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8lrr8
Wonder Wit
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Post  Posted: Feb 09, 2009 - 12:48 PM  Reply with quote  Back to top

^ i think u're right. i mistakened the bullet-train for the maglev.
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bigroh73Offline
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Post  Posted: Feb 09, 2009 - 02:07 PM  Reply with quote  Back to top

Yeah - they are already building the very fast SH-BJ line. Its not a Maglev. BJ trip will be about 5hrs, which is pretty good. Its due for completion in a few years time. Its more like a bullet train than anything - but speeds are still well over 200km/hr. But the tickets won't be too cheap - perhaps just a bit lower than a 1-way air ticket.

Hangzhou line will take 2yrs to complete (article today in ShDaily). Trip will take about 40mins.
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Me_AgainOffline
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Post  Posted: Feb 09, 2009 - 03:01 PM  Reply with quote  Back to top

Don't forget that the Maglev uses way more power than an average train, and has a lower load capacity. The drivers were sent overseas, at cost, to be specially trained how to drive the thing.

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karinaleeOffline
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Post  Posted: Feb 09, 2009 - 03:08 PM  Reply with quote  Back to top

the magleve is perfect for little to no luggage.

for business trips, with luggage, i pay 150 rmb for car pick-up (from pudong). comes to my place to pick me up, take my luggage and send me to airport in a nice car with leather seats and no cigarette smells.

fees from puxi is 160 rmb. there are no additional charges, traffic jam or not.

hassle free; and they can get you a bigger car if you have more luggage.

what i hate most when i take a taxi from pudong aiport to pudong ave is that taxi drivers complain that it is a loss to send me, after waiting for hours and hours at the waiting line. it happened 4 out of 5 times.

one guy was so upset with me paying with my transport card coz they cannot play majong without cash..

another guy made me lie to the guy who records the taxi leaving the airport about my destination..

i avoid taxis whenever i can.
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chingiskhanOffline
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Post  Posted: Feb 09, 2009 - 03:37 PM  Reply with quote  Back to top

More worrying that the cigarette smells - the last 3 times I took a taxi from Pudong the drivers were driving like maniacs weaving in and out of lanes, driving within inches of the car in front before switching lanes etc I was genuinely concerned (and I don't scare easy). It doesn't seem to be the same with the drivers from Hongqiao airport. Maybe because the traffic prevents them driving fast.
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jeffinfloridaOffline
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Post  Posted: Feb 09, 2009 - 04:43 PM  Reply with quote  Back to top

They started a new train from Shanghai to Beijing and it is the D train - all bullet train takes about 10 hours. Stops in Wuxi only.

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RegginOffline
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Post  Posted: Feb 09, 2009 - 04:56 PM  Reply with quote  Back to top

Every airport I try to pick taxi at the departures level. They are happy for business without waiting in line, I am happy for them...

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Zak101Offline
FooJay
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Post  Posted: Feb 09, 2009 - 06:57 PM  Reply with quote  Back to top

Jeff, I didn't know about the D trains until Mrs. Zak and I got one from Suzhou to Nanjing, then back June last year.

I thought it would be with chain smoking Leroy and his baggage at 40 km/h.

200 km/h in China on a train bespokes first world transport quality and 3 minutes stop at each station.

Sometimes they do things right. Plus a bar in the train.

And no smoking in the toilet (funny, they have smoke dectectors) then they'll stop the train automatically and scold the offender.

I'm actually astonished despite my cynicism at the China cynics club. I'm a life member there.

Z.

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jeffinfloridaOffline
Shanghai Royalty
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Post  Posted: Feb 09, 2009 - 09:00 PM  Reply with quote  Back to top

Zak D train is worth the extra few dollars. And if those have not figured this out - if you buy a soft seat / first class ticket most cities have a special waiting room that is not crowded and has nicer seats.

TIP TIP TIP If you are a foreigner you can usually go in there even with regular class tickets. Just remember to smile at the girl as you enter and be nice. They very rarely say no to foreigners entering the first class / soft seat waiting room.

