China Romance

General Discussion and Useful Links => Ask An Experienced Member => Topic started by: dude on January 31, 2010, 12:28:45 pm

Title: Who has been on the bullet train?
Post by: dude on January 31, 2010, 12:28:45 pm
Yesterday, my wife and I took the train from Yueyang to Changsha. Both stations are new and very nice! The train rides very smooth and it took about 30 minutes. Leg space is very good! There was to many people...yet at the stations... but the train was full! Easy to get in and out of and they waste no time! Well this was our experience! :icon_biggrin: Oh and the cost was 71 RMB per person!
Title: RE: Who has been on the bullet train?
Post by: ttwjr32 on January 31, 2010, 05:59:16 pm
living here all the time it was nice to read that china is building
many more routes and that the bullet trains will be easy to access
for travel all over china in the next 10 years which will be nice for
travel in this vast country
Title: RE: Who has been on the bullet train?
Post by: rockycoon on January 31, 2010, 08:15:27 pm
Wish they had a bunch of those in the U.S.  

Obama, are you listening...:huh:  would put a lot of people back to work.
Title: RE: Who has been on the bullet train?
Post by: Rhonald on January 31, 2010, 09:37:56 pm
Does the Venga bus count? :icon_confused:
Title: RE: Who has been on the bullet train?
Post by: Vince G on January 31, 2010, 10:02:17 pm
Rocky, a few are ordered. I've only heard a little about it here. Nothing has been said about new tracks or anything just that the bullet train will travel to ere (Florida).
Title: RE: Who has been on the bullet train?
Post by: metooap on January 31, 2010, 11:06:43 pm
I have written the bullet train maybe nine to ten times.

I just returned from China on the 28th of January.

They are always crowded. But they are exceptional. Nice, fast, quite ride.

A far far cry from Amtrak in the US!
Title: RE: Who has been on the bullet train?
Post by: rockycoon on January 31, 2010, 11:07:50 pm
where will it start and end, probably back east - they get everything...:icon_cheesygrin:

I'd like to see it go across america in several places, at 200 mph it wouldn't take long to travel the country.  Would be a great job
maker for a lot of unemployed folks who could use the money.  ease transportation problems, and layovers at airports.  It would also cut down on the polution of a million cars and trucks.
Title: RE: Who has been on the bullet train?
Post by: Vince G on January 31, 2010, 11:15:57 pm
In NY JFK airport they have the Airtrain. It doesn't go 200 mph but once it leaves the airport section it travels up a few miles to the main train station. It just takes a few minutes and no one is driving. It's all computerized. Beats the old bus ride.
Title: RE: Who has been on the bullet train?
Post by: David S on February 01, 2010, 12:36:38 am
Well this past week I heard a radio report that says they are "thinking" about it from NY to DC.  The trouble they have to overcome is that some sections of track are to curvy so it will cost lots of money to straighten out the curves.

I guess now they just have to find a way to pay for it.
Title: RE: Who has been on the bullet train?
Post by: ttwjr32 on February 01, 2010, 01:10:42 am
everything and everywere is crowded in china  metooap
 at any time of day :icon_cheesygrin:
Title: RE: Who has been on the bullet train?
Post by: Irishman on February 01, 2010, 06:44:00 am
I was on the Bullet train from Beijing to Tianjin and back several times, it was awesome.
Still haven't convinced Sunny on the merits of trying out the new one from Guangzhou to Wuhan yet :D
Title: RE: Who has been on the bullet train?
Post by: Vince G on February 01, 2010, 08:42:27 am
Quote from: 'David S' pid='29965' dateline='1265002598'

Well this past week I heard a radio report that says they are "thinking" about it from NY to DC.  The trouble they have to overcome is that some sections of track are to curvy so it will cost lots of money to straighten out the curves.

I guess now they just have to find a way to pay for it.


Taking the train from Grand Central NY to lets say Florida? it goes to DC first. If you want to auto train you have to go to DC to put your car on the train and it ends in Orlando then you drive from there.

Track wise? I would think they have to run all new raised tracks. Just here in Ft. Lauderdale some vehicle gets hit by the train at least twice a year? and that's only doing 40 mph. Think of the same all the way up the east coast? To populated for a bullet train.

So I have to look up what they have in mind, but they must have something planned because they ordered the trains?
Title: RE: Who has been on the bullet train?
Post by: Willy The Londoner on February 01, 2010, 09:17:20 am
When we booked the high speed train back from Changsha to Guangzhou we were unable to get a ticket until more than 24 hours later as it was sold out until then and there was like three trains an hour running that route during the day time.

Willy
Title: RE: Who has been on the bullet train?
Post by: ttwjr32 on February 01, 2010, 05:59:13 pm
Willy,

they plan on adding more in the fuure but i think it will
always be crowded and the wait will be there as more
and more use it
Title: RE: Who has been on the bullet train?
Post by: David5o on February 01, 2010, 07:38:43 pm
Willy,

What i can remember of Spring Festival travel, is that for those that could, started traveling upto a month beforehand. Because they knew full well the closer you get to the holiday, the more difficult it's going to be to travel anywhere in China. It's also going to be mad at the train stations for at least two weeks after the holiday as well.

The whole of China goes mad during this festival, the roads are packed (including the motorways), the trains are packed solid, and the internal flights are tripled and all booked!!! Try getting a  booking at any half decent restaurant even...haha!!!

But hey!!, you'd be a fool to pass up the chance to experience it all!! ....haha!!  
So enjoy your first Chinese New Year, and enjoy it, ...being married to your new Wife....

Happy Holiday to you both!!


David...
Title: RE: Who has been on the bullet train?
Post by: Willy The Londoner on February 02, 2010, 01:03:19 am
Quote from: 'David5o' pid='30036' dateline='1265071123'

Willy,

What i can remember of Spring Festival travel, is that for those that could, started traveling upto a month beforehand. Because they knew full well the closer you get to the holiday, the more difficult it's going to be to travel anywhere in China. It's also going to be mad at the train stations for at least two weeks after the holiday as well.

The whole of China goes mad during this festival, the roads are packed (including the motorways), the trains are packed solid, and the internal flights are tripled and all booked!!! Try getting a  booking at any half decent restaurant even...haha!!!

But hey!!, you'd be a fool to pass up the chance to experience it all!! ....haha!!  
So enjoy your first Chinese New Year, and enjoy it, ...being married to your new Wife....

Happy Holiday to you both!!


David...


Thanks David
You know she is more than happy that I am not making a trip back to the UK until the end of February.  Probably not because I will be here for Chinese New Year but rather the fact that I got an Qatar flight for just on 3300 rmb!!! rather than the 9000 they wanted this week!

Willy
Title: RE: Who has been on the bullet train?
Post by: Vince G on February 02, 2010, 10:26:10 am
Here's the info for the US Bullet train.

Florida and California are far more advanced than other states that are planning rail improvements. A consortium of nine Midwestern states, for example, is trying to coax more speed out of aging tracks shared with freight trains.

Article 1 (http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2002-10-10-bullet-train-usat_x.htm)

And,
Artical 2 (http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1906025,00.html)
Title: RE: Who has been on the bullet train?
Post by: ttwjr32 on February 02, 2010, 07:32:31 pm
this will be my 3rd chinese new year in china and i
am looking forward to it even though there will be
a as we can say a gazillion people. its always a fun and
happy time to meet many people and enjoy the festivities
they have here for the new year