Changsha–Zhuzhou–Xiangtan Intercity Railway

Changsha–Zhuzhou–Xiangtan Intercity Railway
Construction site of Shidai Railway Station in Tianxin, Zhuzhou
Overview
Native name	长株潭城际铁路
Status	Operational
Locale	Hunan, China
Termini	Huangjinzhen Zhuzhou South / Xiangtan
Stations	21
Services	3
Operation
Opened	December 26, 2016
Operator(s)	China Railway High-speed
Technical
Line length	97.5 km (61 mi)
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in)
Operating speed	200 km/h (124 mph)

Changsha–Zhuzhou–Xiangtan Intercity Rail (Chinese: 长株潭城际铁路; also known as Changzhutan Intercity Rail), is a high-speed regional railway in Hunan, China. It connects the provincial capital Changsha with Zhuzhou and Xiangtan. The line was opened to traffic operations on December 26, 2016. The maximum operating speed is expected to be up to 200 km/h, travelling time between the three cities will be shortened to less than 30 minutes. The line uses China Railways CRH6F regional rail trains.

Changsha–Zhuzhou–Xiangtan Intercity Rail is envisioned to promote regional economic integration of the Changsha–Zhuzhou–Xiangtan megalopolis. Originally proposed a regional rapid transit system, it was redesigned to be built to mainline high-speed railway standards. Guangzhou Railway Group, the Hunan Development and Investment Group, the Ministry of Railways and the Hunan provincial government jointly established the "Hunan Intercity Railway Co", which is responsible for the construction and operation of this project. The first phase, with a total length of 96 km, with two branches from Zhuzhou and Xiangtan converging into a central trunk line in central Changsha. It will be funded with a total investment of 23.3 billion yuan. It will be built as a double tracked electrified railway with a maximum design speed of 200 km/h, using automatic block control.

This intercity railway travels across Changsha, Zhuzhou and Xiangtan. It is built hoping to improve regional public transport and integrate with each city's local transport with transfers to local bus services and the Changsha Metro network. A total of 21 stations will be built across the board, including 12 in Changsha, Zhuzhou with five and four in Xiangtan.

The intercity rail project will cross Changsha's Furong, Yuhua, Tianxin, Kaifu, Yuelu Districts and Changsha County, totaling about 2,500 acres of land acquisition. Twelve stations will be built in Changsha, including eight underground stations and four stations at ground level.