High-speed rail to link Beijing and Shenzhen

The high-speed rail linking Beijing and Shenzhen in Guangdong province is expected to enter service by the end of this year. By then, the 2,372-kilometer journey will take only eight hours rather than the current 24 to 29 hours by train, the Southern Metropolis Daily reported on Monday.

The line will start at Shenzhen, end at Beijing and make stops at Guangzhou, Changsha, Wuhan, Zhengzhou and Shijiazhuang, the report said. The Shenzhen-Wuhan section has been operating since April 1. The section between Zhengzhou and Wuhan will be finished by September.

However, many people have voiced concerns over the ticket price.

The current price for high-speed railway from Shenzhen to Wuhan is 840 yuan ($131) for a place in first-class coach and 540 for second class. The distance between Shenzhen and Wuhan is about half the journey from Shenzhen to Beijing. An airplane ticket from Shenzhen to Beijing costs 1,750 yuan without a discount. The regular train costs between 257 and 720 yuan.