An official test run of the Beijing-Shanghai high-speed railway passed off smoothly just a few days before the line is opened to the public on the eve of the 90th anniversary of the 1 July founding of China’s Communist Party.

However South China Morning Post complained that mobile phone calls were frequently cut off and that food and service levels were mediocre. More important, though, services in both directions were completed on time and comfort levels were praised thanks to a smoking ban and good air-conditioning.

The Beijing-Shanghai link halves the train journey time from at least 10 hours to just four hours and 48 minutes. The outbound trial service left Beijing South railway station at 9:01am and arrived at Shanghai Hongqiao station at 1:48pm. The return journey took 30 minutes longer due to several brief stops at some of the 24 stations on the route.

Officials say they plan to run 90 trains a day, at 300kph and 250kph. Tickets for the fastest trains cost from Rmb555 for standard seating, rising to Rmb1,750 for business class, where there are fully reclinable seats and individual entertainment systems.

Stretching 1,318km, and spanning seven municipalities and provinces, the line was built in 39 months at a cost of Rmb221bn.