New ticket prices for high-speed rail route

Ticket prices on the high-speed train route between Shanghai and the Chinese capital will be changed at the end of the year, the Beijing-Shanghai High Speed Railway Co Ltd announced on Friday night.

The trains went into operation in 2011 with a fixed ticket price.

From December 23, prices will be based on traffic and season, the company said.

The lowest price of a second-class seat will be 498 yuan (US$74.65), down 10 percent, and the highest 598 yuan, up 8 percent, according to the company.

Meanwhile, a “quiet carriage" is to be introduced within the year, the company said, for passengers promising to abide by certain standards of behavior when they purchase tickets, the company said.