Citation

Petersen HC, Peterson RL, Bonilla CR, Cooper HBH, Stan M. Transp. Res. Rec. 1985; 1023: 24-30.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1985, Transportation Research Board, National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences USA, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Alternative rights-of-way for high-speed trains operating in the Texas Triangle, which connects Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio, are described and compared in this paper. These alternatives include medians of Interstate highways and the former Rock Island right-of-way. It is concluded that cross-sectional geometry would allow construction of a high-speed rail line on the majority of the two types of rights-of-way. Two different microcomputer simulation programs were applied to the Texas Triangle to investigate different types of high-speed train technologies operating in Interstate highway medians and along the former Rock Island right-of-way. The simulation runs demonstrated that comfort and curvature limitations prevented full utilization of a 350-mph speed, and that lower speeds (150 to 200 mph) would appear more effective given the existing geometric constraints. In addition to operating characteristics, the Texas Railroad Company simulation provided estimates of energy requirements. The investigations demonstrated that 200-mph high-speed rail passenger service is technically feasible along existing rights-of-way in Texas.

Record URL:
http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1985/1023/1023-005.pdf

Language: en

Keywords

HIGHWAY SYSTEMS - Right of Way; RAILS - Construction; RAPID TRANSIT