BEIJING: Three new high-speed train routes became operational on Tuesday, promoting social and economic development, improving the quality of people’s lives and showcasing China’s expertise in building high-speed railways in varied and difficult terrain, according to the operator, China State Railway Group.
A sleek new bullet train tore through the rugged terrain of southwestern China’s Sichuan province at 350 kilometers per hour on Tuesday, completing a high-speed loop in the southern part of the province. The 261-km line will boost tourism, linking the provincial capital of Chengdu with Zigong, which is famed for its dinosaur fossils, and the white spirits brewing city of Yibin. In the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area of southern China, another high-speed route, designed for speeds up to 350 km/h, also began operations on Tuesday. The 162-km line connecting Shantou and Shanwei in Guangdong province is significant as a coastal route within China’s expansive high-speed rail network. On Tuesday, a substantial section of the line, linking Shantou South with Shanwei, was inaugurated. The final 20 km of the entire route, incorporating an undersea tunnel in Shantou Coastal Bay, is currently under construction. The timetable for its full opening has not been undisclosed.
The third high-speed rail line inaugurated on Tuesday is located in East China’s Fujian province. The 92-km line, designed for speeds up to 250 km/h, connects Longyan and Wuping in Fujian. It is a pivotal segment of a larger railway network linking Fujian with Guangdong. The three lines, though located in different parts of China, all involved construction under challenging conditions. According to China State Railway Group, the country now has trains running at the highest commercial speeds and boasts the greatest variety of operational scenarios, thus transforming the nation from a follower of high-speed rail development to a true leader in technologies. –The Daily Mail-China Daily news exchange item
