View source for Wuhan–Guangzhou high-speed railway

{{Short description|Railway line in China}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2012}}
{{Infobox rail line
 | box_width   =
 | name        = {{nowrap|[[Beijing–Guangzhou high-speed railway|Beijing–Guangzhou–Shenzhen–Hong Kong<br>high-speed railway]]}}
----
Wuhan–Guangzhou section
 | native_name = {{lang|zh-hans|京广深港高速铁路武广段<br>京广高速线武汉至广州段}}
 | native_name_lang = zh-hans
 | other_name = {{plainlist|
*Wuhan–Guangzhou high-speed railway
*Wuguang high-speed railway
}}
 | color       = {{rcr|CRH}}
 | logo        = CRH-logo.svg
 | logo_width  = 40px
 | logo_alt    =
 | image       = Wuhan-Guangzhou Railroad.svg
 | image_width = 300px
 | image_alt   =
 | caption     =
 | type        = [[High-speed rail]]
 | system      = {{rint|cn|crh}} [[China Railway High-speed]]
 | status      = Operational
 | locale      = {{plainlist|
*[[Hubei province]]
*[[Hunan province]]
*[[Guangdong province]]
}}
 | start       = [[Wuhan Railway Station|Wuhan]]
 | end         = [[Guangzhou South Railway Station|Guangzhou South]]
 | stations    = 18
 | routes      =
 | daily_ridership = 56,400<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://money.163.com/10/1225/22/6OPHM02A00253B0H.html |title=武广高铁通车一周年 客运量逾2058万人次_网易财经 |access-date=February 21, 2011 |archive-date=April 28, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160428110140/http://money.163.com/10/1225/22/6OPHM02A00253B0H.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
 | ridership2  =
 | open        = December 26, 2009 (Wuhan–Guangzhou North)<br />January 30, 2010 (Guangzhou North–Guangzhou South)
 | close       =
 | owner       = {{plainlist|
*{{rint|cn|rail}} [[China Railway Wuhan Group|CR Wuhan]]
*{{rint|cn|rail}} [[China Railway Guangzhou Group|CR Guangzhou]]
}}
 | operator    = {{plainlist|
*{{rint|cn|rail}} [[China Railway Wuhan Group|CR Wuhan]]
*{{rint|cn|rail}} [[China Railway Guangzhou Group|CR Guangzhou]]
}}
 | character   =
 | depot       =
 | stock       = {{plainlist|
*[[China Railways CRH2|CRH2C]]
*[[China Railways CRH3|CRH3C]]
*[[China Railways CRH380A|CRH380A, CRH380AL]]
*[[China Railways CRH3|CRH380BL]]
}}
 | linelength  = {{convert|968|km|mi|0|abbr=on}}
 | tracklength =
 | tracks = 2 ([[Double-track railway|Double-track]])
 | gauge       = {{RailGauge|sg|allk=on}}
 | old_gauge =
 | load_gauge = 
 | minradius   = {{cvt|7000|m|mi|abbr=on}}
 | maxincline  = 20‰
 | racksystem  =
 | routenumber =
 | electrification = {{25 kV 50 Hz}} ([[Overhead line]])
 | speed       = {{cvt|350|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}
 | elevation   =
 | website     =
 | map         = {{Wuhan–Guangzhou high-speed railway}}
 | map_state   = collapsed
}}
{{Infobox Chinese |order=st
|s=武广高速铁路 |t=武廣高速鐵路
  |p=Wǔguǎng Gāosù Tiělù
  |j=mou<sup>5</sup>gwong<sup>2</sup> gou<sup>1</sup>cuk<sup>1</sup> tit<sup>3</sup>lou<sup>6</sup>
|altname=Beijing–Guangzhou–Shenzhen–Hong Kong HSR, Wuhan&ndash;Guangzhou section
|s2=京广深港高速铁路武广段 |t2=京廣深港高速鐵路武廣段
  |p2=Jīngguǎngshēngǎng gāosù tiělù Wǔ-Guǎng duàn
  |j2=ging<sup>1</sup>gwong<sup>2</sup>sam<sup>1</sup>gong<sup>2</sup> gou<sup>1</sup>cuk<sup>1</sup> tit<sup>3</sup>lou<sup>6</sup> mou<sup>5</sup>gwong<sup>2</sup> dyun<sup>6</sup>
}}
[[File:Wuguang PDL viaduct.JPG|thumb|right|250px|A viaduct carrying the railway]]
The '''Wuhan–Guangzhou high-speed railway''', also called the '''Wuguang high-speed railway''' and short for '''[[Beijing–Guangzhou–Shenzhen–Hong Kong high-speed railway]], Wuhan–Guangzhou section''', is a {{convert|968|km|adj=on}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hb.xinhuanet.com/photo/2009-05/04/content_16417769.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930051730/http://www.hb.xinhuanet.com/photo/2009-05/04/content_16417769.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 30, 2011 |script-title=zh:“五一”奋战在工地 |publisher=[[Xinhua News]] |date=2009-05-04}}</ref> [[high-speed rail]] line, operated by [[China Railway High-speed]] (CRH), connecting [[Wuhan]] and [[Guangzhou]], the provincial capitals of [[Hubei]] and [[Guangdong]], respectively. It was the world's fastest train service,<ref name=Dasgupta /> initially using coupled [[China Railways CRH2|CRH2]]C and [[China Railways CRH3|CRH3]]C trains which averages {{convert|313|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} in non-stop commercial service.

