New rail service to shorten Beijing-Harbin journey

A new high-speed passenger rail link will open between Beijing and Harbin on Dec 28, Beijing Railway Bureau announced on Sunday.

The 1,249 km journey between the two cities will take seven and a half hours, or 30 minutes less than the current schedule, Beijing Daily reported.

Second-class tickets will cost 461 yuan ($76) - 154.50 yuan more than for the current bullet-train service.