Locally made high-speed trains will make their debut on Sunday, operating routes from Shanghai to Nanjing, and from Shanghai to Hangzhou, a spokesman for the Ministry of Railways said yesterday.

However, the trains will not travel faster than 160 kilometers per hour, far less than their designed maximum speed of 250 kilometers per hour, in order to give the drivers a chance to get accustomed to them, said Wang Yongping, the spokesman.

Travelers hoping to experience a full-speed ride will have to wait until April 18, when operators will take the breaks off.

Fifteen CRH trains or China Railway of High-speed will carry passengers during the Spring Festival holiday.

In addition to the trains running out of Shanghai, passengers traveling between Guangzhou and Shenzhen will also have the opportunity to travel aboard the sleek new trains as of February 1.

"Ticket prices will not change," Wang said.

Meanwhile, the passenger trains that formerly operated the routes that the new trains will take over will be used to provide expanded services during the Spring Festival holiday, traditionally a peak time for travel, he said.

The high-speed trains were manufactured by two domestic companies, based on the designs of two foreign models.

Qingdao BSP, a joint venture in which the Canada-based Bombardier holds a 50-percent stake, built five of the new trains.

Sifang Locomotive and Rolling Co Ltd, with technical support from Kawasaki Heavy Industries of Japan, built the other 10.

(China Daily 01/26/2007 page5)