High speed trains in China

Over the last few years China has built high speed trail network including new stations. They might feel more like airports than old style train stations. There has been criticism that these are built while not needed. Somehow I doubt that. The trains I've seen are almost always full. Arriving at a station you might have to wait for a free train. All normal trains are full too, so the need is there. And the Chinese travel a lot. Often got like up to 30 hours on normal trains. The biggest issue is that high speed trains are expensive to take. In some cases like flying. On the other hand ticket prices are fixed. Either the ticket is available or not. You get what you pay for. Flying on the other hand is a gamble - you never know how much you're going to pay!

Btw the construction of train lines are happening faster than the plan. Because the put more money to it. In the West it seems opposite - its always delayed and cost more than expected.