This article has provided an introduction to the generating process, definition, main types and critical technical and economic advantages of high speed railway, as well as the current situation and development trend of high speed railway in the world, and expounded that the high speed railway embodys high and latest techniques, e. g. the track of high speed railway is the foundation of high speed operation, high speed train is the heart of high speed operation, train performance control system is the main center of high speed operation ,safety monitoring system is the guarantee of high speed operation.