Does high-speed rail relieve income-related health inequalities? A quasi-natural experiment from China

•We first explore the relationship between the construction of HSR health, and health inequalities.•Our results indicate China is a pro-rich distribution of health and the positive effect of HSR on health is significant.•We find HSR exacerbates health inequalities, because it improves health more significantly among high-income groups.•We also find that HSR shows the potential to decrease health inequalities in the future.