Then there is George Hudson, who made pots of money building railways in mid-19th century England.

ECONOMIST: Financial speculation

No one thinks China is going to make drastic changes to what is a signature national programme. (And one from which it hopes to spin off lucrative contracts building railways in Algeria, Iran, Russia, Kazakhstan and elsewhere.) But it might postpone some of the dizzier schemes, such as one to build a freight line across mountainous northern Colombia to rival the Panama canal.

ECONOMIST: High-speed trains might be forced to go a little more slowly

Clutching their cameras, a group of three 24-year-old girls waited patiently in a queue to take a photo by the Ministry of Railways building sign.

BBC: Demise of China's unloved railways ministry

Whether or not China is able to avoid the "Malacca trap" by building pipeline and railways across Central Asia to the Middle East, it will still need Dubai as its hub for its growing reach into the Middle East and Africa.

CNN: Is Dubai the center of the world (again)?

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said the government was "determined" to improve the railways, and "building new stations will provide that boost".

BBC: Bids open for new rail station fund

Let's reward small business by increasing our infrastructure spending, laying a new foundation for an economy for the future, building the highways and bridges and railways of tomorrow.

WHITEHOUSE: Press Briefing

There is a widespread belief that China has found a secret recipe for growth which basically involves building lots of stuff - infrastructure, railways, airports, roads and the like.

BBC: China to the UK's aid?

Japan Railways blames the contractors for jerry-building.

ECONOMIST: The land of disappointments | The

Moreover, the Railways Ministry reached agreement with the central government to force state banks to support its nationwide building program.

FORBES: Chinese Ministry Saved from Default