New High-Speed Railway Sections Begin Operations in China

Two new sections of China’s high-speed railway network have entered service: the Shenyang–Baihe section of the Shenyang–Jiamusi High-Speed Railway and the Xiangyang–Jingmen High-Speed Railway.

These milestones will enhance regional connectivity in the northeast and central parts of the country.

The Shenyang–Baihe section of the Shenyang–Jiamusi High-Speed Railway began operations on 28 September. The line supports a maximum speed of 350 kilometres per hour, with 64 train services scheduled daily during its initial phase, including 36 cross-line services. The fastest journey from Beijing Chaoyang Station to Changbaishan now takes 4 hours 33 minutes, while the trip from Shenyangbei to Changbaishan is 1 hour 53 minutes.

The new section forms part of China’s 14th Five-Year Plan and creates a direct high-speed link between Shenyang and Dunhua. The route connects Fushun, Tonghua and Baishan to the national high-speed rail network for the first time, reducing travel times between eastern Liaoning, Jilin, and the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region. The line is expected to improve transport efficiency, support tourism development, and contribute to broader regional economic and social progress in Northeast China.

Also inaugurated on 28 September, the Xiangyang–Jingmen High-Speed Railway has shortened the journey between Xiangyangdong and Jingmenxi stations to around 29 minutes. The 116-kilometre line, designed for a maximum speed of 350 kilometres per hour, connects Xiangyangdong Station on the Zhengzhou–Chongqing High-Speed Railway with Jingmenxi Station on the Wuhan–Yichang section of the Shanghai–Chongqing–Chengdu corridor.

At Jingmenxi, the new route links with the Jingmen–Jingzhou High-Speed Railway and the Wuhan–Yichang section of the Shanghai–Chongqing–Chengdu line, which is nearing full operation. At Xiangyangdong, it connects to the Zhengzhou–Chongqing and Wuhan–Xi’an high-speed railways. The new connection enhances the transport network in western Hubei and is intended to facilitate travel and economic development across the Yangtze River Midstream City Cluster and the wider Central China region.