After multiple corruption investigations and the replacement of the railways minister, China's high-speed railway system may be slowed down for a while. In the last 3 years China has expanded this grandoise $750 billion project by approximately 7, 650km with hopes of reaching 19,000km by 2014. The most recent comparable public-works project was the interstate highway system in the US costing approximately $400 billion to complete.
Plans had been running smoothly until recently when two top railway officials were dismissed for bribery and curruption. With corruption at the forefront in addition to the incredible speed of construction the new railway minister is concerned about the quality of work completed on the current tracks. Due to quality and safety concerns this may push future timetables back. To most citizens of China the high-speed trains have little affect on their daily lives. Though they can reach upwards of 350mph, the fares are so high that demand for bus rides are skyrocketing. In the midst of attempting to blaze a trail for future high-speed transportation and becoming a world leader in that industry, China may have taken a few steps back with these safety and price concerns. Is bigger really that much better?
http://www.economist.com/node/18488554?story_id=18488554
Tommy Walker
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