Wuhan–Xianning intercity railway

Wuhan–Xianning intercity railway
Overview
Native name武咸城际铁路
武咸城际
StatusOperational
OwnerChina Railway CR Wuhan
LocaleHubei province
Termini
Stations13
Service
TypeHigh-speed railway
SystemChina Railway High-speed China Railway High-speed
Operator(s)China Railway CR Wuhan
History
OpenedDecember 28, 2013 (2013-12-28)
Technical
Line length91 km (57 mi)
Number of tracks2 (Double-track)
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification25 kV 50 Hz AC (Overhead line)
Operating speed
  • 350 km/h (220 mph) (Design)
  • 250 km/h (160 mph) (Operational)
Tangxunhu railway station, an elevated station on the Wuhan–Xianning intercity railway. It serves the southwestern part of Wuhan's Guanggu development area, and has a transfer to the Guanggu (Optics Valley) tram line

The Wuhan–Xianning intercity railway (simplified Chinese: 武咸城际铁路; traditional Chinese: 武咸城際鐵路; pinyin: Wǔ-Xián Chéngjì Tiělù), commonly abbreviated as Wu-Xian intercity railway, is a high-speed commuter railway line in Hubei Province of China with double tracks. It connects the provincial capital Wuhan with the city of Xianning, with a number of intermediate stops throughout Wuhan's southern suburbs. The railway is part of Wuhan Metropolitan Area intercity railway system.

The railway line is 91.56 km (56.89 mi) long, and includes 13 stations, from Wuhan's Wuchang railway station to Xianning South railway station in Xianning. Intermediate stations is include Nanhu East railway station (in Wuhan's Guanggu area), several stations in Wuhan's suburban Jiangxia District and in Xianning City (Xian'an District).[1][2]

At Nanhu East railway station, the station building is across the street from the platforms, to which it is connected by an underground passageway

Although there are already two railway lines between Wuhan and Xianning (the Wuhan–Guangzhou high-speed railway and the older "conventional" Beijing–Guangzhou railway), the new railway is supposed to complement them, rather than compete with them. Unlike the Wuhan–Guangzhou high-speed railway, which has no passenger stations between Wuhan and Xianning, and the Xianning North railway station is somewhat out of town, the new intercity railway will serve a number of towns and township between the two city, and will have Xianning East railway station in downtown Xianning. Besides, the intercity line's terminal in Wuhan (the Wuchang railway station) is more convenient for most passengers than the Wuhan railway station used by the Wuhan–Guangzhou high-speed railway.[1] As to the "conventional" Beijing–Guangzhou railway, its trains are much slower and aren't frequent, since that railway's capacity is now mainly used for freight or long distance passenger services.[1]

The travel time between Wuchang and Xianning on the intercity railway (28 min) will be only a few minutes longer than the one the Wuhan–Guangzhou high-speed railway, while the fare will be somewhat lower.[1]

The railway began operation on December 28, 2013 with 10 services each direction per day.[3]

At Tangxunhu railway station, transfer is available to the Optics Valley (Guanggu) Line of Wuhan Tram.

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d 武咸城际铁路将通车 13站串起湖北首条市郊客运线] [Wuhan–Xianning intercity railway to start service soon. Thirteen station along Hubei's first suburban passenger railway]. 2013-12-16.
  2. ^ See the detailed system map at http://bbs.cnhubei.com/thread-1538025-1-1.html
  3. ^ 武咸城际铁路12月28日通车全程28分钟票价约30元 (Wuhan–Xianning intercity railway to open on December 28 [2013]. A trip along the entire line to take 28 minutes, with the fare around 30 yuan), 2013-12-20.