1. The Time for High Speed Rail
(250km/h+)
A Frecciarossa high-speed train at
Milan's Central Station
Michael Charles
Southern Cross University
Program Leader, Economic, Social & Environmental Sustainability
CRC for Rail Innovation
f R il I ti
Brett Hughes
Australasian Railway Association
Program Chair, Economic, Social & Environmental Sustainability
CRC for Rail Innovation
Established and Supported under Australia’s 1
Cooperative Research Centres Programme

2. Outline
Background to research
Research findings
Future action
2

3. HSR defined
Speeds: 250
km/h+
Infrastructure
forms
Requirements
3

4. HSR applications worldwide
Japan: Shi k
J Shinkansen (1964)
Europe: TGV (1981) and others
Global expansion: boom period
4

5. Why research now?
Different context
Public interest
Environmental
concerns
Overseas success
5

6. HSR Enablers in Australia
Political interest
P liti l i t t
National t
N ti l transport
t
policy calls
Sustainability
Increasing
capacity
Mature technology
6

7. HSR Barriers in Australia
Competing
infrastructure initiatives
Legacy of federalism
Reluctance t i
R l t to invest
t
taxpayer funding
Lack of planning
coordination
Affordability of other
modes
7

8. Outcomes: Infrastructure
provision
i i
Nation-building
N ti b ildi
overseas
Public private
Public-private
partnerships
Innovative
ownership and
financing models
8

9. Outcomes: HSR vs. air
HSR can win passengers over
i
from air
“4-hour
4 hour
rule”
Workingg
together
9

10. Outcomes: urban issues
Criticality f
C iti lit of
station location
Interconnect
Interconnect-
ivity
Shared or
stand-alone
infrastructure?
10

11. Outcomes: non-commercial
benefits
b fit
Enhanced energy
E h d
security
Reduced GHGs in
operation
Reduced airport
congestion
Reduced external
costs
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12. Critical success factors
Strong vision
St i i
Demonstrated capacity issues
Demonstrated wider benefits
Understanding network effects
Competing with air
12

13. Most importantly of all
Treat
T t it as another mode
th d
Needs to be
optimum
Avoid lowest-
lowest
cost
Planning is everything
13

14. Complementing, not
necessarily competing
il ti
14

15. CRC for Rail Innovation
Reports
R t
Stay tuned
First in December 2009:
Strategic Information
St t i I f ti
Second early 2010: Non-
economic Benefits
15

16. Next steps
Travel d
T l demand projections
d j ti
Corridor protection
Financial and economic analysis
Operational and technology issues
Environmental and demographic
issues
16

17. Thank you
For q estions/comments regarding
questions/comments
our HSR research:
Email michael charles@scu.edu.au
Tel. 07 5506 9383
Email bhughes@ara.net.au
Tel.
Tel 08 6270 4508
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