China begins to restore 350 kmh bullet train

2017-09-21
Xinhua

Photo taken on June 26, 2017 shows the China’s new bullet train “Fuxing” at Beijing South Railway Station in Beijing, capital of China. China’s next generation bullet train “Fuxing” debuted on the Beijing-Shanghai line on June 26. A CR400AF model departed Beijing South Railway Station at 11:05 am for Shanghai. At the same time, the CR400BF model left Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station for Beijing. The new bullet trains, also known as electric multiple units (EMU), boast top speeds of 400 kilometers an hour and a consistent speed of 350 kilometers an hour.[Photo/Xinhua]

BEIJING — China on Sept 21 increased the maximum speed of bullet trains on the Beijing-Shanghai high-speed railway to 350 kilometers per hour, six years after it was reduced to 300 kmh.

A bullet train named Fuxing (meaning “rejuvenation” in Chinese), which will travel at the new high speed, departed Beijing South Railway Station at 9 a.m. for Shanghai.

The speed increase will cut the Beijing-Shanghai journey to 4 hours and 28 minutes.

Starting on Sept 21, 14 Fuxing trains will run in both directions between Beijing and Shanghai at a maximum speed of 350 kilometers per hour.

“These trains are so popular that the tickets for today already sold out a week ago,” said Huang Xin, an official with the China Railway Corporation, on Sept 21.

Connecting the Chinese capital with the major financial and trade hub, the Beijing-Shanghai high-speed railway is one of the busiest in the country, carrying more than 100 million passengers a year.

China has the world’s longest high-speed rail network, with 22,000 kilometers in operation so far.