Passengers pose for a group photo on an intercity train departing from Ningbo to Hangzhou on Aug 1. [Photo/Ningbo Evening News]

The intercity train service between economically powerful cities Ningbo and Hangzhou in East China's Zhejiang province began trial operations on Aug 1.

The train, which is the first intercity train service connecting the three cities of Hangzhou, Shaoxing, and Ningbo, covers a distance of 147 kilometers and has a total travel time of approximately 2 hours.

Passengers no longer need to purchase tickets in advance. They can simply swipe their transport card, scan the riding code embedded in WeChat and Alipay, or use a single journey ticket for entry and exit at the stations between the three cities.

This development signifies a significant step towards the integration of the Hangzhou-Shaoxing-Ningbo region.

Initially, there will be two round trips per day between Ningbo Railway Station and Hangzhou South Railway Station.