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Beijing-Shanghai high-speed rail to run early

By Ben Yue (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2011-05-16 17:17
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The Beijing-Shanghai high-speed railway is likely to begin operations before July, about 10 days earlier than scheduled. Its maximum speeds and ticket prices will be lowered, too, the Beijing Times reported Monday.

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The newspaper reported that the high-speed railway has been making test runs since May 11. Its first test run carrying passengers might happen as soon as June 20.

The Beijing-Shanghai high-speed railway was designed to travel at speeds of up to 380 kilometers per hour. Minister of Railways Sheng Guangzu announced in April that the high-speed will run at a lesser 300 kilometers per hour, slowing to 250 kilometers per hour at some points along the route.

Wang Mengshu, a railway expert said it is extremely costly when a train moves faster than 320 kilometers per hour. The railway is also likely to use slower speeds at night to make sleeping passengers comfortable.

Lowering the speed and establishing more stations will attract more people from small cities along the railway route, which will bring more income to the railway, another industry insider told the newspaper.

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