China hasn't shown that their railroad buildout will work. My understanding is they currently aren't making enough return to payoff debt, yet alone plan for future maintenance. Historically the command economy type stuff looks great in the early years, it's later on we see if that is reality.

You are comparing USA today to the robber baron phase, whose to say China isn't in the same phase? Lots of money being thrown at new railroads and you have Chinese leaders and best and management leaders chasing that money. When happens when it goes low budget/maintenance mode?