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High-speed rail in China refers to any commercial train service in China with an average speed of 200 km/h (120 mph) or higher. China has the world's longest high-speed rail (HSR) network with about 8,358 km (5,193 mi) of routes in service as of January 2011 including 2,197 km (1,365 mi) of rail lines with top speeds of 350 km/h (220 mph).Since the introduction of high-speed rail on April 18, 2007, daily ridership has grown from 237,000 in 2007 and 349,000 in 2008 to 492,000 in 2009 and 796,000 in 2010.

China's high speed rail network consist of upgraded conventional rail lines, newly-built high-speed passenger designated lines (PDLs), and the world's first high-speed commercial magnetic levitation (maglev) line. The country has been undergoing an HSR building boom. With generous funding from the Chinese government's economic stimulus program, 17,000 km (11,000 mi) of high-speed lines are now under construction. The entire HSR network will reach 13,073 km (8,123 mi) by the end of 2011[4] and 25,000 km (16,000 mi) by the end of 2015.

China is the first and only country to have commercial train service on conventional rail lines that can reach 350 km/h (217 mph). Notable examples of HSR lines include:

The Wuhan-Guangzhou High-Speed Railway, a passenger-dedicated trunk line opened in 2009, that reduced the 968 km (601 mi) journey between the largest cities in central and southern China to 3 hours. Trains reach top speeds of 350 km/h (220 mph) and average 310 km/h (190 mph) for the entire trip.

The Beijing-Tianjin Intercity Railway, an intercity express line opened in 2008, that shortened the 117 km (73 mi) commute between the two largest cities in northern China to 30 minutes. Trains reach top speeds of 330 km/h (210 mph) and average 234 km/h (145 mph).

The Shanghai Maglev Train, an airport rail link service opened in 2004, that travels 30 km (18 mi.) in 7 minutes, 20 seconds, averaging 240 km (150 mph) and reaching top speed of 431 km/h (268 mph).

China's initial high speed trains were imported or built under technology transfer agreements with foreign train-makers including Siemens, Bombardier and Kawasaki Heavy Industries. However, Chinese engineers re-designed and further improved the internal components of the train in order for the train to run at much higher speed. China currently holds close to 1,000 local and international patents for high speed rail technology. Foreign trainmakers continue to sell certain components but no longer supply train sets for China's high speed trains Most of the CRH train components are manufactured by local Chinese suppliers, with only a few parts imported.

In February 2011, Railway Minister Liu Zhijun, a key proponent of HSR expansion, was removed from office pending investigation for corruption. Since then concerns about HSR safety, high ticket prices, financial sustainability and environmental impact have prompted officials to cap top train speeds to 300 km/h on some lines. In a China Ministry of Railways press conference in June 13th 2011, it was clarified that the speed reduction has nothing to do with safety nor technical capability of the trains and tracks. The speed is reduced due to introduction of mixed mode of operation with 300 km/h and 250 km/h services in order to maximize public usage by offering different ticket pricing. The speed of 300 km/h instead of 350 km/h was selected to match closer to the 250 km/h service, so the train spacing can be reduced to maximize capacity throughput. Trains on the Beijing-Tianjin high-speed line and a few other inter-city lines will continue to run at a top speed of 350 km/h. In May, China's Environmental Protection Ministry ordered the halting of construction and operation of two high-speed lines that failed to pass environmental impact tests. In June, the Railway Ministry maintained that high-speed rail construction is not slowing down. The Beijing¨CShanghai High-Speed Railway, still on schedule to open at then end of June, will use new CRH380A trainsets that can reach a top operational speed of 380 km/h (236 mph) but will run at 300 km/h.