The world's longest high-speed rail networks

[Kailash Kumar]

The World's Longest High-Speed Rail Networks

Aug 18, 2020

https://www.statista.com/chart/17093/miles-of-high-speed-rail-track-in-operation-by-country/

 

[DrasticMeasure]

Its a poor investment. Rail transportation has been proven to decline year after year as countries become more developed. I am interested in seeing how many Chinese Travel by Air vs Rail after 2030.

 

[nang2]

Its a poor investment. Rail transportation has been proven to decline year after year as countries become more developed. I am interested in seeing how many Chinese Travel by Air vs Rail after 2030.

Any evidence?

 

[beijingwalker]

Its a poor investment. Rail transportation has been proven to decline year after year as countries become more developed. I am interested in seeing how many Chinese Travel by Air vs Rail after 2030.

If you never tried how fast, economical and convenient this network works, you really don't know what you are talking about.
Even sometimes air fare is cheaper than HSR, I still prefers the latter. Bullet trains are much more comfortable.

 

[beijingwalker]

 

[Arulmozhi Varman]

If you never tried how fast, economical and convenient this network works, you really don't know what you are talking about.
Even sometimes air fare is cheaper than HSR, I still prefers the latter. Bullet trains are much more comfortable.

Then why China hasn't made an profit on HSR even nearly 15+ years except on one route which started turning profit recently?

HSR are good for short routes for destination less than 500Km. Air is better on longer route. A reason I am against long distance HSR planning in India.

 

[DrasticMeasure]

If you never tried how fast, economical and convenient this network works, you really don't know what you are talking about.
Even sometimes air fare is cheaper than HSR, I still prefers the latter. Bullet trains are much more comfortable.

lol You really think that just because you find it more comfortable. Airfare is becoming cheaper with every passing year. Developed countries are ditching railways and adopting airways. What makes you think China will be different ?

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

The reason is because unlike China we are a developed country. To build a straight rail system would require us to eminent domain 100's of $Billions (if not > $trillion) worth of developed property...not farmland. The need isn't justifying the expense. Nobody is shouting about any need.

You know how much farmland there is along the crooked 200 mile HSR between Boston and New York...almost zero. Buy the land to straighten it...insane expense.


https://www.washingtonpost.com/opin...nited-states-will-never-have-high-speed-rail/

 

[大汉奸柳传志]

The reason is because unlike China we are a developed country. To build a straight rail system would require us to eminent domain 100's of $Billions (if not > $trillion) worth of developed property...not farmland. The need isn't justifying the expense. Nobody is shouting about any need.

You know how much farmland there is along the crooked 200 mile HSR between Boston and New York...almost zero. Buy the land to straighten it...insane expense.


https://www.washingtonpost.com/opin...nited-states-will-never-have-high-speed-rail/

You guys can make room for rail by getting rid of those 8-lane interstates that cut through the middle of a city, which by the way was a terrible idea. you don't see highways dividing a city in half in any other part of the world.

https://nextcity.org/daily/entry/cities-without-highways

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

You guys can make room for rail by getting rid of those 8-lane interstates that cut through the middle of a city, which by the way was a terrible idea. you don't see highways dividing a city in half in any other part of the world.

https://nextcity.org/daily/entry/cities-without-highways

That's not going to help with the straight part.

 

[bolo]

The reason is because unlike China we are a developed country. To build a straight rail system would require us to eminent domain 100's of $Billions (if not > $trillion) worth of developed property...not farmland. The need isn't justifying the expense. Nobody is shouting about any need.

You know how much farmland there is along the crooked 200 mile HSR between Boston and New York...almost zero. Buy the land to straighten it...insane expense.


https://www.washingtonpost.com/opin...nited-states-will-never-have-high-speed-rail/

You forgot to mention owning and driving cars is part of American culture, not public transportation.

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

You forgot to mention owning and driving cars is part of American culture, not public transportation.

What were most people doing before 1908...

Answer: taking public transportation.

 

[bolo]

What were most people doing before 1908...

Answer: taking public transportation.

After 1910 when Henry Ford made cars affordable for most Americans, the car culture began.

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

After 1910 when Henry Ford made cars affordable for most Americans, the car culture began.

Plus ~500 commercial flight airports out of a total of ~20,000.

Last figure I heard is 87% of the US has been on a plane at least once in their lives.

 

[beijingwalker]

lol You really think that just because you find it more comfortable. Airfare is becoming cheaper with every passing year. Developed countries are ditching railways and adopting airways. What makes you think China will be different ?

Air fare is also very cheap in China, sometimes cheaper than HSR, but people still take bullet trains than flying, people like to have alternatives for different purposes.
For me, I like to enjoy the view on the way and it's part of my traveling experience, flying requires more waiting time in the airports and sometimes flights can be delayed, it can be an annoyance.