Public service

Ye Suxun (www.xinhuanet.com): The traditional railway system is a kind of public welfare, with its cheap tickets and broad networks across the country, even to very remote areas. So when expensive high-speed rail cars have replaced all the mid- and long-distance green trains, low-income earners, who depend heavily on affordable trains for travel, are actually deprived of the less expensive choice and will have to pay more than before for the same trip.

High-speed rail is an effective modern transportation tool, and China's railway system has quickened the pace of market-oriented transformation. Even so, the China Railway Corp. can still do something to help low-income earners traveling by train. For instance, it could benefit from following the airline model, selling cheaper tickets to those who book seats earlier.

To enter the era of high-speed rail marks China's embrace of modern transportation. As older trains are phased out, it's also important to ensure that travel opportunities for low-income people are not affected by the change.

Yang Xingdong (Chongqing Morning Post): While China's railway system is entering the era of the bullet train, green trains, which have reigned supreme for more than three decades, must fade into history. These bullet trains will make it more convenient for passengers to quickly go from one place to another and cities will become more interconnected.

The changes now taking place in China's railway system will likely not have much effect on mid- and high-income earners, but the heavier economic pressure put on low-income earners cannot be overlooked. A high-speed rail ticket could cost as much as half a month's wages. When cheap green trains are gone, how will railway authorities meet these passengers' demands?

An important goal for the changes taking place in China's overall rail system is to attract more passengers to bullet trains by eliminating slow, outdated ones, thus increasing the total number of travelers opting to ride high-speed trains. However, low-income earners, without the option of green trains, will not necessarily book seats in bullet trains. A more likely result is that most of them will have to forgo, or even cancel, their trips.

Therefore, it's necessary for the China Railway Corp. to work out a reasonable solution with this group of passengers in mind, such as discounted tickets during off-seasons. In the meantime, it's important to continue improving the quality of service so that more passengers can enjoy the convenience and comfort of bullet trains. To follow the old market rule, making more money is important; catering to the interests of your customers, even more so.

Guo Yuanpeng (Qianshan Evening News): People have different demands for train service, as their levels of affordability and destinations differ vastly. Indeed, higher-speed and more technologically advanced trains showcase the country's rapid development. But the railway, which is designed to offer a public service, must stay mindful of low-income earners' monetary limits. Ideally, there would be a set proportion of ordinary trains to bullet trains in poorer, more rural areas.

It will be improper for railway authorities to simply dictate that all passengers must ride high-speed trains. Ticket prices for bullet trains tend to be several times higher than those for common trains. Of Chinese train passengers, some have money but are short on time, while some have the time but are short on money. Therefore, the former will always choose expensive high-speed trains, while the latter continue to favor slower ones.

While it's true that fewer and fewer passengers are choosing cheap tickets or common trains, it does not mean there is no longer a demand for them. Given that many passengers still rely on less expensive tickets, perhaps railway authorities should phase in priced seating along with newer train cars, creating "low-price zones" on trains like economy class on an airplane.

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