Abstract
The running of passenger trains in regular service at speeds up to 100 mile/h is now of common occurrence on a number of railway systems. Above this speed it is necessary to use specially prepared tracks maintained to the highest possible standards at very considerable cost in terms of money, special equipment and time. It is possible to identify three broad classes of modern high-speed railway: (1) where the occasional high-speed train runs in between lower speed services; (2) where the best has been done with an existing railway to make it suitable for a high-speed train service; and (3) specially constructed lines. In all cases there are certain limitations on the acceleration effects to which the passenger may be subjected.
Stopping from the highest speeds requires braking distances such that current ideas and requirements on emergency braking become meaningless. High standards of mental and physical soundness are required of drivers: even so, the driver's reaction to lineside signals is too slow, and external control of train speed by lineside detection systems will be required, linked inductively to regulating equipment on the train.
Provided that a suitable line of route is available there appears at present to be no precise engineering limitation to the attainment of the highest speeds on rail which will intervene before a cost ceiling is reached at which further increases cannot be justified. There may also be a limit to the rate at which passengers can contemplate changes of scenery.
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