The economics and politics of high speed rail
Subtitle: lessons from experiences abroad
By: Daniel Albalate and Germà Bel
Contributors: Bel, Germà
Publisher: Lexington Books
Published: 2012
Place of publication: Lanham, Md
Language: eng
Number of pages: 193
ISBN-13: 9780739171233; 9780739171240
Subjects: High speed trains; Economic aspects; Railroads and state
Description: This book introduces the main questions policy makers and scholars should examine when considering and studying high speed rail (HSR) implementation, with particular emphasis on the US's recent interest in this technology and possible application in California. The authors then review the experiences of the most significant implementations of HSR around the globe. This in-depth international perspective includes chapters on the pioneers of HSR (Japan and France), the European followers (Germany, Spain and Italy), as well as Asian experiences in China, Taiwan, and Korea. Among the most relevant findings, this study highlights how HSR projects that do not satisfy highly restrictive conditions-on mobility patterns, measured costs, and economically rational designs-that make it desirable have been the source of huge financial debacles and the economic failure of HSR in most cases, which result in unfortunate consequences for taxpayers.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.
Table of contents: title: Development of the high speed rail in the world; title: High speed rail in the us: an overview of the debate; title: High speed rail: the analytical framework; title: Japan: Shinkansen; title: France: Train à Grande Vitesse (TGV); title: Germany: Neubaustrecken; title: Spain: Alta Velocidad Española (AVE); title: China: Zhongguó gaosù tielù; title: Other experiences: Italy, Korea, and Taiwan; title: Lessons from international experiences; title: Conclusions: desires, beliefs, and reality.