China launches new Hefei-Bengbu high-speed railway

[shuttler]

Here a map of the train route:

Bullet train was first introduced into China in 2008, and since then, China's rail witnessed a boom of this fast way of transportation across the country. At the end of 2009, China's first high-speed rail line-Wuguang High-Speed Rail Line was put into use to link Guangzhou and Wuhan. The operation of the high rail line marks another stage of China's rail system. Currently there are five major high-speed rail lines: Beijing-Shanghai, Beijing-Tianjin, Shanghai-Nanjing, Shanghai-Hangzhou, and Guangzhou-Wuhan.

D Category Train

D category train is the first kind of bullet train. It has a speed of over 200 km/h. This kind of trains mainly use on the popular rail lines connecting major cities, such as trains Beijing/Shanghai, Beijing/Zhengzhou, Beijing/Xi'an, Guangzhou/Shenzhen, Shanghai/Hangzhou, Shanghai/Nanjing,.Trains only stop at a few major stops along the way.

G Category Trains

G trains refer to trains running on the high-speed rail line. This category train has a speed of over 300 kilometers per hour. G trains operate in the following routes:

Beijing to Shanghai
Beijing to Tianjin
Shanghai to Nanjing
Shanghai to Hangzhou
Guangzhou to Wuhan


Facilities Onboard

There are no sleeper cars in G train (D trains on long route may have sleeper cars). It has two kinds of seat: first-class seat and second class seat (all are soft seats). There are two seats on each side of the aisle in the first class seat car, and three seats on one side and two seats on the other in the second class car. There are restaurant car and bar in the train.



The car is fully air-conditioned, and the floor is coved with carpet. The seat is adjustable. There are flush toilets and toilet paper. Both hot and cold water is available in the washing room. Special toilets for the handicapped and people with kids are available.

All the waiters and waitresses on the train can be compared to that of the flight, young and good-looking. See what does a Chinese train look like?

Baggage Allowance

Carry-on Baggage

The maximum carry-on baggage allowance for each passenger is 20 kg. The size may not exceed 60*35*35. Carry-on baggage in excess of the limit is subject to an excess baggage fee and must be carried as checked baggage. See China train baggage allowance

How to Buy Train Tickets

Tickets for bullet trains begin to sell 10 days in advance. You can buy the ticket at railway stations or book it through a travel agency or book online. There are ticket dispenser at major railway stations such as railway stations in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. Book in advance is needed during peak travel periods such as weekends, Chinese New Year and National Holiday. From June 1, 2011, passengers need to present their valid ID (passport) to buy bullet train tickets (including tickets of C trains, D trains, and G trains). See details on how to buy train tickets in China?

China Highlights

 

[cirr]

Here a map of the train route:

“Suzhou” should be “Xuzhou”

And HSR link connecting Nanjing and Hefei is missing in the map。

 

[cirr]

They Indians are free to live their lives the way they see fit。

We Chinese are free to live our lives the way we enjoy。

Let ideas be ideas，not ideologies。

End of the story。

 

[shuttler]

“Suzhou” should be “Xuzhou”

And HSR link connecting Nanjing and Hefei is missing in the map。

Good pick! Here is a better route map from wikipedia:

 

[shuttler]

What Do Chinese Trains Look Like?

Chinahighlights

Traveling by train in China is one of the cheapest ways to travel some of the long distances in China and is used widely by the local population. It is important to know what to expect if you decide to travel by train in China.

Accommodation Classes on China's Trains

There are four kinds of general tickets available. China Highlights recommends booking a soft bed or a hard bed. The hard seat and no-seat tickets are in compartments that are so crowded that even a short trip may be very uncomfortable. The compartments may be packed with people standing or sitting in the aisles. Also, foreigners may find it difficult to get a hard seat or a no-seat ticket since the ticket sellers may not issue these to foreigners. The best choices are soft bed or hard bed.

