Chinese trains vary in speed and class of service. To designate each train, a Latin letter is used (for example: D, T, K, C, Z) followed by the train number or, less commonly, just the train number.

If you are planning to travel around China by train, then the following information about the category of trains and types of cars in China will be useful to you. Below we will talk about each type of train in detail. And for any question that arises - write to our consultants tourism, they will be happy to help.

High speed trains: G, D, C

If the train number contains the letter G, D or C, then we are talking about high-speed trains. These types of Chinese passenger trains are some of the the fastest and most comfortable in the world. All high-speed trains in China are air-conditioned and smoking is prohibited on the train.

free boiling water. Types G, D and C trains have a dining car that serves Chinese cuisine .

Above the passenger seats there are luggage racks. You can leave large suitcases in the compartment between the carriages. Each carriage is equipped with electrical outlets.

wash basin. On high-speed trains there are 2 types of toilets: Western style (with a toilet) and floor-standing. We recommend preparing your own toilet paper.

Fuxinghao - The newest type of high-speed train

The newest fuxinghao high-speed trains were launched in China on June 26, 2017. They are faster, safer and more convenient than previous hexiehao-type high-speed trains.

What's special about fuxinghao trains?

Types of carriages in high-speed trains

There are 4 classes of service on high-speed trains in China: 2nd class, 1st class, premium and business. All seats are installed exclusively in the direction of travel of the train. Category D overnight high-speed trains have both compartment and luxury compartment cars available. Use our website to find train tickets in China .

2nd class carriages (二等座)

2nd class cars are the most economical on Chinese high-speed trains, but quite comfortable. The seats are arranged in 2 rows (3 + 2). There is not much space between the rows. Smoking is prohibited in the carriage.

1st class carriages (一等座)

1st class carriages are more comfortable, they more space. The seats are wider and more comfortable, arranged in 2 rows (2 + 2). The fare here is higher than in 2nd class carriages. Smoking is prohibited in the carriage.

Premium class carriages (特等座)

In premium class carriages, the seats are arranged in 2 rows (2 + 1), with only three seats in each row. It is quieter here, the boundaries of personal space are not violated, a glass door separates the carriage from extraneous noise. The cost of travel in a premium class carriage is higher than in a 1st class carriage, but lower than in business class.

1st and 2nd class carriages are in most cases standard, regardless of the train. But the carriages are premium different on every train. Even railway station employees will not be able to say for sure which trains have standard premium class cars, that is, with three seats (2 + 1) in one row. Therefore, we advise you to travel business class: the cost of the trip is almost the same and comfort is guaranteed.

Business class carriages (商务座)

Business class carriages are the most luxurious and are available only on category G trains. The seats here are wider, arranged in 2 rows (2 + 1), with only three seats in each row. There is a distance of 2 meters between rows. All seats recline and can take a horizontal position.

There are only two seats in the first row of a business class carriage (1 + 1), they are located immediately behind the cabin. This best places for those who are interested in observing the scenery on the road: this offers a view from the cabin itself. But note that these seats are not as close to the window and have less legroom than other business class seats.

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New style compartment cars (动卧)

The main difference between the new type of compartment cars of Chinese trains is that the sleeping places are located parallel to the aisle. Compartments with two shelves in 2 tiers are located on both sides of the aisle.

There is no luggage rack at the top of the compartment. You can stow your luggage in a special compartment under the bottom bunk. In this type of Chinese trains no seating available. Passengers traveling in the upper bunks can either lie down or sit in their seats, or stand in the aisle.

Note: In China, in night trains of category D you can find 2 types of compartment cars: regular (4 shelves in 2 tiers in each compartment) and new type compartment cars (where the berths are located parallel to the aisle). In some cases, in 1 night train of category D there are both types of compartment cars. But there are trains that have only 1 type of compartment: either regular or a new type. Unfortunately, even after tickets have been purchased, it is impossible to know what type of compartment car will be on your train. It all depends on the Chinese Railway.

