Hi-speed trains no help for majority
The Wuhan-Guangzhou high-speed railway has become operational. But the fares are too high for the common people to afford. This doesn't bore well for the welfare of the people, which should be the aim of such public services, says an article on Rednet. Excerpts:
China has entered a new transportation with the Wuhan-Guangzhou high-speed railway. The railway industry has been growing fast thanks to the rapid hi-tech and economic development. But the cost of traveling on the new trains is very high. The problem is especially serious because most of the passengers on the route are migrant workers who cannot afford to pay for even a ticket of the lowest denomination. Hence, the new service will become the domain of the wealthy. This is social injustice.
Two factors - economic gain and people's welfare - should be uppermost in the minds of the authorities when they build social infrastructure. Since ordinary people mostly travel by trains, the railway is related to their welfare. So train fares should not be more than they can afford.
High-speed trains are definitely the future. But such trains should first satisfy the need of most of the people.
With Spring Festival approaching, the authorities should run more regular trains to enable people who work far away from home to enjoy a family reunion, and let everyone should share the fruits of economic development.
The Ministry of Railways has said that more incentives would be offered to enable people to travel on the high-speed railway. That's good news, but we hope people's welfare gets more attention in future railway constructions.
(China Daily 12/30/2009 page9)