The line is part of the 2230-km long [[Beijing–Guangzhou–Shenzhen–Hong Kong high-speed railway]]. Since the railway line opened ten years ago, it has transported 500 million passengers and provided over 500000 train services.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-12/27/c_138661204.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191227104516/http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-12/27/c_138661204.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 27, 2019|title=Wuhan-Guangzhou high-speed rail handles over 500 mln passengers – Xinhua {{!}} English.news.cn|website=www.xinhuanet.com|access-date=2020-01-27}}</ref>

== Rolling stock ==
When the line opened, the trains had a maximum in-service speed of {{convert|350|km/h|0|abbr=on}} according to Chinese sources.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120315074929/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-12/26/content_12705527.htm Wuhan-Guangzhou bullet train link to hit airlines hard], China Daily, 2009-12-26</ref> Each train consists of two eight-car [[electric multiple unit]]s coupled together to make a 16-car train. The passenger capacity of the train is about 1114 (CRH3C×2) or 1220 (CRH2C×2). The trains are based on technology developed by [[Siemens]] ([[China Railways CRH3]]) and [[Kawasaki Heavy Industries|Kawasaki]] ([[China Railways CRH2]]) modified to the standards of China Railway High-speed. The trains used on the line are manufactured in China.<ref name=Dasgupta>{{cite news|author=Mitchell, Tom|title=Chinese Harmony train sets speed record|url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/1eed4d72-f351-11de-a888-00144feab49a.html|date=December 28, 2009|work=Financial Times|access-date=December 28, 2009}}</ref><ref name=Xinhua-20091226 />

On December 3, 2010, the new [[China Railways CRH380A]] trainset started serving this line.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 3, 2010 |title=新一代高速动车组CRH380A明起亮相武广高铁 |url=http://travel.sohu.com/20101203/n278095311.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101208031650/http://travel.sohu.com/20101203/n278095311.shtml |archive-date=December 8, 2010 |website=Sohu}}</ref>

== Commercial service ==
The first commercial trains left Wuhan and Guangzhou North at 9:00&nbsp;am on December 26, 2009, and reached their destinations in three hours, compared with ten and a half hours for the previous service.<ref name=Xinhua-20091226>{{citation | url = http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-12/26/content_12705875.htm | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100115083042/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-12/26/content_12705875.htm | url-status = dead | archive-date = January 15, 2010 | title = World's fastest rail journey starts operation | publisher = Xinhua | date = December 26, 2009}}.</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=China unveils 'world's fastest train link'|url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iyiGIR1KldxNfneHStjifvaiOQiQ|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091229160026/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iyiGIR1KldxNfneHStjifvaiOQiQ|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 29, 2009|date=December 26, 2009|publisher=AFP via Google|access-date=December 26, 2009}}</ref>

From December 28, 2009,<ref group="note">Timetable was slightly different on December 26 and 27.</ref> until Guangzhou South Station was opened on January 30, 2010, 28 passenger train services run on the line daily each way. Of these 28 trains, two run between Wuhan and Changsha South, five run between Changsha South and Guangzhou North, and 21 run between Wuhan and Guangzhou North.

