In a surprise move, China has decided to slow down the speed of its high profile bullet trains, apparently due to complaints from public of heavy ticket fee being charged.

China’s high-speed railways will run at a slower speed than previously expected, the Railways Minister, Mr Sheng Guangzu, who recently replaced Mr Liu Zhijun following corruption charges, said.

In an interview with the state-run People’s Daily, Mr Sheng said high-speed trains will run at 300 kilometres per hour starting from July 1, instead of the previously announced 350 km/hr.

The change to the country’s high-speed rail network was made after Mr Liu stepped down when he became the subject of an investigation for an alleged “severe violation of discipline” on February 12.

Mr Sheng said only the four east-west and four north-south artery lines of the high-speed rail network will carry trains at 300 km/hr.

The inter-city lines that usually connect major centres within regions should be operated at between 200 and 250 km/hr, while most railways in central and western China will operate at less than 200 km/hr, he said.

The move was to placate passengers who complain they are forced to ride on high-speed trains and pay more because the Ministry cancelled slower trains, he said, adding that there will be other options. For example, the 300-km/hr lines will also operate bullet trains at between 200 and 250 km/hr.

Previously, China was expecting to build a high-speed rail network with an operational speed of 350 km/hr or more, which dramatically reduced distances between cities. The landmark Beijing-Shanghai high-speed railway was built to run trains at 380 km/hr that could compete with airlines.

But Mr Sheng did not say whether the line will still run that fast when it opens in June.

Related Topics
comment COMMENT NOW