The Future of High-Speed Rail in America—and How Freight Can Benefit

By RSI Staff

As demand for high-speed rail (HSR) continues to grow, the U.S. rail industry stands at the precipice of a transformative era. While many are familiar with HSR’s potential to revolutionize travel, fewer may appreciate the far-reaching benefits it can bring to the freight rail industry and broader rail ecosystem. According to Andy Byford, Amtrak’s senior vice president of high-speed rail, this mode of transit presents a unique opportunity for the U.S. to reinvest in domestic manufacturing while creating economic ripples across sectors.

“HSR promotes American competitiveness in the global economy for key manufacturing sectors, like steel for track, electrical components for signaling systems, and car equipment,” Byford says. “With our large, skilled, and widely dispersed workforce, the U.S. is well-positioned to build from within and benefit from the multiplier effects of investment in the supply chain.” This reinvigoration of the manufacturing sector could generate wealth, even in regions not directly served by HSR, expanding job opportunities and fostering economic growth nationwide.

A critical aspect of HSR’s impact is its contribution to workforce development. Byford pointed out that HSR investments will “strengthen the pipeline of skilled craftspeople and knowledge sector workers — for example, by supporting new investment in centers of excellence at higher-education institutions across the country.”

And there’s data to back this up. According to the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), 24,000 jobs are supported across economic sectors by every $1 billion invested in HSR. “Substantial initial investment in passenger rail and HSR provides returns on investment for a generation,” Byford says.

Testing the Waters in Dallas-Houston

One key project driving Amtrak’s HSR development is the Dallas-Houston corridor, a prime example of a route with optimal conditions for success. Byford explains that HSR works best when it connects cities with high travel demand and limited travel alternatives.

“With over 12 million total trips between Dallas and Houston in 2022, there is significant travel demand between these destinations,” Byford says. Amtrak’s proposed 240-mile HSR route, which had previously been developed by a private entity for over a decade, hits the sweet spot in terms of distance, and both cities are major metropolitan areas with growing economies.

The choice of this corridor reflects global best practices, where HSR is most effective in connecting regions with significant population density and suboptimal alternatives like car and air travel. If successful, this project could pave the way for more HSR initiatives across the country.

Collaboration Between Passenger and Freight Rail

HSR doesn’t just benefit the passenger side of the rail industry. “Any investment in rail, passenger or freight, expands our industry and creates mutual benefits,” Byford says. HSR can stimulate the entire rail manufacturing supply chain, supporting conventional rail and freight services as well.

While true HSR requires dedicated infrastructure to avoid conflicts between freight and passenger service, it’s possible for higher-speed passenger rail to coexist within the current ecosystem. “For some corridors, higher-speed passenger rail could be the right travel product. Where existing rights-of-way can be upgraded for faster, more frequent passenger service, the entire rail industry benefits,” Byford says.

There are also lessons freight can learn from HSR, particularly when it comes to safety. “Japan’s Shinkansen network has transported over 10 billion passengers since 1964 without a single train-caused fatality,” Byford says. “Sharing insights into best practices for passenger safety can help brainstorm solutions for freight.”

Why HSR Is a Critical Piece of the Transit Puzzle

HSR will play an important role in the future of American transportation, offering economic, social, and environmental benefits. “HSR offers better connectivity with more travel choices and gets travelers to their destinations more reliably, and often more quickly,” Byford says. In terms of sustainability, HSR leads the way, being eight times more energy-efficient than flying and four times more efficient than driving.

This makes HSR a key player in addressing current and future transportation needs, while also minimizing environmental impacts. “With a smaller physical footprint, less noise pollution, and zero emissions, HSR can add significant capacity to our existing transportation network with a lower impact to surrounding land uses than a new highway or airport,” Byford says.

A New Era of Rail in America

The U.S. is embarking on a new era of rail investment, one that holds promise for modernizing trains, upgrading stations, and building new infrastructure. “We’re enhancing the customer experience, improving safety and reliability, driving economic development, reducing trip times, and advancing sustainability,” Byford says.

Momentum is growing, with historic levels of funding and new federal financing mechanisms making it easier for rail projects to secure necessary support. “It’s time to keep building on this momentum and deliver additional state-of-the-art transportation benefits for the American people,” Byford says.

With these developments on the horizon, the future of HSR in the U.S. looks bright—not only for passengers, but for the freight industry that will benefit from a strengthened, interconnected rail ecosystem too.