I agree with most of what Tigertiger said, and I mainly fly. However, the view from high speed rail isn't good. Just to fast, so it's boring to look at after 5 min. Only nice views are when it slows down approaching cities. And many times the new stations are just as far from city center as the airport, for instance ours!
Anybody know the number of this train?
G1372, 1374, 1376, 1378
Super expensive! For just over the first class price, you can fly return to Australia, in the same amount of time! As it's not cheap, I wonder - does it have fast wifi? This and traveling with large amounts of luggage (probably not allowed anyway) is about the only reason I can imagine to use it.
@voltaire sorry but your comparison doesn't make sense to me, it's like comparing a bowl of mixian with a lobster,they just serve different markets.
On the fast train,it will take about 1 hour to reach guizhou, when now it's a 5 hours trip！
(just to make an example)。 the impact of this on quality of life, tourism and job opportunities will be amazing.
For the longer journeys that are already serviced by air, it makes some sense, that can be argued depending on preference and time constraints.
For travelers who live between air transport hubs, who already need to make a long journey to the nearest big airport, it makes a lot of sense. For example, people from Hongguo (even with the new train it takes over an hour to Kunming) still have to allow at least an extra half day to a day for travel to their destination. Allowing for transiting across intermediate city/airport etc. There is also additional costs entailed in doing this, that offset some of the G Train cost.
Very good point misfit -
Kunming to Nanning - 5 hours vs 13 hours.
Kunming to Dali - 2 hours vs 5 hours by bus or 7 hours by train.
I think it's good to have choices instead a monopoly. This high speed train is good for those that can't fly because of age or illness. My wife's mom had to take the train to Beijing because of her age (85) and she wasn't allow to fly (fear for her health).
Apart from the queuing for tickets, rail travel is generally less stressful than air travel, albeit slower in many cases.
After living on airplanes and in airports for over a decade - I love the trains - even if the scenery is zipping by in a blur (just look further away).
The convenience and luxury of being able to stroll around is less stressful than that moron sitting next to me - stretching out with his smelly feet, kicking me every time he rolls over or wants to stretch his legs.
I haven't seen a compilation of bullet train faux pas yet, but I'm sure they'll be forthcoming.
Other advantages - less stressful lines, boarding (on and off), better access to "fresh" air and we don't have to toggle our electronic devices off and on during take-off and landing, etc etc etc.
With the alleged future 8x8 high speed rail grid - gotta love that.
