Xi'an-Shiyan high-speed rail to fuel regional growth

The Xi'an-Shiyan high-speed railway, a key artery in China's expanding high-speed rail network, began operations on Tuesday, marking a major step in integrating the economies and cultures of the country's northwestern and central regions.

Construction on the 257-kilometer line began in December 2021. Designed for speeds of up to 350 kilometers per hour, the railway has reduced travel time across the Qinling Mountains, a boundary between northern and southern China, from over five hours to less than two.

The line includes 42 tunnels and 62 bridges, with a combined length of about 244 km, accounting for more than 90 percent of the total route. As a result of complex geological conditions and stringent safety requirements, it is regarded as one of the most challenging railway projects in the region.

The railway's operation is expected to significantly boost regional development.

The line connects with the existing Hankou-Shiyan high-speed railway, reducing travel time between Xi'an, Shaanxi province, and Wuhan, capital of Hubei province, to 2 hours and 41 minutes from the previous 4.5-hour journey via a detour route.

Ji Dexu, an official with the Xiangyang power supply section of China Railway Wuhan Group who took part in the railway project, highlighted its role as a game changer for regional development.

"It accelerates the flow of talent, information and capital. Xi'an's strengths in science, education and innovation can now better complement Shiyan's renowned tourism and automotive industries within a more closely connected economic circle," Ji said.

For residents, the railway brings a new level of convenience. Travelers can have breakfast in Xi'an, visit scenic attractions in Shiyan, Hubei, and return for lunch, all within the span of a morning. It also expands access to jobs, healthcare and educational resources along the corridor, Ji added.

The railway also creates a cultural tourism corridor linking Xi'an, home to the Terracotta Warriors, with Shiyan, home to the Wudang Mountain, a renowned Taoist sanctuary.

What truly sets the line apart is its full 5G coverage, even inside tunnels.

Chen Keyu, an assistant engineer involved in railway signaling technology, said signal base stations have been installed inside tunnels, along with specially designed cables installed on the tunnel walls to radiate signals along the track.

During nightly maintenance periods, technicians enter the tunnels to inspect the equipment and check its operating status.

"The goal is to ensure uninterrupted train communications throughout the tunnels," Chen said.

The improved connectivity has not gone unnoticed by passengers.

"Compared with my previous trips, the improvement in mobile signal quality is remarkably noticeable," said Liu Hang, who traveled on the line on Tuesday.

The Xi'an-Shiyan railway is part of China's broader high-speed rail expansion efforts.

On Saturday, testing began on the Xi'an-Ankang high-speed railway, which is scheduled to open by the end of the year.

With both routes in place, Xi'an has completed its radial high-speed rail network, becoming the third Chinese city to do so, after Zhengzhou in Henan province and Hefei in Anhui province.

It is unlikely to be the last. Over the next few years, a number of other major cities, including Nanjing in Jiangsu province, Jinan in Shandong province, as well as Chongqing and Wuhan, are expected to establish similar hub-and-spoke high-speed rail networks.

Contact the writers at wangsongsong@chinadaily.com.cn