BEIJING/SHANGHAI
The Beijing-Guangzhou high-speed railway opened today, reducing the travel time from 20 hours to eight for the 2,298-kilometer journey.
Trains run at an average speed of 300 km per hour.
Two trains departed from stations in Beijing and Guangzhou at 9 a.m. and 10 a.m., respectively, to mark the opening of the 2,298-kilometer line.
A total of 155 pairs of trains will run on the new line each day, and alternative schedules have been made for weekends and peak travel times, according to the Ministry of Railways (MOR).
With the opening of the Beijing-Guangzhou high-speed line, China now has more than 9,300 km of high-speed railway in operation.
The new line is one of four north-south lines expected to serve as the country's high-speed railway backbone, which also features four east-west lines.
Officials said the new Beijing-Guangzhou high-speed line would not only improve transportation conditions, but also cut logistics costs, boost the comprehensive development of land resources along the route, enhance the investment environment and improve economic collaboration between regions.
Reporting by Ali Ihsan Cam/Tevfik Durul
