CHINA: Test running has started on the Yinchuan – Xi’an Passenger-Dedicated Line, which is scheduled to open at the end of 2020.
Under construction since the end of 2015, at an estimated cost of 125m yuan per km, the 618 km high speed railway runs northwest from Xi’an Bei, serving 20 stations. The 14 251 m long Binxian tunnel was holed through in December 2019, and tracklaying was formally completed on August 27.
The line has been designed for operation at 250 km/h, and is expected to shorten the journey time between the two cities from 14 h to about 3 h.
Under China Railway’s high speed master plan, the route forms part of north-south corridor 07, which will eventually link Yinchuan and Baotou in the north with Haikou on Hainan island.
