Improving railway infrastructure for high-speed rail operations

Abstract

Rail transport is one of the foundational sectors of the national economy. Effective management of this sector is a key condition for ensuring spatial economic cohesion, protecting national economic interests, and enhancing the quality of life for the population. Passenger transportation plays a particularly important role in this regard, as it enables population mobility and the rapid movement of the labor force. High-speed rail operations are based on the application of advanced technologies across multiple domains. The implementation of high-speed services requires significant capital investment. The growing demand for high- speed transport has underscored the relevance of studies assessing the feasibility of using existing railway infrastructure for this purpose. Upgrading the existing infrastructure can substantially reduce the cost of designing new high-speed lines, although it necessitates justification of new technical solutions.