A heavily engineered passenger rail system operating on dedicated, fully grade-separated tracks with specialized electric rolling stock. These corridors feature gentle curves, specialized signaling, and robust trackbeds to safely sustain speeds of 150 to 200 miles per hour, competing directly with short-haul airlines.
Heard on the job
Building true high-speed rail means buying entirely new right-of-way to avoid the freight congestion.
Related terms
Higher-speed rail
An upgraded conventional rail corridor allowing passenger trains to run faster than normal, typically 90 to 125 mph.
NEC
The Northeast Corridor, a heavily trafficked electrified passenger rail line between Boston and Washington.
TGV
Train à Grande Vitesse, the French high-speed rail network and its distinctive trainsets.