Tickets for the country's new bullet train services went on sale
at the weekend, but there was nothing high-speed about the public's
response.
Local media reported that just a handful of ticket collecting
hobbyists, media workers and youngsters attracted by the train's
high speed had bought advance tickets for the new service, which is
identified by the letter D.
The new trains come into service on Wednesday.
Railway officials, however, said that the indifferent market
reaction was consistent with passengers' normal buying habits.
"Bullet trains are used on intercity routes for journeys that
generally take less than three hours. When passengers are traveling
such short distances, they seldom buy their tickets in advance," an
official said.
But that's unlikely to be the sole reason for the slow ticket
sales. There is also the issue of price.
While bullet trains can travel at up to 250 kph and cut journey
times by an average of 20-30 percent, the high-speed experience is
also high-priced.
A seat on a bullet train costs about twice as much as one on the
previous fastest service, which is identified with the letter T or
Z.
For example, a passenger traveling from Beijing to Zhengzhou,
capital of Central China's Henan Province, would pay a minimum of
213 yuan ($27.50) for the five-hour journey by bullet train. A
soft-seat ticket for a T-type service, however, would cost just 94
yuan but take 90 minutes longer.
However, insiders said people's attitudes will change once the
May 1 holiday arrives. Train tickets are hard to find during the
Golden Week break, as people head off on holiday.
(China Daily April 16, 2007)