by Raritan Express
In the past few years I've been regularly traveling to Shanghai (I have family there) and I was able to travel on several different train systems.
At Pudong Intl. Airport, they have the Shanghai Maglev. 431km/h and it travels the 30 some km in around 8 minutes. Its cool to see yourself race past cars driving along the highway alongside the tracks. It has two stations, one in the airport and one at the Long Yang Rd Shanghai Metro Station.
The Shanghai Metro is a very new and clean. The ride is very smooth and quiet.Currently there are 5 lines but there are plans in the works for over 7 other lines, many of which will open when the 2010 World Expo is in Shanghai. It's also pretty high-tech. There are signs showing when the next train comes and platform doors on some stations and has cards with RFID tags (or something like that) for entry and exit cards. The trainsets all have AC and its open all the way from the front to the back.
I also had the chance to ride on a new "D" class train to Hangzhou. Shanghai South Station is brand new and the wailting area is built in the shape of a circle on top of the tracks.Its the largest of its kind and is similar to that of an airport. A far cry from those old dirty railway stations found in many places. The trains currently travel around 170 km/h but I've heard that they have the ability to run up to 200 km/h. The trains are also new and very clean. They are (I believe) permanently coupled sets and you can walk from one end of the train to the other. The seats also recline like airline seats unlike other trains.
Overall, I was impressed with the new trains in China but they still have a long way to go in upgrading the rest of the fleet and the stations. If you choose carefully, you can have a good experience on the rails in China
At Pudong Intl. Airport, they have the Shanghai Maglev. 431km/h and it travels the 30 some km in around 8 minutes. Its cool to see yourself race past cars driving along the highway alongside the tracks. It has two stations, one in the airport and one at the Long Yang Rd Shanghai Metro Station.
The Shanghai Metro is a very new and clean. The ride is very smooth and quiet.Currently there are 5 lines but there are plans in the works for over 7 other lines, many of which will open when the 2010 World Expo is in Shanghai. It's also pretty high-tech. There are signs showing when the next train comes and platform doors on some stations and has cards with RFID tags (or something like that) for entry and exit cards. The trainsets all have AC and its open all the way from the front to the back.
I also had the chance to ride on a new "D" class train to Hangzhou. Shanghai South Station is brand new and the wailting area is built in the shape of a circle on top of the tracks.Its the largest of its kind and is similar to that of an airport. A far cry from those old dirty railway stations found in many places. The trains currently travel around 170 km/h but I've heard that they have the ability to run up to 200 km/h. The trains are also new and very clean. They are (I believe) permanently coupled sets and you can walk from one end of the train to the other. The seats also recline like airline seats unlike other trains.
Overall, I was impressed with the new trains in China but they still have a long way to go in upgrading the rest of the fleet and the stations. If you choose carefully, you can have a good experience on the rails in China