Global Precedents
Throughout Europe, East Asia, and even in developing nations, what North Atlantic Rail proposes already exists today and has for years. We’re decades overdue to catch up with the world.
Scroll down to see 3 existing examples that showcase the vast potential of North Atlantic Rail…
① HS1 - Javelin
High speed regional rail in Southeast England
Context
HS1 is the 67 mile long high speed rail line connecting the Channel Tunnel to St Pancras Station London. Its route was designed to promote revitalization of several economically lagging communities along its route.
Half of the route’s capacity has been reserved for high speed regional rail services in Southeastern England.
Improvements
HS1 opened in 2007, providing 186 mph service from the Channel Tunnel to London.
Soon thereafter 140 mph Javelin regional rail services were initiated, cutting travel times to London from several communities in Kent by almost half. Travelers from Canterbury, for example, have had their trips to London cut from 1 hour 45 minutes to just 56 minutes.
Project Effects
Large areas of Kent that were formerly isolated from London have been brought into the capitol’s housing and
labor markets, transforming the region’s economy.
New housing, office, retail and tourism development has been built in several cities, providing almost $5 billion in economic benefits over 10 years. In addition, the formerly isolated district around London’s new Stratford station has been transformed by its new accessibility to central London.
② Berlin Regional System
Integrated high speed inter-city and regional rail in Berlin, Germany
Context
Germany’s Deutsche Bahn national railroad has built a nationwide Inter-City Express (“ICE”) high speed rail network connecting major centers within Germany to each other and to other major European cities. This system is fully integrated in Berlin with the capitol’s commuter rail and S-Bahn regional rail services.
The hub of this system is the new multi-level “Hauptbahnhof” central station opened in 2006. This station integrates ICE, commuter rail, S-Bahn regional rail, and U-Bahn subway services for the entire Berlin-Brandenburg region.
Improvements
Prior to German reunification in 1989, Berlin’s transport services were bifurcated and outmoded. Since then, Berlin and its metropolitan region have been reintegrated into the national and European economy and rail network.
A new North-South Rail Link connects the Hauptbahnhof with inter-city and S-Bahn regional rail services across the region.
Project Effects
ICE trains have significantly cut travel times to other major German and European cities, and S-Bahn regional rail services provide connections across the capitol region.
When combined with the relocation of Germany’s capitol back to Berlin, these rail investments have underpinned the revitalization of the economy of the Berlin - Brandenburg capitol region.
③ Al-Boraq
Inter-city high-speed rail in Tangiers-Rabat-Kenitra-Casablanca, Morocco
Context
The Al-Boraq line is the first in Morocco’s planned 932-mile high-speed rail network, and Africa’s first high-speed line.
The line serves the country’s two largest cities, Casablanca (pop. 3.14 million) and Rabat (1.6 million), which is also the capital. Tangiers and Kenitra are significant population centers in their own right, with 688,356 and 366,570 residents, respectively.
Improvements
Upgrades began in 2015, when Morocco took delivery of a high-speed train.
Morocco invested $2.21 billion in building the new line, along with France, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Abu Dhabi. With the line complete, fares range from $16.32 to $39.44.
Trains travel at 198 mph (320 kmh).
Project Effects
The line has only been operational for two years, so long-term improvements are hard to gauge at this time. In the short-term, speeds have increased drastically on the key corridor, cutting the end to end trip time from 4 hours and 45 minutes to 2 hours and 10 minutes, a 45% reduction in travel time.
Examining Our Own Rail Networks
MetroNorth Rail Line
Regional Commuter Rail in Stamford, CT
Context
Since the 1970’s, when Fortune 500 headquarters were fleeing New York City due to its actual and perceived high crime rate, coupled with the lack of an income tax in Connecticut at the time, Stamford has grown to be the major business satellite of NYC.
Stamford is a city with a population of 130,000, the second largest city in Connecticut and the business center for the 943,000 population Fairfield County.
Stamford is approximately 45 miles from NYC, approximately 45 minutes by train on MetroNorth’s express service. There are two to three express trains per hour between NYC and Stamford.
Improvements
In the mid-1990’s, the State of Connecticut invested in a major expansion of the Stamford Transportation Center through the addition of center island platforms.
At the same time, the City of Stamford undertook a large redevelopment project on blighted land to the north of the Stamford Transportation Center, between the station and the previously redeveloped downtown. This became the North American headquarters and trading floor for the United Bank of Switzerland (UBS). The Royal Bank of Scotland built its North American headquarters and trading floor adjacent to the UBS site. Coupled with a proliferation of hedge funds and reinsurance companies, these moves have earned Stamford the sobriquet of Wall Street North.
Project Effects
Prior to the improvements to the Stamford Transportation Center and the build out of the UBS and RBS complexes, suburban office parks in North Stamford commanded a 20% rent premium over downtown sites. Now the reverse is true.
Historically Stamford, and Fairfield County generally, have functioned as a labor shed for NYC. Now there are more commuters coming into Stamford from New York than commuting to NYC from Stamford.
