans are also afoot to link Madrid to Lisbon, and Barcelona to
the TGV network, meaning that within a few years, the entire Iberian Peninsula
will be crisscrossed by high speed rail.
One the major engineering triumphs of the 20th century was the boring of the
channel tunnel, linking London to Paris and Brussels by high speed rail. At
present, the following European countries have high speed rail (in order of the
amount of kilometres in usage): Spain, France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, the
Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Switzerland. Most of these countries also
have lines under construction.

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So what does the future hold for high speed rail? The aim should be to unite the
major urban centres of Western Europe by high speed rail. Indeed this process
is well underway. Within a few years, the Spanish AVE and French TGV will be
connected, meaning it will be possible to travel from Madrid to Paris, and
onwards to London, Brussels or Amsterdam. So this is no pipe dream, it is
rapidly becoming a reality. So how may high speed rail affect the lives of
European citizens over the coming years? Governments should co-ordinate
plans to construct a network that covers Europe in its entirety. Short haul flights
should be banned (or heavily taxed), while ticket prices for high speed rail
should be reduced, so that it would be cheaper to travel by rail than by driving.
Governments should consider that the era of cheap oil is coming to an end, so
the strategic choice should be made now to switch to high speed rail, instead of
waiting for the inevitable third oil crisis, with all of the disruption and chaos that
will ensue.

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Exercises
Mark the following statements True, False or Doesnt say:
1. High speed rail was introduced during the last 25 years.
2. High speed rail is more environmentally friendly than travelling by car or by
plane.
3. High speed rail lines are built by private companies.
4. With high speed rail, people are able to commute extremely long distances.
5. There is only one high speed rail line in America.
6. High speed rail networks that are being built at the moment will only benefit
people who are alive today.
7. New high speed rail lines sometimes scar the countryside.
8. Cities that are close to high speed rail lines but that arent connected to the
lines tend to grow and prosper.
9. The construction of the AVE network is running behind schedule and has
been criticised.
10. The construction of the Channel Tunnel was the outstanding engineering
triumph of the 20th century.
11. Governments should try to connect all of the large European cities together
in the near future.
12. The European Union has subsidised the construction of high speed rail
lines.

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Read through the article again. Match the phrases highlighted in the text with
the correct definition.

Congested
Followed suit
Drawbacks
Commute
Moribund
Disfigure
Dwellings
Stagnate
Plans are also afoot
Pipe dream

________________: Houses
________________: An unrealistic dream
________________: Disadvantages
________________: Travel from your home to your place of work
________________: Strategies are also being developed
________________: Extremely crowded
________________: To make someone/something much less attractive
________________:
underdevelopment

When

place

is

suffering

from

neglect

and

________________: When a place is dying

________________: Copied

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Answers
Mark the following statements True, False or Doesnt say:
1. High speed rail was introduced during the last 25 years. False
2. High speed rail is more environmentally friendly than travelling by car or by
plane. True
3. High speed rail lines are built by private companies. False
4. With high speed rail, people are able to commute extremely long distances.
True
5. There is only one high speed rail line in America. Doesnt say
6. High speed rail networks that are being built at the moment will only benefit
people who are alive today. False
7. New high speed rail lines sometimes scar the countryside. True
8. Cities that are close to high speed rail lines but that arent connected to the
lines tend to grow and prosper. False
9. The construction of the AVE network is running behind schedule and has
been criticised. Doesnt say
10. The construction of the Channel Tunnel was the outstanding engineering
triumph of the 20th century. False
11. Governments should try to connect all of the large European cities together
in the near future. True
12. The European Union has subsidised the construction of high speed rail
lines. Doesnt say

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Read through the article again. Match the phrases highlighted in the text with
the correct definition.

Dwellings:

Houses

Pipe dream:

An unrealistic dream

Drawbacks:

Disadvantages

Commute:

Travel from your home to your place of work

Plans are also afoot:

Strategies are also being developed

Congested:

Extremely crowded

Disfigure:

To make someone/something much less attractive

Stagnate:
underdevelopment

When a place is suffering from neglect and

Moribund:

When a place is dying

Followed suit:

Copied

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