Wenzhou–Fuzhou Railway
Encyclopedia
The Wenzhou–Fuzhou Railway is a dual-track
, electrified
, high-speed rail line
on the eastern
coast of China
. The line, also known as the Wenfu Railway, is named after its two terminal cities Wenzhou
in Zhejiang Province and Fuzhou
in Fujian Province. The line has a total length of 298.4 kilometres and forms part of China's Southeast Coast High-Speed Rail Corridor. Construction began in August 2005, and the line opened to freight traffic on July 1, 2009. Passenger service began on September 28, 2009. Trains running on the line reach top speeds of 250 kilometres per hour, and the shortest trip between Wenzhou and Fuzhou takes 1.5 hours. The line required investment of ¥12.66 billion.
, Fuding
, Ningde
, Luoyuan
and Lianjiang.
follow the routes of older conventional railroads, but there were no railways on the southeast coast prior to the building of high-speed rail. Historically, the southeast coastal region relied on maritime transportation, and rugged terrain made railway construction more expensive. In the first half of the 20th century, warfare and political instability delayed railway construction. During the Cold War
, the southeast coast faced the threat of invasion from Republic of China on Taiwan and all railways were built inland. Only when political tensions across the Taiwan Strait
eased in the late 1990s did planning of the Wenzhou-Fuzhou Railway take place.
In October 2002, the project was initially approved by the National Development and Reform Commission
as a single-track railway at the 140 km/h standard. The project was then upgraded to a double-track 200 km/h standard and received State Council
approval in 2004. Construction on an experimental basis began in December 2004 and on a full-scale in August 2005. Track-laying was completed in April 2009. Freight and passenger service began, respectively on July 1 and September 28, 2009.
Double track
A double track railway usually involves running one track in each direction, compared to a single track railway where trains in both directions share the same track.- Overview :...
, electrified
Railway electrification system
A railway electrification system supplies electrical energy to railway locomotives and multiple units as well as trams so that they can operate without having an on-board prime mover. There are several different electrification systems in use throughout the world...
, high-speed rail line
High-speed rail in China
High-speed rail in China refers to any commercial train service in the China with an average speed of or higher. By that measure, China has the world's longest high-speed rail network with about of routes in service as of June 2011 including of rail lines with top speeds of...
on the eastern
East China
East China is a geographical and a loosely-defined cultural region that covers the eastern coastal area of China.Although an intangible and loosely defined concept, for administrative and governmental purposes, the region is defined by the government of the People's Republic of China to include...
coast of China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. The line, also known as the Wenfu Railway, is named after its two terminal cities Wenzhou
Wenzhou
Wenzhou is a prefecture-level city in southeastern Zhejiang province, People's Republic of China. The area under its jurisdiction, which includes two satellite cities and six counties, had a population of 9,122,100 as of 2010....
in Zhejiang Province and Fuzhou
Fuzhou
Fuzhou is the capital and one of the largest cities in Fujian Province, People's Republic of China. Along with the many counties of Ningde, those of Fuzhou are considered to constitute the Mindong linguistic and cultural area....
in Fujian Province. The line has a total length of 298.4 kilometres and forms part of China's Southeast Coast High-Speed Rail Corridor. Construction began in August 2005, and the line opened to freight traffic on July 1, 2009. Passenger service began on September 28, 2009. Trains running on the line reach top speeds of 250 kilometres per hour, and the shortest trip between Wenzhou and Fuzhou takes 1.5 hours. The line required investment of ¥12.66 billion.
Route
The Wenzhou-Fuzhou Railway follows the rugged but prosperous coast of southern Zhejiang and northern Fujian with 69km in the former and 229.1 km in the latter. Bridges and tunnels account for over 78% of the line's total length. Major cities along route include Rui'an, CangnanCangnan County
Cangnan County is a county in the prefecture-level city of Wenzhou cangnanCangnan County is in the South of Zhejiang.Area code:330327Zip code:325800The county government is in Lingxi,which is a big town....
, Fuding
Fuding
Fuding City is a county-level city in northeastern Ningde prefecture level city, on Fujian's border with Zhejiang province.-Administrative:Fuding was promoted to county-level city status in 1995...
, Ningde
Ningde
Ningde , also known as Mindong , is a prefecture-level city located along the northeastern coast of Fujian province, China. It borders Fuzhou to the south, Wenzhou City and Zhejiang province to the north, and Nanping City to the west.-Administration:...
, Luoyuan
Luoyuan County
Luoyuan County is a county of Fujian Province, China. It is under the administration of Fuzhou city....
and Lianjiang.
History
The Wenzhou-Fuzhou Railway is the first railway to connect the two neighboring provinces. Most high-speed rail lines in ChinaHigh-speed rail in China
High-speed rail in China refers to any commercial train service in the China with an average speed of or higher. By that measure, China has the world's longest high-speed rail network with about of routes in service as of June 2011 including of rail lines with top speeds of...
follow the routes of older conventional railroads, but there were no railways on the southeast coast prior to the building of high-speed rail. Historically, the southeast coastal region relied on maritime transportation, and rugged terrain made railway construction more expensive. In the first half of the 20th century, warfare and political instability delayed railway construction. During the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
, the southeast coast faced the threat of invasion from Republic of China on Taiwan and all railways were built inland. Only when political tensions across the Taiwan Strait
Taiwan Strait
The Taiwan Strait or Formosa Strait, formerly known as the Black Ditch, is a 180-km-wide strait separating Mainland China and Taiwan. The strait is part of the South China Sea and connects to East China Sea to the northeast...
eased in the late 1990s did planning of the Wenzhou-Fuzhou Railway take place.
In October 2002, the project was initially approved by the National Development and Reform Commission
National Development and Reform Commission
The National Development and Reform Commission , formerly State Planning Commission and State Development Planning Commission, is a macroeconomic management agency under the Chinese State Council, which has broad administrative and planning control over the Chinese economy...
as a single-track railway at the 140 km/h standard. The project was then upgraded to a double-track 200 km/h standard and received State Council
State Council
State Council may refer to:In politics:* State Council of the Soviet Union, was the chief administrative authority of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics...
approval in 2004. Construction on an experimental basis began in December 2004 and on a full-scale in August 2005. Track-laying was completed in April 2009. Freight and passenger service began, respectively on July 1 and September 28, 2009.
See also
- List of railways in China
- Ningbo-Taizhou-Wenzhou Railway
- Fuzhou-Xiamen Railway