Hybrid Living

China's economic stimulus package contains provisions for a $300 billion high-speed rail project that makes California's $10 billion high-speed rail plan look down-right wimpy.  The country plans to have 16,000 miles of new track in place by 2020!

The first phase will see five major routes constructed with trains traveling up to 217 - 236 mph.  The trains from Beijing to Shanghai will travel at top speeds of 220 mph, making the trip in four hours.  Then, by 2012, 6,800 miles of track will be added, including 35 lines where trains travel 125 mph or more, and 4,350 more miles will be added by 2020.

Even more intense is the amount of people who will be employed by this massive project.  Construction of the Beijing to Shanghai phase alone has already seen the employment of 110,000 people.

There's no denying there's a sort of rail boom going on in China.  Rail travel has seen a 10.9 percent increase in ridership  since 2007 and the country spent $44 billion on rail projects last year alone.  I can't help but think we need to catch some of their ambition.

via Treehugger