China to begin world's fastest rail service next Friday

From ANI London, July 23: The Chinese Railway Ministry is starting the world's fastest train service next Friday, linking Beijing with one of China's Olympic co-host cities, nearby Tianjin. Zhang Shuguang, head of the Ministry's Transport Bureau, said that the new Chinese trains could ferry passengers at the speeds reaching 350 kilometres per hour. He said that the trains, which will have aircraft-like cabins rather than traditional carriages, have reached 394kph in tests. "Its operational speed is the fastest in the world. It's very comfortable and quiet. There's a French train that has gone 500kph in tests, but only in tests," New Scientist magazine quoted him as saying. Media persons had a sneak preview of the trains on a government-organized trip on Tuesday. The Railway Ministry said that the trains could run on the new... [read full story]