Latest news with #ChinaRailway
NHK
18-07-2025
- Business
- NHK
China looks to reduce its dependence on the US
From soybeans to the China Railway Express: how Beijing is working to make the Chinese economy less reliant on the United States.
India.com
14-07-2025
- Business
- India.com
China's Shiny Bullet Trains Are Drowning in Debt—Here's How India Can Dodge the Same Disaster!
New Delhi: With debt now close to USD 1 trillion USD, China's bullet train network is the biggest in the world, but it's also a financial nightmare. The total liabilities of China Railway as of the end of 2024 were 6.2 trillion yuan, or roughly USD 890 billion, or almost 5 percent of China's GDP, and they continue to grow. With many high-speed lines losing money and finding it difficult to draw enough passengers, particularly on routes in less populated areas, experts warn that this is becoming a "trillion dollar disaster." What's wrong with this? China borrowed a lot of money to construct its high-speed rail (HSR) network, frequently putting pride in the country and speed ahead of real demand. The revenue generated by ticket sales on many bullet train routes is insufficient to pay for operating expenses, let alone the repayment of the enormous loans. Rising debt, underutilised trains, and squandered funds that could have been used for other public purposes were the outcomes. Only a few major routes (such as Beijing-Shanghai) are profitable, and many lines are still unprofitable despite fare increases and cost-cutting measures. What India Can Learn India is constructing its own bullet train projects, such as the line between Mumbai and Ahmedabad. India can stay out of China's debt trap by doing the following: Only construct where there is a high demand: Pay attention to routes that see a lot of daily traffic, not just for political or show purposes. Employ wise, affordable financing: Japan provided a long-term, low-interest loan to finance India's main bullet train, which makes repayments simpler and less hazardous than China's high-interest borrowing. Be mindful of currency risks: Given that the loan from India is in yen, a declining rupeWatch out for currency risks: Since India's loan is in yen, a weaker rupee could make repayments more expensive in the future. Careful planning and hedging are needed. Make trains locally: Building trains in India saves money, creates jobs, and reduces reliance on imports. Expand slowly and carefully: Start with one successful line, see how it works, and only then build more. Don't rush into a nationwide network. Let private companies share the risk: Public-private partnerships can help make sure projects are run efficiently and don't become a burden on taxpayers. Do a proper cost-benefit check: Every new project should be studied to make sure it's really needed and will be used enough to pay for itself. China's bullet train boom is turning into a trillion-dollar debt disaster, with many lines running empty and unable to pay off their loans. India can avoid this fate by building carefully, borrowing wisely, and always asking: 'Will this line really pay for itself?' That's the only way to enjoy fast trains without drowning in debt.
South China Morning Post
14-07-2025
- Automotive
- South China Morning Post
China unveils maglev marvel, redefining the future of high-speed rail transport
For more on this story: A Chinese-built maglev train that will be the nation's fastest-ever ground transport vehicle made its public debut in Beijing on July 10, 2025. The train, which can reach speeds of 600km/h (373mph), was developed by the China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC). The train features a sleek, aerodynamic shape with a pointed nose to reduce drag from the air as it moves.
South China Morning Post
11-07-2025
- Automotive
- South China Morning Post
Buckle up: China unveils maglev marvel, redefining the future of high-speed rail
A Chinese-built maglev train that will be the nation's fastest-ever ground transport vehicle has made its public debut in Beijing – an ambitious project that is expected to drastically reduce travel times and cement China's reputation as a world leader in high-speed rail networks. Advertisement The train – which can reach speeds of 600km/h (373mph) – was unveiled this week at the 17th Modern Railways exhibition, offering a futuristic glimpse of China's rail transport aspirations. Developed by the China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC), the train features a sleek, aerodynamic shape with a pointed nose to reduce drag from air moving past. Video from CCTV showed a large video screen inside a futuristic interior. Inside the maglev train that will be the nation's fastest-ever ground transport vehicle. Photo: Handout Representatives said that the first phase of engineering was completed in July 2024. More route and safety tests and engineering viability assessments will be carried out before the train can be put into commercial service. The train will serve as a 'point-to-point transport tool' between major cities as an addition to the existing railway network, according to a report in the Shanghai-based The Paper. 01:48 China launches first cross-sea high-speed rail line near Taiwan Strait China launches first cross-sea high-speed rail line near Taiwan Strait For example, with a top speed of 600km/h, a superfast maglev travelling the 1,200km distance between Beijing and Shanghai could slash the current travel time of 5½ hours by high-speed rail to as little as 2½ hours. Advertisement Senior CRRC engineer Shao Nan told The Paper that they expect to 'fill the speed gap between high-speed rail and aviation within 2,000km', combining the punctuality and safety of rail transport with the speed of air travel.
South China Morning Post
08-07-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Brazil and China to study South American transcontinental railway project
Brazil and China agreed on Monday to study the feasibility of a transcontinental railway that could reshape South America's trade routes by connecting Brazil's Atlantic Ocean coast to Peru's Pacific Ocean port of Chancay. Advertisement The memorandum of understanding was signed between Infra S.A., the Brazilian state-owned company linked to the Ministry of Transport, and the China Railway Economic and Planning Research Institute, part of China State Railway Group. The plan outlines a railway of about 4,500 kilometres (roughly 2,800 miles), running from Ilhéus in the northern Brazilian state of Bahia to Rio Branco in the northwestern state of Acre, before crossing the Andes towards the Peruvian coast. Some estimates put the cost of proposed project at upwards of US$70 billion. If built, the corridor could shorten shipping times to Asia by as much as 12 days compared with current Atlantic routes that pass through the Panama Canal. For now, however, the agreement is only for technical, environmental and economic studies, expected to last for up to five years. Advertisement
