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[[File:THSR.jpg|thumbnail|A THSR train at a platform]]
[[File:THSR.jpg|thumbnail|A THSR train at a platform]]
'''Themiclesian High Speed Railway''' (abbreviated '''THSR'''; [[Shinasthana]]: 邦遽路, ''prong-gjah-ragh'') is a high-speed inter-city railway network and operation in Themiclesia, consisting of three trunk lines and a number of branch lines that do not have high-speed service but are designed to connect its users to the closest HSR station.  It exists and operates in parallel to Themiclesia's conventional railway, which has roughly 80 times THSR's mileage.  Its total cost to date is estimated to be over Int'l$200 bn, though total costs have never been tallied.  As of 2017, THSR's routes total over 2,500 km in length, the lastest addition made in 2017.  Themiclesian railway legislation defines the term "high-speed railway" as any line capable of passenger service at or exceeding 121 MPH (194 km/h), the speed limit on the express main lines.
'''High speed rail in Themiclesia''' (abbreviated '''THSR'''; [[Shinasthana]]: 電本, ''kelins-pent'') is provided by an inter-city railway network, consisting of six trunk lines two branch lines.  It operates in parallel to Themiclesia's conventional railway, which has roughly 80 times THSR's mileage.  Its total cost to date is estimated to be over $200 bn, though total costs have never been tallied.  As of 2017, THSR's routes total 4,140.5 mi (6,663.5 km) in length, the lastest addition made in 2017.  Themiclesian railway legislation defines the term "high-speed railway" as any line capable of passenger service at or exceeding 130 mph.


==History==
==History==
===Precursors and proposals===
===Precursors and proposals===
High-speed service is a concept almost as old as railway itself in Themiclesia.  In 1847, when the first railway line opened in the port city of P′a′ (浦), an express service was offered, though it was not distinguished by faster running, but by stopping at fewer stations, where other trains would call to await its passage.  Express service was extended to all intercity railways, after their nationalization in 1891.  Limited express services were added in 1902, stopping at one or two stations and using the fastest possible locomotives.  In 1924, the Inland Main Line and Coastal Main Line were expanded as 4-track routes, with the inner tracks reserved for fast-moving passenger traffic.  By 1959, demanding schedules required steam-hauled expresses trains to hit 110 MPH consistently on straight tracks, and the C30 series locomotives surpassed that requirement by a considerable margin, achieving 120 MPH in regular service on good days.  Diesel locomotives were unable to deliver the same speed without serious technical issues, though their ability to haul long, heavy trains endeared themselves to freight service.
High-speed service is a concept almost as old as railway itself in Themiclesia.  In 1849, when the first passenger railway line opened from Kien-k'ang to Stur, an express service was offered, though it was not distinguished by faster running, but by fewer calls and higher priority, while other trains would call to await its passage on the single-track railway.  Most railways possessed some express passenger service by the 1870s, and it was extended to the networks of the three premier railroads of the 1890s, National, Themiclesian, and Maritime.  Limited expresses (for limited-stop express) were introduced in 1897, calling at few stops and using the fastest possible locomotives.  By 1959, demanding schedules required steam-hauled expresses trains to achieve 100 MPH consistently on straight tracks, and the Class 3950 4-6-4 locomotives surpassed that requirement by a considerable margin, achieving 105 MPH in regular service on good days.  Diesel locomotives were unable to deliver the same speed without technical issues, though high availability and low maintenance costs endeared them to freight service.
[[File:MNCRR M-8 at NEC Port Chester.jpg|thumbnail|EMUs are a common sight on branch lines, which were electrified in the 1930s as a pilot project.]]
[[File:3950.fw.png|thumb|Class 3950 locomotives, introduced in 1936, with theoretical top speed of 120 MPH]] [[File:MNCRR M-8 at NEC Port Chester.jpg|thumbnail|EMUs are a common sight on branch lines, which were electrified in the 1930s as a pilot project.]]
Further track improvements were ruled out by the NRC, since existing lines were already straightened as much as realistically possible with the heaviest rails (92 kg/m); complete re-routing would disrupt traffic and not recuperate costs with marginal gains.  Steam technology also seemed to have plateaued after the [[Pan-Septentrion War|PSW]], with few promising leads towards improvement.  Electricity and diesel were both previously considered, but diesel was disqualified, leaving electricity as the sole viable option for swifter passenger transport.  Electrifying the IML would also disrupt the its railway traffic to an unacceptable extent, so electrification was abandoned as a concept in 1950, though branch lines, formerly serviced by tank engines, were electrified and saw the introduction of EMUs, or where not done, of DMUs.
Further track improvements were ruled out by the National Rail, since existing lines were already straightened as much as obtainable with the heaviest rails (60 kg/m); complete re-routing would disrupt traffic and not deliver a revolutionary improvement in speed.  Steam technology also seemed to have plateaued after the [[Pan-Septentrion War|PSW]], with few promising leads towards improvement.  Electricity and diesel were both previously considered, but diesel was disqualified, leaving electricity as the sole viable option for swifter passenger transport.  Electrifying the main lines would also disrupt the its railway traffic to an unacceptable extent, so electrification was abandoned as a concept in 1950, though branch lines, formerly serviced by tank engines, were electrified and saw the introduction of EMUs, or where not done, of DMUs.


Yet by the mid-1950s, the post-war boom led to growth in railway ridership, and the IML, already a 4-track route, was utilized beyond design capacity, creating a multitude of maintenance difficulties, which could not be easily addressed as trains still ran at night and even a brief interruption for maintenance work would be intolerable.  Starting in 1955, various proposals were tabled before the Board of Governors of the NRC, and electric multiple units (EMU) were favoured as having the best potential to equal the performance of the best steam engines of the age.  As it was absolutely essential to keep the IML running, the NRC decided to construct an entirely new route expressly designed for EMUs, with the hope that one day they would surpass steam technology as far as speed was concerned; this was no mean task, as Themiclesia's fastest EMU, the K6, used for lengthy branch line express services, could only achieve 80 MPH in 1955.  The project, billed the "Electrified Main Line" (電化本線, ''linh-ngw′raih-pen′-stsjêĕnh'') was publicly announced in 1957.
Yet by the mid-1950s, the post-war economic boom and suburbanization led to growth in railway ridership, and the main corridors were utilized beyond design capacity, creating a multitude of maintenance difficulties, which could not be easily addressed as trains ran at night and even a brief interruption would be intolerable.  Starting in 1955, various proposals were tabled before the Board, and electric multiple units (EMU) were favoured as having the best potential to exceed the best steam engines of the age.  As it was absolutely essential to keep the main lines running, the NRC selected a new route expressly designed for EMUs; at the time this decision was taken, Themiclesia's fastest EMU, the K6, used for branch line express services, could only achieve 92 MPH.  The project, billed the "Electrified Mainline" (電本, ''kelins-pent''), was publicly announced at the same time.


===Construction===  
===Construction===  
Line 14: Line 14:
Land acquisition began the same year as the project was legitimized by the NRC; with a purely inter-city traffic to service, urban areas were avoided both to create a straighter line between termini and to suppress costs; however, it was elected to integrate the THSR stations with existing railways stations to encourage ridership.  A rigorous bidding war ensued between major contractors, which slightly delayed the contracting process but resulted in marginally lower prices.  The line consisted of land sections, elevated sections, and tunnels underground and through mountain ranges.  Construction began in 1958 and would last more than four years, before the last piece of track was laid in late 1963, totalling 552 miles.
Land acquisition began the same year as the project was legitimized by the NRC; with a purely inter-city traffic to service, urban areas were avoided both to create a straighter line between termini and to suppress costs; however, it was elected to integrate the THSR stations with existing railways stations to encourage ridership.  A rigorous bidding war ensued between major contractors, which slightly delayed the contracting process but resulted in marginally lower prices.  The line consisted of land sections, elevated sections, and tunnels underground and through mountain ranges.  Construction began in 1958 and would last more than four years, before the last piece of track was laid in late 1963, totalling 552 miles.


Since the line only passed through three major cities, and the eventual route was level enough, most of the tracks were laid on land and not elevated, brining its own set of complications (such as provision of fences, level crossings, and dealing with soft terrain). Sections in the cities were mostly laid underground, with some parts as deep as 30 meters underground, to minimize disturbance to buildings on the surface and their foundations.  Integration was carefully planned in cities with large train stations.  In Kien-k'ang, for example, HSR platforms were located eight stories under the station, as several railways already converged there.  Engineering challenges in integrating new facilities with existing ones, frequently in cramped premises, were perceived by contemporaries to be achievements similar to completing the longest bridges over rivers.
Since the line only passed through three major cities, and the eventual route was level, most of the tracks were laid on land and not elevated, brining its own set of complications (such as provision of fences, level crossings, and dealing with unstable terrain). Sections in the cities were mostly laid underground, with some parts as deep as 30 meters underground, to minimize disturbance to buildings on the surface and their foundations.  Integration was carefully planned in cities with large train stations.  In Kien-k'ang, for example, HSR platforms were located under the existing [[Twa-ts'uk-men Station]], as both intercity, suburban, and urban railways already converged there.  Engineering challenges in integrating new facilities with existing ones, frequently in cramped premises, were considered by some be major engineering achievements.


===Testing===
===Testing===
[[File:C30.jpg|thumbnail|The C30 class locomotive, with a peak speed of 123 MPH, set the bar high for the THSR.]]
[[File:C30.jpg|thumbnail|The C30 class locomotive, with a peak speed of 123 MPH, set the bar high for the THSR.]]
Testing commenced in December, 1963 on schedule and continued until the end of 1966.  The initial phase saw unmanned trains (except engineer) operating at very low speeds (3 MPH), with more trains added later to test its signal blocking system, which was done eletronically with the aid of a computer system.  Speed and intensity were stepped up until they reached 105% of desired operational speed (127 MPH) through 1964; then, the process was repeated with live passengers.  The NRC allocated additional temporal allowances of several months, during which the public were invited to ride the trains for a reduced fare at operational speeds, though these services were subject to occasional interruptions, to uncover and resolve the last of operational problems after technical ones had been resolved.
Testing commenced in December, 1963 on schedule and continued until the end of 1966.  The initial phase saw trains without passengers at very low speeds, with more trains added later to test its signal blocking system, which was done eletronically with the aid of a digital system.  Speed and intensity gradually increased until they surpassed the intended operational speed of 125 MPH through 1964; then, the process was repeated with passengers.  The NRC allocated additional temporal allowances of several months, during which the public were invited to ride the trains for a reduced fare at operational speeds, though these services were subject to occasional interruptions, to uncover and resolve operational problems after technical ones had been resolved.


Amongst the issues that surfaced during testing, the media covered with at great length the inability of the pantograph to make consistent contact with the overhead power lines; this issue in fact was resolved rather quickly as the tension of the power lines and pantograph were attuned optimal levels.  Such issues were generally quickly resolved as a solution to one instance could be applied generally.  Issues in track quality also received much coverage, and many segments had to be re-laid in order to reduce misalignment and temperature issues that were not considered in sufficient detail when the railway was designed.  Eventually, the engineering team resorted to using track segments of slightly differnt lengths to combat warping.  NCR anticipated testing to last one year at most, yet three fully lapsed before the line passed all safety tests that the government imposed.  The NCR's attitude towards safety, sometimes at fiscal expense and that of public criticism, continues in its later enterprises; particularly, the NCR would later require almost all lines to be tested continuously for one full year, no matter the length, so that they could experience all seasonal climatic conditions and thereby expose any shortcomings in design.   
Amongst the issues that surfaced during testing, the media covered at great length the inability of the pantograph to make consistent contact with the overhead power lines; this issue was resolved rather quickly as the tension of the power lines and pantograph were attuned.  Other such issues were quickly dismissed, as a solution to one instance was often generally applicable.  Issues in track quality also received coverage, and many segments were re-laid to account for temperature issues not sufficiently considered in planning.  Eventually, the engineers resorted to using track segments of slightly differnt lengths to combat warping.  NCR anticipated testing to last one year at most, yet fully three lapsed before the line passed all safety tests.  The NRC's experience with the HSR would later require almost all lines to be tested continuously for one full year, no matter length, so that faults may be exposed under all seasonal conditions.   


The most critical failure came in the winter of 1963, when it was discovered that erratic signalling was caused by insufficient insulation of wires carrying digital information to and from the central computer; moisture crystalized in the frigid Themiclesian snow and breached the plastic insulators, causing shorts on what experts estimated to be over 65,000 locations.  The NRC announced that it will essentially re-do the entire digital infrastructure with this requirement in mind; the lines were then used for higher-speed motor tests without signalling, with only one train travelling on the entire track at any given time.  In mid-1964, after a 6-month hiatus on signalling testing, a new system was installed and survived the winter of 1964, which was when the line was released for live passenger testing.
The most critical failure came in the winter of 1963 – 64, when it was discovered that erratic signalling was caused by insufficient insulation of wires carrying digital information to and from the central computer; moisture crystalized and breached plastic insulation, causing shorts on what experts estimated to be over 6,000 locations.  The NRC announced that it would essentially re-do the entire cabling infrastructure with this in mind; the lines were then used for higher-speed motor tests without signalling, with only one train travelling on the entire line.  In mid-1964, after a 6-month hiatus on signalling testing, the new system was installed and survived that year's winter, which was when the line was released for live passenger testing in 1965.


