The train journey from Shanghai to northwest China's Xi'an City will be shortened to six hours from nearly 11 hours, thanks to a newly connected high-speed railway going into operation on Saturday, officials said yesterday.

The Zhengxu High-speed Railway is the first service of its kind connecting the Yangtze River Delta with northwest China.

The journey between Shanghai and central China's Zhengzhou City will be cut to four hours -- 2 hours and 47 minutes shorter.

With the new railway connected, Shanghai Railway Bureau said it will introduce a new route map from Saturday to improve service, adding that 47 new trains will join the fleet.

Meanwhile, high-speed train services will be introduced between Shanghai and Taiyuan in north China's Shanxi Province, as well as between Shanghai and Shijiazhuang in north China's Hebei Province.

The shortest travel time will be cut to nine hours and seven hours respectively.

Shanghai's railway stations will also add train services to neighboring cities including Wuhu, Wenzhou and Xuzhou and other places within the Yangtze River Delta area.