High speed rail carries enormous capacity! A single HSR line transports up to 20,000 people per hour (more than a 10-lane freeway + 2 airports), without delays or congestion. The addition of HSR to America's transportation mix would remake it into a complete system, adding new capacity while improving the functioning of other modes.
Comparison of vehicles used in standard, domestic commercial service
AIRPLANES
VS.
FAST TRAINS
Winter Travel
Click both videos at the same time for side-by-side comparison
"High speed rail carries 10 times the capacity of aviation!"
High capacity, efficient transportation
"Road and airport congestion cost America over $156 billion per year in wasted time and fuel"
Thousands of miles of delays and waste daily
Endless, costly delays - every airport, every day
"The U.S. Federal and state governments spend more than $200 Billion every year expanding roads, while cutting funding for rail systems!"
US transportation paralysis - every city, every day
Fast, efficient mobility - every train, every day
"A single high speed train line can carry the equivalent passengers of a 10 lane freeway"
HIGHWAYS
VS.
FAST TRAINS
Rush Hour
4,000 people per hour
20,000 people per hour
(at 8 miles per hour)
(at 200 miles per hour)
Click both videos at the same time for side-by-side comparison
As the nation contemplates a major infrastructure investment, its important to look at the complete transportation system of America at all scales, and trip distances. Our chart above showcases this new thinking for national transportation planning!
An integral part of a complete system, high speed rail carries enormous capacity! The addition of HSR to America's transportation mix would remake it into a complete system. HSR fills the middle range of passenger trips in the 100-1,500 mile range, while shifting aviation to its most efficient range of passenger trips of 1,000 miles or longer, and cars covering their most efficient range under 100 miles.
In the same amount of space, Copenhagen bikeways carry 7 times more people per hour than LA Freeways!
HIGHWAYS
VS.
BICYCLES
Rush Hour
1 lane of pavement
Bikeway (same width as one lane)
400 people per hour
3,000 people per hour
(at 8 miles per hour)
(at 10 miles per hour)
Click both videos at the same time for side-by-side comparison
"High speed rail carries 20 times the capacity of highways!"
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