Towards sustainability in the high-speed railway industry: modeling of cases from China
Purpose – This paper aims to document and to illustrate highly usable research: a practical framework for realizing the sustainable operations of the high investment, technology-intensive high-speed railways in China. Also, for the first time, we draw a broad, metaphorical relationship between railways within a country to Chinese meridian lines within a human body. These are similar in enabling flows across the country and human body. Design/methodology/approach – Employing Chinese case studies, we attempt to apply methodological procedures involving operational, financial and developmental in realizing the sustainability of high-speed railways. Critical criteria are emphasized for efficiency, financial viability and long-term funding sustained development of high-speed railways in the Chinese context. Policymakers may utilize the illustrative framework in working toward specific recommendations that may be implementable. Findings – Three critical aspects to sustainability are operational, financial solve...
High-speed rail transit impact on regional systems: does the Shinkansen contribute to dispersion?
Abstract. This paper intends to evaluate impacts of high-speed rail transit, i.e., Shinkansen network in Japan on spatial dispersion of economic activities and population. For doing so, a simple supply-oriented regional econometric model is constructed, and simulation analyses are carried out for alternative hypothetical scenarios of the Shinkansen network. The results show that denser Shinkansen network will not necessarily contribute to regional dispersion.
Shinkansen: From Bullet Train to Symbol of Modern Japan
1. Introduction 2. From Bullet Train to Low Flying Plane 3. Ambassador of Japan 4. Whose Line is it Anyway? 5. The Bottom Line 6. The Need for Training 7. Mirror of Japan 8. Conclusion Appendix One: Chronology of Significant Dates in the History of the Shinkansen Appendix Two: Shinkansen Lines and Stations Appendix Three: Shinkansen types