Train Classes & Types

Train Classes & Types

Rail travel within China is a great experience and there are seven types of accommodation on offer depending on which train you chose to travel on.

Please click here for a full list of the destinations that we can offer within China.

Please see below for further information on each class and type of accommodation available:

• First Class Seat
• Second Class Seat
• Hard Seat
• Soft Seat
• Hard Sleeper
• Soft Sleeper
• Luxury Soft Sleeper

First Class Seat - Available on high speed CRH series trains. There are 4 seats per row (2+2) similar to a soft seat (see below) or business class seating on an aircraft.

Second Class Seat - Available on high speed CRH series trains. Similar to a hard seat (see below) there are 5 seats per row (3+2), please note that the seating area is relatively small.

Hard Seat - This is the basic seating and fare, similar to the economy class on an aircraft. On busier routes, passengers who cannot arrange for better seats because of overcrowding would purchase this type of ticket. In some cases tickets are sold with no seat assigned even if the number of "no seat" tickets offered for sale is limited to keep overcrowding within the guidlines.

Soft Seat - This is one level above the hard seat and there are 4 seats per row (2+2) meaning that there is comfortable seating similar to business class on an aircraft.

Hard Sleeper - This is the basic accomodation for an overnight train. Despite the name the bunks can comfortable accomodate anyone below six feet tall (1.80 metres) Bunks are arranged three on a side in a compartment - indicated by top, middle and bottom on the ticket. Please note that there are no doors between compartments.

Soft Sleeper - This accommodation is made of a wider bunk bed in an enclosed cabin, two bunks to a side and an entertainment system where movie channels are available for viewing through headphones and an LCD display for each bunk. These tickets are usually reserved more than a week prior to departure.

Luxury Soft Sleeper - This is the top level sleeper that is only available on a few services. The cabin only contains two beds and there is an independant wc/toilet in every cabin. Some coaches also have a shower cubicle to share.

Within China children under 1m (3ft) tall travel free and those under 1.3m (4ft) pay a quarter of an adult fare. Any child over this height will pay a full adult fare.

Train Types

The first character of the route identifier indicates the class of the passenger train, often determined by the speed and the relative number of stops the train makes along the way.

G (Gasou, High Speed) - This is a series for long distance high speed services.

C (Chengji, High Speed Intercity Train) - This series was introduced in August 2008 with the opening of the Beijing-Tianjin Intercity line and their top speed is 350 km/h.

D (Dongche High Speed) - This series was introduced in April 2007 and are powered using CRH series electric multiple units (EMUs). Their top speed is 250 km/h.

Z (Zhida Direct Express) - The name in Chinese means non-stop overnight train, however some of the Zhida services make several stops between the departure and arrival station. The majority have both soft and hard sleepers, whilst some Z trains have only soft sleepers. Their top speed is 160 km/h.

T (Tekuai Express) - This series of services make only a limited number of stops along their routes in major cities. Their top speed is 120 km/h.

K (Kuaisu Fast) - This series of trains stops at more stations than the T series and their top speed is 120 km/h.

General Fast Trains - These are slower passenger trains that stop at around half of the stations along a specific route, resulting in a longer travel time. Their top speeds are around 120 km/h.

General Train - These are the slowest services and stop at all stations. These trains are the preferred choice for rural workers to visit their home villages because of the low ticket cost. This type of train has the lowest priority in the fixed timetable and the top speed is 100 km/h.

Should you have any questions then please contact us

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