A major part of the Chinese strategy is a massive investment ($42 billion 2001-2005 and higher going forward) in Urban Rail in at least 20 cities (excluding Hong Kong and "rebel" Taiwanese cities).

I find it hard to keep track of all Chinese Urban Rail plans and recent openings. Beijing extended its subway network from 55 kilometres of track in 2002 to 408 kilometres in 2005, while the network in Shanghai increased from 65 to 780 kilometres, that in Tianjin from 26.69 to 72.195 kilometres, and that in Guangzhou from 18.5 to 129.4 kilometres.

Not bad for just three years !

Shanghai will displace New York City and London as the premier subway city. They recently opened their fourth & fifth lines, have firm plans for ten open by 2010 and seventeen by 2015 (2017 ?).  Twenty nuclear plants by 2020 should help assure power supplies. (only a small fraction of those plants can supply 100% of subway requirements).

Beijing has said that the subway and light rail systems there will become the leading means of transport for Beijing residents by 2020, when the length of the city's rail network is expected to exceed 1,000 kilometres.

The two faults common to Chinese subways are a lack of rolling stock & only 2 tracks.  A subway opens, and crush crowds start from Day 1 and all subways (AFAIK) are two track.  No four track subways (a la NYC) to allow express service.

I wonder if the contradiction of 9% GNP growth and flat oil consumption in 2005 is linked to this explosion of electrified transit ?  Can China grow economically with minimal growth in oil demand ?  Why is the US doing so little in this area ?