Beijing-Shanghai bullet train with sleeper beds launches

A view of a sleeper compartment on the new bullet train equipped with double-decker sleeper beds. [Photo by Zhang Hengwei/Chinanews.com]

A new bullet train with double-decker sleeper beds began service Wednesday on high-speed railways between Shanghai and Beijing. 

Unlike the sleeper trains usually seen in China, the beds are parallel to the middle aisle, leaving each passenger a private compartment furnished with a small table, charging socket and reading lamp, as well as separate air conditioning.