High-speed trains recently started running from Chengdu and Chongqing to Beijing and to Shanghai — making significant reductions in the journey times between the cities.

High-speed sleeper trains from Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province cut train travel time between the cities to 15 hours.

The first bullet train, number D318, left Chengdu at 15:50 and arrived in Beijing at 07:30 the next morning. The high-speed train traversed several railway lines, including the Suining-Chengdu line, the Dazhou-Chengdu Line, and the Beijing-Guangzhou line and stops at two intermediate stations — Nanchong and Shijiangzhuang — before arriving at Beijing West Railway Station.

Another bullet train from Chengdu left at 17:15 and arrived in Shanghai at 08:50 the next morning, traversing several railway lines including the Suining-Chengdu line, the Hefei-Wuhan line, and the Shanghai-Ningbo line. The route has four intermediate stops –Nanchong, Hefei, Nanjing, and Suzhou — before arriving at Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station.

On the same day a bullet train started running from Chongqing to Beijing, cutting the journey time by nine hours to less than 16 hours.

Bullet train number D320 leaves Chongqing North Railway Station on 16:15, passing three stations, namely Dazhou, Shijiazhuang, and Baoding.

A bullet train also started running between Chongqing and Shanghai on the same day. Train number D354 left Chongqing at 18:10. Travel time between the two cities is shortened by 13 hours.

Passengers are able to buy tickets up to 20 days in advance of their journey and the tickets go on sale at 15:00 every day.