Hard Seat (Yingzuo) 硬座

It is the cheapest option and the most common kind of tickets, and the coaches are usually overcrowded. Though the seats are actually thinly padded, you could hardly sleep on the upright seats. Smoking is permitted here so there is no air-conditioning. The coaches are not clean, and you would never want to visit the toilet. It is usually not advised to buy hard-seat tickets when there are other options available. They are very uncomfortable for overnight trips. During the Spring Festival travel peak, the compartments are generally overcrowded, noisy and maybe stinky. There are frequent thefts of baggage.

Soft Seat (Ruanzuo) 软座

It is one level above the hard seat, and the fare is slightly higher. The seats are relatively cleaner and more comfortable. There will be no over-crowding in soft-seat coaches. In some trains air-conditioning is available. Smoking is not allowed in the coach, but you can smoke at the corridor between cars. These are the most expensive tickets and often almost the same price as a hi-speed train ticket, but these are often available when the other regular tickets are sold out. These will probably always sell out during the Spring Festival. There are closed compartments with four beds per compartment. Soft seats are ok for several hours’ ride.

Hard sleeper (Yingwo) 硬卧

It is the basic accommodation for overnight or long-distance train travel. The coach has doorless compartments, in which six bunks are arranged, with three tiers of bunks (upper/middle/lower) on both sides. The bunk beds are stacked three high. The top bed may be difficult for you to get onto. There is a small difference of price between the bunks, with the upper bunk being the cheapest and the lower bunk the most expensive. A pillow and a sheet are provided for each bunk. There is a small TV hanging in each compartment. Air conditioning is available, and the washroom is tolerably clean. Smoking is not permitted in the coach, but you can smoke at the corridor between cars.

Soft Sleeper (Ruanwo) 软卧

It is sort of a luxurious train travel, with the fare almost twice as much as that of the hard sleeper, and sometimes even as much as that of discounted flights. Each compartment is enclosed by a door, and contains four bunks, with two to a side. The bunks are wider and more comfortable, and there is an LCD TV for each bunk. Air-conditioning is available, and the washroom is clean. Smoking is not permitted in the coach, but you can smoke at the corridor between cars. It is advisable to buy soft-sleeper tickets for overnight and long-distance travel.

First Class Seat (Yidengzuo) 一等座

They are available in bullet trains (Dongche). Four seats are arranged for a row. The seats are similar to soft seats, but are wider, more modern and comfortable. Smoking is not allowed.

Second Class Seat (Erdengzuo) 二等座

They are available in bullet trains. Five seats are arranged for a row. It is a level below the first class seats with relatively smaller sitting area, but is still comfortable. Smoking is not allowed.

Luxury Soft Sleeper (Gaobao) 高包

It is the top level sleeper, and the fare is much more expensive than that of soft sleepers. It is only available in a few trains. Each enclosed compartment contains only two clean and comfortable bunks (upper/lower), a western washroom, and sometimes even has a shower cubicle. The ground is carpeted, and other facilities include sofa, LCD TV, table and wardrobe.

No Seat--Standing (无座 wúzuò)

If you can’t get any other ticket, you may be issued a “no-seat” ticket. These are generally cheap. Even long-distance journeys may cost less than 200 RMB or less than 30 USD. However, the crush of people jostling for standing and sitting space is terrible. Sometimes people even get violent. You can purchase small stools or sit on your luggage.

Classification of China's Trains

In China, train numbers are usually indicated with a capital letter followed by several numerals. The letter indentifies the category of the train, which is often determined by speed and the number of stops the train will make during the journey. The better categories accordingly represent the higher level of price, speed, service, facilities and cleanness, and fewer number of stops along the way. The common used letters (categories) are as follows:

D trains – Multiple Unit Train or Bullet Trains (Dongche)

They are the fastest (over 200 km/hr or 124 miles/hr) in China, and provide frequent service between the main cities centered around Beijing and Shanghai, such as trains Beijing/Shanghai, Beijing/Zhengzhou, Guangzhou/Shenzhen, Shanghai/Hangzhou, Shanghai/Nanjing, and so on. Trains only stop at a few major stops along the way.

The coaches are modern and air-conditioned. First-class seats (soft seats) and second-class seats (hard seats) are available, while for some long-distance overnight trains, such as Beijing/Shanghai, there are soft-sleepers available. The washrooms are relatively clean, with closestools.

