With ultra-fast journeys, connected comfort and exemplary punctuality, the Chinese high-speed train is redefining travellers’ priorities, to the point of suffocating domestic air traffic between Beijing and Shanghai.
A logistical feat that has become a reality
On the rails between Beijing and Shanghai, two of the country’s largest megacities, an unprecedented transformation is taking place in the field of mobility. The 1,300-kilometre link is now dominated by high-speed rail. The contrast is striking: 52 million passengers will be travelling by rail in 2024, compared with just 8.6 million by air. A ratio of six to one.
The line generated 42,000 million yuan in revenue (around 5.4 billion euros), with a net profit of nearly 1.8 billion dollars. Faced with such success, even the most affluent classes, long captives of air transport, are now turning their backs on flying.
An unbeatable rail offering
Why this success? Firstly, speed. Chinese trains now link Beijing to Shanghai in 4 hours 18 minutes. Even in the “slow” version, with stops, the journey takes less than 8 hours. With 100 trains a day on this line, frequency is optimal.
Then there’s connectivity. Unlike air travel, passengers remain connected throughout the journey, a key advantage for professionals and the younger generation. This requirement has been reinforced since the Beijing Winter Olympics, when digital accessibility became a national priority.
Finally, comfort and practicality play a major role: stations are located in city centres, punctuality is formidable, and on-board services equal – or even surpass – those of a domestic flight in business class.
Aviation in disarray
Faced with this wave of rail travel, Chinese airlines are sounding the alarm. Air China and China Eastern Airlines recently joined forces to stem the haemorrhage of passengers. Despite their 55 daily flights on the route, they are struggling to compete.
They are trying to win passengers over with premium services such as limousine transfers to city centres and flexible timetables, but the airline offer is still hampered by check-in times, security checks and a lack of in-flight connectivity. Even fare reductions may not be enough to reverse the trend.
A national technological showcase
The technological jewel in the crown of this transformation is the CR450AF, the latest Chinese high-speed train, capable of travelling at 450 kph. Although its commercial speed is currently limited to 350 km/h, China plans to adapt its infrastructure to reach 400 km/h by 2027. This is not an isolated development. China already has the largest TGV network in the world, well ahead of France, Japan… and even Spain, which comes second in the world rankings.
The model is not without its limitations. While the Beijing-Shanghai line is an exemplary success story, other Chinese domestic lines are showing far less flattering results, with low occupancy rates and significant economic losses.
However, when it comes to long-distance, high-density services, the supremacy of rail is now undisputed. While the European Union is still struggling to harmonise rail networks, make fares competitive with low-cost flights and encourage intermodality, the Chinese example could serve as a model. In China, efficiency, frequency, speed and connectivity have transformed the way people travel.
