Fly or Train?: Beijing to Shanghai
Jul 7, 2016 | 1:20 am
#31
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 3,286
Did you read the article I linked to, from May, 2016?
It says, "此次调整後，包括京沪高铁，時速300公裏嘚动车组列车票价将根据淡旺季浮动." ("After this adjustment, including the Beijing-Shanghai HSR, fares of the 300 km/hour trains will float according to peak/non-peak seasons.")
It says, "此次调整後，包括京沪高铁，時速300公裏嘚动车组列车票价将根据淡旺季浮动." ("After this adjustment, including the Beijing-Shanghai HSR, fares of the 300 km/hour trains will float according to peak/non-peak seasons.")
Jul 7, 2016 | 2:30 am
#32
Join Date: May 2009
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300km/h, those are the semi-high speed ones I guess, with several stops..
I guess demand for those have shrinked since faster options became available (ie, when the fast ones are sold out, they'll also be booked during high times, but lower fares compared to the high-speed ones during slower booking periods should ensure that some people will pick them instead, I guess?)
Also, it's not clear to me if they will simply decide if day X / hour X / train X is "high season" or "low season", or if they'll indeed do dynamic pricing depending on how well it's selling. I guess with the sheer amount of trains, they'll opt for a system as simple as possible, ie by days..
I guess demand for those have shrinked since faster options became available (ie, when the fast ones are sold out, they'll also be booked during high times, but lower fares compared to the high-speed ones during slower booking periods should ensure that some people will pick them instead, I guess?)
Also, it's not clear to me if they will simply decide if day X / hour X / train X is "high season" or "low season", or if they'll indeed do dynamic pricing depending on how well it's selling. I guess with the sheer amount of trains, they'll opt for a system as simple as possible, ie by days..
Jul 7, 2016 | 2:57 am
#33
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 3,286
While the Shanghai-Beijing HSR was designed for 350 km/hr operation, it has in fact been operating at 300 km/hr for several years. You'll recall speed was reduced on all HSR lines due to concerns about construction issues.
In any event, they've just increased the speed on some departures on that line back to 350 km/hr. These departures carry a surcharge.
But no matter, 300 km/hr or 350 km/hr, they're all HSR.
In any event, they've just increased the speed on some departures on that line back to 350 km/hr. These departures carry a surcharge.
But no matter, 300 km/hr or 350 km/hr, they're all HSR.
Jul 7, 2016 | 5:04 am
#34
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Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 46,399
While the Shanghai-Beijing HSR was designed for 350 km/hr operation, it has in fact been operating at 300 km/hr for several years. You'll recall speed was reduced on all HSR lines due to concerns about construction issues.
In any event, they've just increased the speed on some departures on that line back to 350 km/hr. These departures carry a surcharge.
But no matter, 300 km/hr or 350 km/hr, they're all HSR.
In any event, they've just increased the speed on some departures on that line back to 350 km/hr. These departures carry a surcharge.
But no matter, 300 km/hr or 350 km/hr, they're all HSR.
Regarding the decrease from 350 to 300, this happened after that accident in ~2010, and safety was the stated reason for the change. However, since that accident had nothing to do with the speed of travel, I have long suspected that saving money was the --behind the scenes-- reason. During testing of the Jing-Hu Line, I recall reading that some trains were run at very high speeds (e.g. 450).
Jul 7, 2016 | 6:33 am
#35
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Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 11,261
During September delays should be minimal compared to Summer. I'd book an early morning flight and fly rather than take the train. Pick a two
aisle jet and you'll most likely have lie flats. On the train there is too much risk of getting the guy yelling into his phone for 5 hours or playing video games with the sound up and no headphones as your seat partner. Train in Summer or during bad weather and plane at all other times.
aisle jet and you'll most likely have lie flats. On the train there is too much risk of getting the guy yelling into his phone for 5 hours or playing video games with the sound up and no headphones as your seat partner. Train in Summer or during bad weather and plane at all other times.
Jul 7, 2016 | 9:15 am
#36
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 3,286
Hmmm.
