this post was submitted on 03 Oct 2025
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There's a direct train from Beijing to Kunming that's 11 hours, 1700 miles.
NYC to LA would be ~50% more, so you could do a high-speed sleeper.
But no, at that distance, flying is probably better.
Keep in mind that trains don't require extensive security checks and checking in times though.
[laughs in chinese]
In the US, I regularly caught domestic flights arriving <1hr before departure, I don't think a 18 hour high speed train can compete with a 6 hour flight.
Then again, I just looked at the high speed trains from Beijing to Kunming for the next few days, and while none of the trains are booked solid, a lot of business and first class seats are sold out or <10 left.
Meanwhile a flight goes for less than half the price and takes <4 hours.
So IDK why that route even exists, let alone why anyone would choose it over a plane, but apparently they do.
Do people take the train for the entire trip, or do most get on/off as it goes? I have used trains that cross the entire country (UK) before but never used them from start to end.
Yes, I hadn't thought of that.
Its difficult to get off the plane half way, though not impossible.
pfft tell that to avalanche and jessie rasberry