Construction of a new high-speed rail between Zhengzhou and Xi’An has just begun. From Xinhua:
China began Thursday to lay tracks for the first high-speed passenger line in its western region, which will ultimately shorten trips between the ancient capital of Xi’an and Beijing to four hours from the current 11.
The 500-km line linking Xi’an in northwestern Shaanxi Province with Zhengzhou in central Henan will run at up to 350 km per hour.
“When it becomes operational at the end of this year, a ride between the two cities will take less than two hours compared with the present six,” said Li Hengman, deputy manager of the Zhengzhou-Xi’an Railway Company, operator of the 10.3-billion-U.S.dollar project.
He said the track-laying would be completed by June 10 and the railway was scheduled to be operational on Dec. 28.
