Editing High-speed rail (section)

==Definitions==
{{train topics}}
{{See also|Passenger rail terminology}}
[[File:FS ETR.500 pair, Firenze S.M.N. (1).JPG|thumb|A pair of Italian FS' [[ETR 500]] at [[Firenze Santa Maria Novella railway station]]. The version ETR 500 Y1 achieved {{convert|362|km/h|abbr=on}} on the Bologna-Florence line on 4 February 2009, a new world speed record in a tunnel.<ref name="FS355record">{{cite web |url=http://www.corriere.it/cronache/09_febbraio_04/treno_record_galleria_8806fdfa-f2ce-11dd-8878-00144f02aabc.shtml |title=Due record in prova per il Frecciarossa |date=2009-02-04 |publisher=Repubblica |language=it |access-date=2009-02-05}}</ref>]]
Multiple definitions for high-speed rail are in use worldwide, with various international organisations and regional bodies establishing different standards. Several countries have also developed their own legal definitions and technical standards for high-speed rail.

=== International Union of Railways definition ===
The [[International Union of Railways]] (UIC) identifies three categories of high-speed rail:<ref name="Pyrgidis">{{cite book |last=Pyrgidis |first=Christos N. |url={{google books |plainurl=y |id=e5ymCwAAQBAJ}} |title=Railway Transportation Systems: Design, Construction and Operation |date=21 April 2016 |publisher=CRC Press |isbn=978-1-4822-6216-2}}</ref>

* '''Category I:''' New tracks specially constructed for high speeds, allowing a maximum running speed of at least 250&nbsp;km/h (155&nbsp;mph).
* '''Category II:''' Existing tracks specially upgraded for high speeds, allowing a maximum running speed of at least 200&nbsp;km/h (124&nbsp;mph).
* '''Category III:''' Existing tracks specially upgraded for high speeds, allowing a maximum running speed of at least 200&nbsp;km/h, but with some sections having a lower allowable speed (for example due to topographic constraints, or passage through urban areas).

A third definition of high-speed and very high-speed rail<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Nikolaos |first1=Demiridis |last2=Christos |first2=Pyrgidis |date=2012 |title=An Overview of High-Speed Railway Systems in Revenue Service Around the World at the End of 2010 and New Links Envisaged |journal=Rail Engineering International |pages=13–16 |issn=0141-4615}}</ref> requires simultaneous fulfilment of the following two conditions:<ref name="Pyrgidis" />
# Maximum achievable running speed in excess of {{Convert|200|km/h|0|abbr=on}}, or {{Convert|250|km/h|0|abbr=on}} for very high-speed,
# Average running speed across the corridor in excess of {{convert|150|km/h|0|abbr=on}}, or {{Convert|200|km/h|0|abbr=on}} for very high-speed.

The International Union of Railways prefers to use "definitions" (plural) because they consider that there is no single standard definition of high-speed rail, nor even standard usage of the terms ("high speed", or "very high speed"). They make use of the European EC Directive 96/48, stating that high speed is a combination of all the elements which constitute the system: infrastructure, rolling stock and operating conditions.<ref name="GeneralDefinition-EU" /> The International Union of Railways states that high-speed rail is a set of unique features, not merely a train travelling above a particular speed. Many conventionally hauled trains are able to reach {{Convert|200|km/h|0|abbr=on}} in commercial service but are not considered to be high-speed trains. These include the French [[SNCF]] [[Intercités]] and German [[Deutsche Bahn|DB]] [[Intercity (Deutsche Bahn)|IC]].

The criterion of {{Convert|200|km/h|0|abbr=on}} is selected for several reasons; above this speed, the impacts of geometric defects are intensified, track adhesion is decreased, aerodynamic resistance is greatly increased, pressure fluctuations within tunnels cause passenger discomfort, and it becomes difficult for drivers to identify trackside signalling.<ref name="Pyrgidis" /> Standard signaling equipment is often limited to speeds below {{Convert|200|km/h|0|abbr=on}}, with the traditional limits of {{cvt|79|mph|order=flip}} in the US, {{cvt|160|km/h}} in Germany and {{cvt|125|mph}} in Britain. Above those speeds [[positive train control]] or the [[European Train Control System]] becomes necessary or legally mandatory.

