The concept of a high-speed railway between the Indian Ocean and Alaska in the context of the Belt and Road Initiative

Abstract

ABSTRACT This paper reviews the antecedents and future potentials of a transcontinental high-speed railway from the Indian Ocean to the Bering Strait and Alaska. The original ideas date from the 19th century, but have regained relevance in the context of China’s Belt and Road Initiative. Apart from increasing connectivity between Eurasia and America and developing economic complementarities between different parts of the world, a high-speed railway would open prospects for exploiting the agricultural and tourism potential of Siberia, mitigating economic and environmental risks in different regions, and raising standards of living. However, like a century ago, key barriers to the project remain a complicated physical geography, low population density and continuing geopolitical tensions.