Airlines raise Beijing-Shanghai fares after malfunctions of high-speed rail

Ctrip.com stated that in light of a number of malfunctions and ensuing delays on the Beijing-Shanghai high-speed railway in the past week, domestic airlines have stopped deep discounting on the route (China Daily/Shanghai Daily/Beijing News, 18-Jul-2011). Meanwhile, State Administration of Work Safety stated safety checks are to be carried out along the line to eliminate potential hazards. The 1318km Shanghai-Beijing high-speed railway, which went into operation on 30-Jun-2011, has suffered three breakdowns over the past week, causing large delays and public concern over safety on the line. Only 85.6% of trains arrived on schedule as a result of the breakdowns.