Fast trains launched in Shandong

Two new high-speed rail routes began operating in Shandong province on Wednesday.

One route links the provincial capital of Jinan with the port city of Qingdao, "which reduces travel time to around 90 minutes from well over two hours before", said Liu Qing, deputy director of Qingdao Railway Station, adding that passengers from Qingdao and Beijing need to travel only 3.5 hours to Jinan if they choose the fastest line, saving 52 minutes.

The 307-kilometer high-speed rail route features 11 stations.

The other new route links major cities in Shandong and Jiangsu provinces.

"The line will run to Shanghai in the future after construction between Shanghai and Lianyungang (Jiangsu) is complete," said the deputy director.

It is estimated that within two years, travel time between Shanghai and Qingdao will be cut to four hours from over seven hours currently.

According to the Qingdao Railway Station, the route will also provide cargo services from major ports along the line, such as Qingdao, Rizhao and Lianyungang.