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High-speed rail is a type of rail transport that operates significantly faster than traditional rail traffic, using an integrated system of specialized rolling stock and dedicated tracks. While there is no single standard that applies worldwide, new lines in excess of 250km/hr and existing lines in excess of 200km/hr are widely considered to be high-speed, with some extending the definition to include much lower speeds (e.g. 160 km/hr) in areas for which these speeds still represent significant improvements.〔(【引用サイトリンク】 title=General Definitions of Highspeed )〕 The first such system began operations in Japan in 1964 and was widely known as the bullet train. High-speed trains normally operate on standard gauge tracks of continuously welded rail on grade-separated right-of-way that incorporates a large turning radius in its design. Many countries have developed high-speed rail to connect major cities, including Austria, Belgium, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Poland, Portugal, Russia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States and Uzbekistan. Only in Europe does HSR cross international borders. China has 16,000 km of HSR, accounting for 60 percent of the world's total.〔http://en.people.cn/n/2015/0929/c90000-8956850.html〕 While high-speed rail is usually designed for passenger travel, some high-speed systems also offer freight service. == Definitions == Multiple definitions for high-speed rail are in use worldwide. The European Union Directive 96/48/EC, Annex 1 defines high-speed rail as a set of three elements with precise criteria: :# Infrastructure: track built specially for high-speed travel or specially upgraded for high-speed travel. :# Minimum Speed Limit: Minimum speed of on lines specially built for high speed ''and'' of order on existing lines which have been specially upgraded. This must apply to at least one section of the line. Rolling stock must have a minimum speed of at least to be considered high speed. :# Operating conditions: Rolling stock must be designed alongside its infrastructure for complete compatibility, safety and quality of service.〔(【引用サイトリンク】International Union of Railways ">url=http://www.uic.org/spip.php?article971 )〕 The International Union of Railways (UIC) prefers to use "definitions" (plural) because they consider that there is no single standard definition of high-speed rail, nor even standard usage of the terms ("high speed", or "very high speed"). They make use of the European EC Directive 96/48, stating that high speed is a combination of all the elements which constitute the system: infrastructure, rolling stock and operating conditions.〔 The International Union of Railways states that high-speed rail is a set of unique features, not merely a train travelling above a particular speed. Many conventionally hauled trains are able to reach in commercial service but are not considered to be high-speed trains. These include the French SNCF Intercités and German DB IC. National domestic standards may vary from the international ones. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「High-speed rail」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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