Coupe cars (软卧)

China's overnight high-speed trains do not have reserved seats, only compartment cars with a locking door. Seats in a compartment on such trains are not cheap; sometimes it is more profitable to purchase a plane ticket, especially during periods when air tickets are on sale. Below you will find detailed description compartment cars in Chinese trains.

Characteristics: high speed train compartment cars in China comfortable and equipped with everything necessary.

The berth is wide and the backrest is adjustable for more comfortable rest: You can sit down to read or chat. Each shelf is equipped with an LCD TV, as well as headphones and a bedside lamp. In addition, passengers can adjust the air temperature in the compartment.

Toilets on high-speed trains are cleaner than on regular trains. There are 2 types of toilets: Western style (with toilet) and floor standing. If you need assistance, press the call button inside the toilet.

Luxury coupe (高级软卧)

The luxury coupe has a door lock. Inside each compartment there are two shelves (lower + upper). Passengers are provided with a sofa with pillows, a wardrobe and slippers. At the end of the carriage there is a toilet and washbasin. Toilet paper is usually available, but we recommend bringing your own toilet paper just in case.

Luxury compartments are not available on all high-speed trains, for example, such cars are available on the route Chengdu - Shanghai, Chongqing - Beijing, etc. Tickets for luxury compartments are quite expensive.

Regular trains – Z, T, K and where only numbers are indicated

Regular trains in China take longer to travel than high-speed trains; unfortunately, they are not so well equipped and the journey will not be as comfortable. But the cost of the trip is much lower than in more modern types trains G, D or C. This type of train is usually blue, white or Green colour. Most trains are equipped with air conditioning.

At the end of each carriage you will find free boiling water. The trains also have a dining car where meals are served Chinese cuisine .

You can put things away in luggage compartment the top of the compartment or in a special compartment under the lower bunk.

At the end of each carriage is located wash basin. On regular trains, only a floor toilet is available. Always take toilet paper with you, as this type of train does not provide it.

Smoking is prohibited in the carriages themselves, but is permitted in the corridors between carriages. However, the smell of cigarette smoke can often be felt even in the middle of the carriage. It happens that passengers smoke in their seats, despite the sign prohibiting smoking.

Seating on regular trains in China

Hard chairs (硬座)

Upholstered armchairs (软座)

Seated carriages with soft seats are more comfortable; the cost of travel in this carriage is slightly higher. There are usually not as many passengers here as in seated carriages with hard seats. This type of carriage is suitable for a trip of no more than 5 hours.

Reserved seat (硬卧)

A reserved seat car in China is an open type car, divided into compartments on one side of the aisle. Each compartment has 6 shelves in 3 tiers (lower, middle and upper). Each passenger is provided with a pillow, sheet and blanket. IN daytime happens in carriages quite noisy, it usually becomes quieter after 21:30–22:00, when the lights in the carriage turn off.

Tall passengers are not recommended to purchase tickets for the middle or top berth; the space here is small and will be uncomfortable. You will be more comfortable on the bottom shelf. But keep in mind that during the day, passengers with seats on the upper and middle bunks will be seated below, on the lower bunk.

Compartments on China's regular trains (软卧)

The compartment cars of a regular Chinese train are divided into compartments with a closing door. In each compartment there are 4 sleeping places arranged in 2 tiers. Passengers are provided with a pillow, bedding and a personal reading light. The shelves here are wider and more convenient than in a reserved seat carriage. The compartments on China's regular trains are no different from those on a Category D high-speed train.

Luxury compartments on regular trains in China (高级软卧)

Luxury compartments are the most luxurious carriages on night trains. Each lockable compartment has two sleeping places and a separate toilet. This type of carriage is ideal for those traveling as a couple, for whom an atmosphere of safety and privacy is important.

Luxury compartments are available on both regular and high-speed trains in China, but the latter offer greater comfort.

