China deploys smart high-speed trains to handle holiday travel surge

Railways across China have introduced a fleet of upgraded smart bullet trains to handle the peak travel demand during the country's ongoing National Day holiday rush, with these trains equipped with a range of new features including private sleeping compartments, intelligent windows, and enhanced accessibility features.

As the eight-day National Day holiday began on Wednesday, millions of Chinese are taking the chance to enjoy a short getaway or return home to visit loved ones, particularly as this year's holiday period also encompasses the traditional Mid-Autumn Festival

With the national railway operator saying they expect to handle some 219 million passenger trips during the 12-day travel rush which runs from Sept 29 to Oct 10, a number of additional train services have been added on popular routes to meet the demand.

On the Beijing-Guangzhou high-speed line, a further overnight sleeper service has been scheduled between the capital Beijing and the southern tech hub of Shenzhen. The 2,424-kilometer journey takes approximately 12 hours, with the train reaching speeds of up to 250 km/h.

All 860 berths on board feature private compartments with blackout curtains and bedside charging ports, while complimentary toiletries and light meals are also provided to travelers.

"We really wanted to try this service. We can sleep through the night and arrive in Beijing the next morning," said a passenger surnamed Peng

The train operates what it describes as a "non-disturbance service" between the hours of 22:00 to 06:00, dimming the lights and suspending announcements to ensure a quiet and restful environment. The additional services were slated to run on key travel dates around the start and end of the holiday period.

Meanwhile, in central China's Henan Province, a compact four-car smart train has entered service on the Zhengzhou-Kaifeng intercity line. The advanced CRH3A-A model can carry up over 700 passengers at speeds of 200 km/h and features interactive smart windows that display real-time travel information

Four new Fuxing smart trains have also been deployed to operate from Nanning in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The CR400AF-S model includes USB and Type-C charging ports at every seat, Braille signage for visually impaired passengers, and expanded luggage storage areas.

China's high-speed rail network is considered to be the most advanced in the world, with data showing the country has constructed some 48,000 kilometers of high-speed rail, accounting for over 70 percent of the global total. During normal times, there are up to 10,000 high-speed trains operating daily nationwide, serving up to 16 million passengers on average.

China deploys smart high-speed trains to handle holiday travel surge

Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh met with Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese foreign minister, in Ulan Bator on Saturday.

During the meeting, Khurelsukh said the Mongolia-China relationship has become a model for inter-state relations in the region.

The two countries have consistently respected each other's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, while deepening mutually beneficial cooperation across various sectors, he said, noting that bilateral trade is expected to reach 20 billion U.S. dollars this year.

Describing China as Mongolia's good neighbor, Khurelsukh said that developing friendly relations with China is a top priority of Mongolia's foreign policy.

Khurelsukh said Mongolia is committed to the one-China principle, regarding Taiwan as an inalienable part of China's territory, and opposes any form of "Taiwan independence" activities. It also considers matters related to Hong Kong, Xizang and Xinjiang as China's internal affairs. Mongolia will not do anything that harms China's interests, regardless of its relations with other countries.

He also noted that Mongolia is willing to strengthen cooperation with China in regional and international affairs.

For his part, Wang said China has always put China-Mongolia relations at an important place in its neighborhood diplomacy, noting that China has both the will and the capability to be a neighbor that Mongolia can rely on, a trustworthy friend, and a partner in accelerating its development.

Wang reaffirmed China's respect for Mongolia's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as the development path that Mongolia has chosen for itself.

He expressed readiness to work more closely with Mongolia to align development strategies, tap into the full potential of bilateral cooperation, advance existing collaboration in areas such as connectivity, energy and mineral resources, trade and investment, and create new growth drivers for cooperation in key minerals, green development, the digital economy, and other emerging fields.

During his three-day visit, Wang is also scheduled to meet with Mongolian Prime Minister Nyam-Osor Uchral and hold talks with Foreign Minister Batmunkh Battsetseg.

Mongolian president meets Chinese FM

Mongolian president meets Chinese FM