China Train Types

China trains are divided into 8 types according to the speed. There are different classes of seats and berths in different carriages, but basic facilities and services are almost the same.

Types 
1. Accommodation Train: The color is green or dark green and the number is a four-digit number such as 2672. It is very old and slow for it stops at each station it passes. Ticket prices are much cheaper than that of others. Note that 60% of them do not have air-conditioning although heat is usually available during the winter.

2. Fast: The colors are red and white, and its number is a letter "K" plus two to four Arabic figures such as K123. The letter "K" refers to fast ("Kuai" in Chinese). It is fast because it makes fewer stops during a trip. They are equipped with air-conditioning.

3. Express: Thecolors are blue and white, and the number is a letter "T" plus two to four Arabic figures, such T42. The letter "T" refers to very fast ("Te Kuai" in Chinese). They are equipped with air-conditioning and only stop at the provincial capitals and large cities.

4. Direct or Through: The colors are white and blue. They are numbered with the letter "Z" plus two to four Arabic figures such Z54. The letter "Z" refers to reaching the destination directly (Zhi Da in Chinese). They are equipped with air-conditioning and do not stop or only stop once or twice during a trip.

A Chinese Fast Train

A High-speed Train

5. Electric Multiple Units (CRH): The color is white and its number is the letter "D" plus two to four Arabic figures such as D301. The letter "D" refers to multiple units train ("Dong Che" in Chinese). Also called Bullet Trains, they runs at a speed of over 200 km per hour. Carriages are fully enclosed and equipped with air-conditioning.

6. Intercity Electric Multiple Units: the major color is white and its number is the letter "C" plus two to four Arabic figures such as C2125. The letter "C" refers to intercity ("Cheng Ji") in Chinese. They equipped with air-conditioning and runs between two cities and only stop at one or two large stations on the way.

7. High-speed: The major color is white and its number is a letter "G" plus two to four Arabic figures, such as G1021. The letter "G" refers to high-speed ("Gao Su" in Chinese). It is designed to run at a speed of over 350 km per hour. 

8. Temporary: It only runs during the passenger rush or holiday periods. The number is a letter "L" plus two to four Arabic figures such as L8047. The letter "L" refers to temporary ("Lin Shi" in Chinese).

Berths in Carriages

Second Class Seats

Usually, there are four types of berths in a carriages: hard seats, soft seats, hard sleepers, and soft sleepers. In CRH, Intercity CRH and High-speed Trains, seats are categorized into the first-class and the second-class. Facilities in the various carriages have some differences: hard-seat carriages are usually more crowd than other carriages; a soft seat carriage has fewer seats than a hard seat carriage; there are more berths in a hard-sleeper carriage than in a soft-sleeper carriage; some soft-sleeper carriages also equipped with air-conditioning, radios and TV sets. In high-speed trains the first-class carriages are more comfortable and spacious than the second-class carriages. Tickets are priced according to the types of seats or berths. 

Facilities and Services
 Luggage Rack: there are overhead luggage racks on all carriages. Passengers can also put the bags under the seats or berths. In the CRH, Intercity CRH and High-speed Trains, lockers for large baggage are available at both ends of the carriages. 

 

Toilet in High-speed Train

Washrooms and Toilets: Washrooms a nd toilets are located at one end of each carriage. There is no hot water in washrooms. The toilets on temporary, accommodation, fast and express Trains are of the squat variety. Some direct, CRH, Intercity CRH and High-speed Trains have western-style toilets.

 Dining: Dining car is available, and it serves hot meals during a trip. There are also trolleys in the aisles selling food and drinks. Hot water for drink can be found at one end of each carriage. 

 Smoking Areas: Smoking areas are usually at the joint sections of two carriages. Smoking is forbidden on the enclosed carriages. 

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