Z trains – Direct Express (Zhida)

The second fastest (160 km/hr or 99.4 miles/hr) in China, though its name implies "non-stop", some do have several stops along the way, but only at major stations. The coaches are modern and air-conditioned. They are usually overnight trains, so there are usually only sleepers (hard/soft) available, while some only have soft-sleepers available. The trains serve main cities, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Xi’an, Wuhan, Shenzhen, as well as Hangzhou and Ningbo.

T trains – Express Trains (Tekuai)

T trains run at 140 km/hr or 87 miles/hr, and have limited number of stops along the way, at major cities or some junctions. All the major cities with railways can be reached by taking T trains. The coaches are modern and air-conditioned. Both seats (hard/soft) and sleepers (hard/soft) are available.

K trains – Fast Trains (Kuaisu)

K trains run at 120 km/hr or 74.6 miles/hr, and stop at more stations than the T trains. Besides stopping at cities, they will also stop at main counties along the way. Both seats (hard/soft) and sleepers (hard/soft) are available. The coaches are not so modern and clean as those mentioned above, and air-conditioning is not always on, but they are still tolerable.

 

[LvpAK]

300km/h and 250km/h, two kinds of speed. the same kind train, while it is designed 350km/h, you know the faster,the more energy needed. Beijing to Shanghai,5 hours, comparing the plane takes 2 hours in air .

 

[LvpAK]

My brother, I give your govt a good idea, getting a brand new railway free. first, your govt buy the land where the new station located,far away the city about 5 kilometers,the land price must be cheap. second,lay the railway. third, sell the lands around the new station,programming a shoppingcenter, you can really sell a very tremendous price to pay the railway loan.

 

[shuttler]

High Speed G Train (Beijing ~Shanghai route) - interior

Sightseeing Area
Locating in both ends of the train, sightseeing area is the most mysterious part for passengers. On the 16-car train, it is arranged by 5 seats: 2 business class seats (in the first row) and 3 first class seats.
On the 8-car train, one sightseeing area is arranged by 6 deluxe seats. Deluxe seat, also called as Tedengzuo in Chinese, is a special first class seat located in sightseeing area. Price for deluxe seat is RMB 1055 Yuan.
Business class seats are equipped on 16-car train only and deluxe seats are equipped with 8-car trains only. In another word, business class seat doesn't co-exist with deluxe seat.
As sightseeing area is very close to the driver's room, passengers can see clearly how train drivers in their control room ride the train while sitting in the seat.

Business Class Seat in Sightseeing Area

On the 16-car train, business class seats are equipped in sightseeing areas as well as in a special business class car.
Business class seat on Jinghu High Speed Railway has even exceeds aircraft cabin in terms of luxury. These red leather seats are 180-degree reclinable which makes passenger can sit, sleep or choose whatever position during the rail journey.

Browse Web on Board the Train

Business class seat is equipped with flexible reading lamp, foldable dining table, multifunction lcd tv, power socket, 3G wireless networks and etc. You will feel very safe and comfortable while sit-in or sleep-in it.

The Business Class Train Car
This car comprises of 24 business class seats. Price is Renminbi 1750 Yuan per ticket.
As you can see, passengers are accommodated on 8 rows of seats, with a long narrow passageway dividing the 3-seat rows into two parts.

 

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The First Class Train Car
The 16-car train has 123 first class seats. Ticket price for first class seat is RMB 935 Yuan each.
Space on first class seat car is a bit narrow as four seats are arranged each row. First class seat is equipped with flexible reading lamp and passenger can adjust slope of the seat too.

The Second Class Train Car
2nd class seats are most-used seats on Beijing Shanghai high speed G train. There are 716 second class seats each 16-car train and price for 2nd class seat is RMB 555 Yuan each. Unlike business class or first class seat, second class seats wear blue covers. Thick cushioned mat makes 2nd class seat feels much comfortable and it's the most favorited seat type by Chinese lao bai xing (general public).

