High Speed Rail Planning, Policy, and Engineering, Volume III

Book excerpt: Volume three of High-Speed Rail Planning, Policy, and Engineering-Operations explores the high-speed operations of a hypothetical reconstruction of a former railroad main line between Chicago and New York. The former Pennsylvania Railroad main line between New York and Chicago, via Trenton, Harrisburg, Pittsburgh, Canton, and Fort Wayne, is studied in its existing condition and under various phases of rehabilitation and reconstruction. Operation of high-speed passenger and freight trains under various scenarios of reconstruction of the aforementioned rail line is studied. The possibility of long-distance commuter operations is investigated. Cost analysis, marketing, track maintenance, and equipment maintenance for a proposed high-speed rail system are also discussed.