World's longest bullet train service begins in China
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CRH380 Harmony bullet trains are seen at a high-speed train maintenance base in Wuhan, Hubei province, early on Dec 25, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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A member of security stands guard at a entrance of a platform for a high-speed train at the Beijing west railway station in Beijing on Dec 26, 2012. -- PHOTO: AFP
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A Chinese man holds a ticket to be checked at an exit of the Beijing west railway station in Beijing on Dec 26, 2012. -- PHOTO: AFP
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Train stewardesses make their way at the Beijing west railway station in Beijing on Dec 26, 2012. China on Dec 26 started service on the world's longest high-speed rail route, the latest milestone in the country's rapid and sometimes troubled super fast rail network. -- PHOTO: AFP
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A Chinese man supports his baggage with a shoulder pole as he makes his way at the Beijing west railway station in Beijing on Dec 26, 2012. -- PHOTO: AFP
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A stewardess walks past a high-speed train running from the Beijing to Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong province, at the Beijing west railway station in Beijing on Dec 26, 2012. -- PHOTO: AFP
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A cleaner walks past a high-speed train running from the Beijing to Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong province, at the Beijing west railway station in Beijing on Dec 26, 2012. -- PHOTO: AFP
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An employee uses a flashlight to inspect a CRH380 (China Railway High-speed) Harmony bullet train at a high-speed train maintenance base in Wuhan, Hubei province on Dec 24, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
CRH380 Harmony bullet trains are seen at a high-speed train maintenance base in Wuhan, Hubei province, early on Dec 25, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
A member of security stands guard at a entrance of a platform for a high-speed train at the Beijing west railway station in Beijing on Dec 26, 2012. -- PHOTO: AFP
A Chinese man holds a ticket to be checked at an exit of the Beijing west railway station in Beijing on Dec 26, 2012. -- PHOTO: AFP
Train stewardesses make their way at the Beijing west railway station in Beijing on Dec 26, 2012. China on Dec 26 started service on the world's longest high-speed rail route, the latest milestone in the country's rapid and sometimes troubled super fast rail network. -- PHOTO: AFP
A Chinese man supports his baggage with a shoulder pole as he makes his way at the Beijing west railway station in Beijing on Dec 26, 2012. -- PHOTO: AFP
A stewardess walks past a high-speed train running from the Beijing to Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong province, at the Beijing west railway station in Beijing on Dec 26, 2012. -- PHOTO: AFP
A cleaner walks past a high-speed train running from the Beijing to Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong province, at the Beijing west railway station in Beijing on Dec 26, 2012. -- PHOTO: AFP
An employee uses a flashlight to inspect a CRH380 (China Railway High-speed) Harmony bullet train at a high-speed train maintenance base in Wuhan, Hubei province on Dec 24, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
BEIJING (AFP) - China started service on the world's longest high-speed rail route on Wednesday, the latest milestone in the country's rapid and - sometimes troubled - super fast rail network.
The opening of the new 2,298km line between Beijing and Guangzhou means passengers will be whisked from the capital to the southern commercial hub in less than a third of the 22 hours previously required.
China Central Television broadcast the departure of the first train live from Beijing West Railway Station. It also carried live reports from inside showing passengers toting cameras to apparently snap commemorative photos.
Trains will travel at an average speed of 300kmh over the line, which includes 35 stops in major cities such as Zhengzhou, Wuhan on the Yangtze River and Changsha.
