(via World’s Longest High-Speed Rail Line Opens in China - NYTimes.com)
HONG KONG — China began service Wednesday morning on the world’s longest high-speed rail line, covering a distance in eight hours that is about equal to that from New York to Key West, Florida, or from London across Europe to Belgrade.
Bullet trains traveling 300 kilometers an hour, or 186 miles an hour, began regular service between Beijing and Guangzhou, the main metropolis in southeastern China. Older trains still in service on a parallel rail line take 21 hours; Amtrak trains from New York to Miami, a shorter distance, still take nearly 30 hours.
I really, really wish the United States would get on board with the high speed rail movement. Alas, I fear it would make too much sense so it will never happen.
Hey, I did that NYC to Miami FL trip and while it was better than a bus trip, it was still pretty rough. I could not imagine doing this in eight hours, though. Also, a bus trip like that would cost around $140, I think. The train trip was $175 if I remember correctly. If there were magically some super fast train here in the US I’m sure it’d cost $300.
