BEIJING, March 12 (Xinhuanet) -- More than 70 percent of the components used in the Beijing-Shanghai express railway will be made in China, Vice Minister of Railways Sun Yongfu said in the interview with a local newspaper in Beijing.

    "Relevant departments are working on a feasibility report on whether the railway should adopt rail technology or maglev technology," Sun was quoted by the Beijing Morning Post as saying.

    He said the railway will have a minimum speed of 300 km per hour, which makes it possible to travel from Beijing to Shanghai in five hours.

    A few days ago, Minister of Railways Liu Zhijun said the technology of building China's Beijing-Shanghai express railway will rely on independent research and development on the basis of assimilating advanced technologies abroad.

    Liu made the remark at a panel meeting of deputies to the National People's Congress from Anhui Provincial. Liu was specially invited to attend the meeting.

    Huang Qiang, a leading expert with the China Academy of Railway Sciences, said in another interview with Beijing Morning Post that the railway cars will be made of aluminum alloy.

    "Construction of the railway will take eight to ten years, or even longer," said Huang. "Operation of the trains will be automated except when the train leaves and enters the station."

    Both Sun and Huang are members of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the country's top advisory body. Enditem