With preparations for the September 3rd national military parade continuing to ramp up, so too is the security. Approximately 50 armed police will begin patrolling high-speed trains along the Beijing-Shanghai rail corridor until September 5.

All travellers on these trains will experience tighter security and are advised to factor the additional measures into their arrival times at the stations. The announcement comes only days after an armed attack on a high-speed train in northern France was foiled by tourists.

Shanghai Daily reported:

Armed with pistols, batons and tear gas, 16 squads of officers will help ensure that no one spoils the fun atmosphere either before or on the special day, Shanghai police said yesterday.

As part of the increased security measures, two of Shanghai’s train depots were placed under 24-hour guard.

In anticipation of the parade, other security initiatives have included: shutting down Beijing’s airport and subway stations, banning the use of radio waves, instituting a no-fly zone, all mail to the capital faces tighter scrutiny, and mobilizing hundreds of thousands of city residents to serve as police deputies.

Train travel has been the focus of security concerns before in China. This past spring, train travelers to Tibet were subject to heightened security as the autonomous region celebrated its 50th anniversary.