China Sees More Stations Shut Down as High-Speed Rail Debt Crisis Deepens

Chinese media has revealed that, in recent years, the rapid expansion of high-speed long-distance rail lines in China has led to high idle capacity, resulting in an increasing number of expensive shutdown stations. The report questioned who should be held responsible for the significant ineffective investment. China Business Journal reported on May 21, that at least 26 high-speed rail stations in China are not in use after being built due to their remote locations, insufficient surrounding facilities, and low passenger flow. The report said that some cities have invested heavily in the construction of high-speed rail lines and stations, but many stations have stopped operating or never been put into use. It cited Hainan Danzhou Haitou High-speed Railway Station as an example. The local government in Hainan Province invested over 40 million yuan ($5.61 million) in the construction of the station in the 2010s....