Though initial tests were embattled with issues, fortunately none were hurt in its process.  When the Chairman of the NRC Board of Governors was confronted with the comment that the public were eager to use the service still in testing, while the NRC would not open it pending a seemingly unending series of tests, he replied, "We know that the public are eagre, but we are more eager still."  In Jan. 1967, after four whole years of testing, the THSR was opened by the Prime Minister, after an issue-free year in live passenger and operational testing.
Though initial tests were embattled with issues, none were hurt in its process.  When the Chairman of the NRC Board of Governors was confronted with the comment that the public were eager to use the service, he replied, "We know that the public are eagre, but we are more eager still." The issue was advanced by the press that Themiclesia's HSR was being raced by the Dayashinese analogue to open, and the latter did open a two full years ahead of the Themiclesian one in 1964. In Jan. 1967, after four years of testing, THSR was opened by the [[Prime Minister of Themiclesia|Prime Minister]], after an issue-free year has elapsed.
 
===Changes to classes===
In 1970, the ''Railway Act'' was amended to eliminate the requirement for all three classes of service on all trunk lines, in both directions, every day.  Thus, on the major timetable revision of Jul. 1, 1970, the NRC eliminated 47 our 49 first-class services on regular trains, save for those on trains No. 1/2 and 5/6 on the Inland Main Line, where first-class service was still in moderate demand.  The same change occurred on Aug. 5, 1971 for the HSR, whose train consists could not be changed freely.  The existing first-class seats and "hard" facilities were rebranded as "observation seats" and tariffed as second class, plus a fee, but first-class amenities such as a separate dining service and seating, extra carriage attendants, and luggage deliveries were lowered to second-class standards.  Between 1971 and 1985, the THSR officially offered only second and third class, resulting in a "missing" first class.
 
On Jan. 1, 1986, second class was renamed "business class", and third class, "standard class", and this terminology has remained in use since.


===Later expansion and improvements===
===Later expansion and improvements===
Expansion of the THSR network was in construction before the first line had been completed, and the Traverse Main Line (TML) was equally over-burdened with passenger traffic as the IML.  Naturally, it was selected as the second trunk line to be relieved by an HSR service.  Construction began in 1964 and ended in 1968, with testing to early 1971.  With the experience of the first line, construction sped up considerably, though land acquisition and route planning proved more challenging on the narrow isthmus between Kien-k'ang and Ghwap-bow'; nevertheless, the very flat landscape made for a relatively straightforward construction; special attention was paid to protecting electrical equipment from saline erotion due to their proximity to the seas.  A third line linked the coastal and manufacturing cities of Tuanning and Kwang'-tu, inaugurated in 1980.  This line was parallel to the Coastal Main Line in several parts, making it slightly less direct than others, due to the more densely-settled demographic of the coastal area.  It also intersected the line; a transfer station was planned at the intersection. Meanwhile, the terminus in Glak-lang was moved to Drjang-'an in 1975, after the line had been extended there.
Expansion of the THSR network was in construction before the first line had been completed, and the Qa-pa Line was too over-burdened with traffic.  It was selected as the second trunk line to be relieved by HSR service.  Construction began in 1964 and ended in 1968, with testing to early 1971.  With the experience of the first line, construction sped up considerably, though land acquisition and route planning proved more challenging between Kien-k'ang and Qa-pa; nevertheless, the very flat landscape made for a relatively straightforward construction; special attention was paid to protecting electrical equipment from saline erotion due to their proximity to the seas.  A third line linked the cities of Kwang and Tor, inaugurated in 1988.  This line was parallel to the Coastal Main Line in several parts, making it slightly less direct than others, due to the more densely-settled demographic of the coastal area.  It also intersected the line; a transfer station was planned at the intersection. Meanwhile, the terminus in Glak-lang was moved to Drjang-'an in 1975, after the line had been extended there.


In terms of speed, advances in breaking and motor technology made higher speeds possible and also controllable; more sophisticated aerodynamics held a crucial role in ensuring operational stability.  Ballastless tracks were introduced in the 1980s to the end that the maximum speed on the Drjang-'an to Kwang'-tu Line increased by 25 MPH, though this was not extended to the second and third lines until the 90s.  Since then, THSR operated at 190 MPH across the entire network.
In terms of speed, advances in breaking and motor technology made higher speeds possible and also controllable; more sophisticated aerodynamics held a crucial role in ensuring operational stability.  Ballastless tracks were introduced in the 1980s to the end that the maximum speed on the Drjang-'an to Kwang'-tu Line increased by 25 MPH, though this was not extended to the second and third lines until the 90s.  Since then, THSR operated at 190 MPH across the entire network.
Line 40: Line 45:
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|-
! Line !! Route !! Started !! Operational !! Total mileage !! Max. speed (MPH) !! # of stations !! Avg. station distance (mi) !! Notes
! Line !! Termini !! Work<br>Started !! Opened !! Mileage<br>(km) !! Max. speed<br> (km/h) !! Stations !! Avg. station <br>distance (km) !! Notes
|-
| IML HSR || Rak to Kwang′-tju || 1959 || 1967 || 775.5 || 210 || 16 || 65 ||
|-
| TML HSR || Kien-k'ang to P′a′ || 1965 || 1971 || 762.3 || 200 || 14 || 52 ||
|-
| IML Extension || ′Jong to Rak || 1971 || 1975 || 232 || 200 || 3 || 59 ||
|-
| CML HSR || Tonning to Kwang′-tju || 1974 || 1980 || 510 || 200 || 10 || 51 ||
|-
| CML Extension || Tonning to Kaw-brjêng || 1977 || 1982 || 521 || 200 || 8 || 51 ||
|-
| ′An HSR || Rak to ′An || 1992 || 1999 || 1724 || 200 || 11 || 157 ||
|}
 
===Major Stations===
[[File:THSR archi.jpg|thumbnail|Bljom-tsrjo Station before operation, c. 1967]]
====On the ′Jong to Kwang′-tju Line====
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Station !! ′Jong !! Trjo-tju !! Rak !! Sjin-′an !! Kien-k′ang !! Tsjinh-′an !! Kwe-rjem !! Kwang'-tju
|-
|-
| Mileage || 0 || 132 || 270 || 338 || 423 || 523 || 680 || 775
| Inland Main Line || Qrong – Ngwank || 1959 || 1967 || 820 || 265 || 19 || 43 ||
 
|}
 
====On the Kien-k′ang to P′a′ Line====
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|-
! Station !! Kien-k′ang !! Kju′-krong !! Gwrei-neng !! Rjem-m′e !! Rjan-ghwjen !! Rim-tsi !! P′a′
| Transverse Main Line || Kien-k'ang – Qa-paq || 1980 || 1987 || 525 || 300 || 11 || 47 ||
|-
|-
| Mileage || 0 || 80|| 202|| 390|| 502|| 641|| 762
| Coastal Main Line || L′in – Ngwank || 1963 || 1970 || 765 || 265 || 15 || 52 ||
|}
 
====On the Sngrak-ljang to Kwang′-tju Line====
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|-
! Station !! Tonning !! Tung-ljang !! Ngja-hjeng !! Gobh-krji !! Rim-tsi !! Sjen-gwai !! Nem-m′e′ !! Kwang′-tju
| Northern Line || Rak – Skngrak || 1994 || 2002 || 587 || 300 || 14 || 42 ||
|-
|-
| Mileage || 0 || 49|| 102|| 164|| 258|| 372|| 453|| 510
| '''Total''' || || || || '''4,483''' || || '''89''' || '''50''' ||  
|}
|}
====Station Architecture====
Most stations newly constructed for the THSR were designed by a single architect, Eric E. Ericson of the Organized States.  Ericson described himself as a man of many contradictions and compromises, and in his work one easily sees harmoniously combined elements of classical, modernist, and brutalist architecture.  He drew inspiration from the traditional form of the train station, with its long, wide concourses, tall open spaces, and striking simplicity; yet he also found many architectural elements of the classical school overly "artificial and spurious" as they were applied in Casaterran train stations in the 19th Century.  In addition, he also adored the generous use of glass and the streamlining of heavy stone pillars by steel arches and girders.  When commissioned to design 4 stations for the first THSR line, he asked the authorities to find a backup architect in case he could not finish on time; eventually, he offered his designs three months before the deadline.
The four stations he created consisted of masterfully incorporated grand concourses, mostly covered by glass, supported by steel girders, and supported by angular concrete columns.  Classical influence were provided whenever he found them convenient and appealing, often by partial arches, abstracted capitals, and flourishes in bas-relief.  The exteriors were made to Classical proportions but executed with concrete and glass, with patches of brick for accent and character.  Moreover, the station buildings were unobtrusive and pleasant to the eye.  Critically acclaimed, Ericson was invited for the second and third time in 1969 and 1977 to apply his genius and artistry to the stations on the two newer lines.  In total, 15 stations were designed by his hand, and existing stations that were to host THSR services also received renovations by him in the sections used by THSR.  Though initially comically scaled for the towns they serviced, later patrons came to appreciate the space that Ericson granted to the station buildings; as those cities grew, partly to the credit of THSR, passenger volume doubled between 1968 and 1990, filling the once deserted concourses with travellers.
====Station Layout====
[[File:THSR plat.gif|thumbnail|Undergrond THSR platforms in Kien-k'ang Station, 42m underground.]]
Designed by a single architect, all stations possessed a long, wide concourse separated by pillars into three or five corridors lenghwise.  THSR tracks generally ran parallel to the length of the concourse on its rear.  Ticketing booths are scattered throughout the track-side of the station, against its rear wall, discouraging queues concentrated in a single section.  THSR ticketing was done electronically and centrally from its very inception, a mainframe computer having been ordered as early as 1964 for this very purpose; ticketers each have access to a video terminal, through which vacancies are searched and seats reserved.  Most stations have dedicated underground parking lots, and long-term parking is available in nearby lots.  A circular driveway is generally present before the station building, with reserved lanes for buses and taxis.  Benches are common throughout stations, and on their underside a pair of electrical outlets are available.
After purchasing tickets, travellers must pass through a gate located between the rear wall to have their tickets clipped for admittance; such gates are present on the entire length of the wall joining the station to the platform, though during times of lower traffic some gates may not be manned and thus are not operational.  After being admitted to the platform, which is always wide and covered with a glass canopy, four underpasses are available, distributed across the platforms' length, if the traveller needs to access the other platform(s).  Ericson specifically required each station to have four underpasses situated at identical positions as to preserve the uniformity he desired to see in his designs.  Electronic Passenger Information Display System (PIDS) are found natively on the platforms, with parts of the stations' architecture specifically meant for their installation.  If a traveller does not care for carrying his own luggage onboard a train, redcaps are usually available for a tip.  Amenities such as newspaper stands are ubiquitously present on THSR platforms.
====Security====
[[File:Taiwanhighspeedrail.JPG|thumbnail|The Glak-lang THSR Depot, with some K16 EMUs in the foreground.]]
Due to the rise of terrorism in Septentrion, the NRC has studied extensively how to implement security measures without inconveniencing passengers; however, in the absence of any consensus on the level of security required and the extent to which passenger conveneince can be sacrificed, the only security measure implemented so far is the addition of a police booth and emergency telephones at each station.


===Depots===
===Depots===
*Glak-lang Depot
*Rak Depot
*Kien-k'ang Depot
*Kien-k'ang Depot
*Drjang-'an Depot
*Qrong Depot
*Kwang'-tu Depot
*Ngwank-tju Depot
*Ghwap-bow' Depot
*Qa-paq Depot
*′An Depot
*Sngrak-ljang Depot


===Testing Facility===
===Testing facilities===
 
===Railway directions===
On the high-speed network, which is solely operated by National Rail, trains travelling from [[Kien-k'ang]] are considered ''outbound'' (外, ''mgwats'') trains, and to the city ''inbound'' (內, ''nups'') trains.  This stands in contrast to the conventional railway, where the ''inbound''/''outbound'' terminology depends on the position of railway depots and yards: National Rail considers trains moving to Kien-k'ang on its lines to be ''inbound'', while Themiclesian Rail considers trains moving to Rak, where its largest centre of operations exists, to be ''inbound''.


==Operation==
==Operation==
Line 111: Line 77:
THSR operates both daytime and nighttime services, with at least one departure in each direction per half-hour during daytime, and more frequently during peak hours and holidays.  Trains depart in both directions from the termini between 5:00 each morning and 11:00 at night; the time outside of which is dedicated to maintenance tasks, such as track grinding, and construction.
THSR operates both daytime and nighttime services, with at least one departure in each direction per half-hour during daytime, and more frequently during peak hours and holidays.  Trains depart in both directions from the termini between 5:00 each morning and 11:00 at night; the time outside of which is dedicated to maintenance tasks, such as track grinding, and construction.


