ABSTRACT
High-speed rail (HSR) is a sound, modern innovation in surface transportation. It has become not only a new transportation mode, but a symbol of modernity, efficiency and technological achievement. For this reason, HSR has been expanding rapidly all over the world in order to improve rail services, promote customer satisfaction and compete with other supposedly more polluting alternatives. Nonetheless, debates about its convenience are too often founded on the grounds of intangible and immeasurable outcomes. In the last few years, literature has emerged which sheds some light on the realities and evidences regarding the contributions of this mode of transportation. There is no doubt that HSR often requires a great deal of input to produce positive net welfare impacts. It requires huge investments because it is usually the most expensive infrastructure project in the history of any country. It also requires high-demand from passengers and its general cost in relation to other modes of transportation is far greater.