Special types of train tickets in China

Ticket without a seat (无座)

In China, there is also a type of train ticket called a ticket without a seat. It is available for sale in some hard-seat carriages and in some 2nd class carriages on high-speed trains.

With a ticket without a seat, you can get to the desired station while standing, without taking up a separate seat. The price will be the same as for a ticket with a seat. We recommend considering this type of travel only as a last resort, for short distances and if all tickets are sold out.

Some destinations are very popular, especially during the period China's national holidays or during school holidays. Train tickets sell out quickly, and in this case, a ticket without a seat becomes the only way to get to your desired destination. We strongly recommend purchasing train tickets in advance during these periods.

Child ticket

• Children under 120 cm tall and under 12 years of age can travel by train for free without occupying a separate seat. If you need a separate seat, you need to purchase a child ticket. One adult can accompany one child free of charge. If 2 or more children under 120 cm tall and under 12 years of age are traveling, only 1 child can travel free of charge. Others must purchase a child ticket.
• Children between 120 and 150 cm tall and under 12 years of age must purchase a child ticket. The cost of a child's ticket in a seated carriage is half the full fare, in a compartment carriage and reserved seat - 75% of the full fare. In this case, the child is assigned a separate seat.
• Children taller than 150 cm must pay the full cost of the train ticket.
• Children 12 years and older must pay the full price of the train ticket.

In addition to useful articles about traveling in China, on our website you will find a convenient system
search for train tickets in China in Russian.

We all sometimes travel by rail and know that this method travel cannot be called the fastest. And really, what speed can a regular passenger or even fast train reach? 60, 70, 90 km? Agree, this is not that much even compared to a car. Of course, there are also high-speed trains in our country, such as those that reach speeds of up to 250 km/h, but in Russia this is still rather rare. But the time is probably not far off when high-speed trains, which have long been cutting through the expanses of Europe, China, Korea, and Japan, will appear here too. In the meantime, let's find out which countries have the fastest trains in the world.

First place - Japan

Of course, in first place is the Land of the Rising Sun with its high technology and impeccable quality of technology and electronics. The first express trains of the Shinkansen line were launched in Japan back in 1964, they moved at a speed of 210 km/h. In 2003, the Shinkansen train set an absolute and still valid record: 581 km/h on a magnetic suspension. The operating speed of these trains is 320–330 km/h. The Shinkansen series express trains are not only the fastest in the world, they are also very beautiful: the streamlined silver-green trains are not called “bullets” for nothing. In addition, Shinkansen is recognized as one of the most safe species railway transport: during the entire time since the launch of the first train, not a single “bullet” was involved in a serious accident.

The cost of traveling on the Shinkansen Express is quite high. For example, tickets from Tokyo to Osaka (distance - 560 km, travel time - just over two hours) will cost, depending on the class of carriage, from 130 to 150 dollars.

Second place - France

Europe is practically not inferior to Japan in the design of high-speed trains and even sets its own records. Thus, the French express trains of the TGV line easily reach speeds of 320 km/h, and in 2007 the POS train of the same series accelerated to 575 kilometers per hour on conventional rails.

Third place - China

In 2004, China put into operation a high-speed magnetic levitation train, whose maximum speed today it is 431 km/h. The express travels from the city center to the airport in seven minutes, covering a thirty-kilometer distance. An interesting fact is that the Shanghai Maglev Train (as the express is called) was designed not by the Chinese, but by the Germans.

Fourth place - China

Also in fourth position are Chinese trains designed and constructed by the country's largest railway concern - CSR Qingdao Sifang Locomotive and Rolling Stock Company. The maximum operating speed of the CRH380A express is 380 kilometers per hour, it runs daily on the routes Shanghai - Hangzhou, Wuhan - Guangzhou.

Fifth place - Spain

The top five highest-speed trains in the world are completed by the express trains of the Spanish railway operator AVE. The Spaniards very successfully came up with a name for the company: AVE - an abbreviation for Alta Velocidad Española - in Spanish means “bird”, which, you see, is perfect for a concern that produces high-speed trains. The speed of the company's fastest express train, the Talgo-350, running on the Madrid-Barcelona and Madrid-Valladolid routes, reaches 330 km/h.

