Beijing-Harbin High-Speed Rail Opens Dec 28: 30 Minutes Faster, ¥100 More

　　Beijing-Harbin High-Speed Rail G381 Tickets Selling Fast
　　Beijing-Tianjin Intercity Capacity Doubles, You Can Buy High-Speed Rail Tickets in Segments for Trips Back to Northeast China
　　Starting from midnight on Dec 28, a new train schedule will take effect. This adjustment will add 31.5 pairs of trains including those on the Beijing-Harbin High-Speed Rail, suspend 9 pairs of services, and upgrade/downgrade 3 pairs. Starting today, the Beijing-Tianjin Intercity Railway will run its first large-formation trains, with some expanding from 8 cars to 16, doubling capacity.
　　Beijing-Harbin High-Speed Rail G381 Tickets Selling Fast
　　According to the timetable, the Beijing-Harbin High-Speed Rail G381 departs from Beijing South Station at 8:00 am and arrives at Harbin West Station at 15:28 the same day, covering the entire journey in just 7 hours and 28 minutes—28 minutes faster than the current fastest D27 service. Of course, the G381 ticket is more expensive than the D27; the second-class seat is ¥154.5 more than the D27, equivalent to paying about ¥100 for 30 minutes, or roughly ¥5.5 per minute. Though the G381 doesn't start until Dec 28, this morning reporters checking the 12306 website found it’s very popular. As of press time, for the inaugural day on Dec 28, only 8 premium seats and 15 first-class seats remain, while second-class seats are still widely available.
　　In addition, the G387 high-speed rail from Beijing South to Dalian North takes 5 hours and 41 minutes, arriving at 14:23 the same day—also 27 minutes faster than the current fastest D41 service.
　　According to the new schedule, newly added services from Beijing to the Northeast include: G381/2 between Beijing South and Harbin West, G387/6 and G385/8 between Beijing South and Dalian North. From Tianjin to the Northeast: G365/6 between Tianjin West and Shenyang (North), G369/70 between Tianjin West and Shenyang North, and G373/4 between Tianjin West and Harbin West.
　　Beijing-Tianjin Intercity Capacity Doubles
　　Today marks the first launch of large-formation trains on the Beijing-Tianjin Intercity Railway, with 77 basic diagram pairs including: 44 pairs of EMUs between Beijing South and Tianjin (direct), 21 pairs between Beijing South and Tianjin (stopping at Wuqing), 1 pair between Beijing South and Tianjin West, and 11 pairs between Beijing South and Tanggu. It’s reported that from Monday to Thursday, 45 paired diagrams will be operated, while from Friday to Sunday during peak times, 56 paired diagrams will run. Specific dates will be announced by the railway authorities.
　　At 8:05 am, the C2273 train from Beijing South to Tanggu arrived at the station. This train consists of two coupled Harmony CRH units, totaling 16 carriages and capable of carrying 1,112 passengers. Train conductor Guo Jiang said the service was fully booked today, and larger formations will be used when passenger load exceeds 20%. Reporters noticed that due to the longer train, many late arrivals were running to board, and even as departure neared, some passengers were still getting on.
　　Railway officials said currently some Beijing-Tianjin Intercity services are using large formations, with some trains expanded from 8 to 16 cars. The increased capacity will free up slots for the Beijing-Harbin High-Speed Rail, and future Beijing-Tianjin Intercity intervals may be extended.
　　You Can Buy High-Speed Rail Tickets in Segments for Trips Back to Northeast China
　　On Dec 1, the Tianjin-Qinhuangdao High-Speed Rail began operations, cutting the fastest travel time from Tianjin to Qinhuangdao from 2.4 hours to 1 hour and 11 minutes. Now, the large-formation Beijing-Tianjin Intercity services boost capacity during the Spring Festival travel season in Beijing and Tianjin, also making segmented ticket purchases home possible. Coupled with the upcoming Beijing-Harbin High-Speed Rail on Dec 28, travelers to the Northeast will have smoother journeys this holiday season.
　　Nine pairs of services are suspended, including D317/20 between Beijing South and Shanghai Hongqiao, G183 between Beijing South and Jinan West, D404 between Jinan West and Beijing South, and T225/6 between Beijing and Dalian. After the Dec 28 schedule adjustment, passengers should check station announcements or visit www.12306.cn to avoid missing their trips.
　　31.5 Pairs of New Trains Added
　　1. 19 New Pairs on Tianjin-Qinhuangdao High-Speed Rail:
　　G365/6 between Tianjin West and Shenyang (North), G369/70 between Tianjin West and Shenyang North, G373/4 between Tianjin West and Harbin West, G381/2 between Beijing South and Harbin West, G387/6 and G385/8 between Beijing South and Dalian North, G390/1 and G389/92 between Jinan West and Dalian North, G1202/3  and G1204/1 between Harbin West and Shanghai Hongqiao, G1206/7 and G1208/5 between Harbin West and Qingdao North, G1212/3 and G1214/1 between Changchun and Shanghai Hongqiao, G1222/3 and G1224/1 between Shenyang North and Ningbo, G1226/7 and G1228/5 between Shenyang North and Shanghai Hongqiao, G1230/1 and G1232/29 between Shenyang North and Shanghai Hongqiao, G1234/5 and G1236/3 between Shenyang and Shanghai Hongqiao, G1240/37 and G1238/9 between Jinan (West) and Shenyang, G1244/1 and G1242/3 between Jinan West and Shenyang North, G1246/7 and G1248/5 between Shenyang North and Qingdao North, G1251/4 and G1252/3 between Dalian North and Shanghai Hongqiao, G1256/7 and G1258/5 between Shenyang (North) and Shanghai Hongqiao, G1266/7 and G1268/5 between Changchun and Qingdao North.
　　2. 1 Pair of Direct High-Speed Trains on Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Rail: G205/6 between Beijing South and Nanjing South.
　　3. 6 Pairs of Direct High-Speed Trains on Beijing-Guangzhou High-Speed Rail: G65/G68 and G67/G70 between Beijing West and Guangzhou South, G529/30 between Beijing West and Guilin, G559/60 between Beijing West and Zhengzhou East, G671/4 and G673/2 between Beijing West and Baoji South.
　　4. 2.5 Pairs of Intra-Bureau High-Speed Trains: G6741/2 and G6743/4 between Beijing West and Handan East, G6745 between Beijing West and Shijiazhuang.
　　5. 1 Pair of Express Trains: T57/8 between Beijing West and Chengdu.
　　6. 2 Pairs of Fast Trains: K629/30 between Beijing West and Lanzhou, K1595/6 between Beijing North and Linhe.
　　3 Pairs of Trains with Upgraded Classes
　　The K39/40 between Beijing and Qiqihar is upgraded to express (T39/40); the K49/50 between Beijing West and Enshi is upgraded to express (T49/50); the K295/6 between Beijing and Mudanjiang is upgraded to express (T297/8).