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joshuasrandOffline
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Post  Posted: Feb 23, 2009 - 09:13 AM  Reply with quote  Back to top

Can anyone please help me figure out how to get to Jiaxing from the PDX airport using mass transit, I read in the thread that the Maglev stops running at 9pm. My flight comes in at 9:30pm. Thanks
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RenovatorOffline
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Post  Posted: Feb 23, 2009 - 09:52 AM  Reply with quote  Back to top

joshuasrand wrote:
Can anyone please help me figure out how to get to Jiaxing from the PDX airport using mass transit, I read in the thread that the Maglev stops running at 9pm. My flight comes in at 9:30pm. Thanks


You will be taking the train from the South Railway station to JiaXing. There are several options. You can spend the night at motel 168 Pudong airport and then venture out the next day. You can take Airport Bus number 2 (not sure what time last bus leaves) to Jing An Temple and then taxi from Jing An Temple to South Railway Station (about rmb 40). You can take the airport hotel bus to one of the downtown hotels and then work your way to South railway station from the hotel. You can take a cab from PVG to South Railway station. You can get to LongYang road by bus and take subway line 2 to peoples square and then change to line 1 to South Railway Station.

Much depends on how strapped you are for cash and how much time you want this venture to take and how much luggage you have with you to be able to pick the best option.
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joshuasrandOffline
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Post  Posted: Feb 23, 2009 - 10:58 AM  Reply with quote  Back to top

Thanks Renovator, I will definately take your direction. Probably figure the bus 2 to South Railway, there is a train that leaves the train station at 23:00 so I should have enough time to get there. I will be living in Jiaxing for two years from Minneapolis. Very excited... Thanks again!
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RenovatorOffline
FooJay
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Post  Posted: Feb 23, 2009 - 11:12 AM  Reply with quote  Back to top

If your flight comes in at 9:30PM, you will never make an 11PM out of Shanghai South Railway station. It can easily take 45 minutes from time you land until you are out of airport. 30 minutes if your bags come out first, but can take up to 1 hour if delays in customs, baggage etc. Bus 2 to Jing An Temple will take about 1 hour at that time of night. Taxi from Jing An to South railway station including time to find cab expect about 15-20 minutes. From landing time to South Railway station using this option, I don't think you will beat 2 hours.
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RenovatorOffline
FooJay
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Post  Posted: Feb 23, 2009 - 11:24 AM  Reply with quote  Back to top

PS:Last airport bus 2 leaves Pudong Airport 11PM
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joshuasrandOffline
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Post  Posted: Feb 23, 2009 - 12:13 PM  Reply with quote  Back to top

Thanks I will make a plan B.
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RSBakshiOffline
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Post  Posted: Feb 23, 2009 - 01:02 PM  Reply with quote  Back to top

There is a direct bus from Pudong Airport to South Railway Station. It is either Line 6 or Line 7.

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RSBakshiOffline
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Post  Posted: Feb 23, 2009 - 01:03 PM  Reply with quote  Back to top

and Ya, You can get bus until 11 PM.

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Zak101Offline
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Post  Posted: Feb 23, 2009 - 04:39 PM  Reply with quote  Back to top

Last time I took a transit bus from Pudong to Shanghai Railway Station, it broke down half way. All the passengers grumbling.

I and 3 other Chinese guys immediately got a taxi, put our bags in the trunk (boot) and shared the fa piao. That was fun.

Got to be flexible and patient about these little annoyancies.

Z.

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greenmarkOffline
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Post  Posted: Feb 23, 2009 - 07:15 PM  Reply with quote  Back to top

chingiskhan wrote:
I am pretty sure the BJ line is a normal rail ine NOT Magnetic Levitation technology. It's a pity because that 14 hour journey would be perfect for this technology, but the cost is prohibitive. The new line I think is a high speed rail link and will cut the journey from 13-14 hours down to about 5 or 6 hours.


