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Today, China officially opened its high-speed rail line between Beijing and Shanghai, one year ahead of schedule, according to Chinese news service Xinhua. The line has been operating on a trial basis since mid-May.

The railway is designed to handle maximum train speeds of 350 kph, but most trains will operate at speeds between 250 kph and 300 kph. The line is expected to transport more than 80 million passengers annually.

The 1,318-kilometer line links the country’s Pan-Bohai and Yangtze River Delta areas, cutting travel time between the two regions to less than five hours.