Xi'an-Shiyan high-speed railway to open Tuesday

A new high-speed railway linking Xi'an in Northwest China with Shiyan in Central China's Hubei province will begin operation on Tuesday, cutting the fastest rail journey between Xi'an and Wuhan, the provincial capital of Hubei, to 2 hours and 41 minutes, about one hour shorter than the current travel time, China State Railway Group said on Monday.

The 257-kilometer Xi'an-Shiyan high-speed railway starts from the newly built Xi'an East Railway Station and runs through Lantian, Shangluo, Shanyang, Manchuanguan and Yunxi before connecting with the existing Wuhan-Shiyan high-speed railway at Shiyan East Station.

The new line completes the high-speed rail corridor between Xi'an and Wuhan, creating a major transport artery linking Northwest and Central China.

Designed for speeds of up to 350 kilometers per hour, the railway will initially operate 29 pairs of bullet trains daily.

The railway passes through the Qinling Mountains, an area known for complex geological conditions and high ecological sensitivity. Builders said green construction measures and advanced technologies were adopted throughout the planning and construction process.

Xi'an East Railway Station, which will also open on Tuesday, has a station building covering 100,000 square meters and features 13 platforms and 27 tracks. It is expected to become a key integrated transport hub in Northwest China, connecting high-speed rail, conventional rail, intercity services and urban transit.

The new railway is expected to make travel more convenient for residents along the route while strengthening links between Xi'an, a major city in Northwest China, and Wuhan, an important transportation and industrial hub in Central China. It is also expected to boost tourism, business exchanges and regional development, particularly in counties gaining access to high-speed rail for the first time.