Tickets Discounts on High-speed Train Available
2012-06-01 10:28:27
Summary：passengers can enjoy discounts when buying business class tickets and premium seats on high-speed trains operating on two lines in East China.
Here's a piece of good news: passengers can enjoy discounts when buying business class tickets and premium seats on high-speed trains operating on two lines in East China. The Shanghai Railway Bureau says it's a marketing strategy aimed at attracting more passengers. Does it mean that railway departments will adopt a floating pricing system on some high speed trains?
Business class tickets on high-speed trains on the Shanghai-Nanjing and Shanghai-Hangzhou lines will be reduced by 30 percent between May 18 and June 20. Tickets for premium seats on the two lines over the same period will be cut by 10 percent.
That means a saving of 130 yuan on a business class ticket from Shanghai to Nanjing, and 30 yuan on a premium seat on the same route. The discount applies to nearly 130 trains.
Although all passengers interviewed say it's good to have discounted train tickets, most say they will still choose second class seats, as the discount business class and premium seats are still much more expensive.
"The premium seat is not my option, even at a discounted price, because it's still more economic to buy the second class seat."
"If the discount price is still much more expensive than the second class seat, I would still choose the second class seat, because it's still comfortable there."
"It's unnecessary to buy a premium seat, because it's only about 50 minutes' ride, and it's common to have to stand for an hour on the subway in Shanghai."
Industry insiders believe that the discounted tickets are a marketing strategy to attract more passengers. But Qiu Baochang, a lawyer, says that the policy will produce little effect because business class and premium seats account for only two percent of a high-speed train's total capacity.
"Discounting prices is a positive sign, and shows that ticket prices high speed trains are not fixed, but I think that the number of discounted tickets is far from enough. What's more, the discounts could be increased."
China's railway industry is enduring hard times, with intercity bus providers and airlines taking more and more of the long-distance domestic travel market. Passengers who choose long distance buses instead of high speed railway often argue the former is more convenient. Mr. Chen is one of them.
"My workplace is near to the long distance bus station. The journey is almost the same, considering the time I spend on the subway to get to the railway station."
It is of little surprise that passengers prioritize convenience when considering transport options. Travel experts suggest that the railway department establish a reasonable pricing system in order to maintain competitiveness. Qiu Baochang believes that China's rail sector should learn from the success of other travel providers.
"I think the railway departments can learn from the public transport in Beijing. All people get the discount after a public hearing was held on the pricing mechanism. They could also learn from airline companies who offer discounted tickets during slow season. The discount shouldn't be a fixed 20 or 30 percent. They should be variable, like 50 percent off, or even less."
Recently, the Ministry of Railways has announced that bids for railway contracts in China are going to be open to local markets, indicating that the industry has begun to adopt market principles. Experts have said it's a good step forward, but that the ministry needs to speed up the process, just as it speeds up trains.
Business class tickets on high-speed trains on the Shanghai-Nanjing and Shanghai-Hangzhou lines will be reduced by 30 percent between May 18 and June 20. Tickets for premium seats on the two lines over the same period will be cut by 10 percent.
That means a saving of 130 yuan on a business class ticket from Shanghai to Nanjing, and 30 yuan on a premium seat on the same route. The discount applies to nearly 130 trains.
Although all passengers interviewed say it's good to have discounted train tickets, most say they will still choose second class seats, as the discount business class and premium seats are still much more expensive.
"The premium seat is not my option, even at a discounted price, because it's still more economic to buy the second class seat."
"If the discount price is still much more expensive than the second class seat, I would still choose the second class seat, because it's still comfortable there."
"It's unnecessary to buy a premium seat, because it's only about 50 minutes' ride, and it's common to have to stand for an hour on the subway in Shanghai."
Industry insiders believe that the discounted tickets are a marketing strategy to attract more passengers. But Qiu Baochang, a lawyer, says that the policy will produce little effect because business class and premium seats account for only two percent of a high-speed train's total capacity.
"Discounting prices is a positive sign, and shows that ticket prices high speed trains are not fixed, but I think that the number of discounted tickets is far from enough. What's more, the discounts could be increased."
China's railway industry is enduring hard times, with intercity bus providers and airlines taking more and more of the long-distance domestic travel market. Passengers who choose long distance buses instead of high speed railway often argue the former is more convenient. Mr. Chen is one of them.
"My workplace is near to the long distance bus station. The journey is almost the same, considering the time I spend on the subway to get to the railway station."
It is of little surprise that passengers prioritize convenience when considering transport options. Travel experts suggest that the railway department establish a reasonable pricing system in order to maintain competitiveness. Qiu Baochang believes that China's rail sector should learn from the success of other travel providers.
"I think the railway departments can learn from the public transport in Beijing. All people get the discount after a public hearing was held on the pricing mechanism. They could also learn from airline companies who offer discounted tickets during slow season. The discount shouldn't be a fixed 20 or 30 percent. They should be variable, like 50 percent off, or even less."
Recently, the Ministry of Railways has announced that bids for railway contracts in China are going to be open to local markets, indicating that the industry has begun to adopt market principles. Experts have said it's a good step forward, but that the ministry needs to speed up the process, just as it speeds up trains.