阿曼达·布里尼

High speed trains1 are a type of passenger train travel that functions at a speed much higher than that of traditional passenger trains. There are different standards of what constitutes high speed trains based on the train’s speed and technology used however. In the European Union， high speed trains are that which travels 125 miles per hour （200 km/h） or faster， while in the United States it is those that travel 90 mph （145 km/h） or faster.

History of high speed trains

Train travel has been a popular form of passenger and freight transport since the early 20th century. The first high speed trains appeared as early as 1933 in Europe and the U.S. when streamliner trains were used to transport goods and people at speeds of around 80 mph （130 km/h）. In 1939， Italy introduced its ETR 200 train that had routes from Milan to Florence and was capable of traveling at a top speed of 126 mph （203 km/h）. Services and further development for ETR 200 stopped with the beginning of World War II.

After WWII， high speed trains again became a priority in many countries. It was especially important in Japan and in 1957， the Romancecar 3000 SSE was launched in Tokyo. The Romancecar was a narrow gauge train （a narrower area than 4 feet [1.4 m] across between the railroad’s rails） and set a world speed record for its ability to travel 90 mph （145 km/h）.

Shortly thereafter in the mid-1960s， Japan introduced the world’s first high volume high speed train that operated with a standard （4 ft） gauge. It was called the Shinkansen2 and officially opened in 1964. It provided rail service between Tokyo and Osaka at speeds of around 135 mph （217 km/h）. The word Shinkansen itself means “new main line” in Japanese but because of the trains’ design and speed， they became known around the world as “bullet trains3.”

After the opening of the bullet trains in Japan， Europe also started developing high capacity4 high speed trains in 1965 at the International Transport Fair in Munich， Germany. Several high speed trains were tested at the fair but Europe’s high speed rail service was not fully developed until the 1980s.

Today’s high speed train technology

Since the development of high speed rail， there have been many changes in the technology used in high speed trains. One of these is maglev （magnetic levitation）， but most high speed trains use other technologies because they are easier to implement and they allow for more direct high speed connections to cities without the need for new tracks.

Today there are high speed trains that use steel wheels on steel tracks that can travel at speeds over 200 mph. Minimal stopping for traffic， long curves， and aerodynamic， light trains also allow today’s high speed trains to travel even faster. In addition， new technologies being implemented in train signaling systems can enable high speed trains to safely minimize time between trains at stations， thereby allowing travel on them to be even more efficient.

Worldwide high speed trains

Today， there are many large high speed rail lines around the world. The largest though are found in Europe， China and Japan. In Europe， high speed trains operate in Belgium， Finland， France， Germany， Italy， Portugal， Romania， Spain， Sweden， Turkey and the United Kingdom. Spain， Germany， the U.K. and France currently have the largest high speed train networks in Europe.

High speed trains are also significant in China and Japan. China， for example， has the world’s largest high speed rail network at just over 3，728 miles （6，000 km）. The network provides service between the country’s major cities using maglev as well as more conventional trains.

Prior to China’s construction of new high speed rail lines in 2007， Japan had the world’s largest high speed train network at 1，528 mi （2，459 km）. Today the Shinkansen is highly important there and new maglev and steel wheeled trains are currently being tested.

In addition to these three areas， high speed rail lines are also present as a commuter train in the eastern U.S. and also in South Korea.

Advantages of high speed trains

Once completed and well established， high speed train lines have many advantages over other forms of high capacity public transportation. One of these is that due to infrastructure design in many countries， highway and air travel systems are constrained， cannot expand， and in many cases are overloaded. Because the addition of new high speed rail can also be high capacity， it has the potential relieve congestion on other transit systems.

High speed trains are also considered more energy efficient or equivalent to other modes of transit per passenger mile. In terms of possible passenger capacity， high speed trains can also reduce the amount of land used per passenger when compared to cars on roads. In addition， train stations are normally smaller than airports and can therefore be located within major cities and spaced closer together， allowing for more convenient travel.

