<translation>High-speed trains between Beijing and Shanghai have commenced commercial operation</translation>

Beijing - Today, high-speed trains were introduced into commercial operation on the line connecting the two largest Chinese cities, Beijing and Shanghai. The new high-speed railway, which cost about 33 billion dollars (nearly 557 billion CZK), is intended to relieve the overloaded transportation system in the country. The travel time between the two cities will be reduced to about half. Along with the new line, two of the longest bridges in the world have also been put into operation.
Trains on the new railway line have been running on a trial basis since mid-May, but regular service was only scheduled to begin today. The Chinese do not conceal that the project is partially a celebration of the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China. The journey between Beijing and Shanghai on this train takes less than five hours, making the high-speed train competitive with air travel.
The high-speed railway, whose construction has been accompanied by concerns over safety and accusations of corruption, begins operation a year earlier than planned. It can transport 80 million passengers, which is double the previous capacity on the 1,318-kilometer-long line.
A one-way ticket will cost between 410 and 1,750 yuan (approximately 1,070 to 4,570 CZK), while a plane ticket between the two cities costs around 1,300 yuan (about 3,400 CZK). In fears of losing passengers to the new high-speed train, airlines have reportedly slashed ticket prices on some routes by up to 65 percent, aiming to undercut the price of the cheapest train ticket.
China is currently building thousands of kilometers of high-speed rail lines that will connect even the most remote areas. The government expects to complete a network totaling 45,000 kilometers by 2015. Through the construction of such routes, the country demonstrates its technological progress.
However, large investments have also made this sector fertile ground for corruption, which repeatedly raises concerns about cost levels and the safety of new high-speed lines. In March, the Chinese state auditor announced that construction companies and individuals siphoned off around 187 million yuan (more than 488 million CZK) from funds intended for the Beijing-Shanghai line last year. In February, the former minister of railways was already dismissed for allegedly accepting bribes totaling more than 800 million yuan in connection with the construction of the high-speed rail network over several years.
With the launch of the new railway line, two of the longest bridges in the world have also been put into operation. As of today, the record is held by the Danyang–Kunshan Grand Bridge, which spans nearly 165 kilometers (about the distance from Prague to Aš). Following closely is the Tianjin Grand Bridge, which is almost 114 kilometers long. The previous title was held by the Wuhe Grand Bridge in central China. It was opened only last year on February 6, measures 79.7 kilometers, and is part of the railway line between the cities of Zhengzhou in Henan Province and Xi'an in Shaanxi Province.