Chinese designed CRH380A train leaving Shanghai's Hongqiao Station by Khalidshou at en.wikipedia via Wikimedia Commons

China just opened a new 2252 km (1400 miles) completely high-speed rail route from Shanghai to Kunming. Trains can cover the entire distance in 11 hours, although a lot of the traffic will begin or end at intermediate points or branch lines.

Chins is showing the world what a country can do if it really wants to have good, comprehensive rail transport. It has already built more than 20,000 km (12,500 miles) of high speed lines, and plans to build another 25,000 km by 2030. Meanwhile, California will be lucky to complete its 400-mile system by that time.

— Ed Perkins, editor

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