Infographic: Comparing high-speed rail fares

The Times examined fares on different high-speed rail systems around the world. It found that California’s estimated average fare of $86, about 20 cents per mile, would rank among the lowest in the world, based on tickets purchased a week in advance. Here is a sample of what The Times found about their approximate fares on a per-mile basis:

U.S. (proposed)

L.A. to S.F.

united states

San

Francisco

438 miles

.20

Los Angeles

Italy

Milan to Salerno

Milan

434 miles

italy

.25

Salerno

Japan

Tokyo to Osaka

japan

320

miles

.37

Tokyo

Osaka

Spain

Madrid to Barcelona

spain

Barcelona

386

miles

Madrid

.40

France

Paris to Marseille

Paris

france

411

miles

.32

Marseille

U.S.

Boston to Washington, D.C.

united states

Boston

454 miles

.50

Washington, D.C.

Note: Distance in track miles. Fares are an average for a single weekday over various times of the day in April for a one-week advance purchase ticket. The fares are weighted to reflect the different classes of service on each system. Boston to Washington, D.C. route on Acela.
Sources: California High-Speed Rail Authority, Japan Central Railway, Italo, Trenitalia, Ave, SNCF, TGV, Amtrak Acela Express, Raileurope.com, Mapbox, OpenStreetMap. Graphics reporting by Ralph Vartabedian, Dan Weikel