High-speed trains in Russia

In Russia, trains reaching speeds of more than 140 km/h are considered high-speed, and those over 200 km/h are considered high-speed. The first Soviet high-speed train, the Aurora, began running in 1963 between Moscow and Leningrad, its speed reaching 160 km/h. Today, the Russian government is investing considerable funds in the development of high-speed transport throughout the Eastern European part of the country. The Sapsan, Allegro, and Lastochka trains are already running on the most popular routes, and at the end of 2014 it is planned to put into operation a high-speed express on the Moscow-Kyiv route.

When it comes to high-speed travel, Asia seems to be the region of the future. Compared to the slow-rumbling automotive dystopia of the US, the Asia-Pacific region is a booming wonderland. And who can be called the Usain Bolt of this numerous race? Of course, China, because you can move very quickly there.

From the very beginning of the 21st century, China began to build a high-speed route. And build. And build. Fast forward to 2017 and the country is surrounded by a network of high-speed trains, whisking millions of passengers over distances we would normally consider impossible. Japan may have started the boom in high-speed locomotive construction in Asia, but China has made it its own. And like everything made in China, they made it bigger, more amazing and crazier than others.

10. They are really, really fast.

First of all, you should know that high-speed rail service in China is very fast. How much? To be clear, if you decide to build a high-speed line straight up, a high-speed train from Beijing to the moon will take less than 60 seconds.

Okay, that's a lie. But it has a serious goal: to show how fast Chinese trains can become. Two of the three fastest commercial trains in the world can be found in China, both in Shanghai. Of these, the fastest is the Shanghai Maglev, which reaches speeds of up to 430 km/h. If a train moves without passengers, its speed is 500 km/h. But this one is not the fastest. The experimental Japanese model will travel at a speed of 589 km/h, but it will not appear until 2017, while residents of Shanghai have been experiencing this technological achievement for 10 years.

Of course, it’s one thing to hear about such large numbers and another to experience them in reality. For example, the journey from Beijing to Shanghai, 1318 km long, will take just under 5 hours. That's longer than driving from New York to Atlanta, but less than the time it would take you to watch the new miniseries on Netflix.

9. They're ridiculously cheap

Considering the incredible speed that Chinese trains deliver - almost half the speed of a plane, without the wait and stringent security checks - you'd think they'd be expensive. This is wrong. Although Chinese roads still fall short of Communist promises to be roads for the poor, travel prices are affordable for the majority of commuters. Take, for example, the Beijing-Shanghai super high-speed line. How much do you think a second class seat would cost? 553 yuan or approximately $80. Do you know how much a short trip from New York to Atlanta costs with Amtrack? $122. That's an extra $40 for a trip that takes three times as long to a destination not too far away.

If you travel on a regular commuter line, it will cost even less. The 24-kilometer line from Shangle to Weifang in Shandong province costs 4.5 yuan or $0.67. Most residents travel by train. While American cities were built to be easily reached by car, Chinese cities were built to be reached by train.

8. It's very popular

Since China's trains are cheap and fast, it can be assumed that they are very popular. It's not just popularity, it's something more. High-speed travel attracts not just crowds, but some of the biggest crowds you'll ever see. In 2016, the number of passengers using this mode of transport was 1.5 billion. This is more than the number of those permanently residing in China, a country known for its very large population. Considering the world's population is 7.5 billion, 20% of that population rides China's high-speed trains every year. If aliens abducted 5 people from Earth and interrogated them, it would turn out that one of them rode such a train.

We present these figures for illustrative purposes. It is clear that no state, even one as authoritarian as China, is able to track every passenger traveling, and many of them may purchase tickets several times. 1.5 billion is a colossal number, and it will grow.

