New rail service to link NE China and Inner Mongolia

The first high-speed rail line linking Inner Mongolia autonomous region in North China to Northeast China finished undergoing tests on Aug 20.

The Xinmin – Tongliao high-speed line, running from Xinmin city in Shenyang, capital of Northeast China’s Liaoning province, to Tongliao city in Inner Mongolia, covers a distance of 197 kilometers, and is designed for speeds of 250 km per hour.

Construction work on the railway line began in June 2016.

A total of four stations have been built, including Xinmin North Station, Zhangwu Station, Ganqika Station and Tongliao Station. Another two stations –– Zhanggutai Station and Mulitu Station –– have also been built, but a decision on whether to open them has not yet been made.

As the first high-speed rail line connecting Northeast China and Inner Mongolia, the rail will become the most convenient route to travel from the eastern part of Inner Mongolia to Shenyang and Beijing, due to its connection to the Beijing–Shenyang high-speed rail line at Xinmin North Station.

Following its opening, travel from Tongliao to Shenyang will be shortened from about 5 hours to about 1.5 hours, and to around 3.5 hours instead of around 14 hours from Tongliao to Beijing, helping to strengthen economic links between the eastern part of Inner Mongolia and Liaoning province, as well as the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.

The Xinmin – Tongliao high-speed rail undergoes tests on Aug 20. [Photo/Chinanews.com]

Staff members collect test data on Aug 20. [Photo/Chinanews.com]