Do revenues from existing high-speed trains systems exceed operational costs?
Yes, high-speed train lines worldwide generate surpluses from their operations, unlike traditional passenger service. High-speed trains attract more passengers, generate more revenues and have lower unit costs of operation (e.g., a crew can make two round trips a day instead of one). The resulting combination of higher revenues and lower unit operating costs has made all existing high-speed train services net contributors to the financial performance of their operators. In Europe and Asia, high-speed train systems generate enough revenue to cover operational costs, and most of the high-speed train lines cover some of their construction costs (the Tokaido Line between Tokyo and Osaka generated enough operating surplus in the first decade to completely match the capital costs). (Sources: Implementation Plan, pg. 32; Implementation Plan) In California, the high-speed train system will compete with automobiles and airplanes, which have enjoyed a century of substantial public funding and ar
