China Begins To Extend High Speed Rail Across Asia

MikeChino writes "Last year we learned that China planned to expand its high-speed rail network all the way to Europe and now the nation has launched the first step of the project with plans to extend tracks into northern Laos. The nation has also set goals of expanding the high-speed rail line into Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore."

Comments

Re:China to lose even more money on high-speed rai

[Ichijo]

I believe that the only profitable HSR line in the world is Paris-Lyon.

There are two HSR lines that have paid off all their construction costs, Paris-Lyon and Tokyo-Osaka.

Taiwan's is the only HSR line in the world right now that is falling behind on the loan payment, but it still covers all of its operating costs through fares. Every other HSR line in the world is making positive progress toward paying off the construction costs.

So what this all boils down to is, what is your definition of "profitable"? I've given three possible definitions from which you may choose.