Has Rail Baltica become outdated even before construction began? 0 79

Economist and former vice president of Latvian Railways Aivars Strakshas commented on the project of the century - Rail Baltica - on social media, comparing the future new railway and its potential with the development of railways in China. We are light years away from Chinese railways!

"What is happening in other parts of the world while the Rail Baltica project is postponed to 2034 and costs are skyrocketing?

China opens four new high-speed railway lines in one day — what does this say about global construction rates?

Today, four major sections of high-speed train routes, totaling over 1,100 kilometers, have been put into operation in China simultaneously. The new lines connect dozens of cities across the country — from the northern regions of permafrost to the challenging mountainous areas in the central part of the country.

Key facts about the new routes: • Xiong'an-Shangqiu: a 552 km section where train speeds reach 350 km/h, allowing the distance to be covered in 2 hours and 27 minutes. • Xi'an-Ankang: a 171 km route through a mountain range that can now be traversed in 45 minutes. • Harbin-Yichun: the northernmost high-speed line built in China, part of which runs through a mountain range in permafrost with air temperatures reaching -40 °C. Trains will operate here at speeds of up to 250 km/h.

Reflections on Europe and China: The total investment in the project is estimated at around 22 billion euros, and the construction cycle took 4 to 6 years. While in Europe it often takes several years to complete only the environmental impact assessment, public discussions, and to recalculate inflated estimates, China, at the same time, is capable of actually laying and launching thousands of kilometers of tracks. That is, half is designed for a speed of 350 km/h, 171 km had to break through a mountain range, which means tunnels and bridges, permafrost, and all this for 22 billion. We can't even manage the bridge over the Daugava.

How does the European Union, as an economic system as a whole, think it can compete with China?" the expert commented.