Reacting to poor ticket sales, operators of Shanghai's maglev train line announced Tuesday they would cut ticket prices, improve service and install an information desk and more signs directing passengers to the train at Pudong International Airport.

Starting today, the price of a one-way trip on the world's first commercial maglev line will drop to 50 yuan (US$6) from 75 yuan, said the Shanghai Maglev Transportation Development Company.

Return trip tickets will cost only 80 yuan, but such tickets are mainly meant for sightseeing trips as both parts of the ride must be taken within one day. Travelers using the line to get to and from the airport for an overnight trip will have to buy two one-way tickets. The cost of VIP tickets was slashed from 150 yuan to 100 yuan.

Ticket sales have been very slow since the line began offering regular daily trips late March. During the first week of regular operations, each train carried 73 passengers on average, well bellow their maximum seating capacity of more than 440.

Many passengers complained that prices were too high, there aren't enough signs directing the way to the maglev station at Pudong Airport and the walk between the airport station and terminals is too long.

The company said it will set up more signs and a maglev information desk inside the airport in reaction to complaints.

The signs, printed in both Chinese and English, will be placed near almost all major entrances and exits at the airport.

(Shanghai Daily April 15, 2004)