The fastest underwater railway in China, with a maximum speed of 350 km/h, began operations on September 28, connecting cities along the western coastal region of the Taiwan Strait.
The 350 km/h railway connects cities in Fujian Province. (Video: Xinhua)
A bullet train departed from Fuzhou, the capital of Fujian Province, at 9:15 AM local time on September 28, marking the inauguration of the Fuzhou – Xiamen – Zhangzhou High-Speed Railway, which spans 227 kilometers, according to CGTN. As the first of its kind in China, this new railway reduces travel time between Fuzhou and Xiamen, two major cities in Fujian Province, to just 55 minutes, as reported by the China Railway Group.
With stops in the cities of Fuzhou, Putian, Quanzhou, Xiamen, and Zhangzhou, the new railway is the latest mega infrastructure project completed, enhancing connectivity in Fujian Province, where transportation and traffic efficiency are limited due to mountainous terrain.
The train marks the inauguration of the Fuzhou – Xiamen – Zhangzhou High-Speed Railway, which is 227 kilometers long.
Construction began in 2017, and the railway incorporates many smart technologies, including the Internet of Things, edge computing, and geographic information systems, moving one step closer to establishing smart transportation nationwide. Passengers can enjoy seaside views with 19.9 kilometers of track built over water, spanning across Quanzhou Bay, Meizhou Bay, and Anhai Bay, supported by bridges that engineers say were extremely challenging to construct.
“This railway faces almost every challenge that previous high-speed rail projects have encountered,” said Li Pingzhuo, project manager at China Siyuan Survey and Design Group, the design firm.
The construction of three bridges successfully overcame challenges posed by strong winds, high waves, deep waters, and the erosive characteristics of the marine environment. According to Li, the railway is also reinforced to be earthquake-resistant due to its passage through a seismically active area.
