CHINA: China's Premier Wen Jiabao rides the first Beijing-Shanghai high speed train, as it opens to the public ahead of the Chinese Communist Party's anniversary

Record ID: 559666

  • Title: CHINA: China's Premier Wen Jiabao rides the first Beijing-Shanghai high speed train, as it opens to the public ahead of the Chinese Communist Party's anniversary
  • Date: 1st July 2011
  • Summary: MAN READING PAPER ON TRAIN VARIOUS OF TRAIN PULLING OUT OF STATION
  • Embargoed: 16th July 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: China, China
  • Country: China
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAD7WLZ4LQIJIUDLWLK8HJARP40
  • Story Text: China officially launched its new Beijing-Shanghai express train line on Thursday (June 30), one day ahead of the 90th anniversary of the ruling Communist Party.
    Premier Wen Jiabao, along with hundreds of Chinese, stepped aboard the first train leaving from Beijing for Shanghai at 3 p.m. local time (0700 GMT).
    State television CCTV showed live footage of Wen shaking hands with a group of railroad workers at a launch ceremony held on the platform of the Beijing South Railway Station.
    Wen, before boarding the train, said the launch of the high speed rail was a landmark event.
    "Building the Beijing-Shanghai high speed rail link was one of the major decisions the Party and the central government has made. It serves a great purpose to help complete a modern transport system, to promote economic and social development, and fulfill the travelling needs of the people," he said.
    The sleek white and blue train, dubbed "Harmony" after President Hu's "harmonious society" slogan, zipped along its elevated track at 300 km (185 miles) per hour.
    The high-speed train cuts travel time on the 1,318-kilometre (820-mile) route to under five hours, from the 11-hour journey on the old service.
    Safety concerns prevented the train from clocking a higher speed.
    The line is designed to carry 80 million passengers a year, providing heady competition for the airlines on a route notorious for delays.
    Passengers waiting to board the train were happy to be one of the first to try out the new service.
    "I know a lot of people who are scared of flying and always take trains. But usually trains are much slower and always full of people, so I think getting the high speed train is an inevitability, and I really welcome it," said passenger Xia Mengying.
    "I feel very excited because I think this high speed rail will make a great contribution to the development of these two cities. I have waited for this for a long time, so I'm very excited today to have the chance to sit on the first train," added another passenger from Hong Kong, Tsoi Potak.
    For 1,750 yuan ($270 USD), business class travellers can ride in fully reclining seats and be waited on by uniformed train attendants.
    Economy class seats cost 555 yuan ($83 USD), just under the price of discounted airfare.
    Costing 220.9 billion yuan ($34 billion USD), the Beijing-Shanghai link had triggered public outcry over its high cost and doubt over its profitability.
    However, there is no suggestion that China will slow-down this high profile project.
    The Railway Ministry said it expected the whole network to stretch up to 45,000 km (27,962 miles) by the end of 2015.
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