Fast Track

Awesome machines. Incredible engineering. The story of high speed rail is one of of politics, international rivalry, success and failure. It is a truly global race toward innovation, from competitions between rival rail companies during the golden age of steam in the UK, to the legendary Japanese bullet train (built for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics), and from the French TGV through to China’s increasing dominance in the field. Yet astonishingly, in over sixty years of cutthroat competition there has never been a high speed rail fatality. " High priest of railway studies" Christian Wolmar brings the story of high speed rail to life like none else can.