Originally Posted by
mackenzie77
The issue is not the growing middle class and the ability to pay for more comfortable options.
The issue that even though the new CRH runs on separate tracks then the old 10hr one, there is possibility that the Ministry of Railway will eliminate a good number of normal trains on this route. While there is a growing number of wealthier middle-class who can and will take advantage of the CRH, the vast majority of people will or must opt for the cheaper slower train.
That is a good argument about what might happen in the Western world once a new connection opens up, but I doubt any connections will be cut in China unless the "old" slow trains are emptying up. After all the Chinese gouvernment is well aware of the need of it's working class to travel cheaply, and won't deny them that option, I'm pretty pretty much sure on that.