Fans gather for train's last ride

People say goodbye to train No 6417 by taking the last ride in Beijing on June 30, 2012. [Photo/CFP]

Train No 6417 travelled from Beijing to Chengde for the last time before it retired on June 30, 2012. Hundreds of fans hopped on the train to say goodbye to "the cheapest train in Beijing", The Beijing News reported Sunday.

Train No 6417 lived up to its nickname with a ticket price of only 17 yuan for a 6 hour and 24 minute ride.

Trains No 6417 and 6418 are two of the older train models which are now in a dilapidated condition. There are no air conditioning systems on board and the trains travel slower than the newer trains. Train No 6417/6418 will be replaced by the air conditioned trains No K7717 amd K7718, the newspaper reported.

Ma Xingda, who takes train No 6417 four times each month to go back to his hometown, Chengde, bought a ticket for its last travel in memory of the times he has spent on the train for 14 years, according to the newspaper.

"The fever has been going on for a week," said Lv Yeru, conductor of train No 6417. The attendance rate at this time of the year is only 50 percent, however, it has been running in full loads ever since the train update news was released, said the newspaper.

Passengers held onto their tickets, took pictures with the train and asked the conductors to sign them in order to keep the memories, the newspaper said.