🚅 High-speed railway construction per country, 1976-2019

Context:

@ProfSteveKeen Contrary to what is shown, the US has only 50km of what might be considered HSR, and not >700km. This sheds doubt on the entire video

Honestly shocked by the size of the network in Spain. What accounts for that? It is hard to justify HSR projects when Airports look cheaper and more manageable.

China doing all that in just a decade is still unreal

What is the classification of high speed rail? It shows the US having around 700 km and I thought the US had none?! 😬😢

Jimmy Carter missed the golden opportunity to have a national high-speed rail initiative-he was in Japan when the 2nd oil crisis hit, and yet he went past all those Bullet trains without seeing the solution. With Dem majorities in House & Senate, it was a huge missed opportunity.

Amazing how far behind the USA is

You should specify what you consider to be HSR, because I see on your chart, UK has some, but in reality, UK only has HS1, which is part of track for train to France, about 200km at most.

@michelgellyp I find it really hard to believe the UK has more high speed train lines than Italy. The only line that qualifies is the Eurostar, from London to Dover.

America does not have 735km of HSR lol.