The Yancheng-Nantong high-speed line debuted on Wednesday, cutting travel time between Shanghai and Yancheng, in neighboring Jiangsu Province, from four hours to two. The first train left Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station at 9:08am. Dai Shuo, a native of Yancheng who has worked in Shanghai for three years, seldom returns home. He's taking the train for a family reunion to celebrate the upcoming three-day New Year holiday. "It once took me nine hours to drive home for the National Day holiday due to heavy traffic," said Dai.