High-speed rail delivery service too pricey, customers say  

高铁快递20城市试点 “天价”当日达市民呼邮不起

今天起，中国铁路总公司在北京、上海、哈尔滨、西安等20个城市试运行高铁快递业务。随着国内“四纵四横”高铁网络的贯通，今年中国铁路总公司高铁快递“门到门”业务还会继续扩大试运行城市范围。“当日送达”一个5公斤以下的小包裹130元的价格，在业内外看来，似乎高了。不少市民也惊呼：如此高的运费堪称“天价”，自己真是“邮不起”。 [查看全文]

(ECNS) – On Tuesday, China Railway Express started providing delivery services via high-speed rail in 20 pilot cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, Harbin, and Xi'an, according to China National Radio (CNR).

A package weighing no more than one kilogram costs 130 yuan ($20.93) for same-day delivery service, and 25 yuan ($4) will be added for each additional kilogram.

For overnight delivery, to be delivered by 11 am the next day, the charge is 18 yuan ($2.89) for the first kilogram, and 11 yuan ($1.77) for each additional kilo.

The cheapest one-day delivery option is 17 yuan ($2.74) for the first kilo and 10 yuan ($1.61) for each additional kilo, and they'll be delivered by 6pm the next day.

Customers are stunned by the sky-high costs of same-day delivery service. One customer said he would buy a train ticket and deliver the package himself rather than use the service. Another said the price was unreasonable.

A staffer at the express company explained that a package for same-day service generally would require an exclusive courier to make the delivery door-to-door, increasing the labor cost substantially.

Compared to same-day service, some citizens said, fees for the overnight and one-day delivery service were much more reasonable.