Currently, THSR trains operate according to two speeds, dubbed the Electric Express (E. Exp.) and the Electric Limited Express (E. Ltd.)  There is no difference between the rolling stock or maximum operation speeds assigned to these two categories; they differ only in the number of calls along their routes— E. Exp. stop at every station, while E. Ltd. only at major cities, of which there are only four or five on each route.  These two categories were only instituted in 1982, after dozens of new stations were constructed on the lines, hampering the total travel time in an age when all services stopped at all stations.  Passengers could also purchase through tickets from origin to the next stop serviced by an E. Ltd. train and ''vice versa''.  The ratio between E. Exp. and E. Ltd. services are roughly 2.5:1; that way, more communities could be served, while competitiveness against air travel was retained for those who needed it.
Currently, THSR trains operate according to two speeds, dubbed the Electric Express (E. Exp.) and the Electric Limited Express (E. Ltd.)  There is no difference between the rolling stock or maximum operation speeds assigned to these two categories; they differ only in the number of calls along their routes—E. Exp. at every station, while E. Ltd. only at major cities, of which there are four or five on each route.  These two categories were instituted in 1982, after dozens of new stations were constructed on the lines, hampering the total travel time in an age when all services stopped at all stations.  Passengers could also purchase through tickets from origin to the next stop serviced by an E. Ltd. train and ''vice versa''.  The ratio between E. Exp. and E. Ltd. services are roughly 2.5:1; that way, it was hoped, more communities could be served, while competitiveness against air travel would be retained for those who needed it.


===Classes of Service===
===Classes of service===
[[File:THSR SC.jpg|thumbnail|Standard Class on THSR]]
[[File:700T_Green_Car.jpg|thumbnail|Standard Class on K18]]
THSR offers currently offers two classes of service, Standard and Business Classes.  A First Class existed until 1973.  Unlike the conventional railway, which possesses carriages split between classes, the THSR's rolling stock are all single-class carriages.  The First/Second/Third Class nomenclature was abolished in 1970, as part of fare restructuring, and replaced with the modern Standard/Business Class.
THSR offers currently offers two classes of service, Standard Class and Business Classes.  First Class existed until 1971.  Unlike the conventional railway, which possesses carriages split between classes, the THSR's rolling stock are all single-class carriages.  The First/Second/Third Class nomenclature was abolished in 1986, as part of fare restructuring and rebranding on the HSR.
 
====Unreserved Class====
Starting in 2021, THSR has re-introduced a 3+2 seating pattern under the name "Unreserved".  Passengers in this class do not have assigned seats, and seats are narrower and shorter than in Standard Class.


====Standard Class====
====Standard Class====
This is the usual class of service on the THSR, accounting for about 80% of the rolling stock.  Seats are arranged 2 + 2 abreast, in 18 rows per car.  The pitch is 1100 mm, comparable to the Second Class service on the conventional railway.  Most amenities are derived from that class, such as cushioned seats with a small pillow, cup holder, overhead stowage room, foot rest, and adjustable reclining seats.  
This is the usual class of service on the THSR, accounting for about 85% of train sets.  Seats are arranged 2+2 abreast, in 18 rows per car.  The pitch is {{convert|42|in|mm|abbr=on}}, comparable to the conventional railway.  The seats are cushioned and include a small pillow, cup holder, overhead stowage room, foot rest, and adjustable reclining seats.  Launched in 1967 as Third Class, it was the most-patronized class on THSR in both design and reality. 
 
Originally, the HSR third class resembled the same on conventional rail, with seats in a 3+2 configuration.  In the 50s and 60s, the NRC experimented with improving legroom in third-class services.  Seats on intercity trains had around {{convert|32|in|mm|abbr=on}} pitch, while those on branch lines or commuter trains on main lines had as little as {{convert|28|in|mm|abbr=on}}, which is the legal minimum after 1871.  The Series 5 rolling stock, entering conventional service in 1955, provided {{convert|35|in|mm|abbr=on}} in third-class sections, but the K10 EMU was designed with only {{convert|28|in|mm|abbr=on}} of pitch.  This was severely criticized from the day THSR entered testing and even caused some MPs to consider withdrawing NRC's monopoly on building railways.  The K10's seat pitch was inherited the K11, which debuted in 1969 and had mostly mechanical improvements over the K10.  The K12 EMU was launched in 1976 with an increased seat pitch of {{convert|36|in|mm|abbr=on}}.


Launched in 1968 as Third Class, it was the most-patronized class on THSR in both design and reality.  In order to attract customers, Standard Class wwas priced as a third-class service, but the facilities it offers are actually second-class in all but name.  The Third Class on the conventional railway, which also sat passengers in a 2 + 3 pattern but with only 900 mm of pitch, was judged outdated for the new THSR. It acquired its present name in 1970, when passenger classes were eliminated as part of a fare system reform. 
In 1977, National Rail's amenities went through a major reform that obsoleted 3+2 seating in intercity trains, with existing stock featuring them either refurbished with 2+2 seating or relegated to local or suburban services.  This was reflected on the HSR with its new K13 sets that appeared in 1978 for the completion of the Northern Line.  This coach was finally given parity with conventional railway with a {{convert|42|in|mm|abbr=on}} pitch, which remained the standard for HSR service since.


====Business Class====
====Business Class====
[[File:THSR BC.jpg|thumbnail|Business Class on THSR]]
[[File:201612_Interior_of_CRH380BL_Business_Class.jpg|thumbnail|Business Class on K17—as seen in Menghe]]
Originally Second Class, this is the higher level of service on THSR.  It is aimed towards travellers on commercial business and tourists who desire more spacious accommodation.  Currently, Business Class cars account for around 1/5 of all rolling stock.  When onboard Wi-Fi was introduced in 2006, Business Class was first to enjoy its use, spreading to Standard in 2009.  Seating is arranged in a 1 + 2 pattern per row, with around 16 rows with 1250 mm of pitch.  Reclinable seats are lined with leather.  Starting from the K16 series, Business Class seats also adopted the "shell" type structure, providing greater privacy and more amenities, such as a personal reading light, headphones, and electrical outlet.
This is the higher level of service on THSR.  It is aimed towards travellers on commercial business requiring more privacy or travellers desiring more spacious accommodation.  Currently, Business Class cars account for around 1/5 of all rolling stock.  When onboard Wi-Fi was introduced in 2006, Business Class was first to enjoy its use, spreading to Standard in 2008.  Seating is arranged in a 1+2 pattern per row, with 15 rows with {{convert|52|in|mm|abbr=on}} pitch.  Reclinable seats are lined with blue velvet.  Starting from the K16 series, Business Class seats adopted the "shell" type structure, providing greater privacy and amenities, such as a reading light attached to the seat rather than the ceiling, headphone outlet, and electrical outlet.
 
Business Class was original named Second Class when the HSR opened in 1967 and featured amenities comparable to second-class carriages on conventional stock.  On K10 and K11 EMUs, seats in this class were arranged a 2+2 configuration in 16 rows, with {{convert|48|in|mm|abbr=on}} of pitch.  The prototype K10 originally {{convert|54|in|mm|abbr=on}} pitch, though in production models this was reduced.  In the K13 EMU of 1979, HSR stock was brought in line with conventional stock with Third and Second Class switching to 2+2 and 1+2 configurations, respectively.  The NRC felt pressed better to distinguish the two levels of service, leading to re-introducing certain first-class features to the recently-renamed Business Class, like reading lamps, spring seats, telephone access, and red carpets.


In line with Standard Class, its original name is also misleading and should be referenced with the classes on the conventional railway. There were two Second Class services available.  In 1948 – 49, the NRC produced an enhanced Second Class carriage with only three columns of seats in 16 rows, intending to employ them as First Class, which had two columns of seats in ten rows; the public condemned this attempt at debasing service quality while retaining the price.  Relenting to pressure, the new carriages entered service as Second Class but with a special fee, as it was more spacious; starting in 1953, these new carriages, sufficiently well-received, were legitimized as ''Special'' Second, while the original became ''Standard'' Second.  The THSR Second Class is the market-placement inheritor of this ''Special'' Second, though the NRC decided to simplify matters on THSR by downgrading the ''Standard'' Second to Third and shortening ''Special'' Second to Second.
====First Class (deprecated)====
[[File:Abraham_Lincoln_parlor_car_1935.JPG|thumbnail|The former First Class on K10]]
These cars had two columns of seats in nine rows.  Seats were plush swiveling armchairs with {{convert|60|in|mm|abbr=on}} of pitch, lined with red velvet.  First-class service included male stewards in each car; a dining service was included in the price of the ticket.<ref>First-class attendants were usually male, as they were paid more than female ones.  The latter were found in second-class carriages.  This policy officially ended in 1963 with the passage of the ''Equality of the Sexes Act'', but it continued in practice until the 90s.</ref>  Additionally, passengers enjoyed snacks and drinks outside of meals, such as cucumber sandwiches, foie gras, paté, cheeses, cold cuts, red and white wines, Champagne, and cognac.  There was also an onboard telephone and air conditioning provided, deemed extravagant at the time.  There was a dress code: men were expected to be in suits, and women in dresses.


====First Class (deprecated 1983)====
On the conventional railway, it was clear that first-class service was unprofitable on most routes, with low paying-passenger volume, yet it was not known when the K10 and K11 trainsets were designed that the rule mandating three classes of service would be abolished soon after THSR opened.  First Class was thus built into a number of K10 and K11 EMU sets.  As expected, few patronized it, and of those that did, many were politicians and senior civil servants, who were entitled to its use ''ex officio''.  The class was abolished in the HSR in 1971, but the existing seats were rebranded as "observation seats", tariffed as second class plus an additional fee.  They finally disappeared between 1990 and 1993, when those trainsets were withdrawn.
[[File:Pere Marquette Railroad parlor car no. 25b.jpg|thumbnail|The former First Class on THSR, deprecated in 1973]]
These cars had two columns of seats in ten rows.  Seats were plush swiveling armchairs with 1650 mm of pitch, lined with velvet.  First Class service included stewards in each car, who would bring comestibles from the kitchen car, as there was no first-class dining facility; premium food and beverages were available at no charge.  Menus from the age show that cucumber sandwiches, foie gras, smoked salmon paté, camembert, imported cold cuts, campaign, and cognac were favourites amongst frequent passengers.  There was also an onboard telephone and air conditioning provided, deemed extravagant at the time.  There was a dress code: men were expected to be in suits, and women in dresses.


Themiclesian law specified fares for three classes of service, until 1970.  By the 60s, it was clear that First Class was unprofitable, since paying passengers were more likely to travel by air than rail, yet it was not known that the rule would be abolished soon after THSR opened.  First Class was thus built into a small number of K10 and K11 EMU sets, purely to satisfy the law mandating three classes of service in both directions on any route and day.  As expected, few patronized it, and the those that did were politicians and senior civil servants, who were entitled to its use ''ex officio''.  The class was abolished in the HSR in 1983, with the retirement of the K10 and K11 EMUs.
In 2013, the NRC informally told certain inquirers that "there is no financially responsible way to restart a first-class service on the high-speed rail."


===Proposed Sleeper Service===
===Proposed sleepers===
[[File:THSR FS1.jpg|thumbnail|First Class sleeper as advertised by NRC; there are two chairs and a tea table in the suite but not visible in this picture.]]
[[File:THSR FS1.jpg|thumbnail|First Class sleeper as advertised by NRC; there are two chairs and a tea table in the suite but not visible in this picture.]]
When the TML HSR was still under construction, NRC leadership seriously considered the possibility of a nighttime sleeper service between Glak-lang and Ghwap-bow', via Kien-k'ang.  The rationale was that daytime service between these two locations would take more than eight hours at the speeds then possible, consuming most day hours, thereby adding another night at a hotel in the destination city; a sleeper service would solve this problem by leaving at night and arriving by the next morning.  Two K10 trainsets were constructed as sleeper trains, and as required by law First, Second, and Third Class sleepers were built into the train.  First Class sleepers were individual suites, divided into sleeping area, sitting area, and a bathroom; six such suites were present on the train.  Second Class sleepers came in three varieties, a personal compartment, a duplex compartment, or a quadruple compartment.  Third Class sleepers came in quadruple compartments or open berths.
When the TML HSR was still under construction, the NRC actively considered a nighttime sleeper service between Rak and P′a′, via Kien-k'ang.  The rationale was that daytime service between them would take eight hours at the speeds then possible, consuming most day hours and thereby adding another night at a hotel in the destination city.  A sleeper service would solve this problem by leaving at night and arriving by the next morning.  Two K10 trainsets were constructed as sleeper trains, and as legally required, First, Second, and Third Class sleepers were built into the train.  First Class sleepers were individual suites, divided into a sleeping area, sitting area, and ''ensuite''.  The bed accommodated a single traveller and faced a closet, while there were two chairs in the sitting area, one of which had a collapsible writin desk.  A First Class carriage comprised six such units.  Second Class sleepers came in three varieties, personal, duplex, or quadruplex compartment.  Third Class sleepers came in quadruplex compartments or open berths.


