>>1428186My point is that using conventional rolling stock at 160-200 km/h is more flexible and economical than bullet trains at 250-300 km/h but not much slower as you can't always run that kind of speed due to stations or sharp bends.
You can still market it as an express train, but only pay for conventional rolling stock.
If you need longer trains, you can just add cars.
If one car needs maintainance, you can just swap it.
If a loco needs maintainance you can swap it as well.
DB Regional-Express trains for example usualy have topspeeds of 160-200 km/h and cost far less than the faster ICE bullet trains.
That's why the RRX-project is based on pretty conventional trains running at 160 km/h as a new backbone of the rhineland area passenger rail network.
