HSR Development in Russia Considering the Dynamics of Passenger Traffic and Public Opinion

Abstract

To study the problems and opportunities for implementation of high-speed railway (HSR) projects, as well as to confirm the potential demand for highspeed transportation services, the authors studied public opinion regarding three of the potential HSR lines as well as the experience of foreign countries in implementation of projected passenger traffic, financing of construction of high-speed main lines and assessing their impact on the general economic growth of regions.When conducting the study, the authors used the methods of a questionnaire sociological survey, analysis, comparison, induction.The main results of the study have shown that in development and implementation of expensive highspeed rail projects, it is of particular importance to identify the demand of passengers for high-speed transportation, the general attitude and readiness of the population of countries to use such main lines. The article has studied the dynamics of demand for passenger transportation by branded and non-branded trains on key directions, which made it possible to identify several of them as the most promising for development of high-speed lines. The sociological research carried out by the authors, using the method of questioning in social networks, made it possible to reveal the attitude of the country’s residents towards the most potentially promising for high-speed rail projects directions: Moscow–St. Petersburg, Moscow– Kazan and Moscow–Rostov-on-Don. According to the results of the survey, Russians have a positive attitude to development of high-speed railways in the country, most of the respondents intend to use them when it is necessary to make interurban trips, especially on Moscow–St. Petersburg route.The authors present the external economic effects and risks of development of high-speed railways in Russia. The effects comprise the growth of the population’s transport mobility. The potential risks of developing high-speed rail projects are associated with complexity of ensuring reliable operation of rolling stock and infrastructure of these main lines under difficult climatic conditions in Russia, as well as with high cost of travel for Russians, which negatively affects demand. To overcome the latter risk, it is important to form a positive image of projects by modelling public opinion.