Hmmn, the maglev might be good for BJ but it isn't quite perfect. I can think of a few alterations that would make it better...
- the trains themsleves should be made so that they can be transferred to other destinations, or it can be run along alternative routes if the line was blocked
- the line itself along the route needs to be raised higher off the ground, so that it is further away from people who might be disturbed by the noise
- if the line is really high, then it can travel where the air is thinner and so there would be less air resistance
- they should use existing infrastructure if possible - it would be really great if they did not have to build new tracks along the way
- it should link up with the existing maglev line as well, maybe at the airport
- of course, it has to be no more polluting than air travel at the moment, otherwise what's the point.

If only we had the technology
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talldiverOffline
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Post  Posted: Feb 23, 2009 - 08:45 PM  Reply with quote  Back to top

Quote:

Hmmn, the maglev might be good for BJ but it isn't quite perfect. I can think of a few alterations that would make it better...
- the trains themsleves should be made so that they can be transferred to other destinations, or it can be run along alternative routes if the line was blocked

meaning a whole new entirely hybrid maglev/conventional system would have to be developped

- the line itself along the route needs to be raised higher off the ground, so that it is further away from people who might be disturbed by the noise
- if the line is really high, then it can travel where the air is thinner and so there would be less air resistance

I like the idea of having concrete pylons going up about 3000m to where MAYBE airresistance might be a tad lower - that is going to endear the project to residents no end, not to speak about making the the day for cement companies.... other aspects come to mind when picturing this line, eg. escape routes (maybe slides?)

- they should use existing infrastructure if possible - it would be really great if they did not have to build new tracks along the way

this one jives rally well with the recommendation just above; having to find a pre-existing low air resistance rail-line will limit the appliction of this technology...

- it should link up with the existing maglev line as well, maybe at the airport
- of course, it has to be no more polluting than air travel at the moment, otherwise what's the point.

If only we had the technology



overall I am afraid that if we hope for the above described technology to come to life, we may as well ask Scotty to beam us to destination. That would be technology that would probably already be mature by the time the new style hybrid maglev/conventional train in the clouds rolls into the station...
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bigroh73Offline
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Post  Posted: Feb 23, 2009 - 09:49 PM  Reply with quote  Back to top

What planet is this guy from???
This guy is hilarious - my comments in bold.

Quote:

- the trains themselves should be made so that they can be transferred to other destinations, or it can be run along alternative routes if the line was blocked
SO, WE SHOULD BUILD ANOTHER LINE SO THE TRAINS CAN BE TRANSFERRED?? KEEP IN MIND THAT THE MAGLEV TRAINS DO NOT RUN ON NORMAL RAIL LINE TRACKS

- the line itself along the route needs to be raised higher off the ground, so that it is further away from people who might be disturbed by the noise
HOW MUCH HIGHER SHOULD IT BE?? THE EXISTING LINE TO BJ SHOULD BE RAISED 30FT IN THE AIR?? HOW LONG WOULD IT TAKE TO DO THAT...GIVEN THAT THE TRACKS ARE A DIFFERENT TYPE.
OH - HANG ON - THERE ARE 20 MILLION MIGRANT WORKERS WITH NO JOB - PROBLEM SOLVED!!!


- if the line is really high, then it can travel where the air is thinner and so there would be less air resistance
MAKE IT HIGHER WHERE THE AIR IS THINNER.???
DOES ANYONE KNOW HOW HIGH IT MUST BE BEFORE THE THINNER AIR IS NOTICEABLE?? THAT MUST BE A FEW THOUSAND FEET, RIGHT??


- they should use existing infrastructure if possible - it would be really great if they did not have to build new tracks along the way
YEAH, LETS PUT THE MAGLEV TRAIN ON EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE - THAT WILL WORK....RIGHT GUYS??? WE DON'T NEED SPECIAL TRACKS FOR THE MAGLEV......

- of course, it has to be no more polluting than air travel at the moment, otherwise what's the point.
WELL OF COURSE - ANOTHER MAGLEV THAT DOES NOT RUN ON AVIATION FUEL - IT MUST BE CLEANER!!!

If only we had the technology



I HAVE A DREAM........

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