Sunday, November 13, 2011
Rail transport in China
Classes
The first character of the route identifier indicates the class of the passenger train, often determined by the speed and the relative number of stops the train makes along the way.As the Rule of The Edit and Management of Train Timetable, a rule issued by Ministry of Railway, the arrangement of following passenger train classes was put into practice from April 1, 2009.
- G ("Gaosu"; High Speed EMU)
- C ("Chengji"; Intercity EMU Train)
CRH2 EMU in Jinan Railway Station
- D ("Dongche"; EMU Train)
As of 2009, D-series trains provide fast frequent service between main cities in China. For example:
- Beijing - Shijiazhuang (2 hours travel time), Taiyuan(3 hours travel time), Handan (3-3.5 hours travel time), Zhengzhou(5 hours travel time).
- Guangzhou - Shenzhen(1 hour travel time)
- Shanghai - Nanjing (2 hours travel time), Hangzhou(1.5 hours travel time), some continuing to destinations beyond such as Zhengzhou and Hankou.
Though its name in Chinese (直达 Zhida) technically implies a "non-stop" overnight train, some of these trains have several stops between the two stations. The majority have both soft sleepers and hard sleepers, while some Z trains have only soft sleepers. The top speed is 160 km/h. It uses the numbers Z1-Z9998 without regard to the number of railway bureaus entered.
This series became available after the fifth rise in speed of the railway on April 18, 2004. Early on (2004–2006), all but one of the Z-series trains had either Beijing or Beijing West station as their destination or origin. As of 2009, Z-series trains also operated along the Yangtze Valley as well, providing overnight service from Wuhan to Shanghai, Hangzhou, Ningbo and Shenzhen.
- T ("Tekuai"; Express)
- K ("Kuaisu"; Fast)
After April 18, 2004, N-series trains, which represent fast trains travelling exclusively within one railway bureau, were derived from K-series. Then all K-series trains travel on lines operated by more than one railway bureau. After April 1, 2009, N-series was re-merged to K-series after Apr 1,2009.
An air-conditioned General Fast Train from Chengdu to Urumqi West
- General Fast Train
- General Train
Route identifiers for general trains are always 4 digits - a numeric prefix from 6-7 followed by a 3-digit route number. 6001-6198 are used for the trains that run in more than one railway bureau, while 7001-7598 will be used for the trains that run in only one railway bureau.
- Commuter Train
This series of trains are temporary - they are not listed in the official train schedule, but are added when necessary. Many of these trains only operate at peak passenger travel season such as during the spring festival period. In addition, many new train services are originally added as L-series before train schedules are readjusted and later become regular services. L1-L6998 are used for the temporary trains that run in more than one railway bureau, while L7001 to L9998 will be used for the trains that run in only one railway bureau.
The standard pronunciation on the railway system is "Lin"(临) in Chinese.
- Y("Linshiluyou"; Temporary Tourist Train)
Accommodation and Fares
- First Class Seat (Chinese: 一等座; pinyin: Yīděngzuò) , used for CRH series EMU trains. There are 4 seats per row (2+2), just similar as soft seat.
- Second Class Seat (Chinese: 二等座; pinyin: èrděngzuò) , used for CRH series EMU trains. Similar as hard seat, there are 5 seats per row (3+2), the sitting area is relativly small.
- Hard seat (Chinese: 硬座; pinyin: Yìngzuò) is the basic fare, somewhat similar to the economy class on an airplane. On busier routes, passengers who cannot arrange for better seats because of overcrowding must also purchase this type of ticket. In some cases, tickets are sold with no seat assigned (无座, wu zuo), which allows the railway to sell more tickets than there are seats in the car. Still, even the number of "no seat" tickets offered for sale is limited, to keep overcrowding within limits.
- Soft seat (Chinese: 软座; pinyin: Ruǎnzuò) is one level above the Hard Seat. There are 4 seats per row (2+2), so it has comfortable seating similar to business class on airplanes.
- Hard sleeper (Chinese: 硬卧; pinyin: Yìngwò) is the basic accommodation for an overnight train. Despite the name, the bunks comfortably accommodate anyone below six feet. Bunks are arranged three on a side in a compartment - indicated by top, middle and bottom on the ticket. But there are no doors for the compartments.
- Soft sleeper (Chinese: 软卧; pinyin: Ruǎnwò) contains a wider bunk bed in an enclosed cabin, two bunks to a side, and an entertainment system where movie channels are available for viewing through headphones and an LCD display for each bunk. These tickets are usually reserved more than a week prior to departure. Now some CRH series EMU trains also have soft sleepers, such as CRH1E and CRH2E.
