Its history was of grimy freight trains, constant breakdowns and dramatic high-mortality crashes. Nevertheless, I’m sure most of us have at least one romantic train journey story to cherish. AdvertisementFor sure, Japan’s Shinkansen has also done a sterling job in making railway travel synonymous with speed, luxury and reliability. But China’s railway revolution is distinct and may prove unique. China’s first high-speed rail route, the 117km Beijing-Tianjin line , opened in 2008, and now bullets commuters between the two cities in 30 minutes.