The States for Passenger Rail Coalition is an alliance of State and Regional Transportation Officials who work together to promote the development and growth of Intercity Passenger Rail as part of an integrated national transportation network.

High Speed Rail

What is High Speed Rail?

Conventional Rail

Traditional inctercity passenger rail services of more than 100 miles.
As little as one, to as many as 7-12 daily frequencies.
May or may not have strong potential for future high-speed rail service.
Generally shared track with frieght trains.
Intended to provided travel options and to develop the passenger rail market for further development in the future.

Emerging High-Speed Rail (HSR)

Developing corridors of 100-500 miles.
Top speeds of up to 90-110 mph.
Strong potential for future HSR Regional and/or Express service.
Advanced grade crossing protection or separation.
Intended to develop the passenger rail market, and provide some relief to other modes.

HSR-Regional

Relatively frequent service between major and moderate population centers 100-500 miles apart, with some intermediate stops.
Top Speeds of up to 110-150 mph.
Some dedicated and some shared track with freight
Grade-separated
Intended to relieve highway and, to some extent, air capacity constraints.

HSR and Intercity Passenger Rail (IPR) HSR - Express

Frequent, express service between major population centers 200-600 miles apart, with few intermediate stops.
Top speeds of at least 150 mph.
Completely grade-separated, dedicated rights-of-way (with the possible exeption fo some sharded track in terminal areas).
Intended to relieve air and highway capacity constraints.

Magnetic Levitation (MAGLEV)

MAGLEV Deployment Program
Magnetic levitation (Maglev) is an advanced train technology in which magnetic forces lift, propel, and guide a vehicle over a guideway. Utilizing state-of-the-art electric power and control systems, this configuration eliminates contact between vehicle and guideway and permits cruising speeds of up to 300 mph. Because of its high speed, Maglev offers competitive trip-time savings compared to aviation in travel markets up to 600 miles long - an attractive travel option for the 21st century. The Maglev deployment program was created to demonstrate the potential of a commercial Maglev project in the United States.