China's northernmost high-speed railway starts phase-II construction in Heilongjiang

The Harbin-Tieli phase of China's northernmost high-speed railway operating between Harbin and Yichun in northeastern Heilongjiang Province has formally begun construction, which will shorten the travel times from the capital city Harbin to surrounding areas, CCTV reported on Wednesday. 

The Harbin-Yichun high-speed railway is an extension of the Beijing-Harbin Railway and Beijing-Hong Kong-Macao Railway channels, spanning a total length of 318 kilometers with a designed speed of 250 kilometers per hour. The route is scheduled to be completed in five years.

The Harbin-Yichun high-speed railway is made up of two phases of Harbin to Tieli and Tieli to Yichun, and the construction of Tieli-Yichun phase began in October 2021. The Harbin-Tieli phase which has just begun construction is entirely located within China's frigid zone and is subject to extreme cold weather and complex geopolitical conditions, creating challenges for the project team. 

The travel distance and time will be largely reduced after the Harbin-Yichun high-speed railway is completed, which will help to form a Harbin-centered transport network and connect northeast bordering provinces to the nationwide high-speed railway network, boosting local economic development and raising local living standards for people along the route.