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These are the passenger train times of Jining to Tongliao railway.

K996-998 diesel motor unit. They are scheduled to run daily. However, most of the winter 2001/2002, they ran only every second day, ODD days from Daban, even days from Huhehaote, and NOT on day 31 of a month. Since 1 August 2002, the trains run on EVEN days Huhehaote - Xilinhaote, on ODD days to Daban, and the corresponding next days in the opposite direction. I.e. between Sanggendalai and Huhehaote there is a daily service.

Trains 605x steam hauled from Benhong to Zhelimu, DF4 Benhong-Jining Nan, DFH3 Zhelimu-Tongliao. These trains stop at all stations, train 6051/4 and 6053/2 even at railway worker homes in between. They run daily.

Trains 48001 and 48002 are diesel hauled, running Baiqi to Xilinhaote and back since 1 August 2002. They are mixed train, pulled by DF4D, consisting of 3 YZ passenger cars and freight cars if freight is to be transported.

The service on board the trains

As a passenger you may expect the following services on board the trains.

Ticket checking is done when you enter the train. If you have a sleeping ticket, he conductor will collect your ticket, give you a card as a receipt, and wake you up about 30 minutes before you need to get off. Otherwise you may not be reminded yo have to get off, but as a foreigner, the conductor will probably remember you anyway.

Every car has a boiler for hot water. If you have a bottle or cup, you may brew your own tea. The hot water also comes handy for instant soups, which are sold at stations and in the trains.

For the toilets you need to bring your own paper, as in other trains in China.

As always, the exit door are locked by the conductors. When trying to get off, observe which door the conductor will open.

The diesel trains (995/6/7/8)

Daily service during the winter, but after opening the Xisang line EVEN dates from Huhehaote, ODD dates from Daban only. One set on the new line.

Food service is provided by a little kiosk in one of the YZ (hard seat) cars. They sell soda, beer and liquor. They also sell a selection of different snacks and some warm meals they prepare in their microwave ovens. They sometimes go through the train with a trolley service. You may also buy food from people at the station platforms at Baiqi and Jining Nan, at least when you travel from west to east.

If you want to sit in the soft seat car and got no ticket in the station, the conductors will sell you one.

Stations are announced by the conductors, and by an electronic communication system located at the end of every car. However, the English announcement on the panel is not always up to date and easy to understand.

The steam trains (605x)

The trains consist of 8 cars: 1 hard seat car for the crew, 2 hard sleepers, 1 dining car, 4 hard seat cars.

Food service is provided by the dining car crew. They serve meals at certain fixed times, but you may ask for a meal at any time of the day (maybe not all night). They also sell snacks and warm food through their trolley service. At stations with longer stops, there are people on the platform selling food. The dining car sells all kinds of drinks.

You can open most of the windows. In winter the windows may be closed and you need a conductor key to open them. Often, the door on the gangway at the end of the train is open, so you may stand there and look back along the rails.

The cars are warmed up by coal fired ovens located in the end of every car (even in the new type 25 cars they have from summer 2001). This is done in, what the railway defines as, winter time, typically October to March. There is no air conditioning in summer, but you may open up your window.

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