In 2015, it was announced that a second high-speed railway line between Fuzhou, Xiamen and Zhangzhou would be constructed, as the existing Fuzhou–Xiamen railway was at capacity.[2]
Construction began in 2017.[3] The railway opened on 28 September 2023, with the inaugural bullet train, Fuxing G9801, departing from Fuzhou at 9:15 a.m. local time.[4][5] Chinese state media has previously touted the railway as part of a broader regional integrated development plan with Taiwan, with potential expansion of the railway into Taiwan through what would be the world's longest undersea tunnel beneath the Taiwan Strait.[6][7] These plans have been dismissed by Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council.[6]
Route
The high-speed railway runs parallel to the existing Fuzhou–Xiamen railway which opened in 2010. Trains run at 350 km/h (220 mph), faster than the 250 km/h (160 mph) design speed of the existing railway. The expected journey time between Fuzhou and Xiamen is 55 minutes.[2]