Classic rail in China
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Parent company | China Railway |
| Headquarters | Beijing, China |
| Locale | People's Republic of China |
| Dates of operation | 1949–present |
| Technical | |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) Standard gauge |
| Electrification | 25 kV 50 Hz AC overhead catenary (most lines) No electrification (some remote lines) |
| Other | |
| Website | https://www.12306.cn/index/ (Chinese) https://www.12306.cn/en/index.html (English) |
The China Railway Classic Rail network (Chinese: 普速铁路; pinyin: Pǔ sù tiělù), also known as conventional rail, forms the backbone of China Railway's passenger railway system alongside the high-speed rail (HSR) network. These traditional rail services use railway lines that operate at speeds below 160 km/h (99 mph) and serve a dual role in transporting both passengers and freight. Unlike the high-speed China Railway High-speed (CRH) services, which primarily use dedicated electrified tracks, Classic Rail consists of older lines that may be single or double-tracked, with varying degrees of electrification.
Historically, all Classic Rail trains were olive-green, leading to the nickname "green train" (Chinese: 绿皮火车; pinyin: Lǜ pí huǒche) to be used by laypeople. Since 2014, most Classic Rail trains that had other colours (white, red, blue) have been repainted olive-green. Classic Rail trains are also sometimes referred to as "slow trains" in English.
Classic Rail trains have significantly lower ticket prices compared to CRH trains and are a popular choice with travellers on a budget.