The Chinese military has a new secret weapon: Lightning-fast trains

[unhappycamper]

http://atimes.com/2015/07/the-chinese-military-has-a-new-secret-weapon-lightning-fast-trains/

The Chinese military has a new secret weapon: Lightning-fast trains
AT Editor on July 6, 2015
(From the Week)
By Robert Beckhusen

On most days, China’s high-speed rail network is for hauling millions — yes, millions — of commuters, vacationers, and tourists around the country.

But on May 14, one section of the growing network served a very different purpose. A People’s Liberation Army brigade from the Lanzhou military region boarded a high-speed train and set off for Xinjiang — 300 miles to the west.

The exercise was a rapid and clever way to move troops around the huge country, something which Beijing is struggling to handle. China has the largest ground army and the longest land border in the world, which abuts 14 nations … more than any other country except Russia.

One of these countries — India — is one of Beijing’s rivals and the two countries have two ongoing border disputes. Myanmar to the south — and Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan to the west — are potentially unstable. Then there’s the border with North Korea.

[liberal N proud]

1. Imagine getting on the train in New York and getting off in Chicago 3 hours later

That trip now takes 12 hours.
You travel through the Pennsylvania mountains and along the shore of Lake Erie, never dealing with the airports and cramped seats on an airplane.

Imagine the next leg, traveling from Chicago to Denver a 14 hour trip taking just over 3 hours.

And the most beautiful part of the trip, from Denver to LA another 14 hour plus drive would take slightly longer due to twist and turns through the Rockies, but still less than 4 hours.

In 10 hours you have traveled and seen the countryside from coast to coast and didn't have to cram your self into a seat designed for tiny people.

Yes you could fly in 6 hours (non-stop), but you sat 2+ hours in New York at the airport and were stressed out boarding and then sitting in that 14 inch wide seat for those 6 hours.


What about the cities in between? feeder trains A train runs from Cleveland to Chicago and Cleveland to New York between the cross country route. Likewise from Kansas City or Saint Louis to Denver and Chicago, Las Vegas, Salt Lake City etc.

Next, think about how many cars would be taken off the road driving across country and what that means for the environment. But I think that is why we will never see High Speed Rail in the US, it would hurt the oil industry.

[CurtEastPoint]

2. Exactly, LNP. Why we don't have this is due to kowtowing to oil/corp interests.

It's not like we don't have the ingenuity and know-how and desire. Damn shame.

[Little Star]

3. k&r