7. China has more high-speed trains than all other countries in the world combined.

We have already said that the Chinese surpass even the Japanese in their love for high-speed transport. It is worth repeating how deep this love is. China has the longest high-speed train network in the world, at 20,116 km. This is not just more than in another country with a large network - Japan, and not just more than in the other five countries, it is more than in the whole world combined. This is more than the rest of the planet. If you were to stack every non-Chinese rail from a high-speed line back to back, you'd still end up with less than China's.

And China shows no signs of slowing down. By 2025, it is planned to build another 15,000 km of roads. If you look at China's high-speed road plan, you'll see that the entire eastern region of the country will be covered by a network of short, high-speed lines as densely spaced as a conventional rail network in any other country. Even Hainan Island, off the country's southern coast, is surrounded by a high-speed line. Hainan, for reference, is slightly larger than Maryland.

The development of the high-speed road network has resulted in the creation of incredible megacities, as people from Shenzhen can now travel to Guangzhou, 137 km away, in 30 minutes.

6. The differences between “was” and “became” are simply phenomenal.

Let's go back to China's past and jump on one of the trains. What can you expect from such a trip? It is clear that there are no traces of any high-speed rails, but perhaps the system itself has already undergone modernization? Maybe the rail network needs updating but is quite reliable?

Prepare to travel in a state of shock. In the mid-90s, Chinese trains weren't just slow, they were very slow. average speed was 59 km/h. No, we didn’t forget to add “0”. Chinese trains in last years The 20th century was terrible. Most major cities were not connected, and the idea of ​​creating a line for big city seemed unheard of. The few trains that were on the rails moved very slowly and were extremely crowded.

At that time, smart money investors appeared in China, and the country could well repeat the US experience by becoming an automobile nation. But Communist Party China had its own ideas. And if the Party is going to do something in China, it does it.

5. The Ministry of Railway Transport has been involved in some crazy projects

Although it was disbanded and reorganized into the Ministry of Transport in 2011, the Chinese State Railway Department can still get involved in some crazy projects. IN Victorian England For example, engineers have created amazing things such as the Forth Bridge, and in the 21st century China is involved in similar unique projects. The difference is that Chinese projects straddle the line between practicality and madness.

Here's just one example: Beijing announced in 2015 that it wanted to connect China and Nepal by rail. No problems, except that Nepal is a mountainous country, difficult to access from China. Therefore, China decided to build a line by digging a tunnel under Mount Everest. Two years have passed, but the project has not yet begun, although it is still under active consideration.

But even this project pales in comparison to the craziest idea of ​​the Chinese government. In 2014, Beijing decided that it should build a railway line to connect China and the United States. It is expected that this high-speed line will be the longest in the world and will cross 4 countries (China, Russia, USA and Canada). It will include the longest underwater tunnel that will connect Russia with Alaska. Even at such a high speed, a trip along this line will take 2 days.

4. The man involved in the development of high-speed trains was purged.

With all the high-tech developments, crazy buildings and wealthy businessmen, it's easy to forget that China remains an authoritarian communist state. This means that anyone can be purged and sent to hard labor. One of the high-ranking victims of the persecution was Liu Zhijun, a man who participated in the creation of the high-speed train system.

Liu Zhijun used to be called the father of China's railway lines. In 2003, he was appointed minister of railway transport, at the same time China began realizing its high-speed dream. Under his leadership, the Ministry used every trick to gain additional funding and political support. He ran his department as a personal fiefdom, increasing its numbers and power until it was second only to the military department. Five years after taking office, Liu Zhijun opened the first high-speed line. By 2011, he had implemented the system we are talking about.

Unfortunately, the peak of Liu Zhijun's career coincided with the rapid rise of Xi Jinping. The new leader launched an anti-corruption campaign against Liu Zhijun in 2013 when it turned out that he had taken bribes and kickbacks. According to Chinese law, he was sentenced to death, which was later commuted to life imprisonment.

