Bach's Chinese Rail Tour : May 19, 2013 Beijing to Xian by High Speed Train

May 19, 2013

Beijing to Xian by High Speed Train

This morning we had a chance to sleep in as our guide, Lee was to take us to the Beijing Railway Station at 8:50 AM. We were surprised how far the station was from our hotel. Our driver Shifui got us to the station easily today as there was no traffic as it was Sunday. The Beijing Railway is huge and if Lee had not taken us to the train we would never have been able to find it. The high speed train was like seeing something out of Star Wars. It was sleek, thin and long and had a white finish with a blue strip in the middle of the train. All it needed was some wings to make it look like a plane.

The train we were on was the latest design of CRH series of trains. It was designed to travel at 350 KM per hour. However because of other high speed trains on the same track and a required safe distance between following trains, the trains are only allowed to run at 300 KM per hour. The only exception is the CRH train between Beijing and Tranjin that is allowed to travel at 350 KM per hour. The model of the train we were on had establish a world record by traveling at 431 KM per hour or 268 Miles per hour on a special test run.

.It was easy to get on the train as the train was at a high level platform. We found out later that all the stations on our route were built with high level platforms. This made it so easy to handle our heavy suitcases onto the train. The inside of the train had a futuristic look as well with comfortable seats, wide windows, smartly dressed attendants and food service better than a plane. This is the train of the future.

The train started so smoothly we did not realize we were moving. Once out of the station, the train speed up to just under 298 KM per hour. The ride was so smooth and quiet that if we did not look out of the window we would not realize we were moving. All this was because we were traveling on an elevated track that used slab construction that held the continuously welded rail. All the local traffic moved under the elevated track so there were no level crossings or underpasses as we have on our railways in Canada. We left Beijing at 10:03 AM and arrived on time in Xian at 3:40 PM. On the way we saw the country. There seems to be a beehive of activity everywhere we looked, in the factories, on the well-manicured farms, and busy wide highways. The country seems to be on the move.

When were arrived in Xian, we were met by our guide, Britney in the very large railway station. With all the crowds it is a wonder she ever found us. We spotted her as she held a large sign with my name on it. She took us to our driver, Jia and he quickly loaded our baggage onto his van. Our hotel seemed quite a way from the railway station, but we have to remember that Xian is large with 8 million people. We did not have too much time after we checked in before we had to meet Britney again at 6:00 PM as she was taking us to a dumpling dinner and show at the Shaanxi Grand Opera House Xian China. We did not expect too much with a dumpling dinner but were pleasantly surprised how delicious the large variety of dumplings were. The dumpling keep coming and coming until we were well satisfied. When the tables were cleared by 8:00 PM, the show started. There were 10 parts to the show and each part was just wonderful. The music was great and the dancing was just delicately exquisite. Yes, we came home tired but were so happy with all we experienced today.

The outside of the Beijing Railway Station

Dorothy and Con inside of the Beijing Railway Station.

Our Guide, Lee who ensured we got on the right train.

Dorothy and Con at the front of the streamlined CRH high speed train

Dorothy and Con entering the CRH train from a high level platform.

The coach car of the CRH train with 2-3 seating and open overhead luggage racks.

Slabs type construction to secure the continuous welded rail.of the high speed rail track.

Very wide platforms at high speed rail stations.

Maintenance area for electric locomotives.

A commuter train on an adjoining track.

The streamlined front end of a CRH train on the other side of the platform.

Our train being restocked with food and drinks at Zhangzhou Station that was about 1/2 way on our trip to Xian.

A local train with high rise buildings in the background..

Various train tracks on high level bridges

Lunch tray that was purchased in the coach car from an attendant who supplied it from a airline type cart.

A wide station platform with the city high rise apartment buildings in the background.

A glass enclosed elevators at the station platform.

A large complex of high rise apartment buildings near a high speed train station.

A first class car with 2-2 seating plan.

The snack bar with a table seating section.

The galley of the snack bar. on the CRH high speed train.

The electronic information board in each end of each car showing the train speed and next station stop. Note the speed of the train was just under 300 KM per hour.

A ballasted track next to the high speed track. Note the high rise apartment building in the background.

A smartly dressed platform attendant.

Train tracks on high level bridges. Note the wide roadway in the foreground.

An expressway with 3 lanes in each direction with a local road to the right.

A large complex of high rise apartment buildings.

Well maintained farms that the high level train track does not cutoff near Louyang.

A new highway being built parallel to the train track.

A small town with a cooling tower of an electrical generating station.

The Yellow River that is the second biggest river in China.

A high level expressway being constructed.

Well maintained farms near Xian.

The dining area and stage at Shaanxi Grand Opera House in Xian , China. A variety of dumplings that is the specialty of this theater, were being served to the guests.