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tweet by amtrak ben: i think we should build high speed rail next to freeways only because it would make drivers feel like complete losers all the time
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tweet by amtrak ben: i think we should build high speed rail next to freeways only because it would make drivers feel like complete losers all the time
edit: fixed alt text
They can go faster but it’s just not worth it regarding maintenance and everything. And the old ICE3s are actually 10 km/h faster than the ICE3neos (330 vs. 320km/h). Siemens would no doubt be happy to build them faster but the network can’t take it, there’s no dedicated high speed rail the ICEs have to contend with cargo trains rumbling over their tracks. Oh and 320/330 isn’t their actual maximum speed that’s just what they’re specced and tested to.
Typical high speed tracks aren’t shared with cargo trains. Frankfurt-Siegburg for example is only usable by high speed passenger trains.
And regarding the max speed, I’d suggest to look at china. The chinese railways run the Siemens Velaro CN, which is the local version of the Velaro D (DB Br407) at 380km/h in regular use.