Experts criticized this idea almost from the very moment it was announced.  They allege that such a service would be indistinguishable from existing services on the conventional railway, on which the very same journey could be covered in thirteen hours, meaning that the traveller would only have to board slightly earlier on the travelling day to arrive on the same time on the following morning. It was put, "If one had to spend a night on a train anyway, what difference would it make if one board the train at sunset or after dinner?" The NRC eventually did implement this idea during the testing phase of the TML HSR, but heavily negative response provided by test-riders, noting, amongst other issues, loud noises that prevented them from sleeping, meant that the NRC never put the sleeper trains into revenue service, and they were quietly converted into normal trains in 1972.
Critics attacked this idea almost from the moment it was announced.  They state that such a service would be indistinguishable from conventional services, on which the same journey could be covered in thirteen hours, meaning that the traveller would only have to board slightly earlier on the travelling day to arrive on the same time on the following morning.  The NRC eventually did implement this idea during the testing phase of the TML HSR, but amidst heavily negative response, noting, amongst other issues, loud noises that prevented sleeping, the NRC never put the sleeper trains into revenue service.  The two sleeper trains were quietly converted into normal trains in 1972, the furniture re-used on conventional trains.


===Fares===
===Fares===
Fares for the THSR are calculated on the basis of mileage and several surcharges.  Each mile costs the traveller $0.21, last adjusted in 2002.  Each ticket also sells with a ticketing charge of $4—, a seat assignment charge of $5—, and a tea duty of $1—; the seat assignment charge is omitted if the traveller chooses to forego an assigned seat.  The mileage is inflated by a factor of 35% if the seat is assigned in a Business Class carriage or deflated by a factor of 20% if the purchaser has eschewed assigned seating.  A compounding upcharge of 20% on mileage is applied if the traveller chooses an express service.
Fares for the THSR are calculated through a tariff based on operational mileage (in this section, all references to mileage are operational miles, unless otherwise stated) and surcharges.  The mileage between stations, though based on actual figures, are fixed by law: if a train were diverted on a longer route, the standard mileage remain applicable.  As of 2020, each mile costs the traveller $0.21.  Each ticket, regardless of mileage, also sells with a seat assignment charge of $5 and tea duty of $2; the seat assignment charge is omitted if the traveller chooses to forego an assigned seat.  The tariff is inflated by a factor of 35% if the seat is assigned in Business Class or deflated by a factor of 20% if assigned seating is eschewed.  A compounding upcharge of 20% on mileage is applied if the traveller chooses an express service.
 
Formerly, each class of service had its own tariff.  By the ''Railway Act'' amended in 1969, third-class tariff was fixed at $0.06 per operational mile, second class twice third class at $0.12, and first class twice second class or four times third class, at $0.24.  Limited express surcharge, which applies to all HSR roads, is 50% of tariff.  Over 300 miles, the exceeding mileage is subject to a 50% discount on third-class tickets.  Starting in 1973, a sur-surcharge also applied for trains that stopped at fewer stations, at 50% the express surcharge.
 
There is a flat food charge for first- and second-class tickets based on the expected number of meals.  Since the NRC could adjust this rate (as opposed to other fees established by statute), it varied according to the menus from train to train.  Generally, foreign cuisines were more expensive than domestic offerings.  In first class, a seven-course [[Sieuxerr|Sieuxerrian]] dinner cost $27 in 1968, while a sampler of Themiclesian dishes was priced at $12.25.  At any rate, the passenger cannot select a menu other than the one offered, as the kitchen could not accommodate the ingredients and preparation for more than one menu; full menu was offered during meal times, with à la carte service available at others.  Second class tickets usually had three-course meals ranging from $3 to $5.  Third-class tickets did not include meals.
 
Air conditioning was $0.01 per mile for all classes, and a flat drinks duty existed between 1967 and 1970.  It was fixed at $0.20 for third-class tickets, $1 for second-class, and $5 for first-class.  There is a seat reservation charge for reserved seating.  There was also a observation seat fee that applied to all first-class tickets, regardless if an observation platform existed on that train or not.
 
The Excise was levied on second- and first-class tickets as a wartime measure, but the duty was not lifted until 1978.  Second-class tickets, as a "Schedule A" commodity, was taxed at 10% price, while first-class tickets, on "Schedule B", was taxed at 30%. 
 
Thus, a first-class ticket from Kwang-tju to Rak, total 747.9 mi, on Jan. 1, 1969 would be priced as follows:
: $0.16 × 747.9 + $0.16 × 747.9 × 0.5 + $23 + $0.01 × 747.9 + $5 + $8 + $0.02 × 747.9 = $282.807
: $282.807 × 1.3  = $367.6491 → $367.65
 
A second-class ticket on the same route would be priced:
: $0.08 × 747.9 + $0.08 × 747.9 × 0.5 + $23 + $0.01 × 747.9 + $1 + $4 = $108.727
: $108.727 × 1.1  = $119.5997 → $119.60


Formerly, each class of service had its own rate. By the ''Railway Services Act'' of 1892, as amended in 1969, Third Class rate was fixed at $0.06 per mile, Second Class rate was twice Third Class, and First Class twice Second Class; this made First and Second unmarketably expensive, especially when combined with the Express Surcharge and Limited Express Surcharge (also fixed by the same law), to which all THSR services were liable. In reality, few First Class passengers were paying customers; instead, most were politicians and senior civil servants, entitled to travel First Class free of charge. In 1970, distinct mileage rates were abolished by statute, along with the mandatory provision of three classes of service.
A third-class ticket would be priced:
: $0.04 × 747.9 + $0.04 × 300 × 0.5 + $0.04 × 447.9 × 0.5 × 0.5 + $0.01 × 747.9 + $0.20 + $2 = $48.074 → $48.07


===Ticketing===
===Ticketing===
[[File:THSR 3 tickets.gif|thumbnail|THSR ticket format]]
[[File:THSR 3 tickets.gif|thumbnail|THSR ticket format]]
Though electronic ticket sales terminals have replaced the labourious process of checking each individual route's segments for availability, the ticketing procedure remains largely the same as it was done by hand and voice decades ago, save only by a computer.  Tickets are printed at the Central Ticketing Press in Kien-k'ang, where pre-printed Edmonson tickets, inscribed with almost every possible route, each varied for class, speed, concessions, and return voucher are produced.  Individual stations judge, according to trends, the amount of tickets they require and report the same to the CTP, which prints the tickets requisioned by that station and delivers them to it.  Every copy of each permutation is given a 4-digit serial number on its reverse.  When a customer wishes to purchase a ticket, the ticketing clerk will inquire into the availability of a seat on a given route on a certain day, and if a positive figure is returned, the computer will list the unassigned seats, and the customer will then choose which seat he prefers; the clerk produces the corresponding ticket and enters the ticket's serial number and assigns the customer to his desired seat, on the terminal, completing the sale.  It is possible to purchase a through ticket that combines a THSR and NRC ticket into a singular physical certificate, though such tickets are marketly rarer and may require hand-writing in order to be issued; however, the computer system is capable of making all require inquiries, since it is shared with the NRC.
Though electronic ticket sales terminals have replaced the labourious process of centrally checking each segment in each route for availability, the ticketing procedure remains largely the same as it was done by hand and voice decades ago, save only by a computer.   


THSR permits tickets to be reserved up to 90 days in advance of travel; however, the actual sale of the ticket and seat assignment is not done before the day of travel.  When reserving a ticket, a customer provides his name and contact information, which the clerk enters into the system for a reservation.  If there are seats available, the information is filed electronically, reducing the number of tickets available for that day and route, and the customer is issued a reservation number.  This process can be done in person, by mail, telephone, facsimile, or the Internet.  On the day he is to travel, he can purchase the reserved seat upon presentation of his reservation number and name.  A customer may also cancel his ticket by any of the means above on any day before the day of travel.
Tickets are printed at the Central Ticketing Press in [[Kien-k'ang]], where {{wp|Edmondson railway ticket|Edmondson tickets}}, inscribed with almost every route, varied for class, speed, concessions, and return voucher are produced.  Individual stations report the amount of tickets they require to the CTP, which prints and delivers them to it.  Every copy of each permutation is given a 4-digit serial number on its reverse.


==Rolling Stock==
When a customer purchases a ticket, the ticketing clerk will inquire into the availability of a seat on the desired route on a certain day, and if a positive figure is returned, the computer permits the customer to choose his preferred seat; the clerk produces the correct ticket and enters the ticket's serial number and the customer's name on a terminal, completing the sale.  It is possible to purchase a through ticket that combines a HSR and conventional ticket into a singular physical certificate, though such tickets are marketly rarer and may require hand-writing in order to be issued; however, the computer system is capable of making all inquiries, since it is shared with the NRC.
 
As of 2020, tickets may be reserved up to 180 days in advance of travel, for which he will receive a reservation number.  This process can be done in person, by mail, telephone, facsimile, or the Internet.  Up to 30 days before the date of travel, the traveller can pay for the reserved seat upon presentation of his reservation number and name.  If the traveller does not complete payment before the day of travel, the reservation is automatically cancelled.  A customer may also cancel his ticket by any of the means above on any day before the day of travel for a full refund, less an administrative fine.
 
==Rolling stock==
[[File:THSR trains.jpg|thumbnail|Several THSR K16 trains, one of the main models in service as of 2018]]
[[File:THSR trains.jpg|thumbnail|Several THSR K16 trains, one of the main models in service as of 2018]]
From its inception, all THSR rolling stock for passenger service are Electric Multiple Units (EMU), with several cars coupled together into operational sets.  The early test models of THSR trains were modified versions of the express EMUs used on long branch lines, replacing tank steam locomotives.  While they had been earlier considered for main line service, the idea was shelved between 1950 and 1958, since they required the installation of overhead catenaries, which could not be done safely when the essential line was in use.  Nevertheless, NRC continued to develop their technology, and by 1958 they were mature enough to offer at least a glimpse of hope of equalling the performance of the C30 steam engine.  Developing the K10 EMU was a arduous and frustrating process that did not come to fruition until 1965; the K10 EMU's eventual top speed was 135 MPH, exactly the same as the C30.  While not impressive at first glance, the K10 was much, much cheaper and easier to service and far more available than the C30, whose availability was around 25% of the time.
All THSR rolling stock for passenger service are Electric Multiple Units (EMU), with several cars coupled together into operational sets.  The early test models of THSR trains were modified versions of the express EMUs used on long branch lines, replacing steam locomotives.  While they had been earlier considered for main line service, the idea was not implemented.  Nevertheless, NRC continued to develop EMU technology, and by 1961 they resembled the first operational EMU set, the K10.  Its eventual top speed was 135 MPH, 10 MPH faser than the C30 locomotive.  While not impressive at first glance, the K10 was much cheaper and easier to service and more available than the C30, which was around 25%.


As of the end of 2017, all rolling stock have been domestically manufactured by three suppliers, Tshihen-tan Locomotive Works, Ghwa-chiung Industries, and Krong-lang Transport Company; the first is the privatized successor to the locomotive works that was part of the NRC before 1988.  Both manufacturing and assembly are handled by these three enterprises, and deliveries are taken in completed and tested sets.  Most of the technology required to manufacture HSR EMUs are developed internally by the NRC, and the suppliers are permitted only to manufacture according to NRC's exact specifications.
As of the end of 2017, all rolling stock have been domestically manufactured by three suppliers, Krên Works, Ghwra-Trjung Industries, and Krong-ljang Transport Company; the first is the privatized successor to the locomotive works that was part of the NRC before 1988.  Both manufacturing and assembly are handled by these enterprises, and deliveries are taken in completed and tested sets.  Most of the technology required to manufacture HSR EMUs were developed internally by the NRC, and the suppliers are permitted only to manufacture according to NRC's specifications.


