Germany’s Rail Network Stalls as China Accelerates High‑Speed Expansion

An article in the South China Morning Post examines how years of limited investment have left Germany’s rail system efficient yet stagnant, while China’s high‑speed network is rapidly expanding. The piece opens with Wang Xixi’s recollection of riding Germany’s clean, punctual trains 21 years ago, noting that even with a regional rail pass she rarely saw a delay. At that time, China’s high‑speed rail was just beginning, and Germany was a major exporter of railway technology. The author argues that the lack of new investment has stalled network growth in Germany, contrasting sharply with China’s aggressive expansion and modernization of its rail infrastructure.