Second Age of Rail: A History of High-Speed Trains

Engineers have been fascinated by speed on steel wheels for two centuries, with Japan leading the way with bullet trains in 1964 and China, Morocco, and Saudi Arabia now leading the way with super-railways. The USA lags behind, but Asia and Western Europe are ahead, with Eurostar linking London to the international high-speed network.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 204 pages
Publication date: 18 September 2020
Publisher: The History Press Ltd

Speed on steel wheels has captivated engineers for nearly two centuries, and a remarkable series of achievements in the last twenty-five years has propelled railway engineering to new heights. Japan, a trailblazer in high-speed train technology, set the stage in 1964 with its legendary bullet trains, and since then, a dozen countries have embraced the high-speed revolution. Today, China is leading the way as it constructs a comprehensive network of super-railways, while Morocco and Saudi Arabia are on the verge of introducing trains capable of reaching speeds of 300 km/h. However, the United States trails far behind, outpaced by Asia and Western Europe, where Eurostar connects London to the international high-speed network. Nevertheless, a new-generation railway to northern England is still in the works. This is the complete tale of high-speed trains, retold through a journey spanning countries and continents. The Second Age of Rail is unfolding before our eyes.

Weight: 764g
Dimension: 222 x 246 x 17 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780750993982
Edition number: 2 New edition