- Luxury soft sleeper (高级软卧包厢 or Chinese: 高包; pinyin: Gāobāo) is the top level sleeper that is only owned by a few trains. The ticket is also much more expensive than that of soft sleeper. It only contains two beds in a cabin, and there is a independent toilet in every cabin. Some of them has a shower cubicle in the car.
-
- Hard seat
- Soft sleeper
- Hard sleeper
Most trains feature some kind of on-board catering service. Vendors with trolleys walk through the train selling snacks, drinks, fruit, newspapers etc. On shorter distance trains, there is a cafe-car selling light snacks, tea, coffee, beer etc. whilst long-haul trains have full service restaurant cars.
Smoking is generally not permitted in the accommodation or washroom areas of the trains but is allowed in the restaurant/cafe area and in the vestibules between the cars. On modern trains such as CRH or Beijing Suburban railway smoking is completely banned. On the Guangzhou-Kowloon cross-border train smoking is only permitted in the cafe car.
Combined Transport
Combined transportation trains allow passengers to remain on a single train during two routes, without transferring to a different train at the station where the route changes.Guangzhou-Kowloon
Main articles: Guangdong Through Train (MTR), Shanghai-Kowloon Through Train, and Beijing-Kowloon Through Train
No. T97B/98B (Beijing-Kowloon) and No. T99B/100B (Shanghai-Kowloon) are combined transportation trains. Passengers can complete all formalities in their departure station, and no longer need to alight at Dongguan.International Combined Transportation
Beijing-UlaanBaatar-Moscow International train
A few trains can transport passengers out of China to places such as Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia, Moscow in Russia, Almaty in Kazakhstan, P'yŏngyang in North Korea, Hanoi in Vietnam and so on.
Source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passenger_rail_transport_in_China
List recommended hotels
Bangkok, Thailand :
Near Khaosan Road => http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g293916-d633078-Reviews-Rambuttri_Village_Inn_Plaza-Bangkok.htmlNear to Baiyoke Sky Hotel & Pratunam Market and near to Airport link 'Ratchaprarop station' (
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g293916-d1627578-Reviews-Budacco-Bangkok.html
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g293916-d1647893-Reviews-Siam_Star_Hotel-Bangkok.html
Phuket, Thailand :
Shanghai, China :
Surrounding with cheap price food resto => The Phoenix Hostel Shanghai (Lao Shan Ke Zhan)Tianjin, China :
In front of the hotel (parking area), there is minivan that can take us to airport (Binhai International Airport, Tianjin (TSN)) with very cheap price, it's waiting everyday and not to far from mall => http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g311293-d1370363-Reviews-Starway_Champagne_Town_Hotel-Tianjin.htmlZhuhai, China :
Near to GongBei custom border to Macau and in bus station area => http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g297418-d1140606-Reviews-Yong_Tong_Hotel-Zhuhai_Guangdong.htmlGuangzhou, China :
if need stay close with Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN) => http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g298555-d666626-Reviews-Guangsha_Hotel-Guangzhou_Guangdong.htmlShenzhen, China :
From airport just take Metro to Lao Jie (exit D) you wil see this hotel on your left and near Dongmen shopping centre => http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g297415-d603593-Reviews-Days_Inn_Shenzhen-Shenzhen_Guangdong.htmlMacau :
Not to far to Senado Square => http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g664891-d306250-Reviews-Metropole_Hotel-Macau.htmlHongkong :
Near to MRT station (MTR Tsim Sha Tsui exit D1 or D2) and near to catch a bus A21 from and to airport and Kowloon Park and i-square mall => http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g294217-d630159-r88467641-Yiufai_Guesthouse-Hong_Kong.htmlKuala Lumpur, Malaysia :
Near to KL Sentral station to LCCT international airport => http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g298570-d1605197-r106614287-My_Hotel_Sentral-Kuala_Lumpur_Wilayah_Persekutuan.htmlSingapore :
In China town and near MRT China town and good if stay 1 person because only have dormitory with bed bunk and share bathroom (there is no private bathroom) => http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g294265-d1655965-Reviews-A_Beary_Good_Hostel-Singapore.htmlBeijing, China :
Good just because it's near to Wangfujing area , no english speaking staff => http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g294212-d635221-Reviews-Oriental_Peace_Hotel-Beijing.html
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