All train sets on the THSR consist of cab cars, power cars, motor cars, and trailer cars.  Cab cars are unpowered and always positioned at the two ends of the train; cockpits there permit train to be controlled from both ends.  Power cars have pantographs extending from above their roofs to receive power from the electric cables suspended overhead, which conduct 22kV electricity.  Motor cars are distributed throughout the train to ensure good adhesion and cohesion.  Trailer cars are unpowered.
All train sets on the THSR consist of cab cars, power cars, motor cars, and trailer cars.  Cab cars are unpowered and always positioned at the two ends of the train; cockpits there permit train to be controlled from both ends.  Power cars have pantographs extending from above their roofs to receive power from the electric cables suspended overhead, which conduct 22kV electricity.  Motor cars are distributed throughout the train to ensure good adhesion and cohesion.  Trailer cars are unpowered.
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|-
! Model !! K10 !! K11 !! K12 !! K13 !! K14 !! K15!! K16!! K17 !! K18
! Model !! style="width: 90pt"| [[K10 Series EMU|K10]] !! style="width: 90pt"| K11 !! style="width: 90pt"| K12 !! style="width: 90pt"| K13 !! style="width: 90pt"| K14 !! style="width: 90pt"| K15!! style="width: 90pt"| K16!! style="width: 90pt"| K17 !! style="width: 90pt"| K18 !! style="width: 90pt"| K19
|-
|-
| Introduced || 1964|| 1969|| 1975|| 1983|| 1990 || 1997|| 2004|| 2005 ||2014
| Introduced || 1960 || 1968 || 1972 || 1979 || 1986 || 1995 || 2004 || 2005 || 2014 || 2021
|-
|-
| Withdrawn || 1990 || 1990 || 2007|| 2010|| —|| —|| —|| — ||—
| Withdrawn || 1993 || 1993 || 2007 || 2010 || — || — || — || — || — ||—  
|-
|-
| # produced (sets) || 20|| 25|| 40|| 70|| 30|| 120|| 40|| 40 || 35
| # produced (sets) || 20 || 25 || 40 || 70 || 30 || 120 || 40 || 40 || 35 || 30
|-
|-
| # in service (sets)|| —|| —|| —|| —|| 15|| 104|| 39|| 40 || 35
| # in service (sets)|| — || — || — || — || 15 || 104 || 39 || 40 || 35 || 12
|-
|-
| Max. speed (MPH/KM/H)|| 135/217 || 145/233 || 160/257 || 190/305 || 190/305 || 200/320 || 200/320 || 225/360|| 245/394
| Design speed (MPH)|| 135 || 145 || 160 || 190 || 190 || 200 || 200 || 225 || 225 || 225
|-
|-
| Consist || 4T/S/F/S/5T|| 4T/S/F/S/5T|| 4T/3S/5T|| 5T/2S/5T|| 5T/2S/5T|| 5T/2S/5T|| 5T/2S/5T|| 5T/2S/5T ||5T/2S/5T
| Consist || (1) T/2S/R/F/R/7T<br>(2) T/S/R/5T || (1) 2T/2S/R/F/R/6T <br> (2) 2T/S/R/4T<br>(3) 5T/R/6T|| 3T/R/2S/R/5T || 2T/R/3T/S/T/R/3T || 3T/S/R/2T/R/S/3T || 2T/S/R/3T/S/R/3T || 2T/S/R/3T/S/R/3T || 2T/S/R/3T/S/R/3T || 2T/S/R/3T/S/R/3T || 2T/S/R/3U/R/S/3T
|-
|-
| Capacity||676|| 668|| 716|| 816|| 816|| 816||816||816 ||816
| Capacity||676|| 668|| 716|| 816|| 816|| 816||816||816 ||816 || 894
|-
|-
| Nickname || Puffin|| Grouse||Penguin|| Dove|| Golden Pheasant|| Owl|| Swallow|| Eagle|| Albatross
| Nickname || Puffin || Grouse || Penguin || Dove || Pheasant || Owl || Swallow || Eagle || Albatross || Raven
|-
|-
| Notes || —|| —||— || —|| Tilting|| —|| Tilting|| See ''Menghe''|| Tilting
| Notes || || || || || Tilting|| || Tilting|| Exported || Tilting || Tilting
|}
|}
===Consist===
The consist of HSR sets has been altered many times by the NRC for both mechanical and operational reasons.  As described above, laws required all intercity lines to provide three classes of service, in both directions, every day.  The presence of a first-class carriage, which was poorly patronized, reduced capacity by more than 5/6 compared to a third-class carriage.  Additionally, a first-class carriage was also paired with a first-class restaurant car, whose impact on capacity was mitigated by combination with a second-class restaurant carriage.  However, a first-class service only had to run once a day to satisfy statutory requirements. 
The K10 and K11, respectively designed in 1958 and 1965, were built according to these limitations, in two variations for the former and three for the latter.  The K10-1 had all three classes and respective dining facilities for them, while the K10-2 was a shortened formation with a shared second- and third-class restaurant but without a first-class section entirely.  The /1 EMU ran at peak hours when travellers who desire better service usually travelled, while the /2 was used for off-peak services that both had fewer riders and even fewer who would pay for premium seats, according to the NRC's experience. 
The K11-1 was similar to the K10-1, the K11-2 to the K10-2, but the K11-3 was a maximum-capacity train that consisted of eleven third-class carriages and one bistro-style restraurant car, providing over 1,280 seats over the 924 in the /1.  In terms of revenue, the K11-3 was the most profitable but the least well-liked, since passengers could not sit in bistro-style restuarant car, since it had eliminated tables and seats in the interest of speed and capacity of service; nevertheless, this design was inherited by the K12 and K13, as a traditional restaurant car will not properly serve eleven third-class carriages at meal times. 
Starting from the K12 series, designed in 1971, first-class seating and dining facilities were eliminated.  For the K10 through K13 series, first- and second-class cars were located towards the middle of the EMU, providing more convenient access to station buildings, usually near the middle of the platform.  Furthermore, restaurant cars were placed not only for first- and second-class passengers' convenience, but also to segregate passengers of one class from another, movement through them being discouraged by doorways.  On the K10-1, the doorway between the third-class restaurant car and first-class car was locked during unmanned testing, but the NRC did not continue this policy in operation, being found unsafe in an internal study.  The operator also redesigned the K14 to distribute the restaurant cars, now desegregated, more equitably.


===Designation===
===Designation===
Line 188: Line 192:
! Legend !! Meaning
! Legend !! Meaning
|-
|-
| EFC|| First Class Passenger Car
| D || Drawing Room (First Passenger)
|-
|-
| ESC|| Second/Business Class Passenger Car
| S || Second/Business Passenger
|-
|-
| ETC|| Third/Standard Class Passenger Car
| T || Third/Standard Passenger  
|-
|-
| C|| Cab
| FSR|| First/Second Restaurant Car
|-
|-
| P|| Power (pantograph)
| BR || Snack Car
|-
|-
| M|| Motor
| R || Restaurant Car
|-
|-
| T|| Trailer
| C || Cab
|-
| P || Power (pantograph)
|-
| M || Motor
|-
| K || Break
|}
|}


Inidividual designations are combined in manner following:  
Inidividual designations are combined in manner following:  
*'''ESC T 17 001''' means the car #1 of series 17, and it is a Business Class Passenger Car on an EMU and a trailer (non-powered) car.
*'''SK 17 001''' means the car #1 of series K17, and it is a Business Class Passenger Car on an EMU and a trailer (non-powered) car.


===Designation of Adhesion===
===Designation of Adhesion===
Due to the varying characteristics and tolerances in different segments of THSR's lines in addition to those of different EMU sets, it is often necessary to decide which trains may run on which lines, how quickly they may run, and how they should be composed.  The degree of variation is far greater on the conventional railway than it is on THSR, and the latter is being actively streamlined to make THSR's rolling stock operable on as many lines as possible; yet THSR is still a 50-year-old railway, and standards have changed from its inception.  Most of the tracks laid in the 1960s were only designed to accommodate trains running at speeds up to 175 MPH, though that has since been surpassed by later trains.  Alterations on sections to permit switfter travel, where it is practical, have been preferred; on sections where it is not, tilting trains were introduced in order to negotiate the tighter turns with greater nimbleness and less reduction in speed.
Due to the varying characteristics and tolerances in different segments of THSR's lines in addition to those of different EMU sets, it is necessary to decide which trains may run on which lines, how quickly they may run, and how they should be composed.  The degree of variation is far greater on the conventional railway than it is on THSR, and the latter is being actively streamlined to make rolling stock operable on as many lines as possible.  However, standards have changed from its inception.  Most of the tracks laid in the 1960s were only designed to accommodate trains running at speeds up to 175 MPH, though that has since been surpassed by later trains.  Alterations on sections to permit switfter travel, where it is practical, have been preferred; on sections where it is not, tilting trains were introduced in order to negotiate the tighter turns with less reduction in speed.


*'''EA'''—Limited to 190 MPH, applicable on K13–16 trains running on the Drjang-'an to Kwang'-tu and Kien-k'ang to Ghwap-bow' Lines.
*'''EA'''—Limited to 190 MPH, applicable on K13–16 trains running on the ′Jong to Kwang′-tju and Kien-k′ang to P′a′ Lines.
*'''ΔEA'''—Limited to 190 MPH, applicable on K15 and K16 trains running on the Tuan-ning to Kwang'-tu Line.
*'''ΔEA'''—Limited to 190 MPH, applicable on K15 and K16 trains running on the Tonning to Kwang′-tju Line.
*'''EB'''—Limited to 175 MPH, applicable on K13 and K14 trains running on the Tuan-ning to Kwang'-tu Line.
*'''EB'''—Limited to 175 MPH, applicable on K13 and K14 trains running on the Tonning to Kwang′-tju Line.
*'''EC'''—Limited to 120 MPH, applicable on all trains running non-passenger services at night.
*'''EC'''—Limited to 120 MPH, applicable on all trains running non-passenger services at night.


Line 218: Line 228:
{{main|High-speed rail in Menghe}}
{{main|High-speed rail in Menghe}}
[[File:Cnice3.jpg|thumbnail|The THSR K17, in its Menghean livery]]
[[File:Cnice3.jpg|thumbnail|The THSR K17, in its Menghean livery]]
Relations in railway operation between Menghe and Themiclesia began in the 1990s after the former underwent the [[Decembrist Revolution]] and adopted an open economy.  The Menghean Railway was initially interested in only conventional railway technology to improve existing lines, which Themiclesia was in a position to supply; the DE19 and DE20 diesel-electric locomotives, used in Themiclesia for general passenger services on non-electrified lines, were exported in Menghe in the mid-90s after both governments made amiable gestures towards each other, often relying on similarity in language and culture as a pretext to reform what was previously regarded by international analysts as a hostile dynamic.
Relations in railway operation between [[Menghe]] and Themiclesia began in the 1990s after the former underwent the [[Decembrist Revolution]] and adopted an open economy.  The Menghean railway was initially interested in only conventional railway technology to improve existing lines, which Themiclesia supplied; the DE19 and DE20 diesel-electric locomotives, used in Themiclesia for general passenger services on non-electrified lines, were exported in Menghe in the mid-90s after both governments made amiable gestures towards each other, often relying on similarity in language and culture as a pretext to ameliorate what was previously regarded by international analysts as a hostile dynamic.


Expressing interest, the Menghean Ministry of Transport dispatched observers in 1997, with Themiclesian acquiescence, to the THSR, that they may investigate the feasibility of creating a similar system in Menghe; this is one of several active relationships between the NCR and the Menghean Railway.  A commission by the NCR also landed in Menghe to assess its suitability for a HSR and to facilitate communication between the Ministry and its counterpart in Themiclesia.  In 1999, the Department of Transport of West Chonro Province left the nation in surprise by announcing a bid for the construction for a HSR line in its territories, and the NCR held high hopes for the fruition of this project, which may lead to its invitation to other provinces to construct similar projects; however, the [[1999 Menghean financial crisis]] compelled the NCR to reassess its priorities, and eventually it did not tender an offer in the wake of massive amounts of lost equity in foreign assets in Menghe.
Expressing interest, the Menghean Ministry of Transport dispatched observers in 1997 to the THSR, that they may investigate the feasibility of a similar system in Menghe; this is one of several co-operative relationships between the NCR and the Menghean railway.  An NCR panel also locally assess Menghe's need for a HSR and to liaise between the Ministry and its Themiclesian counterpart.  In 1999, the Department of Transport of West Chŏnro Province led the nation by announcing a bid for the construction for a HSR line in its territories.  The NCR held high hopes to tender this project, hoping it may lead to invitations to other provinces for similar projects; however, the [[1999 Menghean financial crisis]] compelled the NCR to re-assess its priorities, and eventually it did not tender in the wake of massive amounts of lost equity in foreign assets in Menghe.


Nevertheless, bilateral discussions were held throughout the rest of the decade, and, the fiscal stability of Menghe restored, the NRC decided to bid for a project that was conducted under the auspices and fiscal support of the Menghen central government (as opposed to a regional one), culminating in a contract in 2002 for the construction of a complete HSR system, related infrastructure, first batch of rolling stock, and eventual technological transfer.  A special act of parliament, required for the export of HSR technology, passed in 2001 without much controversy, in anticipation of much revneue and international reputation.  While the NRC called for caution, an ambitous schedule providing for full operation in 2006 was proclaimed by the Menghean government, arousing some doubt within the Themiclesian railway scene as to whether the system could be completed safely within four years.  Some detractors even claimed that the NRC could not finish ''testing'' in four years, let alone an entire railway.
Nevertheless, discussions continued throughout the decade, and, the fiscal stability restored in Menghe, the NRC decided to bid for a project that was conducted under the support of the Menghen central government (as opposed to a regional one), culminating in a contract in 2002 for the construction of a complete HSR system, related infrastructure, first batch of rolling stock, and eventual technological transfer.  A special act of parliament, required to export HSR technology, passed in 2001 without much controversy, in anticipation of revneue and international renown.  While the NRC requested caution, the Menghean government proclaimed an ambitous schedule including full operation in 2006, arousing some doubt within the Themiclesian railway scene as to whether the system could be completed safely within four years.  Some detractors claimed that the NRC did not finish testing the HSR in four years during the 60s, let alone a fresh railway.


