In today's era of globalization, the development of transportation technology is no longer just a competition between countries, but also a technological competition between countries. As a representative field, high-speed rail has been attracting attention from various countries. Recently, the development of high-speed rail in China and the United States has once again attracted widespread attention, and unexpectedly, the United States, which wants to "touch" China in many aspects, seems to be unable to catch up in this regard.
America's "Brightline" high-speed rail: struggling between the cracks
The United States has long been regarded as a leader in technological innovation, but in the field of high-speed rail, the United States seems to be somewhat inadequate. Florida's "Brightline" high-speed rail line is a typical example. The line started operating on the 22nd, and it has an average speed of between 127 and 177 kilometers per hour, with a limit speed of only 200 kilometers per hour.
By comparison, China's high-speed rail is already speeding on the fast track of 300 kilometers per hour. In addition, Brightline's high fares are also prohibitive for passengers, with second-class tickets costing between $79 and $99 and first-class seats costing $149 to $179, equivalent to a starting price of nearly 600 yuan. This makes the Brightline a luxury mode of travel, limiting rides to more people.
Even more worrying, however, is the safety of the Brightline trains. A fatal accident occurred on the first day of operation, killing a pedestrian and delaying the train by 30 minutes. The next day, another train accident struck a speeding SUV, killing six people, including three children. These accidents have raised not only safety concerns for passengers, but also questions about the U.S. high-speed rail system.
Although ambitious, Bright Line plans to launch a faster high-speed rail in 2027, which will reach speeds of more than 300 kilometers per hour. But the current performance and safety record raise concerns that it remains to be seen whether this ambition can be realized.
China's high-speed rail: leaps in speed and amazing efficiency
At the same time, China's high-speed rail development has been in a state of rapid growth. China's high-speed rail is no longer just a concept of 300 kilometers per hour, and the "high-speed maglev train" recently exhibited at the Hefei 2023 World Manufacturing Conference shocked the world. The new train is designed for speeds of up to 600 kilometers per hour, almost twice the speed of existing high-speed trains. This means that it only takes 1.5 hours to travel from Beijing to Chengdu by such high-speed train, which is a staggering figure.
Not only that, but the operating efficiency of China's high-speed rail is also impressive. I remember not long ago, when Raimondo, who visited China, went from Beijing to Shanghai, she experienced a Chinese high-speed rail.
The result also made the US media look at it, Raimondo's Chinese high-speed train took only 4.5 hours to reach its destination, while the same distance from New York to Atlanta or Chicago requires more than 18 hours by train, or even up to 24 hours. This made the American media also sigh that in terms of efficiency, China's high-speed rail is simply 5 times that of American railways.
However, this view did not persist because the American media reports suddenly and mysteriously disappeared. Although the original story was published by The New York Times, it is likely that it was deleted due to government intervention. This raises some concerns about transparency of information and press freedom.
The bad news from the United States is a direct reflection of its technical and safety challenges in the field of high-speed rail. Although Bright Line has ambitions, the problems it faces are still not to be underestimated. At the same time, China's high-speed rail development has been making rapid progress, not only by leaps in speed but also with high operational efficiency, setting an example for the international community. However, the success of China's high-speed rail has also sparked controversy over information control and freedom of expression, a topic that needs to be explored in depth.
In this high-speed rail contest, there is not only a contest of technology and efficiency, but also a controversy over international image and freedom of expression. It is also a reminder that in pursuing technological progress, we also need to cherish and protect transparency of information and press freedom, and ensure that society advances without losing our core values.
Whether it is the United States or China, there are different challenges and opportunities, but the development of high-speed rail will eventually be a field where international cooperation and competition coexist, and we look forward to more highlights and improvements to bring more convenience and safety to global transportation.
Why are there frequent problems in U.S. infrastructure?
The reasons for frequent infrastructure problems in the United States are complex and diverse, including some of the main factors:
Aging and lack of maintenance: Many U.S. infrastructure projects, such as roads, bridges, waterways, pipelines, and power networks, have been around for years or even centuries, so they are aging. Long-term lack of adequate maintenance and updating has led to deterioration of the structure and equipment of these facilities, which are prone to failure and damage.
Underfunded: Maintaining and updating infrastructure requires a lot of money, but the U.S. is relatively underinvested in it. The government budget is limited and the money invested in infrastructure is insufficient to meet the demand. This has led to delayed or inadequate maintenance of some infrastructure projects, further exacerbating the problem.
Political and legislative hurdles: Infrastructure investment requires government support and funding, but in the United States, some infrastructure projects are plagued by political controversy and legislative hurdles. Inconsistent views and priorities on infrastructure spending across different political factions have led to lags in funding allocation and decision-making.
Population growth and urbanization: As the population grows and urbanization accelerates, the need for infrastructure continues to increase. Infrastructure in some areas has exceeded the capacity for which they were originally designed, which has led to traffic congestion, power shortages and water supply problems, among others.
Climate change and natural disasters: Climate change-induced extreme weather events, such as hurricanes, floods, droughts and wildfires, have a severe impact on infrastructure. These events lead to damage to infrastructure and increased repair costs.
Technical challenges: Some infrastructure issues involve technical challenges that require the adoption of new technologies and approaches to solve. For example, cybersecurity and modernization of power distribution systems require more technical inputs.
Human resource issues: Some areas face a shortage of human resources, such as a shortage of engineers and skilled workers, which affects the construction and maintenance of infrastructure.
Overall, the root causes of America's infrastructure problems lie in chronic underinvestment, aging facilities, political divisions, and complex social challenges. To improve infrastructure, collaboration between governments, the private sector and society is needed to increase funding, drive renewal and maintenance, and adopt sustainable and innovative approaches to changing needs and challenges.
【Phoenix Court Review】
I think this reflects the very different performance of the two countries in infrastructure and high-speed rail, and it also raises some deep thinking.
First, America's infrastructure problems are clear, with frequent accidents and aging facilities underscoring the urgency of investment and improvement. This is not only about domestic development and security in the United States, but also about the international image. The United States was once a leader in technological innovation and infrastructure development, but the reality shows that its internal challenges and political controversies have hindered the country's infrastructure development. This will require closer collaboration between governments, legislatures and the community to improve the quality and reliability of infrastructure.
At the same time, China's high-speed rail development shows great strength and ambition. China's high-speed rail network already covers a vast territory, not only at leaps and bounds in speed, but also operates efficiently. China's high-speed rail technology and experience have become international benchmarks, providing a new reference for global transportation. However, China also faces a number of challenges, including environmental impact and resource management, which need to be addressed.
Finally, this comparison also reminds us that infrastructure construction and maintenance is not just a domestic problem, but also a global challenge. The international community can learn from the experiences of countries and work together to promote sustainable infrastructure to meet the needs of growing populations and urbanization, while also focusing on environmental protection and sustainability.
In this process, international cooperation and information sharing will play an important role in ensuring that together we can achieve safer, more efficient and sustainable infrastructure networks for the benefit of the global community.
【Poetry Review】
Green mountains and green water show new look,
Bad news came from the United States.
The old bridge and the old road are old,
Infrastructure deficiencies are impressive.
Joyful sounds come from China,
The good news of high-speed rail spreads in all directions.
Dancing in the clouds at speed,
New technology innovation and innovation.
Encourage the state to repair the homeland together,
The cornerstone is strong and brilliant.
International cooperation and common willingness,
Building the future together is not disappointing.
Text/Shiman
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