3. Horrible accidents happen.

Chinese high-speed trains are very safe and move so smoothly that passengers don't even feel like they are moving in space. But it must be said that accidents happen. Considering the speeds at which these trains move, it’s better to believe that you won’t even have time to get scared.

In 2011, lightning struck a train near the city of Wenzhou, causing a short circuit. The passengers remained unharmed, but stopped. When the driver tried to start it, another one crashed into the back of the train at high speed. Four carriages fell into the water from the viaduct. When ambulance got there, 40 people were dead and 200 wounded. Dead bodies continued to fall from the train during the rescue operation, creating a gruesome scene for witnesses.

To be fair to China, this is not the only high-speed train crash that has happened in the world. In 2013, a Spanish train derailed at 160 km/h, killing 80 people.

2. Most railway lines operate at a loss.

Remember when we said that China has the fastest speeds on the planet? But we didn't say it was profitable. Even though tracks are being laid, new stations are opening, and new cities are being added to the rail network, high-speed trains in China are not nearly as profitable as one might think. Only 6 lines make a profit, the rest incur losses.

The profit received does not include the cost of construction. All profitable routes are located in the east of the country and connect large cities, and the most profitable is the line connecting Beijing and Shanghai. What about the rest? The Beijing-Tianjin line has fallen sharply in price, but all the others are just financial black holes. The Guangzhou-Guizhou line must pay interest of 3 billion yuan per year ($450 million), with only a third of that coming from ticket sales. Of the 20,100 km of track already laid, only about 5,000 km of it either generates enough money or stimulates the local economy to justify its cost.

This means that the state bears a large debt load. Today, The China Railway Corporation already owes 4 trillion yuan, which, according to The Economist, is 6% of the country's GDP.

1.Such a system will not work anywhere else in the world

Based on the above, there might be a desire to copy the experience of building and using Chinese high-speed railways. If so, then good luck. China's crazy high-speed train network was only possible because of the country's characteristics. Try to replicate this success anywhere else in the world and you will most likely fail.

The main fact is cost. Now China's economy is booming, so the state can shoulder the maintenance of those lines that are unprofitable and keep them in working order. Construction cost is also an important factor. The World Bank estimates that China spends a maximum of $23 million to build 1 km of high-speed roads. In Europe, this figure would be at least $25 million, and perhaps rise to $39 million. If you try to build something similar between San Francisco and Los Angeles, you'll get all of $56 million. Do you feel the difference? On the one hand, this is cheap Chinese labor, and on the other, cheap land. In Europe and the USA you have to pay for the land what it is worth, but in China the state simply confiscates whatever it deems necessary.

As a result, other countries are delaying or cutting back high-speed rail programs. We may dream of moving around the world at Chinese speeds, but, alas, we are doomed to forever crawl at a snail's pace.

China has the world's largest high-speed rail network, with a total length of more than 7,055 km, including a 1,995 km section where train speeds exceed 350 km/h. China is currently experiencing a boom in high-speed rail construction. With government support and special incentives, the total length of the high-speed rail network is expected to reach 13,000 km by 2012 and 16,000 km by 2020.

Just 20 years ago, the average speed of passenger trains in China was 48 km/h and continued to decline. And today we are Rustem We reached Shanghai from Wuxi (140 km) in 40 minutes.

01. Train station in Wuxi city. Most S-Bahn stations look like this.

02. Login.

03. To buy a ticket you must have an ID card. In vending machines with Russian passport I couldn’t buy a ticket, I had to go to the box office.

04. The cost of a ticket to Shanghai (140 km) in a business class carriage is only 450 rubles. If my memory serves me correctly, a regular train costs that much in Russia. And the high-speed Sapsan will cost 4 times more.

05. Mandatory baggage inspection at the entrance to the waiting room.

06. The most important thing is that you can film at Chinese train stations! During the entire time, no one came up and made any comments, although I filmed everything and did not hide.

