High-speed rail in China

The high-speed rail (HSR) network in the People's Republic of China (PRC) is the world's longest and most extensively used – with a total length of 45,000 kilometres (28,000 mi) by the end of 2023. The HSR network encompasses newly built rail lines with a design speed of 200–380 km/h (120–240 mph). China's HSR accounts for two-thirds of the world's total high-speed railway networks. Almost all HSR trains, track and service are owned and operated by the China Railway Corporation under the brand China Railway High-speed (CRH).

For rail transport in China generally, see Rail transport in China. For the high-speed rail service operated by China Railway, see China Railway High-speed (CRH). This article primarily covers high-speed rail in mainland China and Hong Kong SAR. For high-speed rail in the Republic of China (ROC), see Taiwan High Speed Rail.
High-speed rail in China
Chinese designed Fuxing train in Beijing
A CRH2A (based on E2-1000 Series Shinkansen) in Xiamen
A CRH5 train-set in Shahe, Beijing, which is derived from the Alstom ETR600.
Chinese designed China Railways CRH380AL train at Shanghai Hongqiao railway station.
Shanghai Maglev Train connecting the Pudong Airport with the city

High-speed rail developed rapidly in China since the mid-2000s. CRH was introduced in April 2007 and the Beijing-Tianjin intercity rail, which opened in August 2008, was the first passenger dedicated HSR line. Currently, the HSR extends to all provincial-level administrative divisions and Hong Kong SAR, with the exception of Macau SAR. The HSR network reached just under 38,000 km (24,000 mi) in total length by the end of 2020. The HSR building boom continues with the HSR network set to reach 70,000 km (43,000 mi) in 2035.

Notable HSR lines in China include the Beijing–Kunming high-speed railway which at 2,760 km (1,710 mi) is the world's longest HSR line in operation, and the Beijing–Shanghai high-speed railway with the world's fastest operating conventional train services. The Shanghai Maglev is the world's first high-speed commercial magnetic levitation ("maglev") line that reach a top speed of 430 km/h (267 mph). In 2020, China started testing a maglev prototype train that runs at 600 km/h (373 mph) and planned a 2025 launch date.

Economics of the high-speed rail has been a topic of discussion. A 2019 study sponsored by the China's Ministry of Transport and the World Bank office in China estimated the rate of economic return of China's high-speed rail network to be at 8 percent, which is well above the opportunity cost of capital in China for major long term infrastructure investments. The study also noted a range of benefits which included shortened travel times, improved safety and better facilitation of tourism, labor and mobility, as well as reducing highway congestion, accidents and greenhouse emissions as some automobile travellers switch from car use to rail. The institution also found "a broad range of travelers of different income levels choose HSR for its comfort, convenience, safety and punctuality." Research by the Paulson Institute in 2020 has estimated the net profit of the high-speed rail system to be approximately $378 billion, with an annual return on investment of 6.5%.

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