China’s high-speed trains are overwhelmed by poop, study says


The explosive growth of high-speed rail in China has brought a boom in human waste on trains, threatening a meltdown for the railway network’s sewage treatment facilities, according to researchers commissioned by the government to solve the crisis.

“The processing capabilities of waste treatment facilities are declining, some of them already out of service,” said the team led by senior engineer Xin Siyuan with the China State Railway Group in a peer-reviewed paper published in journal Railway Standard Design on May 24.

Save 30% for ads-free and full access now!

Monthly Plan

RM13.90/month
RM9.73 only

Billed as RM9.73 for the 1st month then RM13.90 thereafters.

Annual Plan

RM12.33/month
RM8.63/month

Billed as RM103.60 for the 1st year then RM148 thereafters.

1 month

Free Trial

For new subscribers only


Cancel anytime. No ads. Auto-renewal. Unlimited access to the web and app. Personalised features. Members rewards.

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!
SCMP , China , Highspeed Train

Others Also Read


Want to listen to full audio?

Unlock unlimited access to enjoy personalise features on the TheStar.com.my

Already a member? Log In