A CUSTOM PUBLICATION OF THE FRESNO BEE

SATURDAY, JUNE 18, 2011

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GLOBAL

HSR: A world connected

High-speed rail has helped countries like China, Japan, Germany, Russia and Spain transform themselves in many ways.
by Oliver Hauck, President, Siemens Mobility Division, USA

hile high-speed rail has yet to catch on in the United States, there has been a global expansion in HSR lines in recent years, and for many countries, it is a major source of transportation. Spain, for instance, has been pursuing HSR for 20 years and by 2012 will have the longest system in Europe.

taying competitive in todays global economy is no easy feat. Emerging markets are challenging more developed countries like the United States, and this trend will only continue as the marketplace evolves. One area that is adversely affecting the United States competitiveness is its transportation system. The current system needs to be updated and integrated with other modes of transportation to create a comprehensive network that makes it easy for businesses to ship their products to customers and for people to get where they need to go. Unfortunately, the United States is currently stuck in the slow lane, not only benefits of figuratively, but literally. high-speed rail are already being realized by countries The benefits of high-speed around the globe rail are already being countries the United States is competing with in realized by countries the global marketplace. around the globe In China, a 4,300-mile highspeed network is connecting cities countries the United States like Beijing and Tianjin in just 30 is competing with in the minutes, and the country plans to expand the network to 8,000 miles by global marketplace. 2012. High-speed rail is not only Oliver Hauckr making it easier for people to move around in dense urban areas the system recorded 41 million passenA truly intermodal transportation gers in its first two years but also network that integrates air and stimulating the economy, driving up automobile travel with passenger demand for construction materials rail, in particular, high-speed rail such as steel and cement, and networks, would strengthen the creating jobs to construct the line. United States position in the global Construction of the Beijing to marketplace by driving economic Shanghai line put 110,000 people to growth, increasing energy efficiency work. while reducing dependence on In a 2010 study Siemens sponsored foreign oil, and facilitating the smart for the U.S. Conference of Mayors examining the economic impact of growth of towns and cities. The

ran 126 mph on a test track near Berlin. The country now has more than 1,000 miles of high-speed networks building high-speed rail in four connecting cities in Germany and major cities, researchers found that connecting Germany to the rest of building high-speed rail would add Europe with trains that cross borders $6.1 billion annually in new business into Austria, Belgium, Denmark, sales to Chicago while creating France, the Netherlands, Switzerland 42,000 new jobs. In Los Angeles, $7.6 and the United Kingdom. billion would be added yearly and These highly efficient trains are some 55,000 jobs created, and in fully integrated into the countrys New Yorks state capital, Albany, $2.5 transportation network and work billion would go to the local econotogether with the airlines and automy and some 21,000 jobs would be mobile travel. A passenger traveling created. through Germany can purchase a Dispelling a myth, high-speed rail complete travel itinerary including actually started in Germany in the early 1900s with the first rail car that SEE World, PAGE 10
Future plans call for 8,000 miles by 2012 Future plans call for 1,800 miles by 2015 Future plans call for 2,500 miles by 2025 Future plans call for 1,500 miles by 2025 Future plans call for 2,000 miles by 2020 Future plans call for 800 miles by 2020 Future plans call for 7,000 miles by 2030 Future plans call for 1,200 miles by 2020

CHINA
Overseas jobs?
Any rail project in the U.S. will require steel rails imported from Korea or China and train components imported from Germany. Yes, we will need a few locals to put this all together, but the primary jobs will be created overseas. which require steel, iron and any manufactured goods used in the program to be produced in the United States. Examples: Already, the steel rail for projects in Maine and Vermont are being cast at a plant in Indiana.

4,300 miles 1 1,487 miles m 1 1,143 m miles 1,056 miles 633 miles 547 miles 403 miles 435 miles

Moves at 217 mph Moves at 186 mph Moves at 199 mph Moves at 186 mph Moves at 220 mph Moves at 186 mph Moves at 155 mph Moves at 149 mph

Services 152,000 passengers a day from Beijing to Tianjin $19 billion economic impact annually, with no passenger fatalities in 45 years Paris is the central hub for all HSR connections in France

Expert
true

Rehabilitation of passenger cars is under way in Delaware, Indiana and New York. And, rail sector manufacturers and suppliers are developing CNN.com user or expanding their StanCalif operations in the U.S. to accommodate anticipated future demand. response: Not Roy Kienitz, under secretary for policy, U.S. Department of Transportation:

While high speed rail is new to the United States, it has already made an impact globally. China, Japan, France, Germany, Spain, Italy and Russia are the global leaders in high speed rail.

JAPAN FRA FRANCE RANCE GERMANY SPAIN ITALY RUSSIA UNITED STATES

German trains traveled more than 14 million miles in 2009 HSR absorbed 50 percent of airline trafc from Barcelona to Madrid 70 daily connections for the 37-minute trip from Bologna to Florence Had 411,000 passengers in rst four months of operations Acela links Boston, Washington and New York

The high-speed rail program includes strict Buy America provisions,