Chinese Train for the Future

The high speed train line between Beijing and Shanghai is about to open.  Travel time will be about 5 hours.  The distance between Beijing and Shanghai is slightly more than the distance between New York and Chicago.

Damn, that looks cool, doesn't it?

Let’s say an hour from midtown Manhattan to LaGuardia or Kennedy.  Sure, it’s less if traffic’s light, but you’d better count on an hour.  Of course, you have to be at the airport an hour or more in advance, to go through all the security foofaraw.  Then your flight is delayed.  Another hour.  Flight to Chicago takes about an hour.  Then another hour to get out of the airport and into downtown Chicago.

Wouldn’t it be nice if you could just stroll on over to Penn Station, 5 minutes before departure, step onto the train, and 5 hours later step out in downtown Chicago?   It would save you a couple of hefty cab fares, too.

Sure, there are negatives.  Many people, in China, have complained about the high cost of the project.  The thing is, that money is now spent and China will now be reaping the profits, for decades to come.

In the U.S., we are not willing or able to spend that money, so no profits, now or decades into the future.  Vicious circle.

The thing is, the project itself would be a stimulus package.  Lots of jobs for contractors, sub-contractors, and builders.  Lots of buyouts for landowners.  Money trickling down.  Economic positive all around.

I must admit, though, that my advocacy for high speed rail is not entirely about economic or environmental (you can argue that one both ways) factors.  I just think trains are cool.  You can walk around a bit and stretch your legs.  Talk to people.  More leg room than on a plane.  Less stress than in a car.  You can meet people on a train.

And, as cool as I think trains are, I think high speed trains are even cooler.

So, good luck, China!  Hope it’s a success.