China's first cross-strait train ferry has passed a trial run and is expected to begin full operation on Dec. 28 across the Qiongzhou Straits in south China, a shipping official said here Sunday in the capital of Hainan, south China's island province.
The 210 million yuan (25 million US dollar) ferry will be used to carry trains, cars and passengers across the Qiongzhou Straits,linking Haikou city with Xuwen county in Guangdong province, the official said.
The ferry, built at a Shanghai shipyard, is capable of keeping stable while sailing in heavy gales and can travel at a speed of more than 15 knots per hour.
A one-way trip will take about 40 minutes.
(Xinhua News Agency November 11, 2002)
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