889

"Even in small stations, when it is the evening rush hour, it can take some time to get your ticket printed, in Leshan I was on an evening train back to Chengdu, and I was stuck in line behind three people trying to buy last minute tickets (I bought mine online), and I ended up waiting about 15 minutes."

This is a serious problem for non-Mainlanders travelling in China these days. Everyone can book train tickets online, and most do, but only those with Chinese ID cards can use the automatic kiosks to print-out their tickets. Everyone else -- primarily foreigners and Chinese from HK and Taiwan -- has to wait in the eternal ticket line, often behind someone planning a trip to Harbin via Wulumuqi.

There's supposedly a gadget in development that'll make the kiosks available to everyone, but it doesn't seem to have been perfected yet.

As said, in many countries these days showing your phone is enough: no need to print anything out. But not China.

JPDM

For many train routes, Chinese do not need a paper ticket either, nor a phone. They can just swipe their id card and don't need a paper ticket. But again, not available to foreigners.
Considering that foreigners represent a small fraction of 1% of the traffic, I would not hold my breath for the gadget that you mention.

889

Yes but I believe that's only on some HSR lines and only at stations that have the right turnstyles installed. On traditional trains, everyone -- Chinese and non-Chinese -- needs a ticket.

As to the gizmos, there were gizmos installed on ticket kiosks at Shenzhen North within the past year that read Home Return Permits (and maybe passports) but they didn't work well and were removed pretty quickly. Presumably they'll be back once the bugs have been worked out. Point is, they are working on it.

kaka

In chi na w their safety disrequirement another wenzhou incident is bound to happen again.

but dont worry, hardly anyone died.

JPDM

Do some research. Trains accidents are much less frequent in China than most places.

YuropFlyer

[Moderator edit.] Accidents happen. By kilometers travelled Chinas train have a rather good statistics regarding accidents over the last couple of years. Thats all that counts. More trains/kilometers travelled, more accidents in general. You cant compare the matured train network of China with that of a 3rd world train country like the US where much more accidents happen by train kilometer passed.

889

Opening of the Xi'an-Chengdu HSR line on Wednesday, December 6, is a pretty big deal. Just 4.5 hours between the two cities. At 263RMB second class, not too exorbitant by current China Rail standards.

JPDM

This is definitely very good news.

I just read that airlines have cancelled two-thirds of the flights on this route and drastically cut their fares to match the train.

chornedsnorkack

Interesting, but not relevant specifically to Beijing-Shanghai line. The D trains seem to be just Xian to Chengdu and Chongqing. Even Zhengzhou only has a high speed service to Chengdu via Yichang and Wanzhou, NOT via Xian, and Taiyuan has no high speed service to Chengdu.

It might be relevant to Beijing-Shanghai line if there were trains like Shanghai-Xuzhou-Zhengzhou-Xian-Chengdu - but there are not.

JPDM

Doesn't matter. This thread seems to now be about HSR not just the Beijing-Shanghai line. Nothing wrong with this.

Java Titan

This line is just in service so it has only service in between Xi'an to ChengDu/Chongqing. There is a upcoming schedule change later this month, then you will see new service from other cities like Beijing, Shanghai.

Beijing Chengdu and other routes will start on 12/28. From Chengdu to Beijing will be 7 hours 47 minutes, about half time of current high speed train.

chornedsnorkack

Yes, only 1 train daily Chengdu-Beijing. Cannot find any service Chengdu-Shanghai via Xian.

Java Titan

On 12/28, there is only one G89 from Beijing to Chengdu, it's 7 hours 48 minutes with only 3 stops in between. From 12/29, there will be another one G307, it's 10 hours 04 minutes with many stops. There is no one from Shanghai to Chengdu on this route, but there is one from Nanjing, G1886, 9 hours 42 minutes with many stops.

chornedsnorkack

G307 seems to be via Yichang rather than Xian.

chornedsnorkack

It seems that the Fuxing services shall be expanded, from 10th of April.
What I find:
Beijing-Shanghai, 19th of March - fastest train G7, departs 19:00, arrives 23:24, trip time 4:24
Total of 7 trains up to 4:34, departure times

1. G5 - 7:00
2. G1 - 9:00
3. G13 - 10:00
4. G3 - 14:00
5. G17 - 15:00
6. G7 - 19:00
7. G9 - 19:05

On 12th of April, I find the best time to be 4:18, now G17, departs 19:00, arrives then 23:18. So 6 minutes improvement.
Total of 10 trains up to 4:40, departure times:

1. G5 - 7:00
2. G1 - 9:00
3. G7 - 10:00
4. G9 - 12:00
5. G3 - 14:00
6. G11 - 15:00
7. G13 - 17:00
8. G15 - 18:00
9. G17 - 19:00
10. G21 - 19:08

About Beijing-Hangzhou...
Now, the best time is 4:54, by G19, departing 8:30
On 12th of April, there still is a train departing 8:30 and taking 4:54, then numbered G165.
But the best time shall be 4:18, by G39, departing 19:04.
Total 3 trains under 4:38:

1. G19 - 8:00
2. G31 - 11:00
3. G39 - 19:04

Note that G19 shall be the first train to arrive - a Harmony train G57 shall depart 7:15, take 5:50 and arrive 13:05, while a Rejuvenation train G19 shall have departed 8:00, overtaken G57 and arrived at 12:38.