High-speed railway projects need careful study to ensure success

Published: Sept. 5, 2018, midnight

b'Fifty years after Japan launched its high-speed railway line, there\\u2019s no denying it\\u2019s been a game-changer. Run by Japan National Railways, the shinkansen cuts travel time between historical economic centers and connects a network of cities. It\\u2019s the spine of one of the most important regional economic belt developments in the world. It\\u2019s spurred economic growth in the cities it serves and transformed the country\\u2019s economy to what it is today.\\n\\nIt\\u2019s no surprise other countries are looking at Japan\\u2019s experience in running bullet trains to make sure their huge investments will pay off in the long run.\\n\\nHigh-speed rail hubs are among the most expensive infrastructure in the world, and the challenges and opportunities of setting them up vary from country to country. Almost all countries with bullet trains have reported a dynamic change in urban systems associated with the projects within only a few years of the railway\\u2019s inauguration.\\n\\nRead the transcript\\nhttps://bit.ly/2oIfEmE\\n\\nRead the post on ADBI\\u2019s blog\\nhttps://bit.ly/2VT2GBn\\n\\nAbout the author\\nShreyas P. Bharule is an associate at the Asian Development Bank Institute. https://www.adb.org/adbi/about/staff-profiles/shreyas-bharule\\n\\nKnow more about ADBI\\u2019s work\\nhttps://bit.ly/2Cr4igz'