The Themiclesian staff were greatly amazed by the amount of dedication that the Menghean government awarded to the enterprise; land acquisition, after surveying, required astonishingly little time.  Equally surprised by the efficiency of the Menghean construction contractors, track-laying was complete by the close of 2005.  NRC had internally anticipated an optimistic date of 2008.  Constructional pace aside, completely testing the railway within a single year was something that had not been done previously in Themiclesia; under mounting government pressure, the Themiclesian engineers expedited this process by testing sections of track at low speeds with older rolling stock as they were finished, so when the whole network was complete, higher-speed testing could be done at once.  At the same time, Menghean railway staff were sent to Themiclesia to become acquainted, at close distance, with the modus operandi of the Themiclesian HSR, which provided the soft infrastructure of the Menghean HSR; not only with the technical, but also the operational, administrative, and commercial aspects of the system.
The Themiclesian staff were amazed by the Menghean government's dedication to the enterprise; land acquisition required astonishingly little time.  Equally surprised by the efficiency of the Menghean construction contractors, track-laying was complete by the close of 2005, for which NRC had anticipated an optimistic date of 2007.  Construction aside, completely testing the railway within a single year had not been done in Themiclesia; under mounting government pressure, the Themiclesian engineers expedited this process by testing sections of track at low speeds with older rolling stock as they were finished, so when the whole network was complete, higher-speed testing could be done immediately.  At the same time, Menghean railway staff were sent to Themiclesia to become acquainted, at close distance, with the modus operandi of the Themiclesian HSR, which provided the soft infrastructure of the Menghean HSR; not only with the technical, but also the operational and commercial aspects of the system.


In line with the government's promise of an operational railway by the end of 2006, testing was done around the clock during the final months that year.  Menghean dignitaries opened the railway in December 2006.  Themiclesian administrative and technical staff remained on site for supervision and guidance until 2010, when the Menghean staff fully assumed the duties of operating it and expanding it independently.
In line with the government's promise of an operational railway by the end of 2006, testing was done around the clock during the final months that year.  Menghean dignitaries opened the railway in December.  Themiclesian administrative and technical staff remained on site for guidance until 2010, when the Menghean railway fully assumed the responsibilities of its operation and independent expansion.


====Disputes====
====Disputes====
Line 232: Line 242:
*In the unfolding stages of the Menghean HSR disaster in 2015, some commentators suggested that the NRC should accept partial responsibility for the fatal accident.  The NRC, expressing profound regret and condolences for the families of the victims, declined to comment on matters of responsibility.  Two months later, the NRC reported to the public that the route in question was designed and built by the Menghean High Speed Rail Corporation without any Themiclesian involvement, and that it could not accept responsibility for its occurrence.  Nevertheless, the NRC did offer technical assistance to the Menghean authorities for whenever they may require it.
*In the unfolding stages of the Menghean HSR disaster in 2015, some commentators suggested that the NRC should accept partial responsibility for the fatal accident.  The NRC, expressing profound regret and condolences for the families of the victims, declined to comment on matters of responsibility.  Two months later, the NRC reported to the public that the route in question was designed and built by the Menghean High Speed Rail Corporation without any Themiclesian involvement, and that it could not accept responsibility for its occurrence.  Nevertheless, the NRC did offer technical assistance to the Menghean authorities for whenever they may require it.


==Future Development==
==Future development==
 
===Continental Line===
At the Menghean government's instigation, the Nukkumaan, Themiclesian, Dzhungestani, Menghean, and Dayashinese governments published a memorandum of association in 2015 to jointly construct an regional HSR line, from Antla in Nukkumaa, through Themiclesia, Dzhungestan, and Menghe, to Nakazara in Dayashina.  The completed line will have both passenger and freight services, linking several existing HSR lines in the participating nations and is planned to be 8,800 km in length, traversing tundra, desert, multiple rivers, and two other large bodies of water.
 
===Extension to Tun-ghwang===
Having been discussed since the late '70s, an extension of the lines from Drjang-'an, the present northern terminus of the inland line, to Tuehn-ghwang has found much parliamentary opposition due to extreme costs of extending HSR service into a very sparsely populated region.  Citizens of Tuehn-ghwang have long held the view that an HSR extension to their city would do wonders for its economic development, though the government is unsure as to whether an HSR service will compensate for its natural and extreme disadvantage of remoteness.


==See also==
==See also==
*[[Themiclesia]]
*[[Themiclesia]]
==Notes==
<references />


[[Category: Septentrion]] [[Category: Themiclesia]]
[[Category: Septentrion]] [[Category: Themiclesia]]

Latest revision as of 04:22, 17 January 2022

A THSR train at a platform

High speed rail in Themiclesia (abbreviated THSR; Shinasthana: 電本, kelins-pent) is provided by an inter-city railway network, consisting of six trunk lines two branch lines. It operates in parallel to Themiclesia's conventional railway, which has roughly 80 times THSR's mileage. Its total cost to date is estimated to be over $200 bn, though total costs have never been tallied. As of 2017, THSR's routes total 4,140.5 mi (6,663.5 km) in length, the lastest addition made in 2017. Themiclesian railway legislation defines the term "high-speed railway" as any line capable of passenger service at or exceeding 130 mph.

History

Precursors and proposals

High-speed service is a concept almost as old as railway itself in Themiclesia. In 1849, when the first passenger railway line opened from Kien-k'ang to Stur, an express service was offered, though it was not distinguished by faster running, but by fewer calls and higher priority, while other trains would call to await its passage on the single-track railway. Most railways possessed some express passenger service by the 1870s, and it was extended to the networks of the three premier railroads of the 1890s, National, Themiclesian, and Maritime. Limited expresses (for limited-stop express) were introduced in 1897, calling at few stops and using the fastest possible locomotives. By 1959, demanding schedules required steam-hauled expresses trains to achieve 100 MPH consistently on straight tracks, and the Class 3950 4-6-4 locomotives surpassed that requirement by a considerable margin, achieving 105 MPH in regular service on good days. Diesel locomotives were unable to deliver the same speed without technical issues, though high availability and low maintenance costs endeared them to freight service.

Class 3950 locomotives, introduced in 1936, with theoretical top speed of 120 MPH
EMUs are a common sight on branch lines, which were electrified in the 1930s as a pilot project.

Further track improvements were ruled out by the National Rail, since existing lines were already straightened as much as obtainable with the heaviest rails (60 kg/m); complete re-routing would disrupt traffic and not deliver a revolutionary improvement in speed. Steam technology also seemed to have plateaued after the PSW, with few promising leads towards improvement. Electricity and diesel were both previously considered, but diesel was disqualified, leaving electricity as the sole viable option for swifter passenger transport. Electrifying the main lines would also disrupt the its railway traffic to an unacceptable extent, so electrification was abandoned as a concept in 1950, though branch lines, formerly serviced by tank engines, were electrified and saw the introduction of EMUs, or where not done, of DMUs.

Yet by the mid-1950s, the post-war economic boom and suburbanization led to growth in railway ridership, and the main corridors were utilized beyond design capacity, creating a multitude of maintenance difficulties, which could not be easily addressed as trains ran at night and even a brief interruption would be intolerable. Starting in 1955, various proposals were tabled before the Board, and electric multiple units (EMU) were favoured as having the best potential to exceed the best steam engines of the age. As it was absolutely essential to keep the main lines running, the NRC selected a new route expressly designed for EMUs; at the time this decision was taken, Themiclesia's fastest EMU, the K6, used for branch line express services, could only achieve 92 MPH. The project, billed the "Electrified Mainline" (電本, kelins-pent), was publicly announced at the same time.

Construction

File:THSR construction.jpg
THSR lines under construction on the lower right; conventional railway to the upper left.

Land acquisition began the same year as the project was legitimized by the NRC; with a purely inter-city traffic to service, urban areas were avoided both to create a straighter line between termini and to suppress costs; however, it was elected to integrate the THSR stations with existing railways stations to encourage ridership. A rigorous bidding war ensued between major contractors, which slightly delayed the contracting process but resulted in marginally lower prices. The line consisted of land sections, elevated sections, and tunnels underground and through mountain ranges. Construction began in 1958 and would last more than four years, before the last piece of track was laid in late 1963, totalling 552 miles.

Since the line only passed through three major cities, and the eventual route was level, most of the tracks were laid on land and not elevated, brining its own set of complications (such as provision of fences, level crossings, and dealing with unstable terrain). Sections in the cities were mostly laid underground, with some parts as deep as 30 meters underground, to minimize disturbance to buildings on the surface and their foundations. Integration was carefully planned in cities with large train stations. In Kien-k'ang, for example, HSR platforms were located under the existing Twa-ts'uk-men Station, as both intercity, suburban, and urban railways already converged there. Engineering challenges in integrating new facilities with existing ones, frequently in cramped premises, were considered by some be major engineering achievements.

Testing

File:C30.jpg
The C30 class locomotive, with a peak speed of 123 MPH, set the bar high for the THSR.

Testing commenced in December, 1963 on schedule and continued until the end of 1966. The initial phase saw trains without passengers at very low speeds, with more trains added later to test its signal blocking system, which was done eletronically with the aid of a digital system. Speed and intensity gradually increased until they surpassed the intended operational speed of 125 MPH through 1964; then, the process was repeated with passengers. The NRC allocated additional temporal allowances of several months, during which the public were invited to ride the trains for a reduced fare at operational speeds, though these services were subject to occasional interruptions, to uncover and resolve operational problems after technical ones had been resolved.

Amongst the issues that surfaced during testing, the media covered at great length the inability of the pantograph to make consistent contact with the overhead power lines; this issue was resolved rather quickly as the tension of the power lines and pantograph were attuned. Other such issues were quickly dismissed, as a solution to one instance was often generally applicable. Issues in track quality also received coverage, and many segments were re-laid to account for temperature issues not sufficiently considered in planning. Eventually, the engineers resorted to using track segments of slightly differnt lengths to combat warping. NCR anticipated testing to last one year at most, yet fully three lapsed before the line passed all safety tests. The NRC's experience with the HSR would later require almost all lines to be tested continuously for one full year, no matter length, so that faults may be exposed under all seasonal conditions.

The most critical failure came in the winter of 1963 – 64, when it was discovered that erratic signalling was caused by insufficient insulation of wires carrying digital information to and from the central computer; moisture crystalized and breached plastic insulation, causing shorts on what experts estimated to be over 6,000 locations. The NRC announced that it would essentially re-do the entire cabling infrastructure with this in mind; the lines were then used for higher-speed motor tests without signalling, with only one train travelling on the entire line. In mid-1964, after a 6-month hiatus on signalling testing, the new system was installed and survived that year's winter, which was when the line was released for live passenger testing in 1965.

Though initial tests were embattled with issues, none were hurt in its process. When the Chairman of the NRC Board of Governors was confronted with the comment that the public were eager to use the service, he replied, "We know that the public are eagre, but we are more eager still." The issue was advanced by the press that Themiclesia's HSR was being raced by the Dayashinese analogue to open, and the latter did open a two full years ahead of the Themiclesian one in 1964. In Jan. 1967, after four years of testing, THSR was opened by the Prime Minister, after an issue-free year has elapsed.

Changes to classes

In 1970, the Railway Act was amended to eliminate the requirement for all three classes of service on all trunk lines, in both directions, every day. Thus, on the major timetable revision of Jul. 1, 1970, the NRC eliminated 47 our 49 first-class services on regular trains, save for those on trains No. 1/2 and 5/6 on the Inland Main Line, where first-class service was still in moderate demand. The same change occurred on Aug. 5, 1971 for the HSR, whose train consists could not be changed freely. The existing first-class seats and "hard" facilities were rebranded as "observation seats" and tariffed as second class, plus a fee, but first-class amenities such as a separate dining service and seating, extra carriage attendants, and luggage deliveries were lowered to second-class standards. Between 1971 and 1985, the THSR officially offered only second and third class, resulting in a "missing" first class.

On Jan. 1, 1986, second class was renamed "business class", and third class, "standard class", and this terminology has remained in use since.

Later expansion and improvements

Expansion of the THSR network was in construction before the first line had been completed, and the Qa-pa Line was too over-burdened with traffic. It was selected as the second trunk line to be relieved by HSR service. Construction began in 1964 and ended in 1968, with testing to early 1971. With the experience of the first line, construction sped up considerably, though land acquisition and route planning proved more challenging between Kien-k'ang and Qa-pa; nevertheless, the very flat landscape made for a relatively straightforward construction; special attention was paid to protecting electrical equipment from saline erotion due to their proximity to the seas. A third line linked the cities of Kwang and Tor, inaugurated in 1988. This line was parallel to the Coastal Main Line in several parts, making it slightly less direct than others, due to the more densely-settled demographic of the coastal area. It also intersected the line; a transfer station was planned at the intersection. Meanwhile, the terminus in Glak-lang was moved to Drjang-'an in 1975, after the line had been extended there.

