ABSTRACT
In the chapter, the reasons for undertaking the construction of HSL in Europe and Asia and the effects of their functioning have been analysed. Decades of the development of HS systems in the world are the period which allows to draw conclusions about advantages and shortcomings of the systems as well as their influence on the quality of the citizens’ life and the growth of economy. Positive experience of the countries which introduced HS trains as first has become the reason for the growing popularity of these systems. It has also led to the situation that, despite the economic crisis, many countries have decided to execute the projects of new lines. The investments in development of the rolling stock and infrastructure appliances make this mean of transport more efficient and ecological. It has a crucial meaning in the context of global challenges connected with withstanding the climate changes and searching oil-independent sources of energy. In 2012 passenger carriages in HSR systems constituted already 26% of passenger rail market in the European Union, in France almost 60%, Spain - 50% and Germany over 27%. According to the UIC data presented on 9th World Congress in HS in Tokyo, spectacular development of HS network is being observed. 29 792 km of HSL are in operation (state for 1st April 2015) and, substantially, in the last three years their length has increased by 12 245 km.
In the chapter the following issues have been presented:
– technical and economic circumstances which were the basis for the decision to launch the construction of new lines in Japan, France, Germany, Italy and Spain;
– socio-economic effects which were accomplished after launching HSR systems;
– the analysis of socio-economic conditions in Poland, which support the initiation of HSR projects.
The comparison of Polish and foreign conditions indicates that also in Poland equally significant effects of launching HSR systems should be estimated.