China eyes high-speed rail links with Europe, India, Russia

China is reportedly in negotiations which could see the economic behemoth build a high-speed railway connecting its capital with the United Kingdom, Russia and Southeast Asia.

The new connections could potentially see passengers reach London from Beijing within two days, reports The Telegraph in London, who cites a source who is a senior consultant on China’s domestic high-speed rail project.

China is reportedly eyeing three different train lines, one headed towards Europe and the United Kingdom through India, another through Russia into Germany and Eastern Europe, and a final line headed towards Singapore through Malaysia and Thailand.

“We are aiming for the trains to run almost as fast as aeroplanes... The best case scenario is that the three networks will be completed in a decade,” said Mengshu Wang, to The Telegraph.

Mr Wang adds that China is already in negotiations with 17 countries.

“We have also already carried out the prospecting and survey work for the European network, and Central and Eastern European countries are keen for us to start.”