Nonstop trains, now cancelled, covered the {{Cvt|922|km}} long journey in a scheduled 02h57m (Southbound) or 02h58m (Northbound).<ref group="note">In the first day of its service on December 26, train G1001 finished the 922-km distance in 02h48m, and arrived at Guangzhou North ten minutes ahead of schedule, averaging {{convert|329|km/h|abbr=on}}</ref> This is an average speed of {{convert|313|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} between stations. Before this line was opened, the fastest commercial train service between stations was the train run between [[LGV Est|Lorraine TGV and Champagne TGV]] in France, averaging {{convert|279|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/fileadmin/user_upload/railwaygazette.com/PDF/RailwayGazetteWorldSpeedSurvey2007.pdf |title=TGV Est lifts the record|author=Colin Taylor|publisher=[[Railway Gazette International]]|date=September 2007}}</ref>

Guangzhou South Railway Station was opened on January 30, 2010, just before the Chinese New Year. Trains arrive at or depart from Guangzhou South instead of Guangzhou North since then. During the first 56 days in 2010, the railway transported 1.108 million people, or 43 thousand per day.  The total ticket income was about ¥700 million, exceeding earlier predictions.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.sina.com.cn/c/2010-03-07/044117177520s.shtml |script-title=zh:武广高铁试运营56天票价收入7亿 |publisher=[[Sina Corp|Sina]] News |date=2010-03-07}}</ref>

More trains have been added to the route since March 3, 2010.

On July 1, 2010, coupled trains were replaced by single trains, and service frequency was doubled – from two daily non-stop 03h08m-long services between Wuhan and Guangzhou to six daily 03h16m-long services with one stop in Changsha South – these services departed on the hour (i.e. 08:00, 14:00, 16:00).

On September 20, 2010, even more trains were added. There were then 75 trains in each direction on weekdays and 80 trains in each direction on weekends. The average train interval had been cut to 11 minutes. On October 1, 2010 during the National holidays, the railway line transported 118 thousand people in a single day.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://hunan.voc.com.cn/article/201010/201010041043326334.html|title = 1日武广高铁发送11.8万人次 创单日客流量新高 – 今日关注 – 湖南在线 – 华声在线}}</ref>

In August 2011 the maximum speed of Chinese high-speed trains was reduced to {{convert|300|km/h|mph|abbr=on|sigfig=3}} following the [[Wenzhou train collision]] but was restored to {{convert|350|km/h|mph|abbr=on|sigfig=3}} in late 2017. In August 2011 the fastest trains between Wuhan and Guangzhou South, with one stop at Changsha South, had a scheduled trip time of 3 hours and 33 minutes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.chinatrainguide.com/trainsearch.php?checi=G1005|title = G1005 Train Wuhan to Shenzhen North Route Map & Timetable}}</ref>

From April 1, 2012, the service was extended with through trains running between Wuhan and Shenzhen North station. Initially there are 10 services each day in each direction with the fastest train (train no G1014) taking 4 hours, 11 minutes.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.amoytrip.com/shenzhen-wuhan-high-speed-train-operated.html |title=Shenzhen-Wuhan High Speed Train will be operated {{!}} China Travel News |website=www.amoytrip.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130416032609/http://www.amoytrip.com/shenzhen-wuhan-high-speed-train-operated.html |archive-date=2013-04-16}} </ref>

Since the railway line opened ten years ago, it has transported 500 million passengers and provided over 500000 train services.

