[photopress:train_interior.jpg,full,alignright]Interesting that a pattern that exists in Europe is being repeated in China. That is competition between rail and air travel.
Leave pricing out of the equation for a moment. With rail the station is typically in the center of town, you can arrive 15 minutes before departure, there are minimal if any security checks and you arrive at the center of your destination. Another plus point for some is the ability to easily move around which is not always there with air travel. And you are rarely delayed by weather. Our illustration is not the cabin on an aircraft. It is the inside of a train.
On the other hand, depending on the distance, air can be a lot faster.
So now the two are trying to introduce new attractions.
For example, the Ministry of Railways said recently that high-quality mineral water, produced in the Tibet Autonomous Region, will be provided free to all passengers on long-distance bullet trains this month.
The water, which comes in in 330 ml bottles, retails for about RMB6 (79 cents), much more than regular brands.
An official with the news office of the Shanghai railway bureau said that when it comes to service, attendants on bullet trains are trained to the same standards as hotel staff. In addition, the catering providers were chosen through public bidding and are as good as those operating on airlines although, in truth, that would not be seen by everyone as a recommendation.
Price comes in to it. The journey between Shanghai and Beijing takes 10 hours on the bullet train and tickets are priced at RMB327 and 409, less than half the cost of an air ticket between the two cities.
But five domestic airlines had joined forces to offer the Beijing-Shanghai Express Flight service which promises flights between the two cities every 30 minutes and passengers can use a single ticket on any of the five participating airlines.
Travel experts have said the new promotions and services are a clear indication of the ‘accelerating’ competition between rail and air travel providers.
Wu Wenhua, a researcher with the National Development and Reform Commission’s comprehensive transport institute said, ‘Traditionally, air travel has had the upper hand when it comes to long-distance travel — 1,000 km or more — such as between Beijing and Shanghai. But the Beijing-Shanghai route has such a huge passenger flow that neither rail nor air travel operators can afford to take their eye of the ball in the battle for market share.’
CAAC figures show that 4.18 million passengers flew between Beijing and Shanghai Hongqiao Airport in 2006, equivalent to about 11,000 per day.
The Ministry of Railways declined to provide its passenger numbers for the route.
Source: China Daily