Yichang−Wanzhou
High-Speed Railway |
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Line length: | 377 km (234 mi) |
Track gauge: | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) |
Maximum speed: | 200 km/h (124 mph) |
Stations and structures | |
The Yichang–Wanzhou Railway, or the Yiwan Railway (simplified Chinese: 宜万铁路; traditional Chinese: 宜萬鐵路; pinyin: Yíwàn Tiělù) connects the cities of Yichang (Hubei Province) and Wanzhou (Chongqing Municipality) via Lichuan, in the central People's Republic of China. It was completed in 2010, and will be part of the future Huhanrong Passenger Dedicated Line from Shanghai to Wuhan to Chengdu. Out of the line's total 377 km (234 mi) length, 288 km (179 mi) runs on bridges or in tunnels. According to the chief engineer, Zhang Mei, the line was the most difficult ever constructed in China. Operation started on 22 December 2010.
High-Speed Railway
At its eastern end, the Yichang East Railway Station, the Yiwan Railway connects with the high-speed Hanyi Railway to Hankou (Wuhan).
Near Lichuan Station, the Yiwan Railway connects with the high-speed Yuli Railway (Chongqing–Lichuan (scheduled opening date, Decmebr 28, 2013). Once the Yuli line is in operation, it will become the main route of the Huhanrong corridor, and will provide the most direct connection to Chongqing, with a possibility to continue to Chengdu, as well. With the Yuli and Hanyi lines both in operation and in use by high-speed, it will become possible to travel by train between Wuhan and Chongqing in around 5 hours, compared to the 22 hours before the opening of the Yiwan Line. However, the opening of high-speed service (as opposed to "regular" trains) on the Yiwan line won't happen until July 1, 2014.