Beijing and Shanghai link

China will open its record breaking high-speed rail link between Beijing and Shanghai in June, state media said last week, cutting the journey between the two cities in half to less than five hours.  It was only in last November that a prototype train on the track set a world record of 300mph. 

The 1,318km (819-mile) railway, which has cost CNYuan220.9 bn (US$33.45 bn) to build, began construction in April 2008 and was originally planned to open in 2012.

The new line is expected to provide a serious challenge to airlines including Air China, China Eastern Airlines and China Southern Airlines.  The route, connecting China's capital with its most important economic hub, is one of the most lucrative for Chinese airlines.  City centre to city centre the journey time by train will be much the same as by air.  With both cities much will depend on where you need to get to. www.cnvol.com

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