Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Cable cars not only provide
transportation, but they
also deliver a unique tourist
experience and are an
essential part of a visit to
San Francisco. Their charm
continues to attract visitors
from around the world.
PhotocourtesyofPhotoDisc,
Inc./GettyImages.
Amtrak launched its Acela Express service between Boston and Washington, D.C., in December
2000 to serve the Northeast Corridor. Passengers can enjoy high-speed rail service traveling at
150 miles per hour in modern comfort. On average, the line is not as fast as high-speed rail lines in
other countries. The Acela Express service promises to improve Amtrak
s revenue stream. It will
become the prototype for high-speed trains in the Paci c Northwest, the Midwest, and the South but
is currently the only high-speed rail line in operation in the United States.
Because Amtrak is subsidized, suppliers of the other modes of transportation (especially bus) think
that Amtrak is attracting its customers with taxpayer assistance.
'
High-Speed Rail
The countries that have trains currently operating at 125 to 185 miles per hour (mph) (200
300 kilo-
meters per hour [km/h]) are Belgium, China, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Portugal, South
Korea, Spain, Taiwan, Turkey, theUnited Kingdom, and theUnited States. As constraints on the growth of
highway and air travel systems build, high-speed rail has the potential to relieve congestion on other
systems. High-speed trains have lower energy consumption per passenger mile than air or automobile
modes of transportation. They can move passengers at speeds far faster than cars. Although they do not
travel as fast as jet planes, they have advantages over air travel for relatively short distances (300 miles)
because of the time required for the journey to the airport, checking in, going through security screening,
and arriving in the city center. Japan and France have been major leaders in high-speed rail.
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