Beijing-Shanghai Coach Not to Open SoonOnly 13 hours from Shanghai to Beijing! The Shanghai-Beijing expressway under full operation has shortened much distance between the two major cities. But the long-distance bus on this line will not open soon, just as many people have expected.The expressway newly opened to traffic will surely bring a boost in highway transportation, but in a relatively short period to come it will not be able to shake the positions of air and rail transport, experts said. Although it only needs 13 hours to travel from Shanghai to Beijing by bus, halfway delays for refueling and rest will inevitably extend the duration to about 16 hours. What's more, affected by snow, ice, heavy fogs and other unfavorable weathers, bus also falls short in terms of runs, safety, comfort and punctuality. On top of that, a 13-hour journey requires buses of top quality, making the bus ticket still more expansive than train tickets. Taking economic returns into consideration, most major transportation companies in Shanghai are now holding a wait-and-see attitude. The most suitable distance for bus transport, as reported, is 400 to 700 km, while the distance between Shanghai and Beijing has exceeded 1000km. Anyway, companies will surly make more efforts in canvassing passengers along the expressway. By PD Online staff member Li Heng |
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