China's High Speed Railways continue to expand, pushing west more often lately
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China's high-speed railways now exceed 20,000 km in length with the opening of a line linking Zhengzhou in central China's Henan Province with Xuzhou in eastern Jiangsu Province Saturday.
As of October 2013, high-speed rail was carrying twice as many passengers each month as the country’s airlines & will move >1 billion passengers this year.
The spread of high-speed rail has forced domestic airlines in China to slash airfare (slashing airplane pollution too) & cancel regional flights. The impact of high-speed rail on air travel is most acute for intercity trips under 310 mi.
China is the world leader in HS trains, while the U.S. barely has 1 - the Accela - which is one of the most expensive lines in the world ($152-$180) and whose parent company, Amtrack, has regular financial difficulties.
China's state spending & expertise result in much more efficient mass transit at lower costs.