A High Speed Train Experience in China

This clip offers a glimpse of the new Chinese high-speed railway system, a true marvel of 21st century travel. It's easy to perhaps think of this as some government boondoggle, a waste of "taxpayer" money, but that would belie the broader message. Such a massive commitment to infrastructure can be seen everywhere across China... in but building of roads, new cityscapes, airports, and bridges.

Things are happening in China at breakneck speeds with both good and bad consequences. I don't understate the problems that I see for China on the horizon, but this is a go-go economy, reminiscent of America nearly 100 years ago. It very much seems to be China's turn to lead. As an American, it fills me with some sadness to observe the situation back home... Reaganites who tell us "America is broke," and extremists who want to strip away all of the progressive values that made America the envy of the world.

So, it's a thrill for me to ride the train, and to work with students who know only hope and optimism about the future. But I wish this scene were happening in America right now. Watching Govs Scott, Walker, and Christie cancel projects in the name of "fiscal responsibility" while giving bigger and bigger tax breaks to the rich and corporations is heartbreaking.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• trains
• china
• china high speed rail
• high speed trains
• wuhan

[FelixMachina]

I love how you joe about trying to get into the cockpit on an American airline and then he just closes the door.

Thought you were gonna get the money shot out the front wind shield.

[zomgtehrei]

Woooh! china is deifinetly on my to do list.

[NintendoTogepi]

Amazing. China (and Japan and Western Europe) is definitely way ahead of us on this.

[PorkChopMissPiggy]

@Rickyrab Last I checked your broke ass was begging us for a loan. Even the uniforms your soldiers wear are paid for courtesy of the credit card of China. Keep on pissing us off and eventually we'll stop leading you guys money. Then all your blacks and hispanics will turn on you and we'll just sit and watch and do nothing to help you.

[jpzhouutube]

@Rickyrab I think the price matter. If I recalled correctly, last year when I took the train to Nanjing, the 2nd class costed me about 170 Yaun while the 1st class costs about 270 Yaun. It took me only about 45 min to get Nanjing, though. I bet for long distance ride, the 1st class cart will be full. You have to understand that this is not a plane, so 2nd class seating is very confortable. The train is very smooth and quiet, though.

[Rickyrab]

@XkaliburJ

And perhaps with much greater energy efficiency per unit of elbow room. Who knows?

But first they need to get the trains fully packed or at least reasonably fully packed. This could be done by making HSR costs less (NOT more) than those of air travel.

[Rickyrab]

@jpzhouutube

hmm. I guess Chinese don't want the expensive level of service of first class just yet.

[Rickyrab]

@XkaliburJ

Seat width on NJ Transit trains ranges from perhaps 16-17 inches to 19 inches, so a five-abreast 18 inch width is not unreasonable. It's also in the vicinity of airline coach seat width.

[Rickyrab]

I can see why China now wants to remove the "luxury seats" from the trains. See how much better occupied coach class is than first?

[skinnyguay]

i guess all this could be happening in usa, if usa would not have gone into wars in other countries instead spend this money in their own country. but alas, usa became greedy of oil resources and more power, did it in the name of saving other countries, bring it down. gotta learn lession, time is still there, respect others and get respect or become a history like uk