China high speed rail

[sbl2560]

The train station is so chaotic . I took from Shanghai to Suzhou yesterday . It open 15mins before the train depart and everyone is queuing .
The moment I got onto the train, haven’t even sit down , the train already move

Your first time taking HSR. Hence not used to the process and when to start queuing for gate entry to platform.

 

[cherynsq]

Your first time taking HSR. Hence not used to the process and when to start queuing for gate entry to platform.

Ya my first time

actually When to queue ? I ask the station guy and he said when the train number on the electronic board turn green means ready to check in

but I don’t know when to queue so I follow the instructions

and for us singaporean we have to use only the single manual lane right ? We can use the many normal electronic gantry right ?

 

[jywy2005]

Ya my first time

actually When to queue ? I ask the station guy and he said when the train number on the electronic board turn green means ready to check in

but I don’t know when to queue so I follow the instructions

and for us singaporean we have to use only the single manual lane right ? We can use the many normal electronic gantry right ?

It’s exactly 15 min before departure time.

Look for manual gate where the ticket inspector will manually scan your passport. It’s actually the priority lane whereby the elderly, NS men, pregnant women etc queue up. The billboard will flash 开始检票.

 

[jywy2005]

I have not tried the soft sleeper cabin. Thinking of trying it myself. May I know if it’s a gender differentiated cabin? Meaning all same gender together cos I will be travelling solo?

 

[cherynsq]

It’s exactly 15 min before departure time.

Look for manual gate where the ticket inspector will manually scan your passport. It’s actually the priority lane whereby the elderly, NS men, pregnant women etc queue up. The billboard will flash 开始检票.

Thank you ! We went to Q at manual cause we worried our passport can’t clear the electronic gantry but it’s also damn long

 

[s7460597]

Thank you ! We went to Q at manual cause we worried our passport can’t clear the electronic gantry but it’s also damn long

My experience using the auto queue wasn't good. Still end up using manned counter. Usually not that long as locals scan their ID at the auto counters. Queue clear very fast.

 

[beanstalk6]

I have not tried the soft sleeper cabin. Thinking of trying it myself. May I know if it’s a gender differentiated cabin? Meaning all same gender together cos I will be travelling solo?

No such thing, though I think you may be able to ask at the ticket counter to be assigned one. In theory they know the profile of every passenger in each cabin. In practice I don't think they'll bother to help.

 

[Confession.pt3]

The train station is so chaotic . I took from Shanghai to Suzhou yesterday . It open 15mins before the train depart and everyone is queuing .
The moment I got onto the train, haven’t even sit down , the train already move

True..
as we were travelling with children, we tried to queue once someone started queuing.

 

[jywy2005]

True..
as we were travelling with children, we tried to queue once someone started queuing.

True. Need to factor in the time to queue up to use the escalator to reach the platform. One single passenger escalator and always a long queue.

 

[froztheart]

I see. Seems possible to get verified at the station from the below post.
Anyway I think you likely have some time while waiting for trains, can just try to ask also.


Post in thread 'China high speed rail' https://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/threads/china-high-speed-rail.6970277/post-150463474

thank you for the help. will verify at the station then

Yes, if it doesn't work in-app, please head to the counters at the station to verify.
Of course do it when you reach the destination so that you will not miss your HSR.

 

[Garlic & Butter]

many counters can scan passports nowadays, esp the bigger stations. Can go infront of the queue and check the counters first if it has a passport scanner, then queue up.

Also, not all stations open 15 mins before departure. (they close 2 mins before departure)

For example, Badaling Great Wall closes 11 mins before departure (opens 20-30mins earlier) because from gantry to platform is a long deep descend down a few escalators + long long walk

 

[froztheart]

many counters can scan passports nowadays, esp the bigger stations. Can go infront of the queue and check the counters first if it has a passport scanner, then queue up.

Also, not all stations open 15 mins before departure. (they close 2 mins before departure)

For example, Badaling Great Wall closes 11 mins before departure (opens 20-30mins earlier) because from gantry to platform is a long deep descend down a few escalators + long long walk

Yes, bigger and newer ones can scan for all. Much more convenient.
Agreed, best to head earlier like 1hr earlier if unfamiliar.