Reports late last year said the 350 km/hr trains would be re-introduced this year.
http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_88f89f490102w1ox.html
It looks like that hasn't started.
As to why the original slow-up, of course it's possible money was a consideration, but you'll also recall fares were lowered a bit when the speed was reduced.
Reports late last year said the 350 km/hr trains would be re-introduced this year.
http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_88f89f490102w1ox.html
It looks like that hasn't started.
As to why the original slow-up, of course it's possible money was a consideration, but you'll also recall fares were lowered a bit when the speed was reduced.
Jul 7, 2016 | 11:23 am
#37
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Jul 7, 2016 | 12:07 pm
#38
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 3,286
If and when the speed's boosted back to 350 km/hr, you'll probably have to look at the duration and price to determine which trains run at that speed, unless they introduce a new prefix.
Note that this recent article suggests economics not technology is behind the delay in re-introducing 350 km/hr service:
http://news.wenweipo.com/2016/06/11/IN1606110035.htm (in Chinese)
Note that this recent article suggests economics not technology is behind the delay in re-introducing 350 km/hr service:
http://news.wenweipo.com/2016/06/11/IN1606110035.htm (in Chinese)
Jul 7, 2016 | 5:18 pm
#39
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: ORD
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I just took the high speed rail around the area, from Shanghai to Nanjing and back then from Tainjin and Beijing.
The only drawbacks of high speed is that there might be some really obnoxious people, I had a guy next to me talking very loudly on his phone. And the taxi line in Shanghai was 2 - 3 hours long so we had to negotiate with some dude to get a car and got ripped off (250 rmb to Doubletree Pudong)
The only drawbacks of high speed is that there might be some really obnoxious people, I had a guy next to me talking very loudly on his phone. And the taxi line in Shanghai was 2 - 3 hours long so we had to negotiate with some dude to get a car and got ripped off (250 rmb to Doubletree Pudong)
Jul 7, 2016 | 10:13 pm
#40
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Remember riding the Beijing Tianjin line Aug 08, during Olympics, it was pushing in the mid 380s at the somewhat short duration peak speed portion of the trip. When two trains crossed it was scary.
Jul 8, 2016 | 9:12 pm
#41
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 11,261
I just took the high speed rail around the area, from Shanghai to Nanjing and back then from Tainjin and Beijing.
The only drawbacks of high speed is that there might be some really obnoxious people, I had a guy next to me talking very loudly on his phone. And the taxi line in Shanghai was 2 - 3 hours long so we had to negotiate with some dude to get a car and got ripped off (250 rmb to Doubletree Pudong)
The only drawbacks of high speed is that there might be some really obnoxious people, I had a guy next to me talking very loudly on his phone. And the taxi line in Shanghai was 2 - 3 hours long so we had to negotiate with some dude to get a car and got ripped off (250 rmb to Doubletree Pudong)
Jul 9, 2016 | 12:34 am
#42
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: IAH
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The only drawbacks of high speed is that there might be some really obnoxious people, I had a guy next to me talking very loudly on his phone. And the taxi line in Shanghai was 2 - 3 hours long so we had to negotiate with some dude to get a car and got ripped off (250 rmb to Doubletree Pudong)
Jul 9, 2016 | 5:55 am
#43
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Jul 9, 2016 | 10:17 am
#44
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: MAN DXB ✈️
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What's the average cost of internal flights and when is the best time to book?
Seems like a few business flights for around 2000 rmb within China - is that,a decent price for domestic trips?
Seems like a few business flights for around 2000 rmb within China - is that,a decent price for domestic trips?
Jul 9, 2016 | 10:27 am
#45
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 3,286
Generally two or three weeks ahead works for getting decent airfares, unless you're travelling at a holiday period.
There can be fairly big seasonal differences in fares, with discounts being greater in the winter than summer.
Also, discounts tend to appear on busy, well-travelled routes. Flights in and out of a small place like Huangshan, for example, often don't get discounted that much.
There can be fairly big seasonal differences in fares, with discounts being greater in the winter than summer.
Also, discounts tend to appear on busy, well-travelled routes. Flights in and out of a small place like Huangshan, for example, often don't get discounted that much.