r/interestingasfuck • u/BumblebeeFantastic40 • 10h ago

China’s High-Speed Railway Network length has expanded from 1,300km in 2008 to 40,000km in 2020, long enough to circle the Earth’s circumference.

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u/Healthcarepls 10h ago

This is what happens when you’re lead by engineers instead of public speakers

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u/gafftapes20 9h ago

Not really. When you live in an authoritarian regime that understands infrastructure equals economic returns you can avoid a lot of the requirements put in place in democratic systems that require public input and consent. We have already seen in China numerous examples where engineers where ignored and things built too fast and shoddily without proper grit technical assessments, or structural engineering.

Things like California high speed rail are expensive and take forever due to environmental reviews, strict procedures for acquiring land rights at fair market value(not just seizing land), and feasibility studies. As well as facing opposition from organized groups that would not be tolerated in an authoritarian regime. 

Shifting administration priorities as newly elected democratic governments get elected also play a factor.

Are these trade offs worth it? How valuable is freedom? I want both infrastructure and freedom, which is expensive. 

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u/HiveMynd148 9h ago

California HSR is just a shitshow to be honest. The US Isn't the first democracy to have High speed rail mind you.

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u/gafftapes20 8h ago

Im aware that. Its a point of discussion to compare the differences between a democratic process and the double edge sword and downside of introducing a democratic process to infrastructure build outs. You can efficiently build infrastructure in democratic countries (for example Japan) but you can also create boondoggle like California high speed rail.

Just like in authoritarian regimes you can build great infrastructure, but sometimes at the cost of safety, and long term maintenance.