Off the Rails

If you need to reach or depart Pudong International Airport chop-chop, Shanghai’s futuristic Maglev train comes with a top speed of 430km/hr. It’s the world’s sole Maglev (magnetic levitation) train in commercial operation; in place of conventional wheels, the Sino-German train’s carriages are supported above the tracks by a magnetic field. With ample legroom, carriages have simple interiors and, perhaps tellingly, no seatbelts. LED meters notch up the rapidly escalating velocity, although the train starts to decelerate around five minutes into its eight-minute cruise, in preparation for arrival.

Launched in 2003, the Maglev train may be a wonder of the modern world but it’s of limited use in getting into central Shanghai, as the train only takes you as far as the terminus at Longyang Rd station (off) in Pudong, from where you’ll have to lug your luggage a few hundred metres to the metro station of the same name to continue your journey. Nonetheless, a trip on the train is thrilling and a return trip to the airport is a fun outing for kids and the family. From a transportation point of view, the Maglev has run into competition from metro line 2, which travels into town from Pudong International Airport and on to Hongqiao Airport Terminal 2, via the city centre.

Stations

The city has three principal stations: the main Shanghai Railway Station, Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station and Shanghai South Railway Station. All stations are easily accessed on the metro system. Left-luggage facilities exist at all train stations.

Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station (Shanghai Hongqiao zhan; off; Hongqiao Railway Station) is located at the western end of Line 10 of the metro (also on line 2). Very new and sophisticated and the largest train station in Asia, Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station is the terminus for the high-speed G-class trains from Beijing and Hangzhou (as well as other trains):

Beijing (G-class) 2nd/1st class seat Y555/935, 5½ hours, very regular (7am to 7.55pm)

Hangzhou (G-class) 2nd/1st class seat Y78/124, one hour, very regular (6.38am to 9.32pm)

Nanjing South (G-class) 2nd/1st class seat Y135/230, 70 minutes to two hours, frequent

Suzhou (D-class) 2nd/1st class seat Y26/31, 30 minutes, regular

Shanghai Railway Station (Shanghai Huoche Zhan; 6317 9090; 385 Meiyuan Rd; Shanghai Railway Station) Most trains depart from here, with destinations including:

» Beijing (D-class) seat/sleeper Y311/Y698, 8 to 11½ hours, three daily

» Hangzhou (G-class) 2nd/1st class seat Y93/148, 1½ hours, four daily

» Hong Kong seat/hard sleeper Y226/409, 18½ hours, one daily (6.24pm)

» Huangshan seat/hard sleeper Y94/175, 11½ hours, two daily

» Nanjing (G-class) 2nd/1st class seat Y140/220, two hours, frequent

» Suzhou (G-class) 2nd/1st Y40/60, 30 minutes, frequent services

» Xi’an seat/hard sleeper Y182/­333, 16 to 20 hours, 10 daily

Shanghai South Railway Station (Shanghai Nanzhan; off; 9510 5123; 200 Zhaofeng Rd). Has trains largely to southern and southwestern destinations, including:

» Guilin hard/soft sleeper Y353/539, 22 hours, four daily

» Hangzhou Y29, 2½ to three hours, frequent

A few trains also leave from the renovated West Station (Shanghai Xizhan), including trains to Nanjing; however, it’s less convenient.

Дата добавления: 2015-11-14