China's incredible high-speed rail system

[IronLionZion]

http://money.cnn.com/gallery/news/2014/07/08/china-high-speed-rail/index.html

In the six years since China opened its first high-speed rail line, the country's network has grown to 6,800 miles of dedicated track -- making it by far the world's largest system.

The scale of the project is simply massive, but it has also produced hundreds of billions of dollars in debt, a deadly accident and allegations of corruption.

The extensive network connects just about every major city in eastern China -- from Harbin in the north to Shenzhen, near the border with Hong Kong.

Trains cover the 820 miles between China's two largest cities -- Shanghai to Beijing -- in just five hours. Since the line opened in 2011, more than 220 million passengers have traveled the route.

If 6,800 miles of high speed track isn't impressive, just wait for China's next trick.

Beijing plans to double the network's size in a few years, including a line connecting central China with the restive Xinjiang region in the far west.

While the economic benefits of the link are questionable, the new line will cut travel time between Lanzhou and Urumqi to eight hours from 21 hours.

This is a slide show with pics. Sounds like an impressive project. Americans don't deserve nice things like this apparently.

[PoliticAverse]

1. We have an extensive network of air traffic that goes faster. n/t

[IronLionZion]

2. oooh...

Trains are taking market share from air often because of lower prices or because of preferences in many parts of the world.

I know quite a few folks in the NE US who prefer trains because they don't like to be groped by the TSA. Also many train stations are right in city centers while airports are far outside, so they can also save on cab fare depending on where they are going.

[nxylas]

4. And this in a country that was still using steam trains 20 years ago

Maybe less than that, I'm not sure.

[IronLionZion]

5. There are still steam engine trains in some areas nt