07. By 1993, the average speed of passenger trains in China was 48 km/h and continuing to decline. Rail transport was losing its attractiveness for passengers, losing popularity to air travel and road transport. With this in mind, China's Ministry of Railway Transport has developed a strategy to increase train speeds by building new high-speed lines. Today China is the first in the world in terms of the length of expressways.

08. Almost everyone major cities High-speed trains are running, and soon they will completely replace the old electric trains.

09.

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11. Descend to the platform only before the arrival of the train with a ticket.

12. The stations are very spacious and airy.

13. For comparison, this is the exit to a regular platform where old trains run. Everything is like ours.

14. The train has arrived. In technological terms, the organization of high-speed rail traffic occurs through technology transfer agreements from reputable foreign manufacturers such as Bombardier, Alstom, and Kawasaki. By adopting foreign technologies, China strives to make its own developments based on them. For example, the CRH-380 train, which arrived on our platform, was made in China in 2010. It reaches speeds of up to 350 km per hour.

15. The CRH380A train was put into operation immediately after testing a year ago.

16. There are 3 classes on the train - first, business and economy.

17. This is a first class carriage.

18. The chair turns into a bed and you can sleep.

19. This is business class. There are just big comfortable chairs here.

20. There is a power outlet under each chair.

21. Toilet in a business class carriage.

22. And this is the economy one. The cost of a ticket here is two times lower than in business.

23. The toilet here is simpler.

24. The train accelerates to 350 km per hour. We covered a distance of 140 km in 40 minutes with three stops.

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28. A Chinese peasant and a European tourist feel the same here - everything is incomprehensible and very cool.

29. And this is the standard view from the window. China is one huge construction site. But more on that in the next post.

The well-known principle “time is money” for business is more relevant today than ever. In order to do everything in time and not be late, humanity is inventing new ways of transportation. One of them was high-speed rail (HSR), which over the past 20 years has won the hearts and wallets of millions of passengers around the world.

In China, Japan and Europe, trains, covering 300-350 km in just an hour, successfully compete with airplanes. The Celestial Empire, mastering with fanatical zeal the new kind transport, in terms of the length of the HSR, it was ahead of its closest competitors for many years to come.

Only in 2010-2012. The Chinese government and state banks allocated about $355 billion for the development of railways, a significant part of which went to expand the network of expressways. This year, China is investing another $104 billion in railways. In Russia, they are still only thinking about creating a high-speed railway, “accelerating” trains along Soviet-built railway tracks.

Japan and China "stole" the Europeans' dream

Engineers and designers have been trying to create fast trains since the advent of rail transport. The first officially recorded speed record on the railway - 210 km per hour - was set in the suburbs of Berlin in 1903, even before the first plane took to the skies.

However, the long-standing dream of Europeans about super-fast trains was destined to come true 60 years later on the other side of the world. In 1964 In Japan, the world's first public high-speed rail (HSR), the Shinkansen, opened between Tokyo and Osaka, now carrying more than 150 million passengers annually. It is curious that during the half-century of operation of the line, not a single disaster occurred on it.

China has made a colossal leap in the development of high-speed rail (or, as they are also called, high-speed rail) over the past 10 years, leaving its closest competitors from Europe and Asia far behind. If in the mid-1990s in the Middle Kingdom trains pulled at an average speed of 50 km/h, then in the early 2000s it increased to 200 km/h.

By the beginning of 2013 The Chinese have built and upgraded more than 8,500 km of railway tracks for high-speed and high-speed trains. Last December, the world's longest and one of the fastest railway lines from Beijing to Guangzhou were opened in China. On it, trains cover a distance of almost 2,300 km in just eight hours, accelerating to 350 km/h.

Such projects require significant cash injections from the state. In 2010 Chinese authorities allocated a record 800 billion yuan ($129 billion) for the development of the railway network in 2011-2012. Another $226 billion was invested. Plan for 2013. - about 104 billion dollars By 2015 The Chinese expect to increase the total length of the railway network to 120 thousand km, including 18 thousand km of high-speed lines.

