BEIJING: China launched service yesterday on the world’s longest high-speed rail route, the latest milestone in the country’s rapid and — sometimes troubled — super fast rail network.
The opening of the new 2,298-kilometre line between Beijing and Guangzhou means passengers will be whisked from the capital to the southern commercial hub in just eight hours, compared with the 22 hours previously required.
China Central Television broadcast the 9am departure of the first train live from Beijing West Railway Station. It also carried live reports inside the train showing passengers toting cameras to apparently snap commemorative photos.
Another train departed Guangzhou for the capital at 10am, Xinhua news reported.
Trains will travel at an average speed of 300 kilometres per hour over the line, which includes 35 stops in cities such as Zhengzhou, Wuhan and Changsha.
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.
The Beijing-Guangzhou route was made possible with the completion of a line between Zhengzhou and Beijing. High-speed sections linking Zhengzhou-Wuhan and Wuhan-Guangzhou were already in service.
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