Jingzhang High Speed Rail: Beijing-Zhangjiakou Intercity Railway

World
Europe

China's latest highspeed railway route is edging closer to completion. The main track of the Beijing-Zhangjiakou Intercity Railway was finished Wednesday. Construction on the line, also known as the Jing-zhang High-Speed Railway, began in early 2016. The railway will be in service by the end of the year. CGTN's Lu Sirui takes us to the opening ceremony.

It's China's latest mass transit milestone.

Crews have finished trackwork and paving on the Beijing-Zhangjiakou Intercity Railway, also called the Jingzhang High-Speed Railway.

With the last set of 500m rails moving slowly into position, it marks the completion of track laying for the entire Jingzhang High-Speed Railway network.

Wednesday, after more than seven months of work, a ceremony was held at the entrance of Beijing's Tsinghua Garden Tunnel.

MA KANYAN, CHAIRMAN JINGZHANG COMPANY "Construction began in March of 2016, and now the main track laying of the high-speed railway and Chongli Railway is complete. It lays a solid foundation for joint commissioning and testing this September, and a scheduled opening by the end of this year."

It's the world's first ballasted track railway designed for trains traveling up to 350 kph.

This 174km-long railway will cut train commuting time between Beijing and Zhangjiakou from more than three hours to less than one.

Experts say the breakthrough wasn't without challenges.

HUANG JIANCHAO, SENIOR ENGINEER CHINA RAILWAY 3RD BUREAU "Some of the main line is made up of long ramps, which are the biggest challenges. The trackwork underwent testing by intelligent robots, a first for China's high-speed railways. Follow-up efforts will be devoted to track fine-tuning and installation."

Experts say this will lay a solid foundation for joint commissioning in September, and take an important step towards the opening of the operation by the end of the year. Lu Sirui, CGTN, BJ.