The Chinese Ministry of Railways will raise the country's train speed for the fourth time, with a new timetable to go into effect on October 21, said Liu Zhijun, vice minister of Railways, Wednesday.

According to Liu, the new speed hike, occurring during the Ninth Five-Year Plan period (1996-2000), will cover the southern section of the Beijing-Guangzhou railway, the Hangzhou-Ganzhou railway and the Shanghai-Hangzhou railway. Meanwhile the overall timetable will be readjusted.

Sources with the ministry said that this speed increase will help further optimize the distribution of resources and upgrade the computer-controlled network, with the express train speed averaging over 90 kilometers per hour.

Capabilities of long-distance railways are also expanded in the program with 1194.5 pairs of passenger trains.

Higher train speeds, an idea initiated in 1997, have not only helped to meet demands of passengers but also boosted economic development in areas along the railroads.

( People's Daily 10/18/2001)