In terms of speed, advances in breaking and motor technology made higher speeds possible and also controllable; more sophisticated aerodynamics held a crucial role in ensuring operational stability. Ballastless tracks were introduced in the 1980s to the end that the maximum speed on the Drjang-'an to Kwang'-tu Line increased by 25 MPH, though this was not extended to the second and third lines until the 90s. Since then, THSR operated at 190 MPH across the entire network.

Railway network

File:THSR map.gif
THSR routes in orange

Aside from the principal expectation of relieving the over-burdened IML, the niche of the THSR was competition against domestic air travel; the lack of road infrastructure between airports and the cities they serviced (generally, some distance apart) encumbered air travel. The NCR hoped to replace air travel with slower but more convenient railway travel, disembarking from which the traveller was already at the centre of town. This is reflected in both route layout and station locale. Few cities outside the most populous and commercially-important ones were serviced. The opportunity to develop a settlement by means of placing a station in its vicinity was evidently not deeply considered.

In later development, railway lines were planned to relieve the lines operating closest to or over capacity, such a policy is to ensure that the new THSR line will have a nigh-guaranteed source of ridership.

Statistics of the networks are as follows:—

Line Termini Work
Started		 Opened Mileage
(km)		 Max. speed
(km/h)		 Stations Avg. station
distance (km)		 Notes
Inland Main Line Qrong – Ngwank 1959 1967 820 265 19 43
Transverse Main Line Kien-k'ang – Qa-paq 1980 1987 525 300 11 47
Coastal Main Line L′in – Ngwank 1963 1970 765 265 15 52
Northern Line Rak – Skngrak 1994 2002 587 300 14 42
Total 4,483 89 50

Depots

  • Rak Depot
  • Kien-k'ang Depot
  • Qrong Depot
  • Ngwank-tju Depot
  • Qa-paq Depot
  • ′An Depot
  • Sngrak-ljang Depot

Testing facilities

Railway directions

On the high-speed network, which is solely operated by National Rail, trains travelling from Kien-k'ang are considered outbound (外, mgwats) trains, and to the city inbound (內, nups) trains. This stands in contrast to the conventional railway, where the inbound/outbound terminology depends on the position of railway depots and yards: National Rail considers trains moving to Kien-k'ang on its lines to be inbound, while Themiclesian Rail considers trains moving to Rak, where its largest centre of operations exists, to be inbound.

Operation

File:THSR PIDS.gif
Passenger information display system (PIDS) on the first route.

Scheduling

THSR operates both daytime and nighttime services, with at least one departure in each direction per half-hour during daytime, and more frequently during peak hours and holidays. Trains depart in both directions from the termini between 5:00 each morning and 11:00 at night; the time outside of which is dedicated to maintenance tasks, such as track grinding, and construction.

Currently, THSR trains operate according to two speeds, dubbed the Electric Express (E. Exp.) and the Electric Limited Express (E. Ltd.) There is no difference between the rolling stock or maximum operation speeds assigned to these two categories; they differ only in the number of calls along their routes—E. Exp. at every station, while E. Ltd. only at major cities, of which there are four or five on each route. These two categories were instituted in 1982, after dozens of new stations were constructed on the lines, hampering the total travel time in an age when all services stopped at all stations. Passengers could also purchase through tickets from origin to the next stop serviced by an E. Ltd. train and vice versa. The ratio between E. Exp. and E. Ltd. services are roughly 2.5:1; that way, it was hoped, more communities could be served, while competitiveness against air travel would be retained for those who needed it.

Classes of service

Standard Class on K18

THSR offers currently offers two classes of service, Standard Class and Business Classes. First Class existed until 1971. Unlike the conventional railway, which possesses carriages split between classes, the THSR's rolling stock are all single-class carriages. The First/Second/Third Class nomenclature was abolished in 1986, as part of fare restructuring and rebranding on the HSR.

Unreserved Class

Starting in 2021, THSR has re-introduced a 3+2 seating pattern under the name "Unreserved". Passengers in this class do not have assigned seats, and seats are narrower and shorter than in Standard Class.

Standard Class

This is the usual class of service on the THSR, accounting for about 85% of train sets. Seats are arranged 2+2 abreast, in 18 rows per car. The pitch is 42 in (1,100 mm), comparable to the conventional railway. The seats are cushioned and include a small pillow, cup holder, overhead stowage room, foot rest, and adjustable reclining seats. Launched in 1967 as Third Class, it was the most-patronized class on THSR in both design and reality.

Originally, the HSR third class resembled the same on conventional rail, with seats in a 3+2 configuration. In the 50s and 60s, the NRC experimented with improving legroom in third-class services. Seats on intercity trains had around 32 in (810 mm) pitch, while those on branch lines or commuter trains on main lines had as little as 28 in (710 mm), which is the legal minimum after 1871. The Series 5 rolling stock, entering conventional service in 1955, provided 35 in (890 mm) in third-class sections, but the K10 EMU was designed with only 28 in (710 mm) of pitch. This was severely criticized from the day THSR entered testing and even caused some MPs to consider withdrawing NRC's monopoly on building railways. The K10's seat pitch was inherited the K11, which debuted in 1969 and had mostly mechanical improvements over the K10. The K12 EMU was launched in 1976 with an increased seat pitch of 36 in (910 mm).

In 1977, National Rail's amenities went through a major reform that obsoleted 3+2 seating in intercity trains, with existing stock featuring them either refurbished with 2+2 seating or relegated to local or suburban services. This was reflected on the HSR with its new K13 sets that appeared in 1978 for the completion of the Northern Line. This coach was finally given parity with conventional railway with a 42 in (1,100 mm) pitch, which remained the standard for HSR service since.

Business Class

Business Class on K17—as seen in Menghe

This is the higher level of service on THSR. It is aimed towards travellers on commercial business requiring more privacy or travellers desiring more spacious accommodation. Currently, Business Class cars account for around 1/5 of all rolling stock. When onboard Wi-Fi was introduced in 2006, Business Class was first to enjoy its use, spreading to Standard in 2008. Seating is arranged in a 1+2 pattern per row, with 15 rows with 52 in (1,300 mm) pitch. Reclinable seats are lined with blue velvet. Starting from the K16 series, Business Class seats adopted the "shell" type structure, providing greater privacy and amenities, such as a reading light attached to the seat rather than the ceiling, headphone outlet, and electrical outlet.

Business Class was original named Second Class when the HSR opened in 1967 and featured amenities comparable to second-class carriages on conventional stock. On K10 and K11 EMUs, seats in this class were arranged a 2+2 configuration in 16 rows, with 48 in (1,200 mm) of pitch. The prototype K10 originally 54 in (1,400 mm) pitch, though in production models this was reduced. In the K13 EMU of 1979, HSR stock was brought in line with conventional stock with Third and Second Class switching to 2+2 and 1+2 configurations, respectively. The NRC felt pressed better to distinguish the two levels of service, leading to re-introducing certain first-class features to the recently-renamed Business Class, like reading lamps, spring seats, telephone access, and red carpets.

First Class (deprecated)

The former First Class on K10

These cars had two columns of seats in nine rows. Seats were plush swiveling armchairs with 60 in (1,500 mm) of pitch, lined with red velvet. First-class service included male stewards in each car; a dining service was included in the price of the ticket.[1] Additionally, passengers enjoyed snacks and drinks outside of meals, such as cucumber sandwiches, foie gras, paté, cheeses, cold cuts, red and white wines, Champagne, and cognac. There was also an onboard telephone and air conditioning provided, deemed extravagant at the time. There was a dress code: men were expected to be in suits, and women in dresses.

On the conventional railway, it was clear that first-class service was unprofitable on most routes, with low paying-passenger volume, yet it was not known when the K10 and K11 trainsets were designed that the rule mandating three classes of service would be abolished soon after THSR opened. First Class was thus built into a number of K10 and K11 EMU sets. As expected, few patronized it, and of those that did, many were politicians and senior civil servants, who were entitled to its use ex officio. The class was abolished in the HSR in 1971, but the existing seats were rebranded as "observation seats", tariffed as second class plus an additional fee. They finally disappeared between 1990 and 1993, when those trainsets were withdrawn.

In 2013, the NRC informally told certain inquirers that "there is no financially responsible way to restart a first-class service on the high-speed rail."

Proposed sleepers

File:THSR FS1.jpg
First Class sleeper as advertised by NRC; there are two chairs and a tea table in the suite but not visible in this picture.

When the TML HSR was still under construction, the NRC actively considered a nighttime sleeper service between Rak and P′a′, via Kien-k'ang. The rationale was that daytime service between them would take eight hours at the speeds then possible, consuming most day hours and thereby adding another night at a hotel in the destination city. A sleeper service would solve this problem by leaving at night and arriving by the next morning. Two K10 trainsets were constructed as sleeper trains, and as legally required, First, Second, and Third Class sleepers were built into the train. First Class sleepers were individual suites, divided into a sleeping area, sitting area, and ensuite. The bed accommodated a single traveller and faced a closet, while there were two chairs in the sitting area, one of which had a collapsible writin desk. A First Class carriage comprised six such units. Second Class sleepers came in three varieties, personal, duplex, or quadruplex compartment. Third Class sleepers came in quadruplex compartments or open berths.

Critics attacked this idea almost from the moment it was announced. They state that such a service would be indistinguishable from conventional services, on which the same journey could be covered in thirteen hours, meaning that the traveller would only have to board slightly earlier on the travelling day to arrive on the same time on the following morning. The NRC eventually did implement this idea during the testing phase of the TML HSR, but amidst heavily negative response, noting, amongst other issues, loud noises that prevented sleeping, the NRC never put the sleeper trains into revenue service. The two sleeper trains were quietly converted into normal trains in 1972, the furniture re-used on conventional trains.

Fares

Fares for the THSR are calculated through a tariff based on operational mileage (in this section, all references to mileage are operational miles, unless otherwise stated) and surcharges. The mileage between stations, though based on actual figures, are fixed by law: if a train were diverted on a longer route, the standard mileage remain applicable. As of 2020, each mile costs the traveller $0.21. Each ticket, regardless of mileage, also sells with a seat assignment charge of $5 and tea duty of $2; the seat assignment charge is omitted if the traveller chooses to forego an assigned seat. The tariff is inflated by a factor of 35% if the seat is assigned in Business Class or deflated by a factor of 20% if assigned seating is eschewed. A compounding upcharge of 20% on mileage is applied if the traveller chooses an express service.

Formerly, each class of service had its own tariff. By the Railway Act amended in 1969, third-class tariff was fixed at $0.06 per operational mile, second class twice third class at $0.12, and first class twice second class or four times third class, at $0.24. Limited express surcharge, which applies to all HSR roads, is 50% of tariff. Over 300 miles, the exceeding mileage is subject to a 50% discount on third-class tickets. Starting in 1973, a sur-surcharge also applied for trains that stopped at fewer stations, at 50% the express surcharge.

There is a flat food charge for first- and second-class tickets based on the expected number of meals. Since the NRC could adjust this rate (as opposed to other fees established by statute), it varied according to the menus from train to train. Generally, foreign cuisines were more expensive than domestic offerings. In first class, a seven-course Sieuxerrian dinner cost $27 in 1968, while a sampler of Themiclesian dishes was priced at $12.25. At any rate, the passenger cannot select a menu other than the one offered, as the kitchen could not accommodate the ingredients and preparation for more than one menu; full menu was offered during meal times, with à la carte service available at others. Second class tickets usually had three-course meals ranging from $3 to $5. Third-class tickets did not include meals.

Air conditioning was $0.01 per mile for all classes, and a flat drinks duty existed between 1967 and 1970. It was fixed at $0.20 for third-class tickets, $1 for second-class, and $5 for first-class. There is a seat reservation charge for reserved seating. There was also a observation seat fee that applied to all first-class tickets, regardless if an observation platform existed on that train or not.

The Excise was levied on second- and first-class tickets as a wartime measure, but the duty was not lifted until 1978. Second-class tickets, as a "Schedule A" commodity, was taxed at 10% price, while first-class tickets, on "Schedule B", was taxed at 30%.

Thus, a first-class ticket from Kwang-tju to Rak, total 747.9 mi, on Jan. 1, 1969 would be priced as follows:

$0.16 × 747.9 + $0.16 × 747.9 × 0.5 + $23 + $0.01 × 747.9 + $5 + $8 + $0.02 × 747.9 = $282.807
$282.807 × 1.3 = $367.6491 → $367.65

A second-class ticket on the same route would be priced:

$0.08 × 747.9 + $0.08 × 747.9 × 0.5 + $23 + $0.01 × 747.9 + $1 + $4 = $108.727
$108.727 × 1.1 = $119.5997 → $119.60

A third-class ticket would be priced:

$0.04 × 747.9 + $0.04 × 300 × 0.5 + $0.04 × 447.9 × 0.5 × 0.5 + $0.01 × 747.9 + $0.20 + $2 = $48.074 → $48.07

Ticketing

File:THSR 3 tickets.gif
THSR ticket format

Though electronic ticket sales terminals have replaced the labourious process of centrally checking each segment in each route for availability, the ticketing procedure remains largely the same as it was done by hand and voice decades ago, save only by a computer.

