Decades of underfunding leave Germany's railways lagging behind China's rapid expansion
Germany's railway system has stalled due to years of limited investment, while China continues to accelerate its high-speed network.
The German rail network, once a leading exporter of high-speed technology, now suffers from chronic underinvestment that has slowed service improvements. By contrast, China has rapidly expanded its high-speed lines, building on early purchases of German trains. Witnesses like Wang Xixi recall the punctuality and cleanliness of German trains two decades ago, highlighting the gap between past performance and current stagnation. Siemens sold 60 trains capable of 300 km/h to China in 2005, yet Germany's own infrastructure has struggled to keep pace.
