China will launch the high-speed Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) trains on railway linking the eastern financial hub of Shanghai and northern Tianjin City, shortening the trip to nine hours, Tianjin railway authorities said on Saturday.

The EMU trains, coded D341 and D342, are expected to shorten the trip time from the current 10.5 hours to nine hours and 14 minutes, said an official with Tianjin Train Terminal.

He said the Tianjin-Shanghai EMU will be put into use from August 15 and the Shanghai-Tianjin EMU one day later.

(Xinhua News Agency August 2, 2009)