China Multiple Units (China Bullet Train) with sleeping car may be opened in Dec 2008

25 November 2008 By news paper of Youth Daily of Shanghai that the Multiple Unit or we call China Bullet Train will have sleeping car! Reporters yesterday learned that the rail system has planed to open the Multiple Unit with sleeping car between Beijing and shanghai for the first time, and the train may be operated next month.
In spite of not determining the ticket price and the time, this kind of train would be popular among the tourists, especially the business tourists, because it would faster and the seat would be more comfortable.
The national railway improved the train’s speed on 18th, April last year, Multiple Unit was used then, and this kind of rail only has soft seat. For the tourists whose travel distance is near or a little bit far, it’s no problem. However, for the tourists who go to Beijing or Qingdao from shanghai, it’s still a little tired for them to be seated in the train for nearly ten hours. Hence, the rail department prepared for opening the Multiple Unit with soft sleeper optimistically.
Recently reporter knows that the rail department has planed to open the Multiple Unit with sleeping car between Beijing and shanghai .Although it’s not sure about the exact time, initial plan is that the train sets up at Beijing and shanghai at the same time about 21:45 everyday, and it would arrive at nearly 7:00am next morning.
Now, there are two express air-conditioned trains and five direct trains and one general express and one temporary train except for one Multiple Unit with soft sleeper from shanghai to Beijing.
Among these ten trains, the train with “T” which takes 13 hours and the train with “Z” which takes 11 and a half hours are the travelers’ favorite, because these trains set up in the evening and arrive in the morning.
Besides, it will shunt travelers from the Civil Aviation deeply after the opening of the bullet train sleeping car between Beijing and Shanghai.
As an important business route, the air ticket price of the Beijing to Shanghai route basically maintains at 60%-70% discounts, even if the airline company gives low price ticket, it comes to 600-700 RMB which contains the fuel surcharges and airport construction fees, but not including the taxi cost from airport to city round trip. Compared to the train, taking air takes travelers lots of time to the airport and higher cost.
Therefore, the business travelers will have another choice of traveling easily and comfortably after the opening of the high-speed bullet train with sleeping car between Beijing and shanghai.
This morning , reporter confirmed from Beijing station that the Multiple Unit on the Beijing-Shanghai、Beijing-Hangzhou line is supposed to add sleeping car, but the exact time and price are still not determined.
It was said by a person in charge in Beijing station that, there has been only soft seats in the Multiple Unit from its operation. It’s really tired to take ten hours in the train for the travelers from shanghai to Beijing.
Now, however, it is not sure that whether it just adds sleeping car to the original train style or designs new style. Also，it has not determined the running time、the departure station in Beijing and the ticket price. We will keep an eye on that and will let you know the latest news.

Reported by Ms. May Wang on 25 November 2008 from http://www.chinatraintickets.net/