Having “tested” high-speed line technologies, China announced its planned expansion into markets South-East Asia and the Middle East. Currently, high-speed rail construction projects are being discussed that will connect China with Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and even the UK (Beijing - London line). The Chinese are ready to build a network of high-speed highways to India and Europe, and at half the price of the Germans or almost half the price of the Koreans.

High speed trains ahead of the planes

Europe is actively catching up with its Asian neighbors, creating a unified high-speed rail network, coordinating the actions of railway operators and creating real competition for airlines at distances of 600-800 km.

The pioneers in the development of expressways in this part of the world were Italy and France with their famous Pendolino and TGV trains. Since the opening of the first high-speed railway from Paris to Lyon in 1981. TGV trains have repeatedly broken their own speed records, exceeding a fantastic speed of 570 km/h for land transport.

The example of the French was followed by the Germans and Spaniards, and in 1994. A high-speed line was launched through the Channel Tunnel, connecting the capitals of France and England. After its opening, the number of flights between Paris and London decreased significantly.

Today, the total length of high-speed railways and the volume of passenger traffic on them around the world are growing at a record pace. According to forecasts of the International Union of Railways, by 2014. The length of the high-speed railway network will increase from the current 17 thousand to 27 thousand km.

We'll go a different way

In Russia, the high-speed railway project was developed back in the 70s of the last century; in the late 1980s, a high-speed railway development program was adopted. However, in the 90s, for obvious reasons, it was safely forgotten. The idea of ​​high-speed rail traffic in our country was realized only at the beginning of the 21st century.

They did not build separate railway lines for high-speed lines like abroad; instead, they launched high-speed trains purchased from the German Siemens and the French Alstom on the existing infrastructure. In 2009 Sapsan aircraft began to travel between the two capitals - Moscow and St. Petersburg - at speeds of up to 200 km/h; they also connected the Mother See with Nizhny Novgorod. High-speed Allegro trains carry passengers to Helsinki from the northern capital of the Russian Federation, and in January 2013. Lastochka trains were launched from St. Petersburg to Veliky Novgorod and Bologoye.

0 20px 0 25px;"> "Sapsan" and "Allegro" in 2012 transported 3.5 million passengers. In total, since December 2009, when they were launched, there have been more than 9 million passengers. The average load of these high-speed trains is more than 80%. "Sapsan" and "Allegro" transport passengers at speeds of up to 200 km/h. The average speed of long-distance trains of the Federal Passenger Company today does not exceed 60 km/h.

Today, three main directions for the development of high-speed rail in Russia with speeds of up to 350 km/h are being considered. This is an already tested route Moscow - St. Petersburg, as well as the Moscow - Nizhny Novgorod- Kazan - Yekaterinburg and Moscow - Rostov-on-Don - Adler.

According to the first vice-president of OJSC "" Alexander Misharin (heads the High-Speed ​​Railways company supervising the project), the pilot direction for the construction of the high-speed railway will most likely be Moscow - Kazan.

“It is more expedient (to build a branch - RBC note) to the East, since there is a prospect for development - to extend it to Yekaterinburg with the connection of Perm, Chelyabinsk and Ufa. Geopolitics is already appearing there, access to China,” explained the top manager of Russian Railways.

The Institute for Problems of Natural Monopolies (IPEM) emphasizes that the rapid development of high-speed rail passenger transport in France, Germany, Japan and China is supported and subsidized by the government.

“In Russia, as in the United States, for example, there is no clear position of the state regarding the transportation of passengers along the high-speed railway. However, in the United States, unlike the Russian Federation, there is no urgent need for rail passenger transportation, since small aviation and bus service are sufficiently developed.” , says IPEM expert analyst Lev Ruzavin.

In his opinion, in our country “regional aviation is in decline, and bus transportation is carried out by many private companies over which it is impossible to establish control and ensure the required level of safety.”

Alexander Volobuev, RBC