China wants to build underwater trainline to the USA

China wants to build underwater trainline to the USA


China presently has one of the most expansive and impressive high-speed rail networks on Earth.

As their network reaches the far corners of their nation – they make ambitious plans to build an underwater train line to the USA.

According to reports, China wants to build A 13,000km-long railway line from China to the USA, running partially underwater to cover the Bering Strait. It is named the China-Russia-Canada-America line, and China first proposed it in 2014.

It would start in mainland China, run through Siberia, pass under the sea through the Bering Strait into Alaska, continue to Canada, then finally reach the USA.

Constructing the China-Russia-Canada-America railway line could provide capacity for up to 100 million tons of freight, or 8 percent of world freight cargo each year between Europe, Russia, China, Japan, South Korea, Canada and the USA.

Technically, the project is very challenging, the costs are sky-high, and maybe most importantly, the political relations between the USA, Russia and China are not at the very best. It is this absent infrastructure that makes the project a huge financial challenge.

Furthermore, China and Russia are not unlikely to cooperate in this project. The willingness of the USA to work with Russia and China on this megaproject is highly unlikely. Currently, the relationship between the USA and Russia is not at its best, and as China is taking over as the dominant economic player in the world, the USA may not be so keen to facilitate this growth.

For this project to come into fruition, the countries involved will all have to chip in and contribute. The estimated total costs are around 200 billion US Dollars. Before consensus is reached and funding is made available from all sides, the China-Russia-Canada-America line is likely to remain a dream project.

For more information visit www.railfreight.com

28th June 2021