Free Republic

China is considering building an 8,000-mile high-speed rail link to America that would take less than two days to travel. Travelling at around 217mph, the train would leave the north east of the country, run through Siberia and enter a 125-mile tunnel under the Bering Strait, the shortest crossing between Russia and Alaska. It would then resurface and head south through Canada, before reaching its destination in the US. It is unclear whether the American, Canadian or Russian governments have agreed to the proposals. But engineers claim it would provide a viable alternative to air travel, according to China Daily....

The continued threat of economic boycotts targeting Israel hasn’t deterred China from forging ahead with a new freight rail link through Israel. The planned link could provide an alternative to the Suez Canal. The project would connect the 300-plus kilometers between Eilat on the Red Sea and Ashdod Port on the Mediterranean. And it could be the chance for China to gain a foothold in the region. …

Rail link brings AIDS, beggars to Tibet - Dalai Lama Wednesday January 31, 08:20 PM By Krittivas Mukherjee MUMBAI (Reuters) - The Dalai Lama accused Beijing on Wednesday of using a new railway link to flood Tibet with beggars, prostitutes and the unemployed, destroying its culture and traditions. "The railway link is a real danger," said the spiritual leader, who fled to India from Tibet after a failed uprising against Chinese rule in 1959. "Beggars, handicapped people are coming. Their number is huge. Also jobless people facing difficulty in Chinese mainland are coming to Lhasa," he told a religious gathering...

Beijing delays work on Olympic rail link By Mure Dickie in Beijing Published: June 20 2005 22:04 | Last updated: June 20 2005 22:04 Beijing has delayed the start of initial construction work for a Rmb5bn ($604m, €498m, £331m) rail link between its airport and the city centre that is one of the most high-profile projects planned as part of the Chinese capital's preparations to host the 2008 Olympic Games. The company responsible for the 27km line had intended to begin work at its terminus in Beijing's Dongzhimen area on June 1, but could not because China's powerful National Development...