The Sino-Russian Strategic Partnership starts to get serious!
- Thread starter SampanViking
- Start date
solarz
Brigadier
$230bn is one hell of a symbol. There would have to be an economic case for such a project and, non-specialist as I am, I just don't see it.
However I would note that this isn't coming out of the blue -- we've been hearing of Chinese proposals to make all roads lead to Beijing for a while now:
I love this picture, it shows tremendous vision, something that is sadly lacking in countries where the politicians are only concerned about the next election.
Does it make economic sense currently? Most likely not, but this isn't a plan for the present, it's a plan for the future. The most ambitious of those routes would need years yet, if not decades, to resolve the technological hurdles. What would the world be like then, with its ever-growing population and under the influence of global warming? Who knows, perhaps Siberia would become a popular tourist destination, or perhaps new major population centers would arise due to its rich natural resources.
Remember how long ago when China started to build high speed railway lines it was a seen as a trememdous waste as there were hardly any Chinese with enough money to pay for a ticket. 
Also the lines will pass quite a few towns like Urumqi, with three million inhabitants. When the lines are operating such towns are likely to grow significantly.
Also the lines will pass quite a few towns like Urumqi, with three million inhabitants. When the lines are operating such towns are likely to grow significantly.
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solarz
Brigadier
Remember how long ago when China started to build high speed railway lines it was a seen as a trememdous wast as there were hardly any Chinese with enough money to pay for a ticket.
I laughed at that statement back in the day. They obviously had no clue what they were talking about. I was taking the HSR back in 2008 and saw immediately how much of an improvement it was over regular rail.
The Shanghai South train station had just been built then, and I loved it because there weren't any crowds like the main station. When I went back just a year later, the crowds had moved in.
I would not call Urumqi, the provincial capital of Xinjiang, a "town".
Precisely the point.
High Speed rail for Trans Continental journeys are the future as they electricity the trains use can come from all or any source in any mix, all of which will be vastly cheaper (and increasingly; more available) than aviation fuel.
Neither would I. The four large cities in The Netherlands have between five hundred and eight hundred thousand inhabitants.I would not call Urumqi, the provincial capital of Xinjiang, a "town".
solarz
Brigadier
Commercial air travel has not gotten any faster for the past 40 years. The main limiting factors are fuel price and safety. HSR offers a viable alternative. It is not much slower than planes even over medium distances, when we take into account how much time we spend waiting and getting to and from the airport. In addition, HSR offers a more enjoyable trip and better versatility.
As technology improves, HSR will become even faster.
China is already testing trains that can reach 600 km/h!
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Equation
Lieutenant General
True, but HSR is more in line for passengers. I don't know about cargo and commercial use for it.
wtlh
Junior Member
True, but HSR is more in line for passengers. I don't know about cargo and commercial use for it.
I think the idea for HSR was that it will reduce the amount of passenger services on the normal rail networks, and thus increasing the capacity for cargo services.
antiterror13
Brigadier
I don't think China want SU-35 and submarines ... Chinese fighters and subs are already better than the Russians.
Engine (eg 117) and S-400 may interest China though