Item — HN Reader

as someone who lived better half of decade in China I don't find it that amazing

1. growth of HSR meant less and less slower trains = higher prices of tickets, less available to poorer people

2. prices of these train tickets are actually higher than LCC airways in Europe which will transport me much faster anywhere than HSR

3. buying ticket during peak periods is very difficult

4. train station procedures take probably more time than airport procedures (even within China, much longer compared to Schengen)

5. many of not most of the HSR stations are outside of the cities, so there is no benefit between reaching HSR station and airport

1 comments

Wait, so you have full security screenings for the high speed rail? (Most of Europe's high speed rail goes through the same train stations and standard commuter rail, so there's no additional screening .. although if you're crossing from Belgium to Germany they do often search trains for marijuana) at border stations.

yes, there is first check to get even inside train station, you must have ticket, then right after that is security check, then in some stations there is another check to enter boarding room, then to leave boarding room to platform there is another check and then in the train they check your ticket again, also when leaving station in destination they will again check your ticket to let you go

it's HSR with communist characteristics

no thanks, i will rather use show train in Europe where i can walk straight from my room to train with ticket in my mobile instead of Chinese harassment with thousands of people pushing you all around, it's just one disgusting experience, even Chinese airports are faster and more pleasant

There's additional screening in Spain too. Though I recall it was a token effort.