It was the inauguration of the Shinkansen “bullet train” in the 1960s that arguably kicked off the high-speed rail revolution, representing a triumphant economic achievement for Japan that helped it return to the international fold following the turbulence it had experienced during the 20 years since its defeat in the Second World War. Managing to generate speeds of up to 320 kilometres per hour (km/hr) today, the Shinkansen has earned a well-deserved reputation for punctuality, safety and convenience, with trains connecting the capital city with the country’s main islands: Honshu, Kyushu and Hokkaido.
But while Japan’s rail system remains a marvel, China is in pole position among the world’s finest high-speed rail networks. Astonishingly built in just 15 years, China’s rail network now spans more than 40,000 kilometres—more than the circumference of the entire globe—and is on track to reach 70,000 kilometres by 2035. With operational trains regularly reaching speeds of 350 km/hr, moreover, China’s high-speed rail system is also the fastest in the world, comfortably outperforming those of Japan and France.
Fidelity Asian Values Plc (LON:FAS) provides shareholders with a differentiated equity exposure to Asian Markets. Asia is the world’s fastest-growing economic region and the trust looks to capitalise on this by finding good businesses, run by good people and buying them at a good price.