=== European Union definition ===
The [[Directive (European Union)|European Union Directive]] 96/48/EC, Annex 1 (see also [[Trans-European high-speed rail network]]) defines high-speed rail in terms of:

* '''Infrastructure:''' Track built specially for high-speed travel or specially upgraded for high-speed travel.
* '''Minimum speed limit:''' Minimum speed of {{convert|250|km/h|0|abbr=on}} on lines specially built for high speed ''and'' of about {{convert|200|km/h|0|abbr=on}} on existing lines which have been specially upgraded. This must apply to at least one section of the line. Rolling stock must be able to reach a speed of at least 200&nbsp;km/h to be considered high speed.
* '''Operating conditions:''' Rolling stock must be designed alongside its infrastructure for complete compatibility, safety and quality of service.<ref name="GeneralDefinition-EU">{{cite web|publisher=[[International Union of Railways]] |url=http://www.uic.org/spip.php?article971 |title=General definitions of highspeed |access-date=13 May 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720214528/http://www.uic.org/spip.php?article971 |archive-date=20 July 2011 }}</ref>

=== National legal definitions ===
Some national legal definitions of high-speed rail include:

==== Australia ====
According to the High Speed Rail Authority Act 2022, high-speed rail in Australia is defined as a railway capable of supporting trains that can travel at speeds exceeding 250&nbsp;km/h.<ref>{{Cite web |title=HIGH SPEED RAIL AUTHORITY ACT 2022 (NO. 81, 2022) |url=https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;db=LEGISLATION;id=legislation/bills/r6904_aspassed/0002;query=Id:%22legislation/bills/r6904_aspassed/0000%22 |access-date=2025-01-20 |website=Parliament of Australia}}</ref> As of 2025, Australia does not have any railways which meet this definition.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Projects to watch in 2025 - Australia and New Zealand |url=https://www.railjournal.com/in_depth/projects-to-watch-in-2025-australia-and-new-zealand/ |access-date=2025-01-20 |website=International Railway Journal |language=en-GB}}</ref>

==== China ====
According to China's [[Ministry of Railways (China)|Ministry of Railways]] ''Order No. 34 (2013)'', high-speed rail refers to new passenger rail lines designed to operate at speeds of 250&nbsp;km/h or higher, with initial service running at least 200&nbsp;km/h.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gerald Ollivier, Richard Bullock, Ying Jin and Nanyan Zhou |date=December 2014 |title=High-Speed Railways in China: A Look at Traffic |url=https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/451551468241176543/pdf/932270BRI0Box30ffic020140final000EN.pdf |website=World Bank}}</ref>

==== Japan ====
The first law defining high-speed rail was Japan's ''"Law number 71 for Construction of Nation-Wide High-Speed Railways",'' adopted on May 18, 1970.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-10-25 |title=High speed train in Japan - The Railway dictionary of Mediarail.be |url=https://ledicoferroviaire.mediarail.be/high-speed-line-in-japan-en/ |access-date=2025-01-20 |language=en-GB}}</ref>

Article 2 of this law provided the following definition: ''"An [[Main line (railway)|artery railway]] that is capable of operating at the speed of 200km/h or more in its predominating section."'' <ref>{{Cite web |date=May 18, 1970 |title=NATIONWIDE SHINKANSEN RAILWAY DEVELOPMENT ACT |url=https://www.mlit.go.jp/english/2006/h_railway_bureau/Laws_concerning/05.pdf |website=Government of Japan}}</ref>

This law formalised the definition of [[Shinkansen|high-speed railways in Japan]] and established a framework for the Shinkansen network, which had started in operation since 1964.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Jones |first1=Ben |date=2024-10-01 |title=How Japan's Shinkansen bullet trains changed the world of rail travel |url=https://edition.cnn.com/travel/japan-shinkansen-bullet-trains-60-years/index.html |access-date=2025-01-20 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref>

==== South Korea ====
South Korea defines high-speed rail through the Railway Service Act (2004),<ref>{{Cite web |title=철도사업법 |url=https://elaw.klri.re.kr/kor_service/lawView.do?hseq=39075&lang=ENG |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241204075618/https://elaw.klri.re.kr/kor_service/lawView.do?hseq=39075&lang=ENG |archive-date=4 December 2024 |access-date=2025-01-20 |website=elaw.klri.re.kr |language=ko |url-status=live }}</ref> which categorises railway lines and trains into three types:

# High-speed railway lines: Can run at speeds of 300&nbsp;km/h or more on the majority of tracks.
# Semi-high-speed railway lines: Can run at speeds between 200&nbsp;km/h to 300&nbsp;km/h on the majority of tracks.
# Conventional lines: Can run at a maximum speed of less than 200&nbsp;km/h on the majority of tracks.

The Act also categorises trains into corresponding types based on their maximum speeds.

==== United States ====
United States federal law defines high-speed rail is as intercity passenger rail service expected to reach speeds of at least {{convert|110|mph}}.<ref>{{Cite web |title=49 U.S. Code § 26106 - High-speed rail corridor development |url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/49/26106#b_4 |access-date=2025-01-19 |website=LII / Legal Information Institute |language=en}}</ref>