Originally Posted by moondog
I responded to your PM but would like to point out for the others that planes are always faster than trains, even if you have to wait for a few hours. Furthermore, as long as you avoid the 3-7 window, your flight will probably operate.
How reliable are the trains?
For example, if I can take the 7 pm train from Beijing to Shanghai with a high degree of confidence that I'll arrive around 7 am, that might be better for me than taking an 9 am flight not knowing whether I'll make it by noon.