Ticket price of Beijing-Shanghai express likely 500 yuan

(chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2009-07-30 13:16

The ticket for a hard seat on a Beijing-Shanghai high-speed train will likely be priced at about 500 yuan ($73), an official in charge of the railway construction said Wednesday, the Beijing News reported today.

“500 yuan is a reasonable price for the train,” the official said, but noted that the price still needs to be approved by the National Development and Reform Commission, China’s top economic planning body. The official’s name and formal position were not available.

Railway authorities are also considering adding sleepers to the train, according to the official, who said they would probably be especially appreciated by busy business people taking advantage of the train to rest.

“I like the idea of adding sleepers to the train, so that I can sleep more comfortably.” a business women who only gave her surname, Chen, said.

The train has a designed speed of 350 kilometers per hour, and it will only take about four hours to travel the 1,318 kilometer long rail line between Beijing and Shanghai.

Construction of the new high-speed Beijing-Shanghai railway began on April 18, 2008, and it will be completed in time to begin operations in 2012.