METRO Magazine Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Report: Market value of high-speed rail to hit $907 billion

The move for high-speed rail in the U.S. will create or save tens of thousands of jobs in areas like track-laying, manufacturing, planning and engineering, and rail maintenance and operations, according to the study.

March 1, 2011
2 min to read


The successful installation of a fast moving transportation system is beneficial on two levels. First, it would decrease the nation's reliance on depleting fossil fuels and secondly, high-speed rail would stimulate local economies and drive growth across the U.S., according to SBI Energy's new industry study, "High Speed Rail Infrastructure Component Manufacturing."

The study also reports that the accumulated market value of global high-speed rail manufacturing sectors was $244 billion from 2005 to 2009 and will grow to reach $907 billion between 2010 and 2015.

Ad Loading...

Nations around the globe are increasing their roll out of high-speed rail initiatives during 2010, making them an integral part of the overall transportation infrastructure. Several countries in Europe, for example, currently lacking a high-speed rail system have made commitments to begin construction by the end of the year.

In Asia, a multitude of development projects are underway with anticipated completion dates between 2015 and 2020 and, of the 17,000 miles of planned high-speed rail track implementations worldwide, nearly 10,000 miles are allocated for Asia, SBI Energy reports.

The move for high-speed rail in the U.S. will create or save tens of thousands of jobs in areas like track-laying, manufacturing, planning and engineering, and rail maintenance and operations, according to the study. Over 30 rail manufacturers, both domestic and foreign, have agreed to establish or expand their base of operations in the U.S. if they are hired to build the country's next generation high-speed rail lines — a commitment the Obama Administration secured to help ensure new jobs are created in the U.S.

This SBI Energy report analyzes the market opportunities that global high-speed rail manufacturers are eager to embrace through the next decade, examines the critical trends driving high-speed rail growth by region and forecasts the value of this growth by each of the manufactured components, and the socioeconomic and consumer-based trends affecting the industry.

For more, click here.

More Rail

A view looking down the rail across the new Portal North Bridge.
Railby Staff and News ReportsMarch 13, 2026

NJ Transit, Amtrak Prepare to Open First Track on New Portal North Bridge

The new bridge will begin carrying passenger trains on March 16, replacing a 116-year-old swing bridge that has long caused delays.

Read More →
Caltrain trains on tracks
Railby StaffMarch 6, 2026

Caltrain Adopts Corridor-Wide Right-of-Way Safety Strategy

Caltrain and its partners have implemented safety improvements at specific locations in response to known risk conditions, operational needs, and available funding since the agency’s founding.

Read More →
A photo of rail tracks in Ottawa, Canada

Building a National Framework for Transit Safety and Consistency

On a recent episode of METROspectives, METRO Magazine’s Executive Editor Alex Roman sat down with Ana-Maria Tomlinson, Director of Strategic & Cross-Sector Programs at the CSA Group, to explore a bold initiative aimed at addressing those challenges: the development of a National Code for Transit and Passenger Rail Systems in Canada.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Stairs in a New York rail station with text reading "USDOT Invests $686 Million to Modernize Aging Rail Stations."
Railby StaffMarch 2, 2026

FTA Invests $686M to Modernize Aging Rail Stations

Competitive FTA grants will support accessibility upgrades, family-friendly improvements, and cost-efficient capital projects at some of the nation’s oldest and busiest transit hubs.

Read More →
A purple MBTA train at a Mansfield Station platform.
Railby StaffFebruary 27, 2026

MBTA Updates Rail Modernization Plan to Expand Reliability and Accessibility

The strategy outlines near- and long-term upgrades to ease congestion, support housing growth, and advance statewide climate goals.

Read More →
LA Metro underground station with vehicle
Railby StaffFebruary 27, 2026

LA Metro Sets D Line Subway Extension Launch Date

The 3.92-mile addition will soon take riders west beyond its current Wilshire and Western station in Koreatown, continuing under Wilshire Boulevard through neighborhoods and communities including Hancock Park, Windsor Square, the Fairfax District, and Carthay Circle into Beverly Hills.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
MBTA railcars
Railby StaffFebruary 26, 2026

Boston's MBTA Marks Progress in Regional Rail Modernization

The procurement advances the agency's broader efforts to modernize its rail fleet and position Regional Rail for long-term improvement.

Read More →
An Amtrak Acela
Railby StaffFebruary 26, 2026

Amtrak Sets New Course for Long-Distance Fleet Renewal

Under the plan, all long-distance routes will transition to a universal single-level fleet, replacing today’s mix of bi-level and single-level equipment.

Read More →
A TriMet MAX Light Rail vehicle overhead shot
Railby StaffFebruary 24, 2026

STV Finalizes Design for First Phase of TriMet MAX Blue Line Substation Upgrades

The milestone is a significant step toward modernizing the MAX Blue Line’s power infrastructure, one of the oldest components of the region’s light rail system.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
HDR rendering of LA to Coachella Valley Rail Project
Railby StaffFebruary 20, 2026

HDR Selected to Advance LA–Coachella Valley Rail Corridor Project

The firm will lead the Tier 2 environmental review program for the Coachella Valley Rail Corridor, including the conceptual and preliminary engineering needed to develop project-level environmental clearance.

Read More →