Dragon's inclusive growth: total length of China's high-speed railway surpassed 19,000km by 2015

[AndrewJin]

Can someone tell me if it will be feasible to have HSR from karachi to lahore. or is the distance to long for it to be an effective HSR, as i think anything longer then 2/5 or 3 hours of travel will be too long for people to use it.

So would it be better to connect Karachi HSR to south of punjab say Multan and then have a line from Multan to Lahore.


And surely HSR from lahore to RWP and ISB makes alot of sense as it can cut down car journey travel as thats normally the way people travel to lahore.

Personally, I can rest in a comfortable bullet train at most for 10 hours.
Generally speaking, a corridor of at most 1000-1500km is very optimal.

In China's case, the most profitable corridor is Shanghai-Beijing(1300km), last year the ridership is over 100 million.A high-speed railway has numerous stations every 10-50km, so it will have huge impacts on local economy and regional integration.
For different corridors,there are different strategies, i.e., speed, distance between stations, connectivity to urban regions, etc.

I don't know the case in Pakistan. I suggest for corridors longer than 1000km, upgrading old railways to 200km/h-250km/h is better. For high-density regions, a new 500-800km 250-300km/h high-speed railway would be very convenient, every 5-15 minutes a bullet train.
World Bank: A Look at the Impact of China's GuiGuang and NanGuang Rail Lines
2066km Shanghai-Kunming HSR

 

[Sully3]

Hmm so in other words no two Pakistani cities are close enough and make enough money jointly to warrant a HSR.

Lahore to Rawalpindi and Islamabad HSR would be a good place to start off to see if it works. Other then that its probably more beneficial for pakistan to invest in the existing infrastructure

 

[Kwame Brown]

Very impressive.

 

[TaiShang]

China has already contributed 5000 soldiers to the UN peace keeping troops in Africa.Also China's very first overseas marine military base will be in Djibouti. So it shouldn't be surprised if China uses military means to protect its interest in Africa through anti-terror operation. China has the overwhelming support in Africa. For instance, China railway corp is already Kenya's no.1 employer. Daesh should know that if you destroy people's likelihood, people will destroy you. People's war, anyone?

No matter what, I believe China should work within the organizational setting of African Union, UN and others to provide security, and not engaged in unilateral/bilateral security arrangements. That's just too risky and still too early.

At most, China can think of employing local agencies to provide security for the investment and construction work.

 

[Shotgunner51]

Africa is the next frontier for China's HSR. A modernized and industrialized Africa is for the best interest of China. Helping friendly nations like Pakistan,Africa etc to achieve this goal by China would also mean less likelihood China's rivalries are achieving the same goal.

Amazing map! Yes while we are busy with massive HSR building at home, we should definitely devote attention to overseas HSR investment. Africa is one destination of OBOR commercial network, it's a 30 million sqkm continent, billion plus population and full of natural reserves. When conditions are ready, economic indicators hit the right levels, we should upgrade the massive rail to 21st century standard.

 

[Tiqiu]

Amazing map! Yes while we are busy with massive HSR building at home, we should definitely devote attention to overseas HSR investment. Africa is one destination of OBOR commercial network, it's a 30 million sqkm continent, billion plus population and full of natural reserves. When conditions are ready, economic indicators hit the right levels, we should upgrade the massive rail to 21st century standard.

Some Indian posters here are fancying the idea that China cant lose India's market because India is rising and set to be the next super power. They forgot the reality that China's trade with Africa is nearly 4 times of that with India. A richer Africa means more trade. What does richer India mean to China?

African voted China into the UNSC when China was very poor and has been with us politically since. As the world No.1 manufacturer and treasurer, China has the underlying influence or ability to decide which countries have the best foundation and opportunity for industrialization and modernization. If you were Chinese leader, would it be India, Vietnam or would it be Pakistan or Africa?

Last but not least, Imagine one day Africa makes huge advancement in its agriculture and other sectors, people's live have improved and even has HSR, what will their cousin in the US, whose average income is less than one seventh of those of white's, think or react?. First HSR in Africa will give China the moral ground of who is a real leader in the world in terms of development and progress.

 

[AndrewJin]

Some Indian posters here are fancying the idea that China cant lose India's market because India is rising and set to be the next super power. They forgot the reality that China's trade with Africa is nearly 4 times of that with India. A richer Africa means more trade. What does richer India mean to China?

African voted China into the UNSC when China was very poor and has been with us politically since. As the world No.1 manufacturer and treasurer, China has the underlying influence or ability to decide which countries have the best foundation and opportunity for industrialization and modernization. If you were Chinese leader, would it be India, Vietnam or would it be Pakistan or Africa?

Last but not least, Imagine one day Africa makes huge advancement in its agriculture and other sectors, people's live have improved and even has HSR, what will their cousin in the US, whose average income is less than one seventh of those of white's, think or react?. First HSR in Africa will give China the moral ground of who is a real leader in the world in terms of development and progress.

Africa, especially Sub-Sahara Africa is the fastest growing economy now with countless opportunities. China has made the very right decision to develop together with our African brothers and sisters.

 

[Shotgunner51]

Some Indian posters here are fancying the idea that China cant lose India's market because India is rising and set to be the next super power. They forgot the reality that China's trade with Africa is nearly 4 times of that with India. A richer Africa means more trade. What does richer India mean to China?

African voted China into the UNSC when China was very poor and has been with us politically since. As the world No.1 manufacturer and treasurer, China has the underlying influence or ability to decide which countries have the best foundation and opportunity for industrialization and modernization. If you were Chinese leader, would it be India, Vietnam or would it be Pakistan or Africa?

Last but not least, Imagine one day Africa makes huge advancement in its agriculture and other sectors, people's live have improved and even has HSR, what will their cousin in the US, whose average income is less than one seventh of those of white's, think or react?. First HSR in Africa will give China the moral ground of who is a real leader in the world in terms of development and progress.

Well said bro. As @AndrewJin has shown 19,000 km of HSR in China alone is far bigger than rest-of-the-world combined, catering for home market is naturally top priority for our industries.

For overseas markets, when it comes to infrastructure exports & long-term investment (see AIIB), China shall always prioritize markets in OBOR (see Global South).

Vision on the Global South
“Dear President, how can we help your country?” - AIIB

 

[Tiqiu]

Some recent newly-built and undergoing railways by the Chinese in Africa.

Djibouti to Addis Ababa, 781 km, completed in 2015

Lobito to Luau, 1344 km, completed in 2015

Kaduna to Abuja, 186 km, completed in 2014

Mombasa/Lamu to Juba,1300 km,started at 2014

 

[TaiShang]

Imagine one day Africa makes huge advancement in its agriculture and other sectors, people's live have improved and even has HSR, what will their cousin in the US, whose average income is less than one seventh of those of white's, think or react?.

That's a very analytical question. I guess China's developmentalist foreign policy has a strong sense of historical Tianxia, that is harmonious relationship with everything under heavens. It is incredible how this basic elements have been sustained through out the stages of China's dynastic, revolutionary and developmentalist foreign policy.