World's longest bullet train service opens
2012-12-28 13:59:06The world’s longest high-speed rail line became operational in China on Wednesday.
The longest high-speed rail line spans over half of China. The 2,298-kilometre (1,425-mile) rail line will connect Beijing with Guangzhou, which means that passengers will reach from the capital to southern commercial hub in just eight hours. It used to take the passengers at least 22 hours previously to cover the same distance.
According to Chinese newspaper, Global Times, two trains departed from stations in Beijing and Guangzhou at 0900 hours and 1000 hours (local time) respectively to mark the opening of 2,298-kilometer long rail line, largest in world.
The trains will run at an average speed of 300 km per hour. It will have 35 stops in major cities such as Zhengzhou, Wuhan on the Yangtze River and Changsha. It will make the travel of the travelers more easier and more hassle-free.
“At least pairs of trains will run on the new line each day. The alternative schedules have been made for weekends and peak travel times,” said Zhou Li, director general of science and technology of Chinese Ministry of Railways (MOR).
He said the opening of the Beijing-Guangzhou high-speed line shows that China’s high-speed railway network has started to take shape.
China has over 9,300 km of high-speed railways in operation
With the opening of the Beijing-Guangzhou high-speed line, China now has more than 9,300 km of high-speed railways in operation.
Chinese government aims to create a high-speed railway backbone featuring four east-west lines and four north-south lines with a total operating mileage of more than 120,000 km by 2020.
Chinese Railway officials said they have taken steps ahead of the new line’s opening to improve maintenance and inspection of infrastructure, including track, rolling stock and emergency response measures.
“The emergency rescue system and all kinds of emergency pre-plans are established to improve emergency response ability,” they said.
State media have reported that December 26 was chosen to start passenger service on the Beijing-Guangzhou line to commemorate the birth in 1893 of revered Chinese leader Mao Zedong.