1950s: JNR begins electrifying & double tracking main lines, starts using EMU and DMU trains for long-distance trains
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1970s: Quadruple-tracks main Tokyo commuter lines, builds second HSR
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1980s: Builds even more HSR but political cowardice finally catches up in the form of soaring debt -> breakup and privatization
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So, where did the debt come from? All sorts of things--but tipping point was decision to build rural lines. Cost control died there.
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Once it became clear that profitability wasn't a priority, costs began inflating rapidly on all sorts of projects, fares froze, etc
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The Tokaido Shinkansen was built as cheaply as possible without risking safety: $5m per km. Subsequent HSR ballooned in cost...
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Sanyo phase 1: $11m/km Sanyo phase 2: $15m/km Tohoku: $45m/km Joetsu: $50m/km
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This in spite of the fact that all other HSR corridors aren't nearly as busy as the Tokaido! But hey, when money's no object...
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(“Unviable” is already a political term; no society w/o politics)
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I mean financially--lines that won't even pay their cost to operate, let alone to build
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I need to read the rest of yr thread, but viability and financial always need context, which in terms of utilities like transit => politics
End of conversation
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Wow, that's basically the opposite of what happened in rural areas in the UK where they closed lines :O
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