 

[s7460597]

Yes, bigger and newer ones can scan for all. Much more convenient.
Agreed, best to head earlier like 1hr earlier if unfamiliar.

Absolutely, during peak season/hours the security check to enter the station will take some time.

If taking Didi to the station there may be jam to the station entrance due to the many drop offs. I was dropped off another level to avoid the jam.

 

[froztheart]

Absolutely, during peak season/hours the security check to enter the station will take some time.

If taking Didi to the station there may be jam to the station entrance due to the many drop offs. I was dropped off another level to avoid the jam.

Yes, that's why best to go earlier for unfamiliar stations.
Otherwise, one will be in for a ride.

 

[s7460597]

True. Need to factor in the time to queue up to use the escalator to reach the platform. One single passenger escalator and always a long queue.

Must take note of the carriage number. Especially for families and groups everyone should know the carriage number. Head straight there after passing the gate, there's limited luggage storage spaces. Overhead storage can be limited depending on station.

Some travelers will push ahead of you in queue so be prepared especially for those with elderly and kids.

 

[beanstalk6]

Must take note of the carriage number. Especially for families and groups everyone should know the carriage number. Head straight there after passing the gate, there's limited luggage storage spaces. Overhead storage can be limited depending on station.

Some travelers will push ahead of you in queue so be prepared especially for those with elderly and kids.

Yes. The HSR tend to be precise to the markings on the platform where they are supposed to stop for embarking passengers, so look out for your carriage number on your ticket and wait where the respective doors are marked on the platform floor, behind the safety line, of course. There tends to be jostling passengers, but I have not heard of people being pushed onto the tracks as yet.

 

[Beefsteak]

The train station is so chaotic . I took from Shanghai to Suzhou yesterday . It open 15mins before the train depart and everyone is queuing .
The moment I got onto the train, haven’t even sit down , the train already move

how you even managed to get train tickets at this time? Was the train station packed? I wanted to get tickets for 13th feb but sold out too fast. So will need to find alternative transportation instead.

 

[cherynsq]

how you even managed to get train tickets at this time? Was the train station packed? I wanted to get tickets for 13th feb but sold out too fast. So will need to find alternative transportation instead.

12306 app has issues with 1 of my travelling partners. so even though i can book using the railway app, i decided not to, in case we cant sit together

i use trip.com after some of the members here shared about they use BOTS to snatch for you. booking fee (the fee trip earns is around $6 per tickets). yes 4 tickets, we paid $24 for this service but a peace of mind for a easily 2-3hrs HSR journey . to me its okay at least in foreign land, you can chit chat, help with the luggage, and look after 1 another .

 

[cherynsq]

how you even managed to get train tickets at this time? Was the train station packed? I wanted to get tickets for 13th feb but sold out too fast. So will need to find alternative transportation instead.

what trip.com cannot do for you is that if the seats been sold out, there's no way it can do anything.

its like you engage a professional runner like kipchoge to run for you . when the bell goes off, he will run as fast as he can for you to the finish line to snatch the tickets. you pay trip.com to run for you. but the availability of the tickets is dependent on official app/website.

13th feb happens to be around CHUNYUN already. where most workers from different townships are taking train back to their hometown. China is now having holiday fyi. most fnb places i went, just last week have alot of part time students who are having breaks...all the way until CNY over

 

[cherynsq]

Must take note of the carriage number. Especially for families and groups everyone should know the carriage number. Head straight there after passing the gate, there's limited luggage storage spaces. Overhead storage can be limited depending on station.

Some travelers will push ahead of you in queue so be prepared especially for those with elderly and kids.

me and my partners were booked on seat 1ABC. 3 seats total. best thing is when we reach our seats, there are luggages at our seats. Not at the overhead racks. is at our seats. LOL. dont be surprise this can happen to you too. not forgetting we have our own luggages too. so my friends took the lugagges that dont belong to us, push it near the door since we are already at first row.

nobody come to claim it. only after reaching almost final stops (which is 2h30mins later), then the family came to take and left the train....

no sense of responsibility. people will just put their stuff at your seats . dont get bullied