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A comment on China Completes Green Belt Around Taklamakan Desert. Parent comment

Re:China Completes Green Belt Around Taklamakan Desert by Aloisius on Sunday December 08, 2024 @05:35PM (#42361335)
Except for a couple of lines that connect the megacities of Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen, most Chinese HSR lines operate below capacity and at a great loss.

The bulk of the rail built in the last decade was to distant poorer regions who simply aren't willing to pay for faster transit.

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Re:China Completes Green Belt Around Taklamakan Desert by DiogenesKynikos on Sunday December 08, 2024 @06:14PM (#42361572)
If a line is operating at capacity, that's a problem. That's when you start getting overcrowding and delays. Overall utilization rates of Chinese HSR lines are fairly high. Less than 100%. More than 50%.

> to distant poorer regions

Rail is also used as a tool for economic development of such regions. The US built interstate highways across vast stretches of empty land, because the idea was to have a national grid that benefits the entire country.

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