Future of high speed trains

Because of these advantages， high speed rail use is increasing worldwide. By 2025 Europe plans to dramatically increase its connections and the EU has a goal of creating a Trans-European high speed train network to connect the entire region. Other examples of future high speed rail plans can be found across the globe from California to Morocco to Saudi Arabia， thus strengthening the importance of high speed trains as a viable form of future public transportation.

高速列车是客运列车的一种，运行速度远高于传统客运列车。根据运行速度和所用技术，其标准又有不同。在欧盟，运行时速至少125英里（200公里）的为高速列车，而在美国，该标准为90英里（145公里）。

高速列车的历史

自20世纪初，火车已成为一种常用的客货运交通。最早的高速列车于1933年出现在欧洲和美国，当时用于客货运的流线型火车时速约80英里（130公里）。1939年，意大利在米兰和佛罗伦萨间开通了ETR200型列车，时速最高可达126英里（203公里），但随着二战爆发，该列车停运，再无后续发展。

二战结束后，高速列车重新成为多国优先发展的对象，日本尤甚。1957年， “浪漫快车”3000 SSE亮相东京，该车窄轨（铁路轨道间距小于4英尺，即1.4米）运行，时速90英里（145公里），创下世界纪录。

此后不久，1960年代中期，日本又推出了世界上首款标准轨距（4英尺）运行的大容量高速列车。列车名为“新干线”（Shinkansen），1964年正式开通运行，往来于东京和大阪，时速约135英里（217公里）。在日文中，Shinkansen义为“新的干线”，但其外形设计和速度使它以“子弹头列车”闻名于世。

日本开通子弹头列车后，1965年德国慕尼黑的国际交通展会上，欧洲也开始研发大容量高速列车。展会期间，数款高速列车试车，但欧洲的高速列车直到1980年代才发展成熟。

当今高速列车技术

高速列车发展过程中所使用的技术经历了许多变化。磁悬浮是其中的一种，但大多数高速列车使用的是其他技术，原因是那些技术更容易实施，毋须新铺轨道，即可实现更多的城际高速直通。

目前，钢轮钢轨体系的高速列车运行时速可超过200英里。停靠少、弯道缓、流线型和轻车身等特点使当今的高速列车运行更快，此外，信号系统引入新技术，使列车在保证安全的前提下能最大限度地缩短发车间隔，列车出行更加高效。

世界各国的高速列车

目前，世界各地有许多大型高速列车网，最大的在欧洲、中国和日本。在欧洲，比利时、芬兰、法国、德国、意大利、葡萄牙、罗马尼亚、西班牙、瑞典、土耳其和英国均有高速列车，但网络规模以西班牙、德国、英国和法国为最。

中国和日本的高速列车也很有影响。中国的高速列车网总里程超过了3728英里（6000公里），为世界之最，连接该国主要城市，既有磁悬浮列车，也有较常规的列车。

在中国2007年建成新的高速列车网之前，日本的高速列车轨道总里程曾居世界第一，为1528英里（2459公里）。目前，新干线是十分重要的交通线，新的磁悬浮和钢轮列车正在试验中。

除以上这三个地区外，还有一些地方也有用于通勤的高速列车，如美国东部和韩国。

高速列车的优点

一旦建成完善，与其他类型大容量公共交通相比，高速列车具有许多优点。其中一个原因是，许多国家基础设施的设计使公路和航空系统发展受限，无法扩展，很多情况下是超负荷运行。新型高速列车也可以实现大容量载客，其他运输系统的拥堵可能因此得到缓解。

高速列车还被认为更节能，或者单位乘客里程能耗与其他交通方式持平。从载客能力上看，与公路小汽车相比，高速列车单位乘客占用的空间更小。此外，火车站一般比机场小，因此可在大城市内设点，站间距离靠近，更方便人们出行。

高速列车的未来

高速列车的这些优点使越来越多的国家着力发展高铁。欧洲计划到2025年大幅增加高速列车开通数，欧盟还制订了一项目标，开发跨欧洲高速列车网，以连通整个地区。从加利福尼亚到摩洛哥，再到沙特阿拉伯，高速列車的建造计划遍及全球。高速列车是未来公交一种可行的出行工具，其地位越发重要。