Hangzhou–Quzhou High-Speed Railway begins operations

The Hangzhou–Quzhou High-Speed Railway officially began operations on Friday, as the first outbound train C3132 departed Quzhou West Station for Hangzhou, adding a new artery to the Yangtze River Delta's intercity rapid transit network.

Linking Hangzhou and Quzhou in Zhejiang province, the new line runs parallel to the existing Hangzhou–Quzhou section of the Shanghai–Kunming High-Speed Railway, forming a dual-channel corridor. Stretching 131 kilometers, the railway is designed for a maximum speed of 350 km/h and serves five stations: Jiande, Jiande South, Longyou North, Quzhou West, and Jiangshan.

With the line now in service, the fastest scheduled journey between Hangzhou and Quzhou takes just 73 minutes.

Construction of the project began in May 2020. The main line includes 38 tunnels and 119 bridges, with bridges and tunnels accounting for nearly 79 percent of the total length. One of the most technically challenging sections is a 685-meter-long bridge spanning the Jinqian Railway. "Construction plans were continuously optimized to ensure the bridge safely crossed existing railways, highways and rivers," said Huang Baoliang, project head at China Railway No 11 Bureau Group.

"The Hangzhou–Quzhou High-Speed Railway occupies a crucial position in the Yangtze River Delta intercity rapid transport network," said Guo Jianbin, a senior engineer with the transport department of China Railway Shanghai Group.

At Jiande Station, the line connects with the Hangzhou–Huangshan High-Speed Railway and integrates into the Hangzhou rail hub.

At Quzhou West, it links with the Jiujiang–Jingdezhen–Quzhou Railway, extending westward to cities such as Wuhan in Hubei province and Jiujiang in Jiangxi province.

Jiangshan Station also enables transfers to the Shanghai–Kunming High-Speed Railway, further optimizing the regional rail network and supporting high-quality regional development.