A Dining Car
For the 16-car train, No. 9 car is its dinning car. This is the dining area on Beijing-Shanghai High Speed G train. Beautifully decorated in blue and white floral fabric, the dining car looks very bright, tidy and spacious.

Four Course Meal
Passengers holding business class seats, deluxe seats or first class seats are named as VIP passengers. According to related regulation, VIP passengers are served by free 4-course meal as well as free drinks, snacks and etc. Besides this, VIP passengers can also use specially designated waiting hall, free Internet surfing, free luggage transportation serivce and etc.

Toliet Room
Toliet room locates at both end of the train car. Toliet room on the high speed train is maintained and cleaned immediately after it is used.



Beijing Shanghai High Speed G Train Interior Photos

 

[S10]

I think they should build a national high speed passenger rail link along China's major coastal cities, not just limit them to Bejing-Shanghai.

From North to South: Harbin-Shenyang-Bejing-Tianjin-Qingdao-Nanjing-Shanghai-Hangzhou-Shaoxing-Wenzhou-Fuzhou-Xiamen-Shantou-Guangzhou-Nanning

Such a link would greatly speed up transportation of passengers, especially new year rush, along China's most densly populated areas. In addition, it would free up existing railways for transportation of goods.

 

[yusheng]

Shanghai-Hong Kong high-speed rail will open in 3 years, shortening travel time to 3.5 hours

Total length: 1300km
Current status: U/C
Completion: 2013~2014 (to Shenzhen), 2015 (to Hong Kong)
Travel time: 4-5 hours (from 19 hours)

Shanghai-Hangzhou high-speed (opened) is the first part of the 1300km rail. Other stages are,

Hangzhou-Ningbo (opened)
Ningbo-Fuzhou (opened)
Fuzhou-Xiamen (opened)
Xiamen-Shenzhen (opened)
Shenzhen-Hong Kong (2015)

 

[yusheng]

Chart on Chinese Railway Development (in km)

Year Length Electrified-Rail Electric-Ratio
2001 70000 16900 24.14%
2002 71900 18100 25.2%
2003 73000 18800 25.7%
2004 74400 19300 25.9%
2005 75400 20200 26.7%
2006 77000 24400 31.7%
2007 78000 25500 32.7%
2008 80000 28000 34.6%
2009 86000 36000 41.7%
2010 91000 42000 46.6%
2011 93000 46000 49.4%

You can say the electrified rail are most for high speed train, the other for diesel locomotive or diesel train, anyway railway are same, can applied for both kind of locomotive rail.

electified train, as high speed train, is more energy efficient and clearner, but vulnerable when no electricity, so both kinds of locomotive train preserved.

source

 

[yusheng]

I think they should build a national high speed passenger rail link along China's major coastal cities, not just limit them to Bejing-Shanghai.

From North to South: Harbin-Shenyang-Bejing-Tianjin-Qingdao-Nanjing-Shanghai-Hangzhou-Shaoxing-Wenzhou-Fuzhou-Xiamen-Shantou-Guangzhou-Nanning

Such a link would greatly speed up transportation of passengers, especially new year rush, along China's most densly populated areas. In addition, it would free up existing railways for transportation of goods.

S10, this is the panorama picture of all Chinese rail way routes, both completed and planed, you can check out what is you plan. due to too big size of the map, I just give the link, the size of picture is 8M:

map of whole China railway net

here a thumbnail:

Legend:
• Black: Old lines
• Blue: Recently opened lines (since 2007/8)
• Brown: Completed, yet to open
• Red: Under construction
• Orange: Planned, construction to begin soon
• Green: In study
The thicker the line, the faster the rail.


due to quick development and without update, some of the routes in the map has already finished and put into service. so just for your reference.

 

[yusheng]

some pictures of Chinese railway:

Yunnan rail, on Beijing-Kunming Railway

Hunjiang-Baishan railway, Jilin Province

West Ring Rail, Hainan Island

Northeast Rail

Shanxi Railway

Beijing-Taiyuan Rail

Mount Qin, Shaanxi Province

 

[SamranAli]

amazing...congratulations China, hope we too have a high speed rail between Karachi and Rawalpindi.