PLANS TO build 3000 km of high speed line have been unveiled by China’s Ministry of Railways. The ministry is seeking bids from foreign consultants to advise on the development of lines for operation at between 200 and 300 km/h.
According to Vice-Minister of Railways Lu Dongfu, the high speed network will include 300 km/h lines from Wuhan to Guangzhou and Zhengzhou to Xi’an, plus the Beijing - Tianjin and Nanjing - Hefei lines which are being designed for speeds ’over 200 km/h’. Civil engineering for the 260 km Nanjing - Hefei line began on December 24, and the route is due for completion in 2007.
Addressing a three-day conference on railway development in Beijing on January 12, Minister of Railways Liu Zhijun confirmed that 100bn yuan will be invested in railway expansion during 2005, almost twice the amount spent last year. He said 58 new projects will be started compared to 48 launched lin 2004. New projects include 805 km of new line and 396 km of double-tracking. The ministry expects to complete 714 km of new line, 523 km of double-tracking and 875 km of electrification this year.
However, Liu said the sixth increase in train speeds on conventional lines, planned for October 2005, has been postponed indefinitely. This project envisages the introduction of 200 km/h operation on lines from Beijing to Shanghai and Harbin and on the Longhai line from Lanzhou to Lianyungang. Three fleets of 200 km/h trainsets were ordered last year, but signalling and track improvements are still required.
On December 25 CR started work on electrifying the 202 km main line between Shanghai and Hangzhou. The same day saw the start of construction for the 261 km Wenzhou - Fuzhou line which is also due to be completed in 2007.