On January 23, 2020, due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] and as part of the efforts to contain it, the Chinese authorities and city government announced that all services were suspended until further notice.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/wuhan-coronavirus-quarantine-china-cities-urban-planner-2020-1|title=China has put 33 million people on lockdown because of the coronavirus outbreak. An urban planner says there's no way to seal off a city.|last=Bendix|first=Aria|date=2020-01-26|website=Business Insider Australia|language=en|access-date=2020-01-27}}</ref>

== Line ==
Construction work began on June 23, 2005. The line cost approximately [[Chinese yuan|CN¥]]116.6 billion.<ref name=Independent>{{cite news|title=Record-breaking Chinese rail opening piles pressure on airlines|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/recordbreaking-chinese-rail-opening-piles-pressure-on-airlines-1850149.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091226185844/http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/recordbreaking-chinese-rail-opening-piles-pressure-on-airlines-1850149.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 26, 2009|date=December 25, 2009|work=The Independent|access-date=December 26, 2009}}</ref> Xu Fangliang was the general engineer in charge of designing the line.<ref name=Xinhua-20091226 />

{{convert|468|km|abbr=on}} of the railway line is laid on bridges, and {{convert|177|km|abbr=on}} is in tunnels, totaling 2/3 of the entire length. There are 684 bridges and 226 tunnels along the line.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://politics.people.com.cn/GB/14562/10548281.html|title = 人民网—404页面}}</ref>  The signalling system deployed on the line is [[Chinese Train Control System|CTCS]]-3.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ccnews.people.com.cn/GB/10549815.html |script-title=zh:跑出394公里时速 “武广”创世界高铁速度之最] |date=2009-12-10}}</ref>

There are eighteen stations on the line. Fourteen of them are opened for passenger service. The northern terminal, [[Wuhan Railway Station]] was opened simultaneously with the railway line. Guangzhou South station was opened later on January 30, 2010. Lechang East and Yingde West stations are under construction. Wulongquan East is an [[passing loop|overtaking station]] which is not open for service.

On December 9, 2009, a train achieved a top speed of {{convert|394.2|km/h|mph}} and took 02h55m to travel from Guangzhou South to Wuhan during a test run.<ref name=Xinhua-20091226 /><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YY_cF2Snihs  Video of trial run. View of speedometer at 1m22s ]</ref>

== Fare ==
{{main|Fare of passenger trains in China}}
The second class fare is about [[Renminbi|¥]]0.465 per kilometer between {{convert|0-500|km|abbr=on}}, ¥0.415 per kilometer between {{convert|500-1000|km|4=0|abbr=on}} and ¥0.365 per kilometer after {{convert|1000|km|4=0|abbr=on}}. The first class fare is 60% higher. Deluxe class is also available on CRH3 trains, which is about 80% higher than second class. Like other train services in China, insurance of ¥0.0011722 per kilometer is included for every ticket. The ratemaking distance is based on the existing [[Jingguang Railway]], not the actual rail distance of the new railway. Hence, though the actual rail distance between Wuhan and Guangzhou South is {{convert|968|km|abbr=on}}, {{convert|1069|km|abbr=on}} is charged. The ticket price between the two terminal stations is ¥490 and ¥780 ($75 and $115 in U.S. currency).<ref>{{cite news |script-title=zh:武广高铁票价定为780 490|url=http://news.cctv.com/society/20091213/101077.shtml|publisher=CCTV (CCTV.com)|access-date=December 26, 2009}}</ref>

== Comments ==

=== Reaction from existing passengers ===
With an average speed 4 times faster, the fare for the high-speed railway is also about 4 times expensive than the ordinary railway fare. Some believe this is too high for the public. RMB490 is about 15% of the average monthly income of workers in Guangzhou.<ref>{{cite web|script-title=zh:去年广州职工平均工资49215元 比上海低1.4万|url=http://nf.nfdaily.cn/nfdsb/content/2010-07/20/content_13940776.htm|access-date=May 11, 2011}}</ref> After opening of the high-speed railway, 13 out of 45 ordinary trains were cancelled, a decision criticized to have harmed the welfare of low-income workers.<ref>{{citation | url = http://big5.ce.cn/gate/big5/views.ce.cn/view/economy/200912/26/t20091226_20693660.shtml |script-title=zh:准备迈入高铁时代，需要警惕"被高速" | publisher = Xinhua Daily Telegraph | date = February 7, 2010}}</ref>  Hence, the existing passengers complain that they are "forced to travel high-speed".<ref>{{citation | url = http://big5.ce.cn/gate/big5/views.ce.cn/view/economy/200912/26/t20091226_20693660.shtml |script-title=zh:高鐵來了我"被高速"了 | publisher = {{lang|zh-hant|中國經濟網}} | date = February 7, 2010}}</ref>

