Train services start on Nantong-Qidong line

The Nantong-Qidong railway starts operations on Jan 5. [Photo/IC]

A green train numbered K8501 left Nantong Railway Station for Qidong county in East China’s Jiangsu province at 7:36 on Jan 5, marking the start of the line’s operation.

With a length of 102 kilometers, the Nantong-Qidong railway is expected to have six stops, allowing trains to travel at speeds of up to 160 km per hour. 

During its initial period of operations, three pairs of trains will run daily, with a stop at Haimen Railway Station.

The journey will take 38 minutes from Nantong to Haimen county, arriving in Qidong just over half an hour later. 

The section, part of the Nanjing-Qidong railway, began construction in 2014 as one of China’s key projects for building eight lines running from the north to the south, and eight lines running from the east to the west of the country. 

Thanks to the line, both Qidong and Haimen are now connected to the national rail network, while the line has also brought economic benefits to Nantong.

China's railway network is expected to measure 175,000 km in length by 2025, compared with 127,000 km at the end of last year.