A well-functioning train system is a virtue. Citizens do not take delays, strikes, or fare increases lightly. Economies also need strong connectivity to thrive. Railway lines join supply chains, and link workers to employers. As one of the cleanest modes of transport, a good train network is a boon for the green transition too. Yet, few places have mastered the art of managing and modernising their railways.
Rail standards vary between countries, and within them. Swiss and Japanese trains — particularly the Shinkansen, or “bullet train” — are widely considered the most punctual. The average delay of the Tokaido Shinkansen is just under one minute, across a year. In 2016, it was 24 seconds. Standards must be slipping. When it comes to speed, China, Germany and France lead. The 180km Cologne-Frankfurt journey takes about an hour via the Intercity Express 3. It used to consume two and half hours.
For the overall quality of railroad infrastructure, Japan, Hong Kong, and Switzerland often rank top. Geography is a key factor: maintaining tracks across an expansive land mass is hard. The US has the largest network, but its standards are variable. Legacy infrastructure matters too. Upgrading the UK’s Victoria-era routes is not easy. And then there’s regulation. China built a high-tech high-speed rail network, at high speed, helped by engineering prowess but also opaque planning processes. Hong Kong’s slick MTR can buy land development rights along routes and pocket revenue from real estate, which supports its train operations.