Tickets are printed at the Central Ticketing Press in Kien-k'ang, where Edmondson tickets, inscribed with almost every route, varied for class, speed, concessions, and return voucher are produced. Individual stations report the amount of tickets they require to the CTP, which prints and delivers them to it. Every copy of each permutation is given a 4-digit serial number on its reverse.

When a customer purchases a ticket, the ticketing clerk will inquire into the availability of a seat on the desired route on a certain day, and if a positive figure is returned, the computer permits the customer to choose his preferred seat; the clerk produces the correct ticket and enters the ticket's serial number and the customer's name on a terminal, completing the sale. It is possible to purchase a through ticket that combines a HSR and conventional ticket into a singular physical certificate, though such tickets are marketly rarer and may require hand-writing in order to be issued; however, the computer system is capable of making all inquiries, since it is shared with the NRC.

As of 2020, tickets may be reserved up to 180 days in advance of travel, for which he will receive a reservation number. This process can be done in person, by mail, telephone, facsimile, or the Internet. Up to 30 days before the date of travel, the traveller can pay for the reserved seat upon presentation of his reservation number and name. If the traveller does not complete payment before the day of travel, the reservation is automatically cancelled. A customer may also cancel his ticket by any of the means above on any day before the day of travel for a full refund, less an administrative fine.

Rolling stock

File:THSR trains.jpg
Several THSR K16 trains, one of the main models in service as of 2018

All THSR rolling stock for passenger service are Electric Multiple Units (EMU), with several cars coupled together into operational sets. The early test models of THSR trains were modified versions of the express EMUs used on long branch lines, replacing steam locomotives. While they had been earlier considered for main line service, the idea was not implemented. Nevertheless, NRC continued to develop EMU technology, and by 1961 they resembled the first operational EMU set, the K10. Its eventual top speed was 135 MPH, 10 MPH faser than the C30 locomotive. While not impressive at first glance, the K10 was much cheaper and easier to service and more available than the C30, which was around 25%.

As of the end of 2017, all rolling stock have been domestically manufactured by three suppliers, Krên Works, Ghwra-Trjung Industries, and Krong-ljang Transport Company; the first is the privatized successor to the locomotive works that was part of the NRC before 1988. Both manufacturing and assembly are handled by these enterprises, and deliveries are taken in completed and tested sets. Most of the technology required to manufacture HSR EMUs were developed internally by the NRC, and the suppliers are permitted only to manufacture according to NRC's specifications.

All train sets on the THSR consist of cab cars, power cars, motor cars, and trailer cars. Cab cars are unpowered and always positioned at the two ends of the train; cockpits there permit train to be controlled from both ends. Power cars have pantographs extending from above their roofs to receive power from the electric cables suspended overhead, which conduct 22kV electricity. Motor cars are distributed throughout the train to ensure good adhesion and cohesion. Trailer cars are unpowered.

Model K10 K11 K12 K13 K14 K15 K16 K17 K18 K19
Introduced 1960 1968 1972 1979 1986 1995 2004 2005 2014 2021
Withdrawn 1993 1993 2007 2010 — — — — — —
# produced (sets) 20 25 40 70 30 120 40 40 35 30
# in service (sets) — — — — 15 104 39 40 35 12
Design speed (MPH) 135 145 160 190 190 200 200 225 225 225
Consist (1) T/2S/R/F/R/7T
(2) T/S/R/5T		 (1) 2T/2S/R/F/R/6T
(2) 2T/S/R/4T
(3) 5T/R/6T		 3T/R/2S/R/5T 2T/R/3T/S/T/R/3T 3T/S/R/2T/R/S/3T 2T/S/R/3T/S/R/3T 2T/S/R/3T/S/R/3T 2T/S/R/3T/S/R/3T 2T/S/R/3T/S/R/3T 2T/S/R/3U/R/S/3T
Capacity 676 668 716 816 816 816 816 816 816 894
Nickname Puffin Grouse Penguin Dove Pheasant Owl Swallow Eagle Albatross Raven
Notes Tilting Tilting Exported Tilting Tilting

Consist

The consist of HSR sets has been altered many times by the NRC for both mechanical and operational reasons. As described above, laws required all intercity lines to provide three classes of service, in both directions, every day. The presence of a first-class carriage, which was poorly patronized, reduced capacity by more than 5/6 compared to a third-class carriage. Additionally, a first-class carriage was also paired with a first-class restaurant car, whose impact on capacity was mitigated by combination with a second-class restaurant carriage. However, a first-class service only had to run once a day to satisfy statutory requirements.

The K10 and K11, respectively designed in 1958 and 1965, were built according to these limitations, in two variations for the former and three for the latter. The K10-1 had all three classes and respective dining facilities for them, while the K10-2 was a shortened formation with a shared second- and third-class restaurant but without a first-class section entirely. The /1 EMU ran at peak hours when travellers who desire better service usually travelled, while the /2 was used for off-peak services that both had fewer riders and even fewer who would pay for premium seats, according to the NRC's experience.

The K11-1 was similar to the K10-1, the K11-2 to the K10-2, but the K11-3 was a maximum-capacity train that consisted of eleven third-class carriages and one bistro-style restraurant car, providing over 1,280 seats over the 924 in the /1. In terms of revenue, the K11-3 was the most profitable but the least well-liked, since passengers could not sit in bistro-style restuarant car, since it had eliminated tables and seats in the interest of speed and capacity of service; nevertheless, this design was inherited by the K12 and K13, as a traditional restaurant car will not properly serve eleven third-class carriages at meal times.

Starting from the K12 series, designed in 1971, first-class seating and dining facilities were eliminated. For the K10 through K13 series, first- and second-class cars were located towards the middle of the EMU, providing more convenient access to station buildings, usually near the middle of the platform. Furthermore, restaurant cars were placed not only for first- and second-class passengers' convenience, but also to segregate passengers of one class from another, movement through them being discouraged by doorways. On the K10-1, the doorway between the third-class restaurant car and first-class car was locked during unmanned testing, but the NRC did not continue this policy in operation, being found unsafe in an internal study. The operator also redesigned the K14 to distribute the restaurant cars, now desegregated, more equitably.

Designation

Since THSR is not administrative independent from the conventional railway, its rolling stock designation is inherited from its brethren.

Legend Meaning
D Drawing Room (First Passenger)
S Second/Business Passenger
T Third/Standard Passenger
FSR First/Second Restaurant Car
BR Snack Car
R Restaurant Car
C Cab
P Power (pantograph)
M Motor
K Break

Inidividual designations are combined in manner following:

  • SK 17 001 means the car #1 of series K17, and it is a Business Class Passenger Car on an EMU and a trailer (non-powered) car.

Designation of Adhesion

Due to the varying characteristics and tolerances in different segments of THSR's lines in addition to those of different EMU sets, it is necessary to decide which trains may run on which lines, how quickly they may run, and how they should be composed. The degree of variation is far greater on the conventional railway than it is on THSR, and the latter is being actively streamlined to make rolling stock operable on as many lines as possible. However, standards have changed from its inception. Most of the tracks laid in the 1960s were only designed to accommodate trains running at speeds up to 175 MPH, though that has since been surpassed by later trains. Alterations on sections to permit switfter travel, where it is practical, have been preferred; on sections where it is not, tilting trains were introduced in order to negotiate the tighter turns with less reduction in speed.

  • EA—Limited to 190 MPH, applicable on K13–16 trains running on the ′Jong to Kwang′-tju and Kien-k′ang to P′a′ Lines.
  • ΔEA—Limited to 190 MPH, applicable on K15 and K16 trains running on the Tonning to Kwang′-tju Line.
  • EB—Limited to 175 MPH, applicable on K13 and K14 trains running on the Tonning to Kwang′-tju Line.
  • EC—Limited to 120 MPH, applicable on all trains running non-passenger services at night.

Export

Menghean HSR

Main article: High-speed rail in Menghe
The THSR K17, in its Menghean livery

Relations in railway operation between Menghe and Themiclesia began in the 1990s after the former underwent the Decembrist Revolution and adopted an open economy. The Menghean railway was initially interested in only conventional railway technology to improve existing lines, which Themiclesia supplied; the DE19 and DE20 diesel-electric locomotives, used in Themiclesia for general passenger services on non-electrified lines, were exported in Menghe in the mid-90s after both governments made amiable gestures towards each other, often relying on similarity in language and culture as a pretext to ameliorate what was previously regarded by international analysts as a hostile dynamic.

Expressing interest, the Menghean Ministry of Transport dispatched observers in 1997 to the THSR, that they may investigate the feasibility of a similar system in Menghe; this is one of several co-operative relationships between the NCR and the Menghean railway. An NCR panel also locally assess Menghe's need for a HSR and to liaise between the Ministry and its Themiclesian counterpart. In 1999, the Department of Transport of West Chŏnro Province led the nation by announcing a bid for the construction for a HSR line in its territories. The NCR held high hopes to tender this project, hoping it may lead to invitations to other provinces for similar projects; however, the 1999 Menghean financial crisis compelled the NCR to re-assess its priorities, and eventually it did not tender in the wake of massive amounts of lost equity in foreign assets in Menghe.

Nevertheless, discussions continued throughout the decade, and, the fiscal stability restored in Menghe, the NRC decided to bid for a project that was conducted under the support of the Menghen central government (as opposed to a regional one), culminating in a contract in 2002 for the construction of a complete HSR system, related infrastructure, first batch of rolling stock, and eventual technological transfer. A special act of parliament, required to export HSR technology, passed in 2001 without much controversy, in anticipation of revneue and international renown. While the NRC requested caution, the Menghean government proclaimed an ambitous schedule including full operation in 2006, arousing some doubt within the Themiclesian railway scene as to whether the system could be completed safely within four years. Some detractors claimed that the NRC did not finish testing the HSR in four years during the 60s, let alone a fresh railway.

The Themiclesian staff were amazed by the Menghean government's dedication to the enterprise; land acquisition required astonishingly little time. Equally surprised by the efficiency of the Menghean construction contractors, track-laying was complete by the close of 2005, for which NRC had anticipated an optimistic date of 2007. Construction aside, completely testing the railway within a single year had not been done in Themiclesia; under mounting government pressure, the Themiclesian engineers expedited this process by testing sections of track at low speeds with older rolling stock as they were finished, so when the whole network was complete, higher-speed testing could be done immediately. At the same time, Menghean railway staff were sent to Themiclesia to become acquainted, at close distance, with the modus operandi of the Themiclesian HSR, which provided the soft infrastructure of the Menghean HSR; not only with the technical, but also the operational and commercial aspects of the system.

In line with the government's promise of an operational railway by the end of 2006, testing was done around the clock during the final months that year. Menghean dignitaries opened the railway in December. Themiclesian administrative and technical staff remained on site for guidance until 2010, when the Menghean railway fully assumed the responsibilities of its operation and independent expansion.

Disputes

  • When successful tests of the K17 EMU in Menghe yielded speeds of 220 MPH, a conspiracy theory began circulating in Themiclesia that the fastest trains had been exported to Menghe, while those that could only run at 190 MPH were retained in Themiclesia. This rumour first appeared on 5chan.com in 2005. Initially, the NRC refused to respond officially to such an "absurd" suggestion and intended to allow the rumour to fade away naturally. Later on, experts began to comment on this story, saying that the theory is self-defeating because the NRC would not have developed a new series of EMU just to run in Menghe, as doing so would have more than eaten away any profits that the NRC could expect from the installation of HSR in Menghe. Moreover, undisclosed sources in the NRC also denied the rumour's credibility, stating that the 20 EMU sets sold to Menghe were selected long after they had been completed, making it impossible for a design difference to have existed between the domestic and export versions. Nevertheless, the rumour did not die away as easily as the NRC hoped, and in June 2009 a large number of witnesses were invited onboard a domestic K17 EMU to see that it was capable of running at 220 MPH, only that it may not do so in regular service due to speed limits.
  • In the unfolding stages of the Menghean HSR disaster in 2015, some commentators suggested that the NRC should accept partial responsibility for the fatal accident. The NRC, expressing profound regret and condolences for the families of the victims, declined to comment on matters of responsibility. Two months later, the NRC reported to the public that the route in question was designed and built by the Menghean High Speed Rail Corporation without any Themiclesian involvement, and that it could not accept responsibility for its occurrence. Nevertheless, the NRC did offer technical assistance to the Menghean authorities for whenever they may require it.

Future development

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ First-class attendants were usually male, as they were paid more than female ones. The latter were found in second-class carriages. This policy officially ended in 1963 with the passage of the Equality of the Sexes Act, but it continued in practice until the 90s.
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