Many passengers also disliked the cancellation of many of the "conventional" trains that used to provide overnight service between Wuhan and Guangzhou (or between Changsha and Guangzhou). While they were much slower than the new high-speed train, overnight service (which has been much reduced now) provided the convenience of traveling while sleeping.<ref>{{citation
|url=http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/WDSContentServer/WDSP/IB/2012/04/05/000333038_20120405014021/Rendered/PDF/667980BRI0P12500Speed0Rail0Final0EN.pdf|periodical=China Transport Topics |issue=4 (February)|year= 2012|title=High-Speed Rail – The First Three Years: Taking the Pulse of China's Emerging Program|first1=Richard|last1= Bullock|first2= Andrew|last2= Salzberg|first3= Ying|last3= Jin|publisher=World Bank Office, Beijing|pages=3–4}}</ref>

There has also been some vocal criticism of a lack of group discounts, so organised tour operators have to pay full fares for every tourist, when airlines will offer special discounts. With airlines reducing services on the high-speed routes, high-speed rail is the only effective time saving option during the short holiday breaks, such as Mid-Autumn Festival, May Day and Qing Ming Festival, making such trips more expensive.

=== Reaction from airlines ===
[[China Southern Airlines]], a national airline which hubs in Guangzhou, spoke of concern over eroding [[market share]] from competition. 38 of 160 plus China Southern domestic routes will compete with the rail line. The airline has aggressively cut fares, slashing the advance purchase price of flights between Wuhan and Guangzhou by almost half.<ref>{{citation | url = http://www.chinapost.com.tw/china/local-news/beijing/2009/12/27/238170/Wuhan-Guangzhou-bullet.htm | title = Wuhan–Guangzhou bullet train link to hit airlines hard | work= The China Post| date = December 27, 2009}}.</ref>

Tan Wangeng, president of China Southern Airlines, said, "In the long run, the coming of high-speed railway age is an opportunity rather than challenge to our airline company. China Southern is expecting cooperation with the railway company to extend the market and develop more packaged travel products for the passengers."<ref name=Independent />

==Gallery==
<gallery perrow="3">
File:WuGuang-CRH3-G1001-FirstClass.jpg|First Class of WuGuang Express Railway
File:CRH3C Second Class Seat.jpg|Second Class of WuGuang Express Railway
File:WuGuang-CRH3-G1001-Dinning.jpg|Dining car in the CRH3
File:GuangZhouNanStation.jpg|Guangzhou South Railway Station
File:Wuhan railway station 03.jpg|Wuhan Railway Station
File:China-Railway-Ticket-Paper-Normal.jpg|Ticket
</gallery>

== See also ==
* [[Land speed record for rail vehicles]]

== Notes ==
{{reflist|group=note}}

== References ==
{{reflist|2}}

== External links ==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100526010538/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-12/26/content_12705791.htm Photo gallery with English captions]
* http://www.openstreetmap.org/?relation=299748 – Route on OpenStreetMap
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPNsf9p5nvU Test run video near Changsha South Station]
* [https://www.maglev.net/wuhan-guangzhou-maglev The Wuhan–Guangzhou Maglev Line]
* Panoramic aerial view of the line: [http://www.nddaily.com/multimedianews/360/200912/t20091222_1102418.shtml Qingyuan Station], [http://www.nddaily.com/multimedianews/360/200912/t20091222_1102417.shtml Shaoguan Station], [http://www.nddaily.com/multimedianews/360/200912/t20091222_1102416.shtml Dawoshan Tunnel], [http://www.nddaily.com/multimedianews/360/200912/t20091222_1102415.shtml Crossing Bei Jiang (North River)], [http://www.nddaily.com/multimedianews/360/200912/t20091222_1102409.shtml Guangzhou South Station]

{{Beijing–Guangzhou–Shenzhen–Hong Kong High-Speed Railway}}
{{High-speed rail in the People's Republic of China}}
{{High-speed railway lines}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wuhan-Guangzhou High-Speed Railway}}
[[Category:High-speed railway lines in China]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Hubei]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Hunan]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Guangdong]]
[[Category:Standard gauge railways in China]]
[[Category:Transport in Wuhan]]
[[Category:2009 in Guangzhou]]

[[de:Schnellfahrstrecke Peking–Hongkong]]