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High-speed rail
High-speed rail, or HSR, is a type of passenger rail transport that can travel at significantly faster speeds than conventional rail transport: about 124 miles per hour for upgraded track or 155 miles per hour for new track. In Japan, Shinkansen lines run at speeds of up to 186 miles per hour; in China, high-speed lines operate at more than 200 miles per hour. (A magnetic levitation line, or Maglev for short, can reach 268 miles per hour.) High-speed rail is usually designed for passenger travel but can also support freight service.
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Amtrak loses $32 per passenger; Do we need the New Orleans to LA route?
Forty-one of Amtrak’s 44 routes lost money in 2008 and on average the railroad lost $32 per passenger, according to a new report.
33 | October 27, 2009 3:53am |
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'Supertruck' big rig design doubles fuel efficiency
A radical rethinking of tractor trailer design may drastically cut emissions and save fuel.
11 | June 29, 2011 3:32am |
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China's new bullet train is world's fastest, smashes record
An innovative sword-shaped test train reached a world record-breaking speed of 311 mph.
29 | December 28, 2011 12:41pm |
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Ride of the future? Start-up shows off new 'hoverbike'
The test video of a Star-Wars inspired personal aircraft may mean that the technology is on its way to becoming a reality.
8 | August 21, 2012 4:00am |
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Store offers innovative flying hovercraft for $190,000
The 70 mph Universal hovercraft can fly over land, sea and even snow.
4 | May 4, 2012 5:00am |
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EU wants petrol and diesel cars out of city centers by 2050
A proposal by the European Commission will ban all conventional cars from entering city centers by 2050, as a way to cut carbon emissions and reduce the European Union's dependence on foreign oil.
3 | March 28, 2011 8:12am |
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Obama offers call to arms on innovation; says 'the rules have changed'
In a State of the Union speech, U.S. president Barack Obama underscored the need to make large investments in innovation, education and infrastructure.
10 | January 25, 2011 5:42pm |
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Objects levitate using spooky quantum trick [video]
Researchers have released a video demonstrating how "quantum levitation," lets objects stay locked in mid-air.
3 | October 20, 2011 6:05am |
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BiPod flying car works like a Chevy Volt
Burt Rutan's BiPod may be the most innovative attempt at a flying car.
14 | July 19, 2011 9:12am |
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Budget cuts will hit cities hard
Further details of the $40 billion budget cuts were released yesterday, and it doesn't look good for cities.
15 | April 13, 2011 4:01am |
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Sustainability expert points to leading role of business in 2011
"Food efficiency" will be one of the most galvanizing sustainability themes over the next 12 months.
1 | January 6, 2011 8:59am |
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Chu: Cleantech innovation race vs. China is America's 'Sputnik moment'
U.S Energy Secretary Steven Chu says China's clean energy innovation represents America's "Sputnik moment." Plus, six technologies that threaten to leave us behind.
9 | November 30, 2010 8:30am |
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Three ways to achieve livable, low-density cities
Author and political activist Charles Siegel says you don't need high-density urban planning to make a city livable and sustainable. Here are his three ways to achieve the perfect suburb.
1 | May 21, 2010 11:03am |
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IBM chief talks intelligent transportation systems
IBM CEO Sam Palmisano said transportation systems need more collaboration between major players and governments, standards and better network designs. Can systems go traveler-centric?
May 5, 2010 10:00am |
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Why electric cars aren't the solution for (sub)urban America
I want electric cars to succeed. If fossil fuels are dirty and running out, and hydrogen power remains a pipe dream, electric is the way to go. But I'm not convinced that more cars solve the...
10 | August 11, 2009 9:56am |
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Unstoppable! Airless tire will never go flat
A little-known firm may one-up big tire companies like Michelin and Bridgestone by launching an indestructible tire for the consumer market by 2014.
15 | March 8, 2013 4:15am |
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America's oil choice: Pay up, or get off
America is faced with a strategic choice: pay more for oil or leave it behind.
48 | February 20, 2013 1:55am |
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DOT to upgrade Northeast Corridor railway
The U.S. DOT announces its second large-scale investment in railway infrastructure this month, looking to improve the nation's busiest rail line, the Northeast Corridor.
3 | August 23, 2011 4:00am |
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The Morning Briefing: Innovation, worldwide
"The Morning Briefing" is SmartPlanet's daily roundup of must-reads from the web. This morning we're reading about innovation across the globe.
1 | November 8, 2012 5:24am |
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Rust Belt reborn: Milwaukee reinvents itself as clean manufacturing capital
Milwaukee wants to be the "Clean Machine Shop to the World." And it's doing so with its old forté: manufacturing.
June 16, 2010 3:44am |
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