On the morning of December 26, 2022, the opening ceremony of the Changde-Yiyang-Changsha High-speed Railway was held in Changde. Mao Weiming, deputy secretary of the CPC Hunan Provincial Committee and governor of the People's Government of Hunan Province, addressed the opening ceremony. (Photo/Zhao Chi, Hunan Daily)

Before the ceremony, Governor Mao learned about the project construction. (Photo/Zhao Chi, Hunan Daily)

At 10:06 on December 26th, the G9699 "Fuxing" bullet train slowly left the Changde High-speed Railway Station. This marked the official opening and beginning of operation of the Changde-Yiyang section of the Chongqing-Xiamen High-speed Railway and the completion of the Changde-Changsha High-speed Railway. Hunan's 13 cities and one prefecture are connected with high-speed rail, entering the "high-speed rail era". (Photo/Gu Pengbo and Guo Liliang, Hunan Daily)

The Chongqing-Xiamen High-speed Railway Changde-Yiyang section is integral to the Chongqing-Xiamen channel of China's "eight vertical and eight horizontal" high-speed rail network. It is connected with the Qianjiang-Zhangjiajie-Changde High-speed Railway, the Changsha-Zhuzhou-Xiangtan Intercity Railway, and several other lines that have been put into operation.

The Chongqing-Xiamen High-speed Railway Changde-Changsha section is 154 km long, with a designed speed of 350 km per hour. It was constructed and opened to traffic in sections. The 63-km section from Yiyang to Changsha was put into operation in September 2022. The newly-opened 91-km section from Changde to Yiyang has three stations – Changde, Hanshou, and Yiyang South.

At the initial stage of operation, the railway authority will arrange 29.5 pairs of bullet trains. Bullet trains from Zhangjiajie and Changde to Changsha will run for the first time. The shortest travel time between Zhangjiajie and Changsha, and Changde and Changsha will be 1 hour 52 minutes and 59 minutes, respectively. The railway has further improved the railway network in northwestern Hunan; will greatly facilitate the travel of people along the route; and, is of great significance to promote the coordinated regional economic and social development and assist the rise of the central part of China.

On December 26, attendants served passengers at the Changde High-speed Railway Station. (Photo/Guo Liliang, Hunan Daily)

On December 26, a "Hexie" bullet train crossed the Zishui Grand Bridge on the Changde-Yiyang section of the Chongqing-Xiamen High-speed Railway. The Changde-Yiyang-Changsha High-speed Railway was opened on the same day. (Photo/Guo Liliang, Hunan Daily)

At 10:06 on December 26, passengers took pictures of the scenery along the route. (Photo/Gu Pengbo and Guo Liliang, Hunan Daily)

On December 25, a test bullet train passed through an arch-bearing cable-stayed bridge along the Changde-Yiyang section of the Chongqing-Xiamen High-speed Railway. (Photo/Guo Liliang, Hunan Daily)

On December 14, the Hanshou High-speed Railway Station was under construction. (Photo/Guo Liliang, Hunan Daily)

On September 6, a bullet train travelled along the Yiyang section of the Chongqing-Xiamen High-speed Railway. The Yiyang-Changsha section of the Chongqing-Xiamen High-speed Railway opened to traffic on the same day. (Photo/Guo Liliang, Hunan Daily)

On the evening of July 22, the construction workers were busy laying tracks on the Zishui Grand Bridge on the Changde-Yiyang section of the Chongqing-Xiamen High-speed Railway. The Changde-Yiyang section of the Chongqing-Xiamen High-speed Railway completed tracklaying on the same day. (Photo/Guo Liliang, Hunan Daily)

On July 1, workers laid tracks on the main span of the Yuanjiang Grand Bridge on the Changde-Yiyang section of the Chongqing-Xiamen High-speed Railway. (Photo/Guo Liliang, Hunan Daily)

On June 25, a test bullet train passed through the Changsha section of the Chongqing-Xiamen High-speed Railway. (Photo/Guo Liliang, Hunan Daily)

This article is from the Hunan Provincial Government www.enghunan.gov.cn.

Translator: Yu Jiangjiang

Chinese source: hunan.gov.cn; hunantoday

Photo source: hunan.gov.cn; hunantoday