Since China launched its high-speed train in 2008It has steadily gained market share. A recent study on the impact of high-speed rail on China's three airline giants indicates that around 80 % of China's domestic air routes will be competing with high-speed trains by 2025. Passenger numbers on China's high-speed rail networks have increased of around 30 % per year since 2008.
In another study on rail/air competition in China dating from 2020, the most important city-to-city links for HSR were Shanghai-Nanjing, Guangzhou-Changsha, Beijing-Jinan,...
Since China launched its high-speed train in 2008It has steadily gained market share. A recent study on the impact of high-speed rail on China's three airline giants indicates that around 80 % of China's domestic air routes will be competing with high-speed trains by 2025. Passenger numbers on China's high-speed rail networks have increased of around 30 % per year since 2008.
In another study on rail/air competition in China dating from 2020, the most important city-to-city links for HSR were Shanghai-Nanjing, Guangzhou-Changsha, Beijing-Jinan, Wuhan-Guangzhou and Beijing-Nanjing. On the busiest line, between Shanghai and Nanjing, some 220 high-speed trains link the two cities every day.
As in France with the TGV and air servicesChina's high-speed train is therefore the most formidable competitor in the world. domestic air routes between 400 km and 800 km. By train, they represent journey times of two to three hours. Beyond that, air travel remains the most viable option.
Maglev could bring new competition on routes of over 500 km
But that could change within the next decade. According to Shanghai Daily's Shine, the government of Guangdong (Canton/Shenzhen region) has presented plans for two Maglev magnetic train lines. They would link this southern province to Beijing and Shanghai, and complete the the only Maglev line currently in servicewhich since 2003 has linked Shanghai Pudong airport to China's financial metropolis at a speed of over 400 km/h.
When they are entirely built in 2030the two future new magnetic suspension lines will reduce the number of kilometres travelled to two and a half hours' travel time between Guangzhou and Shanghai. From Beijing, the journey would take just over three hours.. At present, it takes six hours by TGV to reach the two cities. According to the newspaper, trains could eventually reach speeds of 600 km/h.
The Guangdong plan is part of the drive to build more 1000 km of Maglev magnetic track in China. Built on its own right-of-way, Maglev's development will not add to the pressure on an already dense TGV rail network.
For passengers, magnetic levitation trains could also make journeys more comfortable. Reduced noise and vibration, as well as lower maintenance costs, are just some of the advantages of magnetic levitation technology.
